DART 08-08-26 - Questlink IAS

International Relations

Q1. India is increasingly seeking to preserve its strategic autonomy by strengthening cooperation with multiple centres of power rather than relying exclusively on any one major power. While deepening its strategic partnership with the United States, India also seeks to manage competition and cooperation with China and expand strategic, economic and technological ties with the European Union, Japan and the Global South. This approach is best described as:

(a) Strategic isolation

(b) Multi-alignment

(d) Exclusive alignment

Ans: (b)

Explanation

India's contemporary foreign policy seeks to maintain strategic flexibility by engaging simultaneously with different major powers and groupings according to its national interests.
Strategic isolation would involve limiting India's engagement with external powers, which is contrary to its expanding network of partnerships. Hence, Option (a) is not correct.
Multi-alignment refers to India's strategy of maintaining and deepening relationships with multiple centres of power while retaining the freedom to make independent choices based on national interests. India's simultaneous engagement with the United States, China, European Union, Japan and the Global South reflects this approach. Hence, Option (b) is correct.
Collective neutrality implies maintaining a broadly neutral position between competing powers rather than actively developing partnerships with multiple actors. Hence, Option (c) is not correct.
Exclusive alignment would imply dependence on or primary alignment with a single major power, which does not describe India's multi-aligned foreign policy. Hence, Option (d) is not correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Polity

Q2. Match List-I with List-II

The e-Courts Mission Mode Project has evolved through different phases to digitise judicial processes, improve access to justice and introduce technology-enabled services. Consider the following pairs relating to the major phases and their key interventions:

List-I: Phase of e-Courts Mission	List-II: Major Feature
A. Phase I	1. National Judicial Data Grid and e-Sewa Kendras
B. Phase II	2. Artificial Intelligence, analytics and Optical Character Recognition
C. Phase III	3. Computerisation of courts and basic network infrastructure

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

(a) A-1, B-2 and C-3

(b) A-3, B-1 and C-2

(d) A-3, B-2 and C-1

Ans: (b)

Explanation

The e-Courts Mission Mode Project has progressed through successive phases, moving from basic computerisation towards citizen-centric digital services and, subsequently, AI-enabled and paperless courts.
Phase I (2011–2015) focused on computerising courts and creating the basic network infrastructure required for technology-enabled judicial services. Hence, A-3 is correctly matched.
Phase II (2015–2023) introduced citizen-centric services including the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), e-Filing and e-Sewa Kendras, along with expanded video-conferencing infrastructure. Hence, B-1 is correctly matched.
Phase III (2023–2027) envisages digital and paperless courts with wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), analytics and Optical Character Recognition (OCR), along with virtual hearings and interoperability. Hence, C-2 is correctly matched.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Art & Cul

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Sowa-Rigpa, recently in the news:

Sowa-Rigpa, meaning “Knowledge of Healing”, is a traditional system of medicine practised in the Indian Himalayan Region.
It is popularly known as the Amchi system of medicine and has been recognised by the Government of India under the Ayush framework.
The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) is being developed as an institution for education, research and healthcare related to Sowa-Rigpa.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Explanation

Sowa-Rigpa is an ancient Himalayan medical tradition that has evolved across the Trans-Himalayan region and is being strengthened in India through scientific research, institutional development and preservation of traditional knowledge.
Sowa-Rigpa means “Knowledge of Healing” in the Bhoti language. It is one of the world's oldest traditional systems of medicine and is practised across the Indian Himalayan Region. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
Sowa-Rigpa is popularly known as the Amchi system of medicine and has been recognised by the Government of India under the Ayush framework and it is also practiced in some parts of China, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, and Bhutan. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) is being developed as an apex institution for education, research and healthcare related to Sowa-Rigpa, with emphasis on scientific validation, medicinal plant conservation and wider outreach. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

International Relations

Q4. Consider the following pairs:

Place	Country	Reason it was in the news
1. Marib	Yemen	Houthi attacks and renewed conflict
2. Najran	Saudi Arabia	Houthi shelling near the Yemen border
3. Mecca	Türkiye	Saudi Arabia–Türkiye–Pakistan defence pact
4. Hadramout	Oman	Houthi attacks on military positions

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Ans: (b)

Explanation

Several locations in the Arabian Peninsula have recently gained attention amid renewed Houthi attacks, cross-border tensions and changing regional security arrangements.
Marib is a strategic, energy-rich province of Yemen and has recently witnessed intensified Houthi attacks against government-aligned forces. Hence, Pair 1 is correctly matched.

Najran is located in southern Saudi Arabia, close to the Yemen border. Recent Houthi shelling reportedly injured civilians in the region. Hence, Pair 2 is correctly matched.

Mecca is in Saudi Arabia, not Türkiye. It was recently in the news in connection with the new Saudi Arabia–Pakistan–Türkiye defence pact signed in Mecca. Hence, Pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Hadramout is a province of Yemen, not Oman. It has recently been involved in the escalation of fighting between Houthi forces and Yemen's government-aligned forces. Hence, Pair 4 is not correctly matched.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Geography

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding rivers shared between India and Bhutan:

The Manas River originates in Bhutan and enters India through Assam.
The Sankosh River forms part of the international boundary between India and Bhutan.
The Raidak River is one of the trans-boundary river systems associated with India-Bhutan cooperation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Ans: (a)

Explanation

A high-level bilateral meeting on Co-operation on Trans-border Rivers held between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi.
India and Bhutan share several trans-boundary river systems, making hydrological data sharing, flood management and hydroelectric cooperation important components of bilateral relations.
The Manas River originates in Bhutan and enters India through Assam, eventually joining the Brahmaputra system. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The Sankosh River (known as the Punatsangchhu in Bhutan) flows from Bhutan towards India and forms a section of the India-Bhutan international boundary before entering West Bengal. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
It is also significant for India-Bhutan hydropower cooperation, including the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project.
The Raidak River is a trans-boundary river system flowing from Bhutan into India and is associated with the wider India-Bhutan cooperation on water resources. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.