1.Consider the following statements regarding the proposed Global Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle:
Madanapalle is located in Andhra Pradesh and is an important horticultural region.
The initiative aims to strengthen horticulture through value addition, post-harvest management, processing and market linkages.
Madanapalle is particularly known for its tomato production and trade.
The hub is intended exclusively for promoting floriculture and does not cover fruits and vegetables.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: Madanapalle is situated in Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh and is an important horticultural centre.
Statement 2 – Correct: The proposed Global Horticulture Hub seeks to improve the horticulture ecosystem through post-harvest management, processing, value addition, technology and market linkages.
Statement 3 – Correct: Madanapalle is widely associated with tomato cultivation and trading, making it strategically important for horticultural value chains.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: The initiative is not restricted to floriculture; it encompasses the broader horticulture sector, including fruits and vegetables.
2.With reference to the recently approved PM-DHARA, consider the following statements:
It aims to facilitate the evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable energy by FY 2032–33.
It provides Central Financial Support to offset intra-State transmission charges.
The scheme envisages deployment of 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
BESS under the scheme is intended only for storing electricity generated from solar power.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: PM-DHARA aims to facilitate the evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable energy by FY 2032–33.
Statement 2 – Correct: It provides Rs.54,082 crore Central Financial Support, primarily to offset intra-State transmission charges and help maintain affordable electricity.
Statement 3 – Correct: The initiative provides for deployment of 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at renewable-energy sites and other strategically important grid locations.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: BESS is not limited to solar power. It supports overall grid flexibility by addressing renewable intermittency, reducing congestion and curtailment, and supplying electricity when renewable generation is unavailable.
3.With reference to the National Coastal Mission (NCM) 2.0, consider the following statements:
It seeks to strengthen coastal resilience and promote a sustainable Blue Economy in India.
It focuses on ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and pollution management.
Its implementation follows a whole-of-government approach involving the Centre, coastal States and Union Territories and other stakeholders.
The mission focuses exclusively on coastal infrastructure development and does not include climate vulnerability assessments or sustainable tourism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: NCM 2.0 aims to enhance coastal resilience and sustainability while promoting India’s Blue Economy.
Statement 2 – Correct: It includes ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and pollution management as key objectives.
Statement 3 – Correct: The mission adopts a whole-of-government approach, involving the Central Government, coastal States/UTs and other stakeholders.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: NCM 2.0 has a broader focus. It also includes climate vulnerability assessments, sustainable tourism, integrated spatial planning, research and capacity building.
4.With reference to the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) Telescope, consider the following statements:
CHIME is a radio telescope designed primarily to study the large-scale structure and expansion history of the Universe.
It operates mainly in the radio-frequency range and uses hydrogen emission to map the distribution of matter in the Universe.
CHIME is located in India and is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The telescope has played an important role in detecting and studying Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: CHIME is designed to study the large-scale structure of the Universe, including its expansion history, particularly through measurements related to baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO).
Statement 2 – Correct: It is a radio telescope that uses observations of the 21-cm hydrogen line to map the distribution of neutral hydrogen and study cosmic structure.
Statement 3 – Incorrect: CHIME is located at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia, Canada, and is associated with Canadian universities and research institutions, not ISRO.
Statement 4 – Correct: CHIME has become particularly important for detecting Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)—brief, intense bursts of radio emission originating from distant regions of the Universe.
5.With reference to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, recently identified as a potential “second home” for Asiatic Lions, consider the following statements:
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat.
It is situated in the Saurashtra region, outside the existing Gir landscape.
The sanctuary is being considered for Asiatic Lion conservation to reduce the risks associated with concentrating the entire wild population in a single landscape.
Asiatic Lions are naturally distributed across several States of India, including Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat.
Statement 2 – Correct: It lies in the Saurashtra region and provides a potential habitat beyond the traditional Gir landscape.
Statement 3 – Correct: Establishing a second population can reduce single-population risks such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters or other catastrophic events affecting the Gir population.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: The Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) occurs naturally in the wild primarily in Gujarat. Its present wild population is concentrated in the Gir landscape and surrounding areas, not across multiple Indian States.
