SPM IAS Academy’s Strategy Behind UPSC Common Questions in Prelims 2024

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SPM IAS Academy’s Strategy Behind UPSC Common Questions in Prelims 2024

In competitive exams, the journey from preparation to success demands consistency and rigorous practice. At SPM IAS Academy, our programs are strategically designed to meet the changing pattern of the UPSC exams. A testament to this is the remarkable success of our daily Newspaper Analysis led by Satyajit Sir, where many of the questions in the UPSC Prelims 2024 were directly asked from his insightful analyses. This achievement highlights the effectiveness and relevance of our study approach in helping UPSC aspirants excel.

Newspaper Analysis-22nd Jan 2025

64. Q. Consider the following statements:

I.It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing.

II.Majorana 1 chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

III.Deep learning is a subset of machine learning.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III   

Answer -d

(d) I, II and III

All three statements are correct

.

11 Q. Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct?

I.Revenue deficit is ₹20,000 crores.

II.Fiscal deficit is ₹10,000 crores.

III.Primary deficit is ₹4,000 crores.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III

Source:- Economics Crash Course Class 10

 14th May 2024-Newspaper Analysis

Q12 Q. India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect:

(a)India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

(b)India to Central Asia via China

(c)India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar

(d)India to Europe through Azerbaijan

Answer -(a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

Q12 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.

Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America, where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(d)Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Answer -(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Newspaper Analysis-Date- 3rd April 2025

●Discussed Lithium Triangle

5 Q. Consider the following pairs: Country  Resource-rich in

I.  Botswana  Diamond

II. Chile  Lithium

III. Indonesia  Nickel

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None

Answer -C

●All the three

●All three country-resource pairs are correctly matched.

Source:- Topic 457 Current Affairs Revision

● Discussed- Wet Bulb temperature

Q.Q14The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35°C.

Which of the following statements best reflects (s) the implication of the above-said report?

I Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones, and droughts.

II.The survival of animals, including humans, will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

Answer -(b) II only

Source:- Union Budget 2025-26

Q15Q. A country’s fiscal deficit stands at ₹50,000 crores. It is receiving ₹10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country’s interest liabilities are ₹1,500 crores.

What is the gross primary deficit?

(a)₹48,500 crores

(b)₹51,500 crores

(c)₹58,500 crores

(d)None of the above

Answer -a

A primary deficit is essentially the difference between a government’s total spending and its revenue, excluding interest payments.

Newspaper Analysis-Date

6th June 2024

Q16. Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct?

I.It has recommended grants of ₹4,800 crores from the year 2022–23 to the year 2025–26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes.

II.45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States.

III.₹45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms.

IV.It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) I, II and III

(b) I, II and IV

(c) I, III and IV

(d) II, III and IV

Answer -c

Statement II-Incorrect

Source:- Newspaper Analysis 6th May 2025

Q17Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):

It provides loans and guarantees to middle-income countries.

II.It works single-handedly to help developing countries reduce poverty.

III.It was established to help Europe rebuild after World War II.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

I, II and III

Answer -c

Statement 2 incorrect: It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty.” It is wrong due to the word single-handedly

NPA-6th FEB 2025

Q18Q. Consider the following statements in respect of RTGS and NEFT:

  1. In RTGS, the settlement time is instantaneous, while inthe  case of NEFT, it takes some time to settle payments.

II.In RTGS, the customer is charged for inward transactions while that is not the case for NEFT.

III.Operating hours for RTGS are restricted on certain days while this is not true for NEFT.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)I and II

(c)I and III

III only

NPA-15th FEB 2024

Q19 Consider the following countries:

I. United Arab Emirates

II.France

III.Germany

IV.Singapore

V.Bangladesh

How many countries amongst the above, are there other than India, where international merchant payments are accepted under UPI?

(a)Only two

(b)Only three

(c)Only four

(d)All five

Answer – b

Explanation: UPI works only in the UAE, France & Singapore

Newspaper Analysis- 4th November 2024

Q 20Consider the following statements about ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’:

I.It targets the installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector.

II. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance, and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels.

III.It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling, and up-skilling, under scheme component of capacity building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)I and III only

(c)II and III only

(d) I, II and III only

Answer -(d) I, II, and III

Source:- Topic 592 Current Affairs Revision

●Discussed-Kavach system

22Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a ‘future ready’ railway system by 2028.

