Q1. With reference to the legal status of ISRO, consider the following statements:
- ISRO derives its authority directly from the Constitution of India.
- ISRO functions under the Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister.
- ISRO’s existence does not currently rest on a comprehensive national space law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q1. (A)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is incorrect: ISRO is not a constitutional body.
- Statement 2 is correct: It functions under the Department of Space, directly under the PM.
- Statement 3 is correct: India lacks a comprehensive national space law, a key governance gap.
Q2. With reference to Madhav Gadgil, consider the following statements:
- He was the chairperson of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP).
- He advocated a conservation model that excluded human presence from ecologically sensitive regions.
- He founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. (A)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Gadgil chaired the WGEEP.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: He championed people-centric, not exclusionary, conservation.
- Statement 3 is correct: He founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) at IISc.
Q3. With reference to Spina Bifida, consider the following statements:
- It is a neural tube defect occurring during the first trimester of pregnancy.
- It invariably causes intellectual disability in affected children.
- It is largely preventable through appropriate maternal nutrition.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. (B)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Spina Bifida occurs very early in pregnancy.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: Intellectual function is usually normal.
Q4. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was first established during the tenure of which Governor-General of India, and in which year?
A. Lord Dalhousie — 1854
B. Lord Canning — 1861
C. Lord Ripon — 1881
D. Lord Curzon — 1902
Q4. (B)
Explanation:
- ASI was first established in 1861 during the tenure of Lord Canning.
- Alexander Cunningham became its first Director-General.
Q5. Which one of the following States has first claimed to use Artificial Intelligence–based voice feedback for direct citizen participation in budget formulation?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Maharashtra
C. Haryana
D. Karnataka
Q5. (C)
Explanation:
- Haryana has launched an AI-based Voice Feedback Portal for Budget 2026–27, claiming to be the first State in India to use AI in this manner for budget consultation.
