India-Mongolia Relations, Mongol Oil Refinery, Nomadic Elephant

India-Mongolia Relations, Mongol Oil Refinery, Nomadic Elephant

With reference to India-Mongolia relations, consider the following statements: The Mongol Oil Refinery Project is a key development cooperation project being implemented with a Line of Credit from India. Mongolia’s strategic location is considered important for enhancing geopolitical balance in the region. ‘Nomadic Elephant’ is the name of a joint military exercise conducted between the … Read more

Arabian Sea Mini Warm Pool, Monsoon, El Niño

Arabian Sea Mini Warm Pool, Monsoon, El Niño

The ‘Arabian Sea Mini Warm Pool (MWP)’, recently in the news, is a phenomenon with which of the following characteristics? It is a patch of unusually warm sea surface temperatures that forms in the southeastern Arabian Sea. It typically forms during April and May, just before the onset of the Indian Summer Monsoon. It is … Read more

India’s Mineral Classification, MMDR Act, Limestone

India’s Mineral Classification, MMDR Act, Limestone

Consider the following statements about the classification of minerals in India: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, classifies minerals into major and minor categories. Limestone has recently been classified exclusively as a major mineral, regardless of its end use. The power to make rules for the regulation of minor minerals is vested … Read more

National Security Guard (NSG), India’s Elite Force

National Security Guard (NSG), India’s Elite Force

The National Security Guard (NSG) is an elite force in India. In this context, consider the following: It was established in 1986 and operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is a task-oriented force with two complementary elements: the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Ranger Groups (SRG). It was modelled on the … Read more

Elephants in India: Population & Conservation Status

Elephants in India: Population & Conservation Status

Consider the following statements regarding the status of elephants in India, based on the recent DNA-based population estimation (SAIEE): The Western Ghats region hosts the largest population of wild elephants in the country. Among the states, Assam supports the highest population of elephants. Asian Elephants are listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List and … Read more

Forest Conservation Goals: Bonn Challenge & KM-GBF

Forest Conservation Goals: Bonn Challenge & KM-GBF

With reference to global forest conservation efforts mentioned in the Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 Report, consider the following goals: The Bonn Challenge aims to bring 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes into restoration by 2030. Under the Bonn Challenge, India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares by 2030. Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global … Read more

Codex Committee on Spices & Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)

Codex Committee on Spices & Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)

The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), recently in news, is associated with which of the following? It is a subsidiary body of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). Its primary role is to elaborate global standards for spices and culinary herbs. India is the host country for the committee, and the Spices Board … Read more

IUCN Red List Updates: Green Sea Turtle & Indian Birds

IUCN Red List Updates: Green Sea Turtle & Indian Birds

Regarding the recent update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, consider the following statements: The conservation status of the Green Sea Turtle has improved from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Least Concern’. The Indian Roller and Indian Courser have been uplisted to ‘Near Threatened’ status. A primary threat to these newly uplisted bird species is the … Read more

Global Hunger Index (GHI) Indicators & India’s Status

Global Hunger Index (GHI) Indicators & India’s Status

With reference to the Global Hunger Index (GHI), consider the following statements: The GHI score is calculated based on four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. A score of 0 represents the best possible score (no hunger), while 100 is the worst. The 2025 report places India in the ‘serious’ hunger category. … Read more