Solution (a)

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are islands of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The SIDS were recognized as a distinct group of developing countries in June 1992, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development. 

Their small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to global environmental challenges and external economic shocks, including to a large range of impacts from climate change and potentially more frequent and intense natural disasters SIDS continue to address those structural and external challenges to achieve their sustainable development.

SIDS are broken down into three geographic regions: the Caribbean; the Pacific; and Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS). SIDS of Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS) are: Bahrain, Cape Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, and Singapore.

Article Link: Small island states faced thrice as much fall in GDP in 2020 as other developing countries: UN

Solution (b)

Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies, which can include bonds, treasury bills and other government securities.

India’s Forex Reserve include:

• Foreign Currency Assets (FCA)
• Gold reserves
• Special Drawing Rights
• Reserve position with the IMF

FCAs are assets that are valued based on a currency other than the country’s own currency.

FCA is the largest component of the forex reserve. It is expressed in dollar terms.

The FCAs include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

Importance of Increasing Foreign Exchange Reserves:

• The government is in a comfortable position if there are rising forex reserves and the RBI in managing India’s external and internal financial issues at a time of major contraction in economic growth.
• It Assist the government in meeting its foreign exchange needs and external debt obligations.
• Appreciation in Rupee – The rising foreign exchange reserves helps the rupee to strengthen against the dollar. to characterise the conditions that may have led to the emergence of habitable environments among the Jovian icy satellites
• Crisis Management: Rising Forex Reserve serves as a cushion in the event of a Balance of Payment crisis on the economic front
• Confidence in the Market: Forex Reserves provides a level of confidence to markets and investors that a country can meet its external obligations.

Article Link: Fuelled by rising currency assets, forex reserves race past $600 bn

Solution (d)

EnVision mission is a European Space Agency (ESA) led mission with contributions from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The mission will carry a range of instruments to study the atmosphere and surface of the planet Venus and monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and analyse its surface composition.

Article Link: European Space Agency’s EnVision mission to Venus

Solution (b)

At 5.793m (19,005ft) above the sea level, Umling La is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. It is located in Ladakh.

The 54 km long road passing through Umling La Pass connected the villages of Chisumle and Demchok and took six years to be built by BRO under Project Himank.

Solution (c)

Gharials, sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts. Crocodilians are a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more. Population of Gharials are a good indicator of clean river water

India has three species of Crocodilians namely:

• Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): IUCN Red List- Critically Endangered
• Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris): IUCN- Vulnerable.
• Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): IUCN- Least Concern.

The National Chambal Sanctuary is first and only tri-State riverine protected area in India for breeding population of critically endangered Gharial. It is located at the tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The Chambal River, one of the longest rivers, with nearly 1800 km length, out of which 177 km long river falls under the National Chambal Sanctuary.

The sanctuary is important habitat of the Critically Endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle and the Endangered Ganges river dolphin.

More than 75% of the critically endangered Gharial population is based in the sanctuary.

Article Link: Odisha forest department announces cash reward for rescuing gharials