II.’Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany.

III.’Kavach’ system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

I, II and III

Answer -a

●National Rail Plan (NRP) for India – 2030 – The Plan is to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030.

●Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed in India by Indian Railways in collaboration with Indian companies, not Germany.

Spandex Mission discussed in the NPA of 17th Jan 2025

Q 23. Consider the following space missions:

I.Axiom-4

II.SpaDeX

III.Gaganyaan

How many of the space missions given above encourage and support micro-gravity research?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All the three

(d) None

Newspaper Analysis-3rd June 2023

Q. GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN?

I.It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity.

II.It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management.

III.It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)I, II and III

(b)II and III only

(c)I only

I and II only

Answer -d

Statement III: Incorrect

●”It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.”

●Remaining 2 statements are correct.

Newspaper Analysis-12th Feb 2025

Q. Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:

I.Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024.

II.Along with other countries, US and UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

Answer –

●Statement 1-The AI Action Summit, held on February 10–11, 2025, in Paris, was co-chaired by France and India.

●Statement 2 is wrong-The United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the statement.

Q. Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:

I.16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.

II.Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.

III.The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was “Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.”

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I and II

(b)II and III

(c)I and III

(d)I only

Answer -a

●Statement 1 Correct: The 16th BRICS Summit took place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024, under Russia’s chairmanship.

●Statement 3 – Correct: Indonesia is the latest member to join in 2025.

61 Q. With reference to investments, consider the following:

I.Bonds

II.Hedge Funds

III.Stocks

IV.Venture Capital

How many of the above are treated as Alternative Investment Funds?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)Only three

(d)All the four

Answer -b

Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) refer to privately pooled investment vehicles that invest in assets beyond traditional investments like stocks and bonds

Source- Newspaper Analysis of 24th May 2025- The table represents income and expenditure of RBI

Q62 . Which of the following are the sources of income for the Reserve Bank of India?

I.Buying and selling Government bonds

II.Buying and selling foreign currency

III.Pension fund management

IV.Lending to private companies

V.Printing and distributing currency notes

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)I and II only

(b)II, III and IV

(c)I, III, IV and V

I, II and V

Q. Consider the following statements:

I.India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.

II.India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.

III.The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III 

Answer -c

Statement II-Incorrect

67 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: As regards returns from an investment in a company, generally, bondholders are considered to be relatively at lower risk than stockholders.

Statement II: Bondholders are lenders to a company whereas stockholders are its owners.

Statement III: For repayment purpose, bondholders are prioritized over stockholders by a company.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement I explains Statement II

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Capital receipts create a liability or cause a reduction in the assets of the Government.

II.Borrowings and disinvestment are capital receipts.

III.Interest received on loans creates a liability of the Government.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

I, II and III

Answer -a

Statement III: Incorrect

●Interest received is a form of revenue receipt, and it is an income, not a liability.

61 Q. Consider the following countries:

I.Austria

II.Bulgaria

III.Croatia

IV.Serbia

V.Sweden

VI.North Macedonia

How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

(a)Only three

(b)Only four

(c)Only five

All the six

Newspaper Analysis-8th April  2024

81Q. Consider the following types of vehicles:

I.Full battery electric vehicles

II.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

III.Fuel cell-electric hybrid vehicles

How many of the above are considered as alternative powertrain vehicles?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None

Answer -c

●Alternative powertrain vehicles use non-conventional propulsion systems, i.e., they don’t rely solely on internal combustion engines (ICEs) running on petrol or diesel.

These include:

●Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

●Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEVs)

●Plug-in Hybrids / Fuel Cell Hybrids

88Q. With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements:

I.They are man-made proteins.

II.They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens.

III.They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III

Answer -Correct Answer:

(d) I, II and III

●All 3 statements are correct

62 Q. Consider the following countries:
  I. Bolivia
  II. Brazil
  III. Colombia
  IV. Ecuador
  V. Paraguay
  VI. Venezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Newspaper Analysis-21st May 2024- Mapping of Andes Mountain done

Q93 Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.

Statement III: As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Newspaper Analysis- 14th Aug 2024- Directly it is written -When polar ice melts, the water flows to the equator, which makes the earth bulge out slightly.

