23rd September 2024

Explanation: The Wilmington Declaration aims to advance a free and open Indo-
Pacific through initiatives such as maritime security cooperation, cancer prevention
efforts, and infrastructure development

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. White Revolution 2.0 aims to increase
milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% over five years, and NPDD 2.0 will
provide the bulk of funding. Statement 3 is incorrect as it focuses on increasing the
share in the organized sector, not unorganized. Statement 4 is incorrect as the pilot
project covered Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, not Gujarat, Kerala, and
Sikkim.

Explanation: The passage mentions reduced government spending, not increased
spending, in the lead-up to elections as a factor exacerbating the deposit crunch.
The other options are all mentioned as factors contributing to the widening credit-
deposit gap.

Explanation - Blue Renewable Energy Sources refer to sustainable energy derived
from the
ocean's natural forces, including tidal waves, ocean currents, and thermal gradients.
These
sources harness the immense power of the sea to generate electricity without
emitting
greenhouse gases, making them a clean and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Key
types of blue renewable energy include —
• Tidal Energy — Generated from the rise and fall of tides, tidal energy uses turbines
placed
in tidal streams or barrages to produce electricity.
• Wave Energy — Captures energy from surface waves using floating devices or
underwater
systems, converting the kinetic motion of waves into power.
• Ocean Current Energy — Utilises the continuous flow of ocean currents to turn
underwater
turbines, generating consistent and predictable electricity.
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) — Exploits the temperature difference
between warm surface water and cold deep water to generate power, often using a heat
engine.
Blue renewable energy holds significant potential for sustainable power generation,
particularly for coastal and island nations, providing a reliable and environmentally
friendly energy solution.

Explanation - NGLV will have 3 times the present payload capability with 1.5 times
the cost
compared to LVM3, and will also have reusability resulting in low-cost access to
space and
modular green propulsion systems. The development of the NGLV is taken up which
is
designed to have a maximum payload capability of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit,
which also has a reusable first stage. This development project will be implemented
with maximal
participation from the Indian industry, which is also expected to invest in the
manufacturing
capacity at the outset itself, thereby allowing a seamless transition to the operational
phase subsequent to the development. NGLV will be demonstrated with three
development flights (D1, D2 & D3) with a target of 96 months (8 years) for the
completion of the development phase. The total fund approved is Rs. 8240.00 Crore
and includes the development costs, three developmental flights, essential facility
establishment, Programme Management and Launch Campaign. Significance — It
will enable national & commercial missions including launch of human spaceflight
missions to Bharatiya Antariksh Station. Lunar/inter-planetary exploration missions
along with communication & earth observation satellite constellations to Low Earth
Orbit that will benefit the entire space ecosystem in the country. This project will
boost the Indian space
ecosystem in terms of capability and capacity.