The UNFPA has released the State of the World Population Report 2020.

Highlights of the WPR

I) Global prospects

According to estimates averaged over a five year period (2013-17), annually, there were 1.2
million missing female births, at a global level.
The same study shows that in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan excess female mortality of
girls below 5 years of age was under 3 per cent.
These skewed numbers translate into long-term shifts in the proportions of women and men in
the population of some countries, the report points out.
In many countries, this results in a “marriage squeeze” as prospective grooms far outnumber
prospective brides, which further results in human trafficking for marriage as well as child
marriages.
II) Data on India

India had about 4,60,000 girls ‘missing’ at birth each year.
The figure shows that the number of missing women has more than doubled over the past 50
years, who were at 61 million in 1970.
The report examines the issue of missing women by studying sex ratio imbalances at birth as a
result of gender-biased sex selection as well as excess female mortality due to deliberate neglect
of girls because of a culture of son preference.
Excess female mortality is the difference between observed and expected mortality of the girl
child or avoidable death of girls during childhood.
The report cites a 2014 study to state that India has the highest rate of excess female deaths at
13.5 per 1,000 female births or one in nine deaths of females below the age of 5 due to
postnatal sex selection.

Explanation:

G4 Flu
Named G4, the swine flu strain has genes similar to those in the virus that caused the 2009 flu
pandemic.
The scientists identified the virus through surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs that they
carried out from 2011 to 2018 in ten provinces of China.
They also found that the G4 strain has the capability of binding to human-type receptors (like,
the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to ACE2 receptors in humans).
The virus was able to copy itself in human airway epithelial cells, and it showed effective
infectivity and aerosol transmission.
Swine industry is the new hotspot for zoonoses
The scientists report that the new strain (G4) has descended from the H1N1 strain that was
responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic.
Pigs are intermediate hosts for the generation of pandemic influenza virus.
Thus, systematic surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs is a key measure for pre-warning the
emergence of the next pandemic influenza

Explanation:

Hul Divas is observed annually on June 30 in memory of tribals — Sidho and Kanhu Murmu —
who led the Santhal Hul (rebellion) on June 30, 1855, at Bhognadih in Sahebganj district.

About Santhal Rebellion

The Santhals of Rajmahal Hills resented the oppression by revenue officials, police, money-
lenders, and landlords—in general, by the “outsiders’ (whom they called diku).
The Santhals under Sido and Kanhu rose up against their oppressors, declared the end of the
Company’s rule and asserted themselves independent in 1854.
It was only in 1856 after extensive military operations that the situation was brought under
control. Sido died in 1855, while Kanhu was arrested in 1866.
A separate district of Santhal Parganas was created by the Government to pacify the Santhals.

Explanation:

About UNFPA

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formerly the United Nations Fund for Population
Activities, is a UN organization.
It is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every
childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Their work involves the improvement of reproductive health; including the creation of national
strategies and protocols, and birth control by providing supplies and services.
The organization has recently been known for its worldwide campaign against child marriage,
obstetric fistula and female genital mutilation.

Explanation : National Financial Switch (NFS) is the largest network of shared automated teller machines (ATMs) in India. It was designed, developed and deployed by the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) in 2004, with the goal of inter-connecting the ATMs in the country and facilitating convenience banking.

It is run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organization for all retail payments in India.

It was set up with the guidance and support of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks Association (IBA). Hence, c is the correct option.