Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• GRIHA, which stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is indeed an organization jointly established by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Its primary objective is to evaluate and certify buildings based on their environmental performance throughout their entire life cycle. This includes various aspects such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and more. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• GRIHA focuses on renewable energy usage and waste generation, with the rating system revised every three years. GRIHA has international recognition and supports global sustainable development efforts, including the adoption of renewable energy in the building sector. It plays a role in data collection for global building energy through tools like the "Common Carbon Metric," contributing to initiatives like "The Climate Reality Project." Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• GRIHA certification does involve a point-based system where projects earn points for meeting specific criteria. However, the minimum requirement for GRIHA certification is 50 points, not 75. GRIHA comprises 34 criteria, and projects must achieve a certain score to attain one of the certification levels, which range from one star to five stars.Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

Selling and purchasing of Government Securities-

• Open market operations are carried out by the central bank in association with the commercial banks. For conducting such operations, there is no involvement of the public.
• Government bonds are mostly bought by commercial banks, financial institutions, high net worth individuals, and large business corporations. All these entities maintain accounts with the bank, and whenever these entities purchase bonds, the amount gets transferred to the central bank.
• Thus, it can be said that open market operations have an impact on the deposits and reserves of the bank and also play a role in their ability to provide credit. When a central bank wants to reduce the availability of money to the public, it will sell government bonds and securities with the help of commercial banks.
• This step reduces the money supply in the economy and restricts banks from offering credit to individuals. It impacts both the supply and demand of the credit.
• Similarly, at times when the liquidity conditions are tight, the central bank buys back the securities, which gives the commercial banks and public easy access to the credit facilities that help in injecting liquidity into the system and stabilizing the market.

• Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• RBI used to sell or purchase the dollar as per the demand of market conditions. When it is needed to decrease the demand of dollars to abstain rupee from depreciation in comparison to dollars, RBI is likely to sell dollars and vice-versa.

• Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

• The impact of a series of rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to become more pronounced. These rate hikes, aimed at curbing inflation, may initially moderate economic growth before affecting inflation rates. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

• The G20 DRR Working Group aims to integrate risk reduction measures into public and private sector investment decisions and policy making to reduce existing risk, prevent the creation of new risk and, ultimately, build resilient economies, societies, and natural systems. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Current economic choices and development pathways are not in line with the commitments to reduce risk contained in the Sendai Framework as well as the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. The G20 DRR Working Group is committed to changing this through the development of policy guidance, exchange of technical knowledge, promotion of capacity building, and identification of new approaches to financing that prioritize risk reduction and resilience. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Additional Informations – India has taken a pioneering step by establishing the inaugural G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group. This initiative is significant as G20 member countries collectively account for approximately 85% of the global GDP and roughly two-thirds of the world's population. Recognizing the strong link between economic choices and human vulnerability to disasters, the G20 is uniquely positioned to shape a new approach to decision-making that incorporates disaster risk considerations.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• India ranked second among the countries worst hit by air pollution with Bangladesh topping the list.
• Nepal ranked third followed by Pakistan and Mongolia.

• Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

• National AQI is determined on the basis of concentration of 8 pollutants namely Particulate Matter (PM 2.5, PM 10), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3) and Lead (Pb). On the other hand, only PM2.5 concentration in the air is used as a measurement parameter in AQLI.

• Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

• AQLI measures the impact of particulate pollution on life expectancy.
• It is released by Energy Policy Institute at University of Chicago (EPIC).

Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

The genesis of India's RTI legislation can be traced back to 1986 when the Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in the case of Mr. Kulwal v/s Jaipur Municipal Corporation. In this case, the Supreme Court directed that the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution inherently includes the Right to Information. This recognition was based on the understanding that without access to information, the exercise of freedom of speech and expression by citizens would remain incomplete.

What is Indira Sawhney Case –

In the Indra Sawhney case, the Government notice reserving 10% of government posts for economically depressed classes among the upper castes was invalidated by the Supreme Court while preserving the 27% quota for lower castes. The ruling in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India, 1992 & Ors by the Supreme Court marked a significant turning point in India’s history of backward class reservation. In the Indra Sawhney case, the fact was reiterated that providing reservations to 60%, while 40% of them without a reservation will lead to an imbalance in the structure of the society. Through the Indra Sawhney case ruling and its stipulation that reservations for underprivileged groups should only apply to initial appointments and not promotions, the term “creamy layer” also acquired popularity.

Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, of 2019, granted the Union Government unilateral powers over the appointment and compensation of information commissioners, raising concerns about their independence.

Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.