Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the geography and geopolitics of Norway:
Norway shares its land borders exclusively with Sweden and Finland.
The Svalbard Archipelago in the Arctic Ocean falls under the absolute sovereignty of Norway.
Over 95% of Norway's domestic electricity is generated through hydropower due to its unique hydrographic abundance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: B (2 and 3 only)
Statement 1 is incorrect: Norway shares its land borders with three nations: Sweden, Finland, and Russia.
Statement 2 is correct: Norway exercises absolute sovereignty over remote, ecologically critical Arctic territories, including the glaciated Svalbard Archipelago and Jan Mayen Island.
Statement 3 is correct: Backed by mountainous snowmelt, swift rivers, and deep waterfalls, Norway produces over 95% of its domestic electricity entirely from clean hydropower.
Q2. With reference to the fertiliser sector and agricultural inputs in India, consider the following statements:
Natural gas is used as a primary feedstock in the manufacturing of urea in India.
The Strait of Hormuz directly connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
For the Kharif 2026 season, nearly half of India's projected total fertiliser requirement was already secured as opening stock by April 2026.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: B (1 and 3 only)
Statement 1 is correct: Natural gas is the primary raw material (feedstock) and fuel used to manufacture nitrogenous fertilisers like urea in India.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Statement 3 is correct: Out of the total assessed requirement of 39 million tonnes for Kharif 2026, almost 18 million tonnes (46%) was already available as ground stock on April 1, 2026.
Q3. With reference to the calculation of temperature anomalies in India, consider the following statements:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) currently uses a 30-year baseline from 1991 to 2020 to determine normal temperatures.
Recent weather trends indicate that daytime maximum temperatures across India are deviating much higher above normal than night-time minimum temperatures.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: A (1 only)
Statement 1 is correct: The IMD and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) use the standard 30-year reference period of 1991–2020 to compute the normal baseline for weather stations.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Data shows the exact opposite trend. Daytime maximum temperatures have stayed closer to normal while night-time minimum temperatures are heating up much faster above normal.
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the "Normal Baseline" used by meteorologists:
It is a long-term average used by weather agencies to evaluate whether a specific day is hotter or cooler than expected.
If a weather station records a "below-normal" temperature, it confirms that the absolute heat at that location was low.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: A normal baseline is a long-term average used by meteorologists to determine if a day is hotter or cooler than usual.
Statement 2 is incorrect: A "below-normal" temperature report simply means it was cooler than that specific 30-year baseline average for that area, but the absolute heat could still be very high.
Q5. The ancient site of Pattinamarudhur has been described by archaeological experts as a historical counterpart structurally and commercially on par with which of the following famous ancient ports?
Based on the initial artifact densities and proximity to trade lanes, historical experts have postulated that Pattinamarudhur's commercial gravity and maritime status could be on par with Korkai, the famous ancient Pandyan port.
