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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Answer: (B)
Statement 1 — Correct: The proposed Public Insurance Registry (PIR) is intended to provide an interoperable digital infrastructure for sharing verified insurance-related information across participating entities. This can reduce fragmentation of insurance data.
Statement 2 — Correct: By facilitating access to relevant and verified information, the PIR can help insurers reduce information asymmetry, improve underwriting and enable more efficient insurance services.
Statement 3 — Incorrect: The PIR is not intended to replace insurers or become an entity that issues and services insurance policies. It is a digital infrastructure/platform, while insurance activities remain with regulated insurers.
Statement 4 — Correct: A consolidated digital view of insurance relationships can help policyholders track their policies, claims and benefits, including facilitating access to unclaimed insurance amounts.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Statement 1 — Correct: The proposed Public Insurance Registry (PIR) is intended to provide an interoperable digital infrastructure for sharing verified insurance-related information across participating entities. This can reduce fragmentation of insurance data.
Statement 2 — Correct: By facilitating access to relevant and verified information, the PIR can help insurers reduce information asymmetry, improve underwriting and enable more efficient insurance services.
Statement 3 — Incorrect: The PIR is not intended to replace insurers or become an entity that issues and services insurance policies. It is a digital infrastructure/platform, while insurance activities remain with regulated insurers.
Statement 4 — Correct: A consolidated digital view of insurance relationships can help policyholders track their policies, claims and benefits, including facilitating access to unclaimed insurance amounts.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
The programme aims to strengthen border security by encouraging people to remain in and contribute to the development of border areas, helping prevent out-migration.
It supports roads, connectivity, electricity, tourism, livelihood opportunities, skill development and basic infrastructure in border villages.
Important for UPSC: VVP → Border villages → Infrastructure + livelihoods → Prevent out-migration → Border security → Strategic development of frontier areas.
It supports roads, connectivity, electricity, tourism, livelihood opportunities, skill development and basic infrastructure in border villages.
Important for UPSC: VVP → Border villages → Infrastructure + livelihoods → Prevent out-migration → Border security → Strategic development of frontier areas.
Rajiv Gandhi (Rameshwaram) National Park located in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, near Rameshwaram, on the northern bank of the Penna River.
It was notified as a National Park in 2005 and is also known as Rameshwaram National Park.
Important for UPSC: Rajiv Gandhi (Rameshwaram) NP → Andhra Pradesh → Kadapa → Penna River → Sandy terrain → Tropical dry deciduous forest → 2005.
It was notified as a National Park in 2005 and is also known as Rameshwaram National Park.
Important for UPSC: Rajiv Gandhi (Rameshwaram) NP → Andhra Pradesh → Kadapa → Penna River → Sandy terrain → Tropical dry deciduous forest → 2005.
With reference to the Specialized Investment Fund (SIF) framework introduced by SEBI, consider the following statements:
1. SIF is a new investment product category within the mutual fund framework.
2. The minimum investment requirement is ₹10 lakh per investor, subject to applicable exemptions.
3. SIFs permit sophisticated investment strategies, including long–short equity strategies.
1. SIF is a new investment product category within the mutual fund framework.
2. The minimum investment requirement is ₹10 lakh per investor, subject to applicable exemptions.
3. SIFs permit sophisticated investment strategies, including long–short equity strategies.
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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is correct: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced the Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) as a novel asset class and investment product category operating within the traditional mutual fund framework
to bridge structural gaps in the market.
Statement 2 is correct: The regulatory framework mandates a minimum investment threshold of ₹10 lakh per investor at the PAN level to target experienced high-net-worth individuals willing to take higher risks.
Statement 3 is correct: SIF regulations grant fund managers significantly more freedom and flexibility compared to standard mutual funds, permitting advanced and sophisticated investment strategies such as long-short equity models, derivatives exposure, and investments across diverse asset classes.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced the Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) as a novel asset class and investment product category operating within the traditional mutual fund framework
to bridge structural gaps in the market.
Statement 2 is correct: The regulatory framework mandates a minimum investment threshold of ₹10 lakh per investor at the PAN level to target experienced high-net-worth individuals willing to take higher risks.
Statement 3 is correct: SIF regulations grant fund managers significantly more freedom and flexibility compared to standard mutual funds, permitting advanced and sophisticated investment strategies such as long-short equity models, derivatives exposure, and investments across diverse asset classes.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)
1. The Central Government may designate an individual as a terrorist by including their name in the relevant Schedule to the Act.
2. The National Investigation Agency can investigate offences under UAPA in accordance with the law governing its powers.
3. The statutory restrictions on bail under UAPA can make obtaining bail more difficult than under ordinary criminal law.
1. The Central Government may designate an individual as a terrorist by including their name in the relevant Schedule to the Act.
2. The National Investigation Agency can investigate offences under UAPA in accordance with the law governing its powers.
3. The statutory restrictions on bail under UAPA can make obtaining bail more difficult than under ordinary criminal law.