Options 1 and 2 are CORRECT.
Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism
• REC mechanism is a market-based instrument to promote renewable energy and facilitate compliance of renewable purchase obligations (RPO). Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
• It is aimed at addressing the mismatch between availability of RE resources in state and the requirement of the obligated entities to meet the RPO.
• 1 REC is treated as equivalent to 1 MWh. Hence statement 3 is INCORRECT.
How many types of RECs are there?
There are two categories of RECs, viz., solar RECs and non-solar RECs. Hence statement 2 is CORRECT.
1. Solar RECs are issued to eligible entities for generation of electricity based on solar as renewable energy source.
2. Non-solar RECs are issued to eligible entities for generation of electricity based on renewable energy sources other than solar.

Only statement 1 is CORRECT.
Indira Gandhi nationalized coal mining in phases – coking coal mines in 1971–72 and non-coking coal mines in 1973. With the enactment of the Coal Mines (Nationalization) Act, 1973, all coal mines in India were nationalized in 1973. Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
Coal Blocks in India are allocated on the basis of auction/ competitive bidding. Hence statement 2 is INCORRECT.
India is the second largest importer of coal. So self-sufficiency in coal production is a far-fetched dream. Hence statement 3 is INCORRECT.

Both statements are NOT CORRECT.
Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) Program
• It is a capacity-building programme jointly managed by the OECD/UNDP and was launched in July 2015. Hence statement 1 is NOT CORRECT.
• It aims to strengthen developing countries’ auditing capacity and multinationals’ compliance worldwide. Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.
• It deploys qualified experts in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to help build tax capacity in the areas of audit, criminal tax investigations and the effective use of automatically exchanged information.
• TIWB assistance has led to increased domestic resource mobilisation in some of the least developed countries in the world.

Both statements are CORRECT.
India Industrial Land Bank
• India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) is a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based portal that was developed by the DPIIT.
• The system was developed by integrating the Industrial Information System (IIS) with state GIS.
• It serves as a one-stop repository of all industrial infrastructure-related information such as connectivity, infra, natural resources and terrain, plot-level information, etc.
• It has GIS-enabled database of industrial areas or clusters across the country, which will help investors to get free real-time information about the availability of industrial land and resources.

Only statement 1 is CORRECT.
Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) Scheme
• MITRA aims to enable the textile industry to become globally competitive, attract large investments, and boost employment generation and exports.
• It seeks to integrate the entire textile value chain from spinning, weaving, processing/dyeing, printing to garment manufacturing at one location. Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
• It will create world-class infrastructure with plug and play facilities to enable create global champions in exports.
• It will be launched in addition to the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI). Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.
• It will give our domestic manufacturers a level-playing field in the international textiles market & pave the way for India to become a global champion of textiles exports across all segments”.

Only statement 1 is CORRECT.
The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has recently launched the River Ranching Programme in Uttar Pradesh under the Namami Gange Programme.
River Ranching is a form of aquaculture in which a population of a fish species (such as salmon) is held in captivity for the first stage of their lives. They are then released, and later harvested as adults when they return from the sea to their freshwater birthplace to spawn. Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
In Uttar Pradesh, about 15 lakh fish fingerlings of native carp species shall be simultaneously released into the river in 12 districts by the department. These districts include Bulandshahr/Hapur, Hardoi, Bijnor, Amroha, Fatehpur, Kanpur, Badayun, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Ghazipur. Four other states namely Uttarakhand, Orissa, Tripura and Chhattisgarh will also witness the launching of nationwide River Ranching program.
Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.

Only statement 2 is CORRECT.
Global Solar Atlas
It is an initiative of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with the World Bank. Hence statement 1 is NOT CORRECT.
It provides an interactive map of solar resource and photovoltaic power potential and a variety of other environmental data relevant for understanding the practical and technical potential of solar power systems at any given geographic location.
It is a free online tool that displays annual average solar power potential at any location in the world and thus identify potential sites for solar power generation.
Hence statement 2 is CORRECT.

SAMBHAV Awareness Programme
• It is mass outreach program under the Ministry of MSME in which students from different colleges/ITIs from all parts of the country will be encouraged by 130 field offices of the Ministry to take up entrepreneurship.
• SAMBHAV calls for engagement of the youth in promoting entrepreneurship, leading to the economic development of the country.

