Swiss President Guy Parmelin paid a state visit to India meeting President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both sides focused on implementing the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
Important for UPSC: International Relations → India–Switzerland → EFTA → TEPA → Trade & Investment → Migration & Mobility → Technology → Defence & Nuclear Cooperation → AI Governance.
Important for UPSC: International Relations → India–Switzerland → EFTA → TEPA → Trade & Investment → Migration & Mobility → Technology → Defence & Nuclear Cooperation → AI Governance.
Norway is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, sharing borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia.
A significant part of Norway lies in the Arctic region, making it important for Arctic governance, climate research and maritime security.
Important for UPSC: Norway → Nordic Region → Arctic → Blue Economy → Maritime Security → India–Norway Relations.
A significant part of Norway lies in the Arctic region, making it important for Arctic governance, climate research and maritime security.
Important for UPSC: Norway → Nordic Region → Arctic → Blue Economy → Maritime Security → India–Norway Relations.
Consider the following statements regarding coal:
1. Anthracite has the highest carbon content and calorific value among the major types of coal.
2. Tertiary coal deposits are found mainly in northeastern India.
3. Coal combustion releases CO₂, SO₂, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and mercury into the environment.
1. Anthracite has the highest carbon content and calorific value among the major types of coal.
2. Tertiary coal deposits are found mainly in northeastern India.
3. Coal combustion releases CO₂, SO₂, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and mercury into the environment.
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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is Correct: Anthracite is indeed the highest rank of coal, containing the highest carbon content (ranging from 86% to 97% or more) and the highest calorific value among all major types of coal.
Statement 2 is Correct: In India, Tertiary coal deposits are younger and are found mainly in the northeastern states (such as Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland), as well as some parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan.
Statement 3 is Correct: Coal combustion is a major source of environmental pollution, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and toxic trace elements like mercury into the atmosphere.
Statement 1 is Correct: Anthracite is indeed the highest rank of coal, containing the highest carbon content (ranging from 86% to 97% or more) and the highest calorific value among all major types of coal.
Statement 2 is Correct: In India, Tertiary coal deposits are younger and are found mainly in the northeastern states (such as Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland), as well as some parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan.
Statement 3 is Correct: Coal combustion is a major source of environmental pollution, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and toxic trace elements like mercury into the atmosphere.
With reference to Valmiki Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements:
1. Its landscape includes both Bhabar and Terai ecological zones.
2. It is Bihar's only tiger reserve.
3. Valmiki Tiger Reserve is closer geographically to Nepal than to India's eastern coastline.
4. The Pandai river forms the western boundary of Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
1. Its landscape includes both Bhabar and Terai ecological zones.
2. It is Bihar's only tiger reserve.
3. Valmiki Tiger Reserve is closer geographically to Nepal than to India's eastern coastline.
4. The Pandai river forms the western boundary of Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
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Answer: (C)
Statement 1 is correct: The reserve occurs in the Himalayan foothill transition, where the Bhabar and Terai ecological zones of Gangetic Plains bio-geographic region. Bhabar: Relatively coarse, porous deposits. Terai: Wetter belt south of the Bhabar.
Statement 2 is correct: Valmiki Tiger Reserve is Bihar's only tiger reserve.
Statement 3 is correct: VTR is in northern Bihar, immediately adjacent to Nepal.Therefore, Nepal is geographically much more relevant to its location than India's distant eastern coast.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Gandak, not Pandai, forms the western boundary.
Statement 1 is correct: The reserve occurs in the Himalayan foothill transition, where the Bhabar and Terai ecological zones of Gangetic Plains bio-geographic region. Bhabar: Relatively coarse, porous deposits. Terai: Wetter belt south of the Bhabar.
Statement 2 is correct: Valmiki Tiger Reserve is Bihar's only tiger reserve.
Statement 3 is correct: VTR is in northern Bihar, immediately adjacent to Nepal.Therefore, Nepal is geographically much more relevant to its location than India's distant eastern coast.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Gandak, not Pandai, forms the western boundary.
Consider the following statements regarding geographical locations in the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands:
1. Galathea Bay
2. Saddle Peak
3. Mount Harriet
4. Campbell Bay
Nicobar Islands:
1. Galathea Bay
2. Saddle Peak
3. Mount Harriet
4. Campbell Bay
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Answer: (A)
● Saddle Peak → North Andaman
● Mount Harriet → South Andaman
● Campbell Bay → Great Nicobar
● Galathea Bay → southern Great Nicobar
Thus, the correct north-to-south order is Saddle Peak → Mount Harriet → Campbell Bay → Galathea Bay.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
● Saddle Peak → North Andaman
● Mount Harriet → South Andaman
● Campbell Bay → Great Nicobar
● Galathea Bay → southern Great Nicobar
Thus, the correct north-to-south order is Saddle Peak → Mount Harriet → Campbell Bay → Galathea Bay.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
SEBI introduced the IT Resilience Index (ITRI) framework for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs). It is a system-driven index to measure the robustness and resilience of critical IT systems that support India’s securities market.
Important for UPSC: Indian Economy → Capital Market → SEBI → Market Infrastructure Institutions → Cybersecurity → IT Resilience → Financial Stability → Digital Infrastructure.
Important for UPSC: Indian Economy → Capital Market → SEBI → Market Infrastructure Institutions → Cybersecurity → IT Resilience → Financial Stability → Digital Infrastructure.
Consider the following statements:
1. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is designed to detect neutrinos originating from high-energy astrophysical sources.
2. Neutrinos can travel vast cosmic distances with relatively little interaction with matter.
3. Neutrinos carry an electric charge and are therefore strongly affected by electromagnetic fields.
1. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is designed to detect neutrinos originating from high-energy astrophysical sources.
2. Neutrinos can travel vast cosmic distances with relatively little interaction with matter.
3. Neutrinos carry an electric charge and are therefore strongly affected by electromagnetic fields.
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Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: The IceCube Neutrino Observatory (embedded in the ice at the South Pole) is specifically designed to detect high-energy cosmic neutrinos coming from extreme astrophysical sources across the universe, such as active galactic nuclei, black holes, and supernovae.
Statement 2 is correct: Neutrinos possess an extremely small mass and interact with other matter only through gravity and the weak nuclear force. Because they experience very little interaction or absorption by matter, they can travel vast cosmic distances unhindered and in straight lines.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Neutrinos are electrically neutral subatomic particles (hence the name neutrino, meaning "neutral one"). Because they carry no electric charge, they are entirely unaffected by electromagnetic fields.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The IceCube Neutrino Observatory (embedded in the ice at the South Pole) is specifically designed to detect high-energy cosmic neutrinos coming from extreme astrophysical sources across the universe, such as active galactic nuclei, black holes, and supernovae.
Statement 2 is correct: Neutrinos possess an extremely small mass and interact with other matter only through gravity and the weak nuclear force. Because they experience very little interaction or absorption by matter, they can travel vast cosmic distances unhindered and in straight lines.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Neutrinos are electrically neutral subatomic particles (hence the name neutrino, meaning "neutral one"). Because they carry no electric charge, they are entirely unaffected by electromagnetic fields.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
With reference to the 'SME Growth Fund' in India, consider the following statements:
1. It is a category of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
2. It primarily aims to provide growth capital to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to scale up operations and listed SME platform growth.
3. The fund focuses only on providing working-capital support to SMEs and does not support expansion or technology adoption.
1. It is a category of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
2. It primarily aims to provide growth capital to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to scale up operations and listed SME platform growth.
3. The fund focuses only on providing working-capital support to SMEs and does not support expansion or technology adoption.