4) Answer: (C)
The Asteroid Belt is a torus-shaped region located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars
(the last of the inner, terrestrial planets) and Jupiter (the first of the outer gas giants). It serves as a
transition zone between the rocky inner solar system and the gaseous outer solar system. Hence,
statement 1 is correct.
Not all asteroids stay within the main belt. A specific group known as Trojan asteroids share an orbit
with a larger planet. They do not collide with the planet because they are trapped in stable
gravitational pockets called Lagrange Points (specifically L4and L5), which are located 60degree
ahead of and behind the planet in its orbit. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
●
●
Jupiter Trojans: The most famous and numerous group.
Other Planets: Mars, Neptune, and even Earth have been found to have Trojan asteroids

5) Consider the followings statements:
1. 2. Liquified Petroleum Gas mainly consists of propane and butane and is lighter than air.
Liquified Natural Gas is primarily composed of methane and must be stored at extremely High
temperatures

5) Answer: (C)
●
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) mainly consists of propane (C₃H₈) and butane (C₄H₁₀). It is heavier
than air, so in case of leakage it tends to settle in low-lying areas. LPG is naturally odorless, but an
additive called ethyl mercaptan is mixed with it to help detect leaks through its strong smell. In
India, LPG is the primary cooking fuel, especially promoted under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Yojana (PMUY). It is considered a clean-burning fuel, producing fewer particulate emissions
compared to traditional fuels like coal or firewood. When used as a transport fuel, it is known as
Auto-LPG, serving as an alternative to petrol or diesel. LPG is stored under relatively low pressure
(around 20 bar) compared to CNG and can be easily transported in portable cylinders, making it
suitable for remote areas. It also has a high calorific value of about 90–95 MJ/m³ and remains in liquid
form at room temperature when kept under pressure. Hence statement 1 is Incorrect.
●
●
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is primarily composed of methane (about 85%–99%). It is a
cryogenic fuel that must be stored at extremely low temperatures of around −162°C to remain in
liquid form. LNG is lighter than air, so in the event of a leak it tends to dissipate upward into the
atmosphere. When natural gas is liquefied, its volume reduces by about 600 times, making it suitable
for long-distance international transport through specialized LNG tankers. LNG is widely used in
fertilizer plants, petrochemical industries, and power generation. It is non-toxic and
non-corrosive, although its extremely low temperature can cause frostbite on contact. Before it can
be used, LNG must undergo regasification at dedicated regasification terminals. Its transportation
and storage require specialized cryogenic ships and large coastal infrastructure, such as terminals
at Dahej and Kochi in India. LNG is stored in double-walled, vacuum-insulated tanks and is
considered the cleanest fossil fuel, as it emits significantly less CO₂ compared to coal or oil.Hence
statement 2 is Incorrect.
Therefore C, is the correct answer

1) Consider the following statements:
1. Brent crude is a low density and low sulfur content oil that is primarily extracted
from the North Sea.
2. Most of the world’s oil is priced based on Brent crude, making it the most used
global benchmark.

1) Answer: (C)
The term “Brent” refers to the Brent oil field, which was discovered in the 1970s and
became a significant source of oil production. It is a light, sweet crude oil extracted from
different oil fields in the North Sea. Its unique properties, low density and low sulphur
content, make Brent crude oil simpler to process into products such as gasoline. Hence,
statement 1 is correct.
As its supply is water-borne, Brent crude oil is easy to transport to distant locations. About
two-thirds of all internationally traded crude oil supplies are priced relative to Brent, making
it the most widely used marker of all. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

2) Consider the following statements regarding Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) in India:
1. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) is a Special Purpose
Vehicle under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
2. All existing operational SPR facilities in India are located on the Western Coast of the
country.

