{"id":2834,"date":"2026-01-30T05:57:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T05:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=2834"},"modified":"2026-01-30T05:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T05:59:17","slug":"daily-current-affairs-27-01-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/daily-current-affairs-27-01-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS \u2013 27.01.2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Consider the following statements in respect of Padma Awards:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\">1. The Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\">2. The awards are presented by the President of India every year on the occasion of Republic Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\">3. The Padma awards can be given to Indian nationals, while the NRI, foreigners, OCIs are not eligible for Padma awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\">4. The award does not amount to a title and can be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees\u2019 name<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 and 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 3 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 1, 2 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1, 2 and 4 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong> President Droupadi Murmu would confer Padma awards to 131 individuals in 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Padma Awards:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-15\">\n<li>Padma Awards &#8211; one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, <strong>Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year&nbsp; where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. <strong>Hence statement 2 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Padma Vibhushan\u2019 is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Padma Bhushan\u2019 for distinguished service of high order and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Padma Shri\u2019 for distinguished service in any field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year <strong>1954<\/strong>, are announced every year on the occasion of <strong>Republic Day <\/strong>except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. However, Government servants including those working with <strong>PSUs<\/strong>, except <strong>doctors and scientists<\/strong>, are<strong> not eligible<\/strong> for these Awards. <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements\/service in all fields of activities\/disciplines. An illustrative list of the fields is as under:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Art (includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social work (includes social service, charitable service, contribution in community projects etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Affairs (includes Law, Public Life, Politics etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Science &amp; Engineering (includes Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research &amp; Development in Science &amp; its allied subjects etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trade &amp; Industry (includes Banking, Economic Activities, Management, Promotion of Tourism, Business etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medicine (includes medical research, distinction\/specialization in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sidhha, Allopathy, Naturopathy etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Literature &amp; Education (includes Journalism, Teaching, Book composing, Literature, Poetry, Promotion of education, Promotion of literacy, Education Reforms etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Civil Service (includes distinction\/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sports (includes popular Sports, Athletics, Adventure, Mountaineering, promotion of sports, Yoga etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Others (fields not covered above and may include propagation of Indian Culture, protection of Human Rights, Wild Life protection\/conservation etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The award is normally <strong>not conferred posthumously<\/strong>. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only where a period of <strong>at least five years <\/strong>has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award. However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial\/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire. The names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to<strong> NRI\/foreigners\/OCIs)<\/strong> should not be more than <strong>120. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The award <strong>does not amount to a title<\/strong> and<strong> cannot be used as a suffix or prefix<\/strong> to the awardees\u2019 name. <strong>Hence statement 4 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who decides<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-17\">\n<li>The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#cdd5dae6\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2021)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:<\/strong> <br><br>1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. <br>2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once. <br>3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year. <br><br><strong>Which of the above statements are not correct?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br>(b) 2 and 3 only <br>(c) 1 and 3 only <br><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0600fa\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/full-list-of-padma-award-2026-winners\/article70549263.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/full-list-of-padma-award-2026-winners\/article70549263.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0600fa\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.padmaawards.gov.in\/PadmaAwards\/AboutAwards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.padmaawards.gov.in\/PadmaAwards\/AboutAwards<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. With reference to Delimitation in India, consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Delimitation is the process of fixing or re-fixing the boundaries of territorial constituencies and determining the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies based on the geographical size of the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\">2. The Delimitation Commission of India is chaired by the President of India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-23 wp-block-paragraph\">3. The constitution of India provides for readjustment of Lok Sabha constituencies after each Census through a Delimitation Act enacted by Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 1 and 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 2 and 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-28 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-29 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) 3 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-31 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Delimitation after 2027, redrawing power in India<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32 wp-block-paragraph\">Delimitation refers to the process of fixing or re-fixing the boundaries of territorial constituencies and determining the number of seats in the <strong>Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies<\/strong> to ensure equal representation based on <strong>population<\/strong>. <strong>Hence statement 1 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-33 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Historical Evolution of Delimitation in India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-34\">\n<li><strong>Pre-Independence Period: <\/strong>Delimitation was carried out under the Government of India Acts of 1909, 1919, and 1935, primarily to allocate representation in legislative bodies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Post-Independence Phase: <\/strong>After the adoption of the Constitution, delimitation was mandated under Articles 82 and 170.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>First Delimitation (1952): <\/strong>Based on the 1951 Census, following the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952. Established constituencies for the first general elections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Subsequent Delimitation Exercises: <\/strong>1963 (1961 Census) and 1973 (1971 Census) adjusted boundaries and seats in line with population growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freeze on Delimitation (1976): <\/strong>The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 froze the allocation of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats based on the 1971 Census until 2000, to encourage population control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Post-2000 Developments<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>84th<\/strong> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001 extended the freeze till 2026, but allowed boundary readjustments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>87th<\/strong> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 enabled delimitation using 2001 Census data without increasing seats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Latest Delimitation (2002\u20132008): <\/strong>The Delimitation Commission (2002) completed the latest nationwide exercise, effective from 2008.