Ans: C

Exp:

• The Prime Minister inaugurated the Z-Morh tunnel, a strategically significant infrastructure project located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The name “Z-Morh” derives from the Z-shaped roadway that existed before the tunnel’s construction.
• Overseen by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the Z-Morh tunnel has been referred to by NHIDCL as an “engineering marvel.”
• The Z-Morh tunnel is part of the Zojila tunnel project that aims to provide all weather connectivity from Srinagar to Ladakh throughout the year.
• The tunnel will enhance connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg while providing safe access to the strategically important Ladakh region.
• Statement 1 is correct: It  will facilitate all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg enroute Leh.
• Statement 2 is correct:  It enhances access to Thajiwas glacier.
• The completion of the Z-Morh Tunnel is expected to boost local economies by promoting trade and tourism, ultimately benefiting the overall development of the region, in addition to enhancing regional connectivity, safety, and economic growth. 

Ans: A

Exp:

• • 10 Indian Fishermen allegedly arrested By British Navy Near Diego Garcia recently.
  • Statement 1 is not correct:Diego Garcia is a coral atoll, the largest and southernmost member of the Chagos Archipelago, in the central Indian Ocean.
    •  The Chagos Archipelago is located in the central Indian Ocean, south of the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent.

• Key Islands: 

• • • Diego Garcia atoll
    • Danger Island
    • Egmont Islands
    • Eagle Islands
    • Nelsons Island
    • Peros Banhos atoll.
• Statement 2 is  correct: It is a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
• Discovered by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, it was for most of its history a dependency of Mauritius. 
• In 1965 it was separated from Mauritius as part of the newly created British Indian Ocean Territory. 

Ans: B

Exp:

• The 25th National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions at Bengaluru.
• The first Commission at the provincial level was the Madras Service Commission established in 1930 under a 1929 Act of the Madras legislature. 
• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission for each Province.
  •  Accordingly, under the 1935 Act seven Public Service Commissions were established in 1937; for the Provinces of Assam (at Shillong), Bengal (at Calcutta), Bombay and Sindh (at Bombay) Central Provinces, Bihar and Orissa (at Ranchi), Madras (at Madras), Punjab and North-West (at Lahore) and United Province (at Allahabad).
• Statement 2 is correct: Article 315 of the Constitution provides for a separate Public Service Commission for the Union and States without any formal linkage between the two. In order to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and information in common areas of interest, Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions are being held from time to time in association with UPSC. 
• Statement 3 is correct:The first National Conference of the Public Service Commissions was held in 1949.Thereafter the Conferences were held from time to time. In 1999, Chairman UPSC became the ex-officio Chairman of the National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions.

Ans: A

Exp:

• The Bharat Climate Forum — a national platform dedicated to unifying stakeholders from policy, industry, finance, and research to accelerate cleantech manufacturing in India — was launched recently. Hence, Option (a) is correct.
• It aims to position India as a global leader by fostering self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) as the cornerstone of its journey toward a Net-Zero and Viksit Bharat.
• Hosted by the Centre for Indigenous Economic Understanding (CIEU) and Dalberg Advisors, the Bharat Climate Forum is supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), NITI Aayog, and International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• By 2030, Dalberg estimates suggest that cleantech manufacturing could create a domestic market worth $120-150 billion annually and generate export opportunities of $40-45 billion while generating 50 million new jobs by 2070.
• The forum will focus on six foundational themes that are critical to driving India’s net-zero ambitions through self-reliance and clean tech leadership:

• Clean energy generation and storage
• Manufacturing for Net-Zero
• E-mobility and green transportation
• Climate finance and investment mobilization
• Industrial decarbonization and clean energy transition
• Building partnerships for climate action and leadership

Ans: C

Exp:

• Children born on and after January 1, 2025, will now be termed as Generation Beta marking a generational shift

• Gen Beta will comprise of the children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2039

• • A generation refers to a group of people born around the same time period who have experienced a common historical event and may have similar value systems.
  • The term was popularised by Karl Mannheim in his paper “The Problem of Generations” in 1928.
  • Naming: The past generations were grouped in periods of 15-20 years and were named after defining societal events 
    • The trend has changed and now follows the Greek Alphabet with the children born between 2010 and 2024 termed as Gen Alpha. 

• Past Generations:

• • Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) generation was born after World War II and the period of decolonisation and thus is named after the post-war baby boom. 
    • Considering the surge in optimism, this generation is usually associated with idealism and a mistrust of authority
  • Gen X (1964 – 1979): This generation is named after their anti-establishmentarian mindset with the X representing a mistrust of the establishment.
    • This generation is diverse and is patterned on a rich, vibrant democracy, comfortable with many views, perspectives, and voices.
  • Pair 2  is correctly matched: Gen Y or the Millennials (1980 – 1995)  generation became adults at the turn of the millennium. This generation is tech-savvy compared to their predecessors while also being socially conscious. 
  • Pair 3  is correctly matched: Gen Z (1996 – 2010) generation constitute the younger adults and is the first generation to be truly plugged in and grow up as digital natives 
    • This is the generation that has normalised talk of mental health concerns and advocated for social and environmental causes.
  • Gen Alpha (2011 – 2024): This is the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century and is the most tech-savvy generation with  heightened awareness of its environment and of mental health challenges.