Answer: (C)
Statement 1 is correct: The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam
(CCTOA) is an umbrella body representing various tribal organisations of Assam.OFFICERS IAS ACADEMY
IAS ACADEMY RUN BY FORMER CIVIL SERVANTS
Statement 2 is correct: The CCTOA submitted its recommendations to the Group of
Ministers constituted by the Assam Government on the issue of granting ST status to six
communities

Consider the following statements regarding the Yemen Civil War:
1. The Houthi movement follows the Zaidi sect of Shia Islam.
2. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has gained strategic importance due to the Yemen conflict
affecting maritime security.
3. Saudi Arabia supports the Houthi rebels against the Yemeni government.

Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: Houthis are adherents of the Zaidi Shia sect.
Statement 2 is correct: The conflict has impacted shipping near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a
crucial global trade route.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized Yemeni
government, not the Houthis.

With reference to the India–Sri Lanka fishermen issue, which one of the following statements is
correct?
1. The arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka occurs mainly because India and Sri Lanka
do not have a formally demarcated maritime boundary.
2. Katchatheevu Island lies east of the International Maritime Boundary Line and is
under Sri Lankan sovereignty.
3. Traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait are fully protected
under the 1974 India–Sri Lanka maritime agreement.
4. Disputes relating to the arrest of fishermen are mandatorily resolved through
international arbitration under UNCLOS

Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The maritime boundary is clearly demarcated (1974 & 1976
agreements).
Statement 2 is correct: Katchatheevu lies on Sri Lanka’s side of the IMBL.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The 1974 agreement did not guarantee fishing rights; it allowed
limited access for pilgrimage and drying nets.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Fishermen issues are handled through bilateral diplomatic
mechanisms, not compulsory UNCLOS arbitration

With reference to Typhoid fever, consider the following statements:
1. Typhoid fever is transmitted primarily through ingestion of food or water contaminated
with feces containing Salmonella Typhi.
2. Common symptoms of typhoid include prolonged high fever, headache, abdominal pain,
and constipation or diarrhea.
3. Individuals who recover from typhoid never transmit the bacteria to others once
symptoms disappear.
4. Improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation helps prevent typhoid fever.

Answer: (A)
Statement 1: correct
Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and is usually spread by ingesting
food or water contaminated with feces from a person who is infected or carrying the bacteria.
This means the disease is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through contaminated food and
water, especially where sanitation is poor and safe drinking water is lacking.

Huntington’s disease is:
(a) A viral disease affecting the liver
(b) An autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting the brain
(c) A nutritional deficiency disease
(d) A bacterial infection of the nervous syst

Answer: (B)
Huntington’s disease is a hereditary, progressive neuro-degenerative disorder that affects
movement, cognition, and behavior. It is passed from parent to child in an autosomal dominant
manner. It affects the brain, leading to problems with movement, thinking, and behaviour. It is
not caused by infection or nutritional deficiency.

With reference to Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in India, consider the following statements:
1. IPOs require prior approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
2. Companies can raise funds through IPOs only for expansion and not for debt repayment.
3. Follow-on Public Offerings (FPOs) are available only to unlisted companies.
4. High domestic savings inflows can support IPO markets.

Answer: (C)
Statement 1 is Correct:
In India, any company planning to launch an IPO must file a Draft Red Herring Prospectus
(DRHP) with SEBI.
SEBI scrutinizes disclosures, compliance with regulations, and investor protection norms before
granting approval.
Without SEBI’s clearance, an IPO cannot be launched.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:OFFICERS IAS ACADEMY
IAS ACADEMY RUN BY FORMER CIVIL SERVANTS
IPO proceeds can be used for multiple purposes, including:
• Expansion and capital expenditure
• Debt repayment or deleveraging
• Working capital requirements
Recent IPOs have explicitly mentioned repayment of borrowings as a key objective.
Statement 3 is Incorrect:
FPOs are issued only by already listed companies, not unlisted ones.
Purpose of FPO:
• Raise additional capital after listing
• Increase public shareholding
Unlisted companies raise capital through IPOs, not FPOs.

With reference to the Somnath Temple, consider the following statements:
1. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
2. It is located on the western coast of Gujarat, near the Arabian Sea.
3. The present temple structure was completed in the medieval period.

Which of the following countries were founding members of OPEC?
1. Iran
2. Iraq
3. Kuwait
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Venezuela

Answer: (C)
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent intergovernmental
organization established in September 1960 at the Baghdad Conference. Its five founding
members:
1. Iran,
2. Iraq,
3. Kuwait,
4. Saudi Arabia,
5. and Venezuel