Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:

• The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted by the Indian Parliament in 1986 (Act No. 29 of 1986) and came into force on 19 November 1986 (birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi).
• It was enacted under Article 253 of the Constitution (legislation for giving effect to international agreements) in the immediate aftermath of the horrific Bhopal Gas Tragedy (December 1984).
• It serves as an 'Umbrella Act' that coordinates the activities of various central and state regulatory agencies established under previous laws (like the Water Act 1974 and Air Act 1981) and empowers the Central Government to set nationwide environmental emission standards, inspect industrial units, and declare Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).

Therefore, the Act was passed in 1986 (Option D).

Detailed match between Coal Fields and their Countries:

| List-I (Coal Field) | List-II (Country) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Appalachian | 4. USA |

| B. Lancashire | 1. England (UK) |

| C. Ruhr | 2. Germany |

| D. Kuzbass | 3. Russia |

• Appalachian: Major bituminous coal basin stretching across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky in eastern USA.
• Lancashire: Historical industrial coalfield in northwestern England that powered the British Industrial Revolution.
• Ruhr Valley: Germany's primary industrial heartland and historical bituminous coal-mining region along the Rhine-Ruhr.
• Kuzbass (Kuznetsk Basin): One of the largest coal mining regions in south-western Siberia, Russia.

Hence, the correct matching code is 4, 1, 2, 3.

Chambal and Betwa (along with Sind and Ken) are direct right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna river. Son originates from the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows directly into the Ganges river near Patna in Bihar, not into the Yamuna.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 following the Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and Khilafat grievances, and called it off in February 1922 after violence erupted at Chauri Chaura. Statement 3 is incorrect because the movement sought Swaraj within the British Empire, whereas the goal of Purna Swaraj was officially adopted at the Lahore Congress session in 1929.

Correct Answer: Option (A) — 3, 4, 1, 2 Chronological sequence of Modern Indian History events: 1. Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931): Signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin, paving the way for Congress participation in the Second RTC. 2. Second Round Table Conference (7 September – 1 December 1931): Held in London; attended by Mahatma Gandhi as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress. 3. Poona Pact (24 September 1932): Agreement between Mahatma Gandhi (fasting in Yerwada Central Jail) and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarding reserved seats for Depressed Classes in provincial legislatures. 4. End of Civil Disobedience Movement (May 1934): Suspended temporarily after Gandhi-Irwin Pact, relaunched in 1932, and formally withdrawn by the AICC at Patna in May 1934. Correct sequence: 3 → 4 → 1 → 2.

As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) by Forest Survey of India (FSI):

• Chandauli: Forest cover is 21.78% of its total geographic area (579.22 sq km out of 2,541 sq km).
• Bahraich: Forest cover is 12.92% (630.93 sq km out of 4,868 sq km).
• Shravasti: Forest cover is 12.44% (204.09 sq km out of 1,640 sq km).

Only three districts in Uttar Pradesh possess forest cover exceeding 20% of their total geographical area: Sonbhadra (35.29%), Chandauli (21.78%), and Mirzapur (20.36%).

Among the given choices, only Chandauli (statement 2) satisfies the condition of >20%. In UPPSC key variants where options are keyed against single-choice or specific subsets, candidate evaluation relies on identifying Chandauli as the sole >20% district among the three.

Evaluation of Coal Producing Areas and States:

1. Maolong (Mawlong): Located in the East Khasi Hills / South Garo Hills of Meghalaya, NOT Arunachal Pradesh (Arunachal's primary coal area is Namchik-Namphuk). Thus, pair 1 is INCORRECTLY matched.
2. Raniganj: Historic Gondwana coalfield located in the Damodar Valley of West Bengal (birthplace of commercial coal mining in India in 1774). Pair 2 is CORRECT.
3. Ramgarh: Important coal basin situated in the Damodar Valley of Jharkhand. Pair 3 is CORRECT.
4. Talcher: Major coal basin in the Mahanadi Valley in the Angul district of Odisha. Pair 4 is CORRECT.

Therefore, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.

Uttar Pradesh possesses coal reserves concentrated exclusively in the Singrauli coalfield region of Sonbhadra district, feeding mega thermal power stations like NTPC Singrauli, Anpara, and Obra.

Arunachal Pradesh's famous coalfield is Namchik-Namphuk; Mawlong/Cherrapunji belongs to Meghalaya.

• Raniganj: West Bengal (oldest coal mine in India, 1774)
• Talcher: Odisha (Mahanadi Coalfields Limited)
• Ramgarh: Jharkhand (Central Coalfields Limited)
• Namchik-Namphuk: Arunachal Pradesh

Pair 1 is false because Maolong is in Meghalaya. Eliminating 1 immediately discards options (a), (c), and (d), leaving (b) Only 2, 3 and 4.

Both statements are correct:

1. Statement 1 is correct: The Government of Delhi launched its free bio-decomposer spraying initiative for farmers across non-basmati and basmati paddy fields in rural Delhi to prevent stubble burning (parali burning) and promote in-situ decomposition into organic manure.
2. Statement 2 is correct: The bio-decomposer (popularly known as the Pusa Bio-decomposer, developed by the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi) is a fungal consortium comprising seven distinct species of fungi (including Aspergillus nidulans, Trichoderma viride, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium) that secrete potent cellulolytic, pectinolytic, and lignolytic enzymes to break down tough paddy straw in 20–25 days.

Constitutional provisions regarding creation of All India Services under Article 312:

1. Statement 1 is correct: If the Rajya Sabha declares by resolution that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest so to do, Parliament may by law create one or more new All India Services (including an All India Judicial Service) common to the Union and the States.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 312 explicitly mandates that the resolution in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) must be supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, NOT two-thirds of the total membership of the House.

Detailed match between famous Medieval Bhakti/Sufi figures (Disciples) and their Gurus:

| List-I (Disciple) | List-II (Guru) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Kabir | 2. Swami Ramananda |

| B. Amir Khusrau | 3. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya |

| C. Surdas | 4. Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya |

| D. Mardana | 1. Guru Nanak Dev |

• Kabir: The 15th-century mystic poet was a prominent disciple of Swami Ramananda in Varanasi.
• Amir Khusrau: The 'Tuti-e-Hind' was the most devoted disciple of Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi.
• Surdas: The blind devotional poet of Brajbhasha was initiated into the Pushtimarg sect by Vallabhacharya at Gau Ghat on the Yamuna.
• Bhai Mardana: A lifelong Muslim companion, rebec player, and disciple of Guru Nanak Dev.

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 3, 4, 1.

Detailed match between Oil Refineries and their States:

| List-I (Refinery) | List-II (State) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Nayara Energy (Vadinar) | 2. Gujarat |

| B. Manali | 4. Tamil Nadu |

| C. Numaligarh | 1. Assam |

| D. Tatipaka | 3. Andhra Pradesh |

• Nayara Energy (formerly Essar Oil): Operates India's second-largest single-site private refinery at Vadinar in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat.
• Manali Refinery (CPCL): Located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, operated by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (a subsidiary of IOCL).
• Numaligarh Refinery (NRL): Located in Golaghat district, Assam, known as the 'Accord Refinery' established under the 1985 Assam Accord.
• Tatipaka Refinery: A mini-refinery operated by ONGC located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 4, 1, 3.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the 1996 World Food Summit, Food Security is defined through four recognized dimensions:

1. Availability: Sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality supplied through domestic production or imports.
2. Access (Accessibility): Access by individuals to adequate resources (entitlements) to acquire appropriate foods for a nutritious diet.
3. Utilization (Affordability/Nutritional absorption): Utilization of food through adequate diet, clean water, sanitation, and healthcare to reach a state of nutritional well-being.
4. Stability: Stability of access to adequate food at all times without risks of periodic shocks.

'Accountability' is a governance principle, NOT an established dimension of food security. Therefore, only statement 4 is NOT a dimension.

Chemical analysis of silver tarnishing:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Shiny silver articles gradually lose their lustre and turn black when exposed to ambient atmospheric air over time.
2. Statement 2 is correct: This blackening is a chemical corrosion process (tarnishing) caused by the reaction of silver (Ag) with trace amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) present in the atmosphere, forming a thin, black surface coating of silver sulphide (Ag2S):

Hence, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Detailed match between ISRO Missions and their Launch Dates:

| List-I (ISRO Mission) | List-II (Date of Launch) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Chandrayaan-3 | 3. 14 July 2023 |

| B. Aditya L1 | 1. 02 September 2023 |

| C. INSAT-3DS | 2. 17 February 2024 |

| D. RLV-LEX-01 | 4. 02 April 2023 |

• Chandrayaan-3: Launched by LVM3-M4 on 14 July 2023 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; successfully landed on the lunar South Pole on 23 August 2023 (National Space Day).
• Aditya L1: India's first solar observatory mission launched via PSLV-C57 on 02 September 2023 toward the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1.
• INSAT-3DS: Advanced meteorological satellite launched via GSLV-F14 on 17 February 2024.
• RLV-LEX-01: Autonomous winged Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment successfully conducted by ISRO at ATR Chitradurga, Karnataka on 02 April 2023.

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 1, 2, 4.

Detailed match of States and their allocated seats in the Rajya Sabha (Fourth Schedule of the Indian Constitution):

| List-I (State) | List-II (Rajya Sabha Seats) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Maharashtra | 3. 19 |

| B. Karnataka | 4. 12 |

| C. Bihar | 1. 16 |

| D. Tamil Nadu | 2. 18 |

• Maharashtra: 19 seats (second highest in India after Uttar Pradesh).
• Tamil Nadu: 18 seats (third highest).
• Bihar: 16 seats (tied with West Bengal at 16 seats).
• Karnataka: 12 seats.

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 4, 1, 2.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Under Article 93, the Lok Sabha elects its Speaker from amongst its members, and Article 94(c) mandates that removal requires an effective majority (majority of all the then members of the House) with at least 14 days' prior notice. Statement 3 is incorrect because the second proviso to Article 94 explicitly states that on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker does not vacate office until immediately before the first meeting of the newly constituted Lok Sabha.

Analysis of the Carrying Capacity of Environment:

1. Statement 1 is incorrect: Carrying capacity dictates that the rate of resource extraction must remain at or below the rate of resource regeneration/generation. If extraction exceeds regeneration, resources face irreversible degradation and exhaustion.
2. Statement 2 is correct: Carrying capacity also implies the assimilative capacity of the environment—the rate of waste generation must remain within the absorption/assimilative capacity of the environment to avoid toxic accumulation and pollution.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

Evaluation of Tribes and their geographic habitats:

1. Bushman (San): Indigenous hunter-gatherers inhabiting the Kalahari Desert across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Correctly matched.
2. Eskimo (Inuit/Yupik): Indigenous circumpolar peoples inhabiting the Arctic tundra of Northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. Correctly matched.
3. Pygmy (Mbuti/Baka): Indigenous short-statured hunter-gatherers inhabiting the dense equatorial rainforests of the Congo Basin in Central Africa. Correctly matched.
4. Masai: Pastoral nomadic group inhabiting the Great Rift Valley of East Africa (specifically southern Kenya and northern Tanzania), NOT West Africa.

Therefore, only pair 4 is NOT correctly matched.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct because under Articles 155 and 156(1), the Governor is appointed by the President and serves during presidential pleasure, while Article 200 authorizes the Governor to reserve state bills for presidential consideration under Article 201. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Governor is an appointed constitutional head and is not elected by legislators.

Chronological order of peasant and tribal uprisings in Modern India:

1. Sanyasi Revolt (1763–1800): Uprising of Hindu sanyasis and Muslim fakirs in Bengal against British revenue exploitation and pilgrimage taxes (immortalized in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's Anandamath).
2. Indigo Revolt (Nil Vidroha) (1859–1860): Peasant uprising in Nadia, Bengal against forced cultivation of indigo by European planters (led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas).
3. Kuka Movement (1871–1872): Socio-religious reform turned political revolt founded by Bhagat Jawahar Mal (Sian Sahib) and led by Baba Ram Singh against British rule and cow slaughter in Punjab; armed clashes and cannon executions occurred in January 1872 at Malerkotla.
4. Pabna Agrarian League (1873–1876): Peasant movement in Pabna district of East Bengal against oppressive zamindari rent hikes and illegal cesses, leading directly to the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885.

Correct chronological sequence: 4 (Sanyasi, 1763) → 2 (Indigo, 1859) → 3 (Kuka, 1872) → 1 (Pabna, 1873), which is 4, 2, 3, 1.

Chronological order of British colonial wars in India:

1. Second Anglo-French (Carnatic) War (1749–1754): Fought over successions in Hyderabad and the Carnatic; featured the Siege of Arcot (1751) by Robert Clive, ending with the Treaty of Pondicherry (1754).
2. First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769): Fought between the British East India Company and Hyder Ali of Mysore, ending with Hyder Ali dictating the humiliating Treaty of Madras (1769).
3. First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842): Disaster for Lord Auckland's British-Indian forces attempting to place Shah Shuja on the Kabul throne.
4. First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846): Fought following Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death, culminating in the Battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon, and ending with the Treaty of Lahore (1846).

Correct sequence: 2 (1749) → 1 (1767) → 4 (1839) → 3 (1845), which is 2, 1, 4, 3.

Geographical distribution of the Gobi Desert:

• The Gobi Desert is a vast, cold desert and semi-desert region in East Asia covering approximately 1.3 million sq km.
• It spans across Southern Mongolia (Omnogovi, Dornogovi, Dundgovi provinces) and Northern/Northwestern China (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinjiang, and Gansu province).
• It does NOT extend into Russia (Siberia lies further north) nor into Kazakhstan (which houses the Kazakh Steppe and Kyzylkum/Karakum deserts).

Therefore, the Gobi Desert is spread across Mongolia (1) and China (2) only.

Chemical composition of Biogas (Gobar Gas):

• Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion/fermentation of organic biomass (cattle dung, sewage, agricultural wastes) by methanogenic bacteria (Methanobacterium).
• The major constituents of biogas are:

1. Methane (CH4): Comprises 50% to 75% of the gas volume (the primary combustible component).
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Comprises 25% to 45% of the gas volume.
3. Trace constituents: Small amounts of water vapour, nitrogen (1-5%), hydrogen (0-1%), and hydrogen sulphide (H2S).

• Butane is a major constituent of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), NOT biogas.

Therefore, the two major constituents are Methane (1) and Carbon dioxide (3).

Adi Karmayogi is an innovative capacity-building and responsive governance initiative launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).

• Modeled under the framework of the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (Mission Karmayogi), the Adi Karmayogi initiative is specifically designed to train grassroots functionaries, panchayat representatives, and field-level tribal administration officials to ensure transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric governance in tribal and Fifth Schedule areas.
• It equips officials to effectively implement flagship tribal legislations like the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, PESA Act, 1996, and PM-JANMAN.

Therefore, the responsible ministry is the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Statement 4).

Modern Indian historical events and their exact years:

• (A) Indian Navy Act: Enacted in 1927 (reorganized the Royal Indian Marine as the Royal Indian Navy).
• (B) Civil Disobedience Movement: Commenced in 1930 (inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March from 12 March to 6 April 1930 breaking the Salt Law).
• (C) Second Round Table Conference: Convened in London in 1931 (7 September to 1 December 1931; attended by Mahatma Gandhi as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact).
• (D) The Communal Award: Announced on 16 August 1932 (NOT 1933) by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, granting separate electorates to forward and backward minorities, Muslims, Sikhs, and the Depressed Classes (which led to Gandhi's fast unto death in Yerwada Jail and the subsequent Poona Pact in September 1932).

Therefore, (D) is NOT correctly matched.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct because under Article 83(1), the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) is a permanent chamber not subject to dissolution, with one-third of its members retiring every second year for a six-year term. Statement 3 is incorrect because under Article 109(1), a Money Bill can be introduced only in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and never in the Rajya Sabha.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Regur or black soil possesses high clay content and moisture retention, making it exceptionally suited for rainfed cotton, while transportable alluvial soil enriched with silt and potash blankets the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plain, forming India's agricultural heartland. Statement 3 is incorrect because laterite soil develops under alternate wet and dry spells with intense leaching, washing away silica and bases while high tropical temperatures foster bacteria that rapidly consume organic matter, leaving laterites poor in humus, nitrogen, and phosphate.

Chronological order of the formation of Indian States:

1. Nagaland (1 December 1963): Created by the State of Nagaland Act, 1962 (13th Constitutional Amendment), carved out of Assam as India's 16th state.
2. Punjab (1 November 1966): Reorganised under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 (Shah Commission recommendations), trifurcating the erstwhile East Punjab state into Punjabi-speaking Punjab, Hindi-speaking Haryana, and the UT of Chandigarh.
3. Sikkim (16 May 1975): Became an Associate State under the 35th Constitutional Amendment (1974) and a full-fledged 22nd State of the Indian Union via the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975.
4. Arunachal Pradesh (20 February 1987): Elevated from a Union Territory to the 24th State of the Indian Union by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 (55th Constitutional Amendment).

Correct sequence: Nagaland (3, 1963) → Punjab (1, 1966) → Sikkim (4, 1975) → Arunachal Pradesh (2, 1987), which is 3, 1, 4, 2.

The reorganization of states in 1956 preserved Uttar Pradesh's borders, which were subsequently modified on 9 November 2000 when 13 hill districts were carved out to create Uttarakhand.

Assuming Punjab existed in its modern state form since 1947 or 1950; its official reorganisation into the modern state of Punjab occurred in 1966 alongside Haryana.

• Nagaland: 1963 (16th state)
• Punjab (reorganised): 1966
• Sikkim: 1975 (36th Amendment)
• Arunachal Pradesh: 1987 (along with Mizoram and Goa)

Nagaland (1963) was formed before Punjab reorganisation (1966), so sequence must start with 3. Arunachal became a state in 1987 (last among these, ending with 2). Only option (c) 3, 1, 4, 2 satisfies this.

Statement 1 is correct because the Gulf Stream is an intense, warm western boundary current flowing northward along the eastern coast of North America in the North Atlantic. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Labrador Current is a cold current flowing southward from the Arctic Ocean along the coast of Newfoundland (meeting the Gulf Stream at Grand Banks). Statement 3 is incorrect because the Kuroshio (Japan Current) is a warm western boundary current in the North Pacific Ocean analogous to the Gulf Stream.

Ascending order (smallest to largest) of the given States based on geographic area:

1. Haryana: 44,212 sq km (smallest among the four)
2. Punjab: 50,362 sq km
3. Uttarakhand: 53,483 sq km
4. Himachal Pradesh: 55,673 sq km (largest among the four)

Ascending order: Haryana (1) → Punjab (3) → Uttarakhand (4) → Himachal Pradesh (2), which gives the code 1, 3, 4, 2.

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. The Supreme Court was officially inaugurated on 28 January 1950, two days after the Constitution took effect. Article 32 guarantees the Right to Constitutional Remedies, empowering the court to issue writs (habeas corpus, mandamus, etc.), which Dr. Ambedkar termed the very heart and soul of the Constitution.

Detailed match between States and their Highest Mountain Peaks:

| List-I (State) | List-II (Highest Peak) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Tamil Nadu | 2. Doddabetta (2,637 m) |

| B. Rajasthan | 3. Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) |

| C. Nagaland | 4. Saramati (3,841 m) |

| D. Madhya Pradesh | 1. Dhupgarh (1,352 m) |

• Tamil Nadu: Doddabetta is the highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills (and second-highest in South India after Anamudi in Kerala).
• Rajasthan: Guru Shikhar is the highest summit of the ancient Aravalli Range, located on Mount Abu.
• Nagaland: Mount Saramati is the highest peak in the Naga Hills / Purvanchal along the India-Myanmar border.
• Madhya Pradesh: Mount Dhupgarh in the Mahadeo Hills of the Satpura Range near Pachmarhi is the highest point in Madhya Pradesh.

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 3, 4, 1.

Operation Brahma was launched by the Government of India in March 2025 as a dedicated humanitarian relief mission:

• India deployed Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying emergency relief supplies, life-saving medicines, shelter materials, and food supplies to Myanmar to assist communities devastated by civil conflicts, humanitarian crises, and natural disasters along the border areas.
• India adheres to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Act East policy, providing proactive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Myanmar.

Therefore, Operation Brahma was launched to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar (Statement 2 only).

Constitutional provisions for Municipalities under Part IX-A:

1. Statement 1 is incorrect: Under Article 243V(1)(b), the minimum age required for being chosen as a member of a municipality or panchayat is 21 years, NOT 25 years. (No person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than 25 years of age, if he has attained the age of 21 years).
2. Statement 2 is correct: Under Article 243T(3), not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for SC/ST women) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality shall be reserved for women.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

Chronological order of the central government schemes:

1. Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Launched on October 2, 2014, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management across India.
2. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Launched on July 15, 2015 (World Youth Skills Day), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to provide industry-relevant skill training.
3. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY): Originally introduced in December 2016 under the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 as a poverty alleviation and welfare fund (and later expanded during COVID-19 in March 2020 as PMGKAY).
4. Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme (PMMSK): Approved and launched in November 2017 under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to empower rural women through community participation.

Therefore, the chronological sequence is 1, 2, 3, 4.

Chronological order of British constitutional proposals during the 1940s:

1. Cripps Mission (March – April 1942): Headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, offered post-war Dominion status and a constitution-making body; rejected by Congress ('post-dated cheque') and Muslim League.
2. Wavell Plan (14 June 1945): Proposed by Viceroy Lord Wavell to reconstruct the Governor-General's Executive Council with equal representation for Caste Hindus and Muslims.
3. Shimla Conference (25 June – 14 July 1945): A summit of 21 Indian political leaders convened by Lord Wavell at Shimla to deliberate upon the Wavell Plan, which broke down due to Jinnah's veto demand.
4. Cabinet Mission (March – May 1946): Comprising Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander; arrived in Delhi on 24 March 1946 and published its constitutional plan on 16 May 1946.

Correct sequence: Cripps Mission (1, March 1942) → Wavell Plan (4, June 1945) → Shimla Conference (3, June-July 1945) → Cabinet Mission (2, 1946), which is 1, 4, 3, 2.

All three statements are correct. The Gulf Stream is an intense warm western boundary current of the North Atlantic gyre originating in the Gulf of Mexico, the Labrador Current carries subpolar cold waters southward along eastern Canada, and their confluence near the Grand Banks off Newfoundland produces thick advection fog while creating one of the richest commercial fishing grounds on Earth.

Chemical formulas of common sodium and potassium compounds:

• Baking soda: Chemically known as Sodium hydrogen carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate, having the formula $NaHCO_3$. It releases carbon dioxide gas upon heating or reaction with weak edible acids, causing dough to rise.
• Washing soda: Sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na₂CO₃ · 10H₂O).
• Anhydrous sodium carbonate: Soda ash (Na₂CO₃).
• Potassium bicarbonate: KHCO₃.

Therefore, the formula of baking soda is NaHCO₃.

Evaluation of statements regarding the Atal Tunnel:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Certified by the Guinness World Records, the Atal Tunnel is officially recognized as the world's longest single-tube highway tunnel above an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 metres), with an engineering length of 9.02 kilometres.
2. Statement 2 is correct: The tunnel is excavated beneath the Rohtang Pass in the Eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, providing all-weather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti valley.

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Under the prevailing consolidated FDI policy in 2014, 100% FDI was permitted in single-brand retail trading (with local sourcing mandates beyond 51%), and up to 51% FDI was permitted in multi-brand retail trading subject to minimum capitalization and individual State government consent. Statement 3 is incorrect because FDI is strictly prohibited in lottery businesses, gambling, betting, and casinos under India's negative list.

Membership of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC):

• The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) is a regional, political, and economic union established on 25 May 1981 in Abu Dhabi.
• The GCC comprises exactly six Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf:

1. Kingdom of Bahrain (Member)
2. State of Kuwait (Member)
3. Sultanate of Oman (Member)
4. State of Qatar (Member)
5. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Member)
6. United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Member)

• Neither Iran (a Persian republic) nor Iraq (an Arab republic) are members of the GCC.

Therefore, the countries that are NOT members are Iran (2) and Iraq (3).

Ecological niche refers to the unique functional role, habitat requirements, and resource utilization pattern of a species within an ecosystem (first conceptualized by Joseph Grinnell and expanded by Charles Elton and G.E. Hutchinson).

• Statement (b) is NOT true because according to Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle, two species competing for the exact same limiting resources cannot coexist indefinitely in the same ecological niche. Therefore, even if resources are abundant, an ecological niche is species-specific and does not house a 'large number of species'.
• In contrast, dominant species occupy broader niches (a), resource partitioning minimizes single-species dominance (d), and different species evolve distinct niches to avoid competitive exclusion.

Detailed match between Major/Minor Ports and their States:

| List-I (Port) | List-II (State) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Paradip | 3. Odisha |

| B. Tuticorin (V.O. Chidambaranar) | 1. Tamil Nadu |

| C. Kakinada | 4. Andhra Pradesh |

| D. Alappuzha (Alleppey) | 2. Kerala |

• Paradip: Major deep-water artificial sea port situated on the eastern coast in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha (at the confluence of the Mahanadi and Bay of Bengal).
• Tuticorin (V.O.C. Port): Major all-weather port situated on the Gulf of Mannar in southern Tamil Nadu, famous for pearl fishing and maritime container trade.
• Kakinada: Major commercial deep-water port situated on the coast of Andhra Pradesh.
• Alappuzha (Alleppey): Historical port and backwater hub on the Arabian Sea coast in Kerala, known as the 'Venice of the East'.

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 1, 4, 2.

Detailed match between Pulitzer Prize Categories and Awardees:

| List-I (Category) | List-II (Awardee) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Fiction | 4. Percival Everett |

| B. Music | 3. Susie Ibarra |

| C. Biography | 1. Jason Roberts |

| D. Drama | 2. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins |

• Fiction: Percival Everett won for his acclaimed novel James (a subversive reimagining of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of enslaved Jim).
• Music: Susie Ibarra won for her innovative percussive compositional work.
• Biography: Jason Roberts was awarded for his definitive biography.
• Drama: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won for his family-conflict Broadway drama Purpose.

Hence, the correct matching code is 4, 3, 1, 2.

Physiology of human protein digestion across the gastrointestinal tract:

• Stomach (Gastric Juice): Gastric glands in the stomach mucosa secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the proenzyme pepsinogen. In the acidic environment (pH 1.5–2.0), pepsinogen is activated into Pepsin, which hydrolyzes intact proteins into proteoses and peptones (peptides). (In infants, rennin is also present to digest milk casein).
• Small Intestine (Pancreatic Juice): Trypsin and Chymotrypsin are NOT released in the stomach; they are synthesized by the pancreas as inactive zymogens (trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen) and secreted into the duodenum (small intestine), where trypsinogen is activated by mucosal enterokinase.

Therefore, among the options, only Pepsin (3) is released in the stomach.

Evaluation of Mountain Passes and their State / UT locations:

1. Lipulekh: Located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand along the tri-junction of India, Tibet (China), and Nepal, serving as a vital route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. It is NOT located in Ladakh. Therefore, pair 1 is NOT correctly matched.
2. Nathu La: Historic pass on the ancient Silk Route connecting Sikkim with the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. Correctly matched.
3. Bomdila: High-altitude mountain pass connecting the Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa, Tibet. Correctly matched.
4. Shipki La: High mountain pass in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, through which the Sutlej River enters India from Tibet. Correctly matched.

Therefore, only pair 1 is NOT correctly matched.

Constitutional Amendment of the Preamble:

• The Preamble of the Constitution of India has been amended only once in history, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 (during the National Emergency under the Indira Gandhi government, following recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee).
• The 42nd Amendment added three new words to the Preamble:

1. 'Socialist'
2. 'Secular'
3. 'Integrity' (transforming 'unity of the Nation' to 'unity and integrity of the Nation')

• The words 'Sovereign' and 'Republic' (along with 'Democratic') were present in the original Preamble adopted on 26 November 1949.

Therefore, the words inserted by the 42nd Amendment are Socialist (1) and Secular (2).

Detailed match between Mughal Emperors and their Mausoleum/Tomb Locations:

| List-I (Emperor) | List-II (City of Tomb) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Babur | 4. Kabul (Bagh-e Babur, Afghanistan) |

| B. Humayun | 3. Delhi (Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin) |

| C. Jahangir | 2. Lahore (Shahdara Bagh, Pakistan) |

| D. Shah Jahan | 1. Agra (Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh) |

• Babur: Initially buried in Aram Bagh (Agra), his remains were later moved as per his will to his beloved garden Bagh-e Babur in Kabul.
• Humayun: His grand red-sandstone and marble mausoleum (precursor to the Taj Mahal) was built by his widow Bega Begum (Haji Begum) in Delhi.
• Jahangir: Buried at Shahdara Bagh on the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore, Pakistan (tomb constructed by his wife Nur Jahan).
• Shah Jahan: Entombed alongside his beloved empress Mumtaz Mahal inside the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Hence, the correct matching code is 4, 3, 2, 1.

Evaluation of Ramsar Wetland Sites and their State locations:

1. Sarsai Nawar Jheel: A permanent freshwater marsh situated in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh (Ramsar site since 2019, key habitat for Sarus Crane). [Located in UP]
2. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary: A perennial wetland situated in the Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh (Ramsar site since 2019). [Located in UP]
3. Rudrasagar Lake: A prominent lowland wetland situated in the Melaghar region of Tripura (houses the famous Neermahal palace; Ramsar site since 2005). [NOT in UP]
4. Sultanpur National Park: A renowned bird wetland sanctuary situated in the Gurugram district of Haryana (designated a Ramsar site in 2021). [NOT in UP]

Therefore, the Ramsar sites that are NOT situated in Uttar Pradesh are Rudrasagar Lake (3) and Sultanpur National Park (4).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Parliament enacted the National Green Tribunal Act in 2010 under India's constitutional commitment to a healthy environment under Article 21. The NGT was formally notified and became fully functional in 2011, establishing its Principal Bench in New Delhi alongside zonal benches.

The Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) is a prestigious semi-annual report prepared and published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (released in April and October each year).

• The GFSR provides an in-depth assessment of the global financial system and markets, highlighting vulnerabilities in sovereign debt, banking systems, corporate borrowing, and emerging market capital flows.
• Other major IMF flagship reports include the World Economic Outlook (WEO) and the Fiscal Monitor.
• In contrast, the World Economic Forum publishes the Global Competitiveness Report and Global Risks Report, while the World Bank releases the Global Economic Prospects.

Therefore, the GFSR is published by the International Monetary Fund (Only 1).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct because Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest brackish water coastal lagoon in India and Asia, and Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in Asia formed by tectonic activity and fed by the Jhelum River. Statement 3 is incorrect because Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is India's largest inland hypersaline lake, producing a major portion of Rajasthan's salt.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. In April 2011, social activist Anna Hazare launched an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar that galvanized the India Against Corruption movement. A key demand of their Jan Lokpal Bill was the inclusion of the Prime Minister and the higher judiciary under the investigative purview of an independent ombudsman.

Geographical analysis of Brazil's biomes and soils:

1. Statement 1 is correct: The dense, multi-layered evergreen equatorial rainforests of the Amazon Basin in northern Brazil are locally and globally known as the Selvas (Portuguese/Spanish for forest). These rainforests are often referred to as the 'Lungs of the Earth' due to their massive oxygen output and carbon sequestration.
2. Statement 2 is correct: The exceptionally fertile, dark purplish-red to deep black volcanic soil found in the Paraná basin of southern Brazil (São Paulo and Paraná states) is known as Terra Roxa (from Italian terra rossa, red earth). Derived from weathered basaltic lava, Terra Roxa is rich in iron, humus, and potash, providing the ideal pedological foundation for Brazil's world-leading coffee plantations (Fazendas).

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Detailed match between Finance Commissions and their Chairmen:

| List-I (Finance Commission) | List-II (Chairman) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Eleventh Finance Commission | 3. Prof. A. M. Khusro (1998–2000) |

| B. Twelfth Finance Commission | 1. Dr. C. Rangarajan (2002–2004) |

| C. Thirteenth Finance Commission | 4. Dr. Vijay L. Kelkar (2007–2009) |

| D. Fourteenth Finance Commission | 2. Dr. Y. V. Reddy (2013–2015) |

• 11th FC (A.M. Khusro): Recommended devolution for 2000–2005 (29.5% state share).
• 12th FC (C. Rangarajan): Recommended devolution for 2005–2010 (increased state share to 30.5% and introduced fiscal responsibility debt-swap schemes).
• 13th FC (Vijay Kelkar): Recommended devolution for 2010–2015 (32% state share, promoted GST implementation framework).
• 14th FC (Y.V. Reddy): Recommended devolution for 2015–2020 (landmark jump in untied devolution to 42%).

(The 15th FC was chaired by N.K. Singh, and 16th FC by Dr. Arvind Panagariya).

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 1, 4, 2.

Social indicators of poverty analysis:

• In sociological and development economics (as outlined in NCERT Class 9 Poverty as a Challenge and UNDP methodologies), poverty is examined through social indicators beyond mere income and consumption levels.
• Established Social Indicators of Poverty include:

1. Illiteracy level (lack of education and cognitive development)
2. Lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation
3. Lack of job opportunities (unemployment and precarious livelihood)
4. Malnutrition and lack of general resistance to diseases

• Size of the house is a physical housing characteristic / material asset parameter, NOT a recognized social indicator of poverty.

Therefore, the parameter that is NOT a social indicator of poverty is Only 4 (Size of the house).

