DART 20-07-26 - Questlink IAS

#210 Sci

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Vikram-1:

Vikram-1 is India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle.
It is capable of placing payloads into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman, marking India's first privately developed orbital rocket.
Vikram-1 is India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle, developed by Skyroot Aerospace. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
It is built with an all-carbon composite structure, reliable solid-fuel boosters and a 3D-printed liquid engine.
Vikram-1 can place about 350 kg payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

#230 Geo

Q2. Consider the following rivers:

Vaippar
Tamiraparani
Vaigai
Palar

Which of the above rivers drain into the Gulf of Mannar?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

Recent excavations at Vembakottai on the banks of the Vaippar River have revealed evidence of human occupation from the Stone Age to the Sangam Age.
Vaippar River: It originates in the Western Ghats and drains into the Gulf of Mannar. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
Tamiraparani River: It originates in the Agasthyamalai Hills and empties into the Gulf of Mannar near Punnaikayal. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
Vaigai River: It originates from the Varusanadu and Megamalai hills of the Western Ghats. It flows eastward through Madurai and also drains into the Gulf of Mannar. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
Palar River: It originates from the Nandidurg hills in the Kolar district of Karnataka. It flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal near Kalpakkam, not the Gulf of Mannar. Hence, Statement 4 is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

#100 Misc.

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the FIFA World Cup 2026:

Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Argentina in the final.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the first edition to feature 48 participating teams.
The tournament was jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating defending champions Argentina 1–0 in the final, becoming world champions for the second time.
Spain defeated Argentina in the final to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, expanded from the previous 32-team format. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
The tournament was co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, making it the first FIFA World Cup hosted by three countries. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

#210 Sci

Q4. It is an Ethernet-based networking technology that enables sub-nanosecond time synchronisation and highly accurate frequency transfer between geographically distributed devices. Originally developed at CERN, it combines Precision Time Protocol (PTP) with Synchronous Ethernet and is increasingly used in scientific facilities, telecommunications, power grids and national time-distribution networks. In India, it was recently demonstrated under the 'One Nation, One Time' initiative.

The above description refers to:

(a) White Rabbit Technology

(b) Network Time Protocol (NTP)

(d) Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

The Government of India recently demonstrated a White Rabbit Technology-based network under the 'One Nation, One Time' initiative to establish a unified, highly accurate national time dissemination system.
White Rabbit Technology: It is an Ethernet-based time synchronisation technology developed at CERN. It combines Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588) and Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) to achieve sub-nanosecond synchronisation over fibre-optic networks. Hence, Option (a) is correct.
The Legal Metrology Division of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is the nodal agency, which has been realised through the collaboration of key technical institutions including the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), ISRO, BSNL, and SEBI.
Network Time Protocol (NTP): NTP synchronises clocks over IP networks but provides millisecond-level accuracy, far lower than White Rabbit. Hence, Option (b) is not correct.
Precision Time Protocol (PTP): PTP (IEEE 1588) is a component of White Rabbit Technology. By itself, it generally provides microsecond-level synchronisation and does not achieve White Rabbit's sub-nanosecond precision. Hence, Option (c) is not correct.
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH): SDH is a telecommunications transmission standard for high-speed optical communication and is not a precision time-synchronisation technology. Hence, Option (d) is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

#110 His

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Museum of Word:

It showcases the evolution of Indian languages from the Shruti tradition to the age of Artificial Intelligence.
It has been established by the Ministry of Culture in Kolkata.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

The Museum of Word, recently inaugurated in Kolkata, is an immersive cultural initiative that aims to preserve and showcase India's linguistic heritage through modern technologies.
The museum presents the journey of Indian languages from Omkar, Panini's grammar, Shruti and Smriti traditions, manuscripts, inscriptions, and the printing press to the era of Artificial Intelligence. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The first phase of the Museum of Word was inaugurated in Kolkata by the Ministry of Culture, making it a national initiative to preserve India's multilingual heritage. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.