Answer: (C)
The IAEA was established in 1957 in response to the deep-seated fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology. Its dual objective is to promote the peaceful applications of nuclear energy and to ensure that nuclear energy is not used for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Membership in the IAEA is not contingent upon signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Several countries that are members of the IAEA (such as India, Pakistan, and Israel) have not signed the NPT. While the IAEA administers "safeguards" required by the NPT, the two are distinct legal frameworks. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
While the IAEA is an independent international organization that reports to both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, it is widely categorized as a specialized agency within the broader United Nations System due to its relationship agreement with the UN. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements about Telecom Regulatory Authority of India:
1. TRAI provides recommendations on spectrum allocation and telecom policy to the
government.
2. TRAI has the power to issue licenses to telecom service providers.

Answer: (A)
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is a regulatory body that mainly advises and regulates the telecom sector in India. It provides recommendations to the Government of India on important policy matters such as spectrum allocation, pricing, and overall telecom policy framework. These recommendations help the government make decisions but are not binding. Hence statement 1 is correct.
TRAI does not have the authority to issue telecom licenses to service providers. The power to grant licenses lies with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements regarding the Border Security Force (BSF):
1. It is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. It protects the international borders with China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Answer: (B)
The Border Security Force is India’s primary border guarding force responsible for securing the country’s international borders during peace time.
It was established in 1965, in the aftermath of the Indo-Pak war, to ensure better coordination and security along sensitive borders.
It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The BSF is primarily responsible for guarding India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The border with China is guarded by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Answer: (A)
The rivers joining the Yamuna downstream of Delhi from north to south are:
1. Hindon – Joins the Yamuna near Noida/Ghaziabad region, closest to Delhi.
2. Chambal – Joins the Yamuna near Etawah (Uttar Pradesh).
3. Sind – A tributary of the Yamuna joining further downstream in the Chambal-Yamuna
system.
4. Betwa – Joins the Yamuna near Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh), further south-east.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Consider the following:
1. Deendayal Port
2. Kamarajar Port
3. Jawaharlal Nehru Port
4. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port

Answer: (D)
India has 13 Major Ports (including Vadhavan Port under construction), which are administered by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and handle the bulk of India’s international trade.
All the ports mentioned in the question belong to this official list: Deendayal Port → Major port located on the west coast; earlier known as Kandla Port. Kamarajar Port → India’s first corporatised major port near Chennai.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port → India’s largest container-handling major port.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port → India’s oldest major port and the only major riverine port.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

With reference to Sikkim, consider the following statements:
1. The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act incorporated Sikkim into the Union of India.
2. Sikkim has a unique “Sangha” seat in its State Legislative Assembly, reserved for the monk community.
3. It is the only Indian state to share borders with three foreign countries.

Answer: (C)
Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of the Indian Union through the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975. While the 35th Amendment (1974) had introduced the status of an "Associate State," the 36th Amendment provided full statehood and removed the associate status. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Sikkim is the only state in India with a unique legislative provision for the Buddhist monk community. Out of the 32 seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, one seat (the Sangha seat) is reserved specifically for monks and nuns from registered monasteries. Notably, the voting for this seat is restricted to the Sangha community alone, creating a "constituency without boundaries."Hence, statement 2 is correct.
While Sikkim does share international borders with three countries (Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the east, and China/Tibet to the north), it is not the only Indian state to do so.
West Bengal also shares borders with three foreign countries: Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
Arunachal Pradesh shares borders with Bhutan, China, and Myanmar. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

With reference to the Index of Industrial Production, consider the following statements:
1. It is published monthly by the National Statistical Office.
2. The manufacturing sector has the highest weightage in the index.
3. Among the Eight Core Industries, refinery products carry the highest weight.

Answer: (D)
The IIP is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups. It is compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which falls under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The index is
typically released with a six-week lag. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The IIP classifies industrial production into three broad sectors. The Manufacturing sector is by far the most dominant, accounting for the vast majority of the index's total weight. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
The Eight Core Industries comprise nearly 40.27% of the weight of items included in the IIP. Within these eight specific industries, Refinery Products hold the highest weightage.
Ranking of Core Industries by Weight:
● Refinery Products (28.04%)
● Electricity (19.85%)
● Steel (17.92%)
● Coal (10.33%)
● Crude Oil (8.98%)
● Natural Gas (6.88%)
● Cement (5.37%)
● Fertilizers (2.63%)
Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Answer: (B)
The region is defined by the high-altitude salt flats (salars) located at the intersections of three South American nations:
● Bolivia: Home to the Salar de Uyuni, which is the world's largest salt flat.
● Argentina: Home to the Salar del Hombre Muerto.
● Chile: Home to the Salar de Atacama, which currently has the most efficient extraction operations.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.