Answer: A
Explanation:
Minerals Security Partnership:
● The US and its partners — Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Sweden, the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union — formed the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2022.
○ India joined MSP in 2023.
○ China is not a member of MSP. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
● The goal of the alliance is to catalyze public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally. Hence statement 1 is correct.
● The focus would be on the supply chains of minerals such as Cobalt, Nickel, Lithium and also the 17 “rare earth” minerals.
○ Rare earth minerals are a set of seventeen metallic elements. They are called 'rare earth' because earlier it was difficult to extract them from their oxides forms technologically.
○ They are an essential part of many electronic items and high-tech devices.
○ China is the largest producer of these minerals.

4. Consider the following statements about the B2- Stealth bombers recently seen in the news.
1. It is a dual-capable multi-role heavy bomber, powered by four engines.
2. It is the only current active stealth bomber in the World.
3. It is completely developed by Boeing Corporation.

Answer: B
Soln:
● The U.S. Air Force (USAF) operates B-2, the only fully stealth bomber currently operated in any country. Russia and China are developing similar aircrafts. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● Each B-2 costs over $2 billion, the most expensive aircraft ever, and so only 21 aircraft were built.
● It is a dual-capable multi-role heavy bomber, powered by four engines. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● According to the USAF, the B-2’s low observability is derived from a combination of reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual and radar signatures.
● The B-2 made its first flight in 1989 and began operations in 1997.
● With a crew of two, it can carry a payload of 40,000 lb, has an unrefueled range of 6,000 miles and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet.
● It is manufactured by Northrop Grumman, a leading arms manufacturing company in the USA. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

1. Consider the following statements about Judges in the High courts.
1. The Collegium for the appointment of a High Court judge and the collegium for the transfer
of High Court judges are the same in
composition.
2. Distinguished jurists in the opinion of the President can be appointed as a judge in the High court.
3. Based on Collegium’s recommendation, the Governor of the particular state appoints a High Court Judge.

Answer: D
Soln:
As per the Judges case and Memorandum of Procedure, the Collegium process for appointment of
the High Court Judges is summarised below:
● The Collegium for appointment of the High Court judges consists of the Chief Justice of
India and other two senior Judges of the Supreme Court.
● The process for filling up any vacancy in a High Court shall be initiated by the Chief Justice
of the concerned High Court in consultation with other two senior Judges of the High
Court.
● The proposed list of names for appointment is sent by the Chief Justice of the High Court to
the Governor of the State, the Union Government and the Supreme Court Collegium.
● The State Government may provide its inputs on the proposed list of names to the Union
Government.
● The Union Government with its comments forwards the same to the Supreme Court
Collegium.
● The Supreme Court Collegium consisting of the Chief Justice of India and other two senior
Judges then make the final recommendation for appointment of Judges to a High Court.
● The President appoints the Judges to a High Court. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Transfer of Judges:
● The President may, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, transfer a Judge from
one High Court to any other High Court [Art 222].
● This process of transfer is also based on recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
The Collegium for transfer of Judges consists of the Chief Justice of India and four
other senior judges of the Supreme Court. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● The Chief Justice of India shall also consult the Chief Justices of concerned High Courts i.e.,
the High Court from which the transfer is to be made and the High Court to which the
transfer is to be made before recommending transfer of a Judge to the President.
Qualification for a High Court Judge
As per Article 217(2), a person shall be qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court if he/
she fulfils the following conditions:

● He/she is a citizen of India and,
● For at least 10 years held a judicial office in the territory of India; or 3. Has for at least 10
years been an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession.
● Distinguished jurists can be appointed as judge only in the Supreme Court. Hence,
statement 2 is incorrect.

2. Consider the following statements about the New Development Bank (NDB).
1. It was established with the objective of financing infrastructure and sustainable development needs of the BRICS countries and other emerging economies..
2. Its membership is open to all members of the United Nations.
3. It has its headquarters in New Delhi.

Answer: B
Soln:
New Development Bank
● The New Development Bank (NDB) was established by the BRICS countries in 2015 with
headquarters in Shanghai, China. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● It was established with the objective of financing infrastructure and sustainable
development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing
countries.Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the UN General Assembly.
● The Bank’s membership is open to members of the United Nations. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Contingency Reserve Arrangement
● Established in 2015, the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) provides support
through liquidity and precautionary instruments in response to actual or potential short-
term Balance of Payments pressures.

3. Al Udeid Military base, located in Qatar, is a nerve centre of military operations of a particular
country in the Middle East region. Identify the country.

Answer: D
Soln:
● Iran launched a missile attack at the US military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar in retaliation for the American strikes on its nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
● Al-Udeid is the US military’s crown jewel in the Middle East.
● The 29-year-old self-sufficient base houses 10,000 troops from multiple countries, and is
the nerve centre of US operations in the region.

4. Consider the following statements about Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index).
1. It was launched by the NITI Aayog.
2. The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value.
3. The index comprises two broad parameters, access and usage, having equal weightage.

Answer: B
Soln:
RBI’s Financial Inclusion Index:
● The Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) was launched by the Reserve Bank of India in
2021 to track the process of ensuring access to financial services, timely and adequate
credit for vulnerable and low-income groups at an affordable cost. Hence, statement 1 is
incorrect.
● The Fi-Index is a comprehensive index, incorporating details of banking, investment,
insurance, postal, as well as the pension sector in consultation with government and
respective sector regulators.
● The FI-Index comprises three broad parameters — access (35%), usage (45%), and
quality (20%) — with each of these consisting of various dimensions, which are computed
based on a number of indicators. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
● The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value
ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100
indicates full financial inclusion. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● The FI-Index has been constructed without any ‘base year’ and as such it reflects
cumulative efforts of all stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.
● The Index is published annually in July every year.

● The Reserve Bank's FI-Index rose to 64.2 in March 2024, showing growth across all
parameters.
● The improvement in FI-Index is mainly contributed by usage dimension, reflecting
deepening of financial inclusion.

1. Cities Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, recently seen in news, are located in which of the following
countries?

Answer: B
Soln:
● Fordow has Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear site used for uranium enrichment, which
is built deep beneath a mountain. Hence, option B is correct.
● Natanz has the largest uranium enrichment facility in Iran.
● Isfahan has Iran's largest nuclear research site, which was targeted by Israel 2 times
since the crisis began on June 13, 2025.

2. With reference to mangrove forests, consider the following statements.
1. Mangrove swamps are coastal wetlands mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
2. They are characterized by halophytic trees, shrubs and other plants growing in brackish to saline tidal waters.
3. In India, mangroves are found along the eastern coast only.