1. The Emissions Gap Report is a report published by

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Answer: B
Explanation
● The Emissions Gap Report is an annual report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Hence, answer is option B.
Objective of the report
● It assesses global progress in limiting temperature rise to the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement.
● It evaluates greenhouse gas emissions, tracks progress in reducing them, and highlights the gaps between current and required actions to meet climate goals.
● It aims to guide countries in strengthening their climate policies and updating nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

2. Consider the following statements about Saint Guru Nanak.
1) He advocated ‘saguna’ bhakti.
2) He rejected the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.

Answer: B
Explanation:
About Guru Nanak (1469–1539)
● Founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
● He advocated a form of nirguna bhakti (devotion to and worship of the Divine as formless). Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● He rejected the external practices of the religions he saw around him. He rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● Nanak's teachings can be found in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib.

3. With reference to Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), consider the following statements.
1) AIM is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
2) AIM is functional only in the aspirational districts of the country.
3) AIM follows a holistic approach to ensure creation of a problem-solving innovative mindset.

Answer: A
Explanation
● The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● It aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● Towards this end, AIM has taken a holistic approach to ensure creation of a problem-solving innovative mindset in schools and creating an ecosystem of entrepreneurship in universities, research institutions, private and MSME sector. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

4. With reference to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), consider the following statements.
1) It contributes to boosting the private space sector economy in India.
2) It functions as a single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities.
3) It is also responsible for building launch vehicles and satellites.

Answer: D
Explanation
● To facilitate private sector participation, the government has created the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in 2020 that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
● Established as a single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities, IN-SPACe plays an important role in boosting the private space sector economy in India. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
● IN-SPACe, is responsible to promote, enable, authorize and supervise various space activities of the NGEs that include, among others,
○ The building of launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services; Hence, statement 3 is correct.
○ Sharing of space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and
○ Establishment of new space infrastructure and facilities.

5.With reference to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), consider the following statements.
1) NPPA is an attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2) NPPA can fix prices of drugs in the National List of Essential Medicines.
3) Prices of Non-scheduled drugs can never be fixed by NPPA.

Answer: C
Explanation
About NPPA
● The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority was established in 1997 as an independent body of experts to regulate the pricing of drugs.
● It has been constituted as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● The Authority has been entrusted with the task of
○ Fixation/revision of prices of pharmaceutical products (bulk drugs and formulations);
○ Enforcement of provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO);
○ Monitoring of the prices of controlled and decontrolled drugs in the country.
● The NPPA currently fixes prices of drugs placed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) under Schedule-I of the DPCO. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● Non-scheduled drugs are allowed an increase of up to 10 per cent in prices every year, which is monitored by the NPPA.
● NPPA can also fix the price for non-scheduled drugs by invoking extraordinary powers in public interest, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

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1. The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) Report is published by

Answer: A
Explanation
● The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) Report is the flagship publication of the United Nations Framework Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and summarises progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Convention, such as the Aichi Targets and identifies key actions to achieve these. Hence, answer is option A.
Convention on Biological Diversity
● The Convention on Biological Diversity is a multilateral treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
● The Convention is legally binding; countries that join it (‘Parties’) are obliged to implement its provisions. The convention called upon all nations to take appropriate measures for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its benefits.
● The Convention has been ratified by 196 parties, making it one of the most widely supported treaties in the world.
● India is a party to CBD and enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to meet the obligations under Convention on Biological Diversity.
● The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada and it operates under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
○ The UNEP is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system. It was founded as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (also known as the Stockholm Conference) in 1972.
● The Parties (Countries) under CBD meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).