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Answer: (D)
Statement 1 is correct: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Bargarh district of Western Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct: The sanctuary's dominant vegetation consists of tropical dry deciduous and mixed forests.
Statement 3 is correct: The sanctuary is situated alongside the Hirakud Reservoir, which bounds it on its northern and eastern sides.
Statement 4 is correct: The sanctuary is located within the Barapahada hill range (an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau system).
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Bargarh district of Western Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct: The sanctuary's dominant vegetation consists of tropical dry deciduous and mixed forests.
Statement 3 is correct: The sanctuary is situated alongside the Hirakud Reservoir, which bounds it on its northern and eastern sides.
Statement 4 is correct: The sanctuary is located within the Barapahada hill range (an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau system).
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the Yamuna River system:
1. The Tons River is the largest right-bank tributary of the Yamuna.
2. The Ken, Betwa, and Chambal rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna that originate in the Peninsular Plateau.
3. The Hindon River is a major left-bank tributary that originates in the Purvanchal Hills.
1. The Tons River is the largest right-bank tributary of the Yamuna.
2. The Ken, Betwa, and Chambal rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna that originate in the Peninsular Plateau.
3. The Hindon River is a major left-bank tributary that originates in the Purvanchal Hills.
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Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Tons River is indeed the largest tributary of the Yamuna and carries more water than the main stream before its confluence near Kalsi, Uttarakhand. However, it is a left-bank tributary (originating in the Himalayas near the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border), not a right-bank tributary.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, and Ken rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna. They originate in the Vindhyan and Malwa ranges of the Peninsular Plateau and flow northward to join the Yamuna.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Hindon River is a left-bank tributary of the Yamuna, but it originates in the Upper Shivalik Ranges (Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh), not the Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Himalayas).
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Tons River is indeed the largest tributary of the Yamuna and carries more water than the main stream before its confluence near Kalsi, Uttarakhand. However, it is a left-bank tributary (originating in the Himalayas near the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border), not a right-bank tributary.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, and Ken rivers are major right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna. They originate in the Vindhyan and Malwa ranges of the Peninsular Plateau and flow northward to join the Yamuna.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Hindon River is a left-bank tributary of the Yamuna, but it originates in the Upper Shivalik Ranges (Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh), not the Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Himalayas).
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
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Answer: (B)
Collapse of Ueno Bank: Paraguay’s prominent digital lender-turned-bank (Ueno Bank), which catered to nearly half the country’s population (around 3 million retail depositors), abruptly collapsed after the Central Bank (Banco Central del Paraguay) seized it. Regulators found that its solvency ratio plummeted well below legal minimums due to risky, illicit related-party lending to companies tied to the bank's owners.
Impeachment and Removal of the President: Amid massive public protests and a financial panic, President Santiago Peña faced intense scrutiny over his political proximity to the bank and allegations of steering public funds (including state pension funds) into it. Though he offered his resignation, the Paraguayan Congress rejected it in favor of a historic, near-unanimous impeachment.
Political Fallout: The Senate voted to strip Peña of his immunity and remove him from office. He was subsequently placed under house arrest/pretrial custody, and Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new interim President.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Collapse of Ueno Bank: Paraguay’s prominent digital lender-turned-bank (Ueno Bank), which catered to nearly half the country’s population (around 3 million retail depositors), abruptly collapsed after the Central Bank (Banco Central del Paraguay) seized it. Regulators found that its solvency ratio plummeted well below legal minimums due to risky, illicit related-party lending to companies tied to the bank's owners.
Impeachment and Removal of the President: Amid massive public protests and a financial panic, President Santiago Peña faced intense scrutiny over his political proximity to the bank and allegations of steering public funds (including state pension funds) into it. Though he offered his resignation, the Paraguayan Congress rejected it in favor of a historic, near-unanimous impeachment.
Political Fallout: The Senate voted to strip Peña of his immunity and remove him from office. He was subsequently placed under house arrest/pretrial custody, and Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as the new interim President.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
With reference to the 'Grandmaster' title awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), consider the following statements:
1. Anuj Shrivatri became the first FIDE Grandmaster from the state of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Under the conventional norm-based route, a player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games and achieve a FIDE standard rating of at least 2500 at some point.
3. A player automatically loses the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500.
4. India ranks in the top 5 globally in terms of the total number of FIDE Grandmaster titles.
1. Anuj Shrivatri became the first FIDE Grandmaster from the state of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Under the conventional norm-based route, a player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games and achieve a FIDE standard rating of at least 2500 at some point.
3. A player automatically loses the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500.
4. India ranks in the top 5 globally in terms of the total number of FIDE Grandmaster titles.
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Answer: (B)
Statement 1 is correct: International Master Anuj Shrivatri, from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. By earning the direct Grandmaster title, he became the first FIDE Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh and India's 100th Grandmaster.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the conventional norm-based route for the Grandmaster title:
○ A player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games across qualifying tournaments.
○ The player must achieve a standard FIDE rating of at least 2500 at some point in their career.
○ A Grandmaster norm requires a performance rating of at least 2600, along with prescribed opponent-rating and tournament-composition requirements.
○ This conventional route is distinct from direct-title routes available through specified international championships.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Grandmaster title is valid for life once officially confirmed by FIDE. A player does not lose the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500. Exception: FIDE may revoke a title in specified circumstances involving ethical violations or breaches of its Fair Play Regulations.
