EXPLANATION: 

• Under the scheme, 5 kg of food grains (wheat, rice, coarse grain) is provided to each beneficiary each month free of cost. The beneficiaries are those covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. About 80 crore beneficiaries are covered under the scheme and the quantity provided under the scheme is over and above their entitlements under the NFSA.Thus, statement 1 is correct. 
• The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said the Union Cabinet has decided to extend the PMGKAY for another six months till September 2022 in “keeping with the concern and sensitivity towards poor and vulnerable sections of society”. Thus, statement 2 is correct. 
• This will be the 6th phase of the PMGKAY. Phase-V of the scheme was to end in March 2022. The Centre had launched the PMGKAY in April 2020 during the first wave of Covid-19.
• Describing the PMGKAY as the world’s “largest food security programme”, the ministry said, “The government has spent approximately Rs 2.60 lakh crore so far and another Rs 80,000 crore will be spent over the next 6 months till September 2022 taking the total expenditure under PM-GKAY to nearly Rs 3.40 lakh crore.”

EXPLANATION: 

• As India looks to bolster its ties with two key neighbours in the Indian Ocean to counter China’s influence, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Maldives, signed pacts on health and education besides discussing regional security and maritime safety issues with Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid at the Addu City. Thus, option (c) is correct.
• Calling the development partnership the “central pillar of the relationship”, the Minister said: “It is a very transparent partnership, driven directly by Maldivian needs and priorities. Today, this support ranges upwards of $2.6 billion in terms of grants, concessional loans, budgetary support and capacity building and training assistance.”
• With regards to Addu, a city in the southernmost atoll of the Indian Ocean archipelago, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that India is supporting projects in different sectors — infrastructure, tourism, fish processing and health. “Work has already commenced on the Addu Roads projects, setting up of 4,000 housing units and drinking water and sanitation schemes,” he added.
• Addu is a stronghold of the Maldivian National Party and former President Mohamed Nasheed, who is Speaker of the Majlis — the country’s Parliament. He is also a vocal supporter of closer ties with India.

EXPLANATION: 

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has set up an Export Promotion Forum (EPF) to promote exports of dairy products. It also aims to address various issues in the sector. The authority has recognized two clusters: Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Banaskantha in Gujarat, to develop dairy merchandise. Farmers and small dairy owners in these clusters shall be given coaching and aid in capability building in exports.It was founded on 13 February 1986 and Its Head Quarter is in Delhi. Hence statement 1 is correct and 2 is not correct.
• Its parent organization is the Ministry of Commerce and Industry , Government of India. Hence statement 3 is also not correct.

EXPLANATION 

• As part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate India’s 75th year of independence, a “Green Triangle” named after Mahatma Gandhi was jointly inaugurated in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo. Mayor of Antananarivo Naina Andriantsitohaina and India’s Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar inaugurated the green space on Wednesday at a special ceremony in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo. Hence statement 1 is correct. 
• The ‘Greening the Area’ meets the objective of the Urban Municipality of Antananarivo to create the maximum green space in the capital city of Madagascar. Hence statement 2 is correct. 

EXPLANATION: 

• Dishaank is an application which is implemented by Karnataka for digitisation of all land records (under the Bhoomi project). The mobile application has been developed under the Karnataka Geographical Information System program of the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Center (KSRSAC). This is expected to bring in transparency and reduce land-related disputes. The Survey Settlement and Land Records unit of the revenue department in the Karnataka government has now attempted to remedy this. It is making original land records available at a click on a smartphone screen through a mobile application called Dishaank. Hence option (a) is the correct.

EXPLANATION: 

• The Sunshine Protection Act is a proposed United States federal law that would make U.S. daylight saving time permanent, meaning the time would no longer change twice a year.
• The U.S. Senate on 15th march passed legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent starting in 2023, ending the twice-annual changing of clocks in a move promoted by supporters advocating brighter afternoons and more economic activity. However some of the critics of this Bill stated that The loss of that one hour of sleep seems to impact us for days afterwards. It also can cause havoc on the sleeping patterns of our kids and our pets." Hence option (d) is correct.

