Ans: A

Exp:

Recently, Scientists have reported that the insides of most massive neutron stars are most likely made of an unusual state of matter called quark matter.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Quarks are elementary particles that experience the strong nuclear force and are constituents of composite particles called hadrons.

• Quarks are held together by another set of particles called gluons.
• Because nuclear forces are very strong, quarks are always tightly bound to each other and are not free, even in the vacuum of empty space.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The nuclear force that holds quarks together is explained by a theory called quantum chromodynamics. 

• Quantum chromodynamics is a theory of the strong nuclear force. The force that holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons, among other things.

Statement 3 is correct:  A quark star is an intermediate stage in between neutron stars and black holes.

• It has too much mass at its core for the neutrons to hold their atomness. 
• But not enough to fully collapse into a black hole. In these objects, the underlying quarks that form the neutrons are further compressed

Ans: A

Exp:

Recent droughts in Colombia and Ecuador have severely hampered energy supplied by hydropower. 

Statement 1 is incorrect: Small hydro is defined as any hydropower project which has an installed capacity of less than 25 MW.

• It is in most cases run-of-river, where a dam or barrage is quite small, usually, just a weir with little or no water is stored. 

Statement 2 is incorrect: Run-of-river hydropower is a facility that channels flowing water from a river through a canal or penstock to spin a turbine. 

• Pumped storage hydropower provides peak-load supply, harnessing water which is cycled between a lower and upper reservoir by pumps which use surplus energy from the system at times of low demand.

Statement 3 is correct: Storage hydropower is typically a large system that uses a dam to store water in a reservoir. 

• Electricity is produced by releasing water from the reservoir through a turbine, which activates a generator. 

Ans: B

Exp:

Recently, the fiscal ended March 2024 saw urea consumption hit a record 35.8 million tonnes (mt), 16.9% higher than the 30.6 mt in 2013-14, the year before the current government came to power. 

Statement 1  is incorrect: Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme, a fixed amount of subsidy, based on the nutrient content present in them, is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertiliser except Urea.

Statement 2 is correct: There is currently no limit on the number of subsidized fertilizers each farmer can buy. 

• A farmer can buy up to 100 bags at a time but it does not stop anyone from buying any number of times.

Statement 3  is correct: In the case of non-urea fertilizers, MRP has been de-regularised and the government pays a flat per-tonne subsidy on the basis of nutrients mixed in the fertilizer, to ensure they are priced at “reasonable levels”. 

• MRP: Maximum retail price (MRP) is a manufacturer-calculated price that is the highest price that can be charged for a product sold 

Ans: D

Exp:

Recently, India is set to host the prestigious 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection.

Option D is correct: The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 in Washington, by 12 countries then active in Antarctic science and entered into force in 1961.

•  The treaty aims to make the Antarctic Continent as a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research only. 
• It covers the area south of 60°S latitude. India became a party in 1983.

Ans: B

Exp:

Recently, DRDO successfully tests missile-assisted torpedo release system from Odisha.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system has been designed and developed by the DRDO. 

Statement 2 is correct:  The canister-based missile system comprises several advanced subsystems including two-stage solid propulsion and precision inertial navigation.

•  It carries an advanced lightweight torpedo missile as a payload along with a parachute-based release mechanism.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The missile-based mechanism to launch lightweight torpedoes can target submarines hundreds of kilometres away — far beyond the conventional range of lightweight torpedoes.

• It will be particularly employed in the absence of other assets for immediate action when an enemy submarine is detected.