Answer: (C)

Explanation: The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas recently introduced the phase wise mandatory blending of CBG in CNG (Transport) & PNG (Domestic) segments of City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector. CBG Blending Obligation (CBO) aims to promote production and consumption of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) in the country. The key objectives of the CBO include:
1. To stimulate demand for CBG in City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector,
2. Import substitution for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and
3. Saving in Forex, promoting circular economy and to assist in achieving the target of net zero emission.
It will be monitored and implemented by the Central Repository Body (CRB), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. CBO will be voluntary till FY 2024-2025 and mandatory blending obligation would start from FY 2025-26. CBO shall be kept as 1%, 3% and 4% of total CNG/PNG consumption for FY 2025-26, 2026- 27 and 2027-28 respectively. From 2028-29 onwards CBO will be 5%. Hence, all statements are correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:Recently at a stampede in Cochin University of Science and Technology, 4 students were killed including an artist who performs Chavittu Natakam. Chavittu Natakam is a colourful and vigorous theatre form that flourished at Kodungalloor in Kerala with the spread of Christianity. It is considered to be a folk art form noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gesture and well-defined body movements. The Portuguese are supposed to have introduced this art form in Kerala. Chinna Thampi Pilla and Vedanayakan Pilla are considered to be the originators of this art form. The influence of the western visual art opera can be discerned in Chavittu Natakam. Art forms like Kathakali and Kalaripayattu have also influenced Chavittu Natakam. ‘Stamping Drama’ is the most attractive feature of this art where the artists produce resonating sounds by stamping the floor while dancing. This folk-drama dance takes place on a stage that is referred to as ‘thattu’. The ‘thattu’ is laid with planks of wood. The exquisite costumes of the artistes portray the characters on stage. Generally, the costumes resemble ancient Greek-Roman soldiers and European kings. Instruments like Chenda, Padathamber, Maddalam and Ilathalam, provides background music. These days Tabala, Fiddle, Flute and Bulbul are also played. The Chavittunatakam performance opens with an invocation and the opening sequence is in the form of a Virutham. It is a humming which is followed by a scene of a durbar and the play begins. The actors sing their lines loudly, and with exaggerated gestures stamp the wooden stage with great force. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The recent proposal of hydro-electric modernisation plan in the Manipur’s famous Loktak Lake could be detrimental to the endangered species of Sangai deer. Sangai Deer is also called as the Manipur Brow-antlered deer and Dancing Deer. The Sangai is found nowhere in the world but in Manipur. It is a unique and rare species found exclusively in Manipur's Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP). Phumdi is the most important and unique part of Sangai’s habitat. It is the state animal of Manipur. The IUCN Status of Sangai is Critically Endangered. It is included under the Schedule-1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Sangai population stood at 91 in 2006, 88 in 2007, 92 in 2008, 76 in 2019 and 64 in 2023. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Recently researchers have discovered an extremely high-energy particle that seemingly came from a part of the universe where there is nothing and it was named "Amaterasu" after a Japanese goddess Amaterasu is an extremely high-energy particle that exceeds 240 exa-electron volts (EeV) and seemingly arrived from a void in space where nothing is known to exist. This energy is millions of times more powerful than the particles produced by the Large Hadron Collider, which is the most powerful accelerator ever built. It is second only to the “Oh-My-God” particle, another high-energy cosmic ray detected in 1991. That came in at 320 EeV. Ultra-high energy particles like Amaterasu usually travel through space quite smoothly since they don’t bounce off magnetic fields, like low-energy cosmic rays but it is not in case of Amaterasu. The scientists propose 3 explanations for the enigmatic origin of the particle. It could be from a source that we have not yet identified. It might have been magnetically deflected much higher than current models predict. Scientists might need to rewrite their incomplete understanding of high-energy particle physics. Hence, statement (c) is correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Kerala has emerged as the only state in the country that has completed the social audit of work done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in all village panchayats in the state. According to the State Social Audit Unit, which cited data from the Union Rural Development Ministry, social audits for the first six months of the current fiscal year have been completed in all 941 village panchayats in Kerala. Apart from Kerala, only three other states have achieved more than 60 percent progress in the social audit. As per section 17 of the MGNREG Act 2005, gram sabhas in village panchayats have to monitor the execution of works within that local body and conduct mandatory regular social audits of all the projects under the scheme. The aim of social audit is to ensure that the benefits of development schemes reach their genuine beneficiaries. Hence, option (c) is correct.