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Syllabus

• Prelims – Science and Technology

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the new Vande Bharat trainset.

 About Vande Bharat 2.0

• This train, the third in the Vande Bharat series, is being dubbed ‘Vande Bharat 2.0’, because of certain upgrades it has received over its predecessors, the two existing trains running from Delhi to Varanasi and Katra.

Major upgrades:

• This train reaches a top speed of 160 km per hour in 129 seconds, around 16 seconds faster than its predecessor.
• This is because this train weighs around 392 tonnes, 38 tonnes lighter than the last one, and needs to run almost a km less to attain its top speed.
• It also has a better riding index (lower the better) of 3.26 at 180 km per hour, from the earlier 3.87.
• Riding index is a global benchmark for rolling stock calculated during trials by measuring vertical/lateral acceleration.
• In layman’s terms, how comfortable and steady the passenger is while the train is in motion is roughly the idea behind a riding index.

Safety features of Vande Bharat 2.0:

• The new train comes fitted with the automatic anti-collision system Kavach, which the previous trains did not have.
• Coaches have disaster lights and their battery backup is for three hours, increased from the last one’s one-hour battery backup.
• The exterior has eight platform-side cameras, up from four.
• There is also passenger-guard communication facility in coaches, which comes with automatic voice recording feature.
• The new trainset is higher, making it safe from floods up to 650 mm, up from 400 mm.

For passengers:

• All the seats are recliner seats, as opposed to the previous versions which had fixed backseats in lower class.
• Executive Coaches have the added feature of 180-degree rotating seats.
• The internal air is filtered through photo catalytic ultra violet air purification system with UV lamp which deactivates 99 per cent of germs, something the earlier trainsets did not have.
• The coaches also have a centralised coach monitoring system through CCTV cameras, and the internal network supports data at 1 gigabyte per second
• It also has a WIFI-enabled onboard infotainment system and the LCD display in each coach is now 32 inches, up from the 24-inch screen.

Food

• The customised menu for the Vande Bharat is also in sync with the theme of year 2023, which is poised to be celebrated as the International Year of Millets.
• Malt beverages for children are being introduced as a service in the premium train.
• The usual chocolate bar will be replaced with “Peanut Chikki” with peanuts sourced from local farmers in the “Be Vocal, Go Local ideology”.

Source: Indian Express                  

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Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment and Ecology

Context: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) cabinet recently approved the notification of the state’s fourth tiger reserve in the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) in Chitrakoot district.

About Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary, was founded in 1977.
• This will be the fourth tiger reserve in the state to be developed, after Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and Amangarh.
• RWS has no tigers of its own. But it is an important corridor for the movement of tigers.
• The Ranipur Tiger Reserve has tropical dry deciduous forests and is home to fauna such as tigers, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkara and a number of birds and reptiles.
• It will also be the first in the state’s portion of the Bundelkhand region, which it shares with neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
• There are 53 Tiger Reserves in India spread across India.
• There were 2,967 tigers in India according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority estimation in 2018.

About National Tiger Conservation Authority:

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation.
• The authority consists of the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests ( as Chairperson), the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (as Vice-Chairperson), three members of Parliament, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other members.
• The ‘Project Tiger’ is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, providing funding support to tiger range States for in-situ conservation of tigers in designated tiger reserves.
• The objectives of NTCA are:
  • Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives become legal.
  • Fostering accountability of Centre-State in management of Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within our federal structure.
  • Providing for an oversight by Parliament.
  • Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.

Map showing locations of Tiger Reserves in India

Source: DownToEarth

 Previous Year Question

Q.1) Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?                                       (2020)

1. Corbett
2. Ranthambore
3. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
4. Sundarbans

Q.2) The term M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen in news in the context of    (2017)

1. Captive breeding of Wild Fauna
2. Maintenance of Tiger Reservoirs
3. Indigenous Satellite Navigation System
4. Security of National Highways

Q.3) Consider the following statements :

1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environments (Protection) Act, 1986
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister

Which if the statements given above is/are correct?  (2014)

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

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Syllabus

• Prelims – Indian Culture 

In News: UNESCO released a list of 50 exclusive and iconic heritage textile crafts of India.

• Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textile lists the histories and legends behind the textiles, describes the complicated and secret processes behind their making, mentions the causes for their dwindling popularity, and provides strategies for their preservation.
• According to UNESCO, one of the major challenges to the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the South Asia is lack of proper inventory and documentation. The publication aims to bridge this gap.
• The publication also includes recommendations for the protection and revitalization of these textile crafts, that cover the broad-spectrum of issues extending from policy to grass-root based micro-interventions.

Some of the iconic handcrafted textiles documented

• Khes from Panipat
  • These were woven in a double-cloth weave with cotton yarn in a chequered design.
  • The Khes was thick enough to be used more popularly as a bedding material, but also additionally as a shawl or a wrap.
• Chamba Rumal from Himachal Pradesh
  • An embroidered handicraft that was once promoted under the patronage of the former rulers of the Chamba kingdom.
  • It is a common item of present during marriages with detailed patterns in bright colour schemes.
  • This product has been registered for protection under the Geographical indication of the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement
• Thigma or wool tie and dye from Ladakh
  • A resist tie-dye technique on wool – Thigma is similar to the technique of Bandhani.
  • Crafted mainly in Nubra Valley, Ladakh the term Thigma is a derived from the word “thitoo‟ or dot.
  • The cloth is pinched, without any tools and the part to be resisted is tied tightly with thread.
• Awadh Jamdani from Varanasi
  • A cotton brocade characterised by floral patterns, jamdani is a light and translucent fabric.
• Bandha tie and dye from Sambalpur in Odisha
  • A resist dyeing technique and a kind of ikat
  • Geographically tagged
  • It is made through a process of tie-dying the warp and weft threads to create the design on the loom prior to weaving.
  • Every colour used in the fabric reflects a symbolic concept of the Jagannath cult. These colours are said to denote the past, present, and future, to the Vedas and the Gods Garad-Koirial from West Bengal
• Ilkal and Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Karnataka
  • The Lambani embroidery is an amalgam of pattern darning, mirror work, cross stitch, and overlaid and quilting stitches with borders of “Kangura” patchwork appliqué, done on loosely woven dark blue or red handloom base fabric.
• Sikalnayakanpet Kalamkari from Thanjavur
  • Thanjavur kalamkari features figurative drawings distinguished by black outlines and intricate borders.
  • Owing to its figurative motifs, it is also known as chithira paddam (chithira refers to “picture” and one of the meanings of paddam is “trace”).
  • Thanjavur kalamkari was first patronised by Sevappa Nayak, the first Nayaka ruler of Thanjavur.
• Toda embroidery and Sungadi from Tamil Nadu
  • The Toda Embroidery, also locally known as “Pukhoor”, is an art work among the Toda pastoral people of Nilgiris, in Tamil Nadu, made exclusively by their women.
  • The embroidery, which has a fine finish, appears like a woven cloth but is made with the use of red and black threads with a white cotton cloth background.
  • The embroidery is usually made on their cloaks called “Pootkhuly” which is draped by both women and men.
• Himroo from Maharashtra
  • Himroo is a fabric produced in Aurangabad from locally grown silk and cotton.
  • Himroo is a replica of Kum-Khwab, which was made for the royal families in ancient times from strands of gold and silver.
• Kunbi weaves from Goa
  • A type of dyed sari.
  • It is a chequered saree prominently dyed in red and its variants.
• Mashru weaves and Patola from Gujarat
  • Mashroo is a woven textile craft form with a purpose stemming from religion.
  • ‘Mashroo’ meaning ‘permitted’ in Arabic lends credibility to the textile since wearing pure silk was prohibited. The Mashroo method made it a fabric ‘permitted by the sacred law of Islam’.

Lists by UNESCO

1. The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – Includes cultural practices and expressions that assist to highlight the variety of this heritage and raise awareness of its significance.
2. The List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding – Is made up of cultural aspects that concerned groups and countries consider vulnerable and in need of immediate protection.

UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Aim: Ensuring the better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and creating awareness of their significance.
• This list has been classified into five broad domains in which intangible cultural heritage is manifested:
  • Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage
  • Performing arts
  • Social practices, rituals and festive events
  • Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
  • Traditional craftsmanship

MUST READ: Textile in India

Source: The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Consider the following pairs:

Crafts                               Heritage of

1. Puthukkuli shawls           Tamil Nadu
2. Sujni embroidery             Maharashtra
3. Uppada Jamdani saris    Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is /are correct?   (2018)

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2
3. 3 only
4. 2 and 3

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Syllabus

• GS Prelims – Economy

Released by: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

• On the top: Switzerland has emerged as the world’s most innovative economy for the 12th consecutive year. Leads on innovation outputs, and specifically in patents by origin, software spending, high-tech manufacturing and production and export complexity.
• The second position was secured by the United States (US) followed by Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands.

The rankings were based on the areas of:

• Human and capital research
• Business sophistication
• Infrastructure
• Technology outputs

India: Secured the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index.

• This is the first time the country entered the top 40. Last year, India was at the 46th position.
• India is the innovation leader in the lower middle-income group, and continues to lead the world in ICT services exports and holds top rankings in other indicators, including venture capital receipt value, finance for startups and scaleups, graduates in science and engineering, labour productivity growth and domestic industry diversification.”

Source: Hindustan Times                      

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Syllabus

• GS Prelims – Current Affairs

In News: About 175 persons allegedly involved in drug smuggling have been arrested in different parts of the country in an operation led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in close coordination with Interpol, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the police forces.

About Operation Garuda :

• The multi-phase exercise code-named “Operation Garuda” has been launched to dismantle the drug smuggling networks with international linkages through coordinated enforcement actions across the world, through Interpol.
• Objective: Operation GARUDA seeks to target drug networks with international footprints for action against handlers, operatives, production zones and support elements.

Source: The Hindu

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Syllabus  

• GS Prelims – Infrastructure

Location: At Bhavnagar, Gujarat

• A three-year-old project
• Expected to infuse Rs 4,000 crore in developing the existing port infrastructure at
• Special lock-gate system at Bhavnagar port
  • The consortium will repair and redevelop the tidal lock gate system, which will be the fourth largest such system in the world.
  • Traditionally, because of the higher tidal range of approximately 10 meters, Bhavnagar creek attracts a significant amount of sediment in the form of silt.
  • This lock gate system has been set up so that a minimal amount of sediment enters the port basin during high tide, thus bringing down the cost of dredging inside the port substantially.

Why is the Bhavnagar port important?

The Bhavnagar port is in close vicinity to the Dholer Special Investment Region (SIR) and is expected to serve the industries that set up base in the region. It is already connected to the northern hinterland through a railway line that extends to the existing berths at the port.

Source: Indian Express

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Syllabus

• Prelims – Agriculture
• Mains – GS 3 (Economy and Environment)

Introduction: Considering the genetic altering impact on the human body and biodiversity loss, reduction in pesticide usage i.e., chemical farming should have become an Indian government’s  priority long ago.

With reference to Indian agriculture, we will discuss organic farming for sustainable and stable development over chemical farming in detail:

What is organic Farming?

• As per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic farming is a system which largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and relies upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, organic waste, and biological system of nutrient mobilization.
• Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient times.
• Currently India ranks 33rd in terms of total land under organic cultivation and 88th in terms of the ratio of agricultural land under organic crops to total farming area.

What are the principles adopted in Organic Farming in India?

• Organic agriculture grows and develops with these principles. These can contribute to improving organic agriculture for the world.
• There are four principles of organic farming are as follow:-
  • Principles of Health – The health of the ecosystem, people, and communities.
  • The Principles of Ecology – The right balance between ecosystem and environment or nature.
  • Principles of Fairness – Good human relationships and quality of life.
  • Principles of Care – The considerations about the environment and environment of the future.

Need of encouraging the use of organic farming in India:

