Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Suriname is a country located on the northern coast of South America. Suriname is one of the smallest countries in South America, yet its population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the region. 

Statement 2 is correct: Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, by French Guiana to the east, by Brazil to the south, and by Guyana to the west.

Statement 3 is correct: Suriname has a tropical climate. Suriname, located on the northeastern coast of South America, experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. As a result of its geographical location just above the equator, Suriname enjoys warm weather throughout the year.

Ans: B

Exp:

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the results of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for the reference periods April 2020 to March 2021 (i.e. financial year 2020-21) referred to as ASI 2020-21 and for the reference period April 2021 to March 2022 (i.e. financial year 2021-22) referred to as ASI 2021-22

The ASI results for the year 2021-22 exhibit the resilience shown by the Indian manufacturing sector and tell the unique turn-around story of the Indian manufacturing sector after the adverse effect of the pandemic witnessed in 2020-21 in terms of output and input contraction and also a marginal fall in employment.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The MoSPI releases the results of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI). The results are prepared at the state and major industry levels. 

Statement 2 is correct: The Annual Survey of Industries provides valuable input to the National Accounts Statistics at the national and state levels. 

It is conducted with the primary objective of providing meaningful insight into the dynamics of change in the composition, growth and structure of various manufacturing industries in terms of output, value-added, employment, capital formation and a host of other parameters.

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) are spread across eight countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Statement 2 is correct: These mountains are the source of ten large Asian river systems– 

the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow River, and Tarim.

Statement 3 is correct: The Hindu Kush Himalayas are one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) issued the call as over 130 global experts arrived in Nepal for the Third Lead Authors meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) nexus assessment, which examines the linkages between food and water security, health, biodiversity, and climate change.

Scientists have declared the Hindu Kush Himalaya, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, a ‘biosphere on the brink’.

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The Gir forest in Gujarat is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion.

According to government data, the number of these big cats in Gir rose from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Asiatic Lions are Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, in Appendix I of CITES, and as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Statement 3 is correct: Canine distemper Virus (CDV) affects the population of Asiatic Lion.

In September 2018, 27 lions died in Gir because of the canine distemper virus, while 37 had to be quarantined.

Other threats to Asiatic Lions include- 

• Poaching and habitat fragmentation.
• The threat of genetic inbreeding arising from a single population in one place.

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme is a government-led initiative aimed at increasing the mangrove cover along the coastline and on salt pan lands. 

The scheme is primarily focused on the Sundarbans delta, Hooghly Estuary in West Bengal, India and other bay parts of the country, but also includes other wetlands in the country. The objective of the scheme is to conserve and restore the mangrove ecosystem, which is critical to mitigating the effects of climate change, preventing coastal erosion, and sustaining local livelihoods.

Statement 2 is correct: Under the MISHTI scheme, the government is providing financial assistance to local communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities. 

The scheme also involves awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of mangroves and their role in protecting the environment. The plantation activities are carried out in a participatory manner, involving local communities and NGOs, to ensure sustainability and community ownership of the initiative.