1) Daily MCQ: 02.03.2026
With reference to coconut cultivation, consider the following statements:
1. The coconut tree is native to India.
2. The coconut is an equatorial plantation crop that requires high humidity and
well-distributed annual rainfall.
3. The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is a statutory body functioning under the
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

DtNext is planning to bring out a series of 12 op-eds based on Chapter 1 (titled "The Case for Decentralisation and State Autonomy") of our Report.

This chapter advances 7 positive arguments in support of decentralisation and demolishes 4 commonly held fallacies in support of centralisation.

This is the first of the series.

https://www.dtnext.in/edit/the-liberty-argument-why-divided-power-safeguards-freedom-2

1) Answer: (B)
●
While the coconut has been grown in India for thousands of years and is central to
its culture, botanical and genetic research identifies its primary center of origin as
the Central Indo-Pacific (Southeast Asia and the Melanesian islands). It is
considered "naturalised" in India rather than strictly native to the subcontinent.
Hence, statement 1 is Incorrect.
●
Coconut is an equatorial plantation crop. It thrives in tropical conditions
characterized by:
High Humidity: Usually above 60%.
Rainfall: It requires a well-distributed annual rainfall of 1300–2300 mm.
Temperature: An ideal mean annual temperature of 27°C. It does not tolerate
extreme heat or prolonged cold. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
●
The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is indeed a statutory body. It was
established by the Government of India under the Coconut Development Board Act,
1979. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare, with its headquarters located in Kochi, Kerala.Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
●
Therefore,option B is the correct answ

2) Consider the following countries:

2) Answer: (B)
Iran shares land borders with seven countries: Iraq and Turkey to the west/northwest;
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan to the north; and Afghanistan and Pakistan to
the east. Kazakhstan does not share a land border with Iran; the two countries are separated
by the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan.
It also has maritime borders in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman with Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE

3) With reference to Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), consider the following
statements:
1. PMKVY 4.0 adopts a demand-led model by designing skill courses based on specific
workforce requirements identified by industries.
2. Credits earned under PMKVY can support academic progression into formal higher
education
3. Training now extends beyond private centres, with Skill Hubs set up in schools and
higher education institutions to better use existing infrastructure.

3) Answer: (A)
●
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme for
skill training under the Skill India Mission. It is designed to mobilize youth to take
up industry-relevant skill training to improve their livelihoods.
●
The scheme has progressed through four phases (1.0 to 4.0), with PMKVY 4.0
(2022–2026) introducing a significant strategic shift from a supply-led to a
demand-driven model by aligning training with industry-identified job roles. It
emphasizes new-age skills in Industry 4.0 sectors such as Artificial Intelligence,
Robotics, 3D Printing, Drones, and Green Hydrogen, integrates mandatory
On-the-Job Training (OJT) in several short-term courses to enhance practical
exposure, establishes Skill Hubs in institutions like Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar
Navodaya Vidyalayas, IITs, and NITs to optimize infrastructure, and unifies
registration and certification through the Skill India Digital (SID) platform for
improved monitoring and transparency. Hence statement 1 is Correct.
●
Under the National Credit Framework (NCrF), credits earned through skill
development programmes like PMKVY are integrated into the broader education
system, ensuring vocational training becomes part of a unified credit-based structure
spanning school, higher, and skill education. These credits are digitally stored in the
Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), where learners can accumulate and later redeem
them for admission into diploma, undergraduate, or other higher education
programmes in recognized institutions. Hence statement 2 is correct.
●
The government has expanded skill training beyond private training centres by
establishing Skill Hubs within existing public institutions such as schools, Jawahar
Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This
approach is part of the broader strategy under PMKVY 4.0 and the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to mainstream vocational education. Instead of
creating new infrastructure, the government leverages already available classrooms,
laboratories, workshops, and digital facilities in these institutions. Hence statement 3
is correct.
●
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

4) Consider the following missiles:
1. S-400
2. Prithvi
3. Barak 8OFFICERS IAS ACADEMY
IAS Academy by IAS Officers
4. Ashwin

S-400
●
●
●
It is a long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia.
It is designed and manufactured by Almaz-Antey.
India has procured it, but it is not indigenous.
PRITHVI
●
●
●
It is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
It is part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
Although primarily a ballistic missile, it is fully indigenous.
BARAK 8
●
●
●
It is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
It is jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Since it is a joint Indo-Israeli project, it is not purely indigenous.
ASHWIN
●
It is also known as AAD/PDV interceptor under India’s Ballistic Missile Defence
(BMD) programme.
●
It is developed indigenously by DRDO.
●
It is designed specifically as an interceptor missile to destroy incoming ballistic
missiles.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer

1) Glyphosate, Paraquat, Monocrotophos and Tricyclazole, recently in the news, belong to
which category of chemicals?
(a) Persistent Organic Pollutants
(b) Organic bio-fertilisers
(c) Restricted Pesticides
(d) Raw chemicals used in nano-fertilisers