• Unsustainable conventional agriculture: The ill effects of the conventional farming system are felt in India in terms of the unsustainability of agricultural production, environmental degradation, health and sanitation problems, etc. Organic agriculture is needed as an alternative method to the modern system.
• Agricultural productivity: The fertilizer and pesticide consumption has increased manifold but this trend has not been reflected in the crop productivity to that extent during green revolution.
  • Organic farming has the potential of increased productivity in the long term due to better soil conditions and ecosystems.
• Rising population: With the increase in population there is need to increase agriculture production further in sustainable manner. The scientists have realized that the ‘Green Revolution’ with high input use has reached its peak and is now diminishing returns. Thus, a sustainable organic alternative is needed.
• Employment Opportunities: According to many studies, organic farming requires more labour input than the conventional farming system. India which has a very large amount of labour unemployment and underemployment can generate agricultural jobs through organic farming in rural areas.
• Healthy food: Several indirect benefits from organic farming are available to both the farmers and consumers.
  • While the consumers get healthy foods with better taste and nutritive values, the farmers are indirectly benefited from healthy soils and farm production environment.
• Eco-tourism: Eco-tourism is increasingly becoming popular and organic farms have turned into such favourite spots in many countries like Italy.
  • Organic farming adds to the beauty of the fields and provides protection to the ecosystem, flora, fauna with increased biodiversity and the resulting benefits to all human and living beings.

Challenges in Organic Farming in India:

Shortage of Biomass: experts are not sure whether all the nutrients with the required quantities can be made available by the organic materials. Even if this problem can be surmounted, they are of the view that the available organic matter is not simply enough to meet the requirements

Disparity of Supply and Demand: Non-perishable grains can be grown anywhere and transported to any location but this is not the case with fruits and vegetables.

Time: organic farming requires greater interaction between a farmer and his crop for observation, timely intervention and weed control for instance.

High MRP: It is almost obvious that due to the extreme care taken to go along with organic farming, the results would be kept at a high price.

Lack of special infrastructure: Most large organic farms still operate in an industrialized agriculture style, including industrial transportation of the food from field to plate. Unfortunately, this involves the adoption of the same environmentally harmful practices as those of factory farms which are however hidden under the cover of being organic

Important Government Initiatives/Schemes:

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana: promotes cluster based organic farming with PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) certification. Cluster formation, training, certification and marketing are supported under the scheme.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: Assistance for promotion of organic farming on different components are also available with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee

One District – One Product: The programme aims to encourage more visibility and sale of indigenous and specialized products/crafts of Uttar Pradesh, generating employment at the district level.

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm: Financial assistance is being provided for different components including bio-fertilizers, supply of Rhizobium culture/Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)/Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB)/ Azotobacter/Mycorrhiza and vermin-compost.

The Organic Farming Action Programme: The objective is to promote and significantly develop organic farming by means of priority measures

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) is the food regulator in the country and is also responsible for regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS): PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards.

• PGS Green is given to chemical free produce under transition to ‘organic’ which takes 3 years. It is mainly for domestic purpose.

National Program for Organic Production (NPOP): NPOP grants organic farming certification through a process of third-party certification for export purposes.

Way Forward:

Unsustainable agricultural practices have proved to be harmful for land, soil and farmers in general. A switch to organic farming can not only help to achieve sustainable agricultural production but would help farmers with rise in income and production.

An emphasis should be given to organic farming. Sikkim is being such a state to recognise it early and becoming a 100% organic state. Other states should work for the same.

Source: Indian Express

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Syllabus

• Prelims – Governance
• Mains – GS 2 (Governance)

Context: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), which the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S., acknowledges to be the most common congenital disorder, is responsible for 28% of all congenital birth defects, and accounts for 6 to 10 % of all the infant deaths in India.

• Congenital heart disease is a general term for a range of birth defects that affect the normal way the heart works. CHD is a defect in the structure of the heart or great vessels that is classed as a cardiovascular disease (CVD). The term “congenital” means the condition is present from birth. Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect.

Status of CHD:

• Paediatricians say timely medical intervention can save 75% of these children and give them normal lives. The lack of a national policy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in children keeps a huge number outside the ambit of treatment.
• According to the Paediatric Cardiac Society of India (PCSI), the prevalence of congenital cardiac anomalies is one in every 100 live births; or an estimated 2 lakh children are born with CHD every year. Only 15,000 of them receive treatment.
• At least 30% of infants who have complex defects require surgical intervention to survive their first birthday but only 2,500 operations can be performed each year. A case in point is the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where infants are waitlisted till 2026 for cardiac surgery.
• A 2018 article by the Department of Cardiothoracic Cardiology, AIIMS, states, “paediatric cardiology is not a priority area in the face of competing demands for the resources”.

