Sonbhadra is the first district in Uttar Pradesh to employ the traditional ‘Taanka’ technique for rainwater harvesting and water conservation.

• Popular in the water-parched State of Rajasthan, Sonbhadra has replicated this practice and is in the process of building more than 5,000 suck taankas and equal number of ponds across the water-starved district.
• Taankas are underground rainwater storage tanks up to the capacity of 25,000 litres.
• This initiative follows the standard rainwater harvesting technique wherein rainwater from rooftops is collected through gutters and then made to pass through a sieve before being stored.
• Use of taankas has helped the district save enough water for lean summer months when the water demand is at its peak and supply invariably falls short.
• This initiative is a marked departure from the temporary respite provided by water tankers and is a significant step towards long-term sustainable use of water resources in the district.

Q 1. Consider the following statements regarding Forest Fires in the Himalayas 

1. Ground fire is more damaging than surface fires, capable of destroying vegetation completely. 
2. About 55% of Himachal's forest area is covered with chir pine which is highly susceptible to forest fires 

Select the correct answer using code given below: 

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I 
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Q 2. Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-Urban) Scheme 

1. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) is serving as a flagship program under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in India 
2. Encompasses the entire urban area of the country excluding the Census towns
3. Promotes women empowerment by facilitating house ownership in the name of a female member or in joint names. 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 3. Consider the following statements regarding Kanger Valley National Park 

1. Kanger Valley National Park is positioned along the Kholaba River, a tributary of the Mahanadi. 
2. It is home to underground limestone caves with formations of stalagmites and stalactites 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

1. 1 only 
2. 2 only 
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q 4. Consider the following statements  

1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent 
2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage 
3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig. 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 5. With reference to lamprey fish consider the following statements 

1. Found in coastal and fresh waters, lampreys inhabit temperate regions worldwide, especially in Africa. 
2. Migrate between fresh water ecosystems for their lifecycle as they are not adaptable to marine environments. 

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct? 

1. 1 only 
2. 2 only 
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q 6. Consider the following statements regarding Great Indian Bustard 

1. It is mainly found in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan and generally Inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands. 
2. It is among the world’s smallest flying birds.
3. Designated by the IUCN as a Vulnerable species.  

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 7. Consider the following statements regarding post office act 2023: 

1. The Act grants authority to the Director General of Postal Services for regulating additional services but cannot fix the charges without parliamentary approval 
2. Introduces digital addressing standards, replacing physical addresses with precise geographical coordinates 
3. It maintains Common frameworks for regulating public and private postal services, eliminating the disparities to larger extent. 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 8. Consider the following statements regarding Solar Power in India 

1. One of the previous initiatives by government to encourage solar power is the Rooftop Solar Programme launched in 2022. 
2. Rajasthan leads in total solar capacity. 

Select the correct answer using code given below: 

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I 
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Q 9.Consider the following statements regarding river Teesta: 

1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim 
2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta
3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 10. Consider the following statements regarding Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 

1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits 
2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. Km beyond its borders 
3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 11. Consider the following statements regarding Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 

1. Enacted in 1993 due to concerns about foreign interference in India's affairs through financial support to independent organizations 
2. FCRA mandates registration for all associations, groups, and NGOs intending to receive foreign donations which is valid for 5 years 

Select the correct answer using code given below: 

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I 
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Q 12. Consider the following statements regarding 'Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme' 

1. The 'Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme' is a joint effort by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change 
2. Spanning the next three years from 2023, the scheme aims to promote the optimal utilization of wetlands
3. 3. Out of the 16 identified Ramsar sites, five serve as pilot projects under the scheme

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 13. Consider the following statements regarding Parakram Diwas: 

1. Established in 2011, Parakram Diwas is an annual celebration in India marking the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose 
2. In 2022, a hologram near India Gate marked Netaji's 125th birth anniversary. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

1. 1 only 
2. 2 only 
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q 14. With reference to Soda Lakes consider the following statements: 

1. Soda Lakes typically exhibit a very low pH range of 0-5 
2. Prokaryotes, such as bacteria and archaea, dominate in soda lakes 

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct? 

1. 1 only 
2. 2 only 
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q 15. Consider the following statements regarding Mpemba Effect: 

1. It involves the peculiar observation that hot water can freeze faster than cold water under similar conditions 
2. Frost acts as an insulator, potentially slowing the loss of heat during the cooling process 

Select the correct answer using code given below: 

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I 
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Q 16. Consider the following statements regarding National Monetization Pipeline 

1. The NMP aims to generate Rs 6-lakh crore by leasing core assets of the Central government over FY 2022-30 

2. It aims to optimize resources by introducing private sector efficiency and market-driven approaches
3. 3. Balancing asset transfer without compromising market dynamics and end-user costs is a major concern 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 17. Consider the following statements regarding LED lamps: 

1. Sodium lamps produce light in 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps 
2. As street lights, sodium lamps have a longer lifespan than LED lamps 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

1. 1 only 
2. 2 only 
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q 18. Consider the following statements regarding Wild Life Licensing Rules 2024 

1. In the new rules, consultation with the central government is required for licensing related to any wild animal specified in Schedule I. 
2. The new rules however do not outline specific factors for authorized officers to consider when granting licences 
3. Schedule II includes important species like endangered mammals, birds, turtles, geckos, and snakes 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None

Q 19. With reference to Coral Reefs consider the following statements 

1. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters 
2. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines 

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct? 

1. 1 only 
2. 2 only 
3. Both 1 and 2 
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q 20.Consider the following statements regarding Geographical Indication’ status: 

1. GI is regulated under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights at the World Trade Organization. 
2. While many EU nations classify GI into Protected GI (PGI) and Protected Destination of Origin (PDO), India currently adopts only the PGI category and not PDO
3. Globally, agricultural products and foodstuffs make up 51.8% of registered GIs, followed by wines and spirits at 29.9%. 

How many of the statements given above are correct? 

1. Only one
2. Only two 
3. All three 
4. None