1. Under Tranche-II of the PLI Scheme, ₹19,500 crore has been allocated for about 39,600 MW of solar PV manufacturing capacity.
2. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana provides up to 200 units of free electricity per month to one crore households.
3. Under the Solar PLI scheme, the minimum requirement is that manufacturers must set up fully integrated facilities covering cells, wafers, and polysilicon production.
4. India has achieved over 100 GW of domestic solar module manufacturing capacity, but wafer and ingot production remains limited.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Statement 1: Correct. ₹19,500 crore under Tranche-II of the PLI has indeed been allocated for about 39,600 MW of solar PV manufacturing capacity.
Statement 2: Correct. The PM Surya Ghar scheme provides up to 200 units of free electricity per month for 1 crore households through rooftop solar.
Statement 3: Incorrect. The Solar PLI scheme does not mandate full backward integration up to wafers and polysilicon for all participants.
– It has a graded system: manufacturers can apply for integrated facilities at different levels (e.g., module + cell, or fully backward-integrated including wafer and polysilicon).
– Hence, the claim that every beneficiary must cover wafers and polysilicon is an exaggeration.
Statement 4: Incorrect. India has not achieved 100 GW of domestic solar manufacturing capacity. Installed solar power capacity has crossed 80+ GW, but manufacturing capacity is ~50 GW for modules and ~8–10 GW for cells.
Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Reason (R): India’s policy incentives aim to capture opportunities arising from this shift.
In the context of the above, which of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) is true. The China+1 strategy reflects the global trend of reducing overdependence on China by shifting or diversifying supply chains. It is driven by factors like rising costs in China, geopolitical risks, and disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reason (R) is true. India has actively promoted schemes such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI), “Make in India”, and sectoral reforms in electronics, solar modules, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. These aim to attract investment from firms looking to diversify beyond China.
Correct explanation link. India’s policy push is directly aligned with opportunities created by the China+1 strategy. Thus, R not only states a fact but also correctly explains A.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
1. TRQs are prohibited under WTO rules, as they combine both tariff and quota mechanisms.
2. The concessional import of maize under India’s trade policy does not fall under the TRQ framework.
3. Under the India–Australia trade agreement, TRQs are restricted only to industrial goods, not agricultural products.
4. A TRQ allows a fixed quantity of imports at a concessional duty, while imports above this quantity face a higher duty.
Which of the above statements is correct?
Statement 1 – Incorrect. TRQs are WTO-compliant instruments, not prohibited.
Statement 2 – Incorrect. India’s maize imports (100,000 tonnes at 15% duty, beyond which 60% applies) are exactly an example of TRQ. Hence the claim that it “does not fall under TRQ” is wrong.
Statement 3 – Incorrect. TRQs under the India–Australia trade agreement cover agricultural goods (pulses, almonds, oranges, mandarins, pears, cotton), not just industrial goods.
Statement 4 – Correct. This is the standard definition of TRQ: concessional duty for a fixed quota, higher duty beyond it.
Answer: (d) 4 only
1. It was introduced by the British in 1837 as a new administrative system for revenue collection in the Chota Nagpur region.
2. Under this system, a Munda heads a cluster of villages, while a Manki heads a single village.
3. The system is based on customary law and continues to function in parts of the Kolhan region even after Independence.
4. The Wilkinson’s Rules of 1833 completely abolished the traditional role of Mankis and Mundas.
Which of the above statements is correct?
Statement 1 – Incorrect. The system predates British rule. It was recognised (not newly created) by the British after tribal resistance. In 1833, Captain Thomas Wilkinson codified it into 31 rules, applied later in Kolhan Government Estate (1837).
Statement 2 – Incorrect. The roles are reversed here. A Munda heads a village, while a Manki heads a pidh (cluster of villages).
Statement 3 – Correct. The system is based on customary law and continues to function in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand, even post-Independence.
Statement 4 – Incorrect. Wilkinson’s Rules integrated Mankis and Mundas into colonial administration; they were not abolished.
Answer: (c) 3 only
Eustoma, also called Lisianthus or Prairie Gentian, is a premium ornamental flower. It is prized for its large funnel-shaped blooms, long vase life, and multiple colors.
Recently, its successful cultivation in Sambalpur (Odisha) has drawn attention to its economic potential for Indian farmers, with the possibility of reducing dependence on imported flowers.
Answer: (d) A premium ornamental flower, also known as Lisianthus or Prairie Gentian
Option (a) – Incorrect. This reverses the concepts. Grey Rhino events are not rare; they are obvious risks.
Option (b) – Correct. Grey Rhino = visible, probable, high-impact but ignored (e.g., climate change). Black Swan = unpredictable, rare, extreme shocks (e.g., 2008 financial crisis).
Option (c) – Incorrect. Grey Rhino is not “unpredictable.” Its hallmark is that it is predictable but ignored.
Option (d) – Incorrect. Black Swan events are not foreseeable; this option misrepresents both.
Answer: (b) A Grey Rhino is a foreseeable, high-impact risk often neglected, while a Black Swan is an unpredictable, extreme event beyond past expectations.
| List I (Feature) | List II (Location) |
|---|---|
| 1. Salamis Bay | a. Greece |
| 2. Sunda Strait | b. Indonesia |
| 3. Dogger Bank | c. North Sea |
| 4. Torres Strait | d. Between Australia and Papua New Guinea |
Codes:
Salamis Bay → Greece (a): On Salamis Island in the Aegean Sea, connected to the Saronic Gulf.