Detailed match between Lok Sabha terms and their respective Speakers:

| List-I (Lok Sabha) | List-II (Speaker) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. 11th Lok Sabha (1996–1997) | 2. P. A. Sangma |

| B. 12th Lok Sabha (1998–1999) | 4. G. M. C. Balayogi |

| C. 14th Lok Sabha (2004–2009) | 3. Somnath Chatterjee |

| D. 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024) | 1. Om Birla |

• 11th Lok Sabha: Purno Agitok Sangma was unanimously elected Speaker in 1996, becoming the first tribal and Northeast leader to hold the office.
• 12th Lok Sabha: G.M.C. Balayogi (TDP) was elected Speaker in 1998 (and re-elected in 13th Lok Sabha until his tragic death in 2002), becoming the first Dalit Speaker.
• 14th Lok Sabha: Somnath Chatterjee (CPI-M) served with great distinction as Speaker from 2004 to 2009.
• 17th Lok Sabha: Om Birla (BJP MP from Kota) served as Speaker from 2019 to 2024 (and was re-elected in the 18th Lok Sabha).

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 4, 3, 1.

Historical provisions and consequences of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748):

1. Statement 1 is correct: The First Carnatic War (1746–1748)—which was an extension of the War of the Austrian Succession in Europe between Britain and France—was formally brought to an end by the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in October 1748.
2. Statement 2 is correct: Under the terms of the treaty, the French agreed to restore Madras to the British in exchange for the British returning the fortress of Louisbourg (Cape Breton Island in North America) back to France.

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Evaluation of Cities and their Riparian Rivers:

1. Budapest: Capital of Hungary, situated grandly on the Danube River. Correctly matched.
2. Cologne (Köln): Major historical city in western Germany, situated on the Rhine River. Correctly matched.
3. New Orleans: Major port city in Louisiana, USA, situated on the delta of the Mississippi River, NOT the Missouri River. (The Missouri is a tributary that joins the Mississippi near St. Louis, hundreds of miles north). Thus, pair 3 is NOT correctly matched.
4. Hyderabad (India): Historic capital of Telangana, situated on the banks of the Musi River, NOT Paleru. (Paleru is a minor tributary of the Krishna in Khammam district). Thus, pair 4 is NOT correctly matched.

Therefore, the pairs that are NOT correctly matched are Only 3 and 4.

Chemical properties and applications of Baking Soda:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Baking soda is chemically known as Sodium hydrogen carbonate (or sodium bicarbonate), having the chemical formula NaHCO3. It is produced industrially via the Solvay process using brine, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.
2. Statement 2 is correct: Baking soda is an active constituent in soda-acid fire extinguishers. In these extinguishers, sodium hydrogen carbonate solution reacts with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to instantaneously generate a vigorous volume of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, which blankets the flames and extinguishes the fire by starving it of atmospheric oxygen:

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

The Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 was prepared and published by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), a subordinate office of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.

• CGWB is the national apex technical agency entrusted with assessing, monitoring, exploring, and regulating groundwater quality, water tables, and aquifer management across India.
• The report monitors critical contaminants like arsenic, fluoride, salinity (EC), nitrate, and heavy metals across thousands of dedicated National Hydrograph Monitoring Stations.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) focuses broadly on surface water and ambient air standards, while the Central Water Commission (CWC) specializes in surface water resources and dam safety.

Therefore, the report was prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (Only 3).

Historical composition of the States Reorganisation Commission (Fazal Ali Commission), 1953:

• In December 1953, the Government of India appointed a three-member States Reorganisation Commission under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Fazal Ali to examine the question of the reorganisation of the states on a linguistic basis.
• Its other two distinguished members were:

1. K. M. Panikkar (distinguished diplomat, scholar, and historian) [Statement 2]
2. H. N. Kunzru (Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru, renowned parliamentarian and social worker) [Statement 4]

• (K.T. Shah was an economist and prominent member of the Constituent Assembly; Pattabhi Sitaramayya was a member of the earlier JVP Committee [Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Pattabhi Sitaramayya] of 1948).

Therefore, the members of the Fazal Ali Commission were K. M. Panikkar (2) and H. N. Kunzru (4).

Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru was a celebrated political thinker from Uttar Pradesh and served as a Member of Parliament and president of the Servants of India Society in Prayagraj.

P. Sitaramayya was in the JVP Committee (1948), not the Fazal Ali Commission (1953).

• Formed: December 1953, Submitted report: September 1955
• Chairman: Justice Fazal Ali
• Members: K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru
• Led to: 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 and States Reorganisation Act, 1956 creating 14 states and 6 UTs

The three members of the States Reorganisation Commission are universally memorized as Fazal Ali, Panikkar, and Kunzru. Thus 2 and 4 (Option B) is correct.

Correct Answer: Option (A) — 2, 4, 1, 3 Chronological order of Urban and Water Development Missions in India: 1. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM): Launched on 3 December 2005 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to upgrade urban infrastructure across 63 mission cities. 2. National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy (NUHHP): Formulated and notified in 2007 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to promote affordable housing. 3. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): Launched on 25 June 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide universal water supply and sewerage connections across 500 cities. 4. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Announced on 15 August 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural home (Har Ghar Jal) by 2024. Correct chronological sequence: JNNURM (2, 2005) → NUHHP (4, 2007) → AMRUT (1, 2015) → Jal Jeevan Mission (3, 2019), which is 2, 4, 1, 3.

Anatomical and ecological evaluation of *Earthworms (Pheretima posthuma)*:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Earthworms continuously burrow through soil, creating aeration channels that facilitate root respiration and water infiltration. By digesting leaf litter and organic matter, they excrete nutrient-rich castings containing available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, earning them the universal title of 'Farmer's Friends' and forming the biological basis of vermicomposting.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect: An earthworm possesses four pairs (a total of 8) of pseudo-hearts (lateral hearts in segments 7 and 9, and lateral oesophageal hearts in segments 12 and 13), NOT two pairs. They pump blood from the dorsal vessel to the ventral vessel.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Earthworms have a closed circulatory system with 4 pairs (8 hearts), not 2 pairs.

• Phylum: Annelida
• Scientific name: Pheretima posthuma
• Hearts: 4 pairs (segments 7, 9, 12, 13)
• Respiration: Cutaneous (through moist skin)
• Blood pigment: Hemoglobin dissolved in blood plasma (no RBCs)

Statement 2 falsely claims two pairs of hearts instead of four pairs. Eliminating 2 leaves (d) Only 1.

Chronological order of Medieval Bhakti Movement Saints:

1. Namdev (c. 1270–1350 CE): Varkari saint-poet from Maharashtra dedicated to Lord Vithoba (Pandharpur); his hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
2. Kabir (c. 1398–1518 CE / 15th Century): Nirguna Bhakti mystic-poet of Varanasi who preached unity of God and rejected external rituals and caste orthodoxies.
3. Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539 CE): Born at Talwandi (Nankana Sahib); founder of Sikhism and proponent of Ik Onkar (One God).
4. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534 CE): Vaishnava saint and mystic of Bengal who popularized Gaudiya Vaishnavism, ecstatic Kirtana, and the worship of Radha-Krishna.

Correct chronological sequence: Namdev (3, 13th/14th century) → Kabir (4, early 15th century) → Guru Nanak (1, born 1469) → Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (2, born 1486), which is 3, 4, 1, 2.

Only pair 1 is correctly matched. Hemis National Park, famous for snow leopards and the largest national park in India, is situated in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched because Silent Valley National Park, situated in the Nilgiri Hills, is located in the Palakkad district of Kerala. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched because Namdapha National Park, renowned for its all four big cat species, is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, not Assam.

Analysis of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):

1. Statement 1 is correct: The global Multidimensional Poverty Index was developed and introduced in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Human Development Report, replacing the former Human Poverty Index (HPI).
2. Statement 2 is incorrect: MPI does NOT measure monetary/income poverty based on the World Bank's 'one dollar per day' (or updated $2.15/day) extreme poverty threshold. Instead, MPI measures overlapping acute deprivations that poor people experience simultaneously across 10 non-income indicators structured under three equal dimensions: Health (Nutrition, Child mortality), Education (Years of schooling, School attendance), and Living Standards (Cooking fuel, Sanitation, Drinking water, Electricity, Housing, Assets).

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added three new terms—'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity'—to the Preamble. This 1976 amendment remains the only instance in which the Preamble has been amended.

Statement 1 is correct because the Indus originates in the Tibetan plateau near Lake Mansarovar from the Bokhar Chu glacier. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through the Namcha Barwa gorge as the Siang/Dihang, before descending into Assam. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Ganga is formed at Devprayag by the confluence of the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda, not at Gangotri.

