Answer: D
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that
even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into
a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
● Because no light can get out, people can't see black holes.

● Statement 2 is correct: A black hole’s “surface,” called its event horizon, is the boundary
defining the region of space around a black hole from which nothing (not even light)
can escape. In other words, the escape velocity for an object within the event horizon
exceeds the speed of light.
● Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of black holes in 1916, with his general
theory of relativity. The term “black hole” was coined many years later in 1967 by
American astronomer John Wheeler.
● In 2019, astronomers using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) — an international
collaboration that networked eight ground-based radio telescopes into a single Earth-size
dish — captured an image of a black hole for the first time.
● It appears as a dark circle silhouetted by an orbiting disk of hot, glowing matter. The
supermassive black hole is located at the heart of a galaxy called M87, located about 55
million light-years away, and weighs more than 6 billion solar masses.

How big are black holes?
● Black holes can be big or small. Scientists think the smallest black holes are as small as just
one atom. These black holes are very tiny but have the mass of a large mountain. Mass is the
amount of matter, or "stuff," in an object.

● Another kind of black hole is called "stellar." Its mass can be up to 20 times more than the
mass of the sun. There may be many, many stellar mass black holes in Earth's galaxy.
Earth's galaxy is called the Milky Way.
● The largest black holes are called "supermassive." These black holes have masses that are
more than 1 million suns together. Scientists have found proof that every large galaxy
contains a supermassive black hole at its center.
● Statement 3 is correct: The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy
is called Sagittarius A* (aka Sgr A*, pronounced Sagittarius A-star). It has a mass equal
to about 4 million suns and would fit inside a very large ball that could hold a few million
Earths.
How do black holes form?
● Scientists believe the smallest black holes formed when the universe has begun.
● Stellar black holes are made when the center of a very big star falls in upon itself, or
collapses. When this happens, it causes a supernova. A supernova is an exploding star that
blasts a part of the star into space.
● Scientists think supermassive black holes were formed at the same time as the galaxy they
are in.
How do we identify blackholes?
● A way in which the universe showcases a black hole is when the black hole interacts with
its surroundings.
● When the dust particles and matter from the surroundings fall onto a supermassive
black hole, it engulfs a part of the surroundings but some of the matter is converted into
energy and emitted as electromagnetic radiation that makes the black hole appear very
luminous.
● This luminosity can be detected on the earth thus, adding more insights into these
occurrences.

1. One Health aims to optimize the health of

Explanation:
● One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and
optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. Hence answer is option D.
● It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the
wider environment are closely linked and interdependent.
● The One Health approach is particularly relevant for food and water safety, nutrition, the
control of zoonoses (diseases that can spread between animals and humans), pollution
management, and combating antimicrobial resistance.

Explanation:
● One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and
optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. Hence answer is option D.
● It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the
wider environment are closely linked and interdependent.
● The One Health approach is particularly relevant for food and water safety, nutrition, the
control of zoonoses (diseases that can spread between animals and humans), pollution
management, and combating antimicrobial resistance.

2. Consider the following statements about the International Financial Services Centre.
1) An IFSC provides world class financial services to only non-residents.
2) An IFSC provides services in local currency of the location where the IFSC is located.
3) India’s first IFSC has been set up at the GIFT City in Gandhinagar.

Answer: A
Explanation:
About IFSC
● An International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) is a jurisdiction that provides world class
financial services to non-residents and residents in a currency other than the domestic
currency (Indian Rupee) of the location where the IFSC is located. Hence statements 1 and
2 are incorrect.
● Services provided by an IFSC:
○ Fund-raising services for individuals, corporations and governments
○ Asset management and global portfolio diversification undertaken by pension funds,
insurance companies and mutual funds
○ Wealth management
○ Merger and acquisition activities among trans-national corporations, etc.
● The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was established in 2020
as a unified authority for the development and regulations of IFSCs in India.
● India’s 1st IFSC has been set up at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT
City) in Gandhinagar. Hence statement 3 is correct.

3. Consider the following statements.
1) Indian follows western secularism where the state and the religion have a watertight
separation of power.
2) ‘Socialism’ and ‘Secularism’ are part of the basic structure of the constitution.

Answer: B
Explanation:
● Indian secularism is different from western secularism. In India, the state enjoys the
power to regulate the economic, financial, political and secular aspects associated with
religious practice. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
○ It can also provide for social welfare and reform in religious practices.
○ In Western secularism, the state and religion are strictly separated and the
government does not interfere in religious affairs.

Status in Preamble
● The original Preamble adopted on November 26, 1949, declared India a sovereign,
democratic, republic.
● The term ‘Secularism’ was also not used though various provisions of the Constitution
like the right to practise any religion, non-discrimination on the basis of religion in any
affairs of the state embodied the ‘secular’ values of our Constitution.
● The 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976 inserted the words ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’ and
‘Integrity’ in the Preamble.
Current case and the Supreme Court’s Judgment
● A case filed in 2020 has opposed the insertion of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the
Preamble. They argued that these were included during the Emergency and forced the
people to follow specific ideologies.
● They felt that since the date of adoption by the Constituent Assembly was mentioned in the
Preamble, no additional words can be inserted later by Parliament.
● The Supreme court dismissed the pleas and held that ‘socialism’ and ‘secularism’ are
integral to the basic structure of the Constitution. Hence statement 2 is correct.
● It observed that the Constitution is a ‘living document’ subject to the amendment power of
Parliament.
● The Court also said that this amending power extends to the Preamble as well and the date
of adoption mentioned in it does not restrict such power.

4. Consider the following statements with reference to the Digital Personal Data Protection
Act, 2023.
1. The Act applies to the processing of digital personal data within India.
2. The Act will not apply to the processing of personal data outside India if it is for offering
services in India.
3. Consent for usage of personal data can not be withdrawn at any point in time.

Answer: A
Explanation:
Applicability:
● The Act applies to the processing of digital personal data within India where such data
is: Hence statement 1 is correct.
○ collected online, or
○ collected offline and is digitised.
● It will also apply to the processing of personal data outside India if it is for offering
goods or services in India. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
● Personal data is defined as any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in
relation to such data.
● Processing has been defined as wholly or partially automated operation or set of
operations performed on digital personal data. It includes collection, storage, use, and
sharing.
Consent:
● Personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose after obtaining the consent
of the individual.
● Consent may be withdrawn at any point in time. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
● Consent will not be required for ‘legitimate uses’ including:
○ specified purpose for which data has been provided by an individual voluntarily,
○ provision of benefit or service by the government,
○ medical emergency, and
○ employment.
● For individuals below 18 years of age, consent will be provided by the parent or the legal
guardian.

5. Consider the following statements about the Horn of Africa.
1. The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that includes countries like Djibouti, Ethiopia
and Eritrea.
2. It is separated from the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula by the Bab el Mandeb strait.