#Pollity

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to women-led economic empowerment in India:

I. The expansion of Self-Help Groups under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission has strengthened women's participation in income-generating activities.

II. The increase in credit support and capitalization assistance to Self-Help Groups has contributed to livelihood diversification and entrepreneurial opportunities for rural women.

III. Sustainable rural livelihoods necessarily depend on direct government employment rather than community-based institutions.

Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

  1. Statement I is empirically supported by Statement II.
  2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in Statement I.
  3. Statement I and Statement III together establish the premise of women-led economic empowerment.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

  1. Statement II highlights enhanced access to credit and capitalization support, which has enabled the growth of Self-Help Groups and women's economic activities. Hence, Relationship 1 is correct.
  2. Statement I emphasizes community-based institutions such as Self-Help Groups, whereas Statement III argues for dependence on direct government employment. The two approaches are conceptually opposed. Hence, Relationship 2 is correct.
  3. Since Statement III contradicts the women-centric, community-driven model reflected in Statement I, they cannot together establish the premise of women-led economic empowerment. Hence, Relationship 3 is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Read More: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2270144&reg=48&lang=1



#Miscellaneous

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding gallantry awards in India:

  1. Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted on 26 January 1950.
  2. These awards were deemed to have effect from 15 August 1947.
  3. Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra were originally instituted with these names in 1952.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

  1. Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted on 26 January 1950. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  2. These awards were given retrospective effect from 15 August 1947. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
  3. The awards instituted in 1952 were initially named Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II and Class-III, and were renamed only in 1967. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Read More: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2270369&reg=48&lang=1



#Polity

Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana:

I. The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana seeks to improve maternal health and nutrition by providing cash incentives to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers.

II. The scheme supports women in partially compensating for wage loss associated with childbirth and promotes appropriate health-seeking behaviour.

III. The scheme contributes to better maternal and child outcomes by encouraging institutional healthcare and early childcare practices.

Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

  1. Statement II validates the rationale underlying Statement I.
  2. Statement III extends the objectives of Statement I by highlighting its broader developmental outcomes.
  3. Statement I contradicts Statement III by focusing exclusively on financial assistance rather than health outcomes.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

  1. Statement II explains how cash incentives reduce wage-related barriers and encourage maternal healthcare utilisation. Hence, Relationship 1 is correct.
  2. Statement III reflects the wider impact of the scheme on maternal and child well-being, thereby extending the objectives stated in Statement I. Hence, Relationship 2 is correct.
  3. Statement I and Statement III are complementary rather than contradictory, as financial support is intended to improve health outcomes. Hence, Relationship 3 is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Read More: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2270486&reg=48&lang=1



#Geography

Q4. Consider the following pairs:

Island GroupCountry
1. MindanaoPhilippines
2. SulawesiIndonesia
3. BorneoMalaysia only

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

  1. Mindanao is a major island group of the Philippines. Hence, Pair 1 is correctly matched.
  2. Sulawesi is one of the major islands of Indonesia. Hence, Pair 2 is correctly matched.
  3. Borneo is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei; it does not belong exclusively to Malaysia. Hence, Pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Read More: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2270398&reg=48&lang=1



Q5. Which one of the following best describes quantum entanglement?

(a) Simultaneous loss of energy by particles

(b) Correlation between particles such that measurements on one are linked to the other

(c) Conversion of quantum information into classical information

(d) Permanent merging of quantum states

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

  1. Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which two or more particles share a common quantum state, causing their measurement outcomes to be strongly correlated.
  2. These correlations persist even when the particles are separated by large distances and cannot be explained by classical physics.
  3. Entanglement forms the basis of technologies such as quantum cryptography, quantum teleportation, and quantum computing.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Read More: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/technique-to-amplify-random-numbers-is-digital-security-breakthrough/article71076263.ece



#Geography

Q6. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: India is seeking overseas critical mineral assets to strengthen its mineral security.

