(b) Statement 3 is not correct. Why in news? Unique terracotta figurines in different states of preservation, along with bone and iron pieces, were discovered during the recent archaeological explorations conducted at the megalithic dolmen site in Mudukonaje near Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada. Terracotta found in the Megalithic burial provides solid ground for study of the Bootha Cult or Daiva Aradhane of Coastal Karnataka. Cow Bovine, or cow goddess, had its parallels in the Malampuzha Megalithic terracotta figurines of Kerala and Egypt. Mudukonaje terracotta figurines date back to 800–700 BC. ■ A dolmen or portal tomb is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or “table”. ■ Dolmen, a type of stone monument is found in a variety of places throughout the world. Dolmens are made of two or more upright stones with a single stone lying across them. ■ The most widely known dolmens are found in northwest Europe, notably in the region of Brittany, France; southern Scandinavia; Britain; Ireland; and the Low Countries.

(d) Recently the United Nations’ Global Stocktake report was released just ahead of the G-20 meeting. ■ This long-awaited technical report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reviews progress made since the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 after a two-year evaluation of thousands of submissions from experts and leaders. ■ The global stocktake was designed under the Paris Agreement to assess our global response to the climate crisis and chart a better way forward. ■ The global stocktake is held every five years and is intended to inform the next round of nationally determined contributions to be put forward by 2025. ■With 198 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. ■ The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 deg rees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. ■The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. ■ The ultimate objective of all agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.

(c) Why in news? Genetic engineering is being used to upgrade mosquito control efforts due to the ongoing threat of mosquito-borne diseases. The idea behind genetic manipulation of mosquitoes is to control their populations by interfering with their reproduction. ■ A gene drive is a natural process and technology of genetic engineering that propagates a particular suite of genes throughout a population by altering the probability that a specific allele will be transmitted to offspring (instead of the Mendelian 50% probability). ■ Gene drives can arise through a variety of mechanisms. They have been proposed to provide an effective means of genetically modifying specific populations and entire species.

(b) Statement 2 is not correct. ■ Indian scientists are preparing, under project Samudrayaan, to send three people 6,000 metres underwater in an indigenously made submersible named Matsya 6000 to look for precious metals and minerals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese. ■ Besides looking for nickel, cobalt, manganese, hydrothermal sulphides and gas hydrates, Matsya 6000 will investigate the chemosynthetic biodiversity in hydrothermal vents and low temperature methane seeps in the ocean. ■ Project Samudrayaan is part of Deep Ocean mission. ■ Deep Ocean mission is an Indian initiative to undertake the deep ocean exploration focused on India’s exclusive economic zones and continental shelf.

(d) All three pairs are wrong. Correct pairs : 1 . Goa Roadmap : for tourism as a vehicle for achieving SDGs. 2 . Travel for LiFE : To take simple actions, which have tremendous signification for environment protection and climate action. 3 . MICE tourism : A type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together. Why in news? A significant milestone achieved during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi was the unanimous endorsement of tourism and culture’s pivotal role in sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity. ■ The ‘G20 Leaders Declaration’ adopted during the summit underlined the significance of the ‘Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving SDGs. ■ Delhi Declaration provides a new direction for tourism sector with G20 Goa Roadmap outlining the challenges, objectives, opportunities and recommendations for tourism sector to achieve sustainable development goals. ■ ‘GOA Roadmap’, the key deliverable of India’s G20 Tourism Track, is a pioneering initiative that provides a blueprint for sustainable global tourism. Goa roadmap, underscores the role of tourism in society, the economy, and environmental stewardship. ■ By focusing on the five interconnected priorities identified and endorsed by the G20 Tourism Working Group – Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management – the roadmap offers a comprehensive strategy for nations to align their tourism policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. ■ Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has launched the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard. This pioneering initiative will serve as a global repository, showcasing the best practices and case studies of sustainable tourism practices and policies from G20 nations. ■ The Ministry of Tourism is also launching a national competition on ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ to identify best practices and case studies aligned with five priorities of G20 Goa roadmap, which have successfully been implemented by States, Destinations and Industry Stakeholders, which can be replicated and scaled up across the country. ■ World Tourism Day is observed on September 27. ■ In another significant development, the G20 leaders’ declaration has further noted the launch of the “Travel for LiFE” initiative, emphasizing its transformative potential in promoting responsible and sustainable tourism. ■ Travel for LiFE program has been inspired by vision of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which is extremely relevant for tourism sector. ■ Travel for LiFE nudges all tourists and tourist businesses to take simple actions, which have tremendous signification for environment protection and climate action. ■ The Ministry of Tourism also envisions transforming and promoting the host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into global MICE destinations for national and international meetings. ■ Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE tourism) is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together.