Environment

Q1. Consider the following statements:

Statement I:

Small Hydro Power can play a distinctive role in India’s clean energy transition.

Statement II:

It can support decentralised electricity generation and provide renewable power closer to the point of consumption.

Statement III:

It can create employment and socio-economic opportunities in remote and geographically challenging regions.

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

(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them 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

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

The Government has highlighted Small Hydro Power as an important component of India’s clean energy transition because of its energy, employment and regional development potential.
Decentralised energy: Small Hydro Power can provide dependable renewable electricity closer to consumers and strengthen decentralised generation.
Regional development: The sector can generate employment, support local enterprises and create socio-economic opportunities in remote areas.
Small Hydro Power can strengthen decentralised generation and provide renewable electricity closer to the point of consumption. Hence, it directly explains its role in the clean energy transition. Hence, Statement II is correct.
Small Hydro Power can create employment and socio-economic opportunities, particularly in remote and geographically challenging regions. This also contributes to a broader and inclusive clean energy transition. Hence, Statement III is correct.
Since both Statements II and III provide reasons explaining the broader role mentioned in Statement I, both explain Statement I.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Science & Tech

Q2. Which one of the following best defines the Navier–Stokes problem that has recently been in the news in connection with OpenAI?

(a) It examines whether the equations governing fluid motion always have smooth solutions or can develop singularities in finite time.

(b) It examines whether quantum particles can simultaneously possess precisely defined position and momentum.

(d) It examines whether the distribution of prime numbers follows a particular pattern through complex mathematical zeros.

Answer: (a)

Explanation

The Navier–Stokes problem has recently been in the news following claims that OpenAI’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents produced a solution to the long-standing mathematical problem.
Fluid dynamics: Navier–Stokes equations describe the motion of viscous fluids such as water and air.
Mathematical challenge: The problem asks whether their solutions always remain smooth or can develop a singularity in finite time.
The Navier–Stokes Existence and Smoothness Problem examines whether the equations governing fluid motion always have smooth solutions or can develop singularities in finite time.
The position–momentum uncertainty of quantum particles is associated with quantum mechanics, not the Navier–Stokes problem.
The question of whether efficiently verifiable problems can also be efficiently solved is the P versus NP Problem, not the Navier–Stokes problem.
The distribution of prime numbers through the zeros of the Riemann zeta function relates to the Riemann Hypothesis, not Navier–Stokes equations.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

International Relations

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Partner Country framework of BRICS:

It provides an additional channel for structured engagement without making participating countries full members.
It was created alongside the major expansion of BRICS membership beginning in 2024.
Partner countries automatically acquire the same institutional status as full BRICS members.
The framework seeks to strengthen South-South cooperation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Alongside its expansion in full membership, BRICS created a Partner Country category to broaden engagement with emerging economies.
Partner Country framework: It creates structured engagement without changing the full-membership structure.
South-South cooperation: The framework broadens opportunities for cooperation across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eurasia.
The Partner Country category provides an additional channel for structured engagement while maintaining the distinction between partners and full members. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The Partner Country framework accompanied the expansion phase that began in January 2024. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
Partner countries do not automatically acquire full-membership status; the source explicitly distinguishes the framework from full membership. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.
The framework is intended to strengthen South-South cooperation across multiple regions. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Agriculture

Q4. Consider the following statements:

Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) filters and recirculates water, enabling intensive fish farming with minimal land and water requirements.
Bio-floc Technology requires continuous replacement of large quantities of water to maintain water quality.
Both systems are promoted under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) as technology-driven aquaculture models.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is promoting technology-driven aquaculture through resource-efficient systems such as Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and Bio-floc Technology.
Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS): Filters and recirculates water for intensive fish farming with minimal land and water use.
Bio-floc Technology: Uses beneficial microbes to recycle nutrients and enables fish farming with little or no water exchange.
Recirculatory Aquaculture System filters and recirculates water, removing waste and impurities and enabling intensive fish farming with minimal land and water. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
Bio-floc Technology uses beneficial microbes to recycle nutrients and requires little or no water exchange. Therefore, the statement that it requires continuous replacement of large quantities of water is contrary to the described technology. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) promotes RAS and Bio-floc Technology as high-density, water-efficient aquaculture models aimed at improving productivity and resource efficiency. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Economy

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to India’s new GDP series:

1. The downward revision in nominal GDP estimates is primarily attributed to improved measurement of the informal sector.

2. The new series has replaced earlier proxy-based estimates with direct empirical evidence from annual surveys of the informal sector.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

India’s new GDP series has revised earlier estimates, with improved measurement of the informal sector being identified as the primary driver of the downward revision.
Informal Sector: The new series uses direct annual survey evidence from ASUSE and PLFS instead of relying mainly on proxy-based estimates.
Double Deflation: The new national accounts use the 2022-23 Output Producer Price Index (PPI) for deflation, while the experimental Input PPI was not used.
The downward revision across overlapping years has primarily been attributed to the transition from proxy-based estimates to direct annual survey-based estimates for the informal sector. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The new series uses evidence from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to improve measurement of informal-sector productivity and workforce. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.