24th April 2025

With reference to the Strait of Gibraltar, consider the following statements:

1. It is the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with its narrowest point located between Morocco’s Point Cires and Spain’s Point Marroquí.
2. The eastern extremity of the Strait is marked by the Pillars of Heracles, which include the Rock of Gibraltar and Mount Hacho (Jebel Moussa).
3. The Mediterranean Sea’s highly saline waters flow outward and underneath the less saline Atlantic waters, which flow inward and on top.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region:

1. The HKH region is the source of ten major Asian river systems, including the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.
2. The region is often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to its vast permanent ice cover outside the polar areas.
3. The highest peak in the HKH is Tirich Mir, located in Afghanistan.
4. The HKH region contains four global biodiversity hotspots and supports a quarter of the world’s population through its river basins.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

With reference to the criticisms of Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) globally, consider the following statements:

1. Over-allocation of permits can lead to reduced permit prices, thereby weakening the incentive for industries to invest in cleaner technologies.
2. In China’s ETS, the use of emissions intensity targets instead of absolute caps may not guarantee a reduction in total emissions as industrial output increases.
3. Environmental justice concerns have been raised in California’s ETS due to increased emissions in disadvantaged communities.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Regarding the Surat Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), consider the following statements:

1. The Surat-ETS was developed with the collaboration of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), J-PAL, EPIC, and Yale University.
2. The scheme targeted industries primarily using natural gas as their main fuel source.
3. The Surat-ETS is the first market-based pilot in the world aimed at controlling particulate matter pollution.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

With reference to the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) norms as implemented by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), consider the following statements:

1. The LCR requires banks to hold a stock of High-Quality Liquid Assets (HQLAs) sufficient to cover their total net cash outflows over a 30-day stress period.
2. The revised RBI guidelines mandate that all commercial banks, including payments banks and regional rural banks, must apply the new run-off factors for digital deposits effective from April 1, 2026.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?