Answer: (d)
Darien Gap
• The Darien Gap spans northern Colombia and Southern Panama, covering approximately 97 km of dense jungle terrain.
• It is situated in the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama, connecting North America to South America.
• It covers an area of approximately 41,440 square km.
• The landscape is characterized by dense rainforests, swamps, rivers, and rugged mountains.
• It is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth, home to a wide array of plant and animal species, including jaguars, pumas, tapirs, and numerous bird species.

Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is not correct.
• The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Methane Tracker is an online database that tracks oil and gas-related methane sources globally.
• It provides estimates of emissions across various sectors, including oil, natural gas, coal, and bioenergy, with the energy sector contributing nearly 40% of human-related methane emissions
• It provides current estimates of methane emissions and highlights potential reductions achievable through existing technologies.

Answer: (b)
Statement 2 is not correct.
• Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ) is a region in India stretching from Gujarat in the west to West Bengal in the east.
• India Meteorological Department demarcates it as an agricultural region where cropping is mostly rainfed.
• It is the region within the monsoon trough area that plays a central role in the dynamics of the Indian monsoon system.
• It is characterized by intense convective activity, significant rainfall, and crucial atmospheric interactions that influence the overall behaviour of the monsoon.
• The MCZ typically experiences a concentration of atmospheric processes that drive the onset, progression, and withdrawal of the monsoon rains across the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is not correct.
Scale-Based Regulation of NBFCs
• Scale-based regulations came into effect in October 2021 and were implemented a year later by RBI.
• There are four layers namely the base layer, middle layer, upper layer and top layer.
• As on September 30, 2023, NBFCs in the base, middle and upper layers constituted 6 per cent, 71 per cent and 23 per cent of the total assets of NBFCs respectively.
• Presently, no NBFC is listed in the top layer.
Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects of the SBR:
I. Base Layer (NBFC-BL)
• The Base Layer primarily comprises non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets below Rs 1,000 crore.
• It encompasses NBFC Peer to Peer (P2P), NBFC-Account Aggregator (AA), Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC), and NBFCs without public funds and customer interface.
II. Middle Layer (NBFC-ML)
• The Middle Layer includes deposit-taking NBFCs and non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.
• It encompasses NBFCs involved in specific activities such as Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs), Infrastructure Debt Fund – NBFCs (IDF-NBFCs), Core Investment Companies (CICs), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), and Infrastructure Finance Companies (NBFC-IFCs).
III. Upper Layer (NBFC-UL)
• The Upper Layer comprises NBFCs identified by RBI as requiring enhanced regulatory requirements based on specific parameters and scoring methodology.
• The top 10 eligible NBFCs in terms of asset size will always be placed in the Upper Layer, irrespective of other factors.
IV. Top Layer (NBFC-TL)
• NBFCs in the Upper Layer may be transferred to the Top Layer if RBI perceives a significant increase in potential systemic risk.
• Currently, the Top Layer remains vacant but serves as a precautionary measure for heightened risk situations.

Answer: (d)
It will remain unchanged since the money supply includes both cash/currency with public at hand and demand deposits.
Withdrawing cash from demand deposit only puts it with the public i.e. M3 = Currency in circulation + Demand & Time deposits in Bank, hence no change in M.