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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is correct: Pralay is a short-range, surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile developed indigenously by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Statement 2 is correct: It employs a quasi-ballistic trajectory, meaning it flies at a lower altitude than traditional ballistic missiles and possesses mid-flight maneuverability to evade enemy air defense interceptors.
Statement 3 is incorrect: It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor (using a two-stage solid rocket system), not a liquid-fuel propulsion system. Solid fuel allows for quick launch readiness and easier transport.
Statement 4 is correct: It is designed to carry multiple types of conventional warheads, allowing it to adapt to various tactical mission profiles such as destroying hardened bunkers or communication hubs.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Pralay is a short-range, surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile developed indigenously by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Statement 2 is correct: It employs a quasi-ballistic trajectory, meaning it flies at a lower altitude than traditional ballistic missiles and possesses mid-flight maneuverability to evade enemy air defense interceptors.
Statement 3 is incorrect: It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor (using a two-stage solid rocket system), not a liquid-fuel propulsion system. Solid fuel allows for quick launch readiness and easier transport.
Statement 4 is correct: It is designed to carry multiple types of conventional warheads, allowing it to adapt to various tactical mission profiles such as destroying hardened bunkers or communication hubs.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Dehing Patkai is popularly known as the “Amazon of the East” due to its rich rainforest ecosystem.
Important for UPSC: Environment & Ecology → National Parks → Assam → Tropical Evergreen Forests → Elephant Reserves → Hoolock Gibbon → White-winged Wood Duck.
Important for UPSC: Environment & Ecology → National Parks → Assam → Tropical Evergreen Forests → Elephant Reserves → Hoolock Gibbon → White-winged Wood Duck.
Consider the following statements regarding the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme:
1. Unlike UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which focus on natural and cultural monuments, the MoW Programme specifically targets documentary heritage housed in libraries, archives, and museums.
2. The MoW Register is updated every year to add new documentary heritage of universal value.
1. Unlike UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which focus on natural and cultural monuments, the MoW Programme specifically targets documentary heritage housed in libraries, archives, and museums.
2. The MoW Register is updated every year to add new documentary heritage of universal value.
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Answer: (B)
The UNESCO World Heritage program focuses on physical sites, monuments, and natural locations, whereas the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme was created in 1992 specifically to safeguard, preserve, and provide access to global documentary heritage (such as manuscripts, books, audio-visual materials, and archival documents) stored in libraries, archives, and museums. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The Memory of the World International Register is updated biennially (every two years) during the meetings of the International Advisory Committee (IAC), not every year. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
The UNESCO World Heritage program focuses on physical sites, monuments, and natural locations, whereas the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme was created in 1992 specifically to safeguard, preserve, and provide access to global documentary heritage (such as manuscripts, books, audio-visual materials, and archival documents) stored in libraries, archives, and museums. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The Memory of the World International Register is updated biennially (every two years) during the meetings of the International Advisory Committee (IAC), not every year. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
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Answer: (C)
A global benchmarking framework that measures the multidimensional innovation capabilities and performance of economies by assessing innovation inputs and outputs.
It also identifies and maps the world's top 100 Science and Technology (S&T) clusters, helping policymakers evaluate innovation strengths, weaknesses and gaps.
First Published: 2007 (19th annual edition in 2026).
Released by: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, in partnership with the Portulans Institute and other international corporate and academic collaborators.
A global benchmarking framework that measures the multidimensional innovation capabilities and performance of economies by assessing innovation inputs and outputs.
It also identifies and maps the world's top 100 Science and Technology (S&T) clusters, helping policymakers evaluate innovation strengths, weaknesses and gaps.
First Published: 2007 (19th annual edition in 2026).
Released by: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, in partnership with the Portulans Institute and other international corporate and academic collaborators.
Consider the following statements regarding Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in India:
1. It acts as a one-time capital grant to bridge the financial deficit of economically essential infrastructure projects.
2. Central scheme guidelines permit total government grant support up to 40% of the project cost.
3. VGF support has been extended to grid-scale battery energy storage systems.
1. It acts as a one-time capital grant to bridge the financial deficit of economically essential infrastructure projects.
2. Central scheme guidelines permit total government grant support up to 40% of the project cost.
3. VGF support has been extended to grid-scale battery energy storage systems.
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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is correct: VGF is a targeted financial grant disbursed during the construction phase to bridge the revenue shortfall of socio-economically vital infrastructure projects, enabling private sector participation under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the Ministry of Finance guidelines, the Central Government provides up to 20% of the total project cost, with the sponsoring ministry, state government, or statutory body authorized to contribute up to an additional 20%, capping total grant assistance at 40%.
