Answer: B

Explanation:

Carnatic vocalist and Magsaysay Award winner T.M. Krishna has been selected recently for the Sangita Kalanidhi award of the Music Academy for 2024. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The Sangita Kalanidhi is an award given to a Carnatic musician by the Madras Music Academy and is considered the highest accolade in the field of Carnatic music.  The award consists of a gold medal and a birudu patra (citation). Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

The Sangita Kalanidhi is considered the Oscar equivalent for Carnatic music. It is a landmark institution in the history of the fine arts and emerged as an offshoot of the All India Congress Session held in Madras in December 1927. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

EU chief and five European leaders visited Egypt to announce a €7.4 billion financial package aimed at addressing economic challenges and migration issues. The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 European countries. 19 European Union member states use the euro (€) as their official currency, while 8 do not use the euro.

It plays a role in external relations and defense through the Common Foreign and Security Policy. It maintains diplomatic missions worldwide and participates in international organizations like the UN, WTO, G7 and G20. The EU was officially established with the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, achieving full legal personality with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative aims to bridge literacy gaps and promote lifelong learning among citizens aged 15 and above. The program also emphasizes digital literacy, financial awareness and essential life skills. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The Government of India has approved the ULLAS initiative for the period FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Education For All (erstwhile termed as Adult Education). The program is under the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS).  Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Recently, the Kerala Animal Husbandry department has decided to conserve dwarf cow, locally known as Thenmala Kullan and launch studies to register it as a unique indigenous breed.  Thenmala Kullan is a locally found breed of dwarf cow indigenous to Kerala, India. These cows thrive on forest-based fodder, indicating adaptation to local ecological conditions. Tribespeople from Arippa and Thenmala have historically reared these cows, preserving their unique genetic traits over generations. Although, they produce nutrient-rich A2 milk, the quantity is limited, making them primarily valuable for calf rearing and manure production. A2 milk is a type of dairy milk that contains A2 beta-casein, while regular milk contains both A1 and A2 beta-casein. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct while statements 3 and 4 are incorrect.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Recently, Niger's ruling junta ended an agreement that allowed the United States to run a drone base in the country. Niger, officially known as the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Niamey is the capital of this country. Niger shares its borders with Chad (East), Mali (West), Libya (Northeast), Algeria (Northwest), Nigeria (South) and Benin and Burkina Faso (Southwest). The Niger River, one of the longest rivers in Africa, flows through Niger. The highest point in Niger is Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès, also known as Mount Bagzane, located in the Air Mountains (also known as the Aïr Massif) in northern Niger. Niger's mineral resources include uranium, gold, coal, oil etc. Hence, option (b) is correct.