Earth’s axis shifting- Covered in Newspaper Analysis of 1st July 2023

Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejection- Covered in Newspaper Analysis of 5th March 2025

69 Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth’s surface.

II.Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet’s average temperature.

III.Atmosphere’s gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and III only
(b) I and II only
(c) I, II and III
(d) II and III only

The question is based on Greenhouse Gas effect- discussed in detail in Newspaper Analysis of 17th May 2023 and Current Affairs Revision 2025- Topic 381

26 Q. Consider the following statements with regard to the pardoning power of the President of India:

I.The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review.

II.The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Newspaper Analysis-14th June 2024- Clearly written that the President will use his pardon power on advice of Council of Ministers

28 Q. Consider the following statements:

I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the 10th Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.

II.There is no mention of the word ‘political party’ in the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

1st statement regarding anti defection law discussed in Newspaper Analysis of 26th October 2024

29Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories.
Statement II: In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(d)Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Newspaper Analysis-26th July 2024

33 Q. With reference to India, consider the following:

I. The Inter-State Council

II. The National Security Council

III. Zonal Councils

How many of the above were established as per the provisions of he Constitution of India?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None

Current Affairs Revision 2025- Topic number 753 and 754

34Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I:

The Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion.

Statement II:

The President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

Newspaper Analysis- 9th April 2025

Q36 . Consider the following statements:

Statement I:

With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule.

Statement II:

●The State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration.

●The Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Power of Governor in 5th Schedule Area discussed in the Newspaper Analysis of 3rd Oct 2024

38 Q. Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India:

I. Union List in the Seventh Schedule
  II. Extent of the executive power of a State
  III. Conditions of the Governor’s office

For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the Bill to the President of India for assent?

(a) I and II
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

Current Affairs Revision 2025- Topic number 89

39 Q. With reference to the Indian polity, consider the following statements:

I.The Governor of a State is not answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his/her office.

II.No criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the Governor during his/her term of office.

III.Members of a State Legislature are not liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said within the House.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
 (a) I and II only
  (b) II and III only
  (c) I and III only
  (d) I, II and III

Newspaper Analysis- 20th July 2024

40 Q. Consider the following activities:

I. Production of crude oil
  II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum
  III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products
  IV. Production of natural gas

How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in our country?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Newspaper Analysis of 16th May 2024- PNGRB was discussed. But all the functions were not discussed in detail

41 Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.

II.To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years.

III.The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate levels and to make recommendations regarding the distribution of net proceeds of taxes and duties, leviable by the State, between the State and Panchayats at the intermediate level.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?
 (a) I and II only
  (b) II and III only
  (c) I and III only
 (d) I, II and III

Functioning of Local Bodies discussed on 17th Feb 2025 and 6th May 2025

48 Q. Consider the following statements about Lokpal:

Statement I: The power of Lokpal applies to public servants of India, but not to the Indian public servants posted outside India.

Statement II: The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a Member of the Parliament or a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory, and only the Chief Justice of India, whether incumbent or retired, has to be its Chairperson.

Statement III: The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a person of less than forty-five years of age on the date of assuming office as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be.

Statement IV: Lokpal cannot inquire into the allegations of corruption against a sitting Prime Minister of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
 (a) III only
  (b) I and III
  (c) I and IV
  (d) None

Lokpal and its power discussed in the Newspaper Analysis of 21st Feb 2025

25 Q. Artificial way of causing rainfall to reduce air pollution makes use of

(a) silver iodide and potassium iodide

(b) silver nitrate and potassium iodide

(c) silver iodide and potassium nitrate

(d) silver nitrate and potassium chloride

Newspaper Analysis of 18th April 2024

59 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Circular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Statement II: Circular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs.

Statement III: Circular economy reduces wastage in the production process.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Newspaper Analysis of 4th March 2025

54Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.

Statement II: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.

Statement III: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Current Affairs Revision 2025-Topic number 389

96 Q. With reference to ‘Direct Air Capture’, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?

I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.

II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.

III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) I and II only

(b) III only

(c) I, II and III

(d) None of the above statements is correct

Carbon Sequestration discussed in Current Affairs Revision 2025-Topic number 358 

58 Q. Consider the following statements:

I. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO₂/capita.

II. In terms of CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.

III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I and III only

(b) II only

(c) II and III only

(d) I, II and III

Newspaper Analysis- 13th November 2024

(All the statements can be solved from above content

Q8. Who among the following was the founder of the Self-Respect Movement?

