Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• In the last decade the Government of India has really done a commendable job in promoting renewable energy, and precisely because of that India is very well placed on the world map of renewable power by occupying 4th position (163 GW) after China (1161 GW), US (352 GW) and Brazil (175 GW). As far as wind power is concerned India (42 GW) again stands in 4th position across the globe after China (365 GW), the US (140 GW), and Germany (66 GW Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Wind energy is typically classified into two types: onshore wind farms, which are large installations of wind turbines located on land, and offshore wind farms, which are installations positioned in bodies of water. Offshore wind energy involves the utilization of sea winds to generate electricity. These wind farms can employ either fixed-foundation turbines, constructed in shallow waters, or floating wind turbines, designed for deeper ocean locations. Floating wind farms are still in the early stages of development.
• To qualify as offshore wind farms, they must be situated a minimum of 200 nautical miles from the coastline and in waters at least 50 feet deep. These offshore wind turbines generate electricity, which is transmitted back to the shore via cables buried in the ocean floor. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The installation and operation of offshore wind turbines are governed by national and international laws, primarily the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The specific regulatory rules depend on the maritime zone in which the turbines are located:
• In territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles from the coast), the coastal State has full sovereignty, giving it complete control over offshore wind turbine regulation.
• Within the exclusive economic zone (up to 200 nautical miles from the coast), the coastal State has exclusive jurisdiction and control, including the ability to establish safety zones around wind farms. These safety zones must be respected by all ships, provided due notice has been given, and they cannot obstruct crucial international sea lanes.
• Beyond exclusive economic zones lie the high seas or international waters. Here, the legal status of offshore wind facilities and their energy production purpose is less clear, as it is not explicitly mentioned as a high seas freedom under UNCLOS. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is located in the Indian state of Assam, in the northeastern part of the country. It was established as a reserve forest in 1908 and later declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1950. It gained the status of a national park in 1974 and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Kaziranga National Park is home to significant breeding populations of 35 mammal species, with 15 of them classified as threatened according to the IUCN Red List. Among its notable distinctions, the park boasts the world's largest population of Indian rhinoceros (2,401), wild water buffalo (1,666), and eastern swamp deer (468). Collectively, the Indian rhinoceros, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer are known as the 'Big Five' of Kaziranga. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Kaziranga has been identified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area. It is home to a variety of migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers, and game birds. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

Answer: (A)

Explanation: The global stocktake is part of the Paris Agreement, where countries meet every five years to assess progress in combating climate change, starting in 2023. The first official report of this stocktake, after nearly two years of preparation, will set the foundation for COP28, a United Nations climate negotiation event in Dubai COP28, scheduled for late November, will address how countries respond to the findings of the global stocktake and what additional actions they can take. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.

The Global Stocktake is a fundamental component of the Paris Agreement which is used to monitor its implementation and evaluate the collective progress made in achieving the agreed goals. The Global Stocktake thus links the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) with the overarching goals of the Paris Agreement and has the ultimate aim of raising climate ambition. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Global Stocktake process outlined in the Katowice agreement

• Phase 1 (Data Collection): Gather climate information from sources like NDCs, IPCC reports, and input from stakeholders. Publish this data in synthesis reports and focus on specific areas like mitigation, adaptation, and emissions status.
• Phase 2 (Technical Assessment): Evaluate the collected information to measure progress in Paris Agreement goals. Engage stakeholders in technical dialogues to discuss findings, identify ways to enhance climate responses, and document outcomes in reports.
• Phase 3 (Political Messages): Translate assessment results into actionable policies, helping Parties improve climate actions and promote international cooperation. The specific documentation method, such as a declaration or formal decision, is yet to be determined.

Hence statement 3 is incorrect

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• A key pact called General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed by the two countries in 2002. The GSOMIA provides specific measures to ensure security standards for safeguarding critical information shared by the US with India.
• The two countries inked the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 which allows their militaries to use each other's bases for the repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provide for deeper cooperation.
  India and the US signed another pact called COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.
• About BECA, officials said the agreement will give India access to classified geospatial data as well as critical information having significant military applications from the US.

Hence only 2 pairs are correctly matched.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai is a submarine volcano in the South Pacific located about 30 km (19 mi) south of the submarine volcano of Fonuafoʻou and 65 km (40 mi) north of Tongatapu, Tonga's main island. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Its most recent eruption in January 2022 generated a tsunami that reached as far as the coasts of Japan and the Americas and a volcanic plume that reached 58 km (36 mi) into the mesosphere. As of May 2022, the eruption is the largest volcanic eruption in the 21st century. It created the world's youngest land mass, a new island about 65 kilometers northwest of Nuku'alofa. Hence statement 2 is correct
• It is part of the highly active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone and its associated volcanic arc, which extends from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.