Q1. The award "Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross" was recently in the news. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding its significance for India?
The current Prime Minister of India is the first Asian leader to be conferred with this honor.
This award marks the 50th international accolade received by the Prime Minister of India.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct; the PM is the first Asian leader to receive it.
Statement 2 is incorrect; the text specifies it marks his 31st international accolade, not the 50th.
Q2. Consider the following pairs of traditional community conservation practices/festivals and their respective states:
Panzath Nag Festival — Jammu & Kashmir
Jonbeel Mela (Community Fishing) — Assam
Sacred Groves (Sacred forests protected by local communities) — Present across various states of India
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation: All pairs are correctly matched. Panzath Nag belongs to J&K. Jonbeel Mela is a famous historical community gathering in Assam involving community fishing. Sacred Groves are traditional community-protected forest patches spread extensively across India.
Q3. Which Indian state is widely celebrated as the "Amur Falcon Capital of the World" due to the massive congregation of these birds during their autumn migration?
Answer: A (Nagaland)
Explanation: Nagaland is globally recognized as the "Amur Falcon Capital of the World" due to the spectacular congregation of millions of these raptors around the Doyang Reservoir during their autumn migration.
Q4. The names 'Apapang' and 'Alang', which were recently mentioned in the news, are associated with which of the following?
Answer: B (Trans-hemispheric raptor migration routes)
Explanation: The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is globally renowned for undergoing one of the longest trans-hemispheric migratory routes among all birds of prey (raptors), moving between the Northern Hemisphere (breeding) and the Southern Hemisphere (wintering).
Adichanallur — Thamirabarani River
Korkai — Thamirabarani River
Keeladi — Vaigai River
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: C
Solution:
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Adichanallur is situated on the lower banks of the Thamirabarani River in Thoothukudi district.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Korkai is situated near the mouth where the Thamirabarani River meets the Gulf of Mannar.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Keeladi, another highly significant Sangam-era urban settlement excavated by the TNSDA, is located in the Sivaganga district along the Vaigai River valley.