Statement 3 is correct: The Union Cabinet approved the VGF scheme specifically targeting grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to reduce the high initial capital cost of storage infrastructure and bring down the Levelized Cost of Storage.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: VGF is a targeted financial grant disbursed during the construction phase to bridge the revenue shortfall of socio-economically vital infrastructure projects, enabling private sector participation under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the Ministry of Finance guidelines, the Central Government provides up to 20% of the total project cost, with the sponsoring ministry, state government, or statutory body authorized to contribute up to an additional 20%, capping total grant assistance at 40%.
Statement 3 is correct: The Union Cabinet approved the VGF scheme specifically targeting grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to reduce the high initial capital cost of storage infrastructure and bring down the Levelized Cost of Storage.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
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Answer: (B)
Exercise RAHAT MITRA is the maiden bilateral Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise conducted between the Defence Forces of India and Myanmar.
Objective: Focuses on enhancing interoperability, sharing operational experiences, and fostering joint preparedness for natural disasters and humanitarian crises in the region.
Lead Coordinator: Coordinated under the aegis of the Indian Navy.
○ Composition: Brings together tri-services personnel (Army, Navy, and Air Force) from both nations.
○ Strategic Alignment: Directly aligns with India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the strategic framework of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Exercise RAHAT MITRA is the maiden bilateral Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise conducted between the Defence Forces of India and Myanmar.
Objective: Focuses on enhancing interoperability, sharing operational experiences, and fostering joint preparedness for natural disasters and humanitarian crises in the region.
Lead Coordinator: Coordinated under the aegis of the Indian Navy.
○ Composition: Brings together tri-services personnel (Army, Navy, and Air Force) from both nations.
○ Strategic Alignment: Directly aligns with India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the strategic framework of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding a Tokamak:
1. It is a device designed to achieve controlled nuclear fission.
2. It uses magnetic fields to confine extremely hot plasma.
3. The first tokamak, T-1 began operation in Russia in 1958.
4. Tokamaks primarily use isotopes of helium as their main nuclear fusion fuel
1. It is a device designed to achieve controlled nuclear fission.
2. It uses magnetic fields to confine extremely hot plasma.
3. The first tokamak, T-1 began operation in Russia in 1958.
4. Tokamaks primarily use isotopes of helium as their main nuclear fusion fuel
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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is Incorrect: A tokamak is designed to achieve controlled nuclear fusion (combining light atomic nuclei), not nuclear fission (splitting heavy atoms like uranium).
Statement 2 is Correct: It uses a complex system of powerful magnetic fields (shaped in a torus or doughnut) to confine and control extremely hot plasma so it never touches or melts the container walls.
Statement 3 is Correct. The world's first tokamak, the T-1, was developed in the Soviet Union (Russia) at the Kurchatov Institute and officially began operation in 1958.
Statement 4 is Incorrect. Tokamaks primarily use isotopes of hydrogen—specifically deuterium and tritium—as their main nuclear fusion fuel, not helium.
Therefore, option D is the correct option.
Statement 1 is Incorrect: A tokamak is designed to achieve controlled nuclear fusion (combining light atomic nuclei), not nuclear fission (splitting heavy atoms like uranium).
Statement 2 is Correct: It uses a complex system of powerful magnetic fields (shaped in a torus or doughnut) to confine and control extremely hot plasma so it never touches or melts the container walls.
Statement 3 is Correct. The world's first tokamak, the T-1, was developed in the Soviet Union (Russia) at the Kurchatov Institute and officially began operation in 1958.
Statement 4 is Incorrect. Tokamaks primarily use isotopes of hydrogen—specifically deuterium and tritium—as their main nuclear fusion fuel, not helium.
Therefore, option D is the correct option.
DRDO successfully flight-tested the indigenous Pralay quasi-ballistic missile on November 2026 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the Odisha coast. The test was part of user evaluation trials.
Important for UPSC: Science & Technology → Defence Technology → Missile Systems → Quasi-Ballistic Missiles → DRDO → Indigenous Defence Production
Important for UPSC: Science & Technology → Defence Technology → Missile Systems → Quasi-Ballistic Missiles → DRDO → Indigenous Defence Production
Consider the following statements regarding Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary:
1. It is located in the Bargarh district of Odisha.
2. The dominant vegetation in the sanctuary comprises tropical dry deciduous and mixed forests.
3. It is bounded on its northern and eastern sides by the Hirakud Reservoir.
4. The sanctuary is situated in the Barapahada hill range.
1. It is located in the Bargarh district of Odisha.
2. The dominant vegetation in the sanctuary comprises tropical dry deciduous and mixed forests.
3. It is bounded on its northern and eastern sides by the Hirakud Reservoir.
4. The sanctuary is situated in the Barapahada hill range.
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