Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: Lebanon shares its land borders to the north and east with Syria, and to the south with Israel.
Statement 2 is correct: The Mediterranean Sea lies entirely to the west of Lebanon, giving it a long coastline.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While Lebanon and Cyprus face each other across the eastern Mediterranean Sea and share maritime boundary delimitations (exclusive economic zone agreements), Cyprus is an island nation with no land border.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Jordan does not share a border with Lebanon; Syria lies between them to the east/northeast.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Lebanon shares its land borders to the north and east with Syria, and to the south with Israel.
Statement 2 is correct: The Mediterranean Sea lies entirely to the west of Lebanon, giving it a long coastline.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While Lebanon and Cyprus face each other across the eastern Mediterranean Sea and share maritime boundary delimitations (exclusive economic zone agreements), Cyprus is an island nation with no land border.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Jordan does not share a border with Lebanon; Syria lies between them to the east/northeast.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
With reference to the Indian startup ecosystem, consider the following statements
1. An entity remains recognised as a startup up to a maximum period of 5 years from its date of incorporation across all sectors.
2. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), India's position in the Global Innovation Index improved from 52nd in 2019 to 38th in 2025.
3. The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme provides financial assistance for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials and market entry through eligible incubators.
1. An entity remains recognised as a startup up to a maximum period of 5 years from its date of incorporation across all sectors.
2. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), India's position in the Global Innovation Index improved from 52nd in 2019 to 38th in 2025.
3. The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme provides financial assistance for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials and market entry through eligible incubators.
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Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is INCORRECT: Under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) guidelines, an entity is recognized as a startup for up to 10 years from its date of incorporation/registration for ordinary startups.
○ Turnover & Sectoral Relaxation: The annual turnover ceiling for ordinary startups is ₹200 crore in any financial year since incorporation. For specialized, R&D-intensive Deep Tech startups, the recognition window is extended up to 20 years with an annual turnover ceiling of ₹300 crore.
Statement 2 is CORRECT: According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in the Global Innovation Index (GII), India's global rank improved significantly from 52nd position in 2019 to 38th position in 2025.
○ Regional & Income Group Leadership: India also retains the 1st rank among lower-middle-income economies and leads the Central and Southern Asia region in innovation performance.
Statement 3 is CORRECT: The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), launched under the DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), provides capital to early-stage startups specifically for:
○ Proof of concept
○ Prototype development
○ Product trials
○ Market entry and commercialization
Implementation Mechanism: Funds are disbursed through eligible, DPIIT-selected incubators across India rather than given directly by the government to startups
Statement 1 is INCORRECT: Under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) guidelines, an entity is recognized as a startup for up to 10 years from its date of incorporation/registration for ordinary startups.
○ Turnover & Sectoral Relaxation: The annual turnover ceiling for ordinary startups is ₹200 crore in any financial year since incorporation. For specialized, R&D-intensive Deep Tech startups, the recognition window is extended up to 20 years with an annual turnover ceiling of ₹300 crore.
Statement 2 is CORRECT: According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in the Global Innovation Index (GII), India's global rank improved significantly from 52nd position in 2019 to 38th position in 2025.
○ Regional & Income Group Leadership: India also retains the 1st rank among lower-middle-income economies and leads the Central and Southern Asia region in innovation performance.
Statement 3 is CORRECT: The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), launched under the DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), provides capital to early-stage startups specifically for:
○ Proof of concept
○ Prototype development
○ Product trials
○ Market entry and commercialization
Implementation Mechanism: Funds are disbursed through eligible, DPIIT-selected incubators across India rather than given directly by the government to startups
With reference to INS Amini, consider the following statements:
1. It belongs to the Arnala class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
2. It is an indigenously built, nuclear-powered warship designed for coastal defence operations.
3. It is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers and sonars to detect and engage underwater threats.
1. It belongs to the Arnala class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
2. It is an indigenously built, nuclear-powered warship designed for coastal defence operations.
3. It is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers and sonars to detect and engage underwater threats.
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Answer: (C)
Statement 1 is correct: INS Amini belongs to the Arnala class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
○ Objective: These vessels are designed to replace the ageing Abhay-class ASW corvettes and undertake coastal anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying operations and shallow-water maritime patrols.
Statement 2 is incorrect: INS Amini is conventionally powered by marine diesel engines coupled with waterjet propulsion, not nuclear-powered.
○ Indigenous Construction: It is indigenously built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
○ Nuclear-powered Vessels: India's Arihant-class submarines are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), unlike INS Amini, which uses conventional propulsion.
