Explanation

• Option a is the correct answer.
• India has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to aid Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, which has claimed at least 80 lives.
• Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline warship INS Udaigiri, which arrived in Colombo.
• C-130J aircraft deployed carried around 12 tonnes of humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) equipment under the operation.
• The support was guided by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR.

Explanation

• Option d is the correct answer.
• Red Planet Day is observed annually on November 28 to celebrate the exploration and study of Mars.
• Mars planet often referred to as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish appearance caused by iron oxide on its surface.
• Recently the Perseverance rover picked up audio evidence of electric discharges in the red planet’s atmosphere. This phenomenon gives evidence of lightning on Mars.
• Not high-voltage lightning like Earth, similar to static electricity from scuffing feet on carpet. It is caused by dust particles rubbing together in Martian atmosphere (especially during dust storms).

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Explanation

• 1 is incorrectly matched – McMahon Line line serves as the boundary between India and China, established during the Shimla Convention in 1914.
• It is named after Sir Henry McMahon, who was the British foreign secretary at the time. The line is approximately 890 kilometers long and is recognized by India but disputed by China.
• 2 is incorrectly matched – Radcliffe Line: named after Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who chaired the boundary commission, this line was drawn in August 1947 to demarcate the borders between India and Pakistan.
• It spans about 3,323 kilometers and also separates India from Bangladesh on the eastern side.
• 3 is incorrectly matched – Durand Line is the international land border that stretches for about 2,600 km between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• It stretches from the border with Iran in the west to China’s border in the east, spanning through the Karakoram range to the Registan desert.

Explanation

• Statement 1 is incorrect – Ajanta Caves dating back to the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE.
• They are significant for their artistic and historical value, showcasing the evolution of Buddhist art and architecture over centuries.
• Ellora Caves located near Aurangabad, these caves are famous for their monumental rock-cut temples representing three different religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
• The caves date from the 5th to the 10th century CE and are notable for their architectural grandeur and intricate sculptures.
• Thus, Ajanta caves are older than Ellora caves.
• Statement 2 is incorrect – The Ajanta and Ellora Caves are in Maharashtra, India. Ajanta Caves approximately 107 km north of Aurangabad, situated in a horseshoe-shaped gorge above the Waghora River.
• Ellora Caves approximately 30 km northwest of Aurangabad, near the village of Verul.
• Both sites are significant for their historical and architectural importance.

Explanation

• Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct.
• Sambhar lake is India’s largest inland saltwater lake, represents the depression of the Aravalli Range. Caspian Sea is the Asia’s Largest saltwater lake.
• It is a wetland of ‘international importance’ under the Ramsar Convention, declared in 1990 located in Rajasthan state.