(a) Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
(b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(c) Bhaskarrao Jadhav
(d) Dinkarrao Javalkar

Newspaper Analysis-1st April 2024

Q7. Consider the following statements:

I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.

II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Anadyr and Nome are geographically close but lie across the International Date Line, causing a day difference.

Statement I is correct due to this time zone contrast.

Statement II is incorrect: actually, when it’s Monday in Nome, it’s Tuesday in Anadyr, not the other way around.

Q6. Consider the following countries:

I. United Kingdom

II. Denmark

III. New Zealand

IV. Australia

V. Brazil

How many of the above countries have more than four time zones?

(a) All the five
(b) Only four
(c) Only three
(d) Only two

Australia → 3 main time zones, but there including external territories there can be 8 time zones.

Brazil – 4 official zones

New Zealand – 2 to 3 time zones

United Kingdom and Denmark – only 1 main time zone each, but including dependencies, it can have more than 5 time zones.

●Thus, only three have more than four time zones.

Q7. Consider the following statements:

I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.
II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Anadyr and Nome are geographically close but lie across the International Date Line, causing a day difference.

Statement I is correct due to this time zone contrast.

Statement II is incorrect: actually, when it’s Monday in Nome, it’s Tuesday in Anadyr, not the other way around

Q62 . Consider the following countries:

  I. Bolivia
  II. Brazil
  III. Colombia
  IV. Ecuador
  V. Paraguay
  VI. Venezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Andes DOES NOT pass through –

Brazil

Paraguay

65 Q. Which of the following are the evidences of the phenomenon of continental drift?

I.The belt of ancient rocks from Brazil coast matches with those from Western Africa.

II.The gold deposits of Ghana are derived from the Brazil plateau when the two continents lay side by side.

III.The Gondwana system of sediments from India is known to have its counterparts in six different landmasses of the Southern Hemisphere.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
  (a) I and III only
  (b) I and II only
  (c) I, II and III
  (d) II and III only

All three statements are classic geological evidences supporting continental drift theory, proposed by Alfred Wegener

66Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.

Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(d)Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Explanation

Statement I is correct – Due to more rainfall in the Equatorial regions, it will have less dust particles

Statement II is incorrect – Subtropical and temperate areas have more dry winds

67 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing the landmasses, and poleward while crossing the oceans.

Statement II: In January, the air over the oceans is warmer than that over the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Q68 . Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In the context of effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as a very permeable rock whereas clay is known as quite an impermeable or least permeable rock.

Statement II: Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water.

Statement III: Clay is not at all porous.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Statement I: In the context of effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as a very permeable rock whereas clay is known as quite an impermeable or least permeable rock → It is correct

Statement II: Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water → Correct

Statement III: Clay is not at all porous → Clay is porous but has low permeability → Incorrect

Q82 . With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements:

I. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing.
II. All types of UAVs can do automated hovering.
III. All types of UAVs can use battery only as a source of power supply.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

Q83 . In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements:

I. Cobalt
II. Graphite
III. Lithium
IV. Nickel

How many of the above usually make up battery cathodes?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Explanation

Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel are used in cathodes of lithium-ion batteries.

Graphites is used in Anode

93 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I:
Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement II:
Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.

Statement III:
As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Statement I is true: Studies show melting glaciers are causing shifts in Earth’s axis.

Statement II is factually correct but unrelated to axis shift.

Statement III is correct and directly explains Statement I — redistribution of water from poles alters mass distribution, shifting Earth’s axis.

24Q. With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs:

Aircraft type  Description

I.Dornier-228  Maritime patrol aircraft

II.IL-76  Supersonic combat aircraft

III.C-17 Globemaster III  Military transport aircraft

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

None

Answer -b

1.Correct-Dornier-228 is a multirole aircraft used by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard primarily for maritime surveillance, patrol, search and rescue, and transport.

2.Incorrect-The IL-76 is a strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union (now Russia). It is not a supersonic combat aircraft;

Correct-The C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft used by the Indian Air Force for strategic and tactical airlift of troops and cargo

In competitive exams, the journey from preparation to success demands consistency and rigorous practice. At SPM IAS Academy, our programs are strategically designed to meet the changing pattern of the UPSC exams. A testament to this is the remarkable success of our daily Newspaper Analysis led by Satyajit Sir, where many of the questions in the UPSC Prelims 2024 were directly asked from his insightful analyses. This achievement highlights the effectiveness and relevance of our study approach in helping UPSC aspirants excel.

Newspaper Analysis-22nd Jan 2025

64. Q. Consider the following statements:

I.It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing.

II.Majorana 1 chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

III.Deep learning is a subset of machine learning.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III   

Answer -d

●(d) I, II and III

All three statements are correct

.

11 Q. Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct?

I.Revenue deficit is ₹20,000 crores.

II.Fiscal deficit is ₹10,000 crores.

III.Primary deficit is ₹4,000 crores.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III

Source:- Economics Crash Course Class 10

 14th May 2024-Newspaper Analysis

Q12 Q. India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect:

(a)India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

(b)India to Central Asia via China

(c)India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar

(d)India to Europe through Azerbaijan

Answer -(a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

Q12 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.

Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America, where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(d)Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Answer -(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Newspaper Analysis-Date- 3rd April 2025

●Discussed Lithium Triangle

5 Q. Consider the following pairs:

Country  Resource-rich in

I.  Botswana  Diamond

II. Chile  Lithium

III. Indonesia  Nickel

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None

Answer -C

●All the three

●All three country-resource pairs are correctly matched.

Source:- Topic 457 Current Affairs Revision

● Discussed- Wet Bulb temperature

Q14 The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35°C.

Which of the following statements best reflects (s) the implication of the above-said report?

I Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones, and droughts.

II.The survival of animals, including humans, will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

Answer -(b) II only

Source:- Union Budget 2025-26

Q15 A country’s fiscal deficit stands at ₹50,000 crores. It is receiving ₹10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country’s interest liabilities are ₹1,500 crores.

What is the gross primary deficit?

(a)₹48,500 crores

(b)₹51,500 crores

(c)₹58,500 crores

(d)None of the above

Answer -a

A primary deficit is essentially the difference between a government’s total spending and its revenue, excluding interest payments.

Newspaper Analysis-Date

6th June 2024

Q16. Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct?

I.It has recommended grants of ₹4,800 crores from the year 2022–23 to the year 2025–26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes.

II.45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States.

III.₹45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms.

IV.It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) I, II and III

(b) I, II and IV

(c) I, III and IV

(d) II, III and IV

Answer -c

Statement II-Incorrect

Source:- Newspaper Analysis 6th May 2025

Q17Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):

It provides loans and guarantees to middle-income countries.

II.It works single-handedly to help developing countries reduce poverty.

III.It was established to help Europe rebuild after World War II.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

I, II and III

Answer -c

Statement 2 incorrect: It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty.” It is wrong due to the word single-handedly

NPA-6th FEB 2025

Q18Q. Consider the following statements in respect of RTGS and NEFT:

I In RTGS, the settlement time is instantaneous, while inthe  case of NEFT, it takes some time to settle payments.

II.In RTGS, the customer is charged for inward transactions while that is not the case for NEFT.

III.Operating hours for RTGS are restricted on certain days while this is not true for NEFT.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)I and II

(c)I and III

III only

NPA-15th FEB 2024

Q19

. Consider the following countries:

I. United Arab Emirates

II.France

III.Germany

IV.Singapore

V.Bangladesh

How many countries amongst the above, are there other than India, where international merchant payments are accepted under UPI?

(a)Only two

(b)Only three

(c)Only four

(d)All five

Answer –

Explanation: UPI works only in the UAE, France & Singapore

Newspaper Analysis- 4th November 2024

Q 20

. Consider the following statements about ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’:

I.It targets the installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector.

II. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance, and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels.

III.It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling, and up-skilling, under scheme component of capacity building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)I and III only

(c)II and III only

I, II and III only

Answer -(d) I, II, and III

Source:- Topic 592 Current Affairs Revision

●Discussed-Kavach system

22Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a ‘future ready’ railway system by 2028.

II.’Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany.

III.’Kavach’ system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

I, II and III

Answer -a

●National Rail Plan (NRP) for India – 2030 – The Plan is to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030.

●Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed in India by Indian Railways in collaboration with Indian companies, not Germany.

Spandex Mission discussed in the NPA of 17th Jan 2025

Q 23. Consider the following space missions:

I.Axiom-4

II.SpaDeX

III.Gaganyaan

How many of the space missions given above encourage and support micro-gravity research?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All the three

(d) None

Newspaper Analysis-3rd June 2023

Q. GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN?

I.It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity.

II.It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management.

III.It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)I, II and III

(b)II and III only

(c)I only

I and II only

Answer -d

Statement III: Incorrect

●”It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.”

●Remaining 2 statements are correct.

Newspaper Analysis-12th Feb 2025

Q. Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:

I.Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024.

II.Along with other countries, US and UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

Answer –

●Statement 1-The AI Action Summit, held on February 10–11, 2025, in Paris, was co-chaired by France and India.

●Statement 2 is wrong-The United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the statement.

Q. Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:

I.16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.

II.Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.

III.The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was “Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.”

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I and II

(b)II and III

(c)I and III

(d)I only

Answer -a

●Statement 1 Correct: The 16th BRICS Summit took place in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024, under Russia’s chairmanship.

●Statement 3 – Correct: Indonesia is the latest member to join in 2025.

61 Q. With reference to investments, consider the following:

I.Bonds

II.Hedge Funds

III.Stocks

IV.Venture Capital

How many of the above are treated as Alternative Investment Funds?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)Only three

(d)All the four

Answer -b

Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) refer to privately pooled investment vehicles that invest in assets beyond traditional investments like stocks and bonds

Source- Newspaper Analysis of 24th May 2025- The table represents income and expenditure of RBI

Q62 . Which of the following are the sources of income for the Reserve Bank of India?

I.Buying and selling Government bonds

II.Buying and selling foreign currency

III.Pension fund management

IV.Lending to private companies

V.Printing and distributing currency notes

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)I and II only

(b)II, III and IV

(c)I, III, IV and V

I, II and V

Q. Consider the following statements:

I.India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.

II.India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.

III.The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III 

Answer -c

Statement II-Incorrect

67 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: As regards returns from an investment in a company, generally, bondholders are considered to be relatively at lower risk than stockholders.

Statement II: Bondholders are lenders to a company whereas stockholders are its owners.

Statement III: For repayment purpose, bondholders are prioritized over stockholders by a company.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement I explains Statement II

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Capital receipts create a liability or cause a reduction in the assets of the Government.

II.Borrowings and disinvestment are capital receipts.

III.Interest received on loans creates a liability of the Government.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

I, II and III

Answer -a

Statement III: Incorrect

●Interest received is a form of revenue receipt, and it is an income, not a liability.

61 Q. Consider the following countries:

I.Austria

II.Bulgaria

III.Croatia

IV.Serbia

V.Sweden

VI.North Macedonia

How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

(a)Only three

(b)Only four

(c)Only five

All the six

Newspaper Analysis-8th April  2024

81Q. Consider the following types of vehicles:

I.Full battery electric vehicles

II.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

III.Fuel cell-electric hybrid vehicles

How many of the above are considered as alternative powertrain vehicles?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None

Answer -c

●Alternative powertrain vehicles use non-conventional propulsion systems, i.e., they don’t rely solely on internal combustion engines (ICEs) running on petrol or diesel.

These include:

●Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

●Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCEVs)

●Plug-in Hybrids / Fuel Cell Hybrids

88Q. With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements:

I.They are man-made proteins.

II.They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens.

III.They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)I and II only

(b)II and III only

(c)I and III only

(d)I, II and III

Answer -Correct Answer:

(d) I, II and III

●All 3 statements are correct

62 Q. Consider the following countries:
  I. Bolivia
  II. Brazil
  III. Colombia
  IV. Ecuador
  V. Paraguay
  VI. Venezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Newspaper Analysis-21st May 2024- Mapping of Andes Mountain done

Q93 Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.

Statement III: As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Newspaper Analysis- 14th Aug 2024- Directly it is written -When polar ice melts, the water flows to the equator, which makes the earth bulge out slightly.

Earth’s axis shifting- Covered in Newspaper Analysis of 1st July 2023

Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejection- Covered in Newspaper Analysis of 5th March 2025

69 Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth’s surface.

II.Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet’s average temperature.

III.Atmosphere’s gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and III only
(b) I and II only
(c) I, II and III
(d) II and III only

The question is based on Greenhouse Gas effect- discussed in detail in Newspaper Analysis of 17th May 2023 and Current Affairs Revision 2025- Topic 381

26 Q. Consider the following statements with regard to the pardoning power of the President of India:

I.The exercise of this power by the President can be subjected to limited judicial review.

