The correct answer is Ministry of Earth Sciences. In News

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) co-chaired the 1st 'Blue Talks' meeting on Ocean Health and Governance.

Key Points

• Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, was one of the co-chairs along with the Ambassadors of France and Costa Rica.
• The meeting aimed to exchange good practices, seek recommendations for UNOC3, and prepare for the upcoming High-Level Event on Ocean Action (HLEOA).
• India's commitment to ocean science and maritime development was showcased during the meeting.
• MoES has been recognized as a lead partner for the Ocean Conference in Nice in 2025, indicating India's significant role in global ocean governance.

The correct answer is 8.4%. In News

• The National Statistical Office (NSO) raised India's real GDP growth estimate for Q3 to 8.4%.
• This is part of a series of revisions in the economy's growth estimates, with the GDP growth rate for the entire year also revised to 7.6%.

Key Points

• Last year's GDP growth estimate was scaled down from 7.2% to 7%, while the estimate for 2021-22 was raised to 9.7% from 9.1%.
• Gross Value Added (GVA) in the economy is projected to rise by 6.9% for the current year.
• GDP growth for the first two quarters of the year was revised to 8.2% and 8.1%, respectively.
• Q3 GDP growth surged to 8.4%, despite concerns about private consumption.
• GVA growth in Q3 slipped to 6.5%, surprising economists who expected higher figures.

Additional Information

• The farm sector GVA contracted by 0.8% in Q3, with a modest 0.7% rise expected for the full year.
• Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran anticipates a farm sector recovery next year.
• Notable growth sectors include construction (up 10.7%), manufacturing (up 8.5%), and mining (up 8.1%).
• Despite overall growth, concerns persist about weak consumption demand and its impact on the economy.

The correct answer is National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune. In News

• The anthology "SOLDIER AND WAR POEM: BEST OF NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION" was released by Commandant, National Defence Academy Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar in Pune.

Key Points

• It features a selected collection of poems and paintings from the National Level Poetry Competition organized as part of the 75 GYC celebrations by the Academy.
• The competition aimed to pay tribute to the historical achievements of NDA and its alumni, inspire future generations, and raise awareness.
• Dr. Pragya Bajpai compiled and edited the anthology, comprising 170 poems and 15 paintings, as a souvenir of the event.
• The soft copy version of the book in PDF format will be available shortly on the official website of NDA, preserving it for posterity.

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

In News

•  The Cabinet approved the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance with headquarters in India with a one-time budgetary support of Rs.150 crore till 2027-28.

Key Points

International Big Cat Alliance conference:

• The focus of the International big cat alliance will be on the conservation of the world's 7 major big cats including tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The Prime Minister remarked and explained that countries that are home to these cats will be a part of this alliance.
• The alliance’s purpose is to provide a platform for the dissemination of information on the protection and conservation of big cats. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Its major activities will include “advocacy, partnership, knowledge e-portal, capacity building, eco-tourism, partnerships between expert groups, and finance tapping”.
• The IBCA’s governance structure will comprise a General Assembly consisting of all member countries, a council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by the General Assembly for a term of 5 years, and a Secretariat.
• Upon the recommendation of the Council, the General Assembly will appoint the IBCA Secretary General for a specific term.

The correct answer is Ministry of Women & Child Development. In News

• The Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality was launched by the Union Minister of Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani.

Key Points

• The event saw the presence of notable dignitaries including Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• Smriti Irani highlighted India's commitment to global welfare and its recent success in garnering international support for the alliance during the Davos summit.
• The alliance aims to consolidate global best practices, foster knowledge exchange, and attract investments in women's health, education, and entrepreneurship, in line with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Bill Gates and Chandrajit Banerjee praised the initiative and expressed their support for women-led development and equitable development focused on women's economic empowerment, health, and education.

The Correct Answer is To protect everyone's health, protect everyone's rights.

In News

• Zero Discrimination Day: 1st March.

Key Points

• Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on March 1 to promote equality, inclusion, and diversity while raising awareness about the harmful impact of discrimination worldwide.
• The day was first celebrated on 1 March 2014 after UNAIDS, a joint United Nations program on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on 'World AIDS Day' in December 2013.
• The then-Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé launched the day in 2014 with a major event in Beijing.
• The theme for Zero Discrimination Day 2024 is “To protect everyone's health, protect everyone's rights.”
• This theme emphasizes building the link in association with human rights and public health in achieving the goal of eliminating AIDS by 2030.

The correct answer is ​Rajasthan. In News

• The Supreme Court upheld the two-child eligibility criterion for seeking government jobs in the state of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• The ruling affirms the validity of the Rajasthan Various Service (Amendment) Rules, 2001, which restrict candidates with more than two children from applying for government positions.
• The case was dismissed following an appeal by ex-serviceman Ramji Lal Jat, who applied for a constable's job in the Rajasthan Police.
• The court deemed the rule non-discriminatory and in line with promoting family planning objectives.
• This decision reinforces Rajasthan's policy stance on population control measures in public employment.

The correct answer is 1990.

Key Points

• World Civil Defence Day is observed on 1 March.
• This day was declared as a global holiday by the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) in 1990.
• It honours the significance of civil defence and the personnel who have sacrificed their lives for it.
• The ICDO is an intergovernmental organisation that helps citizens develop and stay secure while also protecting infrastructure and the environment.

Important Points

• ICDO stands for civil protection, civil defence, and civil safety.
• The International Civil Defence Organisation has 58 member states and 17 observer states and conducts as many training programmes as possible to improve the human resources of its member states’ civil defence cadres.
• ICDO, was created in 1931 by Surgeon-General George Saint-Paul who founded the Association of Geneva Zones, which later became the ICDO.
• Saint-Paul intended to build safe zones where residents may take refuge in times of war after witnessing the consequences of war on the populace.

The correct answer is Very Short Range Air Defence System.

In News

• DRDO conducted two successful missile test on 28th & 29th Feb 2024 from a ground-based portable launcher off the coast of Odisha from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.

Key Points

• VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
• VSHORADS missile incorporates many novel technologies including a miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests.
  • The missile, meant for neutralizing low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor.
  • The design of the missile including the launcher has been highly optimized to ensure easy portability.
  • Both flight tests have completely met the mission objectives.

The correct answer is Bhuvan. In News

• The platform used for the Urban Frame Survey (UFS) in digital mode as per the MoU between MoSPI and ISRO is the Bhuvan Platform.

Key Points

• The MoU aims to facilitate UFS using state-of-the-art Geo ICT tools and techniques provided by Bhuvan.
• It covers the development and improvement of mobile applications, web portals, and GIS solutions built on the Bhuvan Platform.
• The collaboration between MoSPI and ISRO is focused on transforming UFS from analogue to digital mode for timely and regular updates of urban frame data.
• This initiative enhances efficiency and accuracy in urban geographical data collection and maintenance.