A distressing perception, ground realities:

• There has been more neglect and little improvement in child health care because creating a comprehensive paediatric cardiology care service is usually considered economically unviable.
• There are 22 hospitals and less than 50 centres in India with infant and neonatal cardiac services. Geographically, these centres are not well distributed either.
  • A 2018 cardiology department report of AIIMS, highlighted how South India accounted for 70% of these centres; most centres are located in regions with a lower burden of CHD.

It taxes the vulnerable and the marginalised the most:

• For 600 districts with a 1.4 billion population, there are only 250 paediatric cardiologists available. The doctor to patient ratio is an abysmal one for half-a-crore population.
• Apart from the low number of paediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, and critical care centres, poverty is another barrier before treatment.
• It is not just unaffordability but also inaccessibility that constraints paediatric services. In addition, there is the non-availability of crucial equipment that is essential for diagnosis of heart diseases in the unborn.

Antenatal checks are crucial:

• The Child Heart Foundation, an NGO working with underprivileged children with CHD, has been flagging the need for Fetal echocardiography a test that is done usually during the second trimester of pregnancy to check for CVD/ CHD in the foetus.
• Paediatricians say antenatal detection of congenital anomalies is crucial for neonatal care and management. But certain congenital defects such as accurate heart health assessment are not visible in a normal ultrasonography of an unborn baby.
  • Fetal echocardiography done in a pregnant woman of 18 to 24 weeks allows better visualisation of the structure and function of the heart.
• There are programmes worth emulating such as Kerala’s ‘Hridayam (for little hearts)’, aimed at early detection, management and support to children with CHD or the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme offering free specialised surgeries.
• The Ayushman Bharat, is expected to financially assist 10 crore poor families but has still to take off.
  • So far, a few states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have started to implement it.

Ayushman Bharat Scheme/National Health Protection Scheme:

• Launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and to meet SDG and its underlining commitment, which is “leave no one behind”.
• The mission adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components, which are:
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs).
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
• HWCs are upgraded primary healthcare centres. It also envisages developing 1.5 lakh such HWCs to cater to the healthcare need at the grassroots level.

Key Features of PM-JAY:

• The world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government, it provides healthcare cover of 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.
• Coverage: Over 10 crore poor and vulnerable entitled families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) are eligible for these benefits.
• Provides cashless access to health care services for the beneficiary at the point of service.
• PM-JAY is envisaged to reduce India’s Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on healthcare, which used to be one of the highest in the world. From the levels of 65%, OOPE in India has now come down to around 49%.

Benefits and significance

• Helps reduce catastrophic expenditure for hospitalizations, which pushes 6 crore people into poverty each year.
• Helps mitigate the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes.

Eligibility Criteria:

• No restrictions on family size, age or gender.
• All pre–existing conditions are covered from day one.
• Covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines.
• Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country.
• Services include approximately 1,393 procedures covering all the costs related to treatment, including but not limited to drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician’s fees, room charges, surgeon charges, OT and ICU charges etc.
• Public hospitals are reimbursed for the healthcare services at par with the private hospitals.

Way Forward:

• There is a need to explicitly include CVD/ CHD under the ambit of PM-JAY and to raise public awareness on people’s entitlement towards these services.
• On the World Heart Day (September 29) we need to act fast to help India’s many children in need.

Source:  The Hindu

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?       (2022)

1. They protect the body from environmental allergens.
2. They alleviate the body’s pain and inflammation.
3. They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
4. They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.

Q.1) Consider the following Tiger Reserves (TR) in India:

1. Bandipur TR
2. Dudhwa TR
3. Rajaji TR
4. Pilibhit TR

Which of the above-mentioned TR are located in Uttar Pradesh?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 3 and 4 only
4. 1 and 3 only

Q.2) Consider the following pairs:

Textile                                   State/UT

1. Himroo fabric                    Madhya Pradesh
2. Thigma/Wool tie               Ladakh
3. Chamba Rumal                 Himachal Pradesh
4. Mashru weaves                 Gujrat

How many given pairs above is/are correctly matched?

1. One pair only
2. Two pairs only
3. Three pairs only
4. All four pairs

Q.3) Which among the following organization releases the “Global Innovation Index”?

1. World Intellectual Property Organization
2. World Economic Forum
3. World Bank
4. Food and Agricultural Organization

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’1st October 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – c