1.With reference to the “FORTRESS America Initiative”, consider the following statements:
It seeks to enhance the energy self-sufficiency of major U.S. military installations.
It includes repatriation of critical supply chains involving rare earth elements, specialty metals and semiconductors.
Strengthening strategic reserves of fuel, munitions, blood and medicines is one of its objectives.
Resilience in space and spectrum is one of the five pillars of the initiative.
The initiative primarily focuses on reducing U.S. dependence on external vulnerabilities and foreign supply chains.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
FORTRESS America is a U.S. defence infrastructure and readiness initiative launched on 30 September 2026.
Key Objectives
Grid Independence: Major military installations are expected to develop their own power-generation capabilities.
Supply-Chain Repatriation: Seeks to strengthen domestic production of rare earths, specialty metals, semiconductors and propellants.
Strategic Reserves: Builds reserves of critical wartime supplies such as fuel, munitions, blood and medicines.
Installation & Cyber Resilience: Protects military infrastructure against sabotage, drones and cyberattacks.
Five Pillars
Energy Independence
Supply-Chain and Defense-Industrial Base Resilience
Strategic Defense Reserve
Installation Hardening and Cyber Resilience
Resilience in Space and Spectrum
2.With reference to the Rogun Hydropower Project, consider the following statements:
It is located in Uzbekistan on the Vakhsh River.
The project is being developed primarily to address Tajikistan’s domestic energy requirements.
The project is located in the Amu Darya river basin.
The Rogun Dam is among the major hydropower projects being developed in Central Asia.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Explanation
1. Location
The Rogun Hydropower Project is located in Tajikistan.
It is being constructed on the Vakhsh River, a major tributary of the Amu Darya.
2. Strategic Importance
Rogun is intended to significantly increase Tajikistan’s electricity-generation capacity.
It is particularly important for reducing the country’s energy shortages and dependence on imported electricity.
3. Amu Darya Basin
The Vakhsh River is part of the Amu Darya river system.
Therefore, the project has significance not only for energy security but also for transboundary water management in Central Asia.
4. Regional Significance
Rogun is one of the most ambitious hydropower projects in Central Asia.
Its development has implications for regional electricity supply, water management and relations among downstream countries.
3.With reference to Buxa Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements:
Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in the Dooars region of West Bengal.
It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in 1983.
The reserve contains moist tropical forests and extends from the plains to elevations of around 1,750 metres.
Mahseer is among the aquatic species associated with the hill streams of the reserve.
Buxa forms part of a wider ecological landscape connecting Bhutan with West Bengal and Assam.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
1. Location
Buxa Tiger Reserve is situated in the Dooars region of West Bengal, close to the Bhutan border.
Its landscape ranges from low-lying plains to elevations of around 1,750 m.
2. Tiger Reserve and National Park
Buxa was notified as India’s 15th Tiger Reserve in 1983.
Buxa National Park was declared in 1997.
3. Vegetation and Wildlife
The reserve predominantly consists of moist tropical forests.
Important wildlife includes:
Asian elephants
Gaur
Clouded leopards
Leopard cats
Marbled cats
Dholes
4. Aquatic Ecosystem
The hill streams of Buxa provide habitat for mahseer, an important freshwater fish.
5. Wildlife Corridors
Buxa forms part of a wider transboundary ecological landscape, connecting:
Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhutan
Jaldapara National Park – West Bengal
Ripu Reserve Forest – Assam
Manas Tiger Reserve – Assam
This connectivity is important for wildlife movement, genetic exchange and landscape-level conservation.
4.With reference to TAPAS-1, recently in the news, consider the following statements:
TAPAS-1 is an indigenously designed thermal-imaging nanosatellite payload.
It is a 1.5-kg modular CubeSat developed by Satleo Labs.
It operates in a Sun-Synchronous Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 500 km.
It uses thermal infrared radiation to monitor parameters such as urban heat, crop stress and wildfire hotspots.
Its applications are limited to civilian urban-planning purposes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
1. What is TAPAS-1?
TAPAS-1 (Thermal Access Platform for Analytics & Solutions) is described as India's first indigenously designed commercial private thermal-imaging nanosatellite payload.
It was developed by Satleo Labs, based in Ahmedabad.
It is a 1.5-kg modular CubeSat.
2. Launch and Orbit
TAPAS-1 was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 under the Transporter-18 rideshare mission.
It was deployed into a 500-km Sun-Synchronous Low Earth Orbit (SSO/LEO).
The satellite is designed for an operational life of approximately three years.
3. Thermal Infrared Imaging
TAPAS-1 detects thermal infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface.
It can therefore function like an orbital thermometer, providing information on variations in surface temperature.
4. Applications
Its thermal data can support:
Urban planning: Mapping Urban Heat Islands and managing heat stress.
Agriculture: Monitoring crop stress, soil moisture and irrigation.
Disaster management: Detecting wildfires and industrial hotspots.
Geology and archaeology: Identifying buried structures and geological features.
AI analytics: Cloud-based machine learning converts raw thermal observations into actionable information.
5. Why Statement 5 is Incorrect?
TAPAS-1 is not limited to civilian urban planning. Its applications extend to agriculture, disaster management, geology, archaeology and defence-related users.
5.With reference to India’s first Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Social Bond, consider the following statements:
It was issued by NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of NABARD.
The proceeds are intended to support water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in rural and underserved communities.
The bond has a five-year tenure and carries a coupon rate of 8.10%.
Water.org is associated with the initiative as a knowledge partner.
The bond was listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
1. Issuer
NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of NABARD, issued the bond.
It was listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 1 October 2026.
2. Nature of the Bond
It is India's first WASH Social Bond.
WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Social bonds are debt instruments through which funds are raised for projects having positive social outcomes.
3. Financial Details
Parameter
Details
Amount raised
Rs.180 crore
Investor response
Oversubscribed 1.8 times
Tenure
5 years
Maturity
September 2031
Coupon rate
8.10%
Rating
CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable)
Knowledge partner
Water.org
4. Use of Proceeds
The funds will be used to expand safe water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
5. Significance
The bond represents an innovative approach to financing social and development infrastructure. It can help mobilise private/institutional capital towards essential services while supporting improved public health, sanitation and quality of life.