Chronological sequence of Mughal-era battles:

1. Battle of Daurah (Dohrariya) (1532 CE): Fought on the Gomti River near Jaunpur, where young Mughal Emperor Humayun decisively defeated the Afghan confederacy led by Mahmud Lodi.
2. Battle of Chausa (26 June 1539 CE): Fought on the banks of the Karmnasa River near Buxar, where Sher Khan (Sher Shah Suri) inflicted a crushing defeat on Humayun, who escaped by swimming across the Ganga with the help of a water-carrier (Nizam).
3. Battle of Kannauj (Bilgram) (17 May 1540 CE): Fought near Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh; Sher Shah decisively routed Humayun, driving him into 15 years of Persian exile and establishing the Sur Empire.
4. Battle of Samugarh (29 May 1658 CE): Decisive battle of the Mughal war of succession fought near Agra, where Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh routed the imperial forces of crown prince Dara Shikoh.

Correct sequence: Daurah (2, 1532) → Chausa (4, 1539) → Kannauj (1, 1540) → Samugarh (3, 1658), which is 2, 4, 1, 3.

Physiological characteristics of human blood:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Blood is a specialized liquid connective tissue consisting of a straw-colored, viscous fluid matrix called plasma (constituting ~55% of blood volume) and formed cellular elements (~45% of blood volume), which comprise erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes (WBCs), and thrombocytes (platelets).
2. Statement 2 is correct: Red blood cells contain a high concentration of haemoglobin, an iron-containing complex conjugated metalloprotein. When haemoglobin binds with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin in the pulmonary capillaries, the iron (Fe2+) coordinates light absorption in the blue-green spectrum and reflects bright red wavelengths, imparting the characteristic red color to blood.

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The backbone of India's commercial nuclear fleet comprises indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) fuelled by natural uranium and moderated by heavy water, and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu features VVER-1000 reactors constructed with technical cooperation from Russia. Statement 2 is incorrect because the second stage employs plutonium-fuelled Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), whereas the third stage is designed to utilize India's vast thorium reserves in advanced thorium-based reactors.

Detailed match between Committees of the Constituent Assembly and their Chairmen:

| List-I (Committee) | List-II (Chairman) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Union Constitution Committee | 4. Jawaharlal Nehru |

| B. Rules of Procedure Committee | 1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad |

| C. Drafting Committee | 3. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar |

| D. Fundamental Rights Sub-committee | 2. J. B. Kripalani |

• Union Constitution Committee: Chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru (who also chaired the Union Powers Committee and States Committee).
• Rules of Procedure Committee: Chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad (who was the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly and also chaired the Steering Committee).
• Drafting Committee: Set up on 29 August 1947, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (consisting of 7 members).
• Fundamental Rights Sub-committee: Chaired by J.B. Kripalani (under the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel).

Hence, the correct matching code is 4, 1, 3, 2.

Chronological order of Rural Development and Employment Programmes in India:

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP): Initially conceptualized in 1978–79 and launched nationwide on 2 October 1980 to provide self-employment assets through subsidy and bank credit.
2. National Rural Employment Programme (NREP): Launched in October 1980 (restructuring the Food for Work Programme) to generate gainful wage employment in rural areas.
3. Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA): Launched in September 1982 as a special sub-scheme of IRDP to empower rural women through group-based income-generating activities.
4. Jawahar Rojgar Yojana (JRY): Launched on 1 April 1989 by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by merging NREP and RLEGP to guarantee rural wage employment at the village panchayat level.

Correct chronological sequence: IRDP (3, 1978/1980) → NREP (4, 1980) → DWCRA (2, 1982) → JRY (1, 1989), which is 3, 4, 2, 1.

Geographical boundary analysis of Uttar Pradesh districts:

• Lalitpur: Forms a southern peninsula jutting deep into Madhya Pradesh. It is bounded on three sides (north, west, and south) by Madhya Pradesh (districts of Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Ashoknagar, and Shivpuri). Within Uttar Pradesh, Lalitpur shares its boundary with only ONE district: Jhansi.
• Saharanpur: Located at the northernmost tip of UP. Within Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur borders two districts: Muzaffarnagar and Shamli (along with 3 states: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana).
• Sonbhadra: Located at the southeastern tip of UP. Within Uttar Pradesh, Sonbhadra borders two districts: Mirzapur and Chandauli (along with 4 states: MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar).

Therefore, the only district that shares its boundary with ONLY ONE other district of Uttar Pradesh is Only 1 (Lalitpur).

Constitutional provisions for Panchayati Raj Institutions under Part IX:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 243E(1) of the Constitution, every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Under Article 243D(2), not less than one-third (1/3) of the total number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes. Statement 2 erroneously specifies '1/4th'.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Detailed match between Classical Sanskrit Authors and their Works:

| List-I (Author) | List-II (Book) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Trivikrama Bhatta | 3. Nala Champu |

| B. Somadeva | 4. Katha Sarit Sagara |

| C. Jayadeva | 1. Gita Govinda |

| D. Kshemendra | 2. Brihatkathamanjari |

• Trivikrama Bhatta: 10th-century Rashtrakuta court poet who composed Nala Champu (the earliest extant classical work in Champu kavya—a mixed verse-and-prose style).
• Somadeva: 11th-century Kashmiri poet who composed the monumental ocean of folk-stories, Katha Sarit Sagara (based on Gunadhya's lost Prakrit Brihatkatha).
• Jayadeva: 12th-century poet in the court of King Lakshmana Sena of Bengal who authored the immortal devotional lyrical masterpiece Gita Govinda.
• Kshemendra: Celebrated 11th-century polymath and literary scholar from Kashmir who composed the Sanskrit narrative Brihatkathamanjari.

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 4, 1, 2.

Archaeological analysis of Indus Valley / Harappan Civilization sites:

1. Mandi: Located in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh; in May 2000, agricultural laborers discovered a sensational hoard of Late Harappan gold ornaments, spacer beads, copper containers, and terracotta artefacts.
2. Rakhigarhi: Located in the Hisar district of Haryana along the paleo-channel of the Drishadvati/Ghaggar river; it is the largest known Mature Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent. (It is NOT in UP).
3. Hulas: Located in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh (excavated by K.N. Dikshit); an important Late Harappan site yielding distinct Harappan pottery, mud-brick structures, and cultivated grain residues (including wild and cultivated rice).

Therefore, the IVC sites situated in present-day Uttar Pradesh are Mandi (1) and Hulas (3).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Rajindar Sachar Committee was appointed by the Prime Minister in 2005 and submitted its landmark report in November 2006 on the socio-economic and educational backwardness of Muslims in India. The Suresh Tendulkar Committee was appointed by the Planning Commission in 2005 and submitted its report in December 2009, moving away from uniform calorie intake anchors to include private expenditure on health and education for poverty line determination.

Parliamentary classification of Financial Committees in India:

• The Parliament of India constitutes three standing committees specifically categorized as Financial Committees:

1. Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Constituted annually (22 members: 15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha) to examine the appropriation accounts and CAG audit reports.
2. Estimates Committee: Constituted annually (30 members, exclusively from Lok Sabha) to examine budget estimates and suggest economies in public expenditure ('Continuous Economy Committee').
3. Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU): Created in 1964 on the recommendations of the Krishna Menon Committee (22 members: 15 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha) to examine reports and efficiency of public sector enterprises.

Therefore, all three (1, 2, and 3) are Financial Committees of the Parliament.

Detailed match between National Parks / Wildlife Sanctuaries and their States/UTs:

| List-I (Protected Area) | List-II (State / UT) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Dachigam National Park | 4. Jammu and Kashmir |

| B. Keoladeo Ghana National Park | 2. Rajasthan |

| C. Kanha National Park | 1. Madhya Pradesh |

| D. Periyar National Park | 3. Kerala |

• Dachigam: Located near Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir; famous as the last remaining stronghold of the critically endangered Hangul (Kashmir Stag).
• Keoladeo Ghana: World-famous wetland and UNESCO World Heritage avifauna reserve situated in Bharatpur, Rajasthan (famed for Siberian crane winter migration).
• Kanha: Renowned tiger reserve and moist sal forest in Madhya Pradesh; celebrated for saving the hard-ground Barasingha (swamp deer) from extinction.
• Periyar: Elephant and tiger reserve situated around Periyar Lake in the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills of Kerala.

Hence, the correct matching code is 4, 2, 1, 3.

All three statements are correct. In response to the economic disruption of COVID-19, the RBI reduced the repo rate by a cumulative 115 basis points down to 4.0% in early 2020. The central bank also granted commercial lenders regulatory permission to offer a six-month moratorium on term loan EMI payments running from 1 March to 31 August 2020. In May 2020, the Central Government launched the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) providing 100% government guarantee for collateral-free pre-approved operational loans to MSMEs.

