2025

Statement I: Incorrect The decision on disqualification under the Tenth Schedule is made by the Speaker or Chairman, not the President or the Union Council of Ministers.

Statement II: Incorrect The word 'political party' is explicitly mentioned in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

Therefore, neither statement is correct.

Nature-based solutions involve using natural processes to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, often needing dedicated financial support.

ADB launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific to fund nature-based solutions for climate and environmental challenges in the region.

The Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula) is a rare, tree-dwelling spider found in limited forest areas in India.

Statement I is incorrect: * It is a spider (arachnid), not an omnivorous crustacean.

Statement II is correct: * Its habitat is restricted to some forest areas in the Eastern Ghats.

Statement III is correct: * It is arboreal, living in trees and tree crevices.

So, the correct answer is: D

Pair 1 is correct: Asmaka (or Assaka) was the southernmost Mahajanapada, located in the Deccan region on the banks of the Godavari river.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Kamboja was located in the extreme north-west (modern-day Afghanistan and Kashmir). The Vipas (Beas) river flows through Punjab, which is geographically distinct and east of the Kamboja region.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Avanti was in western Madhya Pradesh (Malwa region). The main rivers flowing through it were the Kshipra and Vetravati, not the Mahanadi (which flows through Odisha and Chhattisgarh).

Pair 4 is correct: Kosala was a Mahajanapada in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its capital, Ayodhya, is situated on the banks of the Sarayu river.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a reformer who respected Indian traditions but promoted rational thinking and social equality.

Statement I is correct: * He respected traditional Eastern philosophies like Vedanta and sought their reform.

Statement II is correct: * He advocated for rationalism, scientific thinking, and equality of all men and women.

So, the correct answer is: C

The Self-Respect Movement, started in 1925, aimed to dismantle caste hierarchies and promote social equality, especially for non-Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu.

He founded the Self-Respect Movement to fight caste oppression and promote rationalism and equality.

Critical minerals are essential for modern technologies and clean energy, but many countries, including India, depend on imports for several of them. To strengthen supply chains, India has joined international partnerships and reformed mining laws.

Statement I: Correct India joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023 to ensure reliable access to critical minerals.

Statement II: Incorrect India is not resource-rich in all 30 critical minerals it has identified and remains import-dependent for several, like cobalt and nickel.

Statement III: Correct In 2023, Parliament amended the Mines and Minerals Act, giving the Central Government power to auction leases for critical minerals.

Statement I: Correct *India co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris (Feb 2025), continuing efforts from the Bletchley Park (UK, 2023) and Seoul (South Korea, 2024) Summits on AI governance.*

Statement II: Incorrect *The joint statement on 'Inclusive and Sustainable AI' was signed by 58 countries including India and China, but the US and UK did not sign due to concerns about overregulation.*

Correct Answer: Only Statement I is correct.

At COP28, India chose not to sign the "Declaration on Climate and Health," and this decision can be understood by analyzing the nature of the declaration and India's concerns.

Statement I: Correct. India did not sign the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, unlike over 120 other countries.

Statement II: Incorrect. The declaration is not legally binding; it is a voluntary political commitment. Signing it does not legally mandate countries to decarbonize their health sectors immediately.

Statement III: Correct. India's concern is that rapid decarbonization of its health sector could compromise the resilience and accessibility of healthcare services, given current developmental challenges and resource constraints.

Therefore, only Statement III correctly explains Statement I, while Statement II is factually wrong about the binding nature of the declaration.

Statement I: Correct The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup was held in New Delhi, India, from January 13-19, 2025.

Statement II: Incorrect India defeated Nepal 54-36 (not 78-40) to win the men's final.

Statement III: Incorrect India beat Nepal 78-40 (not 54-36) in the women's final.

Additional Context: 24 countries participated, and the event was organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India with the International Kho Kho Federation.

Therefore, only Statement I is correct.

This question checks knowledge of countries known for major natural resources that play key roles in global markets.

I. Botswana : Diamond – Correct * Botswana is a top global producer of diamonds, vital to its economy.

II. Chile : Lithium – Correct * Chile has vast lithium reserves in the Atacama Desert and is a leading global supplier.

III. Indonesia : Nickel – Correct * Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel, crucial for batteries and steel.

Coal gasification is a process that converts coal into syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor). Syngas acts as a fundamental building block for the chemical industry.

