Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was launched in 1991 as a pilot initiative by the World Bank with UNDP and UNEP, and was restructured in 1994 into its current form.

Statement 2 is incorrect: GEF replenishments are financed by a broad set of donor countries, not exclusively by developed countries. In various replenishment cycles, some emerging/developing economies and economies in transition have also made voluntary contributions. Hence, it is not limited to developed-country donors.

Therefore, only Statement 1 is correct.

Explanation:

Evaluate each pair:
– Nokrek – Manipur: Incorrect. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is in Meghalaya (Garo Hills), not Manipur.
– Manas – Assam: Correct. Manas Biosphere Reserve (core: Manas National Park) lies in Assam.
– Agasthyamalai – Kerala: Correct. Agasthyamalai (Agasthyamala) Biosphere Reserve spans Kerala and Tamil Nadu; Kerala is one of the constituent states.

Hence, the only NOT correctly matched pair is 1. Therefore, Option 4 (Only 1) is correct.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Operation Olivia is an annual Indian Coast Guard initiative to protect Olive Ridley sea turtles along Odisha’s nesting beaches (notably Gahirmatha, Devi River mouth, and Rushikulya). The ICG undertakes sea and air patrols to prevent illegal trawling and ensure safe nesting and migratory passages.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The operation is conducted during the turtles’ breeding and nesting season, typically from November to May, with mass nesting (arribada) generally occurring between January and March—not in August.

Explanation:

Correct matches of SDG numbers to areas are:
– Goal 1 (No Poverty) → To end poverty in all forms (3)
– Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) → Good health and well-being (4)
– Goal 4 (Quality Education) → Quality education (2)
– Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) → Clean water and sanitation (1)
Thus A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1 → Option 2.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The provision for a Joint Sitting of Parliament is in Article 108, not Article 109. Article 109 deals with Money Bills.

Statement 2 is incorrect: A Joint Sitting cannot be used for a Constitution (Amendment) Bill. Such bills are governed by Article 368 and must be passed by each House separately by the prescribed special majority; no joint sitting is permitted. (Similarly, joint sitting is not applicable to Money Bills.)

Therefore, neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The IMF and the World Bank (originally the IBRD, the core of the World Bank Group) were conceived together at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference and are popularly called the Bretton Woods twins. They were established through their Articles of Agreement around the same time and began operations in 1946–47.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The headquarters of both the IMF and the World Bank are in Washington, D.C., USA. The World Bank is not headquartered in New York (New York is the UN headquarters).

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement was launched by the Prime Minister on World Environment Day, 5 June 2022. (Note: The subsequent global launch of Mission LiFE occurred in October 2022.)

Statement 2 is incorrect: The idea of LiFE was proposed at COP26 in Glasgow (November 2021), not at COP25 in Madrid (2019).

Explanation:

The Suez Canal is a sea-level waterway in Egypt that directly connects the Mediterranean Sea (north end at Port Said) with the Red Sea (south end at Suez). Hence, it links 2 and 3.

Why others are incorrect:
– Option 1 (1 and 3): The canal does not connect the Atlantic Ocean directly; the Mediterranean connects to the Atlantic via the Strait of Gibraltar, not via Suez.
– Option 2 (3 and 4): While the Red Sea is a part of the greater Indian Ocean system, the canal does not open directly into the Indian Ocean; it ends at the Red Sea.
– Option 4 (1 and 2): The canal does not connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea directly.

Therefore, the correct pair is Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

Explanation:

Assertion (A) is true: Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, MRP is the ceiling—retailers cannot charge above it, but they are free to sell at any price below it. Hence consumers can bargain or avail discounts below MRP.
Reason (R) is false: MRP is not a price that must be charged; it is the maximum permissible price inclusive of all taxes. Sellers may charge less.

Explanation:

Statement 1: Correct. The New Pamban Bridge has been executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways (Navratna status granted in 2023).
Statement 2: Correct. The New Pamban Bridge is India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge; its vertical-lift span allows marine traffic to pass, replacing the old 1914 Scherzer bascule span.
Therefore, both statements are correct.