Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government banned the sale and production of cotton candy in the state after it was found that the chemical Rhodamine-B was being used for making it.

Rhodamine-B is a water-soluble chemical compound. While it appears green in powder form, it turns vivid fluorescent pink when it comes in contact with water. It is a chemical commonly used for dyeing in the textile, paper, leather, and paints industry as a coloring agent that helps in attaining the red and pink spectrum. "As per the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, preparation, packaging, importing, selling and serving food items with Rhodamine-B in wedding ceremonies and other public events is a punishable offence. It is an industrial dye which is not allowed in food anywhere in the world as it is toxic. The chemical is toxic for humans and can cause oxidative stress on cells and tissues if ingested. It becomes particularly hazardous when it is mixed with food products, leading to cancer and tumour over time. Hence, all statements are correct.

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Recently, India has contributed USD 1 million to a fund established by India, Brazil and South Africa.

IBSA Fund was established in 2004 and became operational in 2006. The IBSA countries - India, Brazil and South Africa - each contribute one million dollars annually to the Fund in a spirit of partnership and support for Southern-led, demand-driven, transformational projects in developing countries. The purpose of the fund is to identify replicable and scalable projects that can be disseminated to developing countries on a demand-driven basis. The UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) serves as the Fund Manager and Secretariat of the IBSA Fund. The objectives of this fund are; promoting food security, to addressing HIV/AIDS, to extending access to safe drinking water – all with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Hence, both statements are incorrect.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

The ninth edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be held from February 21 to 23rd in New Delhi.

Raisina Dialogue is an annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, which aims to address the most challenging issues faced by the world. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

It is held annually since 2016 in New Delhi. The conference is attended by people from political, business, media, and civil society backgrounds. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

It is organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The theme of the 2024 edition is “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Recently, new research suggests that Neanderthals, often viewed as "dim-witted," were actually "early engineers" who created multi-component glues to improve the durability of their stone tools.

Neanderthals are an extinct species of archaic humans that lived in Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago. They are also known as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis. Hence, statement I is incorrect.

They are the closest known human relatives and interbred with Homo sapiens. Neanderthals co-existed with modern humans for long periods of time before eventually becoming extinct. Although they are long extinct, their genes are still present in modern human DNA. They were adept at crafting tools, controlling fire, sheltering, making clothing, hunting large animals, eating plants and occasionally creating symbolic objects. They had large noses, strong brow ridges, stocky bodies and stood around 1.50-1.75m tall. Hence, statement II is correct.

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

India's president recently made a whistle stop tour of an island earmarked for multi-billion-dollar development that experts warn could wipe out the indigenous Shompen tribe, which calls it home.

The Shompen are one of the most isolated tribes on Earth. They reside in the dense tropical rain forest of the Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands. They are one of the least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India. Though according to the Census (2011), the estimated population of Shompen is 229, the exact population of Shompen is unknown till today. Most of them are uncontacted, refusing all interactions with outsiders. They live in small groups, whose territories are identified by the rivers that criss-cross the rainforest. They are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, and their main sources of livelihood are hunting, gathering, fishing, and a little bit of horticultural activities in a rudimentary form. Shompen speak their own language, which has many dialects. Members of one band do not understand the dialect of the other. Hence, option (a) is correct.