Statement 3 is NOT CORRECT.
Neo-Banks
• Neo-bank is a term for ‘fintech firms’ with only a digital presence and no physical branches. Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
• They do this via tie-ups with Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-licensed banks. Hence statement 2 is CORRECT.
• They provide banking services use such as savings accounts, instant loans, credit cards, mutual funds, and fixed deposits. Hence statement 3 is NOT CORRECT.
• In the case of products such as wealth management, neo-banks generally get investment adviser licenses. Usually, they tie-ups are with small finance banks or small scheduled commercial banks.
• Some countries such as the UK have a formal regulatory license for neo-banks, but that is not the case in India. There is no such category of banks under the RBI rules.

Both statements are CORRECT.
The Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment released the results of the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) with an objective to frame a “sound national policy on employment”.
QES vs PLFS
• PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Organization (NSO), MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).
• While the QES provides a demand side picture, the National Sample Survey or Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) gives the supply side picture of the labour market.

Recently, airstrikes hit the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region in an ongoing internal armed conflict.
Tigray Region
• It is the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia (Africa’s second-most populous country).
• Tigray region is known for its mountainous terrains that have often helped the people protect their territory from invaders, such as the Greeks, the Turkish, and the Italians.
• It is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob and Kunama peoples.

Statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.
SACRED Portal
• SACRED is an acronym for ‘Senior Able Citizens for Re Employment in Dignity(SACRED).
• The portal aimsto devise ways to ensure Senior Citizens live healthy, happy, empowered, dignified and self-reliant life.
• It is an IT portal to bring the employment seeker senior citizens and employment providers on one platform. Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
• The portal will not be a guarantee for getting a job or employment or selling of the products of the SHGs, or for any other activity.Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.
• Voluntary Organizations will help senior citizens in applying for jobs. No user charges will be taken from any of the senior citizens by any Voluntary Organizations.

Both statements are CORRECT.
NIPUN Bharat Mission
• NIPUN stands for National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy.
• It is implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), the Ministry of Education.
• It aims to achieve the goal of universal proficiency in foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27, as envisaged by National Education Policy 2020.
• It aims to cover the learning needs of children in the age group of 3 to 9 years.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) up to 50 km inside the international borders in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
Statement 2 and 3 are NOT CORRECT.
Border Security Force (BSF)
• The BSF is India’s border guarding organization on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hence statement 1 is CORRECT.
• It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.Hence statement 3 is NOT CORRECT.
• It was raised in the wake of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965 for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.
• The BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS).

All exercise mentioned involves the USA.
Exercises of India with the USA
• Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR (Special Forces).
• Cope India (Air Force).
• Red Flag (USA’s multilateral air exercise).
• Malabar Exercise (trilateral naval exercise of India, USA and Japan).
• Exercise Yudh Abhyas (Military)

Both statements are NOT CORRECT.
Henley Passport Index 2021
• The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Hence statement 1 is NOT CORRECT.
• It was started in 2006 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI) and was modified and renamed in January 2018.
• The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information.
• Japan and Singapore stood at the top of this year’s list, with their passport holders allowed to travel visa-free to 192 countries, while South Korea and Germany share the second position.
• India fell down to the 90th position, with its passport holders allowed to travel visa-free to 58 countries. Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.

Only statement 3 is CORRECT.
The Union Government is considering to increase the unit cost of deep-sea fishing vessels under the Palk Bay scheme to make it more attractive to fisherfolk.
Palk Bay Scheme
• It is a Tamil Nadu-specific scheme aimed at providing 2,000 vessels in three years to fishermen of the State and motivating them to abandon bottom trawling.Hence statement 2 is NOT CORRECT.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The scheme is financed by the Union and the State Governments with beneficiary participation.The Funding pattern of the scheme is Centre 50%, State 20%, Institutional funding 10% and Beneficiary 20%. Hence statement 1 is NOT CORRECT.
• Another objective of the scheme is to “reduce fishing pressure” around the proximity of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) so that Tamil Nadu fishermen do not cross the IMBL and fish in Sri Lankan waters.Hence statement 3 is CORRECT.
• The scheme is not part of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Hence statement 4 is NOT CORRECT.

Both statements are NOT CORRECT.
Recently, India joined the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People.
High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People
• HAC is an intergovernmental group championing a global deal for nature and people that can halt the accelerating loss of species, and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.
• It was launched in 2019 by Costa Rica, France and Britain. Hence statement 1 is NOT CORRECT.
• It aims to promote an international agreement to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 (Global 30×30 target).

Production Gap Report
• The Production Gap Report, first launched in 2019, tracks the discrepancy between governments’ planned fossil fuel production and global production levels consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.
• It has nothing to do with Industrial production or any economic activity.

Osaka Track
• It is a process which demonstrates their commitment to promote efforts on international rule-making on digital economy, especially on data flow and electronic commerce.
• It was launched at the Osaka Declaration on Digital Economy.