3. Consider the following statements about ‘Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)’?
1) CCS can contribute to stabilizing atmospheric CO2 levels.
2) CCS can contribute to energy security.
3) CCS can help cut down on the cost of industrial processes.

4. Consider the following statements about innocent passage.
1) Only merchant ships of foreign countries are allowed innocent passage through territorial
sea.
2) Under UNCLOS, the right to the innocent passage can never be suspended.

Answer: D
Explanation
What is meant by carbon capture and storage?
● Carbon capture and storage (CCS) refers to technologies that can capture carbon dioxide
(CO₂) at a source of emissions before it is released into the atmosphere.
● These sources include the fossil fuel industry (where coal, oil and gas are combusted to
generate power) and industrial processes like steel and cement production.
● Process involved
○ Capture: CO2 is captured at its source, typically from industrial facilities or power
plants, before it is released into the atmosphere.
○ Transportation: The captured CO2 is then transported, often by pipelines, to a
suitable storage site.
○ Storage: The final step involves injecting the CO2 into geological formations such
as depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers.

Benefits of CCS

● By capturing CO2 emissions from various sources, CCS can help stabilize atmospheric CO2
levels, which is crucial for addressing climate change. Hence. statement 1 is correct.
● CCS can contribute to energy security by allowing for the continued use of domestic fossil
fuel resources, which can help reduce reliance on imported energy sources. Hence.
statement 2 is correct.
● CCS technologies can be integrated into industrial processes to improve efficiency and reduce
emissions, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits. Hence. statement 3 is
correct.

Answer: D
Explanation
● According to UNCLOS, the territorial sea can be defined as the area which extends up to 12
nautical miles from the baseline of a country’s coastal state. The territorial sea is under the
jurisdiction of that particular country; however, foreign ships (both merchant and military)
ships are allowed passage through it. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● This type of passage of territorial passage of foreign ships is known as an innocent
passage. However, the right to the innocent passage can be suspended if there is a threat to
the security of the coastal state. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

1. ‘Right to Shelter’ is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?

Answer: D
Explanation
● Imposing a pan-India ban on instant ‘bulldozer justice’, Supreme Court has held
demolition of a citizen's house merely because he is an accused or even a convict, that too
without following the due process as prescribed by law, will be “totally unconstitutional”.
● The apex court underlined that right to shelter is part of right to life guaranteed under
Article 21 of the Constitution. Hence, answer is option D.
● It laid down detailed guidelines for razing illegal structures and ruled that a state cannot
breach a family’s right to shelter by demolishing their house only because one of its
members is accused of a heinous crime.
● The order calls for 15 days’ notice, served on the owner by registered post, containing
details of the violations as well as the grounds for the action to be taken.
● A personal hearing, a reasoned order and an inspection report signed by witnesses have
also been made mandatory.

2. Consider the following statements.
1) India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
2) Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act draws from the United Nations Convention
on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
3) United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) obliges India to
promote accessibility as an essential right.

Answer: C
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act:
● As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(CRPD), India is obligated to promote accessibility as an essential right. Hence,
statements 1 and 3 are correct.
● Enacted in 2016, the RPwD Act draws on the CRPD and aims “to ensure that all persons
with disabilities can lead their lives with dignity, without discrimination and with
equal opportunities.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.
○ The Act increased types of disabilities from existing 7 to 21.
○ All Government institutions of higher education and those getting aid from the
Government are required to reserve at least 5% of seats for persons with
benchmark disabilities.
○ Four percent reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities is to be
provided in posts of all Government establishments with differential quotas for
different forms of disabilities.

○ Incentives to employers in the private sector are to be given who provide 5%
reservation for persons with benchmark disability.

● The RPwD Rules of 2017, framed under the Act, were to lay down specific accessibility
standards.
● So far, 17 standards and guidelines have been notified across government ministries and
departments. The lack of uniformity across the different guidelines would create issues
in enforcement, the SC noted.
● It added that once the mandatory rules are prescribed, the Centre, state governments and
union territories would have to ensure that non-compliance with the accessibility
standards is penalised.
Why in news?
● A bench of the Supreme Court has ordered the Union government to frame mandatory rules for ensuring the accessibility of public places and services to persons with disabilities.
● The apex court reaffirmed accessibility as a fundamental right and noted that the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act were not being treated as mandatory.

3. Consider the following statements about Generic drugs.
1) Generic drugs are drugs produced by other manufacturers once the patent for the original drug expires.
2) A generic drug is slightly inferior to an already existing brand-name drug in terms of quality and performance characteristics.
3) Generic drugs are slightly expensive compared to their branded counterparts.

4. Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
1) The scheme aims to provide access to clean cooking fuel to poor households.
2) The scheme releases deposit free LPG connections in the name of the eldest male member of
the family.

Answer: A
Explanation
Generic drugs
● When a company develops a new drug — often after years of research — it applies for a
patent, which prohibits anyone else from making the drug for a fixed period (usually
20 years unless specified).
● To recover the cost of research and development, companies usually price their brand-
name drugs on the higher side.
● Once the patent expires, other manufacturers duplicate and market their own versions of
the drug — known as Generic drugs. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● A generic drug is created to be the same as an already existing brand-name drug in
dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance
characteristics, and intended use. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● Generic drugs are equally effective and inexpensive (50%-90% less) compared to their
branded counterparts. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Answer: A
Explanation
About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
● The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas launched PMUY to release deposit free LPG
connections in the name of adult women members of poor households across the
country. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● Launched in 2016, the primary objective of the PMUY is to provide access to clean
cooking fuel LPG to poor households thereby protecting their health by reducing the
serious health hazards associated with use of conventional cooking fuel such as firewood,
coal, cow dung etc. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● Under the scheme, cash assistance of Rs. 1600 is given to the beneficiaries to get a deposit-free new connection.
● Additionally, all PMUY beneficiaries will be provided with first LPG refill and stove (hotplate) both free of cost by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
● A targeted subsidy of Rs.300 per LPG cylinder for upto 12 refills per year is also provided to PMUY consumers.
Beneficiaries
● Initially, the beneficiaries were identified through Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), 2011 data.
● The scope of PMUY was later expanded to cover all the poor families in the country subject to fulfilling the terms and conditions.

Places in news Region
1. Baku Palestine
2. Kazan Azerbaijan
3. Ramallah Russia