30th November 2024

Explanation - The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organisation (of 14 nations), created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. OPEC plus countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,

Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.

Explanation - Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the most common encephalitides (inflammation of the brain) worldwide. The disease is caused by a mosquito-borne flavivirus and is found across south and east areas of Asia. It is a zoonosis – an animal disease that can spread to humans. JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes, which lay their eggs in irrigated rice paddies and other pools of stagnant water. Pigs and birds serve as amplifying vertebrate hosts. Humans are believed to be dead-end hosts. The disease outbreak usually occurs during the rainy season. Case-fatality rate in severe clinical cases is estimated to be 20–30%, with young children (< 10 years) having a greater risk of severe disease and death. The first case in India was reported in 1955 but the disease was restricted to south India. In India, while 24 states are endemic for JE, Uttar Pradesh contributed more than 75% of cases during the recent past.

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect as the Department of Sports, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), is the nodal agency for e-sports. Statement 2 is incorrect as online games not involving real money do not require regulatory approval. Statement 3 is correct as states can enact their own laws on online gaming. Statement 4 is incorrect as there is no clear definition distinguishing games of skill and chance at the central level.

Explanation - The Rengma Naga are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group inhabiting the Northeast Indian states of Nagaland and Assam. According to the 2011 Census of India, the population of Rengmas in Nagaland stands at 62,951 and the population of Rengmas in Assam is around 22,000. They call themselves by the names of "Njong" or “Injang". They belong to the Mongoloid racial stock. It is believed that Rengmas, along with other Naga tribes, migrated from Southeast Asia across the Yunnan Mountain ranges and settled down in the upper Burma region. Slavery used to be practised among the Rengmas, and the slaves were most commonly known by the names menugetenyu and itsakesa. By the time the Britishers arrived in the Naga region, slavery was a declining practice, and no Rengma appears to have been a slave during that time. Economy — The Rengma tribes are agriculturalists. They grow paddy through Jhum cultivation and wet cultivation. Besides paddy staple crops, seasonal crops and fruits are also grown. Religion — Traditionally, Rengma tribes are worshippers of supernatural beings. Now most of the Rengma tribes are Christians. Festivals — Rengma Tribes celebrate a lot of seasonal festivals that are related to the agriculture. "Ngada" is the most important festival of Rengma tribes.

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect; tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters, not land masses. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Saffir-Simpson scale is primarily used in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, not globally. Statement 3 is correct; sea surface temperatures of at least 26.5°C are required for cyclone formation. Statement 4 is incorrect; cyclones in both hemispheres generally move from east to west under the influence of trade winds.