Ans: C

Exp:

The Steel Ministry has begun work towards formulating a comprehensive green steel policy that includes defining the processes of making such offerings, the skill set required, and funding support availability, among others.

Statement 1 is correct: Traditionally, steel is made from iron ore with coke- a fossil fuel- in a blast furnace at high temperatures. Conversely, green steel uses green hydrogen that is produced from renewable energy and water

Statement 2 is correct: To decarbonise the iron and steel sector, the primary emphasis through technological interventions would be on substituting the primary production processes with cleaner alternatives. Such as, 

• Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), 
• Replacing conventional sources of energy with low-carbon hydrogen 
• Direct electrification through electrolysis of iron ore.

Ans: C

Exp:

Recent experiments by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department in Papikonda National Park confirmed the indigenous knowledge of the Konda Reddi tribe. 

Statements 1 and 2 are correct: The Konda Reddi tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, inhabits the Papikonda hill range in the Godavari region.

• They can also be found in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and Maharashtra. 
• They inhabit the hilly forest regions of Khammam (Telangana) and Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh).
• They are Hindu by faith and worship many deities. Their main festivals are Ugadi, Akshade, and Dussehra.

Statement 3 is correct:  Konda Reddis has its institution of social control called ‘Kula Panchayat’. Each village has a traditional headman called ‘Pedda Kapu’. The headman’s office is hereditary, and the headman is also the Pujari (priest) of the village deities.

Ans: B

Exp:

More than 190 delegates and observers gathered in Jamaica from March 18-29, 2024, for the first part of the 29th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly and Council. 

Statement 1 is correct: In accordance with UNCLOS, Article 156(2), all States Parties to UNCLOS are ipso facto members of ISA.  India is a member of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). 

Statement 2 is incorrect: ISA is an intergovernmental organisation established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Statement 3 is correct: ISA develops rules, regulations, and procedures relating to commercial exploitation of mineral resources from the deep sea.

Statement 4 is correct: Under UNCLOS, the ISA regulates activities on the seabed and ocean floor beyond the scope of national jurisdiction while ensuring their protection. So far, the intergovernmental body has issued 31 exploration contracts, totalling 1.5 million square kilometres of seabed, roughly half the size of the United States. 

Ans: C

Exp:

April 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 

Option 1 is incorrect: Switzerland is officially neutral and not a NATO member. However, since 1996 it has taken part in NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme. There are no binding legal obligations, such as collective defence

Option 2 is correct: France is one of the 12 founding members of NATO. It also hosted the first permanent headquarters in Paris in the 1950s and 60s

Option 3 is correct: On 29 March 2004, the Republic of Slovenia became a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) after successfully depositing its Instrument of Accession in Washington.

Option 4 is correct: On 4 April 2023, Finland became a full member of NATO, upon depositing its Instrument of Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States government during a ceremony at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

Option 5 is correct: On 7 March 2024, Sweden became a full member of NATO. NATO is a defence Alliance whose purpose is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security

Ans: B

Exp:

Recently, The World Bank has warned that the South Asia region including India was not making use of its demographic dividend

Statement I is correct: : The demographic dividend is the economic gain that occurs when a country has a higher proportion of working-age people (15-64 years old) than dependents (children under the age of 14 and those beyond the age of 65).

Statement II is correct: : The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a study on India’s demographic dividend, which revealed two fascinating findings.

• India has the longest window of demographic dividend opportunity in the world, spanning five decades from 2005-06 to 2055-56.
• This demographic dividend window is available at different periods in different states due to differences in population factors.

Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I: Although both Statement I and Statement II are individually correct, Statement II is not the correct explanation.