Q1. With reference to the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 2025, consider the following statements:
- The FTA provides zero-duty access for 100% of India’s exports to New Zealand.
- India has fully liberalised 100% of its imports from New Zealand from Day-1.
- The agreement includes provisions for FDI commitments from New Zealand into India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- India gets zero-duty access for all its exports → Statement 1 is correct.
- India liberalises 95% imports, not 100% (57% duty-free from Day-1) → Statement 2 is incorrect.
- The FTA includes a $20-billion FDI commitment over 15 years → Statement 3 is correct.
Q2. The AI Impact Summit 2026 in India primarily seeks to advance which of the following objectives?
- Establishing trust, safety, and accountability frameworks for frontier AI
- Promoting inclusive AI-driven economic transformation and future-of-work transitions
- Creating a binding global treaty on AI ethics enforceable by the UN Security Council
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- 1 & 2 — Correct: Core agendas include governance, safety, trust, skills, productivity, inclusion.
- 3 — Incorrect: The process is declaration-based and cooperative, not a binding treaty mechanism.
Q3. With reference to stitched sailing vessels in India, consider the following statements:
- They are constructed by joining wooden planks using natural fibre cords instead of metal fasteners.
- The tradition has historically been associated primarily with the western coastal regions of India.
- These vessels were unsuitable for long-distance monsoon navigation in the Indian Ocean.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- 1 — Correct: Hull planks are stitched, not nailed/riveted.
- 2 — Correct: Practised across Gujarat, Konkan, Kerala coasts.
- 3 — Incorrect: These vessels enabled long-distance monsoon sailing and trade across the Indian Ocean.
Q4. The Karen (Kayin) State and Arakan / Rakhine State, recently in the news, are located in which of the following countries?
(a) Thailand
(b) Bangladesh
(c) Myanmar
(d) Cambodia
Correct Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Both Karen (Kayin) State in the southeast and Arakan / Rakhine State in the west are regions of Myanmar, linked to ethnic armed movements, border conflicts, and humanitarian concerns.
Q5. Which of the following river systems are associated with the Vindhya Range?
- Betwa
- Ken
- Son
- Parbati
- Kali Sindh
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Correct Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Vindhyas act as a watershed giving rise to Betwa, Ken, Son, Parbati, Kali Sindh.