Sunda Strait → Indonesia (b): Separates Java and Sumatra islands.
Dogger Bank → North Sea (c): A shallow sandbank, important fishing and offshore wind zone.
Torres Strait → Between Australia and Papua New Guinea (d).
Answer: (a) 1–a, 2–b, 3–c, 4–d
INS Trikand Visits Greece for First-Ever India–Greece Naval Exercise
The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate, INS Trikand, reached Salamis Bay, Greece, on 13 September 2025 as part of its ongoing deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.
Bilateral Naval Exercise
During this visit, India and Greece will hold their first-ever bilateral maritime exercise. The aim of the exercise is to:
- Improve interoperability between the two navies.
- Sharpen tactical skills.
- Strengthen operational cooperation.
Activities at Salamis Bay
While at port, INS Trikand will take part in several engagements, including:
- Interactions with senior military officials.
- Planning discussions and cross-deck visits.
- Cultural exchanges to promote stronger people-to-people ties.
After these activities, the exercise will continue into its sea phase. Once completed, INS Trikand will move on to the next part of its regional deployment.
Salamis Bay – Quick Facts
- What it is: A natural bay on the west coast of Salamis Island, Greece, connected to the Saronic Gulf.
- Size: About 9 km long, stretching northeast to west.
- Location: Around 16 km from Athens, near Salamis town. Its southwestern end is marked by Cape Petriti.
- Broader region: The bay lies in the Aegean Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea.
- Area: ~215,000 sq km (83,000 sq miles).
- Length: ~670 km, Width: ~390 km.
- Island groups: North Aegean Islands, Sporades, West Aegean Islands (including Euboea).
1. BFS is the first operational global forecasting system in the world to run at a sub-10 km spatial resolution.
2. Unlike earlier IMD models, BFS relies only on ground-based observations and does not assimilate satellite data.
3. BFS runs on the Pratyush supercomputer at IITM Pune.
4. The system has demonstrated higher accuracy in forecasting extreme rainfall events compared to earlier IMD models.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Statement 1 – Correct. BFS is the world’s only operational global model at 6 km resolution (sub-10 km), far finer than older IMD models (12–23 km).
Statement 2 – Incorrect. BFS integrates satellite data, Doppler radar inputs, and ground observations for better data assimilation.
Statement 3 – Incorrect. BFS runs on the Arka supercomputer (11.77 petaflops), not Pratyush. (Pratyush is also at IITM but used for earlier models).
Statement 4 – Correct. BFS has ~30% improvement in predicting extreme rainfall and ~64% improvement overall in prediction skill.
Answer: (c) 1 and 4 only
Erra Matti Dibbalu = Red Sand Dunes, Andhra Pradesh.
Covers ~1,500 acres along the Bay of Bengal.
Formed during the late Quaternary Age (~2.6 million years ago).
Declared a National Geo-heritage Monument in 2016 by GSI.
Now included in UNESCO Tentative List along with Tirumala Hills.
Answer: (b) A National Geo-heritage Monument near Visakhapatnam, consisting of rare red coastal sand dunes formed in the late Quaternary Age
1. Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan is the only UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site in India that is primarily a man-made wetland.
2. The Sundarbans National Park is the only transboundary World Natural Heritage Site in India.
3. The Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh is among the seven natural sites already inscribed in India.
4. The UNESCO World Heritage Site status for the Western Ghats was conferred upon 39 specific component parts.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Statement 1 – Correct. Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) is a World Natural Heritage Site. It is indeed a man-made wetland, created by diverting water for a duck-hunting reserve. This makes it unique.
Statement 2 – Incorrect. The statement is false; the Sundarbans National Park is not the only transboundary World Natural Heritage Site in India. The larger Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem is spread across India and Bangladesh, and while the Indian portion is a recognized World Heritage site, it is listed separately from the Bangladeshi portion. Additionally, there are other transboundary sites associated with India, such as the mixed World Heritage site of the Khangchendzonga National Park, which shares a boundary with Nepal.
Statement 3 – Correct. Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh) is one of India’s seven natural sites.
Statement 4 – Correct. The claim that all parts of the Western Ghats are recognized by UNESCO is incorrect. While the mountain range spans six states, only a specific network of 39 properties was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012, not the entire mountain range.
Thus, all four statements are correct → (d).
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
India’s Natural Heritage Sites
World Natural Heritage Sites are locations designated by UNESCO under the World Heritage Convention for having outstanding natural beauty, exceptional biodiversity, or significant geological value.
India possesses seven Natural Heritage Sites, reflecting the country’s remarkable ecological diversity:
- Kaziranga National Park (1985): Home to the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceros
- Keoladeo National Park (1985): Critical wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985): Important tiger habitat in the Eastern Himalayas
- Sundarbans National Park (1987): World’s largest mangrove forest ecosystem
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005): Alpine wilderness showcasing Himalayan biodiversity
- Western Ghats (2012): Biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism
- Great Himalayan National Park (2014): Pristine Himalayan ecosystem conservation area