In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna once flowed into the Indus, or the Sutlej flowed into the Yamuna and one major tributary of either had shifted from the Ganga to the Indus or vice versa.
Which of the following is/are the basis of the above assertion?
1.The Nadi-Sukta of the Rigveda
2.The explorations of the Sutlej and the Yamuna by Robert Bruce Foote
3.The presence of the same species of dolphins in both the Indus and the Ganga river systems
Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct?
1.It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
2.In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
3.The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1.The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.
2.A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.
3.The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.
The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons?
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements? 1. Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home. 2. Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed. 3. Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.
1.There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels.
2.Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered.
3.There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.
Which of the following information support/supports the above statements? 1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water. 2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle). 3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
1.Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.
2.Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct? 1. Statement II validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in statement I. 2. Statement III extends the objectives of statement I by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation framework. 3. Statement I contradicts statement III by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation.
1.The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure.
2.The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings.
3.Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.
Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?
1.They acted as army fortresses.
2.They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
3.They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
4.They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and "Blue Transformation". Which of the following combinations about the "Four Betters" proposed by FAO for "Blue Transformation" is correct?
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct? 1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II. 2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I. 3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.
1.India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
2.India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
3.Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
2.They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees.
3.They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers.
Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?
1.Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
2.Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
3.By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.
In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India's maritime trade and logistics policy?
1.By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations.
2.By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala's profile as a maritime heritage destination.
3.By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade.
Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
1.Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
2.Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
3.Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience), a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is/are correct?
1.Ecosystem Survey and Analysis is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
2.Management of Research and Ecosystem Service is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.
3.Capacity Development Support is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are not correct in terms of outcomes of this visit?
1.Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg
2.Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation
3.Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific
4.Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently introduced a national standard to test and assess bomb disposal systems. Which of the following statements with regard to this system is/are correct?
1.The standard is known as new IS 19445: 2025.
2.It will improve interoperability of equipment across agencies.
3.It was developed by TBRL, DRDO in collaboration with the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute, Russia.
An e-commerce revenue model where the seller has control over pricing but doesn't keep products in stock and instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to a third-party supplier, who then ships the goods directly to the customer, is called:
Which one of the following correctly represents the three key sub-indices of the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
1.Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
2.China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India.
3.The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector.
4.Rare Earth Elements are a set of 17 metallic elements.
Which of the following statements about insurance in aviation sector is/are correct?
1.'Aviation Hull Insurance' covers the physical aircraft, including the body, engine, and on-board equipment.
2.Under the Montreal Convention, adopted in 1999 by over 130 countries, including India, airlines are strictly liable to pay compensation to the family/nominee of every deceased passenger without requiring the family to prove fault.
Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding is/are correct?
1.Crowdfunding is solicitation of funds (small amount) from multiple investors through a web-based platform or social networking site for a specific project.
2.Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are able to raise funds at lower cost of capital without undergoing rigorous procedures.
With reference to different Committees in India, which of the following Sl. No. entries in the table (Committee — Objective — Organization) are correctly matched?
Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India's space programme:
1.The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
2.Agnikul Cosmos launched the world's first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
3.Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.
Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare. Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?
In a multi-ethnic district where both economic competition and historical grievances frequently led to community tensions, a flashpoint has arisen with a Government decision to allocate land for a waste management facility near a tribal hamlet, sparking protests by the tribal community, which claimed that the land was sacred and critical to their cultural identity. Consider the following statements with reference to the above:
1.A successful conflict resolution process must begin with acknowledging the cultural concerns of the protesting tribal community before discussing technical alternatives.
2.The Government should move ahead with the project without delay to address urban health concerns, which outweigh the sentiments of a small group.
3.Creating a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform - including tribal leaders, environmental experts, and municipal representatives - to build mutual understanding and help de-escalate tensions.
4.Conducting an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and sharing findings transparently with both sides to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project - a new community park. What amongst the following should Ms. X do now?
1.Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public
2.Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity
3.Propose a 'limited disclosure' to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being
X was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term 'law' as provided under Article 13, Part III of the Constitution of India. 'X' explained that the meaning of the term 'law' in the Constitution of India was very comprehensive. It included ordinances, orders and even rules and regulations. Y pointed out that the term 'law' in Article 13 also included custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law, to which 'X' was not convinced. Based on the above, select the correct conclusion from the options given below:
Consider the following statements with reference to the Constitution of India:
1.There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Constitution of India will be officially called the 'Constitution of India'.
2.There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935 stand repealed.
3.There is no Article in the Constitution of India that mentions 26th January, 1950 as the date of the commencement of the Constitution of India.
Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct?
1.A Zero FIR can be lodged at a police station, even though the place of commission of a cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction.
2.The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where a Zero FIR has been lodged may initiate a preliminary enquiry.
3.Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically.
With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, which Sl. No. entries in the table (Organisation — Function — Ministry) are correctly matched?
1.CEIB — Coordinate between law enforcement agencies — Ministry of Finance
Consider the following UN organisations/agencies: 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children's Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 4. International Labour Organisation How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice?