Answer: B
Soln:
BharatNet:
● BharatNet initiative was launched in 2011 to provide affordable high-speed internet
access to every Gram Panchayat (GPs) in the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● This initiative, under the Ministry of Communications, seeks to empower rural India,
fostering inclusive growth and bridging the gap between urban and rural communities.
● BharatNet is funded by Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), a fund that aims to improve the quality and accessibility of telecommunications services in India. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● The project is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL). Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
Amended BharatNet 2023
● In 2023, the government approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP).
● The program provides for internet access by Optical Fibre (OF) connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs and also to provide OF connectivity to the remaining non-GP villages (approx. 3.8 lakhs) on demand basis.

5. Consider the following statements about Inland Water Transport in India.
1. It is highly utilised with a major share in India’s logistics modal mix.
2. All waterways declared as National Waterways come under the control of the Central Government.
3. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is a statutory body set for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.

Answer: A
Soln:
Inland Water Transport in India:
● India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.
● Inland Water Transport (IWT) is the most economical mode of transportation, especially
for bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, cement, food grains and fertilizer.
● Presently, it remains underutilized at a share of 2% in India’s modal mix. Hence,
statement 1 is incorrect.
● Government intends to increase the share of IWT to 5% as per Maritime India Vision (MIV)-2030.
● For development of IWT in the country, 111 waterways (including 5 existing National Waterways and 106 new) spread over 24 States have been declared as National
Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
● As per constitutional provisions, only those waterways which are declared as National Waterways come under the purview of the Central Government while the rest of
waterways remain in the purview of respective State Governments. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Inland Waterways Authority of India:
● The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) was established in 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
● It is a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Shipping. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● The Authority primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of Inland
Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping.
● The head office of the Authority is at Noida.

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1. Which of the following places in India have coral reefs?

Answer: B
Explanation:
● Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of colonial marine
invertebrates called coral.
● The coral species that build reefs are known as hermatypic, or "hard," corals because they
extract calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from seawater to create a hard, durable exoskeleton
that protects their soft, sac-like bodies.
● Other species of corals that does not involve reef building are known as “soft” corals. These
types of corals are flexible organisms often resembling plants and trees and include species
such as sea fans and sea whips.
Symbiotic relationship
● Most reef-building corals contain photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae which live in
their tissues. The corals and algae have a symbiotic relationship.
● The coral provides the algae with a protected environment and compounds they need for
photosynthesis. In return, the algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes.
The presence of the zooxanthellae also provides coloured pigments to help protect the
coral's white skeleton from sunlight.
Significance of Coral reefs
● Coral reefs only occupy 0.1% of the area of the ocean but they support 25% of all marine
species on the planet.
● Because of the diversity of life found in the habitats created by corals, reefs are often called
the "rainforests of the sea."
● The majority of reef building corals are found within tropical and subtropical waters. These
typically occur between 30°N and 30°S of the equator.
● The largest of these coral reef systems, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, is more than
1,500 miles long (2,400 km).

Coral reefs in India
● Coral reefs are present in the areas of Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman & Nicobar,
Lakshadweep Islands and Malvan coast of Maharashtra.

2. The ‘LaQshya’ programme was launched by the government with the main objective of?

Answer: D
Explanation
● The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘LaQshya’ (Labour room
Quality Improvement Initiative) programme in 2017 which aimed at improving quality
of care in the labor room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT).
Objectives of LaQshya
● Reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality;
● Improve quality of care during delivery and immediate postpartum period;
● Enhance satisfaction of beneficiaries, positive birthing experience and provide Respectful
Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women attending public health facilities.
Target Beneficiaries
● LaQshya program benefits every pregnant woman and newborn delivering in public
health institutions.
● Program aims to improve quality of care for pregnant women in the labor room, maternity
Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) & High Dependency Units
(HDUs).

3. 3D Printing has applications in which of the following?
1) Customisation of implants
2) Manufacture of hearing aids
3) Construction industry

Answer: D
Explanation

What is 3D printing?
● 3D printing is a process that uses computer-created design to make three-dimensional
objects layer by layer.
● It is an additive process, in which layers of a material like plastic, composites or bio-
materials are built up to construct objects that range in shape, size, rigidity, and colour.
How is 3D printing done?
● To carry out 3D printing a personal computer connected to a 3D printer is required. A 3D
model of the required object is designed on computer-aid design (CAD) software.
● 3D printers construct the desired object by using a layering method, which is the
complete opposite of the subtractive manufacturing processes.
● 3D printers build from the bottom up by piling on layer after layer until the object looks
exactly like it was envisioned.
● The (3D) printer acts generally the same as a traditional inkjet printer in the direct 3D
printing process, where a nozzle moves back and forth while dispensing a wax or plastic-
like polymer layer-by-layer, waiting for that layer to dry, then adding the next level.
● It essentially adds hundreds or thousands of 2D prints on top of one another to make a
three-dimensional object.
Applications
All the statements are correct.
● These machines are capable of printing anything from ordinary objects like a ball or a spoon to complex moving parts like hinges and wheels.
● Medical sciences: 3D printing is being used to customize implants. It is used in the manufacture of hearing aids.
● Construction industry: Companies around the world are making breakthroughs in 3D
printing of the materials needed to build homes.

