Polity

Q1. ‘X’ was addressing a seminar on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs) in India. ‘X’ explained that under the present statutory framework, the President appoints the CEC and ECs on the recommendation of a three-member Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. ‘Y’ pointed out that the Supreme Court, in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India, had prescribed a three-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India, until Parliament made a law on the subject.

Based on the above, select the correct conclusion from the options given below:

(a) ‘X’ is correct, while ‘Y’ is not correct.

(b) ‘Y’ is correct, while ‘X’ is not correct.

(d) The view of neither ‘X’ nor ‘Y’ is correct.

Ans: (c)

Explanation

The appointment mechanism for the Election Commission changed after Parliament enacted the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The Supreme Court’s Anoop Baranwal judgment prescribed a committee including the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India as an interim arrangement until Parliament enacted a law.
The 2023 Act subsequently established a Selection Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
Under the 2023 Act, the President appoints the CEC and other ECs on the recommendation of the Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. Hence, the view of X is correct.
In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India, the Supreme Court directed that appointments would be made on the advice of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India, and specified that this arrangement would continue until Parliament made a law on the subject. Hence, the view of Y is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

History

Q2. Consider the following pairs relating to ancient city Poompuhar:

Term / Finding	Associated description
1. Maruvurppakkam	Seashore division of Poompuhar
2. Pattinappakkam	Western division of Poompuhar
3. Nalangadi	Area situated between the other two divisions
4. Torpedo jar	Vessel associated with West Asian maritime trade

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Ans: (d)

Explanation

Literary descriptions of Poompuhar indicate that the ancient city was divided into different urban sections and developed as a major commercial and maritime centre.
Maruvurppakkam, Pattinappakkam and Nalangadi are described as the three major divisions of the city.
The recent underwater excavation recovered a West Asian torpedo jar fragment, adding archaeological evidence for overseas trade.
Maruvurppakkam was situated along the seashore. Hence, Pair 1 is correctly matched.
Pattinappakkam was situated to the west of Maruvurppakkam. Hence, Pair 2 is correctly matched.
Nalangadi lay between Maruvurppakkam and Pattinappakkam. Hence, Pair 3 is correctly matched.
The torpedo jar was a West Asian ceramic vessel used historically to transport liquid cargo such as wine and olive oil across oceanic routes. Hence, Pair 4 is correctly matched.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Environment

Q3. With reference to the e-methanol project recently announced in India, consider the following statements:

The country’s first port-based e-methanol production facility is being established at Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat, to supply green fuel to ships.
E-methanol is generally produced by combining hydrogen generated using renewable electricity with carbon dioxide, making it a Power-to-Liquid fuel that can help reduce the fossil-carbon intensity of shipping.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Explanation

India is setting up its first port-based e-methanol production facility at Kandla to support green shipping and the transition towards low-carbon maritime fuels.
The Kandla plant will have a planned capacity of 150 tonnes per day and will use renewable power, water and biogenic CO₂ as inputs.
E-methanol is a synthetic fuel in which renewable hydrogen is combined with a suitable carbon source, such as captured CO₂, to produce methanol.
India’s first port-based e-methanol production facility is being established at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat, and is intended to supply green fuel to ships. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
In the e-methanol pathway, water is used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, while carbon dioxide is combined with the hydrogen to synthesise methanol. In simplified form:

CO₂ + 3H₂ → CH₃OH + H₂O.

When renewable electricity and appropriately sourced carbon are used, the resulting methanol can have a substantially lower lifecycle carbon intensity than conventional fossil-based methanol. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Environment

Q4. With reference to waste-to-energy initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission, consider the following statements:

Anaerobic digestion of organic waste can simultaneously generate biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry that can be used as an organic fertilizer.
A multi-feedstock waste-to-energy system can improve resource recovery by processing different biodegradable wastes such as crop residue, cattle dung and food waste in the same facility.
Conversion of organic waste into energy eliminates the need for further management of the residual material generated during the process.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

Explanation

Waste-to-energy initiatives under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 seek to move urban waste management beyond collection and disposal towards resource recovery, energy generation and productive use of by-products.
Biogas is produced through the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste, while the resulting slurry can serve as an organic fertilizer.
Waste-to-energy plants such as the Prayagraj facility demonstrate a multi-feedstock model, while several projects convert waste into fuel, electricity and manure.
Anaerobic decomposition of organic waste produces biogas, and the by-product slurry is rich in nitrogen and can be used as an organic fertilizer. This illustrates the recovery of both energy and useful material from the same waste stream. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
The Prayagraj plant uses a multi-feedstock model involving wet waste, paddy straw, cattle dung and poultry litter. Such integration allows different forms of biodegradable waste to be converted into useful outputs such as bio-CNG and compost. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
Waste-to-energy does not eliminate all residual material. For example, the process can generate slurry or other by-products that require further productive use or appropriate management. Therefore, energy recovery is part of a broader resource-recovery cycle, not the complete elimination of waste. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Economy

Q5. Consider the following Assertion and Reason:

Assertion (A): The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool can help reduce India’s vulnerability to disruptions in international maritime insurance.

Reason (R): The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool is funded entirely through a direct sovereign guarantee and does not involve collective reinsurance among participating domestic insurers.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(d) A is false, but R is true.

Ans: (c)

Explanation

The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) was created as a domestic maritime insurance mechanism to reduce India’s dependence on foreign insurers and strengthen resilience during global disruptions.
BMIP provides domestic coverage for Hull & Machinery, Cargo, Protection and Indemnity (P&I), and War risks.
Policies are issued by domestic insurers, while the risks are collectively reinsured by Pool members; the sovereign guarantee supports larger claims after exhaustion of Pool reserves.
BMIP reduces reliance on foreign insurers by creating domestic insurance capacity and providing coverage against major maritime risks, thereby strengthening India’s resilience to external disruptions. Hence, Assertion(A) is correct.
The Pool operates through participating domestic insurers, with risks collectively reinsured among Pool members, while the sovereign guarantee acts as additional financial support for larger claims. Hence, Reason(R) is not correct.

Hence, option (c) is correct.