Statement 4 is CORRECT: India ranks among the top five countries globally in the number of Grandmasters registered under its FIDE federation. Based on the November 2026 standard rating-list data, India ranks fourth, behind Russia, the United States and Germany.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer
Statement 1 is correct: International Master Anuj Shrivatri, from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. By earning the direct Grandmaster title, he became the first FIDE Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh and India's 100th Grandmaster.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the conventional norm-based route for the Grandmaster title:
○ A player must secure Grandmaster norms covering at least 27 games across qualifying tournaments.
○ The player must achieve a standard FIDE rating of at least 2500 at some point in their career.
○ A Grandmaster norm requires a performance rating of at least 2600, along with prescribed opponent-rating and tournament-composition requirements.
○ This conventional route is distinct from direct-title routes available through specified international championships.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Grandmaster title is valid for life once officially confirmed by FIDE. A player does not lose the Grandmaster title if their FIDE rating subsequently falls below 2500. Exception: FIDE may revoke a title in specified circumstances involving ethical violations or breaches of its Fair Play Regulations.
Statement 4 is CORRECT: India ranks among the top five countries globally in the number of Grandmasters registered under its FIDE federation. Based on the November 2026 standard rating-list data, India ranks fourth, behind Russia, the United States and Germany.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer
ISRO successfully launched GISAT-1A (EOS-05) on September 2026 aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Important for UPSC: Science & Technology → Space Technology → Earth Observation Satellites → ISRO → Geosynchronous Orbit → Remote Sensing → Disaster Management.
Important for UPSC: Science & Technology → Space Technology → Earth Observation Satellites → ISRO → Geosynchronous Orbit → Remote Sensing → Disaster Management.
Which of the following pollutants are monitored under India's National Air Quality Index (AQI)?
1. PM10
2. Lead
3. Benzene
4. Arsenic
5. Nickel
6. O3
1. PM10
2. Lead
3. Benzene
4. Arsenic
5. Nickel
6. O3
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Answer: (C)
India's National Air Quality Index (AQI), launched in 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, monitors 8 specific pollutants for real-time air quality tracking.
The eight pollutants monitored under India's National Air Quality Index (AQI) are PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Lead (Pb).
Benzene, Arsenic, and Nickel are listed under India's broader National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which covers 12 pollutants in total. However, because they require specialized, long-term laboratory analysis (e.g., heavy metals and volatile organic compounds) rather than continuous continuous real-time monitoring, they were not included in the 8-pollutant sub-index used to calculate the daily National AQI.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
India's National Air Quality Index (AQI), launched in 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, monitors 8 specific pollutants for real-time air quality tracking.
The eight pollutants monitored under India's National Air Quality Index (AQI) are PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Lead (Pb).
Benzene, Arsenic, and Nickel are listed under India's broader National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which covers 12 pollutants in total. However, because they require specialized, long-term laboratory analysis (e.g., heavy metals and volatile organic compounds) rather than continuous continuous real-time monitoring, they were not included in the 8-pollutant sub-index used to calculate the daily National AQI.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the functions of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):
1. It provides free legal services to eligible persons, including legal representation, payment of court fees and other litigation expenses.
2. It facilitates Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through the organisation of Lok Adalats for speedy and amicable settlement of disputes.
3. It promotes legal literacy and awareness through legal aid camps, awareness programmes and clinical legal education.
4. It has the power to adjudicate disputes independently and function as a regular appellate court.
1. It provides free legal services to eligible persons, including legal representation, payment of court fees and other litigation expenses.
2. It facilitates Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through the organisation of Lok Adalats for speedy and amicable settlement of disputes.
3. It promotes legal literacy and awareness through legal aid camps, awareness programmes and clinical legal education.
4. It has the power to adjudicate disputes independently and function as a regular appellate court.
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Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: Under Section 12 and Section 13 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA is mandated to provide free and competent legal services, including providing lawyers, paying court fees, drafting documents, and covering all litigation expenses for eligible individuals.
Statement 2 is correct: NALSA actively promotes and organizes Lok Adalats across the country as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to ensure speedy, cost-effective, and amicable settlements outside regular court trials.
Statement 3 is correct: Spreading legal literacy, conducting grassroots legal awareness camps, and supporting legal aid clinics in universities and rural areas form a core part of NALSA's statutory responsibilities.
Statement 4 is incorrect: NALSA is an administrative and facilitating body for legal aid and ADR. It does not function as a regular court of law or an appellate tribunal, nor does it have independent judicial powers to adjudicate disputes on merits.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Under Section 12 and Section 13 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA is mandated to provide free and competent legal services, including providing lawyers, paying court fees, drafting documents, and covering all litigation expenses for eligible individuals.
Statement 2 is correct: NALSA actively promotes and organizes Lok Adalats across the country as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to ensure speedy, cost-effective, and amicable settlements outside regular court trials.
Statement 3 is correct: Spreading legal literacy, conducting grassroots legal awareness camps, and supporting legal aid clinics in universities and rural areas form a core part of NALSA's statutory responsibilities.
Statement 4 is incorrect: NALSA is an administrative and facilitating body for legal aid and ADR. It does not function as a regular court of law or an appellate tribunal, nor does it have independent judicial powers to adjudicate disputes on merits.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the geographical location of Lebanon:
1. Lebanon shares its land borders with Syria and Israel.
2. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the west of Lebanon.
3. Lebanon shares a maritime boundary with Cyprus.
4. Lebanon is bordered by Jordan to the south.
1. Lebanon shares its land borders with Syria and Israel.
2. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the west of Lebanon.
3. Lebanon shares a maritime boundary with Cyprus.
4. Lebanon is bordered by Jordan to the south.
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