India’s Connect Central Asia Policy was launched in 2012 to strengthen India’s engagement with the Central Asian Republics — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
India seeks better connectivity with Central Asia through initiatives such as Chabahar Port, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and other multimodal routes.
Important for UPSC: Connect Central Asia Policy → 5 Central Asian Republics → Security → Connectivity → Economic & Energy Cooperation → Chabahar & INSTC.
India seeks better connectivity with Central Asia through initiatives such as Chabahar Port, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and other multimodal routes.
Important for UPSC: Connect Central Asia Policy → 5 Central Asian Republics → Security → Connectivity → Economic & Energy Cooperation → Chabahar & INSTC.
Green hydrogen can reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and support the transition towards a low-carbon energy system.
Important for UPSC: Green Hydrogen → Water + Renewable Energy → Electrolysis → Low-carbon fuel → Hard-to-abate sectors → Energy security → National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Important for UPSC: Green Hydrogen → Water + Renewable Energy → Electrolysis → Low-carbon fuel → Hard-to-abate sectors → Energy security → National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY):
Statement I:
PM-DDKY seeks to address regional disparities in agricultural performance through a district-focused approach rather than providing a uniform benefit across all districts.
Statement II:
The districts covered under the scheme are identified using indicators relating to agricultural productivity.
Statement III:
The scheme creates an entirely new set of centrally sponsored schemes with dedicated funds transferred directly to farmers in the identified districts.
Statement I:
PM-DDKY seeks to address regional disparities in agricultural performance through a district-focused approach rather than providing a uniform benefit across all districts.
Statement II:
The districts covered under the scheme are identified using indicators relating to agricultural productivity.
Statement III:
The scheme creates an entirely new set of centrally sponsored schemes with dedicated funds transferred directly to farmers in the identified districts.
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Answer: (C)
Statement I is correct because PM-DDKY explicitly focuses on backward or low-performing districts through targeted interventions instead of distributing uniform benefits indiscriminately across the country.
Statement II is correct and explains Statement I because the core mechanism for targeting these regional disparities relies on specific distress indicators, namely low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and low credit disbursement, combined with state representation.
Statement III is incorrect because PM-DDKY does not create an entirely new set of schemes or direct income transfers; instead, it strategically converges and merges 36 existing schemes from 11 different Union Ministries into a unified, synchronized support system under district-level planning.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
Statement I is correct because PM-DDKY explicitly focuses on backward or low-performing districts through targeted interventions instead of distributing uniform benefits indiscriminately across the country.
Statement II is correct and explains Statement I because the core mechanism for targeting these regional disparities relies on specific distress indicators, namely low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and low credit disbursement, combined with state representation.
Statement III is incorrect because PM-DDKY does not create an entirely new set of schemes or direct income transfers; instead, it strategically converges and merges 36 existing schemes from 11 different Union Ministries into a unified, synchronized support system under district-level planning.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
Identify the invasive species on the basis of the following information:
1. It is a free-floating aquatic plant with broad, glossy leaves.
2. It can form dense mats on the surface of water bodies.
3. It spreads rapidly and can obstruct navigation and reduce dissolved oxygen in water.
4. It is commonly associated with freshwater bodies and is considered a major invasive aquatic weed.
1. It is a free-floating aquatic plant with broad, glossy leaves.
2. It can form dense mats on the surface of water bodies.
3. It spreads rapidly and can obstruct navigation and reduce dissolved oxygen in water.
4. It is commonly associated with freshwater bodies and is considered a major invasive aquatic weed.
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Answer: (A)
(a) Water hyacinth – Correct: It is a free-floating invasive aquatic plant that grows rapidly and forms dense mats on the surface of freshwater bodies. These mats can obstruct navigation, reduce light penetration and lower dissolved oxygen, adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems.
(b) Prosopis juliflora – Incorrect: It is an invasive terrestrial shrub/tree, commonly found in dry and semi-arid regions, and does not form floating mats on water bodies.
(c) Lantana camara – Incorrect: It is an invasive terrestrial shrub that can invade forests, grasslands and other terrestrial habitats.
(d) Parthenium hysterophorus – Incorrect: It is an invasive terrestrial herb, commonly known as Congress grass, which affects agricultural fields and natural ecosystems.
Therefore, option (a) Water hyacinth is the correct answer.
(a) Water hyacinth – Correct: It is a free-floating invasive aquatic plant that grows rapidly and forms dense mats on the surface of freshwater bodies. These mats can obstruct navigation, reduce light penetration and lower dissolved oxygen, adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems.
