1. Many ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs are also potent greenhouse gases, thereby linking ozone depletion with climate change.
2. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) do not deplete ozone but have a very high global warming potential.
3. Phasing out ODS aids ozone recovery, whereas phasing down HFCs primarily contributes to climate change mitigation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1: Correct. CFCs and HCFCs are both ODS and potent greenhouse gases. This demonstrates why ozone treaties also have climate benefits. But not all ODS qualify as strong GHGs — hence “many” is the accurate phrasing.
Statement 2: Correct. HFCs contain no chlorine/bromine, so they don’t destroy ozone, but they are powerful GHGs with very high GWP.
Statement 3: Correct. ODS phase-out → ozone recovery. HFC phase-down → climate change mitigation. The impacts are distinct but complementary.
1. China entered the top 10 for the first time.
2. Switzerland is the most innovative country.
3. India ranks 3rd among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central and Southern Asia region.
4. India performs best in infrastructure.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Statement 1: Correct. China entered the top 10 for the first time (ranked 10th).
Statement 2: Correct. Switzerland is ranked 1st globally.
Statement 3: Incorrect. India is ranked 1st (not 3rd) among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central & Southern Asia region.
Statement 4: Incorrect. India performs best in Knowledge & Technology Outputs (#22), not infrastructure (where it is weaker, #61).
Global Innovation Index 2025 – India’s Performance in Global Rankings
Overview of GII 2025
The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the Portulans Institute, evaluates the innovation capacity of 139 countries. The assessment is based on nearly 80 indicators, ranging from institutional quality to technological outputs.
Global Leaders in Innovation
The top five positions are once again dominated by advanced economies:
- Switzerland – continues to lead globally
- Sweden – retains second place
- United States – ranked third
- Republic of Korea – placed fourth
- Singapore – fifth position
Other members of the top 10 include the United Kingdom, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, and for the first time, China, which secured the 10th rank after overtaking Germany.
India’s Position in GII 2025
India has demonstrated consistent improvement over the past five years, moving up from 48th place in 2020 to 38th place in 2025. It continues to lead in its category, ranking first among lower-middle-income economies and top in the Central and Southern Asia region.
Strengths and Weaknesses of India’s Innovation System
India’s performance varies significantly across different parameters of the index:
- Strong Areas
- Knowledge & Technology Outputs – Ranked 22nd
- Market Sophistication – Ranked 38th
- Weak Areas
- Business Sophistication – Ranked 64th
- Infrastructure – Ranked 61st
- Institutions – Ranked 58th
Methodology of the GII 2025
The rankings are built on two composite measures:
- Innovation Input Sub-Index – assesses resources and conditions such as institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, and business sophistication.
- Innovation Output Sub-Index – evaluates the results achieved through knowledge creation, technology development, and creative outputs.
1. Denmark’s membership in both NATO and the European Union distinguishes it from some other Nordic countries.
2. The Faroe Islands and Greenland, though under Danish sovereignty, are not part of the European Union.
3. The India–Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, launched in 2020, is focused on renewable energy, water, and circular economy, aligning with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
4. The Jutland Peninsula of Denmark is bordered by the North Sea to the east and the Baltic Sea to the west.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1: Correct. While Denmark is a founding member of both the European Union (EU) and NATO, some Nordic countries like Sweden have historically been in the EU but not NATO, and Norway is in NATO but has opted out of the EU. Finland joined NATO in 2023, leaving Denmark’s dual membership as a distinguishing feature in the historical context of Nordic alignment.
Statement 2: Correct. Greenland and Faroe Islands are Danish territories but outside the EU.
Statement 3: Correct. The Green Strategic Partnership (2020) focuses on renewable energy, water, circular economy, sustainable growth in line with Paris Agreement.
Statement 4: Incorrect. The geography is flipped: North Sea is to the west, Baltic Sea to the east of Denmark.
1. The Chambal River originates in the Vindhya Range near Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.
2. The Kuno River directly joins the Yamuna without passing through the Chambal.
3. The Kali Sindh and Parbati rivers, both originating in the Aravalli Range, are major tributaries of the Chambal.
4. The Banas River originates in the Vindhya Range and joins the Chambal near Kota in Rajasthan.
Which of the statements given above is correct?
Statement 1: Correct. Chambal originates in the Vindhya Range (Janapav Hills near Mhow, MP).
Statement 2: Incorrect. Kuno joins Chambal, which later flows into Yamuna — not directly Yamuna.
- The Kuno River originates in the Shivpuri Plateau of Madhya Pradesh.
- It flows through Kuno National Park in a northerly direction.
- The Kuno River eventually joins the Chambal River in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, near the border with Rajasthan.
- The Chambal River, in turn, is a major tributary of the Yamuna River.
Statement 3: Incorrect. Kali Sindh and Parbati rise from the Vindhya Range, not the Aravalli.
That statement is only partially correct. While the Kali Sindh and Parbati rivers are indeed major tributaries of the Chambal, they both originate in the Vindhya Range within Madhya Pradesh, not the Aravalli Range. The Aravalli Range is the source of a different major Chambal tributary, the Banas River.
Statement 4: Incorrect. Banas rises in the Khamnor Hills (Aravalli Range) and joins Chambal at Rameshwar (Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan) — not Vindhya origin or Kota confluence.
1. The EML is revised every two years by the WHO Expert Committee.
2. A separate list exists for children, with formulations designed for pediatric use.
3. All medicines in the EML are categorized only under “core items,” which are cost-effective and usable with minimal resources.
4. Selection of medicines is based only on their affordability, while public health relevance is not a consideration.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1: Correct. The WHO EML is indeed updated every two years.
Statement 2: Correct. There is a separate EML for Children (EMLc) with child-appropriate formulations.
Statement 3: Incorrect. EML has two categories — core and complementary, not just core.
Statement 4: Incorrect. Selection is based on multiple factors (public health relevance, efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness), not affordability alone.
Qatar is ruled as an absolute hereditary monarchy by the House of Thani, which has governed since the mid-19th century.
The country holds the third-largest proven natural gas reserves in the world, after Russia and Iran. Most of these reserves are concentrated in the North Field, which Qatar shares with Iran (called South Pars on the Iranian side).
Qatar is also a leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), making it strategically important in global energy markets.
The distractor options:
- UAE – ruled by monarchies (federation of emirates), but not the House of Thani, and does not rank 3rd in natural gas reserves.
- Kuwait – ruled by the House of Sabah, has large oil reserves but not the 3rd-largest gas reserves.
- Bahrain – ruled by the House of Khalifa, with relatively limited oil and gas resources.