Correct Answer: B [Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod]

Notes:
The ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in Kasaragod recently issued an advisory to help farmers control the spread of fruit rot disease, also known as koleroga, in arecanut plantations. Fruit rot disease harms crops, leading to major losses for farmers and making produce unsellable. It can sometimes even kill the plant. The disease is caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses, making it hard to prevent and treat. Heavy rainfall, low temperatures, high humidity, and alternating sunshine and rain favor the spread of the disease.

Correct Answer: C [Tanzania]

Notes:
Climbers from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling recently scaled Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
It is located in northeastern Tanzania near the Kenya border. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones: Kibo (dormant), Mawenzi, and Shira (both extinct). Uhuru Peak is on Kibo and is Africa’s highest free-standing peak. The mountain is famous for its snow-capped summit and has five vegetation zones. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Correct Answer: A [From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development]

Notes:
International Youth Day is observed on August 12th each year since 2010 to celebrate youth potential and address their challenges globally. In India, National Youth Day is celebrated on January 12th since 1985, marking Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. The idea for International Youth Day was proposed at the 1991 World Youth Forum in Vienna. The first International Youth Day was observed on August 12, 2010, following a 2009 UN resolution. The 2024 theme is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” emphasizing youth’s role in using digital solutions for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Correct Answer: B [Western Ghats]

Notes:
Neelakurinji, a purplish flowering shrub that blooms once every 12 years, is now on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. It is found in the Western Ghats of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The flowers are most concentrated in the high ranges around Munnar, Kerala, especially in Eravikulam National Park, which is 12 kilometers from Munnar. Nilgiri Hills are named after its blue flowers, and the Paliyan tribes use its blooming cycle to calculate age. Neelakurinji is threatened by habitat loss due to tea plantations, softwood plantations, and urbanization. The global assessment confirms its status as Vulnerable.