Environment

Q1. With reference to the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, consider the following statements:

It extends across parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and includes several protected areas such as the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The Forest Rights Act, 2006 permits the eviction of persons claiming forest rights before completion of the recognition and verification process.
The Agasthyamalai landscape includes both protected areas and areas where questions of forest rights, encroachment and non-forest activities have been subject to legal and administrative scrutiny.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Explanation

The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR), spread across the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, has recently been in focus over issues relating to forest encroachment, conservation and implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
The ABR covers about 3,500 sq. km across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It includes protected areas such as the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary and Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The FRA provides that eligible forest-dwelling communities and other traditional forest dwellers cannot be evicted until the recognition and verification procedure is complete. Therefore, eviction before completion of this process would be contrary to this statutory protection. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
The ABR landscape has been subject to scrutiny concerning forest encroachments, non-forestry activities, rehabilitation, ecological restoration and implementation of forest rights. The Supreme Court directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct an extensive survey of the landscape and subsequently issued directions based on the CEC's findings. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

International Relations

Q2. Consider the following pairs with reference to major military operations conducted by India:

Operation	Associated with
1. Operation Safed Sagar	Air operations during the Kargil War
2. Operation Meghdoot	Securing the Siachen Glacier
3. Operation Cactus	Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka
4. Operation Pawan	Military intervention in the Maldives

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 and 4 only

Ans: (a)

Explanation

India has undertaken several named military operations in its neighbourhood and along strategically important frontiers, including operations associated with the Kargil conflict, Siachen and regional crises.
Operation Safed Sagar was the codename for the Indian Air Force's air operations during the 1999 Kargil War. The IAF conducted air operations against Pakistani positions and infiltrators in the high-altitude terrain of Kargil. Hence, Pair 1 is correctly matched.
Operation Meghdoot was launched in 1984 to secure the strategically important Siachen Glacier and surrounding heights in the Karakoram region. Hence, Pair 2 is correctly matched.
Operation Cactus was conducted in 1988 in the Maldives following an attempted coup. Indian armed forces intervened to assist the Maldivian government in restoring control. The IPKF operations in Sri Lanka were associated with Operation Pawan, not Operation Cactus. Hence, Pair 3 is not correctly matched.
Operation Pawan refers to the operations of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka, particularly against the LTTE, following the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987. It was not the military intervention in the Maldives. Hence, Pair 4 is not correctly matched.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Economy

Q3. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) seeks to promote domestic manufacturing of shipping containers and reduce India's dependence on imported empty containers.

Statement II: The scheme provides support for establishing new manufacturing facilities as well as expanding existing manufacturing units.

Statement III: The scheme provides support only for manufacturing capacity and does not cover testing infrastructure, skilling or capacity-building initiatives.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both explain Statement I

(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Ans: (c)

Explanation

The Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years.
It aims to establish a globally competitive domestic container manufacturing ecosystem and reduce India's dependence on imported empty containers.
CMAS provides capital assistance for new Greenfield manufacturing facilities and support for the expansion of existing Brownfield manufacturing units. It also seeks to enhance domestic manufacturing capacity. Hence, Statement II is correct.
The scheme is not limited to manufacturing capacity. It also provides support for testing infrastructure, skilling initiatives, capacity building and operational support to improve the competitiveness of Indian container manufacturers. Hence, Statement III is not correct.
Since Statement II is correct and provides a means through which CMAS can achieve the objective stated in Statement I, while Statement III is incorrect, only Statement II correctly explains Statement I.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Science & Tech

Q4. With reference to EVEREST, recently unveiled by an Indian private space company, consider the following statements:

It is an 800 kN LOX-Hydrogen rocket engine based on the Full-Flow Staged Combustion cycle.
Its development is supported under the Technology Adoption Fund of IN-SPACe.
It is India's first privately developed high-thrust engine using the Full-Flow Staged Combustion architecture.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Explanation

Bengaluru-based Astrobase Space Technologies has unveiled EVEREST, India's first privately built 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine.
EVEREST uses LOX-Methane, not LOX-Hydrogen, as its propellant combination. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.
The company has been selected under the Technology Adoption Fund of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) for development of the FFSC rocket engine. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
EVEREST is described as India's first privately built FFSC engine, marking a significant milestone in India's private-sector high-thrust propulsion capability. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Environment

Q5. With reference to the Asiatic Lion and its conservation in India, consider the following statements:

The Asiatic Lion is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and its surviving wild population is found in India.
The Asiatic Lion is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
The Asiatic Lion population increased from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025.
Project Lion, launched in 2020, adopts a landscape-level approach involving habitat enhancement, disease monitoring, scientific population tracking and community participation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)

Explanation

The Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) is a distinctive population of the lion species native to the Indian subcontinent. Its only remaining wild population is found in Gujarat, making India crucial for its global conservation.
The Asiatic Lion is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, and the surviving wild population is restricted to India, primarily in and around the Gir landscape of Gujarat. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The lion (Panthera leo) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, rather than Endangered. The Asiatic Lion is a subspecies/population of the lion. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
According to the latest information, the Asiatic Lion population increased from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025, reflecting significant progress in conservation. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
Project Lion was announced on 15 August 2020. It follows a landscape-level, holistic approach involving habitat enhancement, disease monitoring, veterinary support, scientific population tracking, technology-aided interventions, biodiversity protection, benefit sharing and community participation. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.