Answer: C
Explanation:
● The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were set up at a meeting of 43
countries in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA in July 1944.
● The World Bank is an international organization dedicated to providing financing, advice,
and research to developing nations to aid their economic advancement.
● Its role is to reduce poverty by lending money to the governments of its poorer members to
improve their economies and to improve the standard of living of their people.
● Statement 1 is correct: India is one of the founder members of the world bank.
● Statement 2 is correct: To become a member of the World Bank, under the International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) Articles of Agreement, a country must
first join the IMF.

2. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is

Answer: B
Explanation
● Established in 1951, International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading inter-
governmental organization in the field of migration.
● IOM works to ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote
international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions
to the challenges of migration and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need,
including refugees and internally displaced people.
● In 2016, IOM entered into an agreement with the United Nations, becoming a related
organization. (not part of the UN system). Hence option B is correct.
● IOM serves as coordinator of the United Nations network on migration, established by
the Secretary-General in 2018.
● According to IOM’s latest strategic plan, the organization’s three main objectives for 2024-
2028 are: to save lives and protect people on the move, drive solutions to displacement and
facilitate pathways for regular migration.

3. With reference to the Securities Appellate Tribunal, consider the following statements

1) It is a statutory body established under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act,
1992.
2) It hears and disposes of appeals against orders passed by the Insurance Regulatory
Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
3) There is no appeal against the orders of the Securities Appellate Tribunal.

Answer: B
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: Securities Appellate Tribunal is a statutory body established
under the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
● It was mainly established to hear and dispose of appeals against orders passed by SEBI or
by an adjudicating officer under the SEBI Act.
● SAT hears and disposes of appeals against orders passed by the Pension Fund Regulatory
and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the PFRDA Act, 2013.
● Statement 2 is correct: SAT also hears and disposes of appeals against orders passed by
the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
● SAT has only one bench which sits at Mumbai.
Composition
● SAT consists one Presiding Officer and such number of Judicial and Technical Members
as the Central Government may determine.
● The person so appointed as the Presiding Officer should meet with the following
requirements:
○ The retired or sitting Judge of the Supreme Court
○ The retired or sitting Chief Justice of a High Court
○ The retired or sitting Judge of High Court, who has completed at least seven years of
service as a Judge in a High Court.

Appeal
● Statement 3 is incorrect: Every person aggrieved by any order or decision of Securities
Appellate Tribunal can file an appeal to the supreme court. Also, the appeal only can be
made on any question of law.

4. Consider the following statements about the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC)
1) It primarily aims to conduct agricultural research.
2) It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Answer: D
Explanation
Both the statements are incorrect.
● The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is under administrative control of the
Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

● NCDC started as a malaria institute in 1909. Later, the institute expanded its focus to other
diseases with a larger mandate of controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases.
● The Institute takes a leading role in undertaking investigations of disease outbreaks all
over the country employing epidemiological and diagnostic tools.
● The headquarters of NCDC is located in New Delhi.

5. Which of the following CAPFs is/are responsible for guarding India's international borders?
1) Border Security Force (BSF)
2) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
3) Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
4) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

Answer: A
Explanation
● The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to the uniform nomenclature of seven
security forces in India which function under the administrative control of the Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA). They are
○ Assam Rifles (AR)
○ Border Security Force (BSF)
○ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
○ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
○ Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
○ National Security Guard (NSG) and
○ Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB).
● Of the CAPFs, the AR, BSF, ITBP and SSB are Border Guarding Forces. The NSG is a
commando trained force Organisation in India and is used for special operations. The
CISF provides security and protection to industrial undertakings and vital
installations. The CRPF is deployed in aid of civil power in matters relating to
maintenance of law and order, internal security and counter-insurgency.
● The CAPF’s are headed by DGP rank officers.

1. Consider the following statements about ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’.
1. The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in
1915.
2. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on
overseas Indians.
3. A convention is organised once every year to mark the contribution of the overseas
Indian community to the development of India.

2. Z-Morh tunnel, recently seen in news, connects which of the following regions of India?

Answer: B
Soln:
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
● 9 January commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in
1915. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● To mark this day, the tradition of celebrating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) started in 2003.
● 1st PBD Convention was organised on 9 January 2003 to mark the contribution of the
overseas Indian community to the development of India.
● Since 2015, under a revised format, PBD Convention has been organised once every 2
years. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● 17 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conventions have been organised till date. 17th PBD was held
from 8 – 10 January 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The theme of the 17th PBD
Convention was "Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in Amrit Kaal".
● The 18th PBD Convention will be held from 8 – 10 January 2025 in Bhubaneswar,
Odisha. The theme of the 18th PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit
Bharat".
● The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on
overseas Indians. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● PBSA is conferred by the Hon’ble President of India as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Convention on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an
organization/institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of
Indian Origin in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.
● The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards will be conferred by the Hon’ble President of
India at the PBD Convention in the Valedictory Session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
celebrations.

Answer: A
Soln:
● The Z-Morh tunnel is set to become the first major milestone in the effort to build a
strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh which is open all through the year.
Hence, option A is correct.

● It is built under the mountain glacier of Thajiwas Glacier between Gagangir and
Sonamarg, the tunnel bypasses the landslide- and avalanche-prone pockets of the road.
● An intelligent traffic management system will make it easier to control the flow of vehicles
and will also open up the Thajiwas Glacier and Sindh River for adventure tourism.
● The 6.5-km long two-lane tunnel is a key feature of the strategic access route to Ladakh.
● The main tunnel is 10.8 metres wide, with a modified horseshoe-shaped escape tunnel of
7.5 metres, D-shaped ventilation tunnel of 8.3 metres, two major culverts of 110 metres and
270 metres length, and one small culvert which is 30 metres long.
● The Z-Morh will lead towards the Zojila tunnel, which is being constructed nearby.