Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the AI Impact Summit and earlier AI summits:
- The first global AI summit was held at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom in 2023.
- Participation in AI summits has expanded from fewer than 30 countries initially to over 100 countries by the Paris summit.
- The primary themes of the AI Impact Summit include AI’s impact on work, trust and safety of AI models, and sector-specific applications.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- 2 and 3 only
Correct Option: 3. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
The AI summit process began at Bletchley Park, U.K., in 2023, with about 27 participating countries.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
Participation steadily increased, reaching over 100 countries by the Paris summit in 2025, showing rising global concern over AI governance.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
The summit will deliberate on:
• AI’s impact on work and employment
• Trust and safety protocols for AI models
• Use of AI in specific industries.
Q2. With reference to the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), consider the following statements:
- New Zealand has agreed to provide zero-duty access for all Indian exports.
- India has agreed to provide immediate duty-free access to all agricultural and dairy products from New Zealand.
- The agreement includes firm clawback provisions linked to New Zealand’s FDI commitments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Correct Option: 2. 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
New Zealand will levy zero duty on 100% of India’s exports.
•
Statement 2 is incorrect:
India has explicitly excluded dairy and major agricultural products (milk, cheese, butter, edible oils, sugar, etc.) to protect domestic farmers.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
The FTA includes firm clawback mechanisms if the promised $20 billion FDI is not delivered within the agreed timeline.
Q3. Which of the following best explains the rationale behind the Department of Posts promoting International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS)?
- It provides end-to-end tracking and better compliance with international security and customs norms
- It is exempt from Universal Postal Union regulations
- It is meant exclusively for large exporters and multinational companies
- It allows goods to be sent without customs declaration
Correct Option: 1. It provides end-to-end tracking and better compliance with international security and customs norms
Explanation:
ITPS offers:
• End-to-end tracking and visibility
• Faster and more reliable delivery
• Better compliance with customs and security requirements
• Transparent and competitive pricing
Q4. With reference to the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025), consider the following statements:
- NFAP-2025 governs the allocation of radio-frequency spectrum in India from 8.3 kHz to 3000 GHz.
- The 6425–7125 MHz frequency band has been identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT).
- NFAP-2025 will come into effect immediately upon its notification by the Department of Telecommunications.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Correct Option: 1. 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
NFAP-2025 covers the entire radio-frequency spectrum from 8.3 kHz to 3000 GHz, serving as a comprehensive allocation framework.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
The 6425–7125 MHz band has been identified for IMT, boosting mid-band spectrum availability for 5G, 5G Advanced, and future 6G networks.
•
Statement 3 is incorrect:
NFAP-2025 will come into effect from 30 December 2025, not immediately upon release.
Q5. Under the NTH–NHAI MoU, which of the following roles is assigned to the National Test House (NTH)?
- Empanelment as a recognised testing laboratory for NHAI
- Participation of NTH experts in NHAI technical committees
- Organisation of capacity-building programmes for NHAI officials
- Direct execution and supervision of highway construction projects
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 4 only
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Option: 2. 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
NTH is empanelled as a recognised laboratory for testing highway construction samples.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
NTH experts will participate in NHAI technical committees.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
Both organisations will jointly conduct training, workshops, and capacity-building programmes.
•
Statement 4 is incorrect:
NTH’s role is limited to testing, inspection, and quality assurance, not execution or supervision of construction.
Q6. With reference to the PM-YUVA 3.0 scheme, consider the following statements:
- It is implemented by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education.
- The scheme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- Only fiction manuscripts written in English are selected under the scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Correct Option: 1. 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
PM-YUVA 3.0 is implemented by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
The scheme is explicitly aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and knowledge creation.
•
Statement 3 is incorrect:
The scheme focuses on non-fiction manuscripts, and selections are made in 22 Indian languages and English, not English alone, and not fiction.
Q7. Under PM-YUVA 3.0, which of the following benefits are provided to the selected young authors?
- Six months of mentorship by eminent scholars
- Monthly scholarship of ₹50,000
- Lifetime royalty of 10% on the published book
- Guaranteed appointment in government publishing institutions
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Option: 1. 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
Selected authors undergo six months of structured mentorship by eminent scholars and subject experts.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
Each author receives a monthly scholarship of ₹50,000 during the mentorship period.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
Authors are entitled to a lifetime royalty of 10% on the sale of their published books.
•
Statement 4 is incorrect:
The scheme does not provide any guaranteed government employment; its focus is on mentorship, publication, and literary development.
Q8. With reference to Kavach 4.0, consider the following statements:
- Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways.
- Kavach 4.0 is certified to Safety Integrity Level–4 (SIL-4).
- Kavach only provides alerts to the Loco Pilot and does not apply brakes automatically.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Correct Option: 1. 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed by Indian Railways to enhance operational safety.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
Kavach 4.0 is certified to Safety Integrity Level–4 (SIL-4), one of the highest global safety standards in railway signalling systems.
•
Statement 3 is incorrect:
Kavach automatically applies brakes when prescribed speed limits are exceeded or when safety is compromised; it is not limited to issuing alerts.
Q9. Which of the following features distinguish Kavach 4.0 from its earlier versions?
- Improved location accuracy for precise train positioning
- Station-to-station communication through optical fibre cable
- Direct integration with electronic interlocking systems
- Replacement of all existing signalling systems on Indian Railways
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 4 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Option: 1. 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct:
Kavach 4.0 offers enhanced location accuracy, enabling precise and reliable train positioning.
•
Statement 2 is correct:
It introduces station-to-station Kavach interfacing via optical fibre cable, ensuring faster and more reliable communication.
•
Statement 3 is correct:
Kavach 4.0 is directly integrated with existing electronic interlocking systems, allowing seamless coordination with current signalling infrastructure.
•
Statement 4 is incorrect:
Kavach 4.0 is designed to integrate with existing signalling systems, not replace them entirely.
Q10. Why is the concept of “residence time” important in drug discovery, as highlighted in the PathGennie study?
- It measures how strongly a drug binds to its target at equilibrium
- It determines how long a drug molecule remains attached to its target protein, influencing therapeutic effectiveness
- It indicates the solubility of a drug in biological fluids
- It reflects the rate of drug metabolism in the human body
Correct Option: 2. It determines how long a drug molecule remains attached to its target protein, influencing therapeutic effectiveness
Explanation:
• Residence time refers to the duration a drug molecule stays bound to its target protein.
•
The article emphasizes that residence time can be more critical than binding affinity alone because it directly affects:
•
Duration of drug action
•
Dosing frequency
•
Overall therapeutic effectiveness
•
PathGennie helps accurately simulate drug unbinding processes, which are essential for estimating residence time but are otherwise computationally prohibitive using standard molecular dynamics.