EXPLANATION: 

• The Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA) is the largest synchronous electrical grid (by connected power) in the world. The synchronized frequency is 50 Hz and the area supplies over 400 million customers in 24 countries, including most of the European Union. Hence statement 1 is correct. 
• Ukraine has recently been to ‘Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA)’. Hence statement 2 is correct. 
• The Continental Europe area gathers the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark (West), France, Republic of North Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Nederland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia (which includes Kosovo*), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey. England is not a member. Hence Statement 3 is not correct. 
• Russia is not also a member of ‘Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA)’. Hence Statement 4 is also not correct.  

EXPLANATION: 

• NIC developed ‘Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN)’, launched in Bihar by the Secretary, Dept. of Land Resources, GoI & Addl. Chief Secretary, Revenue & Land Reforms, Govt. of Bihar.The objective of the ULPIN is to implement land reform properly so that the propel of landless peasants could be reduced 
• ULPIN is a 14-digit Alpha–Numeric Unique ID for each land parcel. This is the next step in the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), which began in 2008. The identification will be based on the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel, and is dependent on detailed surveys and geo-referenced cadastral maps. Hence option (d) is correct. 

EXPLANATION:

• International humanitarian law (IHL) is a set of rules that seek for humanitarian reasons to limit the effects of armed conflict. IHL protects persons who are not or who are no longer participating in hostilities and it restricts the means and methods of warfare. IHL is also known as the law of war and the law of armed conflict. A major part of international humanitarian law is contained in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 that have been adopted by all nations in the world. The Conventions have been expanded and supplemented by two further agreements: the Additional Protocols of 1977, relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, and the 2005 Additional Protocol III, relating to the adoption of an additional distinctive emblem. These Conventions provide specific rules to safeguard combatants, or members of the armed forces, who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked, prisoners of war, and civilians, as well as medical personnel, military chaplains and civilian support workers of the military. Hence option (a) is correct. 

EXPLANATION: 

• A menhir, standing stone, orthostat, or lith is a large man-made upright stone, typically dating from the European middle Bronze Age. They can be found individually as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Menhirs' size can vary considerably, but they often taper toward the top. Hence statement 1 is correct. 
• A menhir is related to Megalith culture. The evidence of Megalith culture is generally found from southern India. From here the big stones were used in graves. The evidence of the iron is also recovered. Hence statement 2 is correct. 
• No evidence of megalith culture is discovered from the Baluchistan region. Hence statement 3 is not correct. 
• Recently from Ellarigudema hamlet of Mahaboobabad district, Telangana is discovered. Hence statement 4 is correct. 

EXPLANATION: 

• The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers released the draft ‘National Medical Devices Policy 2022’. Hence statement 1 is correct. 
• The government is proposing a new policy to reduce India’s dependence on import of high-end medical devices. Hence statement 2 is correct. 
• At present, nearly 80% of the medical devices used in the country are imported. Which is to be reduced. Hence statement 3 is correct. 
• Some of the proposals include incentivising the export of medical devices and related technology projects through tax rebates and refunds, increasing government spending in “high-risk” projects in the medical devices sector, and a single-window clearance system for licencing medical devices.The policy aims to place India as one among the five global manufacturing hubs in terms of value and technology for medical devices. Hence statement 4 is correct. 

EXPLANATION: 

• The building is an architectural and engineering marvel. It confidently straddles the past and the future, applying advanced technology to traditional artforms.It is situated in UAE. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The museum claims to transport the visitors to the year 2071, to coincide with the centenary of the founding of the UAE. Hence statement 2 is correct. 
• The building’s form is futuristic: it opens a new path away from the highrise towers that dominate skylines everywhere. Its form is symbolic: The circular building represents humanity; the green mound it sits atop represents the earth; the void represents the unknown future.The Museum builds on the visionary culture that has transformed the UAE into one of the world’s most advanced nations in less than 50 years. We are a showcase for the spirit of courage, optimism and innovation that propels Dubai forward. Hence statement 3 is also correct. 
• This museum is not situated in Europe. The UAE, also known as The Emirates, is a country in the Middle East, in western Asia. Hence statement 4 is also not correct.