Answer: b

• World Wildlife Day, celebrated annually on March 3rd, raises awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
• Theme: “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”
• Significance
  • Highlights the urgent need for innovative financial solutions to protect biodiversity.
  • Over one million species face extinction, threatening global economies and ecosystems.

Answer: b

• Observed annually on March 3rd, led by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Aims to raise awareness about hearing loss prevention and promote ear and hearing care worldwide.
• Theme for 2025:“Changing Mindsets: Let’s Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All.”
• Significance
  • Raises awareness of hearing loss affecting 1.5 billion people.
  • Promotes early detection, treatment, and accessibility to hearing aids.

Answer: b

• India observes National Safety Day annually on March 4 to promote awareness about workplace safety, health, and environmental protection.
• The theme for National Safety Day 2025 is “Safety and Well-being: Essential for Viksit Bharat.”
• About National Safety Day
  • National Safety Day established in 1972 by the National Safety Council to promote workplace safety.
  • Launches National Safety Week (March 4–10) to strengthen safety culture.

Answer: c

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has recently introduced the Aadhaar Good Governance Portal to simplify and expedite the approval process for Aadhaar authentication requests.
• Purpose
  • Streamlines approval of Aadhaar authentication requests for government and private entities.
  • Enhances transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in public service delivery.
• Recent Legislative Changes
  • Launched following amendments to the Aadhaar Act (2016) in January 2025.
  • Expands Aadhaar authentication scope to improve public interest services.
• Enhancing Digital Economy
  • Aadhaar is a trusted digital identity used over 100 billion times in a decade.
  • Strengthens India’s digital economy by enabling seamless authentication.
• Benefits for Service Providers & Citizens
  • Enables Aadhaar-based access to healthcare, hospitality, e-commerce, and education.
  • Facilitates e-KYC, customer onboarding, and staff attendance tracking.

Answer: b

• As per the State of States report released on February 27, 2025, India falls behind in 9 out of the 16 assessed SDGs. The report evaluates the performance of all 36 Indian states and Union Territories (UTs) concerning these goals.
• India’s Current SDG Performance
  • Overall Progress: India lags in 9 out of 16 assessed SDGs, as per the State of States Report 2025. The report evaluates all 36 states and Union Territories (UTs).
  • Partially Achieved SDGs: Only four SDGs have been met at least halfway by all states and UTs:

1. 1. 1. SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being
      2. SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
      3. SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
      4. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

• • Excluded SDG: SDG 14 (Life Below Water) was not assessed, as it is relevant only to coastal states.
  • Regional Disparities in SDG Progress

1. 1. 1. The report highlights uneven progress across states:
      2. Uttarakhand & Tamil Nadu: Fewer lagging indicators but still struggling with one out of every six.
      3. Uttar Pradesh & Gujarat: Achieved less than 50% of the SDG targets in 30-43% of indicators.

Answer: a

• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has recently upgraded its Sugam Portal to enable online applications for clinical trial site additions and changes in principal investigators for biological products.
• About Sugam Portal:
  • An online platform for manufacturers to apply for drug-related licenses and approvals.
  • Simplifies submissions for clinical trials, including vaccines and rDNA-based drugs.
• Recent Changes in Clinical Trial Applications
  • Expansion to Biological Products: As of December 2024, CDSCO allowed online applications for specific drug types. The recent update extends this facility to biological products.
  • Auto-Approval Mechanism: Applications for adding clinical trial sites will be processed within 30 days, with auto-approval if no objections are raised.
  • Simplified Investigator Changes: Changes in principal investigators will be approved if they meet the required criteria, streamlining the approval process.

Answer: a

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) recently launched initiatives to modernize maritime infrastructure, boost global trade, and promote sustainability, aligning with India’s 2047 development vision.
• One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP)
  • Standardizes operations across major Indian ports to streamline documentation and processes.
  • Reduces container operation documents by 33% and bulk cargo documents by 29%.
  • Aims to eliminate inefficiencies and delays, enhancing India’s global trade competitiveness.
• Sagar Ankalan Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI)
  • Benchmarks port performance based on cargo handling and turnaround time.
  • Promotes transparency and operational excellence in the maritime sector.
• MAITRI Application
  • Introduces a ‘Virtual Trade Corridor’ between India and the UAE to optimize trade flows.
  • Reduces bureaucratic hurdles with AI and Blockchain integration.
• India Maritime Week 2025
  • Scheduled from October 27–31, 2025, featuring the Global Maritime India Summit.
  • Showcases India’s maritime heritage and future developments.

Answer: c

• The United States has introduced a new visa program called the Gold Card visa for foreign investors.
• About the Gold Card Visa:
  • The Gold Card visa will replace the existing EB-5 visa program.
  • Under the current EB-5 visa, foreign nationals invest $800,000 to $1.05 million in job-creating ventures for conditional residency.
  • Unlike the EB-5, the Gold Card visa requires a $5 million investment, significantly increasing the financial threshold for applicants.
  • The new scheme targets high-net-worth individuals, aiming to stimulate the US economy through foreign investments.
• Comparison with Other Countries:
  • Several nations offer citizenship or residency through investment, similar to the US Gold Card visa.
  • Countries with similar programs include Malta, Egypt, and Cambodia, among others.

Answer: b

• On February 18, 2025, the U.S. SEC invoked the Hague Service Convention to request India’s assistance in serving judicial documents to Gautam and Sagar Adani regarding allegations related to Adani Group’s solar projects.
• About the Hague Service Convention
  • Established in 1965 to streamline the international service of judicial documents.
  • A multilateral treaty with 84 signatory states, including India and the U.S.
  • Each member state designates a central authority for processing service requests.
• India’s Accession and Reservations
  • India joined on November 23, 2006, with reservations against Article 10.
  • In India, the Ministry of Law and Justice handles service requests.
  • All requests must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.

Answer: a

• The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), in partnership with the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, organized a discussion on Diyaslai.
• About Diyaslai
  • Kailash Satyarthi’s autobiography Diyaslai was published on January 20, 2025, and launched at the Jaipur Literature Festival on January 30, 2025.
  • Chronicles his journey from a humble upbringing in Vidisha to his global fight for child rights.
• About Kailash Satyarthi
  • Born in 1954 in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
  • A global advocate against child slavery and exploitation, working across 140 countries.
  • His organization has rescued over 138,000 children from child labour, slavery, and trafficking.
• Major Contributions
  • Shiksha Yatra (2001): Led a nationwide march advocating free and compulsory education, influencing the 2002 constitutional amendment and Right to Education Act (2009).
  • Nobel Peace Prize (2014): Awarded jointly with Malala Yousafzai for efforts against child oppression and promoting education rights.
  • Bharat Yatra (2017): Led a 12,000 km campaign against child sexual exploitation across 22 states, contributing to stricter child rape and trafficking laws in India.