Answer – Explanations

Question 1 - With reference to Anti-microbial resistance, consider the following

statements:
1. It is a phenomenon in which bacteria and fungi evolve and become
resistant to presently available medical treatment.
2. It develops as a result of drug overuse only.
3. AWARE Tool by WHO divides antibiotics into three categories: Access,
Watch and Reserve.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 2 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer – (C)
Explanation -
Statement 1 correct: Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), the phenomenon by
which bacteria and fungi evolve and become resistant to presently available
medical treatment. As a result, the treatments lose their effectiveness, and
diseases persist in the body, increasing the chance of infection spreading to
others.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Drug resistance develops as a result of overuse,
underuse, and misuse of medications.
Statement 3 is correct: AWARE Tool by WHO divides antibiotics into three
categories: Access: Antibiotics are antibiotics that are used to treat the most
common and dangerous infections. Watch: Antibiotics are always available in
the healthcare system. Reserve: Antibiotics should be used sparingly or kept
in reserve and only utilized as a last option.

Question 2 - With reference to the ‘Internet Gateway’, consider the following statements:
1. To boost digital connectivity in the northeast region, India has set up
an international internet gateway at Agartala, the 3rd gateway after
Mumbai and Chennai.
2. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) defines an
international gateway as, any facility through which electronic
communications (voice, data, and video) can be sent between the
domestic networks of one country and another.
3. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized
inter-governmental organization.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
 a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) 1 only
Answer – (C)
Explanation -
Statement 1 is correct: After five years of the commissioning of third
international at Agartala, 10Gbps capacity international bandwidth link
between Agartala and Cox's Bazar of Bangladesh became operational
recently.
Statement 2 is correct: It is an agency of the United Nations (UN) whose
purpose is to coordinate telecommunication operations and services
throughout the world. India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869
and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952. In November
2018, India was elected as a Member of the ITU Council for another 4-year
term (2019-2022).
Statement 3 is correct: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is
a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is an intergovernmental
organization which coordinates between governments and private sector
bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information
communication technology (ICT) services.

Question 3 - With reference to the ‘Capillary Action’, consider the following statements:
1. It is the result of surface tension and cohesion.
2. The absorption of ink by blotting paper is an example of capillary
action.
3. Without phenomenon of Capillarity, plants cannot grow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer – (D)
Explanation -
Statement 1 is correct: Capillary Action is defined as the movement of water
within the spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion,
cohesion, and surface tension.
Statement 2 is correct: The absorption of ink by blotting paper is an example
of capillary action.
Statement 3 is correct: Plants and trees couldn’t thrive without capillary
action. Plants put down roots into the soil which are capable of carrying water
 from the soil up into the plant. Water, which contains dissolved nutrients, gets
inside the roots and starts climbing up the plant tissue.

Question 4 - Which of the following are ‘Fat Soluble Vitamins’?

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin B12
3. Vitamin D
4. Vitamin K
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 and 4 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer – (C)
Explanation -
Vitamins are classified into two groups depending upon their solubility in water
or fat.
(i) Fat soluble vitamins: Vitamins which are soluble in fat and oils but
insoluble in water are kept in this group. These are vitamins A, D, E
and K. They are stored in liver and adipose (fat storing) tissues.
(ii) Water soluble vitamins: B group vitamins and vitamin C are soluble in
water, so they are grouped together. Water soluble vitamins must be
supplied regularly in diet because they are readily excreted in urine
and cannot be stored (except vitamin B12) in our body."

Question 5 - Plasma Therapy is a medical procedure in the fight against Covid-19. In this
context, consider the functions of blood plasma:
1. It maintains body temperature by absorbing and releasing heat as
needed.
2. It helps maintain a proper pH balance in the body.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer – (C)
Explanation -
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood. About 55% of our blood is plasma, and
the remaining 45% are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that are
suspended in the plasma. Plasma is about 92% water. It also contains 7%
 vital proteins such as albumin, gamma globulin and anti-hemophilic factor,
and 1% mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones and vitamins.
Both the statements are correct: Plasma serves important functions in our
bodies:
1. Helps maintain blood pressure and volume.
2. Supply critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity.
3. Carries electrolytes such as sodium and potassium to our muscles.
4. Helps to maintain a proper pH balance in the body, which supports cell
function.
5. Plasma contains about 92 percent water. This water helps to fill up
blood vessels, which keeps blood and other nutrients moving through
the heart.
6. Maintain body temperature by absorbing and releasing heat as
needed.

