Answer: (B)

Explanation: Recently 3 scientists received Nobel Prize award, 2023 in the field of Physics for their “experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses for the study of electrons dynamics in matter.” The laureates were awarded the Prize for experiments that have allowed scientists to produce ultra-short pulses of light, with which they can finally ‘see’ directly into the super-fast world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons. The movement of an atom in a molecule can be studied with the very shortest pulses produced by a laser. These movements and changes in the atoms occur on the order of a femtosecond that is a millionth of a billionth of a second. However, electrons are lighter and interact faster, in the attosecond realm. An attosecond is one-billionth of a nanosecond. By fine-tuning the setup used to produce the overtones, scientists realised that it should be possible to create intense pulses of light each a few attoseconds long. Attosecond pulses allow scientists to capture ‘images’ of activities that happen in incredibly short time spans. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Answer: (D)

Explanation: A set of guidelines was recently released by the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) to prevent suicide among students. UMMEED stands for – Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop. The guidelines aim to serve as directions to schools for enhancing sensitivity, understanding and providing support in case of reported self-harm. The Union Ministry of Education released the draft guidelines for schools to prevent suicide among students, prescribing in its plan of action. A school wellness team (SWT) may be formed under the leadership of the school principal, where each member is oriented in handling crisis situations. The guidelines recommend an orientation a year for teachers and family members, to help build awareness around student suicides. These orientations will be conducted by the schools for the capacity-building of various stakeholders. Hence, both statements are incorrect.

Answer: (D)

Explanation: It is a hand-spun product known for extreme softness, fineness and light-weight, has insulating properties and extended life. It is obtained from a breed of mountain goats (Capra hircus) found on the Changthang Plateau in Tibet and parts of Ladakh. Recently, Basohli Pashmina, a more than 100-year-old traditional craft from Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, has got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Hence, all statements are correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The Palermo Convention, also known as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, is primarily focused on combating transnational organized crime. It is a landmark international treaty adopted by the United Nations in 2000. The convention aims to promote international cooperation in the prevention and control of various forms of organized crime, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and more. It establishes a framework for countries to work together in addressing these global criminal challenges. Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The 2023 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. These nanoparticles have wide-ranging applications across fields like electronics, advanced surgery, and quantum computing. Quantum dots (QDs), also called semiconductor nanocrystals, are semiconductor particles a few nanometres in size, having optical and electronic properties that differ from those of larger particles as a result of quantum mechanical effects. When the quantum dots are illuminated by UV light, an electron in the quantum dot can be excited to a state of higher energy. In the case of a semiconducting quantum dot, this process corresponds to the transition of an electron from the valence band to the conductance band. The excited electron can drop back into the valence band releasing its energy as light. This light emission is called photoluminescence. Hence, both statements are correct.