(b) Prosopis juliflora – Incorrect: It is an invasive terrestrial shrub/tree, commonly found in dry and semi-arid regions, and does not form floating mats on water bodies.
(c) Lantana camara – Incorrect: It is an invasive terrestrial shrub that can invade forests, grasslands and other terrestrial habitats.
(d) Parthenium hysterophorus – Incorrect: It is an invasive terrestrial herb, commonly known as Congress grass, which affects agricultural fields and natural ecosystems.
Therefore, option (a) Water hyacinth is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements with regard to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
1. The 26th SCO Summit was held under the Chairship of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek.
2. The theme of the 26th SCO Summit was “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”
3. The Summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, while the 6th World Nomad Games opened in Bishkek.
4. Belarus became a full member of the SCO in 2024.
1. The 26th SCO Summit was held under the Chairship of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek.
2. The theme of the 26th SCO Summit was “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”
3. The Summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, while the 6th World Nomad Games opened in Bishkek.
4. Belarus became a full member of the SCO in 2024.
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Answer: (D)
The 26th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (the SCO Summit 2026) was held in Bishkek under the rotating chairship of Kyrgyzstan. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
The official theme of the summit was “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity,”
commemorating the 25th anniversary of the organisation's founding. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration, and its timeline coincided with the grand opening of the 6th World Nomad Games in Bishkek, which was attended by leaders of SCO member nations. Hence Statement 3 is correct.
Belarus officially became the tenth full member state of the SCO at the Astana summit in 2024. Hence Statement 4 is correct.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
The 26th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (the SCO Summit 2026) was held in Bishkek under the rotating chairship of Kyrgyzstan. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
The official theme of the summit was “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity,”
commemorating the 25th anniversary of the organisation's founding. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration, and its timeline coincided with the grand opening of the 6th World Nomad Games in Bishkek, which was attended by leaders of SCO member nations. Hence Statement 3 is correct.
Belarus officially became the tenth full member state of the SCO at the Astana summit in 2024. Hence Statement 4 is correct.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the strategic aim of the Scheme for Enhancement of Construction and Infrastructure Equipment (CIE):
1. It seeks to build a self-reliant domestic ecosystem by incentivizing local industries to design and manufacture niche, technologically advanced construction machinery.
2. It provides direct demand-side financial subsidies to infrastructure developers to accelerate the procurement and leasing of specialized foreign earthmoving equipment.
1. It seeks to build a self-reliant domestic ecosystem by incentivizing local industries to design and manufacture niche, technologically advanced construction machinery.
2. It provides direct demand-side financial subsidies to infrastructure developers to accelerate the procurement and leasing of specialized foreign earthmoving equipment.
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Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct because the scheme is a supply-side capacity-building initiative meant to make the country a manufacturing hub for heavy machinery.
Statement 2 is incorrect because the scheme explicitly aims to reduce import dependence, not subsidize builders to buy foreign equipment.
Statement 1 is correct because the scheme is a supply-side capacity-building initiative meant to make the country a manufacturing hub for heavy machinery.
Statement 2 is incorrect because the scheme explicitly aims to reduce import dependence, not subsidize builders to buy foreign equipment.
Consider the following situation:
A policyholder has insurance policies with multiple insurers and faces difficulty tracking policy details, claims and unclaimed benefits. At the same time, insurers lack interoperable access to verified information held across the insurance ecosystem.
Which of the following would most directly address these problems through the proposed Public Insurance Registry?
1. Creating an interoperable layer through which verified insurance information can be accessed across participating entities.
2. Allowing insurers to access relevant policy and claims information, thereby improving underwriting and reducing information asymmetry.
3. Replacing individual insurers by making the Registry the sole entity responsible for issuing and servicing insurance policies.
4. Enabling policyholders to obtain a consolidated view of their insurance relationships and facilitate easier access to unclaimed amounts.
A policyholder has insurance policies with multiple insurers and faces difficulty tracking policy details, claims and unclaimed benefits. At the same time, insurers lack interoperable access to verified information held across the insurance ecosystem.
Which of the following would most directly address these problems through the proposed Public Insurance Registry?
1. Creating an interoperable layer through which verified insurance information can be accessed across participating entities.
2. Allowing insurers to access relevant policy and claims information, thereby improving underwriting and reducing information asymmetry.
3. Replacing individual insurers by making the Registry the sole entity responsible for issuing and servicing insurance policies.
4. Enabling policyholders to obtain a consolidated view of their insurance relationships and facilitate easier access to unclaimed amounts.
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