Answer: (C)
●
Pesticide pollution is the contamination of soil, water, air, and food due to excessive
or improper use of chemical pesticides in farming.
●
Sprayed chemicals often spread beyond target pests, entering rivers, groundwater,
and the food chain, harming birds, fish, pollinators, and humans.
●
Glyphosate, Paraquat, Monocrotophos and Tricyclazole are pesticides used in
agriculture, and some of them face restrictions or bans in India due to health and
environmental concerns.
●
Long-term exposure can cause serious health problems like cancer, hormonal
imbalance, and respiratory diseases, as highlighted by the World Health
Organization.
●
To reduce these risks, global agreements such as the Stockholm Convention promote
regulation and safer pest-management practices.
●
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

2) With reference to C. Rajagopalachari, which of the following are correctly associated with
him?
1. Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha
2. Formula to solve the constitutional deadlock between the INC and the Muslim League
3. Swatantra Party

2) Answer: (D)
●
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, was a towering Indian
freedom fighter, politician, and the first and last Indian Governor-General of
independent India.
●
Inspired by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he joined the Indian National Congress
and took part in the freedom struggle and later hosted Mahatma Gandhi during the
anti-Rowlatt agitation.
Mirroring the Dandi March, he led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) from
Tiruchi to Vedaranyam. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The C.R. Formula (1944): Post-Quit India Movement, he authored the pamphlet
"The Way Out," proposing a formula to solve the constitutional deadlock between
the INC and the Muslim League regarding the demand for Pakistan. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
Rajaji formed the Swatantra Party in 1959 which actively campaigned for a market
economy. As the Chief Minister of Madras State, one of his first acts was to
decontrol the distribution of foodgrains and their prices. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.
●
Therefore, option D is the correct answe

3) Which of the following best describes ‘tetrodotoxin’ recently seen in the news:
(a) It is a neurotoxin present in marine animals
(b) It is a pesticide used in agriculture.
(c) It is an insecticide that controls soil and leaf-feeding pests.
(d) It is a highly toxic chemical that affects the vulture populat

Answer: (A)
●
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a highly potent marine neurotoxin. It is a colorless, weakly
basic crystalline compound (C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₈) that darkens above 220 °C. Naturally, it is
found in the skin, liver, and intestines of certain fish like pufferfish, porcupine
fish, ocean sunfish, and some newts and salamanders. Human poisoning typically
occurs when these animals are improperly prepared and consumed. TTX blocks
nerve-to-muscle signal transmission, leading to progressive muscle paralysis. Its
toxicity is over 1000 times that of sodium cyanide. There is no specific antidote, and
treatment is mainly supportive, focusing on managing symptoms and sustaining vital
functions. Hence option 1 is correct.
●
Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide widely used in India to control insect
pests on crops like rice, cotton, brinjal, sugarcane, and citrus. It is classified as
“moderately hazardous” by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is approved
for use on 18 crops under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Hence option 2 is Incorrect.
●
Diazinon is a widely used, broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide that controls
soil and foliage pests on fruit, vegetable, and field crops, and is also applied in
livestock ear tags for cattle. Hence option 3 is Incorrect.
●
Endosulfan is a brown crystalline insecticide, used to control pests in food and
non-food crops and as a wood preservative; it is banned globally but allowed in
India with restrictions, and its heavy use in Kerala’s cashew farms has caused
serious health issues. It is also a highly toxic chemical that affects the vulture
population. Hence option 4 is Incorrect.
●
Therefore option A is the correct answer.

4) With reference to the potential applications of Green Ammonia, consider the following
statements:
1. It can be used as an alternative fertilizer input to help decarbonize the fertilizer
industry.
2. It can be stored in bulk tanks, serving as a chemical battery.
3. It can be blended with coal in thermal power plants to reduce carbon emissions.
4. It serves as a zero-carbon fuel for international maritime shipping

4) Answer: (D)
Ammonia is the primary feedstock for Urea and DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate). Green
ammonia is produced using renewable energy and can replace traditional ammonia made from
fossil fuels, helping to lower carbon emissions from fertilizer production. It is used as a
feedstock in making nitrogen-based fertilizers for agriculture.Hence statement 1 is correct.
Green ammonia can be liquefied and stored in large tanks for long periods. Because it has a
higher energy density than compressed hydrogen, it acts as a liquid carrier for renewable
energy, essentially functioning as a long-duration chemical battery that can be shipped
globally.hence statement 2 is correct.
Green Ammonia does not contain carbon. When blended (co-fired) with coal in existing
power plants, it reduces the overall carbon intensity of the electricity generated. Countries like
Japan are currently leading large-scale trials to replace up to 20% of coal with ammonia to
meet immediate emission targets without abandoning existing infrastructure. Hence
statement 3 is correct.
Ammonia, When it is burned in a modified internal combustion engine or used in a fuel cell,
does not produce carbon dioxide . This makes it a "zero-carbon" fuel at the point of use. For
the shipping industry, which struggles with the weight of heavy batteries, ammonia provides a
dense, liquid energy source that can power a ship across an ocean without releasing
greenhouse gases.hence statement 4 is correct.
Therefore option D is the correct answer.