Statement 3 is correct: It is equipped with advanced sonar systems, including hull-mounted sonar and variable-depth sonar, for detecting and tracking underwater threats.
○ Weapons: Its anti-submarine warfare equipment includes:
■ RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
■ Lightweight torpedo launchers.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: INS Amini belongs to the Arnala class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
○ Objective: These vessels are designed to replace the ageing Abhay-class ASW corvettes and undertake coastal anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying operations and shallow-water maritime patrols.
Statement 2 is incorrect: INS Amini is conventionally powered by marine diesel engines coupled with waterjet propulsion, not nuclear-powered.
○ Indigenous Construction: It is indigenously built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
○ Nuclear-powered Vessels: India's Arihant-class submarines are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), unlike INS Amini, which uses conventional propulsion.
Statement 3 is correct: It is equipped with advanced sonar systems, including hull-mounted sonar and variable-depth sonar, for detecting and tracking underwater threats.
○ Weapons: Its anti-submarine warfare equipment includes:
■ RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.
■ Lightweight torpedo launchers.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025–26 on November 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Important for UPSC: Governance → Urban Governance → Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban → Swachh Survekshan → Solid Waste Management → Urban Local Bodies → Citizen Participation.
Important for UPSC: Governance → Urban Governance → Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban → Swachh Survekshan → Solid Waste Management → Urban Local Bodies → Citizen Participation.
Consider the following statements regarding Sales Tax in India:
1. Sales tax is an indirect tax imposed on the sale of goods and services.
2. The burden of sales tax is generally borne by the final consumer.
3. Before the introduction of GST, sales tax was primarily imposed by State Governments.
1. Sales tax is an indirect tax imposed on the sale of goods and services.
2. The burden of sales tax is generally borne by the final consumer.
3. Before the introduction of GST, sales tax was primarily imposed by State Governments.
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Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is incorrect: Historically in India, Sales Tax (and later Value Added Tax / VAT) was levied exclusively on the sale of goods, not on services. The taxation of services fell under a separate levy called Service Tax, which was introduced in 1994 and administered by the Central Government. (It was only after the introduction of GST in 2017 that the taxation of goods and services was unified into a single tax).
Statement 2 is correct: Sales tax is an indirect tax. While the seller or retailer is legally responsible for collecting and remitting the tax to the government, the financial burden is passed on to the end consumer as part of the purchase price.
Statement 3 is correct: Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Entry 54 of the State List), the power to levy taxes on the intra-state sale or purchase of goods (Sales Tax/VAT) rested primarily with State Governments.
(Note: Inter-state sales were governed by the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, though the tax was still collected and retained by the originating State).
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Historically in India, Sales Tax (and later Value Added Tax / VAT) was levied exclusively on the sale of goods, not on services. The taxation of services fell under a separate levy called Service Tax, which was introduced in 1994 and administered by the Central Government. (It was only after the introduction of GST in 2017 that the taxation of goods and services was unified into a single tax).
Statement 2 is correct: Sales tax is an indirect tax. While the seller or retailer is legally responsible for collecting and remitting the tax to the government, the financial burden is passed on to the end consumer as part of the purchase price.
Statement 3 is correct: Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Entry 54 of the State List), the power to levy taxes on the intra-state sale or purchase of goods (Sales Tax/VAT) rested primarily with State Governments.
(Note: Inter-state sales were governed by the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, though the tax was still collected and retained by the originating State).
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following countries bordering the Persian Gulf:
1. Iran
2. Kuwait
3. Jordan
4. Oman
5. Saudi Arabia
1. Iran
2. Kuwait
3. Jordan
4. Oman
5. Saudi Arabia
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Answer: (B)
The seven countries bordering the Persian Gulf are:
● Iran
● Kuwait
● Saudi Arabia
Jordan and Oman are not Persian Gulf littoral countries. Oman borders the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
The seven countries bordering the Persian Gulf are:
● Iran
● Kuwait
● Saudi Arabia
Jordan and Oman are not Persian Gulf littoral countries. Oman borders the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Article 136 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to grant Special Leave to Appeal against judgments or orders passed by any court or tribunal in India.
Important for UPSC: Indian Polity → Supreme Court → Appellate Jurisdiction → Article 136 → Special Leave Petition → Judicial Review.
Important for UPSC: Indian Polity → Supreme Court → Appellate Jurisdiction → Article 136 → Special Leave Petition → Judicial Review.