Statement II: Critical minerals such as lithium are essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.

Statement III: KABIL's acquisition of lithium blocks in Argentina supports India's clean energy transition objectives.

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.

(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I.

(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct.

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

  1. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), is a Joint Venture Company among the three Government Enterprises: National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Limited (MECL), in the ratio of 40:30:30, under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India, formed to ensure supply side assurance of critical and strategic minerals and mineral security of the nation. KABIL was Incorporated on 08.08.2019 under the Companies Act 2013.
  2. The mandate of KABIL is to identify, explore, acquire, develop, mine, process, procure strategic minerals outside India for suppling primarily to India, to meet domestic requirements due to its non or meagre availability in the country and giving a big push to Make in India.
  3. Lithium is a key component of rechargeable batteries. Hence, Statement II is correct.
  4. Securing lithium resources abroad enhances India's energy security. Hence, Statement III is correct.
  5. Both statements explain India's efforts to acquire overseas critical mineral assets. Hence, Statement I is correctly explained by Statements II and III.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Read More : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kabil-acquires-five-critical-mineral-blocks-in-argentina/article71076400.ece



#Miscellaneous

Q7. With reference to the following world leaders, consider the information given below:

LeaderSome of their notable contributionsCountry associated with them
I. Margaret ThatcherPursued privatization, deregulation and market-oriented economic reformsUnited Kingdom
II. Nelson MandelaPromoted reconciliation and supported the Truth and Reconciliation process after apartheidSouth Africa
III. Lee Kuan YewAdvocated export-led industrialization and transformed a resource-poor city-state into a developmental success storyMalaysia

In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All the three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

  1. Margaret Thatcher is associated with privatization, deregulation and free-market reforms in the United Kingdom. Hence, Row I is correctly matched.
  2. Nelson Mandela promoted national reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa and supported the Truth and Reconciliation process. Hence, Row II is correctly matched.
  3. Lee Kuan Yew was the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, not Malaysia. Hence, Row III is not correctly matched.

Hence, option (b) is correct.



#Miscellaneous

Q.8. Consider the following pairs:

Ethanol BlendEthanol Content
1. E20Maximum 20% ethanol
2. E85Maximum 85% ethanol
3. E100100% ethanol

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

  1. Ethanol blending refers to the mixing of ethanol with gasoline to reduce fossil fuel dependence and vehicular emissions. Different blends are designated by the prefix 'E', indicating the percentage of ethanol in the fuel.
  2. E20 contains up to 20% ethanol blended with gasoline. Hence, Pair 1 is correctly matched.
  3. E85 contains up to 85% anhydrous ethanol and is generally used in Flex Fuel Vehicles. Hence, Pair 2 is correctly matched.
  4. Brazilian E100 is hydrous ethanol containing, on average, about 5.3% water, and therefore is not 100% pure ethanol. Hence, Pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Read More: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/gulmohar-park-sewage-taps-urban-water-systems-fail-10728181/?ref=infinite



#Geography

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding coking coal:

  1. It is an essential raw material in blast furnace-based steel production.
  2. India meets a significant proportion of its coking coal requirements through imports.
  3. The Government of India has designated coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

  1. Coking coal is used for producing metallurgical coke required in steelmaking. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  2. India relies heavily on imports to meet its coking coal demand. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
  3. The Government designated coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral due to import dependence. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Read More: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/sail-nmdc-explore-russian-coking-coal-assets-nickel-supplies/article71079931.ece#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBoth%20SAIL%20%E2%80%8Cand%20%E2%81%A0NMDC,and%20a%20Russian%20source%20said.



#Miscellaneous

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the FIFA World Cup 2026:

  1. It will be the first FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by three countries.
  2. It will follow the same 32-team format that was used in the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

  1. The FIFA World Cup 2026 edition will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  2. The number of participating teams has increased to 48 from 32. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Read More: https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-i-france-senegal-norway-iraq/article71036474.ece