Which of the following statements regarding the origin of Nalanda University is incorrect?
(a) The seals found at the site identify 'Shakraditya' as the founding monarch.
(b) It was established during the 5th century CE, marking the transition from the Early to
the Later Gupta period.
(c) The Chinese traveler Faxian (Fa-Hien) provided the most detailed eyewitness account
of the university's foundation ceremonies during his visit.
(d) The site was chosen due to its proximity to Rajgir, a city of great significance to both
Buddhism and Jainism.

Answer: (C)
Nalanda Mahavihara, established in the 5th century CE by the Gupta Emperor
Kumaragupta I (Shakraditya), represents the pinnacle of ancient India's residential
education and intellectual "soft power." Located near Rajgir, it transcended its Buddhist
origins to become a holistic center for secular sciences like astronomy, medicine, and logic
(Hetuvidya), attracting global scholars such as Xuanzang and receiving sustained patronage
from the Harsha and Pala dynasties through the Agrahara (land grant) system. Its decline
following the 12th-century invasion by Bakhtiyar Khilji marked a major shift in the Indian
educational landscape, but its legacy is now being revived through a modern, Net-Zero
international campus that integrates ancient Magadha water management techniques with
21st-century sustainability. Therefore option C is the correct answer.

With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, consider the
following statements:
1. The scheme includes a dedicated vertical for rental purposes also targeting urban
migrants, industrial workers, and working women.
2. It mandates that the female head of the household must be the owner or co-owner of
the house.

Answer: (C)
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0 is a flagship scheme of the
Government of India launched to ensure “Housing for All” by 2030 in urban areas. It aims to
provide pucca houses with basic amenities to eligible urban poor, including economically
weaker sections, lower- and middle-income groups.
The scheme has four main verticals:
1. In-situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) – Redevelopment of slums with private
participation.
2. Affordable Housing through Credit-Linked Subsidy (CLSS) – Subsidy for home
loans to eligible individuals.
3. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) – Collaboration with private developers
for affordable homes.
4. Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) – New vertical under PMAY-U 2.0, targeting
urban migrants, industrial workers, and working women, to provide rental
housing. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The scheme mandates female ownership or co-ownership of the house to promote women
empowerment and financial inclusion. This is a core design feature of PMAY-U. Hence,
statement 2 is correct. Therefore option C is the correct answer.

With reference to countries sharing a land border with Myanmar, consider the following
statements:
1. China
2. Bangladesh
3. Vietnam
4. Thailand
5. Laos

Answer: (C)
Myanmar shares a land border with five countries:
● China: Shares the longest border to the North and Northeast. (Correct)
● Bangladesh: Shares a border to the West/Northwest. (Correct)
● Thailand: Shares a border to the Southeast. (Correct)
● Laos: Shares a border to the East, primarily along the Mekong River. (Correct)
● India: Shares a border to the Northwest (though not listed in your options).
● Vietnam does not share a land border with Myanmar. It is separated from Myanmar by
Laos and Thailand. Therefore option C is the correct answer.

With reference to the Outer Space Treaty, consider the following statements:
1. It prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in Earth's orbit and on
celestial bodies.
2. It explicitly bans the use of military personnel for any form of scientific research in
outer space.
3. Under the treaty, outer space, including the Moon, is not subject to national
appropriation by claim of sovereignty.

Answer: (C)
● Under Article IV of the Outer Space Treaty (1967), states parties are prohibited
from placing in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any
other kinds of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It also forbids installing such
weapons on celestial bodies or stationing them in outer space in any other manner.
Hence statement 1 is correct.
● While the treaty mandates that the Moon and other celestial bodies be used
exclusively for peaceful purposes, it does not prohibit the use of military
personnel. In fact, Article IV explicitly states that the use of military personnel for
scientific research or any other peaceful purposes shall not be prohibited.Hence
statement 1 is Incorrect.
● Article II of the treaty establishes the principle of non-appropriation. It explicitly
states that outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject
to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation,
or by any other means.Hence statement 1 is correct.
● Therefore option C is the correct answer.

With reference to Bharat Taxi, Consider the following statements:
1. The platform follows a zero-commission model where drivers retain the full fare paid
by passengers..
2. The service is a government-backed initiative supported by the Ministry of Road and
Transportation.

Answer: (A)
● Bharat Taxi operates on a "Zero Commission" model. Unlike private aggregators
that charge a percentage (often 20–30%) per ride, Bharat Taxi allows drivers
(referred to as Sarathis) to retain the full fare paid by passengers. The platform is
sustained through a subscription-based model and is managed by the Sahakar Taxi
Cooperative Limited. Hence Statement 1 is Correct.
● While Bharat Taxi is a government-backed initiative, it is primarily supported and
promoted by the Ministry of Cooperation (led by the Union Minister for Home
Affairs and Cooperation), not the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. It is
part of the government’s "Sahkar se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation)
vision and is backed by major cooperatives like Amul, IFFCO, and NABARD.
Hence Statement 2 is Incorrect.
● Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.

The term “Ways and Means” is recently seen in the news refers to:
(a) The procedures followed by Parliament to pass a financial bill.
(a) The methods and resources used by a government to raise revenue.
(b) The strategies adopted by the Reserve Bank of India to control inflation.
(c) The rules and regulations governing public sector enterprises.

Answer: (B)
● Ways and Means refers to the financial methods and instruments that a government
uses to manage its receipts and expenditures, particularly to raise revenue for meeting
its spending needs.
● In India, the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) are short-term loans provided by
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to the government to help it bridge temporary
mismatches in cash flow.
● It does not refer to parliamentary procedures, inflation control measures, or rules for
public sector enterprises.
● The term is often in the news around budget season or RBI cash management
discussions, highlighting how the government finances its expenditures temporarily.
● Therefore,option B is the correct answer.

With reference to the INSPIRE Scheme, consider the following statements:
1. It aims to attract and nurture talented students into science and research careers.
2. Its nodal ministry is the Ministry of Education.
3. It identifies talent through a National level Entrance Examination.

Answer: (A)
The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Scheme is a flagship
programme of the Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science
and Technology. Its primary objective is to attract, identify, and nurture talented students
and encourage them to pursue careers in science and research, thereby strengthening the
country’s scientific human resource base. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The nodal ministry is not the Ministry of Education. Instead, it is implemented by the
Ministry of Science and Technology through the Department of Science and Technology.
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
INSPIRE does not rely on a single national-level entrance examination to identify talent.
Instead, it uses multiple criteria, such as:

○ Performance in Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations
○ Ranks in national competitive exams like JEE Advanced and NEET
○ Participation in national science talent programmes

Thus, the scheme adopts a broad-based and inclusive approach rather than a single
exam-based selection mechanism. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Which core industry has the highest weightage in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in India?

(a) Coal
(b) Steel
(c) Electricity
(d) Crude Oil

Answer: (C)
● The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) measures the short-term changes in the
volume of production of industrial sectors.
● The IIP is calculated based on 8 core industries: Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas,
Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity.
● Among these, Electricity carries the highest weight (~10.32%) in the overall IIP,
followed by Steel and Cement.
● This is because electricity is a critical input for almost all industrial production,
making its production level highly indicative of overall industrial activity.
● Therefore,option C is the correct answer.