II.The President can exercise this power without the advice of the Central Government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Newspaper Analysis-14th June 2024- Clearly written that the President will use his pardon power on advice of Council of Ministers

28 Q. Consider the following statements:

I. If any question arises as to whether a Member of the House of the People has become subject to disqualification under the 10th Schedule, the President’s decision in accordance with the opinion of the Council of Union Ministers shall be final.

II.There is no mention of the word ‘political party’ in the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

1st statement regarding anti defection law discussed in Newspaper Analysis of 26th October 2024

29Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories.
Statement II: In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(d)Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Newspaper Analysis-26th July 2024

33 Q. With reference to India, consider the following:

I. The Inter-State Council

II. The National Security Council

III. Zonal Councils

How many of the above were established as per the provisions of he Constitution of India?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

(d)None

Current Affairs Revision 2025- Topic number 753 and 754

34Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I:

The Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion.

Statement II:

The President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)I only

(b)II only

(c)Both I and II

(d)Neither I nor II

Newspaper Analysis- 9th April 2025

Q36 . Consider the following statements:

Statement I:

With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule.

Statement II:

●The State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration.

●The Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Power of Governor in 5th Schedule Area discussed in the Newspaper Analysis of 3rd Oct 2024

38 Q. Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India:

I. Union List in the Seventh Schedule
  II. Extent of the executive power of a State
  III. Conditions of the Governor’s office

For a constitutional amendment with respect to which of the above, ratification by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States is required before presenting the Bill to the President of India for assent?

(a) I and II
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

Current Affairs Revision 2025- Topic number 89

39 Q. With reference to the Indian polity, consider the following statements:

I.The Governor of a State is not answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his/her office.

II.No criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the Governor during his/her term of office.

III.Members of a State Legislature are not liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said within the House.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
 (a) I and II only
  (b) II and III only
  (c) I and III only
  (d) I, II and III

Newspaper Analysis- 20th July 2024

40 Q. Consider the following activities:

I. Production of crude oil
  II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum
  III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products
  IV. Production of natural gas

How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in our country?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Newspaper Analysis of 16th May 2024- PNGRB was discussed. But all the functions were not discussed in detail

41 Q. Consider the following statements:

I.Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States.

II.To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years.

III.The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate levels and to make recommendations regarding the distribution of net proceeds of taxes and duties, leviable by the State, between the State and Panchayats at the intermediate level.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?
 (a) I and II only
  (b) II and III only
  (c) I and III only
 (d) I, II and III

Functioning of Local Bodies discussed on 17th Feb 2025 and 6th May 2025

48 Q. Consider the following statements about Lokpal:

Statement I: The power of Lokpal applies to public servants of India, but not to the Indian public servants posted outside India.

Statement II: The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a Member of the Parliament or a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory, and only the Chief Justice of India, whether incumbent or retired, has to be its Chairperson.

Statement III: The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a person of less than forty-five years of age on the date of assuming office as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be.

Statement IV: Lokpal cannot inquire into the allegations of corruption against a sitting Prime Minister of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
 (a) III only
  (b) I and III
  (c) I and IV
  (d) None

Lokpal and its power discussed in the Newspaper Analysis of 21st Feb 2025

25 Q. Artificial way of causing rainfall to reduce air pollution makes use of

(a) silver iodide and potassium iodide

(b) silver nitrate and potassium iodide

(c) silver iodide and potassium nitrate

(d) silver nitrate and potassium chloride

Newspaper Analysis of 18th April 2024

59 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Circular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Statement II: Circular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs.

Statement III: Circular economy reduces wastage in the production process.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Newspaper Analysis of 4th March 2025

54Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.

Statement II: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.

Statement III: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Current Affairs Revision 2025-Topic number 389

96 Q. With reference to ‘Direct Air Capture’, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?

I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.

II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.

III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) I and II only

(b) III only

(c) I, II and III

(d) None of the above statements is correct

Carbon Sequestration discussed in Current Affairs Revision 2025-Topic number 358 

58 Q. Consider the following statements:

I. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO₂/capita.

