1. Lithium reserves — Chile
2. Cobalt production — Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Nickel production — Canada
4. Copper concentration for electrification — Chile and Peru
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Statement 1 – Correct: Chile is the leading holder of lithium reserves as highlighted in the source.
Statement 2 – Correct: Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for over 70% of global cobalt production.
Statement 3 – Incorrect: Canada is an emerging supplier, but Indonesia dominates global nickel production.
Statement 4 – Correct: Copper resources critical for electrification are concentrated in Chile and Peru.
Reason (R): PHWRs can operate using natural uranium and heavy water as moderator and coolant.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Assertion – Correct: India’s nuclear programme has historically relied on PHWR technology as part of its indigenous strategy, linked to limited uranium enrichment capacity and the need for self-reliance.
Reason – Correct: PHWRs operate using natural uranium and heavy water (D₂O) as both moderator and coolant, thereby avoiding the need for uranium enrichment.
Linkage (Key UPSC Insight): The reason directly explains the assertion. Since PHWRs do not require enriched uranium, they are technologically and strategically suited to India’s resource profile.
1. Fleet Mode Initiative — Construction of identical 700 MW reactors under uniform design
2. Nuclear Energy Mission — Development of Small Modular Reactors
3. SHANTI Act — Regulation of reactor coolant technologies
4. MBRAPP — Located on River Narmada
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Pair 1 – Correct: Fleet mode involves constructing multiple identical 700 MW PHWRs using standardized design and procurement, reducing costs and accelerating execution.
Pair 2 – Correct: The Nuclear Energy Mission (Budget 2025–26) focuses on developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with a target of at least five by 2033.
Pair 3 – Incorrect: The SHANTI Act (2025) aims at modernising and consolidating India’s nuclear legal framework, not regulating reactor coolant technologies.
Pair 4 – Incorrect: MBRAPP is located near the Mahi Dam on River Mahi, not the Narmada.
1. Island country located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
2. Occupies the western part of the island of Hispaniola.
3. Shares a land boundary with only one country.
4. Lies in a region prone to earthquakes due to its tectonic setting.
The country described above is:
Statement 1 – Correct: Haiti is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Statement 2 – Correct: It occupies the western part of the island of Hispaniola (the eastern part is the Dominican Republic).
Statement 3 – Correct: Haiti shares a land boundary only with the Dominican Republic.
Statement 4 – Correct: It lies in a tectonically active region near plate boundaries, making it prone to earthquakes.
1. It allows faster-than-light transmission of usable information between two distant particles.
2. It involves the disappearance of one particle and its reappearance at another location through quantum teleportation.
3. It implies that two particles, once connected, can exhibit correlated properties even when separated by large distances without any physical exchange of matter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 – Incorrect: While entanglement exhibits instantaneous correlations, it does not enable faster-than-light transmission of usable information.
Statement 2 – Incorrect: This confuses entanglement with quantum teleportation; even in teleportation, only quantum state information is transferred, not the physical particle.
Statement 3 – Correct: Entangled particles exhibit correlated properties across large distances without any physical exchange of matter or signals.
1. Dunagiri is a survey vessel designed primarily for hydrographic mapping of coastal and deep-sea regions.
2. Sanshodhak is a stealth frigate equipped for missile strikes against designated targets.
3. Malwan is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft capable of underwater surveillance and mine warfare.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 – Incorrect: Dunagiri is a stealth frigate under Project 17A (Nilgiri Class), not a survey vessel. The statement reverses the function of the platform.
Statement 2 – Incorrect: Sanshodhak is a Survey Vessel (Large) meant for hydrographic surveys, not a stealth frigate designed for missile strikes.
Statement 3 – Correct: Malwan is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft capable of underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and mine warfare.
1. The Luni River originates from the eastern slopes of the Aravalli ranges and drains into the Arabian Sea.
2. Jojari and Bandi are tributaries of the Luni River system.
3. The Luni River terminates in the Rann of Kachchh after traversing western Rajasthan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Luni River originates from the western slopes of the Aravalli near Ajmer, not the eastern slopes. It also does not drain directly into the Arabian Sea; it dissipates into the Rann of Kachchh.
Statement 2 – Correct: Jojari and Bandi are tributaries of the Luni river system.
Statement 3 – Correct: The Luni flows across western Rajasthan and terminates in the Rann of Kachchh, which is a key feature of its inland drainage pattern.