I is correct: Syngas can be converted into Ethanol through various chemical pathways, including catalytic synthesis or fermentation.

II is incorrect: Nitroglycerine is produced through the nitration of glycerol. Glycerol is typically obtained from natural fats/oils or as a byproduct of biodiesel production, not from coal gasification.

III is correct: Coal gasification is a major source of hydrogen for producing Ammonia. This ammonia is then reacted with carbon dioxide (also a product of gasification) to produce Urea.

Statement I is correct: Satellite data (such as the GRACE mission) has confirmed that the Earth's rotational axis is drifting and the speed of rotation is slightly changing. Since the late 20th century, this "Polar Drift" has accelerated and shifted direction.

Statement II is correct: Solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) release high-energy particles and radiation that impact the Earth's thermosphere and magnetosphere. While this causes geomagnetic storms and affects satellite drag, it has no significant impact on the orientation of the Earth's rotational axis.

Statement III is correct: When massive polar ice sheets melt, the resulting water is redistributed. Due to centrifugal force, this water accumulates more near the equator than at the poles. This represents a major surface mass redistribution.

The Relationship: Statement III explains Statement I. In physics, when the mass of a rotating sphere is moved from the axis (the poles) toward the perimeter (the equator), the "Moment of Inertia" increases, causing a shift in the axis of rotation and a slight slowing of the rotation speed.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is crucial as it outlines international cooperation through both carbon markets and non-market approaches to help countries meet climate goals.

Statement I is correct: * Article 6 is widely discussed because it enables cooperation through market and non-market means to fight climate change.

Statement II is correct: * It defines rules for carbon markets, including carbon trading and credit mechanisms.

Statement III is correct: * It also promotes non-market tools like technology transfer and capacity building to reach climate targets.

So, the correct answer is: A

Statement I: Correct *BIMSTEC currently has seven members: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan.*

Statement II: Incorrect *BIMSTEC was established by the Bangkok Declaration in 1997, not the Dhaka Declaration in 1999.*

Statement III: Incorrect *Founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar; Nepal and Bhutan joined later.*

Statement IV: Incorrect *Nepal leads tourism subsector, not India; India leads sectors like Counter-Terrorism and Energy.*

Correct Answer: Only Statement I is correct.

Statement I: Incorrect *Lake Tanganyika lies south of the Equator, in Tanzania, DRC, Burundi, and Zambia.*

Statement II: Incorrect *Lake Tonlé Sap is in Cambodia, well north of the Equator.*

Statement III: Incorrect *Patos Lagoon is in southern Brazil, far south of the Equator.*

Correct Answer: (D) None The Equator does not pass through any of the three water bodies listed.

Bonds are debt instruments, while stocks represent ownership. Bondholders earn fixed interest and are repaid before stockholders, making them relatively less risky investors.

Statement I: Correct Bondholders face lower risk as they receive fixed returns and are prioritized during repayment over stockholders.

Statement II: Correct Bondholders are lenders to the company; stockholders are owners.

Statement III: Correct In case of liquidation, companies repay bondholders before stockholders.

Mahatma Gandhi made the upliftment of *Harijans* a central goal after opposing separate electorates for the Depressed Classes in the British Communal Award.

After the Poona Pact (1932), signed with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Gandhi intensified efforts to eradicate untouchability, forming the Harijan Sevak Sangh and launching the 'Harijan' journal.

The Indian Constitution provides legal immunities and privileges to ensure the independent functioning of constitutional offices and legislative bodies.

Statement I: Correct * As per Article 361(1), the Governor is not answerable to any court for actions taken in the course of their official duties.

Statement II: Correct * Article 361(2) states that no criminal proceedings can be initiated or continued against a Governor during their term.

Statement III: Correct * Article 194(2) grants immunity to State Legislators for anything said or any vote given within the House or its committees.

Statement I is correct: Geological matching (Jigsaw Fit) shows that the 2,000-million-year-old belt of ancient rocks from the Brazilian coast matches those from Western Africa. This suggests the two continents were once joined.

Statement II is correct: This refers to "Placer Deposits." Ghana possesses rich placer deposits of gold despite having no known source rock (mother lode) in the region. The gold-bearing veins are actually located in Brazil, proving the continents were once side-by-side.

Statement III is correct: The Gondwana system of glacial tillite sediments found in India has identical counterparts in six different landmasses: Africa, the Falkland Islands, Madagascar, Antarctica, Australia, and South America. This provides powerful evidence of a shared climatic and geological history.

