1.Recently, where was the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) Summit held?
[A] Malawi
Libya
[C] Zambia
[D] Senegal
Correct Answer: C [Zambia]
Notes:
Over 400 delegates convened in Livingstone, Zambia, for the first Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area summit. The summit aims to assess progress since KAZA-TFCA’s inception, review the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, and reinforce the 2011 KAZA Treaty. The theme focuses on using KAZA’s natural and cultural resources for socio-economic development. KAZA-TFCA spans 520,000 square kilometers across five southern African countries.
[A] Malawi
Libya
[C] Zambia
[D] Senegal
Correct Answer: C [Zambia]
Notes:
Over 400 delegates convened in Livingstone, Zambia, for the first Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area summit. The summit aims to assess progress since KAZA-TFCA’s inception, review the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, and reinforce the 2011 KAZA Treaty. The theme focuses on using KAZA’s natural and cultural resources for socio-economic development. KAZA-TFCA spans 520,000 square kilometers across five southern African countries.
2.Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Nagaland
Manipur
[C] Assam
[D] Mizoram
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) allocates funds for canopy bridges aiding Hoolock Gibbon, India’s lone ape, to traverse railway tracks in eastern Assam. Gibbons, Asia’s smallest and fastest apes, inhabit tropical forests. Hoolock Gibbon, India’s sole ape species, dwells in Assam, Meghalaya, and other northeastern states. Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary hosts a significant population. They’re diurnal, monogamous, and vocal communicators. Endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon and Vulnerable Eastern Hoolock Gibbon face conservation concerns.
3.Which state recently hosted ‘Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024’?
[A] Maharashtra
Tamil Nadu
[C] Goa
[D] Rajasthan
Correct Answer: C [Goa]
Notes:
Goa recently hosted the inaugural Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024 for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). Organized by Outlook Media Group, with BDO India as Awards Process Advisor and IIT Goa as Knowledge Partner, the event gathered policymakers and CPSE top management to discuss sustainability initiatives. REC Limited was honored with the “Sustainability Champion—Editor’s Choice Award,” and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Limited received the Corporate Social Responsibility award in the Non-Fossil Fuel category.
4.Pampa Lake, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Kerala
Gujarat
[C] Odisha
[D] Karnataka
Correct Answer: D [Karnataka]
Notes:
A team from the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage has discovered rock shelter paintings estimated to be 2,500 years old near Pampa Lake in the Hampi World Heritage Area. Pampa Lake, located in Karnataka’s Koppal district near Hampi, is one of the five sacred lakes in Hindu mythology. Surrounded by hills and temples, it holds cultural and religious significance, featuring prominently in Hindu epics like the Ramayana.
5.Which glacier is the source of Sunkoshi River, recently in news?
[A] Langtang Glacier
Zhangzangbo Glacier
[C] Laigou Galicer
[D] Pindar Glacier
Correct Answer: B [Zhangzangbo Glacier]
Notes:
A recent river cleanup campaign, part of the PLEASE (Plastic Free Rivers and Seas of South Asia) program, removed 24,575 kg of waste from the Sunkoshi River and its banks. The Sunkoshi, also called the ‘river of gold,’ is in Nepal, forming part of the Koshi River system. Originating from the Zhangzangbo Glacier in Tibet, it joins the Ganga in Bihar, India, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. It’s renowned for challenging rapids and popular for rafting in Nepal.
6.What is ‘Dictyostelium discoideum’, recently seen in news?
[A] Amoeba
Algae
[C] Weed
[D] Drug
Correct Answer: A [Amoeba]
Notes:
Scientists discovered that green-beard genes drive natural altruism in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. These genes enable individuals to recognize and cooperate with each other, potentially causing harmful behavior towards those with different gene versions. Altruism in nature involves behavior where an animal acts in a way that may be harmful to itself but benefits others of its species.
7.Nagi Bird Sanctuary, recently declared as new Ramsar Site, is located in which state?
[A] Bihar
Haryana
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Odisha
Correct Answer: A [Bihar]
Notes:
India declared Nagi and Nakti bird sanctuaries as new Ramsar Sites, boosting the nation’s count to 82, tied for third globally. Nagi, a man-made reservoir in Bihar’s Jamui district, hosts diverse migratory birds like Bar-headed geese and Red-crested Pochard. Nakti sanctuary, also in Jamui, serves as a vital wintering habitat for over 20,000 birds and supports rich fauna like Bengal fox and Monitor Lizard. Both sanctuaries contribute to the biodiversity of the Ganga basin.
8.‘State of Ocean Report, 2024’, recently released by which organization?
[A] UNCTAD
UNDP
[C] UNEP
[D] UNESCO
Correct Answer: D [UNESCO]
Notes:
UNESCO’s 2024 State of Ocean Report highlights climate change and human activities impacting global oceans. Initiated by IOC-UNESCO during the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, it supports the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Key findings include significant warming of the upper 2,000 meters, increased ocean acidification, consistent sea level rise since 1993, and the urgent need for better monitoring systems. The report emphasizes the uncertain impacts of marine carbon dioxide removal technologies.
9.Which organization recently released the ‘Child Nutrition Report 2024’?
[A] UNICEF
WHO
[C] UNDP
[D] World Bank
Correct Answer: A [UNICEF]
Notes:
UNICEF’s “Child Nutrition Report, 2024” highlights severe child food poverty (CFP) affecting 27% of children globally. In India, 40% suffer from severe CFP, the second highest in South Asia. Key issues include the prevalence of unhealthy foods, indicating that income alone isn’t the cause. Contributing factors are inequities, conflict, climate crises, and food marketing. Recommendations include improving data systems, transforming food systems, and enhancing health services for child nutrition.
10.MTU 1271, BPT 2846, and NLR-3238, recently seen in news, are related to which crop?
[A] Rice
Cotton
[C] Sugarcane
[D] Mustard
Correct Answer: A [Rice]
Notes:
The Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) released new rice varieties for Kharif in Andhra Pradesh: MTU 1271, BPT 2846, and NLR-3238, as alternatives to BPT 5204. MTU 1271, a high-yielding, non-logging, semi-dwarf variety, yields 2.8-3 tonnes per acre with a 140-day crop duration. BPT 2846 yields 2.4 tonnes per acre in 130-135 days. NLR-3238, with 22.5% higher zinc composition, is viable for all seasons.