Answer: (A)

Explanation: Halal is an Arabic word that loosely translates to ‘permissible’ in English. In the Quran, the term ‘halal’ is used to designate the categories of lawful (and allowed) while ‘haram’ means forbidden and is used to designate the categories of unlawful (and forbidden). The two items of food that are most commonly considered haram (non-halal) are pork (pig meat) and intoxicants (alcohol). Even meats that are not pork must satisfy specific requirements relating to their source, the way the animal was killed, and how it was processed, to qualify as halal. Halal is particularly associated with Islamic dietary laws to refer to food that is procured, processed and traded in compliance with Islamic belief. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
It is similarly to the ‘kashrut’ dietary rules followed by orthodox Jews, who only consume food that is ‘kosher’, which is permitted in Jewish law. In the Indian context, halal is mostly used to refer to the slaughtering technique used by Muslims. This involves killing the livestock or poultry through a single cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and the windpipe with a sharp knife at the front of the neck. Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, and all blood must be drained from the carcass. During the process, recitation of prayers, known as shahada, is also prescribed. Halal is in contrast to the ‘jhatka’ method, which is preferred by many Hindus and Sikhs. Jhatka method involves delivering a powerful, single blow to the back of the animal’s neck, decapitating it. Jhatka specifically involves stunning animals prior to slaughter, a practice that is not allowed in Islam. Most meat shops owned by Muslims announce their products as ‘halal’ whereas those owned by Hindus or Sikhs declare themselves as ‘jhatka’ establishments. The halal or haram go beyond food, depending on any consumable item, whether they are produced in accordance with Islamic law. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
Halal certificates simply tell a consumer whether a product meets the requirements for being considered halal or not. They do not indicate the presence of meat, or in and of themselves, have nothing to do with meat. India does not have an official regulator for the certification of halal products. But there are various halal certifying agencies that provide companies, products or food establishments with halal certifications. Their legitimacy lies in their name-recognition among Muslim consumers as well as recognition from regulators in Islamic countries. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:
Lunar Sample Return Mission (LSRM) is the proposed mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to collect soil or rock samples from the Moon and bring them to Earth. Lunar Sample Return Mission (LSRM) aims to bring back rock or soil samples from the Shiv Shakti point in Lunar. The Shiv Shakti point is spot where Vikram had landed on the lunar South Pole. The proposed mission will have 2 separate launch vehicles. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-II will be used for the injection of the transfer and the re-entry modules. Whereas the Launch Vehicle Mark-III will be used for the direct injection of the Ascender and the Lander module. A robotic arm mechanism will be used for the sample collection at the Shiv Shakti point. The LSRM, like Chandrayaan-3, is planned for one lunar day (14 Earth days) and the expected launch date is in 2028. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Cryosphere is composed of Earth’s frozen water in ice sheets, sea ice, permafrost, polar oceans, glaciers, and snow as ground zero for climate change. The State of the Cryosphere Report, 2023 is released by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. It is a network of policy experts and researchers working to preserve the Earth’s cryosphere.
Key findings of the report:
1. The Himalayas are also expected to lose 50% of today’s ice if global average temperatures touch 2°C.
2. Nearly all tropical glaciers, most mid-latitude glaciers and Polar Regions will disappear even if the world manages to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, above the preindustrial era.
3. Sea ice around Antarctica hit an all-time low summer and winter record in 2023.
4. Water temperatures in parts of the Arctic and North Atlantic were 4-6°C higher than normal.
5. When permafrost thaws, it releases CO2 and methane emissions, which will cause a spike in temperatures even if human emissions reach zero.
6. The Earth’s ice sheets lost 7,560 billion tonnes of ice between 1992 and 2022. The last decade alone has witnessed the seven worst years of ice loss.
7. Ice sheets in Greenland and parts of Antarctica could contribute between 12-20 metres of sea-level rise at 2°C.
8. This 2°C will result in extensive, potentially rapid, irreversible sea-level rise from Earth’s ice sheets and 3°C will further speed up this loss within the next few centuries.
Hence, both statements are correct.

Answer: (A)

Explanation: Ladakh's sea buckthorn fruit recently received a GI designation. Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) is a shrub native to Europe and Asia. It is found in India above the tree line in the Himalayan region, mostly in arid places like the frigid deserts of Ladakh and Spiti. It grows naturally on 11,500 hectares in the Ladakh region. It has little orange or yellow berries that are acidic in taste but high in vitamins, particularly vitamin C. Hence, statement 1 is correct. The plant is drought-resistant and can endure temperatures ranging from minus 43 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. Because of these two features, the shrub is an excellent plant species for establishing in cold deserts. Sea Buckthorn berries have the unusual property of remaining intact on the shrub throughout the winter months, despite subzero temperatures. It has a long history of use for a number of reasons. Every part of the plant, including the fruit, leaf, twig, root, and thorns, has traditionally been utilized as medicine, a nutritional supplement, fuel, and a fence. Many bird species eat the berries when other food sources are scarce in the area. Cold desert animals like as sheep, goats, donkeys, cattle, and double-humped camels feed on the leaves, which are high in protein. As a result, it is generally known as the 'Wonder Plant,' 'Ladakh Gold,' 'Golden Bush,' or 'Gold Mine' of frigid deserts. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: A team of astronomers has discovered a massive galactic structure known as the "Cosmic Vine." It is a gigantic "vine-like structure" that spans over 13 light-years and comprises 20 galaxies. It's also pretty old. It has a redshift of 3.44, indicating that it is in the early cosmos, according to the researchers. A redshift of 3.44 indicates that light from the Cosmic Vine travelled for between 11 and 12 billion years before arriving at JWST. To put things in perspective, current approaches place the universe's age at 13.7 billion years. It is home to two of the most massive galaxies ever identified at such a high redshift—Galaxy A and Galaxy E, both of which are in a dormant state, indicating a slower rate of star production. The Vine, according to researchers, could be the forerunner to a galaxy cluster, revealing insights into the genesis of such clusters and the rise of big galaxies inside them. Hence, statement (b) is correct.