Correct Answer: All three statements are correct.

The Non-Cooperation Programme aimed to resist British rule through boycott and self-reliance, emphasizing non-violence and alternative institutions.

Statement I is correct: * Boycott of law courts and foreign cloth was a key part of the movement.

Statement II is correct: * Strict non-violence was insisted upon by Gandhi during the movement.

Statement III is incorrect: * The programme required surrendering British titles and honours, not retaining them.

Statement IV is correct: * Setting up Panchayats to settle disputes locally was encouraged.

So, the correct answer is: C (Only three)

This question tests knowledge of historical and administrative facts about northeastern Indian states.

Pair I: Arunachal Pradesh – Correct * Itanagar, the capital, is named after Ita Fort. * The state has two National Parks: Namdapha and Mouling.

Pair II: Nagaland – Correct * Nagaland attained statehood via a constitutional amendment and came into being on 1 December 1963 through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.

Pair III: Tripura – Correct * Tripura was a Part 'C' state, became a Union Territory in 1956, and was granted statehood in 1972.

The correct answer is B. Chandragupta II.

Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya) of the Gupta dynasty. He arrived around the early 5th century CE, seeking Buddhist texts and studying the practices of Buddhism in India. His travel accounts provide valuable information about Gupta India's society, administration, and Buddhism.

The other rulers listed do not align with the period of Fa-hien's visit.

An Ordinance is a temporary law issued by the President (Article 123) or Governor (Article 213) when the legislature is not in session. It holds the same force as a regular law, but must adhere to constitutional limits.

Statement I: Correct * An Ordinance can amend any Central Act, just like a Parliamentary law, subject to constitutional provisions.

Statement II: Incorrect * Ordinances cannot abridge Fundamental Rights as per Article 13(2) of the Constitution. Any such provision is void.

Statement III: Correct * Ordinances can be given retrospective effect, i.e., they can be enforced from a past date.

Capital receipts involve transactions that either increase liabilities or reduce assets for the government. Revenue receipts, on the other hand, are routine incomes like interest or taxes that don't affect assets or liabilities.

Statement I: Correct * Capital receipts create liabilities (like borrowings) or reduce assets (like disinvestment).

Statement II: Correct * Borrowings and disinvestment are both capital receipts.

Statement III: Incorrect * Interest received is a revenue receipt, not a capital receipt—it's income, not a liability.

India has seen a massive rise in equity options trading and stock market capitalization, but investor protection is actively overseen by SEBI.

Statement I: Correct India leads globally in equity options trading volume, reflecting a major boom in the derivatives market.

Statement II: Correct In early 2024, India's stock market temporarily overtook Hong Kong's, becoming the 4th largest by market cap.

Statement III: Incorrect India has a regulatory body—SEBI—which issues warnings and acts against unregistered advisors.

Statement I: Incorrect *The President of India is NOT a member of the Jury.*

Statement II: Correct *The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson of the Jury.*

Statement III: Correct *The Chief Justice of India (or a Supreme Court Judge nominated by the CJI) is a Jury member.*

Statement IV: Correct *The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (or leader of largest opposition party) is a Jury member.*

Correct Answer: Statements II, III, and IV are correct.

I. Austria - Not a NATO member (maintains neutrality).

II.Bulgaria - NATO member (joined in 2004).

III. Croatia - NATO member (joined in 2009).

IV.Serbia - Not a NATO member (participates in Partnership for Peace, but not a full member).

V. Sweden - NATO member (officially joined in March 2024).

VI. North Macedonia - NATO member (joined in 2020).

So, four of the listed countries are members of NATO: Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and North Macedonia.

Among the listed bodies, only the Inter-State Council is established by the Constitution of India. The others are based on statutory or executive provisions.

I. Inter-State Council – Correct * Established under Article 263 of the Constitution to facilitate Centre-State coordination.

II. National Security Council – Incorrect * Formed in 1998 by an executive order, not mentioned in the Constitution.

III. Zonal Councils – Incorrect * Established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, a statutory but non-constitutional body.

CL-20, HMX, and LLM-105 are chemical substances known for their use as high-energy explosives in military weapons.

* CL-20: A powerful explosive with high energy density. * HMX: A well-known military explosive used in various munitions. * LLM-105: A newer explosive with similar high performance.

All three are explosives used in military weapons.