Q.1. Consider the following statements:
- UNESCO launched the Creative Cities Network in 2014
- Film is not one of the reactive fields, UNESCO recognizes cities for
- This year, Gwalior has become India’s first city to be honoured with a City of Music by the UNESCO
- Kozhikode is India’s First City of Literature
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) 1 and 4
- (b) 1, 2 and 4
- (c) 1, 3 and 4
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (a)
Source: Edinburgh to Kozhikode: how Kerala got onto UNESCO’s City of Literature list (The Hindu, November 16, 2023)
Explanation:
- UNESCO initiated the Creative Cities Network in 2004 to foster collaboration between cities using creativity for sustainable urban growth.
- Kozhikode is the first Indian City of Literature, as of this year.
- The first ever City of Literature was Edinburgh.
- Besides literature, UNESCO also honors cities for their contributions to creative fields such as film, crafts, folk arts, and design.
- Gwalior earned the title of City of Music this year, following Varanasi in 2015 and Chennai in 2017.
- To be considered for these designations, cities must submit a bid explaining their qualifications.
Q.2. Consider the following statements:
- The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 underwent important amendments in 2016 and 2017
- The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 exempts lands inhabited by the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGS) from the purview of the Act.
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 1 and 3
- (c) All of the above
- (d) Only 1
Ans: (a)
Source: Community’s rights and forest conservations (The Hindu, November 14, 2023)
Explanation:
- The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is amended by the Bill.
- The new changes make the Act apply to specific lands.
- These lands include those declared as forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
- It also includes lands seen as forests in government records after the 1980 Act started.
- The Act will not apply to lands already used for non-forest purposes before December 12, 1996.
- Important amendments were made to the Forest Conservation Act 1980 in 2016 and 2017.
- These changes stated that the tribal grama sabha’s prior approval was required for any land changes for non-forest uses.
- However, new amendments to the law have eliminated the need for this approval.
Q.3. Consider the following statement:
- India has announced its decision to become a full-member of the Bahrain-basd Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)
- Pakistan is also a member of the CMF
- The CMF recently conducted the Sea Guardian-3 naval exercise
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) 1 and 2
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) Only 3
Ans: (b)
Source: Pakistan and China Navies to carry out joint sea patrol
Explanation:
- China and Pakistan recently carried out the third Sea Guardian-3 naval exercise in the Northern Arabian Sea.
- This event occurred just after India and the US’s 2+2 ministerial dialogue, where they concentrated on Indo-Pacific maritime security.
- India has chosen to join the Bahrain-based, US-led group Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which also counts Pakistan as a member.
- China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy used a Type-093 Song class diesel-electric submarine in this exercise.
- Alongside this submarine, the PLA Navy also brought in the guided missile destroyer Zibo and the guided-missile frigates Jinzhou and Linyi.
- Additionally, two shipborne helicopters and the supply ship Qiandaohu were part of the deployment.
Q.4. With reference to 50-in-5 campaign, consider the following statements:
- 11 ‘First-Mover’ countries recently took part in the official launch of the 50-in-5 campaign
- The campaign will demonstrate the potential of Digital public infrastructure (DPI)
- 50-in-5 denotes potential of 50 mobile apps in five core areas of sustainable development goals
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) Only 2
- (c) 1 and 2
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (c)
Source: A Norwegian perspective of India’s digital journey (The Hindu, November 15, 2023)
Explanation:
- Norway has a significant role in supporting digital public goods.
- It participates actively as a co-founder and member of the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA).
- Norway pledged to be a leading country in the 50-in-5 campaign. This campaign is a joint project of DPGA, the United Nations Development Programme, and others.
- The campaign aims for countries to globally provide at least one national digital good in the next five years.
- Norway has already made some digital public goods available for worldwide use.
- One such good is the weather forecasting services, Yr, from the Norwegian metrological services. This is used globally for weather predictions.
- The plant health warning system, VIPS, is another digital public good from Norway. It has been in use in Norway for over 20 years and is now being implemented in Malawi, Africa.
- The District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), managed by the University of Oslo, is another notable contribution. It’s the world’s largest health management information system platform. Health authorities from 73 low-and middle-income countries use this system. This represents 30% of the world’s population.
Read more about the 50-in-5 campaign
Q.5. Consider the following statements:
- The ADMM-Plus progresses practical cooperation amongst member countries through seven Experts Working Groups (EWGs).
- From 2021-2024, India is co-chairing EWG on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) along with Indonesia.
- India is one of the member countries of ADMM-Plus.
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) 1 and 3
- (c) 1 and 2
- (d) All of the above
Source: Rajnath Singh to attend ASEAN defence ministers’ meet in Jakarta on November 16 (India Today, The Indian Express)
Explanation:
- The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) is ASEAN’s top-level defence collaboration and consultation mechanism.
- The ADMM-Plus includes ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and eight dialogue partners (India, US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand). It’s a venue for strengthening defence and security cooperation.
- India joined ASEAN as a dialogue partner in 1992.
- The first ADMM-Plus was held on October 12, 2010, in Hanoi, Vietnam.
- From 2017 onwards, ADMM-Plus ministers meet annually to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and Plus countries.
- The ADMM-Plus promotes practical cooperation through seven Experts Working Groups (EWGs). These groups are: Maritime Security, Military Medicine, Cyber Security, Peacekeeping Operations, Counter Terrorism, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
- The co-chairs for the 2024-2027 cycle will be announced during the 10th ADMM-Plus.
- Currently, for the 2021-2024 cycle, India and Indonesia are co-chairing the HADR EWG.