Article 1: Ecuador Indigenous Peoples Intensify the Resistance against the expansion of oil drilling in the Amazon.
What is the main area of conflict that was brought out in the article as far as the Amazon region in Ecuador is concerned?
A) A land ownership conflict between two native communities.
B) Aboriginal demonstrations against a government plan to increase oil drilling.
C) A lawsuit against the Ecuadorian government on pollution in an international court.
D) There was a new mineral deposit being found in the Amazon.
Question: B) First Nations protests over a government suggestion of oil well expansion.
Explanation: The article issue is the social and environmental crisis because of which Indigenous groups fiercely oppose the plan of one of the presidents of the Republic of Ecuador Daniel Noboa to drill more oil in the Amazon rainforest.
What is the geographical area of Ecuador directly covered by the plan of oil drilling expansion?
A) The Coastal Lowlands (La Costa).
B) Andean Highlands (La Sierra).
C) Amazon Rainforest (El Oriente).
D) The Galapagos Islands
Question: C) The Amazon Rainforest (El Oriente).
Elaboration: The text clearly mentions that the eastern section (which is currently under attack by oil development) is Amazon Rainforest (El Oriente).
Article 2: AstroSat 10 Years of Space Astronomy.
So what is the most critical unique capability of the AstroSat mission?
A) It is the Indian first satellite to orbit the Moon.
B) It is able to see heavenly bodies at once in a variety of wavelengths.
C) It is exclusively devoted to the search of exoplanets.
D) NASA is a partner in the mission.
Answer: B) It is able to see heavenly bodies at the same time in varied wavelengths.
Explanation: The article focuses on the point that the peculiar feature of the AstroSat is that the observation of celestial objects in various wavelengths of the light- Visible, Ultraviolet, and various X-ray energies (low and high) can be done simultaneously.
What high-resolution instrument is available in ultraviolet on AstroSat?
A) Large Area X-ray proportional counter (LAXPC)
B) Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)
C) Imager Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZTI)
D) Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)
Response: D) Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)
Explanation: The payloads and the functions are listed in the text, which says that the UVIT is to image in high-resolution within the ultraviolet and visible light.
Article 3: Andaman Sea To Study.
Why does Andaman sea hold a great potential in hydrocarbon exploration?
A) It possesses the biggest coral reef in the world.
B) New findings verify that there are large deposits of natural gas.
C) It is a great international shipping route.
D) It has stable and non-seismic tectonic plate.
Response: B) Natural gas deposits are found to be large as a result of recent discoveries.
Essay: The article starts by informing that natural gas has been found in the Andaman basin and that it contains a lot of hydrocarbon deposits.
What are the main ecological functions of the Andaman Sea to some of the marine mammals?
A) It is the sole known breeding area of blue whales.
B) It is one of the major habitats of endangered species such as Dugong and Irrawaddy Dolphin.
C) Polar bears use it as a migration route.
D) It is applied to commercial whaling.
Answer: B) It is one of the major habitat of endangered species such as the Dugong and Irrawaddy Dolphin.
Rationale: The article enumerates the biodiversity of the sea stating that it supports endangered species such the Dugong, and is a major habitat to different dolphin species, including the Irrawaddy Dolphin.
Article 4: Agri-Stack Scheme
What is the major goal of Agri-Stack scheme?
A) To give direct cash transfers to the entire farmer fraternity.
B) To develop a centralized digital system that brings together farmer, land and scheme data.
C) To socialize the land in India.
D) To substitute natural crops with genetically modified crops.
Question: B) To develop a centralized digital platform, which brings farmer, land, and scheme data together.
Explanation: The essence of this is to create one, centralized digital platform to bring together the key data points, which include verifiable identity of the farmers, land records, and historical information on scheme benefits.
The expediency in the implementation of Agri-Stack is manifested by the government initiative where state?
A) Gujarat
B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Karnataka
D) Punjab
Answer: B) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: According to the article, the harsh admonition of the Uttar Pradesh government to its District Magistrates recently throws light on the priority of the scheme.
Article 5: EV Charging Infrastructure PM E-DRIVE EV Charging Infrastructure.
What is the key objective of PM E-DRIVE scheme?
A) To produce electric cars in India.
B)Install more than 72,300 public EV charging points in India.
C) To release free electric cars to every citizen.
D) To construct dedicated highways that will just serve EVs.
Goal: B) To place more than 72,300 public EV charging stations in India.
Purpose: The purpose is well defined since it is intended to install over 72,300 sites where individuals can charge their vehicles under public Electric Vehicles (EV) chargers nationwide.
What organization has been identified as the Project Implementation Agency (PIA) of this scheme?
A) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
B) Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).
C) Food Corporation of India (FCI).
D) National highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Response B) Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).
Explanation: Under implementation section, it is indicated that Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) is assigned to act as the PIA to oversee the implementation.
Article 6: Unmesha of International Literature Festival and Cultural Legacy of Bihar.
The fact that the festival is hosted in the state of Bihar draws attention to the historical importance of the state as a hub of what?
A) Sea trade and sea power.
B) Spiritual and intellectual learning.
C) manufacturing and heavy industry.
D) Mughal art and architecture.
Response: B) Spiritual and intellectual education.
Explanation The article highlights Bihar as a spiritual and intellectual centre, referencing Buddha as well as Mahavira and the ancient universities such as Nalanda.
What were some of the ancient universities in Bihar that were listed in the article?
A) Takshashila and Vallabhi
B) Nalanda and Vikramshila
C) Odantapuri and Somapura
D) Pushpagiri and Jagaddala
Question: B) Nalanda and Vikramshila.
Elucidation: The reading itself mentions, that Nalanda and Vikramashila University, which were ancient educational institutions in Bihar, made the state