Ans: c

Exp:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared 2024’s first heatwave conditions for isolated pockets of west Rajasthan on March 27, 2024. 

Statement 1 is correct:  The basic criteria for IMD to declare a heatwave is when the temperature of a place crosses 40 degrees Celsius (°C) in the plains, 37°C in the coastal areas and 30°C in the hills. 

• These temperature values are the thresholds set by IMD for the declaration of heatwaves in India.
• Apart from this, the temperature of a particular day has to be above normal by at least 4.5°C for two consecutive days for a heatwave to be declared.
• When the temperature crosses 45°C, the weather agency immediately declares a heatwave without considering the deviation from normal temperature for that particular place.

Statement 2 is not correct: The basic criteria for IMD to declare a heatwave currently does not include take into account relative humidity.

Ans: b

Exp: 

Statement 1 is incorrect:The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global network of laboratories called CoViNet to identify and monitor potentially novel coronaviruses that could emerge shortly. 

Statement 2 is correct:  Besides SARS-CoV-2, it will assess other coronaviruses, including MERS-CoV, with enhanced laboratory capacity.

Statement 3 is correct: CoViNet comprises 36 laboratories from 21 countries in all six WHO regions, including three Indian laboratories. 

• These are the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology in Pune, and the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute.

Ans: b

Exp: According to the journal Nature,  the accelerated pace of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) poses concerns for the resilience of Antarctica’s ice sheets. 

• These ice sheets are already experiencing a net loss of approximately 150 billion metric tons annually, exacerbating sea-level rise.

Statement 1 is not correct: It flows in a west-to-east direction encircling Antarctica.

Statement 2 is correct:  It serves as the vital link between the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

• ACC plays a key role in regulating global climate and is also the world’s most powerful and primary means of inter-basin exchange of heat, carbon dioxide, chemicals and biology.

Statement 3 is correct:  The ACC is the only ocean current that flows completely around the globe.

Ans: c

Exp:  The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months.

Statement 1 is correct: The AFSPA gives power to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces deployed in “disturbed areas” as specified under the Act to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant.

Statement 2 is not correct: The Central Government, State Governor, or Union Territory administrator possesses the authority to designate either the entirety or a portion of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.

Ans: b

Exp:

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently directed the forest departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to prepare a proposal to notify the Dulung-Subansiri elephant corridor.

• The corridor facilitates the east-west movement of elephants across the Subansiri River.

Statement 1 is not correct: Abhaypur- Singphan corridor is in Nagaland. It connects the Mon of Singhpan Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaland with Abhaypur Reserve Forest in Sonari Forest Division of Assam.

Statement 2 is not  correct:  Kankrajhore- Lalgarh Corridor is in  West Bengal. It connects Bhulaveda, Belpahari and Sildaranges to lalgarh range.

Statement 3 is correct:  Dulung- Subansiri Corridor is in state Arunachal Pradesh. It connects Panir Reserve Forest and Dulung Reserve Forest with Subansiri Reserve Forest (Lakhimpur Forest Division, Assam) across the Subansiri river.

Statement 4 is correct: Bogapani Corridor is in Assam. It connects the East and West Blocks of Upper Dihing Reserve Forest in Digboi Forest Division.