Based on the UNEP report on methane emissions, consider the following statements: Methane is the second biggest driver of climate change after CO2, responsible for about one-third of the planet’s warming. Over a 20-year period, methane is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Natural sources, primarily wetlands, contribute the majority (about 60%) of … Read more
With reference to the State of Global Air (SOGA) Report 2025, consider the following statements: The report is released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). In India, 75% of the population is exposed to PM2.5 levels that are above the WHO’s recommended limits. The report identified … Read more
Consider the following statements regarding Tapioca cultivation and pest control, recently in the news: Tapioca, also known as cassava, is a tropical tuber crop primarily cultivated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. A recent study highlighted the successful use of a parasitic wasp to control an invasive pest, the cassava mealybug. The specific parasitic wasp used … Read more
With reference to the Patna Sahib Gurudwara, consider the following statements: It is located in Patna, Bihar, and is recognized as one of the five Takhts (seats of Sikh authority). It marks the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. The construction of the Takht was commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the … Read more
The ‘Quantum Echoes algorithm’ was recently in the news. In this context, consider the following statements: It was demonstrated on Google’s Willow quantum chip. It achieved ‘verifiable quantum advantage,’ meaning the result can be repeated to get the same answer. The algorithm ran 13,000 times faster than one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. Select … Read more
With reference to the ‘Future Farming in India: Al Playbook for Agriculture’ report, consider the following statements: The report was released under the ‘AI for India 2030’ initiative, led by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India, WEF. It highlights challenges in AI adoption, such as fragmentation, with 85% of India’s farmers being … Read more
Consider the following statements regarding the proposed amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, for regulating AI-generated content: The amendments are proposed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IT Act, 2000. The amendments provide a definition for “Synthetically Generated Information,” commonly known as deepfakes. A key provision mandates that content creators … Read more
With reference to the ‘Early Warnings for All (EW4All)’ initiative, recently in the news, consider the following statements: The initiative was launched at COP27 and aims to ensure universal protection from hazardous events by 2027. It is jointly led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The … Read more
The ‘Sevilla Forum on Debt’ was launched with which of the following objectives and associations? It was launched at the UNCTAD16 session and is led by Spain. It aims to tackle the entrenched debt crisis in developing countries. It is one of the outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and … Read more
Consider the following statements based on the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025: The report is released every five years by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The global deforestation rate slowed to 10.9 million hectares per year in 2015-2025, compared to 17.6 million in 1990-2000. The report found that soil holds the majority of … Read more