1.With reference to ‘Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026’, consider the following statements:
It is a joint military exercise between India and the United Arab Emirates.
The 2026 edition commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.
The exercise focuses primarily on maritime security and anti-piracy operations.
Women officers and combatants from both participating armies are also involved in specialist roles.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Statement 1 – Correct: Exercise Mountain Guardian is a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and UAE Armed Forces.
Statement 2 – Correct: The 2026 edition commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.
Statement 3 – Incorrect: The exercise focuses on mountain warfare, rather than maritime security or anti-piracy operations.
Statement 4 – Correct:Women officers and combatants from both armies are participating in specialist roles.
2.With reference to the ‘Akash’ air defence missile system, consider the following statements:
Akash is an indigenous short-range surface-to-air missile system developed by the DRDO.
It uses command guidance and can engage aerial targets at altitudes ranging from 100 metres to 20 km.
Akash Prime is specifically designed for operations in high-altitude regions and incorporates an indigenous radio-frequency seeker.
Akash-NG is an earlier-generation variant with no major improvements in radar and guidance technologies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Statement 1 – Correct: Akash is an indigenous short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by DRDO. It is intended to protect vulnerable areas and points against aerial threats.
Statement 2 – Correct: The missile uses command guidance, with an operating range of approximately 4.5–25 km and an engagement altitude of 100 m–20 km.
Statement 3 – Correct:Akash Prime is designed for high-altitude operations above 4,500 metres and incorporates an indigenous radio-frequency seeker.
Statement 4 – Incorrect:Akash-NG (Next Generation) is an advanced variant, featuring upgraded radar and guidance technologies.
3.With reference to the Carbon Impacts Tracer (CIT), consider the following statements:
It is an open-source spatial modelling framework designed to assess the environmental and public health impacts of individual mining projects.
It estimates both direct carbon dioxide emissions and fugitive methane emissions associated with coal extraction and subsequent combustion.
It models the dispersion of pollutants such as particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides at a spatial resolution of up to 1 km.
It incorporates satellite-based land-use data to assess biodiversity-related impacts of surface mining.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Statement 1 – Correct: CIT is an open-source spatial modelling framework that isolates the footprint of individual mines and assesses their site-specific environmental and public-health externalities.
Statement 2 – Correct: It quantifies CO? emissions and fugitive CH? emissions from coal extraction and subsequent combustion.
Statement 3 – Correct: CIT models atmospheric dispersion of PM, SO? and NO? at a spatial resolution down to 1 km, helping estimate health impacts such as premature mortality and respiratory hospitalisations.
Statement 4 – Correct: It uses satellite land-use data to assess impacts including forest-canopy loss, groundwater depletion and habitat fragmentation.
4.With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY), consider the following statements:
It was launched in 2021-22 as a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It was formed by merging three erstwhile schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana.
Its objectives include poverty reduction, skill development, infrastructure improvement and promotion of education among Scheduled Castes.
It is implemented exclusively by the Ministry of Rural Development in SC-dominated rural areas.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: PM-AJAY was launched in FY 2021-22 as a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Statement 2 – Correct: It merged three schemes:
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
Special Central Assistance to SC Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
Statement 3 – Correct: The scheme focuses on poverty reduction, employment and skill development, infrastructure and essential services, and educational opportunities for SC communities.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: PM-AJAY is implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, not exclusively by the Ministry of Rural Development.
5.With reference to exoplanets, consider the following statements:
An exoplanet is a planet located outside our Solar System.
All known exoplanets necessarily orbit stars similar in size and composition to the Sun.
Beta Pictoris b is an example of an exoplanet.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Statement 1 – Correct: An exoplanet (extrasolar planet) is a planet located outside our Solar System.
Statement 2 – Incorrect: Exoplanets can orbit different types of stars; their host stars need not be similar to the Sun.
Statement 3 – Correct:Beta Pictoris b is an exoplanet orbiting Beta Pictoris, a star beyond our Solar System.
