option (a) is the correct answer.
2) Answer: (D)
Explanation:
1. Boko Haram is an Islamist militant group primarily operating in Nigeria and the Lake Chad
region. Hence pair 1 is correctly matched.
2. Al‑Shabaab is an extremist organization active mainly in Somalia and parts of East Africa.
Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.
3. The Houthi Movement is a Shia political and militant group operating in Yemen, involved in
the Yemeni civil war. Hence pair 3 is correctly matched.
4. Hezbollah is based in Lebanon and plays a major role in the country’s politics and regional
conflicts. Hence pair 4 is correctly matched.
Therefore, all four pairs are correctly matched. Hence, option (D) is the correct answer

3) 4) Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Consider the following statements regarding Ethylene Glycol:
1. 2. It is widely used as an antifreeze in automobile cooling systems..
It is commonly used in the manufacture of polyester fibres and PET plastics.
3. It is a poisonous compound and ingestion can cause serious health effects such as
kidney failure.

Explanation:
Ethylene Glycol is a colorless, odorless liquid widely used in industry.
Ethylene glycol is highly poisonous if ingested. It can damage organs, especially the kidneys, and
has been involved in cases of accidental or adulteration-related poisoning. Hence, statement 1 is
correct.OFFICERS IAS
It is widely used as an antifreeze and coolant in automobile radiators because it lowers the
freezing point of water and raises its boiling point. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Ethylene glycol is an important raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibres and
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics, used in textiles and plastic bottles. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.
Therefore, all three statements are correct. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements about the Cheetah:
1. It is primarily adapted to open grassland and savanna habitats.
2. Unlike most big cats, it is mainly active during the daytime.
3. Adult male cheetahs often live in small groups called coalitions.

4) Answer: (D)
Explanation:
The Cheetah is the fastest land mammal and is mainly found in the grasslands and savannas of
Africa.
Cheetahs are specially adapted to open grassland and savanna habitats, where they rely on sharp
eyesight to detect prey and hunt using speed rather than stealth. Hence statement 1 is correct.
Unlike many other big cats such as lions and leopards that are largely nocturnal, cheetahs are mainly
active during the daytime (diurnal). This helps them avoid competition with stronger predators.
Hence statement 2 is correct.
Adult male cheetahs often form small social groups called coalitions, usually made up of brothers,
which cooperate in defending territory and sometimes in hunting. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, all three statements are correct. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

5) Which of the following measures are used in India to reduce human–wildlife conflict?
1. Early Warning Systems
2. Eco-Bridges Project
3. Gaja Mitra
4. M-STrIPES

5) Answer: (D)
Explanation:
The Eco-Bridges Project involves building wildlife overpasses and underpasses across roads and
railways to help animals safely cross human infrastructure and maintain habitat connectivity. Hence
statement 1 is correct.
M-STrIPES is a digital monitoring system used by forest officials to track wildlife movements and
patrol protected areas, which helps in preventing conflicts and protecting habitats. Hence statement
2 is correct.
Gaja Mitra refers to trained community volunteers who assist forest departments in managing and
reducing human–elephant conflict. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Early Warning Systems use technologies such as sensors, SMS alerts, and tracking devices to warn
communities about the movement of animals like elephants near human settlements. Hence
statement 4 is correct.
Therefore, all four statements are correct. Hence option (d) is the correct answer

Which of the following best describes Anti Dumping Duty?
(a) A tax on exports to discourage raw material outflow.
(b) A tax on imports sold below normal value to protect domestic industries.
(c) A tax on imports to offset foreign government subsidies.
(d) A temporary tax to protect domestic industry from sudden import surg

