5. Consider the following statement about the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).
1. It is being established in the Hawaii state of the United States of America (USA).
2. India is a Founder-Member Partner in this project.
3. Study of exoplanets is an important objective of this project.

Answer: D
Soln:
Thirty Meter Telescope
● Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a 30-meter diameter primary mirror optical and
infrared telescope being established at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA. Hence, statement 1 is
correct.
● TMT is a new class of extremely large telescopes that will allow us to see deeper into
space and observe cosmic objects with unprecedented sensitivity.
● At the heart of the telescope is the segmented mirror, made up of 492 individual segments.
Precisely aligned, these segments will work as a single reflective surface of 30m diameter.

● This will provide unparalleled resolution with TMT images more than 12 times sharper than
those from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (launched in 1990 into a low-Earth orbit).
● Once it is built, the TMT will become the world's largest ground-based telescope
operating at optical and infrared wavelengths, allowing astronomers to study the outer
reaches of the universe and study distant stars and exoplanets in much greater detail than is
currently possible.
o An exoplanet, or extrasolar planet, is a planet outside of our solar system that usually
orbits another star in our galaxy.

Who is building TMT?
● The Thirty Meter Telescope is being designed and developed by the TMT International
Observatory LLC (TIO), an international collaboration of research institutions and
national governments including the USA, Japan, China, India and Canada.
● India is a Founder-Member Partner in this project which aims to open new windows to
the universe through optical and infrared astronomy. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Benefits of TMT
● It will allow astronomers to explore the mysterious period in the life of the universe
when the first stars and galaxies were formed.
● One of its key uses will be the study of exoplanets, many of which have been detected in
the last few years, and whether their atmospheres contain water vapour or methane — the
signatures of possible life. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● TMT will also observe the formation and development of the large-scale structures by
looking at faint distant galaxies and the intergalactic medium.
● It has the capability to detect and investigate black holes that reside in the center of many
distant galaxies, as well as study in detail the black hole in the center of our own Milky Way.

1. Consider the following statements about the Financial Stability Report.
1. It is a periodic exercise for reviewing the risks that may affect the macroeconomic
environment, financial institutions, markets and infrastructure of the country.
2. It is published by NITI Aayog.
3. It is an annual exercise.

2. Consider the following statements.
1. Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji bestowed upon him the title of ‘Amir’.
2. He was the first writer to use Urdu as a medium of poetic expression.
3. He is credited with popularizing several poetic forms such as the ghazal and the qawwali.

Answer: A
Soln:
Financial Stability Report:
● The Financial Stability Report is published by Reserve Bank of India taking inputs from
financial sector regulators i.e. RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDAI. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● It is published biannually. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● It is a periodic exercise for reviewing the nature, magnitude and implications of risks
that may have a bearing on the macroeconomic environment, financial institutions, markets
and infrastructure. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases the Global Financial Stability Report
which provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets, and addresses
emerging market financing in a global context.

Answer: C
Soln:
Amir Khusrau:
● Amir Khusrau was a 13th century poet who lived in India during the Delhi Sultanate
period.
● He initially served princes and nobles before becoming a permanent fixture in the court of
the Delhi Sultan.
● He is known as Tuti-yi-Hind, the ‘Parrot of India’.
● Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji bestowed upon Khusrau the title of ‘Amir’

● Amir Khusrau is regarded as a father figure of North India’s syncretic Ganga-Jamuni
culture which symbolizes the harmonious coexistence of Hindu and Muslim traditions in
India.
● He made lasting contributions to Indian classical music, Sufi qawwali, and Persian
literature, and is also credited for developing Hindavi, a precursor to modern Hindi and
Urdu.
● Khusrau was the first writer to use Urdu as a medium of poetic expression.
● Khusrau is credited with popularizing several poetic forms such as the ghazal and the
qawwali.
● Amir Khusrau was also the originator in India of the early form of the musical style known
as Qawali.
● He is also credited with crafting dozens of ragas, creating the Khayal form of Hindustani
music, and is believed to have invented the sitar and tabla.
● Amir Khusrau served at least five Sultans — Muiz ud din Qaiqabad, Jalaluddin Khalji,
Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq and many other
powerful patrons over five decades.
● Khusrau was the most beloved disciple of the Chishti Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya.

4. The “iDEX” initiative aims at

5. Consider the following statements.
1. The term ‘Minority’ has been defined in clear terms in the Constitution.
2. Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been notified as
Minority Communities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) aims to address development gaps in identified
Minority Concentration Areas.

Answer: B
Soln:
● Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework was launched in 2018 by the
Government with the aim to foster innovation and technology development in Defence
and Aerospace Sector by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual
innovators, R&D institutes and academia to promote self-reliance. Hence, answer is
option B.
● The underlying objective is to make the country self-reliant and self-sufficient in matters
of Defence.
● Fundamentally, iDEX fosters the culture of technology co-creation and co- innovation within
the Defence and Aerospace sectors.
Implementing Agency
● Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), a special purpose vehicle under the aegis of
the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, implements the iDEX
framework.
● DIO has been formed as a ‘not for profit’ company as per Section 8 of the Companies Act
2013 by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL),
both Defence Public Sector Undertakings.
● DIO acts as a bridge between the requirements of the Armed Forces and the solution
providers.

Answer: B
Soln:
Minority Communities notified by the Central Government:
● The term “Minority” is not defined in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution
recognises religious and linguistic minorities. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● The Central Government has notified six religious minority communities viz. Muslim,
Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi and Jain under the National Commission for Minorities
Act, 1992. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● As per the Census 2011, the percentage of minorities in the country is about 19.3% of the
total population of the country.
● The population of Muslims is 14.2%; Christians 2.3%; Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jain
0.4% and Parsis 0.006%.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK):
● Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which
aims to address development gaps in identified Minority Concentration Areas by
building socio-economic infrastructure and providing essential amenities. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
● Originally launched as the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), the scheme
was restructured as PMJVK in 2018 and implemented in 1300 identified blocks, towns, and
district headquarters across the country.
● In 2022-23, the scheme was revised to expand its implementation to all districts across
the country, with the condition that projects under PMJVK can be proposed in areas where
the minority population is 25% or more in the catchment area of 15 KM radius.
● The Ministry of Minority Affairs monitors the status of implementation of projects
sanctioned under PMJVK.
○ Under PMJVK, 80% of the resources would be utilized for projects related to
education, health and skill development of which at least 33-40% will be
earmarked for creation of assets/facilities for women/girls.