II. In terms of CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.

III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I and III only

(b) II only

(c) II and III only

(d) I, II and III

Newspaper Analysis- 13th November 2024

(All the statements can be solved from above content

Q8. Who among the following was the founder of the Self-Respect Movement?

(a) Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
(b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(c) Bhaskarrao Jadhav
(d) Dinkarrao Javalkar

Newspaper Analysis-1st April 2024

Q7. Consider the following statements:

I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.

II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Anadyr and Nome are geographically close but lie across the International Date Line, causing a day difference.

Statement I is correct due to this time zone contrast.

Statement II is incorrect: actually, when it’s Monday in Nome, it’s Tuesday in Anadyr, not the other way around.

Q6. Consider the following countries:

I. United Kingdom

II. Denmark

III. New Zealand

IV. Australia

V. Brazil

How many of the above countries have more than four time zones?

(a) All the five
(b) Only four
(c) Only three
(d) Only two

Australia → 3 main time zones, but there including external territories there can be 8 time zones.

Brazil – 4 official zones

New Zealand – 2 to 3 time zones

United Kingdom and Denmark – only 1 main time zone each, but including dependencies, it can have more than 5 time zones.

●Thus, only three have more than four time zones.

Q7. Consider the following statements:
I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.
II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Anadyr and Nome are geographically close but lie across the International Date Line, causing a day difference.

Statement I is correct due to this time zone contrast.

Statement II is incorrect: actually, when it’s Monday in Nome, it’s Tuesday in Anadyr, not the other way around

Q62 . Consider the following countries:
  I. Bolivia
  II. Brazil
  III. Colombia
  IV. Ecuador
  V. Paraguay
  VI. Venezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Andes DOES NOT pass through –

Brazil

Paraguay

65 Q. Which of the following are the evidences of the phenomenon of continental drift?

I.The belt of ancient rocks from Brazil coast matches with those from Western Africa.

II.The gold deposits of Ghana are derived from the Brazil plateau when the two continents lay side by side.

III.The Gondwana system of sediments from India is known to have its counterparts in six different landmasses of the Southern Hemisphere.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
  (a) I and III only
  (b) I and II only
  (c) I, II and III
  (d) II and III only

All three statements are classic geological evidences supporting continental drift theory, proposed by Alfred Wegener

66Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.

Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(d)Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Explanation

Statement I is correct – Due to more rainfall in the Equatorial regions, it will have less dust particles

Statement II is incorrect – Subtropical and temperate areas have more dry winds

67 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing the landmasses, and poleward while crossing the oceans.

Statement II: In January, the air over the oceans is warmer than that over the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(b)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(c)Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Q68 . Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In the context of effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as a very permeable rock whereas clay is known as quite an impermeable or least permeable rock.

Statement II: Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water.

Statement III: Clay is not at all porous.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Statement I: In the context of effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as a very permeable rock whereas clay is known as quite an impermeable or least permeable rock → It is correct

Statement II: Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water → Correct

Statement III: Clay is not at all porous → Clay is porous but has low permeability → Incorrect

Q82 . With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements:

I. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing.
II. All types of UAVs can do automated hovering.
III. All types of UAVs can use battery only as a source of power supply.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

Q83 . In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements:

I. Cobalt
II. Graphite
III. Lithium
IV. Nickel

How many of the above usually make up battery cathodes?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Explanation

Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel are used in cathodes of lithium-ion batteries.

Graphites is used in Anode

93 Q. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.

Statement III: As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Statement I is true: Studies show melting glaciers are causing shifts in Earth’s axis.

Statement II is factually correct but unrelated to axis shift.

Statement III is correct and directly explains Statement I — redistribution of water from poles alters mass distribution, shifting Earth’s axis.

24Q. With reference to India’s defence, consider the following pairs:

Aircraft type  Description

I.Dornier-228  Maritime patrol aircraft

II.IL-76  Supersonic combat aircraft

III.C-17 Globemaster III  Military transport aircraft

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a)Only one

(b)Only two

(c)All the three

None

Answer -b

1.Correct-Dornier-228 is a multirole aircraft used by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard primarily for maritime surveillance, patrol, search and rescue, and transport.

2.Incorrect-The IL-76 is a strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union (now Russia). It is not a supersonic combat aircraft;

3. Correct-The C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft used by the Indian Air Force for strategic and tactical airlift of troops and cargo do proper formatting.

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