Question 6 - With reference to “Redshift and Blueshift”, consider the following statements:
1. It is the displacement of the spectrum of an astronomical object toward
longer or shorter wavelengths.
2. It is attributed to the Doppler effect, a change in wavelength that results
when a given source of waves and an observer are in motion with
respect to each other.
3. If an object moves away, the light moves to the blue end of the
spectrum, as its wavelengths get longer.
4. If an object moves closer, the light moves to the red end of the
spectrum, as its wavelengths get shorter.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer – (A)
Explanation -
Statement 1 is correct: Redshift and Blueshift describe how light changes
as objects in space (such as stars or galaxies) move closer or farther away
from us. The concept is key to charting the universe’s expansion.
Statement 2 is correct: The concept of redshift and blueshift is closely
related to the Doppler effect — which is an apparent shift in soundwave
frequency for observers depending on whether the source is approaching or
moving away from them.
 Statement 3 is incorrect: When an object moves away from us (Doppler-
shifted to lower frequencies), the light is shifted to the red end of the spectrum,
as its wavelengths get longer.
Statement 4 is incorrect: If an object moves closer (Doppler-shifted to higher
frequencies), the light moves to the blue end of the spectrum, as its
wavelength gets shorter.

Question 7 - Which of the following events is most likely to happen when solar flares hit
the earth?
1. Geomagnetic storm in magnetosphere
2. Increased citing of high altitude Aurora
3. High frequency communication failure
4. Electric grid failure in higher altitudes
Select the answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 and 4 only
c) 1, 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer – (D)
Explanation -
Statement 1 and 2 are correct - Due to the solar storm, solar wind speeds
could reach 500 km/s, triggering a geomagnetic storm and high latitude
auroras. A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's
magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave and/or cloud of magnetic
field that interacts with the Earth's magnetic field.
Statement 3 and 4 are correct - Strong electrical currents driven along the
Earth’s surface during auroral events disrupt electric power grids and
contribute to the corrosion of oil and gas pipelines. Changes in the ionosphere
during geomagnetic storms interfere with high-frequency radio
communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation. During
polar cap absorption events caused by solar protons, radio communications
can be compromised for commercial airliners on transpolar crossing routes.
One of the best-known examples of space weather events is the collapse of
the Hydro-Québec power network on March 13, 1989 due to geomagnetically
induced currents (GICs).

Question 8 - Drones can help farmers in addressing which of the following agricultural
challenges?
1. Soil and field planning
2. Crop monitoring
3. Crop protection from diseases
 4. Increasing productivity
5. Adopt new service models
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1, 2 and 4 only
b) 1, 3 and 5 only
c) 2, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer – (D)
Explanation -
All are correct.
There are several ways in which drones help farmers with agricultural
challenges:
Soil and field planning: Drones can be used for soil and field analysis for
irrigation, fertilisation and planting activities including checking nutrient levels,
moisture concentrations, and erosion among others.
Crop monitoring: Drones can perform continuous and consistent crop
surveillance that can trigger actions to mitigate the effect of various biotic and
abiotic stresses on crops. The data generated through such surveillance can
help site-specific agronomy to optimise the use of inputs and promote
sustainable farming.
Crop protection from weeds, pests and diseases: Drones are capable of
spraying precise amounts of insect, weed and disease control products in a
way that can ensure correct dosage, minimise accidental exposure to
applicators and improve the overall effectiveness of the products and
therefore outcomes of growers.
Productivity: Drones can significantly alleviate labour pressure on
agricultural operations like applying pesticides or fertilisers, while enhancing
the crop coverage area per day. This will provide significant ease of farming
for farmers, who can use the time saved to carry out other activities, while
responding quickly to biotic challenges.
New service models: Adoption of drones for data collection and
application of agricultural inputs is likely to trigger new service models in which
crop input companies may join drone operators and other value chain
stakeholders to offer crop protection/nutrition as a service for a fee to farmers.

Question 9 - Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

Mission Country/Agency
1. Phoenix -- NASA
2. ExoMars TGO -- European Space Agency
3. Hope -- UAE
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
 a) 3 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer – (D)
Explanation -
Pair 1 is correctly matched: NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed near Mars'
north pole to study the water ice found close to the surface there. Its arm dug
trenches into the soil and delivered samples to sophisticated chemical
analysis instruments.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace
Gas Orbiter searches for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric
gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes.
Its Schiaparelli probe crash-landed.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: The UAE Hope Mars Mission is building a
complete picture of Mars' climate.

Question 10 - With reference to Chaff Technology, consider the following statements:

1. It generates heat signatures to spoof the heat seeking missiles.
2. It was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to defend Indian
ships and aircrafts against enemy attacks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer – (A)
Explanation -
Statement 1 is correct: Chaff spoofs the enemy radar by emitting small
metallic particles from the aircraft.
The aim is to create false returns to the radar beam and hence misguide the
missile to attack the chaff rather than the aircraft or ship.
It is the flares which are used to trick the heat seeking missiles to chase them
instead of the high value target.
Statement 2 is incorrect: DRDO has recently developed advanced chaff
technology to defend Indian ships and aircrafts against enemy attacks.
It will promote indigenous manufacturing of advanced chaffs for the use in
Indian aircrafts and ships.