Answer: B
Soln:
CARICOM:
● The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) is a group of 21
developing countries (15 full-time members and 6 associate members) in the Caribbean
that encourage common policy and economic goals. Hence, option B is correct.
● The CARICOM was formed in 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
● The Treaty was later revised in 2002 to allow for the eventual establishment of a single
market and a single economy.
○ Known as the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), the single market
and economy is meant to integrate all of the member states of CARICOM. It is still in
development.

● CARICOM enjoys observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.
● The Secretariat is located in Georgetown, Guyana.

1. Consider the following statements.
1. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) is responsible for formulating the policy of the
Department of Atomic Energy.
2. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is responsible for design, construction,
commissioning and operation of nuclear power reactors.
3. NPCIL and AEC come under the control of the Union Ministry of Power.

Answer: B
Soln:
● The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set up under the direct charge of the
Prime Minister through a Presidential Order on August 3, 1954. It is not under the Union
Ministry of Power. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● The Atomic Energy Commission with full executive and financial powers was set up by the
Government through a resolution dated March 1, 1958.
● The Atomic Energy Commission is responsible for formulating the policy of the
Department of Atomic Energy. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is a Public Sector Enterprise under
the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of
India.
● NPCIL is responsible for design, construction, commissioning and operation of nuclear
power reactors. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the
Department of Atomic Energy, passed away recently.
● In 1987, he was appointed Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary of the
Department of Atomic Energy. That same year, he became the Founder-Chairman of the
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL).

2. Consider the following statements.
1. The Shirui Lily is the state flower of Mizoram.
2. The Shirui Lily is endemic to the upper reaches of the Shirui Hill range of Mizoram.
3. The Shirui Lily festival coincides with the blooming season of this rare flower.

Answer: A
Soln:
Shirui Lily festival:

● The Shirui Lily Festival is organised by the Manipur government’s Department of Tourism.
● It is named after the Shirui Lily, or the Lilium mackliniae, recognised as the state
flower of Manipur, the other major festival is named after the Sangai, or the Manipur
brow-antlered deer, recognised as its state animal. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● The Shirui Lily festival coincides with the blooming season of this rare flower. Held in
Manipur’s Ukhrul district, which is home to the Tangkhul Naga community, the event is
designed as an eco-tourism festival to raise awareness about the Shirui Lily and to promote
tourism to the hills of Ukhrul. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
What is special about Shirui Lily?
● The Shirui Lily is endemic to the upper reaches of the Shirui Hill range in Ukhrul
district at an elevation of 2,673 m above sea level. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● While locals had long been familiar with the plant — calling it the ‘Kashsong Timrawon’
after Timrawon, the daughter of mythical goddess Philava who resides and protects the hills
of Shirui — in 1946, botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward identified it and gave it its scientific
name. The name, Lilium mackliniae, draws from his wife Jean Macklin’s name.

3. Which one of the following species is known for mass nesting events called arribadas?

Answer: A
Soln:
● The Olive Ridley Turtle is considered the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles
found in the world.
● Olive ridleys are found only in warmer waters, including the southern Atlantic, Pacific
and Indian Oceans.
● They are listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red list.
Mass nesting
● These turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean, and migrate thousands of kilometers
between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year.
● The Olive Ridley Turtles come to the beaches of Odisha coast annually between November
and December and stay on until April and May for mass nesting. Such mass nesting events
are called arribadas. Hence, option A is correct.
● While states like Maharashtra, Goa, and the offshore Andaman islands witness sporadic
nesting of olive ridley turtles, Odisha is the only state in India that sees mass nesting of
olive ridley turtles.
● Gahirmatha beach in Odisha is acclaimed as the world's largest-known nesting site for
the marine species. Apart from Gahirmatha, turtles turn up at the mouths of Rushikulya
and Devi river (both in Odisha) for mass nesting.
Threats
● The Olive Ridley's face serious threats across their migratory route, habitat and nesting
beaches, due to human activities such as turtle unfriendly fishing practices,
development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, and tourist centers.
● Though international trade in these turtles and their products is banned, they are still
extensively poached for their meat, shell and leather.
● All the five species of sea turtles occurring in India, including the Olive Ridley turtles,
are legally protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Appendix I
of the CITES Convention which prohibits trade in turtle products.
● As the nesting period stretches over six months, the Indian Coast Guard undertakes the
Olive Ridley Turtle protection program under the code name 'Operation Olivia' every year.

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1. Consider the following statements.
1. India is a member of Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
2. India is a member of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
3. All members of the United Nations Organisations have joined GPAI.

Answer: A
Soln:
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI):
● Established in 2020, Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) is an international
initiative to support responsible and human-centric development and use of Artificial
Intelligence (AI).
● GPAI is a congregation of 29 member countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, Serbia,
Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and the
European Union. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● India had joined the GPAI in 2020 as a founding member. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● GPAI brings together engaged minds and expertise from science, industry, civil society,
governments, international organisations and academia to foster international
cooperation.
● The GPAI is supported by a secretariat hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD).
○ OECD is a group of 38 member countries that discuss and develop economic and social
policy. OECD members are typically democratic countries that support free-market
economies. India is not a member of OECD. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

2. Consider the following statements.
1. SRIJAN portal is an online platform for citizens to lodge their grievances related to service
delivery.
2. CPGRAMS portal is to partner the private sector in indigenisation efforts of Defence Public
Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).