During a discussion on the constitutional provisions relating to the State Legislature, X stated that courts could examine the validity of proceedings in a State Legislature if procedural irregularities were alleged. Y disagreed, pointing out that Article 212 protects legislative proceedings from judicial scrutiny on the ground of procedural irregularity.

Answer: (C)

Independence of the Judiciary – Incorrect: Article 212 does not deal with the independence of the judiciary; it restricts judicial interference in legislative proceedings on procedural grounds.

Separation of Powers — Incorrect: Although Article 212 reflects the separation of powers, its primary purpose is to protect the internal proceedings of the State Legislature.

Legislative Autonomy — Correct: Article 212 protects the validity of State Legislature proceedings from being questioned in court merely on the ground of procedural irregularity.

Parliamentary Supremacy — Incorrect: India follows constitutional supremacy, not absolute parliamentary supremacy. Article 212 concerns State Legislatures, not Parliament.

Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements with reference to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) :
1. It is fully funded by the Central Government and provides health insurance coverage to all citizens of India regardless of their income or social status.
2. The beneficiary families under the scheme are identified based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC).
3. The National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing the scheme at the national level.

Answer: (C)

Statement 1 is incorrect: The scheme is not for all citizens regardless of income or social status. It is co-funded by the Centre and States (typically on a 60:40 ratio for most states) and specifically targets the bottom 40% (vulnerable and low-income families) based on socioeconomic criteria, rather than universal coverage.

Statement 2 is correct: Beneficiary families under the scheme are indeed identified based on specific deprivation and occupational criteria derived from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) database.

Statement 3 is correct: The National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex decision-making and implementing agency responsible for the nationwide rollout of the scheme.

Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements regarding "Bharat Taxi":
1. It has been launched and overseen under the control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
2. It operates on a strict zero-commission model, allowing drivers to retain their full ride earnings.
3. It functions as a cooperative-led cab booking service where drivers serve as shareholders and co-owners.

Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is incorrect: Bharat Taxi does not operate under the control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; it is spearheaded and overseen by the Ministry of Cooperation to empower unorganized sector workers through cooperative structures.

Statement 2 is correct: It features a citizen-centric, zero-commission framework designed to secure better incomes for gig workers and drivers by removing high intermediary cut-offs typical of private aggregators.

Statement 3 is correct: It is structured under the "Saarthi Hi Maalik" (Driver as Owner) model as a cooperative-backed cab booking service, enabling drivers to become stakeholders and members of the cooperative.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements with reference to the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
1. The Agreement was adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Geneva in 2022.
2. The Agreement prohibits subsidies to vessels engaged in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
3. India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the Agreement in July 2026
4. India's acceptance of the Agreement means that all subsidies provided to India's small-scale fishers are prohibited under the Agreement.

Answer: (B)
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted by consensus at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva in June 2022. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The Agreement prohibits subsidies that support Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. It also contains disciplines concerning subsidies for fishing overfished stocks and fishing on the unregulated high seas. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance on 20 July 2026, thereby becoming a Party to the Agreement. India became the 123rd WTO member to deposit its instrument of acceptance. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

India's acceptance does not mean that all subsidies to small-scale fishers are prohibited. The Agreement targets harmful fisheries subsidies, particularly those linked to IUU fishing, overfished stocks and fishing on the unregulated high seas. The Indian government has specifically stated that the Agreement protects the livelihoods of traditional and small-scale fishers and provides flexibilities for developing countries. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

Therefore, statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct, while statement 4 is incorrect.

Consider the following statements regarding the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):
1. The UNGA elects the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council and members of the Economic and Social Council, and such elections require a two-thirds majority.
2. No Indian national has ever served as the President of the UN General Assembly.
3. Each UN Member State has one vote in the UNGA, reflecting the principle of sovereign equality.

Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: The UNGA elects the 10 non-permanent members of the UNSC and members of ECOSOC. Elections to these bodies are among the questions requiring a two-thirds majority.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India served as President of the UNGA in 1953–54.

Statement 3 is correct: Each UN Member State has one vote in the General Assembly.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.