Answer: D
Explanation
● EFTA is an intergovernmental organization of four member countries that are not part
of the European Union (EU): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
● The association was set up in 1960 for the promotion of free trade and economic
integration for the benefit of its four Member States.

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1. Himru, Paithani, Karvat Kathi and Ghongdi are handloom sareess produced in a State in India,
which is famous for textile production. Identify the state from the following states.

Answer: C
Soln:
● The list of sarees on the list of traditional textiles (in Maharashtra) includes south
Maharashtra’s Khan fabric, Himru and Paithani sarees from Ahilyanagar, Karvat Kathi
saree from Vidarbha, and Ghongdi from the State’s western region. Hence, option C is
correct.
● The weaver community in Solapur has demanded that their saris be included in the list
under the Paithani label, as both are weaved similarly by using ‘zari’ on silk.

2. Consider the following statements.
1. Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals to staple foods to improve their
nutritional content.
2. Hidden hunger problem is targeted by the food fortification process.
3. The Copenhagen Consensus estimates that every 1 Rupee spent on fortification results in 9
Rupees in benefits to the economy.

Answer: C
Soln:
Food Fortification
What is Fortification of Food?
● Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc,
Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing.
● It is a cost-effective strategy for improving diets and for the prevention and control of
micronutrient deficiencies.  
● It can be carried out by food manufacturers, or by governments as a public health policy
which aims to reduce the number of people with dietary deficiencies within a population. 
Need for Food Fortification
● Deficiency of micronutrients, also known as “hidden hunger”, is a serious health risk. 
● According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5):
○ 67 percent of children (6-59 months) are anaemic
○ 57 percent women in the reproductive age group are anaemic
○ every third child still suffers from chronic undernourishment, and every fifth child is
acutely malnourished.

● Food fortification is one strategy to address these issues, as it provides essential nutrients
without requiring changes to people’s dietary habits. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

● This approach is socio-culturally acceptable since it does not affect the taste, texture, or
appearance of the food.
Did you know?
● The Copenhagen Consensus (a conference of prominent economists) estimates that
every 1 Rupee spent on fortification results in 9 Rupees in benefits to the economy.
Hence, statement 3 is correct.
How does the government use food fortification in various schemes?
● In 2016, FSSAI operationalized the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods)
Regulations, 2016 for fortifying staples namely:
○ Wheat Flour and Rice with Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid,
○ Milk and Edible Oil with Vitamins A and D and
○ Double Fortified Salt with Iodine and Iron
● The ‘+F’ logo has been notified to identify fortified foods.c

Answer: C
Soln:
Small Modular Reactors
About:
● Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power
capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating
capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● They are:
○ Small – physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor.
○ Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-
assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation.
○ Reactors – harnessing nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.

Advantages of SMRs
● Designed with a smaller core damage frequency (the likelihood that an accident will
damage the nuclear fuel) and source term (a measure of radioactive contamination)
compared to conventional Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs).
● As they are smaller in size, power output and capacity, they need less space and less
cooling water, offering greater flexibility for site selection than large nuclear plants.
Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● SMRs can be safely installed and operated at several brownfield sites (previously
developed properties) that may not meet the more stringent zoning requirements for
conventional NPPs.
● Most land-based SMR designs require low-enriched uranium, which can be supplied by
all countries that possess uranium mines.
● They are modular and can be produced in series, which allows for production cost
efficiency through economies of scale.

3. Consider the following statements about Small Modular Reactors.
1. These are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW per unit.
2. These are more flexible to set up in comparison to traditional nuclear power reactors.

Answer: A
Soln:
● Fired clay bricks have been the mainstay of the construction industry but their production
also emits nearly 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which could increase
with more urbanisation.
● A new advance on this front is mycelium bricks. Mycelia are the branching filaments
of fungi that make up its vegetative part. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

● Researchers have them harnessed to create biodegradable, fire-resistant, and insulative
bricks.
● They are made by combining husk, sawdust, and fungal spores to create a fibrous
network that solidifies into a lightweight material.
● Within a few days, these materials become a hardier structure.
● Mycelium bricks have the potential to reduce the building sector’s carbon footprint, its
proponents have said. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● They are relatively more lightweight and good insulators of heat.

4. Consider the following statements.
1. Mycelia are the branching filaments of fungi that make up its vegetative part.
2. Mycelia bricks are structures developed within fungi to adapt to climate change.