Answer: D
Soln:
GRAP
● The GRAP is a step-by-step plan to counter Delhi-NCR region’s deteriorating air quality.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● It was formulated by the Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA)
jointly with the Delhi government in 2017.
● The plan is incremental and adaptable, which means the preventive measures will be
updated and escalated according to changes in the AQI.
● Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the ‘poor’ category (201
to 300), Stage 2 is when it’s in the ‘Very poor’ category (301-400), Stage 3 is when the AQI is
the ‘Severe’ category (401-450) and finally Stage 4 is when it rises to the ‘Severe +’ category
(more than 450). Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Changes in GRAP
● The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was established in 2021 replacing
the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority.
● The Commission has been implementing the GRAP since 2021.

● While previously, measures were introduced after pollution concentrations reached a
certain level, at present, measures are preemptively introduced and will kick in based on
forecasts in an attempt to prevent the air quality from deteriorating further.
● For this, the CAQM relies on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute
of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
● The older version of the GRAP was enforced based only on the concentration of PM2.5 and
PM10. This year, GRAP is being enforced based on the AQI, which takes other pollutants also into account, such as ozone, carbon and oxides of nitrogen. Air Quality Index
● AQI is a number, which is a measure of air quality. The higher the AQI, the worse the air.
● The colour-coded AQI index was launched in India in 2014, and it helps the public and the government understand the condition of the air and what subsequent measures are to be
taken to combat the situation, based on its severity.

4. Consider the following statements about the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO).
1. It is an intergovernmental organisation.
2. All members of ACTO have the Amazon river flowing through them.
3. It aims to promote equitable and sustainable development of the Amazonian territories.

Answer: B
Soln:
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
● The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is an intergovernmental organisation
formed by the eight Amazonian countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru,
Suriname, and Venezuela. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The Amazon river flows only through Peru, Colombia and Brazil. Hence, statement 2 is
incorrect. The other countries are part of the Amazon basin.
● It was created in 1995.
● The Amazon Cooperation Treaty signed in 1978 gave rise to the ACTO to promote the
harmonious development of the Amazonian territories in such a way that the joint actions of the Amazonian countries produce equitable and mutually beneficial results in achieving the sustainable development of the Amazon Region. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● The Belém Declaration, signed by the leaders of ACTO, lays out plans to drive economic development in their countries while preventing the Amazon’s ongoing demise from reaching a point of no return.

5. Consider the following statements about Super-Absorbent Polymers (SAP).
1. It is a type of macro molecular synthetic water absorbing polymer material.
2. SAPs are always of synthetic origin.

Answer: A
Soln:
Super-Absorbent Polymers:
● Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) is a type of macro molecular synthetic water absorbing
polymer material. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● It is a whitish powder.
● SAP can absorb a large amount of water, at times more than its own weight.
● According to their source of origin, SAPs can be classified as natural (polysaccharide and
polypeptide based) and synthetic polymers (chemical based). Hence, statement 2 is
incorrect.
● The molecular structure of this compound resembles the complicated mesh.
● When it comes in contact with water the oxygen atoms of water are attracted to the mesh
due to the presence of Sodium ions in SAP.
● As the water molecules attach themselves to the sodium ions in the SAP a strong network is formed. The whole network swells, trapping the water molecules within, to form a gel. Applications
● Due to its superabsorbent nature, it is ideally suited for personal hygiene and
incontinence applications as diapers and pads.
● They can be used to improve and prolong soil water holding capacity, decrease drought
stress, and increase time between irrigation events.

1. Consider the following statements about ‘Digilocker’
1. It is a secure cloud based platform for storage, sharing and verification of documents certificates.
2. It is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY).

Answer: C
Soln:
DigiLocker:
● DigiLocker is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) under the
Digital India programme. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
○ Digital India was launched by the Government of India with a vision to transform India
into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

● Launched in 2015, it is a secure cloud based platform for storage, sharing and
verification of documents & certificates. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● Linked to both Aadhaar card and cellphone numbers, DigiLocker eliminates the use of
physical documents as part of the government’s Digital India drive, since all data is stored
in the cloud.
● One can upload scanned copies of their documents (PDF, JPEG or PNG format) and access
it anywhere they want.
● One can also e-sign these uploaded documents, which works like self-attestation of
physical documents.
● Organisations like the CBSE, the Registrar Office or the Income Tax Department can also
push electronic copies of documents and certificates directly into Citizens’ e-lockers.
● The issued documents in DigiLocker system are deemed to be at par with original
physical documents as per the Information Technology (Preservation and Retention of
Information by Intermediaries providing Digital Locker facilities) Rules, 2016.
● DigiLocker is available both on websites and mobile apps.

2. Consider the following statements about Pralay Missiles.
1. It is a mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system.
2. It was developed by the Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other players.
3. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.

Answer: B
Soln:
● Pralay is an indigenously-developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing
state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. Hence, statement 1 is
incorrect.
● The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.
Hence, statement 3 is correct.

● The system has been developed by Research Centre Imarat in collaboration other DRDO
labs - Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Advanced Systems Laboratory,
Armament Research & Development Establishment, High Energy Materials Research
Laboratory, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Terminal Ballistics Research
Laboratory, Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) and ITR etc; industry
partners - Bharat Dynamics Limited Bharat Electronics Limited and many other industries and MSMEs. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

3. Consider the following statements.
1. It has the shortest day in the solar system.
2. It has an incredibly strong magnetic field, 20,000 times stronger than Earths.
3. The four largest moons of this planet are known as the Galilean satellites.
4. Europa and Ganymede are the moons of this planet.

4. Consider the following statements about the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
1. It aims to provide long-term capital to Indias infrastructure sector.
2. The stakes are completely held by Indian Government and Domestic Indian investors.
3. The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.

Answer: C
Soln:
Jupiter:
● Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and the fifth planet from the sun.
● Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
○ One day on Jupiter takes only about 10 hours.
● Jupiter has 95 moons. The four largest moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto –
were first observed by the astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610. These four moons are known as the Galilean satellites. Hence, statements 3 and 4 are correct.
● Jupiter has an incredibly strong magnetic field, 20,000 times stronger than Earth's, which
creates intense radiation belts that are dangerous for space probes. Hence, statement 2 is
correct.

Answer: B
Soln:
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):
● National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is an Indian-government backed
entity established in 2016 to provide long-term capital to the country’s infrastructure
sector. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The NIIF aims to maximize the economic impact mainly through infrastructure
development in commercially viable projects.
● The Indian government has a 49 per cent stake in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and
domestic investors. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

● NIIF got registered with SEBI as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
Alternative Investment Funds:
● Alternative Investment Funds are private funds which are otherwise not coming under
the jurisdiction of any regulatory agency in India.
● In India, AIFs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative
Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
● The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
● NIIF currently manages four funds each with its distinctive investment mandate.
○ Master Fund
■ It primarily invests in operating assets in core infrastructure sectors such as
transportation and energy.

○ Private Markets Fund
■ This fund invests in funds managed by third-party managers in
infrastructure and associated sectors.

○ Strategic Fund
■ This fund is aimed at growth and development-stage investments in large scale projects in a broad range of sectors of economic and commercial
importance. India-Japan Fund
■ This is NIIF’s first bilateral fund. IJF invests in environment preservation in
India and also seeks to enable opportunities for collaboration between Indian and Japanese companies.

5. Consider the following statements about the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
1. It is the organization through which to organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the international seabed area.
2. It is established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).