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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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is correct: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Bargarh district of Western Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct: The sanctuary's dominant vegetation consists of tropical dry deciduous and mixed forests.
Statement 3 is correct: The sanctuary is situated alongside the Hirakud Reservoir, which bounds it on its northern and eastern sides.
Statement 4 is correct: The sanctuary is located within the Barapahada hill range (an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau system).
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Bargarh district of Western Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct: The sanctuary's dominant vegetation consists of tropical dry deciduous and mixed forests.
Statement 3 is correct: The sanctuary is situated alongside the Hirakud Reservoir, which bounds it on its northern and eastern sides.
Statement 4 is correct: The sanctuary is located within the Barapahada hill range (an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau system).
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the Yamuna River system:
1. The Tons River is the largest right-bank tributary of the Yamuna.
2. The Ken, Betwa, and Chambal rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna that originate in the Peninsular Plateau.
3. The Hindon River is a major left-bank tributary that originates in the Purvanchal Hills.
1. The Tons River is the largest right-bank tributary of the Yamuna.
2. The Ken, Betwa, and Chambal rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna that originate in the Peninsular Plateau.
3. The Hindon River is a major left-bank tributary that originates in the Purvanchal Hills.
Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Tons River is indeed the largest tributary of the Yamuna and carries more water than the main stream before its confluence near Kalsi, Uttarakhand. However, it is a left-bank tributary (originating in the Himalayas near the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border), not a right-bank tributary.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, and Ken rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna. They originate in the Vindhyan and Malwa ranges of the Peninsular Plateau and flow northward to join the Yamuna.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Hindon River is a left-bank tributary of the Yamuna, but it originates in the Upper Shivalik Ranges (Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh), not the Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Himalayas).
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Tons River is indeed the largest tributary of the Yamuna and carries more water than the main stream before its confluence near Kalsi, Uttarakhand. However, it is a left-bank tributary (originating in the Himalayas near the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border), not a right-bank tributary.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, and Ken rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna. They originate in the Vindhyan and Malwa ranges of the Peninsular Plateau and flow northward to join the Yamuna.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Hindon River is a left-bank tributary of the Yamuna, but it originates in the Upper Shivalik Ranges (Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh), not the Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Himalayas).
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Answer: (B)
Collapse of Ueno Bank: Paraguay’s prominent digital lender-turned-bank (Ueno Bank), which catered to nearly half the country’s population (around 3 million retail depositors), abruptly collapsed after the Central Bank (Banco Central del Paraguay) seized it. Regulators found that its solvency ratio plummeted well below legal minimums due to risky, illicit related-party lending to companies tied to the bank's owners.
Impeachment and Removal of the President: Amid massive public protests and a financial panic, President Santiago Peña faced intense scrutiny over his political proximity to the bank and allegations of steering public funds (including state pension funds) into it. Though he offered his resignation, the Paraguayan Congress rejected it in favor of a historic, near-unanimous impeachment.
Political Fallout: The Senate voted to strip Peña of his immunity and remove him from office. He was subsequently placed under house arrest/pretrial custody, and Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new interim President.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Collapse of Ueno Bank: Paraguay’s prominent digital lender-turned-bank (Ueno Bank), which catered to nearly half the country’s population (around 3 million retail depositors), abruptly collapsed after the Central Bank (Banco Central del Paraguay) seized it. Regulators found that its solvency ratio plummeted well below legal minimums due to risky, illicit related-party lending to companies tied to the bank's owners.
Impeachment and Removal of the President: Amid massive public protests and a financial panic, President Santiago Peña faced intense scrutiny over his political proximity to the bank and allegations of steering public funds (including state pension funds) into it. Though he offered his resignation, the Paraguayan Congress rejected it in favor of a historic, near-unanimous impeachment.
Political Fallout: The Senate voted to strip Peña of his immunity and remove him from office. He was subsequently placed under house arrest/pretrial custody, and Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new interim President.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
With reference to the 'Grandmaster' title awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), consider the following statements:
1. Anuj Shrivatri became the first FIDE Grandmaster from the state of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Under the conventional norm-based route, a player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games and achieve a FIDE standard rating of at least 2500 at some point.
3. A player automatically loses the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500.
4. India ranks in the top 5 globally in terms of the total number of FIDE Grandmaster titles.
1. Anuj Shrivatri became the first FIDE Grandmaster from the state of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Under the conventional norm-based route, a player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games and achieve a FIDE standard rating of at least 2500 at some point.
3. A player automatically loses the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500.
4. India ranks in the top 5 globally in terms of the total number of FIDE Grandmaster titles.
Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is correct: International Master Anuj Shrivatri, from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. By earning the direct Grandmaster title, he became the first FIDE Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh and India's 100th Grandmaster.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the conventional norm-based route for the Grandmaster title:
○ A player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games across qualifying tournaments.
○ The player must achieve a standard FIDE rating of at least 2500 at some point in their career.
○ A Grandmaster norm requires a performance rating of at least 2600, along with prescribed opponent-rating and tournament-composition requirements.
○ This conventional route is distinct from direct-title routes available through specified international championships.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Grandmaster title is valid for life once officially confirmed by FIDE. A player does not lose the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500. Exception: FIDE may revoke a title in specified circumstances involving ethical violations or breaches of its Fair Play Regulations.
Statement 4 is CORRECT: India ranks among the top five countries globally in the number of Grandmasters registered under its FIDE federation. Based on the November 2026 standard rating-list data, India ranks fourth, behind Russia, the United States and Germany.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer
Statement 1 is correct: International Master Anuj Shrivatri, from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. By earning the direct Grandmaster title, he became the first FIDE Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh and India's 100th Grandmaster.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the conventional norm-based route for the Grandmaster title:
○ A player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games across qualifying tournaments.
○ The player must achieve a standard FIDE rating of at least 2500 at some point in their career.
○ A Grandmaster norm requires a performance rating of at least 2600, along with prescribed opponent-rating and tournament-composition requirements.
○ This conventional route is distinct from direct-title routes available through specified international championships.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Grandmaster title is valid for life once officially confirmed by FIDE. A player does not lose the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500. Exception: FIDE may revoke a title in specified circumstances involving ethical violations or breaches of its Fair Play Regulations.
Statement 4 is CORRECT: India ranks among the top five countries globally in the number of Grandmasters registered under its FIDE federation. Based on the November 2026 standard rating-list data, India ranks fourth, behind Russia, the United States and Germany.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer