Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recognizes that gender equality and women's empowerment are essential for achieving sustainable development. UNDP works towards promoting gender equality and empowering women in various ways:

• Policy Advocacy
• Capacity Building
• Economic Empowerment
• Political Participation
• Ending Violence against Women
• Data and Research

• By prioritizing gender equality and women's empowerment, UNDP aims to create more inclusive and equitable societies that can sustainably achieve social, economic, and environmental development. Hence, statement-I is correct.
• By addressing gender disparities, the UNDP strives to create societies that are more inclusive and provide equal opportunities for everyone. Here are some key points on how UNDP works towards achieving these goals:

• Education and Skills Development
• Health and Well-being
• Social Protection
• Legal and Judicial Reforms

• By addressing gender disparities and promoting equal opportunities, UNDP aims to create societies that are more inclusive, just, and sustainable, benefiting individuals, communities, and nations as a whole. Hence, statement-II is correct.
• UNDP indeed focuses on promoting gender equality and empowering women as a key component of sustainable development. Gender equality is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals, and UNDP recognizes the importance of empowering women in all aspects of society.

Hence, both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

• The Whistleblowers Act, 2014 indeed establishes a mechanism to receive complaints related to corruption or misuse of power by public servants. It aims to encourage individuals to come forward and report such incidents, and it provides for the proper investigation of these disclosures. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The Whistleblowers Act, 2014 includes provisions to protect whistleblowers from any form of victimization or harassment as a result of their disclosures. These safeguards are crucial in order to ensure that individuals feel safe and confident in reporting corruption or misuse of power. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Whistleblowers Act, 2014 allows any person, including public servants themselves, to make a public interest disclosure before a Competent Authority. This provision ensures that anyone who has information regarding corruption or misuse of power can bring it to the attention of the appropriate authority for investigation. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• In Direct seeding of rice (DSR) method, Paddy here is sown directly in the field without any nursery preparation, pudding or flooding. In transplanting, the flooded fields are basically deny oxygen to the weed seeds in the soil, preventing their germination. Water, thus, acts as a natural herbicide. In DSR, water is replaced with chemical herbicides. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• In this water is replaced by real chemical herbicides and farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation. DSR is effective against weeds and saves more water compared to transplanting paddy cultivation method. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his latest ‘Mann ki baat’ episode spoke about Miyawaki plantation, the Japanese method of creating dense urban forests in a small area. Miyawaki plantation method is named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this method involves planting two to four different types of indigenous trees within every square metre. In this method, the trees become self-sustaining and they grow to their full length within three years. In order to fight climate change, curb pollution levels, and increase the green cover of the financial capital, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been creating Miyawaki forests in several open land parcels of Mumbai. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• It is located in Chanakyapuri in Delhi. It was built in 1325 by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq and was used as a hunting lodge for a long time. It later became the residence of the descendants of the Nawab of Awadh. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• It came to be known as ‘Wilayat Mahal’ after Begum Wilayat Mahal of Awadh who claimed that she was a member of the royal family of Oudh. She was given the palace by the government in 1985. The architectural style of Malcha Mahal is primarily influenced by the Tughlaq dynasty, which was known for its unique blend of Islamic and Indian architectural elements. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The monument is not ASI-protected and, therefore, no attention was paid to it in all these years in order to conserve it. Recently, Malcha Mahal area is set to be beautified through the planting of various layers of flowering trees. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.