(d) Why in news? A recent study has showed that honeybees can be used as biomonitors (organisms that signify the quality of environment around them) to trace Antimicrobial Resistance. ■ Honeybee live in colonies headed by a queen. ■ Queen bee heads the swarm and is the largest. ■ Worker bee is a female bee and has stings. ■ Drone bee is a Male bee and has no stings. ■ Honey bee perform ‘Waggle dance’ to communicate between worker bees. ■ Royal jelly, also called ‘bee milk’ is secreted by worker bees, exclusively for feeding to develop a new queen bee.

(d) Why in news? India proposed to construct a barrage on Siang River to save it from hazards posed by Chinese dam being built in Tibet region. ■ Siang River, known as Yarlung Zangpo in China, is principal constituent river of Brahmaputra. ■ It enters Arunachal Pradesh after the Great Bend (curving around Namcha Barwa peak) joins Lohit and Dibang to form Brahmaputra, and empties into Bay of Bengal via Assam and Bangladesh. ■ It is known as Brahmaputra or Luit in Assamese,Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali and Jamuna River in Bengali. ■ It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest.

(c) Why in news? Recently RBI Governor urged Fintech companies to form self regulatory body ■ The term “fintech company” describes any business that uses technology to modify, enhance, or automate financial services for businesses or consumers. ■ Some examples include mobile banking, peer-to-peer payment services, automated portfolio managers , or trading platforms. It can also apply to the development and trading of cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ether). ■ FinTech is broadly used to describe an industry that uses information technology to make innovations in financial systems and delivery of financial services more efficient. ■ By 2030, India’s FinTech industry could generate $200 billion, contributing 13% to global FinTech revenue.

(b) Statement 1 is not correct. Why in news? Recently conference on Transnational Grid Interconnections for One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) held in New Delhi. ■ The One Sun One World One Grid Declaration (OSOWOG) was jointly released by Prime Minister of India and UK Prime Minister at the COP26 Climate Meet in Glasgow. ■ Its objective is to aid in developing a worldwide grid through which clean energy can be transmitted anywhere, anytime (use power at night in one part of the world from solar energy generated on other side of the world where it is day time). ■ It also aims to help in reducing storage needs and enhancing the viability of solar projects. ■ Its ultimate goal is to reduce carbon footprints and energy costs. ■ It is led by India and UK in collaboration with International Solar Alliance (ISA) and World Bank Group. ■ OSOWOG is divided into 3 phases: Phase 1: Indian Grid interconnection with Middle East, South Asia and South East Asian grids. Phase 2: Would connect the functional first phase to the pool of renewable resources in Africa. Phase 3: Final step of global interconnection.

(a) ■ India aims to restore 21 million hectares of forest by 2030 through the Bonn Challenge. ■ In 2018, a report by the government and the IUCN indicated 10 million hectares were under restoration. ■ India’s national forest policy targets 33% tree coverage. ■ According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), deforestation and forest degradation contribute to around 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions. ■ 30% of forestland is degraded in India. The total area occupied by primary forests in India has decreased by 6%.