1.Consider the following statements regarding Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, who was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize:
She belongs to a family of Indian Tamil origin from South Africa.
She played a role in defending Nelson Mandela and other opponents of apartheid.
Her work has been associated with strengthening international law and ensuring accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
She served as the first woman Chief Justice of South Africa.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Statement 1 – Correct: Navi Pillay was born in Durban, South Africa, into a family of Indian Tamil origin, during the apartheid era.
Statement 2 – Correct: She worked as a lawyer and defended Nelson Mandela and other opponents of apartheid, while challenging racial discrimination and segregation.
Statement 3 – Correct: The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize recognised her efforts to promote peace, strengthen international law, and advance accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: Navi Pillay was not the first woman Chief Justice of South Africa. This is a distractor.
2.With reference to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, consider the following statements:
The GST Council is a constitutional body established under Article 279A of the Constitution.
It was constituted pursuant to the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016.
The Union Finance Minister is the Chairperson of the GST Council.
The Council has the power to directly impose GST rates on goods and services without any legislation by Parliament or State Legislatures.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Statement 1 – Correct: The GST Council is a constitutional body established under Article 279A of the Constitution.
Statement 2 – Correct: It was created through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, which introduced the constitutional framework for GST.
Statement 3 – Correct: The Union Finance Minister is the Chairperson of the GST Council.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: The GST Council primarily makes recommendations regarding GST rates, exemptions, model laws, place of supply and other GST-related matters. It does not itself directly impose GST rates through executive action.
3.With reference to the Living Planet Index (LPI), consider the following statements:
It is a biodiversity indicator used to track changes in the relative abundance of monitored vertebrate populations over time.
It is associated with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
It directly measures the total number of species that have become extinct globally during a given period.
Changes in the index can provide insights into trends in vertebrate biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Which of the statements given above are correct?????
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Statement 1 – Correct: The Living Planet Index (LPI) tracks changes in the relative abundance of monitored vertebrate populations over time. It is therefore an important indicator of biodiversity trends.
Statement 2 – Correct: The Living Planet Report is produced by WWF in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Statement 3 – Incorrect: The LPI does not directly measure species extinctions. It measures changes in the abundance of monitored vertebrate populations.
Statement 4 – Correct: Trends in the LPI can indicate broader changes in vertebrate biodiversity and ecosystem health.
4.With reference to Environmental-Economic Accounting, consider the following statements:
It systematically quantifies the interconnections between the environment, natural resources and economic activities.
It tracks the use of natural resources in economic activities and associated environmental changes and expenditures.
It completely replaces conventional national accounts by excluding economic indicators such as GDP.
It can help account for changes in natural capital that may not be adequately reflected in conventional national accounts.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
???
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Statement 1 – Correct: Environmental-economic accounting quantifies the linkages between environmental resources, natural capital and economic systems.
Statement 2 – Correct: It tracks natural resources, their use in economic activities, environmental changes and related expenditures.
Statement 3 – Incorrect: It does not replace conventional national accounts. Rather, it complements them by incorporating environmental and natural-resource dimensions.
Statement 4 – Correct: Conventional national accounts primarily capture economic activity. Environmental-economic accounting provides additional information on natural capital and environmental changes, which may otherwise remain inadequately reflected.
5.With reference to the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH), consider the following statements:
It is implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).
It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
It aims to enhance the participation of SC and ST entrepreneurs in the public procurement ecosystem and improve their entrepreneurial capabilities.
It is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Statement 1 – Correct: The National SC-ST Hub is implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).
Statement 2 – Correct: NSIC functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
Statement 3 – Correct: The NSSH seeks to increase the participation of SC/ST-owned enterprises in public procurement and strengthen their technical, managerial and business capabilities, including access to markets.
Statement 4 – Incorrect: The NSSH is associated with the Ministry of MSME, not the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