1) Answer: (B)
●
Anti-Dumping Duty is a tariff imposed on imports priced below their normal value
(price in the exporting country or cost of production).This practice called dumping, is
unfair and harms domestic industries. The duty helps restore fair competition by increasing
the import price.Hence option B is the correct answer.
●
Export Duty is a tax or levy placed on goods leaving a country to discourage the outflow of
specific resources. Its primary goal is to ensure that essential raw materials remain available
for domestic manufacturers at lower prices rather than being sold in international
markets.Hence option A is incorrect.
●
Countervailing Duty (CVD) is a specific customs duty used to offset the price advantage
of imported goods that have received financial assistance or subsidies from a foreign
government. While Anti-Dumping Duty targets private company pricing, Countervailing
Duty targets products benefiting from state-sponsored support. Hence option C is
incorrect.
●
Safeguard Duty is a temporary measure triggered by a sudden and massive spike in the
volume of imports that threatens to cause serious injury to a domestic industry. Unlike
Anti-Dumping measures which address "unfair" pricing, a Safeguard Duty is volume-based
and applies even if the imported goods are priced fairly. Hence option D is incorrect.
●
Therefore option B is the correct answer.

2) Consider the following statements:
1. Some frogs can fly.
2. Some frogs are poisonous.
3. Some frogs are biofluorescent in nature.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

2) Answer: (C)
Frogs, belonging to the class Amphibia, play a crucial ecological role as bioindicators due
to their sensitivity to environmental changes such as pollution, habitat loss, and climate
change. Their permeable skin makes them highly vulnerable, which is why declining frog
populations often signal ecosystem distress. Some species exhibit remarkable adaptations
such as gliding (arboreal frogs), toxin secretion (chemical defense), and camouflage,
aiding survival in diverse habitats. Additionally, frogs contribute to natural pest control,
benefiting agriculture by consuming insects. However, they face threats from climate
change, habitat destruction, diseases like chytridiomycosis, and human interference,
leading to many species being classified as threatened by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature.
Certain frogs are capable of gliding, commonly referred to as “flying frogs.” For example,
the Malabar gliding frog uses its large webbed feet to glide between trees in forest canopies.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Many frogs secrete toxic substances through their skin as a defense mechanism. Globally,
poison dart frogs are highly toxic. Some Indian frogs also produce mild toxins to deter
predators. A classic example of a toxic (poisonous) frog is the Golden poison dart frog.
Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Biofluorescence refers to the ability to absorb light (usually UV) and re-emit it at a different
wavelength. Certain frog species exhibit this property under UV light. A well-known

3) With reference to Ethyl chloroformate, recently seen in the news, consider the following
statements:
(a) It is widely used in the production of pesticides as a direct active ingredient due to its
high stability in water.
(b) It is used in pharmaceutical synthesis, including the preparation of antibiotics and
antiviral drugs.
(c) It is used in water purification plants as a disinfectant due to its strong oxidizing
properties.
(d) It is used in the manufacture of fertilizers as a nitrogen-fixing compound.

3) Answer: (B)
Ethyl chloroformate is a highly reactive organic compound used mainly as an intermediate
in organic synthesis rather than as a final-use chemical. It is unstable in water and quickly
undergoes hydrolysis, so it is not suitable for applications like pesticides, water treatment, or
fertilizers.
Its key importance lies in pharmaceutical and fine chemical synthesis, where it is used to
introduce the ethoxycarbonyl (–COOEt) group and to protect amine groups during
multi-step reactions. This makes it useful in the preparation of complex molecules such as
antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
It does not act as a disinfectant, oxidizing agent, or nitrogen-fixing substance, and it has no
direct role in water purification or fertilizer production.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

4) Consider the following statements with reference to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019:
1. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) can order recall of unsafe goods
and services.
2. The CCPA can impose penalties for misleading advertisements.
3. Manufacturers, service providers, and sellers can be held liable to compensate for
defective products or deficient services.

4) Answer: (D)
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the Central Consumer Protection Authority
(CCPA) as a regulatory body to protect consumer rights.
The CCPA has the power to order recall of unsafe goods and withdrawal of hazardous
services to prevent harm to consumers.Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The CCPA can impose penalties on manufacturers, endorsers, and publishers for misleading
advertisements to ensure fair trade practices.Hence, statement 2 is correct.
The Act introduces product liability, under which manufacturers, service providers, and
sellers are responsible to compensate consumers for injury or damage caused by defective
products or deficiency in services.Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.