Evaluation of Hydroelectric Dams and their Rivers:

1. Baglihar Dam: A run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project constructed across the Chenab River in the Doda/Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir. Correctly matched.
2. Pandoh Dam: An earth and rock-fill embankment dam constructed on the Beas River in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh (diverting Beas waters to the Sutlej via the Beas-Sutlej Link Project), NOT on the Ravi River. Thus, pair 2 is NOT correctly matched.
3. Srisailam Dam: One of the largest hydroelectric dams in India, constructed across the Krishna River on the border between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, NOT on the Tungabhadra River. Thus, pair 3 is NOT correctly matched.

Therefore, the pairs that are NOT correctly matched are 2 and 3.

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The 2009 pandemic was caused by an Orthomyxoviridae family influenza A virus subtype H1N1, prompting Director-General Margaret Chan of the WHO to officially raise the pandemic alert to Phase 6 on 11 June 2009 as community transmission spread across multiple continents. Statement 2 is incorrect because H1N1 is an acute viral pathogen against which antibacterial antibiotics are wholly ineffective; clinical management relies on neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral agents like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir.

Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched on 1 May 2016 at Ballia (UP) to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women of impoverished households; Stand Up India was launched on 5 April 2016 to facilitate bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to SC, ST, and women greenfield entrepreneurs; and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched in February 2016 to offer low-premium comprehensive risk cover against crop failure.

1. Khalisa (Crown land): Land managed directly by the central imperial administration, whose revenues were deposited straight into the royal treasury (Bait-ul-Mal).
2. Iqtas / Jagirs: Territories assigned to military commanders, nobles, and officials (Iqtadars/Muqtis/Jagirdars) in lieu of cash salary, from which they collected revenue to maintain troops and administrative overheads.

Detailed match between Padma Vibhushan Awardees and their respective Fields:

| List-I (Awardee) | List-II (Field) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Trade and Industry | 2. Shri Osamu Suzuki |

| B. Literature and Education | 3. Shri M. T. Vasudevan Nair |

| C. Medicine | 4. Shri D. Nageshwar Reddy |

| D. Art | 1. Shri Lakshminarayana Subramaniam |

• Trade and Industry: Osamu Suzuki (former Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan) awarded for revolutionizing India's automobile landscape through Maruti Suzuki.
• Literature and Education: M.T. Vasudevan Nair, iconic Malayalam novelist, scriptwriter, and Jnanpith laureate.
• Medicine: Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, world-renowned gastroenterologist and founder-chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG Hospitals), Hyderabad.
• Art: Dr. L. Subramaniam, celebrated virtuoso Carnatic violinist, composer, and conductor.

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 3, 4, 1.

The Pushkar Kumbh Mela is celebrated at the holy sacred town of Pushkar in Ajmer district, Rajasthan.

• Pushkar is home to the world's most famous and rarest ancient temple dedicated to Lord Brahma (Jagatpita Brahma Mandir) and the sacred Pushkar Sarovar (lake).
• The special astrological confluence of the Pushkar Maha Kumbh / Pushkar Mela occurs in Rajasthan along the sands and ghats of Pushkar Lake.

Therefore, the Pushkar Kumbh Mela was held in Rajasthan (Only 1).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Planning Commission was established as an extra-constitutional, non-statutory body in March 1950 through an executive resolution of the Government of India, and the First Five Year Plan focused on post-war rehabilitation and agriculture guided by the Harrod-Domar growth formulation. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Second Five Year Plan (1956-61), based on the Nehru-Mahalanobis model, prioritized rapid industrialization with a prime focus on heavy and basic capital goods industries.

Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka was one of India's deepest gold mines. Bailadila in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh is famous for world-class high-grade haematite iron ore deposits exported via Visakhapatnam. Digboi in Assam is India's oldest operational oil refinery and petroleum field dating to 1901. Jharia in Jharkhand is India's largest and most famous coking coal reserve in the Damodar Valley basin.

Chronological order of Expert Committees on Poverty Estimation in India:

1. Dandekar and Rath Committee (1971): First systematic assessment using National Sample Survey (NSS) data, establishing the benchmark of 2,250 calories per capita per day in both rural and urban areas.
2. Lakdawala Committee (Task Force) (1989 / submitted 1993): Chaired by Prof. D.T. Lakdawala; recommended state-specific poverty lines updated using CPI-AL (for rural) and CPI-IW (for urban) indices.
3. Tendulkar Committee (2005 / submitted 2009): Chaired by Suresh Tendulkar; shifted away from calorie anchoring to Mixed Reference Period (MRP) consumption expenditure covering education and health, pegging national poverty at 21.9%.
4. Rangarajan Committee (2012 / submitted 2014): Chaired by Dr. C. Rangarajan; reverted to independent nutritional norms, establishing daily per-capita thresholds of Rs. 32 (rural) and Rs. 47 (urban).

Correct chronological sequence: 4 (1971) → 1 (1989) → 3 (2005) → 2 (2012), which is 4, 1, 3, 2.

Constitutional provisions regarding the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution:

• The Eighth Schedule currently recognizes 22 languages (originally 14 in 1950):

1. Nepali: Added by the 71st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (along with Konkani and Manipuri).
2. Dogri: Added by the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 (along with Bodo, Maithili, and Santhali).
3. Bodo: Added by the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
4. Bhojpuri: Despite widespread popular demand and millions of speakers across eastern UP and western Bihar, Bhojpuri has NOT yet been included in the Eighth Schedule.

Therefore, the language NOT included in the Eighth Schedule is Only 4 (Bhojpuri).

All three statements are correct. The First Buddhist Council met at the Sattapanni cave in Rajgriha under King Ajatashatru shortly after Buddha's death, where Upali and Ananda recited the Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka. The Second Council was convened at Vaishali under King Kalashoka in 383 BCE, and the Fourth Council was held at Kundalvana in Kashmir under Kushan ruler Kanishka, which marked the formal split into Mahayana and Hinayana sects.

Chronological order of the Presidents of India by tenure:

1. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy: Served from 25 July 1977 to 25 July 1982 (6th President of India, only President elected unopposed).
2. R. Venkataraman: Served from 25 July 1987 to 25 July 1992 (8th President of India, worked with 4 Prime Ministers).
3. K. R. Narayanan: Served from 25 July 1997 to 25 July 2002 (10th President of India, first Dalit President).
4. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: Served from 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007 (11th President of India, the 'People's President' and missile scientist).

Correct chronological sequence: Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1, 1977) → R. Venkataraman (4, 1987) → K.R. Narayanan (2, 1997) → A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (3, 2002), which is 1, 4, 2, 3.

Both statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Swadeshi Movement was formally launched in August 1905 in response to Lord Curzon's announcement of the partition of Bengal. In the face of intense and prolonged agitation, King George V and Viceroy Lord Hardinge officially annulled the partition of Bengal at the Delhi Durbar in December 1911.

Detailed match between Nuclear Power Plants and their States:

| List-I (Nuclear Plant) | List-II (State) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Kudankulam | 2. Tamil Nadu |

| B. Kakrapar | 4. Gujarat |

| C. Kaiga | 1. Karnataka |

| D. Rawatbhata (RAPS) | 3. Rajasthan |

• Kudankulam: India's highest-capacity nuclear power plant (VVER-1000 reactors built in technical collaboration with Russia), located in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
• Kakrapar: Located near Surat along the Tapi River in Gujarat (home to India's first indigenous 700 MWe PHWR).
• Kaiga: Located along the Kali River in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka.
• Rawatbhata (Rajasthan Atomic Power Station): Located near Kota on the Chambal River in Rajasthan (constructed originally with Canadian CANDU reactor assistance).

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 4, 1, 3.

Evaluation of Constitutional Bodies and their corresponding Constitutional Articles:

• Election Commission – 165: Incorrect! The Election Commission of India is established under Article 324. Article 165 provides for the Advocate-General for the State.
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes – 148: Incorrect! The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is established under Article 338. Article 148 provides for the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
• Finance Commission – 263: Incorrect! The Finance Commission is constituted under Article 280. Article 263 deals with the Inter-State Council.
• National Commission for Backward Classes – 340: Correctly matched according to the UPPSC official key. Article 340 of the Constitution provides for the 'Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes' (under which the Kaka Kalelkar and Mandal Commissions were appointed). Note: While the permanent National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was conferred constitutional status under Article 338B by the 102nd Amendment Act in 2018, Article 340 remains the foundational constitutional article providing for backward classes commissions.

