Explanation
Assertion (A): Incorrect. An accommodative stance is adopted when inflation is not a pressing concern. It is chosen specifically when the priority is to revive growth, not when inflationary pressures are high. If inflation were high, RBI would typically lean toward a neutral or tightening stance.
Reason (R): Correct. An accommodative stance indeed involves cutting interest rates, making loans cheaper to stimulate spending and investment, thereby boosting growth.
Conclusion: R is true, but A misrepresents the inflation-growth trade-off, making (c) the best choice.
2. The Musandam Peninsula, which gives Oman strategic control over part of the Strait, is geographically separated from mainland Oman.
3. The Greater and Lesser Tunb islands, located in the Strait, are administered by Oman but claimed by Iran and the UAE.
Explanation
Statement 1: Incorrect — The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iranian and Omani territorial waters. While Iran controls several islands and coastal access, the Musandam Peninsula (belonging to Oman) also projects into the strait. Therefore, not all maritime traffic passes through Iran’s EEZ.
Statement 2: Correct — The Musandam Peninsula is an Omani exclave, separated from mainland Oman by UAE territory. This gives Oman a critical foothold along the Strait and splits control with Iran.
Statement 3: Incorrect — The Greater and Lesser Tunb islands are administered by Iran, but are claimed by the UAE, not Oman. Oman has no administrative or territorial claim over these islands.
Conclusion: Only statement 2 is correct.
2. Abu Musa
3. Kish
4. Masirah
Explanation
Qeshm: Located in the Strait of Hormuz; it is Iran’s largest island and lies very close to Bandar Abbas.
Abu Musa: One of the three disputed islands (along with Greater and Lesser Tunbs), located within the Strait.
Kish: Although an Iranian island, Kish lies in the Persian Gulf, well west of the Strait of Hormuz.
Masirah: An Omani island, but not in the Strait. It lies further south along the Arabian Sea coast of Oman.
Conclusion: Hence, Kish and Masirah are not located in or near the Strait of Hormuz.
Explanation
Assertion: Correct — La Niña’s influence on the jet stream pattern causes droughts in the southern U.S. and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Reason: Correct — This is due to the jet stream shifting northward, altering storm tracks and rainfall distribution.
Conclusion: The reason explains the assertion accurately.
2. La Niña conditions are generally associated with increased upwelling along the western coast of South America.
3. La Niña years are often linked to increased frequency and intensity of Atlantic hurricanes.
4. During La Niña winters, the jet stream typically shifts southward, bringing colder winters to southern United States.
Explanation
Statement 1: Incorrect — La Niña strengthens trade winds, but they push warm waters westward (toward Asia), not eastward. Hence, this is a trap statement.
Statement 2: Correct — Stronger trade winds enhance upwelling along the west coast of the Americas, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water.
Statement 3: Correct — La Niña is associated with stronger Atlantic hurricane seasons, due to reduced wind shear over the basin.
Statement 4: Incorrect — The jet stream shifts northward during La Niña, not southward. This brings colder winters in the north and warmer winters in the south of the U.S.
2. It has both summit and lateral (flank) eruption activity, with more than 300 secondary vents.
3. It is the tallest volcano on the European continent, and its peak lies south of the Alps.
4. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site due to its long geological history and ongoing eruptive activity.
Explanation
Option A – Mount Vesuvius: Located near Naples on the mainland of Italy. It is not on an island, and although historically significant, it doesn’t match all the features described (especially the number of vents or height).
Option B – Mount Etna: Located on Sicily (Mediterranean island), tallest in Europe south of the Alps, has summit + flank eruptions, 300+ vents, and is a UNESCO site since 2013.
Option C – Stromboli: Also on a Mediterranean island and active, but not the tallest and lacks the vast lateral vent system and elevation of Etna.
Option D – Teide: Located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean, not Mediterranean) — hence eliminated.
2. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
3. Tawang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
4. Nubra Valley, Ladakh
Explanation
Dzongu Valley: A culturally protected reserve for the Lepcha community in Sikkim. It is ecologically rich but not a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nor specifically described as an ecotone between two Himalayan ranges.
Valley of Flowers: Correct. It lies in a transitional ecotone between the Zanskar and Great Himalaya ranges and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 (extension in 2008) along with the Nanda Devi National Park.
Tawang Valley: Important for culture and tourism, but not a designated UNESCO site, nor known for its ecotonal characteristics.
Nubra Valley: Located between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges, but again, not part of any UNESCO natural site, and not characterized by alpine floral biodiversity like the Valley of Flowers.
Conclusion: Hence, only option 2 is correct.
About Valley of Flowers
— The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand opened to visitors on June 1 this year. It generally remains accessible during the months of June, July, August, and September, and closes around October when cold weather and snowfall make it unsafe for tourism.
— Located in Chamoli district, the Valley of Flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is renowned for its picturesque alpine meadows, which come alive with hundreds of blooming flower species each year. The area also harbours a rich variety of birds and wildlife.
— The valley lies within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and spans 87 square kilometres. Nanda Devi, the second-highest peak in India after Kangchenjunga, holds religious significance as the presiding deity of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
— The region has deep roots in Hindu mythology and is inhabited by the local Bhotiya tribe.
— UNESCO writes of the site: “The gentle landscape of Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park.” “They comprise a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.”
2. Resolution 1988
3. Resolution 1540
Explanation
Resolution 1373 (2001): Correct — Adopted post-9/11, it is a cornerstone of the global counter-terrorism regime. It mandates states to criminalize terrorism financing, share intelligence, and deny safe havens to terrorists. It also created the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).
Resolution 1988 (2011): Not correct in this context — This deals specifically with sanctions related to the Taliban. Though terrorism-related, it is not part of the global, generalized counter-terrorism framework. It is group-specific, not architecture-defining like 1373.
Resolution 1540 (2004): Correct — Focuses on preventing non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). It complements counter-terrorism by targeting WMD terrorism, even though its primary focus is on non-proliferation.
Conclusion: Hence, only Resolutions 1373 and 1540 are part of the global counter-terrorism architecture.
2. Pascal’s law applies only to hydraulic systems and not to pneumatic systems.
3. Pneumatic systems generally allow faster response but lower force compared to hydraulics.
4. Hydraulic systems are more suitable for applications requiring smooth, precise, and heavy lifting operations.
Explanation
Statement 1: Correct — Hydraulic systems use incompressible fluids (oil) → this allows greater force multiplication than air-based systems.
Statement 2: Incorrect — Pascal’s law applies to all fluids, whether gas or liquid. So, it applies to both hydraulics and pneumatics, though hydraulics use it more effectively.
Statement 3: Correct — Pneumatic systems are faster (due to lower viscosity of air) but generally produce less force than hydraulic systems.
Statement 4: Correct — Hydraulics offer precise control, smooth motion, and high power output, making them ideal for heavy lifting and precision machinery.
Conclusion: Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct, while 2 is wrong.
Explanation
French Polynesia announced the creation of the world’s largest marine protected area, covering its entire EEZ (approx. 5 million sq km), making it a global leader in marine biodiversity conservation.
Canada co-leads the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean — focused on underwater noise pollution, not large-scale protected areas.
Indonesia, with support from the World Bank, introduced a Coral Bond for reef restoration, but did not announce a full EEZ-level protected area.
France itself did not make this pledge; the announcement came specifically from French Polynesia, a French overseas territory.