Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is not correct.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, released the report on the Status of Leopards in India at New Delhi.
Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of leopards in the country – 3907 (2018: 3421), followed by Maharashtra (2022: 1985; 2018: 1,690), Karnataka (2022: 1,879 ; 2018: 1,783) and Tamil Nadu (2022: 1,070; 2018: 868).
Tiger Reserves or sites with highest leopard population are, Nagarajunasagar Srisailam (AP), followed by Panna (MP), and Satpura (AP).

Answer: (c)
Statements 2 and 3 are correct, 1 is not correct.
Elections to the Rajya Sabha
• The Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of Parliament is modelled after the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.
• The Vice-President is the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
• It is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved.
• To ensure continuity, one-third of its members retire after every second year, under Article 83(1) of the Constitution, and “biennial elections” are held to fill these vacancies.
• A nominated member may join a party within six months of taking a seat. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Composition ➔ Out of the 245 members, 12 are nominated by the President and 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry.
How are Rajya Sabha MPs elected?
• Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by MLAs through an indirect election. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Article 80(4) provides that members shall be elected by the elected members of state Assemblies through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. Hence statement 3 is correct.”

Answer: (d)
Neither of the statements are correct.
An amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 in 2003 introduced open ballot voting for Rajya Sabha elections, aimed at curbing cross-voting.
Anti-Defection Law introduced in 1985, this Schedule disqualifies legislators who voluntarily give up party membership or vote against party instructions. However, it does not apply to Rajya Sabha elections.

Answer: (a)
Researchers in Goa have successfully synthesized gold nanoparticles from a wild mushroom species known as Roen Olmi, which is widely consumed as a delicacy in the coastal state.
Roen Olmi belongs to the Termitomyces species and is found growing on termite hills.
Locally known as “roen olmi” in Goa, it is a popular edible wild mushroom enjoyed by the locals, especially during the monsoon season.

Answer: (d)
When a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India, it implies that: d) Both B and C stated above are correct in this context.
This means that the species no longer exists in the wild, with a few individuals under captive protection, making it impossible to prevent its extinction. Additionally, being listed under Schedule I indicates that the species is endemic to a particular region of India. This level of protection under Schedule I is significant and signifies the critical status of the species in terms of conservation and preservation efforts.