Therefore, option (d) is the correctly matched pair.

Detailed match between Famous Iron-ore Mines and their States:

| List-I (Iron-ore Mine) | List-II (State) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Gurumahisani | 3. Odisha |

| B. Bailadila | 4. Chhattisgarh |

| C. Noamundi | 1. Jharkhand |

| D. Kudremukh | 2. Karnataka |

• Gurumahisani: Historic haematite iron-ore deposit located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha (which historically fed the Tata Iron and Steel plant at Jamshedpur).
• Bailadila: High-grade massive haematite deposit located in the Dantewada/Bastar district of Chhattisgarh (ore exported via Visakhapatnam port to Japan).
• Noamundi: Major open-cast iron-ore mine operated by Tata Steel in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
• Kudremukh: Famous magnetite deposit in the Western Ghats in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka (transported as slurry pipeline to Mangalore port).

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 4, 1, 2.

Analysis of the International Solar Alliance (ISA):

1. Statement 1 is incorrect: While ISA is indeed the first treaty-based inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India (National Institute of Solar Energy campus, Gurugram, Haryana), it has over 120 signatory countries and 100+ full ratified member countries, NOT merely 38. (Stating only 38 member countries is grossly incorrect).
2. Statement 2 is correct: Flagship multilateral initiatives launched under the aegis of the ISA include the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative (conceptualized by India to interconnect regional solar grids globally) and deliberations for creating a dedicated World Solar Bank to catalyze $1 trillion of investment in solar infrastructure across developing countries.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII:

• Exercise KHANJAR is an annual bilateral joint special forces military exercise conducted between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Kyrgyzstan Armed Forces.
• Initiated in 2011, this premier exercise focuses on high-altitude warfare, counter-terrorism, and mountain special operations in built-up and rural environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations charter.
• The 12th edition (KHANJAR-XII) was conducted in March 2025 with elite paratroopers and special forces from both nations.

Therefore, the joint exercise was held between India and Kyrgyzstan (Only 3).

Institutional framework for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Uttar Pradesh:

• The Department of Planning (योजना विभाग), Government of Uttar Pradesh, is the nodal state agency entrusted with coordinating, tracking, and monitoring progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
• The Planning Department's specialized economic wing prepares and publishes the comprehensive National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report and the UP SDG Indicator Framework Report, aligning district-level administrative data with NITI Aayog's SDG India Index benchmarks.

Therefore, the responsible department is the Department of Planning (Only 3).

Chemical principles regarding Isotopes:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Isotopes are atoms of the same chemical element that possess the identical atomic number (Z, same number of protons) and identical chemical properties, but have different mass numbers (A, different number of neutrons) in their atomic nuclei (e.g., ¹²₆C and ¹⁴₆C).
2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Protium (¹₁H, 0 neutrons), Deuterium (²₁H, 1 neutron), and Tritium (³₁H, 2 neutrons) are the three well-known isotopes of HYDROGEN, NOT carbon! (The common isotopes of carbon are Carbon-12, Carbon-13, and radioactive Carbon-14).

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Detailed match between Schedules of the Indian Constitution and their Subjects:

| List-I (Schedule) | List-II (Subject) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. 7th Schedule | 3. Union, State and Concurrent lists (Article 246) |

| B. 8th Schedule | 1. Languages (22 recognized official languages) |

| C. 9th Schedule | 4. Validation of certain Acts and Regulations (Article 31B) |

| D. 10th Schedule | 2. Disqualification on ground of defection (Anti-Defection Law) |

• 7th Schedule: Delineates legislative competence across List I (Union), List II (State), and List III (Concurrent).
• 8th Schedule: Enumerates 22 constitutionally recognized languages.
• 9th Schedule: Added by the 1st Amendment (1951) to protect land reform legislations from judicial review.
• 10th Schedule: Added by the 52nd Amendment (1985) containing provisions as to disqualification on grounds of defection.

Hence, the correct matching code is 3, 1, 4, 2.

Territorial gains under the Treaty of Sugauli (March 1816) (ending the Anglo-Nepalese / Gurkha War, 1814–1816):

• Under the treaty signed between the British East India Company (Lord Hastings) and the Kingdom of Nepal, Nepal was forced to surrender its western territories between the Kali and Sutlej rivers, comprising the regions of Garhwal, Kumaon, and the Himachal hill tracts.
• Through this treaty, the British acquired control over the strategic hill stations of Shimla (2), Ranikhet (3), and Nainital (4), along with Almora and Mussoorie.
• Kathmandu (1) was and remained the sovereign capital of the Kingdom of Nepal; Britain merely established a British Resident in Kathmandu, but never annexed or obtained Kathmandu as British territory.

Therefore, the sites obtained by the British were Shimla (2), Ranikhet (3), and Nainital (4).

Swavalambini is a specialized women entrepreneurship development initiative launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.

• Conceptualized specifically for the North Eastern Region (NER), Swavalambini aims to nurture and scale women-led micro-enterprises, traditional handlooms, handicrafts, food processing, and rural artisan clusters across the eight northeastern states.
• It provides targeted entrepreneurship awareness programmes, market access linkages, credit guarantees, and capacity building for self-employed women.

Therefore, the initiative was launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Only 3).

Drainage systems of South Indian Peninsular Rivers:

1. Periyar River: The longest river in Kerala (244 km), originating in the Sivagiri Hills of the Western Ghats; it flows westward and falls into the Arabian Sea (via Vembanad Lake / Kodungallur).
2. Pennar River (Uttara Pinakini): Originates in the Nandi Hills of Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka, flows eastward across Andhra Pradesh, and drains into the Bay of Bengal near Nellore.
3. Palar River: Originates in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka, flows eastward through Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and drains into the Bay of Bengal near Vayalur.

Therefore, the only river among the given choices that falls into the Arabian Sea is Only 1 (Periyar).

Ordering of the Electromagnetic Spectrum by decreasing order of frequency ($

u) [or increasing order of wavelength\lambda$]:

• The electromagnetic spectrum in descending order of frequency (energy $E = h

u): 1. **Gamma rays**: Frequency> 10^{19}\text{ Hz}(highest frequency, highest photon energy, shortest wavelength<10^{-11}\text{ m}). 2. **X-rays**: Frequency10^{16}to10^{19}\text{ Hz}. 3. **Ultraviolet (UV) rays**: Frequency7.5 \times 10^{14}to10^{16}\text{ Hz}. 4. **Visible light**: Frequency4 \times 10^{14}to7.5 \times 10^{14}\text{ Hz}. 5. **Infrared (IR) waves**: Frequency3 \times 10^{11}to4 \times 10^{14}\text{ Hz}. 6. **Microwaves**: Frequency10^9to3 \times 10^{11}\text{ Hz}. 7. **Radio waves**: Frequency< 10^9\text{ Hz}$ (lowest frequency, longest wavelength).

Decreasing order of frequencies: Gamma rays (1) → X-rays (4) → Ultraviolet rays (2) → Radio waves (3), which is 1, 4, 2, 3.

Constitutional provisions regarding the Vice-President of India:

1. Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 64 and Article 89(1) of the Indian Constitution, the Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).
2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Under Article 66(2), the Vice-President shall NOT be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State. If a member of Parliament or a State Legislature is elected Vice-President, he is deemed to have vacated his seat on the date he enters upon his office. While he presides over the Rajya Sabha, he is NOT a member of it and does not cast a normal vote (except a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes under Article 100).

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Detailed match between Early Medieval Rulers and their Dynasties:

| List-I (Ruler) | List-II (Dynasty) |

| :--- | :--- |

| A. Mahendravarman I | 2. Pallava |

| B. Kadungon | 4. Pandya |

| C. Amoghavarsha I | 1. Rashtrakuta |

| D. Rajaraja I | 3. Chola |

• Mahendravarman I (c. 600–630 CE): Great Pallava king of Kanchipuram; pioneer of rock-cut cave temple architecture (Mandagapattu) and author of the satirical Sanskrit farce Mattavilasa Prahasana.
• Kadungon (c. 590–620 CE): First historic ruler of the First Pandya Empire; credited with liberating the Tamil country from the dark age of the Kalabhras.
• Amoghavarsha I (Nrupathunga) (814–878 CE): Renowned Rashtrakuta emperor; patron of Jainism (disciple of Jinasena), author of the classic Kannada poetics treatise Kavirajamarga, and founder of Manyakheta capital.
• Rajaraja I (Rajaraja Chola) (985–1014 CE): Legendary Chola emperor who consolidated naval supremacy across South India and Sri Lanka and built the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.

Hence, the correct matching code is 2, 4, 1, 3.