Q 1 . Consider the following statements:
1 . India is the largest producer of rice.
2 . China is the largest exporter of rice.
3 . USA is the largest importer of rice.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
(d) All the statements are not correct. Why in news? In a move to check domestic rice prices and ensure domestic food security, the Indian government has prohibited the export of white rice, levied a 20% export duty on par-boiled rice till October 15, and permitted the export of Basmati rice for contracts with value of $1,200 a tonne or above. ■ Principal rice importing countries worldwide in 2022/2023 : 1 . China 2 . Philippines 3 . European Union 4 . Iraq 5 . Nigeria ■ Principal rice exporting countries worldwide in 2022/2023 : 1 . India 2 . Thailand 3 . Vietnam 4 . Pakistan 5 . Myanmar ■ Principal rice producing countries worldwide in 2021 : 1 . China 2 . India 3 . Bangladesh 4 . Indonesia 5 . Vietnam
Q 2 . With reference to Agriculture infrastructure and development cess (AIDC)), consider the following statements:
1 . AIDC was introduced in the Budget 2023.
2 . The purpose of the AIDC is to raise funds to finance spending on developing agriculture infrastructure.
3 . Cess is a kind of special-purpose tax which is levied over and above basic tax rates.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
(b) Statement 1 is not correct. Why in news? The government has removed the 15 per cent agriculture cess (also called Agriculture infrastructure and development cess (AIDC)) on imports of LPG, liquified propane, and liquified butane starting from September 1. ■ The AIDC was introduced in the Budget 2021. ■ The purpose of the AIDC is to raise funds to finance spending on developing agriculture infrastructure. ■ Cess is a kind of special-purpose tax which is levied over and above basic tax rates.
Q 3 . Recently, a report by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has found that European Big Oil companies failed to fulfil their Net Zero pledges in 2022.
In the above context, consider the following statements:
1 . Net-zero pledges are a goal to prevent the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere from increasing.
2 . Net-zero pledges require reducing human-caused emissions, such as those from burning fossil fuels, as close to zero as possible.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) None of the above
(c) Why in news? A report by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has found that European Big Oil companies failed to fulfil their Net Zero pledges in 2022.
Q 4. Kampala declaration, recently in news, is related with:
(a) Migration, Environment, and Climate Change
(b) Fight against malnutrition in African children
(c) Formation of common market in Africa
(d) Fight against terrorism
(a) Kampala declaration : Recently a total of 48 African countries have agreed to adopt the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC) in order to tackle the connection between human movement and climate change on the continent.
Q 5 . With reference to Red sand boa (Eryx johnii), consider the following statements:
1 . The red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is a venomous snake that lives in the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent.
2 . It is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
3 . It is known for its blunt tail, which it uses to mimic its head when it senses a threat.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
(a) Only statement 3 is correct. Why in news? Recently a report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India has highlighted 172 incidents of seizures involving the red sand boa (Eryx johnii) between 2016 and 2021 in India. ■ The red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is a non-venomous snake that lives in the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent. ■ It’s also known as the Indian sand boa. The red sand boa is a thick-set snake that’s usually reddish-brown, known for its blunt tail, which it uses to mimic its head when it senses a threat. ■ Classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a declining population trend. ■ The red sand boa is highly sought after in the illegal wildlife trade due to its demand in the pet trade and its use in black magic.