4. Consider the following statements about Special Economic Zones
1) It is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a countrys
domestic economic laws.
2) The main objectives of the SEZ Scheme is to promote exports and imports goods and
services.

Answer: A
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a geographical region that has
economic laws that are more liberal than a country's domestic economic laws.
● The main objectives of the SEZ Scheme is
○ generation of additional economic activity,
○ promotion of exports of goods and services, (not imports) Hence statement 2 is
incorrect
○ promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources,
○ creation of employment opportunities along with the development of infrastructure
facilities.

● Financial incentives are granted to those setting up SEZs and cover a wider gamut of
benefits for investors across taxation, customs, labor regulations, etc.
● Each Zone is headed by a Development Commissioner and is administered as per the SEZ
Act, 2005 and SEZ Rules, 2006.

● It should be noted that all Goods and services supplied by SEZ units to Domestic Tariff
Area (whole of India but does not include the areas of the SEZ) are treated as imports into
India and subject to all procedures and rules applicable in case of normal imports into India.
Salient Features
● The salient features of the SEZ scheme are:-
○ A designated duty free enclave to be treated as a territory outside the customs
territory of India for the purpose of authorized operations in the SEZ;
○ No license required for import;
○ Manufacturing or service activities allowed;
○ The Unit shall achieve Positive Net Foreign Exchange to be calculated
cumulatively for a period of five years from the commencement of production;
○ Domestic sales are subject to full customs duty and import policy in force;
○ SEZ units will have freedom for subcontracting;
○ No routine examination by customs authorities of export/import cargo;
○ SEZ Developers /Co-Developers and Units enjoy tax benefits as prescribed in the SEZs Act, 2005.

5. With reference to sickle cell anemia, consider the following statements
1) It is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder.
2) It primarily affects the shape and function of red blood cells.
3) Blood transfusion with normal red blood cells is a potential treatment option for sickle cell
anemia.

Answer: C
Explanation
● The Government of India has launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination
Mission to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly
among the tribal population.
● The launch will mark a crucial milestone in the Government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate
sickle cell disease as a public health problem by 2047.
● The mission aims to cover 7 crore people with screening, counseling for prevention and
care for people with sickle cell disease in three and half years.
What is sickle cell anemia?
● Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease. Hence statement 1
is correct.
○ An autosomal recessive disorder requires two copies of the mutated gene (one from
each parent) to cause the disorder.

● Hemoglobin which is tasked with carrying oxygen to all parts of the body has four
protein subunits — two alpha and two beta. In some people, mutations in the gene
that creates the beta subunits impact the shape of the blood cell and distort it to look
like a sickle, similar to the letter C. Hence statement 2 is correct.
● A round red blood cell can move easily through blood vessels because of its shape but
sickle red blood cells end up slowing and even blocking the blood flow. Moreover,
sickle cells die early, resulting in a shortage of red blood cells that deprive the body of
oxygen.

● These obstructions and shortages may cause chronic anemia, pain, fatigue, acute chest
syndrome, stroke, and a host of other serious health complications.
Prevalence
● India is the second-worst affected country in terms of predicted births with SCA —
i.e. chances of being born with the condition.
● The disease burden from Sickle Cell anemia in India is prevalent in tribal populations.
Tribes like Pawara, Bhil, Madia, Gond and Pardhan from Maharashtra have a very high
prevalence.
● Sickle cell anemia is most prevalent in the central India belt covering states like
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and parts of Bengal. There are pockets in
the south, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Telangana.
● There is a lack of screening awareness and inadequate screening centers/facilities in
tribal and rural areas. Also, failure to access primary healthcare is a concern.
Treatment
● Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder, making complete “elimination” a challenge
that requires a major scientific breakthrough.
● The only cure comes in the form of gene therapy and stem cell transplants — both
costly and still in developmental stages.
● In gene therapy, the DNA inside the hemoglobin gene is edited to stop the disease while in
stem cell transplants, the bone marrow affected by sickle cell anemia is replaced with healthy bone marrow from a donor. Both interventions are currently being tested in clinical trials globally.
● Blood transfusion, wherein red blood cells are removed from donated blood and given to a patient, is also a trusted treatment in the absence of permanent cures. But challenges
include a scarcity of donors, fears around safe supply of blood, risk of infection etc. Hence statement 3 is correct.