2) Answer: (A)
Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) are government-controlled emergency stockpiles of
crude oil (and sometimes refined products) designed to protect against major supply
disruptions, such as wars, embargoes, natural disasters, or geopolitical crises. They help
stabilize energy markets, ensure national security, and mitigate economic shocks from sudden
oil shortages or price spikes. These reserves are typically stored in secure underground
facilities (like salt caverns) and are part of international commitments, especially among
International Energy Agency (IEA) members, which require holding the equivalent of at
least 90 days of net oil imports.
The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) is indeed a Special Purpose
Vehicle (SPV) created specifically to manage the country's oil reserves. It functions as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) under the
administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Hence, statement 1
is correct.
India’s Phase I SPR facilities are located on both coasts, not just the western coast. While
Mangaluru and Padur are in Karnataka (Western Coast), the Visakhapatnam facility is
located in Andhra Pradesh on the Eastern Coast. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer

3) Consider the following statements:
1. Petrol and Diesel are exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
2. Input Tax Credit (ITC) can be claimed by businesses on the V AT paid for natural gas
used as an industrial input.
3. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is responsible for fixing
the daily retail selling price of petrol and diesel based on international benchmar

3) Answer: (A)
Not all petroleum products are outside GST.
Currently, five major petroleum products are kept outside GST:
●
Crude oil
●
Petrol (Motor Spirit)
●
Diesel (High Speed Diesel)
●
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
●
Natural Gas
These continue to be taxed by Central Excise + State V AT.
However, other petroleum products like LPG (domestic), kerosene (PDS), lubricants,
naphtha, etc. fall under GST. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Input Tax Credit (ITC) can be claimed only for taxes paid within the GST system.
Since natural gas is outside GST and taxed under V AT, the V AT paid cannot be claimed
as ITC under GST.
This leads to a tax cascading effect for industries using natural gas. Hence, statement 2 is
incorrect.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) does not fix petrol or diesel
prices.
Its main functions include:
●
Regulating downstream petroleum and natural gas infrastructure
●
Authorising city gas distribution networks
●
Ensuring fair competition in pipelines and gas markets
Since 2010, petrol and diesel prices in India are market-linked, and Oil Marketing
Companies (OMCs) like IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL revise prices based on international
crude prices and exchange rates. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect. Therefore, option A is
the correct answer.

2) Consider the following statements regarding the Research and Development (R&D) sector
in India:
1. India’s expenditure on Research and Development is less than 1% of its GDP.
2. More than half of R&D expenditure in India is funded by the government sector.
3. Women make up less than 5% of the total R&D workforce in STEM.

2) Answer: (A)
India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of GDP
has consistently hovered between 0.6% and 0.7% over the last decade. This is significantly
lower than the global average of approximately 1.8%. Hence statement 1 is correct.
Unlike many developed nations where the private sector leads R&D investment, the Indian
R&D landscape is dominated by the government sector. Public funding (including Central
and State governments and Public Sector Enterprises) accounts for roughly 60% to 64% of
total R&D expenditure. Hence statement 2 is correct.
While women’s representation in the R&D workforce remains a challenge, it is significantly
higher than 5%. As per recent statistics, women’s participation in extramural R&D projects
has increased to approximately 25% as of 2019–20. Other data indicators place female
researchers in India's total R&D workforce at roughly 16% to 18%, which is well above the
"less than 5%" figure, Although India has a high percentage of female STEM graduates
(~43%), their representation in research is lower, but steadily increasing due to government

3) Consider the following countries
1. Egypt
2. Chad
3. Eritrea
4. Kenya

3) Answer: (B)
Sudan is located in Northeast Africa and shares land borders with several countries. From
the options given, Egypt (north), Chad (west), and Eritrea (east) all share land boundaries
with Sudan. However, Kenya does not border Sudan; it borders countries like Ethiopia,
South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia. Hence, among the listed countries, only
Egypt, Chad, and Eritrea share a boundary with Sudan.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

4) With reference to the Indian Coast Guard, consider the following statements:
1. It functions as an armed force under the administrative control of the Ministry of
Defence.
2. It has jurisdiction only up to India’s territorial waters and does not operate in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
3. It acts as the coordinating authority for marine pollution response in Indian waters.