Answer: B

Explanation:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her Union Budget speech on July 23, 2024 that corridor projects will be built for the Vishnupad Temple at Gaya in Bihar. The Vishnupad Temple in Gaya, Bihar is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is located on the banks of the Falgu river (tributary of the river Ganges) in the southern part of Bihar. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The temple is named after the 40-cm-long footprint of Vishnu that is said to be embedded in a basalt rock. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

The Vishnupad Temple is believed to have been built on the site where Vishnu killed the demon Gayasura. The temple was built in 1787 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Ahmadnagar and is around 100 feet tall with 44 pillars. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Recently, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) praised the inaugural Modi 3.0 Union Budget for 2024-25, highlighting its support for both domestic consumers and foreign investors by enhancing the ease of doing business in India. The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum is an independent non-profit, non-governmental and non-partisan organization. It was established in 2017 to strengthen the strategic and economic partnership between the United States and India. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The forum aims to enhance business ties, promote economic growth and improve the overall relationship between the two countries. According to the forum, India-US bilateral trade is expected to reach $238 billion by 2025. Its headquarter is located in Washington, D.C. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Recently, the Finance Minister of India announced a reduction in customs duty on input materials like critical minerals, electronics, chemicals, and precious metals, effective July 24. Custom duty, also known as import/export tariff, is an indirect tax levied on imported goods and some exported items. It is a form of foreign trade control that can protect domestic industry by discouraging foreign competition. Hence, statement I is correct.

The Income Tax Department in India sets different types of custom duties and the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) is responsible for all customs duty matters. In India, the peak customs duty is around 10%, which is the highest general rate applied to most imports. Hence, statement II is correct.

Here, statements I and II both are correct and statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I. Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated ₹500 crore for Namo Drone Didi scheme. The Namo Drone Didi scheme or New Agriculture Market Order Drone Didi Scheme, is an initiative to train rural women to become drone pilots for agricultural purposes. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The scheme is part of the Sashakt Nari Viksit Bharat program. The Namo Drone Didi scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected women SHGs during the period 2023-24 to 2025- 2026. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Recently, the death toll from two landslides in southern Ethiopia has reached 229, with numbers likely to rise as search efforts continue. Ethiopia, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia shares its borders with Somalia to the east and southeast, South Sudan to the west, Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Sudan to the northwest and Kenya to the south. Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. Mount Entoto is the highest peak in the Entoto Mountains, which are located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and a source of the Blue Nile. Hence, option (a) is correct.