Ans: A

Exp:

The Election Commission of India (ECI), with its track record of conducting free and fair elections, and on time, to Parliament and State legislatures, has emerged as one of independent India’s most credible institutions. Yet, there are 34 State Election Commissions (SECs) that need serious attention and strengthening.

About State Election Commission: 

• • Autonomous Constitutional Authority: Responsible for administering elections to the Local Self Government (LSG), which includes Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
  • Establishment: The State Election Commission (SECM) was established following the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in 1992.

• Role and Functions:

• • Statement 1 is Correct: Article 243K (1): The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect: Article 243K (2): Subject to the provisions of any law made by the Legislature of a State the conditions of service and tenure of office of the State Election Commissioner shall be such as the Governor may by rule determine.
  • Election Supervision: The SECM has the authority over elections to Urban & Rural Local Bodies.
  • Registration of Political Parties: Empowered to register and deregister political parties in the state. Since 2005, it is mandatory for all political parties contesting local elections to register with SECM.
  • Statement 3 is Incorrect: Article 243K (2): The State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like ground as a Judge of a High Court and the conditions of service of the Slate Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.

Ans: C

Exp:

The second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’ was commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024 at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh. 

About INS Arighat:

• • Statement 1 is Incorrect and Statement 2 is Correct:  It is India’s second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN),following India’s first nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, commissioned in 2018
  • It was constructed at the Indian Navy’s Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.

• Key Features: 

• • Statement 3 is Correct: It is a 6,000-tonne submarine, which is set to embark on a long-range patrol of the Indo-Pacific armed with 750-km range nuclear ballistic missiles K-15.
  • It will have one seven-blade propeller powered by a pressurized water reactor.
  • It can achieve a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) when on surface and 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.
  • It can carry up to four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs (Submarine Launched ballistic Missile) with a range of over 3500 kilometers or twelve conventional warhead K-15 SLBMs with a range of about 750 kilometers.
    • It also carries torpedoes and mines.
  • The SSBN can remain underwater for months, and their range limitation is only due to logistics, supplies and crew changes.

Ans: D

Exp:

Solar paraboloid technology, a form of concentrating solar power (CSP), is emerging as a promising renewable energy solution.

About Solar paraboloids:

• Statement 1 is Correct: Solar paraboloids operate using a Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) system. 
  • These systems consist of long, parabolic mirrors that focus sunlight onto a receiver tube placed at the focal line of the mirror. 
• Parabolic Mirrors: These mirrors are shaped like a parabola and are designed to focus sunlight onto a receiver tube located at the focal line of the mirror.
• Receiver Tube: This tube captures the concentrated sunlight and heats a fluid contained within it. 
  • The heated fluid can be used to generate electricity through a steam turbine or provide direct heat for industrial processes.
• This design offers several advantages over traditional PV panels
  • Statement 2 is Correct: One of the key benefits of solar paraboloid technology is its ability to operate at higher temperatures, up to 300°C, which significantly increases thermal efficiency. 
    • As per the manufacturing standards, 25 °C or 77 °F temperature indicates the peak of the optimum temperature range of photovoltaic solar panels.
  • Statement 3 is Correct: The increase in operating temperature and amount of heat collected per unit area demands a smaller absorbing surface area. 
    • This results in a significant decrease in convective and conductive heat losses, in turn increasing thermal efficiency.
  • Economic implications and market potential: Solar paraboloids are highly efficient in concentrating solar energy, which means that more electricity can be generated from the same amount of sunlight. 
  • This efficiency could lead to lower costs per unit of electricity produced, making solar energy more competitive with traditional fossil fuels

Ans: B

Exp:

Mangala Muduli, a Bonda tribe student, breaks barriers to study medicine, marking a historic achievement for his community.

About 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) found in Odisha:

• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) : As per the recommendation of the Dhebar Commission in 1973, the Government of India created a separate category of Tribe. 

• • Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), who were less developed among the tribal groups in 1975.

• Option 1 is Correct:  Bondas – They are one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) found in Odisha.
  • The Bonda tribe of Odisha are believed to be part of the first wave of migration out of Africa about 60,000 years ago. They were the first forest settlers in India.
• Option 2 is Correct: Other 12 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) found in Odish – They are Birhor, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dongria Kondh, Hill Kharia, Juang, Kutia Kandha, Lanjia Soura, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan and Soura. 
• Option 3 is Incorrect: The Sentinelese are an indigenous tribe that live on North Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean.

Ans: A

Exp: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the ceremony of the proposed Vadhavan Port recently.

About Vadhavan Port

• India’s 13th major port.
• Vadhavan Port Location: Vadhavan, Palghar district, Maharashtra
• Coast: Arabian Sea
• Operated by: Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
• This port initiative aligns with the PM Gati Shakti program

Major ports in India:

• Currently, there are 13 major ports in India.

• Vadhavan, Kandla, Cochin, Mormugao, and New Mangalore are located on Western coast of India.
• V. O. Chidambaranar Port and Paradip are located on Eastern coast

Hence, option A is Correct.