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Answer: (D)
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Hence, Statement (a) is correct
FSSAI is responsible for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulating various aspects of food safety to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food. Hence, Statement (b) is correct
FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Hence, Statement (c) is correct.
FSSAI does not fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural commodities. MSP is a government agricultural price-support mechanism, with recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). FSSAI's mandate relates to food safety and standards, not agricultural price determination. Hence, Statement (d) is incorrect.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Hence, Statement (a) is correct
FSSAI is responsible for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulating various aspects of food safety to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food. Hence, Statement (b) is correct
FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Hence, Statement (c) is correct.
FSSAI does not fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural commodities. MSP is a government agricultural price-support mechanism, with recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). FSSAI's mandate relates to food safety and standards, not agricultural price determination. Hence, Statement (d) is incorrect.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
GI protection is recognised under the TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
A GI tag helps prevent unauthorised use of a product’s geographical name, supports local producers and can enhance the product's market value and global recognition.
Important for UPSC: GI Tag → Geographical origin → Unique quality/reputation → GI Act, 1999 → GI Registry, Chennai → TRIPS Agreement → Protection of local products & producers.
A GI tag helps prevent unauthorised use of a product’s geographical name, supports local producers and can enhance the product's market value and global recognition.
Important for UPSC: GI Tag → Geographical origin → Unique quality/reputation → GI Act, 1999 → GI Registry, Chennai → TRIPS Agreement → Protection of local products & producers.
Which of the following functions fall within the direct regulatory jurisdiction of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)?
1. Direct implementation of safety policies on dams located on inter-State rivers owned by Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs).
2. Resolving inter-State issues regarding dam safety between two States.
3. Granting environmental clearances for new dam construction projects.
4. Accrediting agencies and individuals involved in dam safety evaluation and inspection.
1. Direct implementation of safety policies on dams located on inter-State rivers owned by Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs).
2. Resolving inter-State issues regarding dam safety between two States.
3. Granting environmental clearances for new dam construction projects.
4. Accrediting agencies and individuals involved in dam safety evaluation and inspection.
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Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is correct: The NDSA acts as the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) for dams owned by Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs) or for dams located in one State and owned by another State. It directly implements safety policies for these specified
dams.
Statement 2 is correct: A core function of the NDSA is to resolve inter-State issues and disputes regarding dam safety between two State Dam Safety Organisations or between a State and an owner of a specified dam.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Granting environmental clearances for dam construction falls under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), not the NDSA.
Statement 4 is correct: The NDSA is explicitly authorized to grant accreditations to (or disqualify) agencies and specify qualification standards for individuals involved in the investigation, design, construction, alteration, and safety evaluation of specified dams.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The NDSA acts as the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) for dams owned by Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs) or for dams located in one State and owned by another State. It directly implements safety policies for these specified
dams.
Statement 2 is correct: A core function of the NDSA is to resolve inter-State issues and disputes regarding dam safety between two State Dam Safety Organisations or between a State and an owner of a specified dam.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Granting environmental clearances for dam construction falls under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), not the NDSA.
Statement 4 is correct: The NDSA is explicitly authorized to grant accreditations to (or disqualify) agencies and specify qualification standards for individuals involved in the investigation, design, construction, alteration, and safety evaluation of specified dams.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):
1. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
2. Directions and orders issued by the CAQM are binding on persons, officers and authorities.
3. The CAQM is directly accountable to the Parliament.
4. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was introduced by the CAQM.
1. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
2. Directions and orders issued by the CAQM are binding on persons, officers and authorities.
3. The CAQM is directly accountable to the Parliament.
4. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was introduced by the CAQM.
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Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is Correct: CAQM is a statutory body established under the 2021 Act.
Statement 2 — Correct: Its directions and orders are binding on persons, officers and authorities.
Statement 3 — Correct: The Commission is accountable to Parliament.
Statement 4 — Incorrect: GRAP predates CAQM. It was formulated by the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) and subsequently implemented under the CAQM framework. Thus, saying that GRAP was introduced by CAQM is incorrect.
Therefore option B is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is Correct: CAQM is a statutory body established under the 2021 Act.
Statement 2 — Correct: Its directions and orders are binding on persons, officers and authorities.
Statement 3 — Correct: The Commission is accountable to Parliament.
Statement 4 — Incorrect: GRAP predates CAQM. It was formulated by the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) and subsequently implemented under the CAQM framework. Thus, saying that GRAP was introduced by CAQM is incorrect.
Therefore option B is the correct answer.
India launched the Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Manthan on 9 September 2026 at the Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata.
Designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Important for UPSC: Sagar Manthan → Ocean Research Vessel → GRSE → NCPOR → Deep Ocean Mission → Deep-sea exploration → Marine minerals → AUVs & ROVs → Blue Economy → Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Important for UPSC: Sagar Manthan → Ocean Research Vessel → GRSE → NCPOR → Deep Ocean Mission → Deep-sea exploration → Marine minerals → AUVs & ROVs → Blue Economy → Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Consider the following statements regarding the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-GRAM G) Scheme:
1. It provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to eligible rural households.
2. It mandates timely payment of wages within 20 days of completion of work.
3. It is funded entirely by the Central Government in all States and Union Territories.
1. It provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to eligible rural households.
2. It mandates timely payment of wages within 20 days of completion of work.
3. It is funded entirely by the Central Government in all States and Union Territories.
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Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 guarantees 125 days of unskilled manual wage employment in a financial year to every eligible rural household.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The framework mandates the disbursement of daily wages on a weekly basis or in any case not later than a fortnight (15 days) after the completion of work, not 20 days.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The scheme functions as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme featuring cost-sharing models between the Centre and the States (such as a 60:40 ratio for general States/UTs with legislatures, 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States, and 100% central funding solely for Union Territories without legislatures). It is not funded entirely by the Central Government across all States and Union Territories.
Therefore option A is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 guarantees 125 days of unskilled manual wage employment in a financial year to every eligible rural household.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The framework mandates the disbursement of daily wages on a weekly basis or in any case not later than a fortnight (15 days) after the completion of work, not 20 days.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The scheme functions as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme featuring cost-sharing models between the Centre and the States (such as a 60:40 ratio for general States/UTs with legislatures, 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States, and 100% central funding solely for Union Territories without legislatures). It is not funded entirely by the Central Government across all States and Union Territories.
Therefore option A is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):
1. It is a climate policy tool introduced by the European Union to prevent carbon leakage.
2. It applies a carbon tariff to all imported goods entering the EU across all sectors.
3. EU importers must purchase certificates equivalent to the carbon price applied under EU domestic rules.
1. It is a climate policy tool introduced by the European Union to prevent carbon leakage.
2. It applies a carbon tariff to all imported goods entering the EU across all sectors.
3. EU importers must purchase certificates equivalent to the carbon price applied under EU domestic rules.
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Answer: (C)
Statement 1 is correct: CBAM is a trade-related climate instrument pioneered by the European Union to prevent "carbon leakage" (relocation of production to regions with weaker climate policies).
Statement 2 is incorrect: It does not apply to all goods across all sectors; it currently targets specific carbon-intensive sectors like iron, steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen.
Statement 3 is correct: EU importers bringing targeted goods into the market must surrender certificates based on embedded emissions, priced equivalently to domestic carbon pricing systems like the EU ETS.
Therefore option C is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: CBAM is a trade-related climate instrument pioneered by the European Union to prevent "carbon leakage" (relocation of production to regions with weaker climate policies).
Statement 2 is incorrect: It does not apply to all goods across all sectors; it currently targets specific carbon-intensive sectors like iron, steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen.
Statement 3 is correct: EU importers bringing targeted goods into the market must surrender certificates based on embedded emissions, priced equivalently to domestic carbon pricing systems like the EU ETS.
Therefore option C is the correct answer.
Consider the following countries:
1. Iran
2. Iraq
3. Kuwait
4. Oman
5. Yemen
1. Iran
2. Iraq
3. Kuwait
4. Oman
5. Yemen
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