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Constitutional Provisions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-36\">\n<li><strong>Article 82 : <\/strong>Provides for readjustment of Lok Sabha constituencies after each Census through a Delimitation Act enacted by Parliament. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 170 : <\/strong>Mandates delimitation of State Legislative Assembly constituencies based on population figures of the latest Census.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 : <\/strong>Froze delimitation based on the 1971 Census until the year 2000 to promote population control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001 : <\/strong>Extended the freeze on the number of seats till 2026, while allowing readjustment of boundaries based on the 2001 Census.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>87th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 : <\/strong>Permitted delimitation using the 2001 Census data without altering total seats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Institutional Mechanism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-38\">\n<li>Delimitation is <strong>carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission, appointed by the President of India.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It consists of:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A retired Supreme Court judge as Chairperson. <strong>Hence statement 2 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Chief Election Commissioner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The respective State Election Commissioners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Commission\u2019s orders have the force of law and cannot be challenged in courts, ensuring political neutrality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#a6ecd0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2024)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) One <br>(b) Two <br>(c) Three <br><strong>(d) Four<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-39 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0600fa\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/delimitation-after-2027-redrawing-power-in-india\/article70543757.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/delimitation-after-2027-redrawing-power-in-india\/article70543757.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-41 wp-block-paragraph\">1. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42 wp-block-paragraph\">2. WEF publishes reports such as the Global Risks Report and Global Gender Gap Report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-43 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-45 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Both 1 and 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) Neither 1 nor 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-48 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-50 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>World Economic Forum has become Western Geopolitical Forum. And China is filling the gap<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recent issues with background:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-52\">\n<li><strong>World Economic Forum (WEF)<\/strong> is an annual international meeting, often held at Davos, Switzerland, bringing together political, business, and civil society leaders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The WEF is increasingly dominated by Western geopolitical priorities, with discussions heavily focused on US-EU tensions, trade disputes, and conflicts like Ukraine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many Global South countries find Davos discussions less relevant to their development and economic challenges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>China hosts alternative forums such as:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Boao Forum for Asia<\/strong> \u2013 Asia-focused economic dialogue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Annual Meeting of the New Champions \u2013 sometimes called <strong>\u201cAsian Davos,\u201d<\/strong> emphasizing business and innovation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These China-led forums focus on <strong>South-South cooperation<\/strong>, trade, infrastructure, and development, providing a counterweight to WEF\u2019s Western tilt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The WEF\u2019s global economic relevance is perceived to be declining in some regions because it is viewed as a proxy for Western geopolitical interests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This shift indicates the emerging multipolar world order, where non-Western powers are creating forums reflecting their priorities and those of developing countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>World Economic Forum (WEF):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-54\">\n<li><strong>Founded in 1971<\/strong> by <strong>Klaus Schwab<\/strong> in Switzerland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Headquarters:<\/strong> Cologny, Switzerland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type:<\/strong> International non-governmental organization (NGO). <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Purpose:<\/strong> Improve the state of the world through <strong>public-private cooperation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Annual Meeting:<\/strong> Held at <strong>Davos<\/strong>, Switzerland; discusses global economic, political, social, and technological issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regional Meetings:<\/strong> Africa, Asia, Latin America, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reports Published:<\/strong><ul><li>Global Competitiveness Report<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Global Risks Report<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Global Gender Gap Report. <strong>Hence statement 2 is correct.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Future of Jobs Report<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Global Cybersecurity Outlook<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Top 10 Emerging Technologies<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Chief Economists\u2019 Outlook<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Annual Report<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Global Cooperation Barometer<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Travel &amp; Tourism Development Index<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Fostering Effective Energy Transition Report<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New Nature Economy Reports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Membership:<\/strong> Corporates and institutions; participation requires <strong>paid membership<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#aeeef5\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE:<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the (2019)<\/strong> <br><br>(a) International Monetary Fund <br>(b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development <br><strong>(c) World Economic Forum<\/strong> <br>(d) World Bank \u00a0 <br><br><strong>Which of the following gives \u2018Global Gender Gap Index\u2019 ranking to the countries of the world? (2017)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>(a) World Economic Forum<\/strong> <br>(b) UN Human Rights Council <br>(c) UN Women <br>(d) World Health Organisation<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-55 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0600fa\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/world-economic-forum-has-become-western-geopolitical-forum-and-china-is-filling-the-gap-10491516\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/world-economic-forum-has-become-western-geopolitical-forum-and-china-is-filling-the-gap-10491516\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-57 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Statement-I: <\/strong>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are referred to as \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-58 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Statement-II: <\/strong>The carbon\u2013fluorine bonds in PFAS molecules are extremely strong, making them highly resistant to environmental degradation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-59 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-60 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-61 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-62 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-63 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-64 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-65 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-66 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong> Rice University Breakthrough Promises Faster PFAS Pollution Cleanup<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-67 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-68\">\n<li><strong>PFAS<\/strong> are \u201cforever chemicals\u201d with strong carbon\u2013fluorine bonds, making them extremely persistent in the environment. <strong>Hence, Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are used in products for <strong>water-, stain-, and heat-resistance<\/strong> and accumulate in soil and water over decades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exposure to PFAS is linked to <strong>cancer, kidney and liver disease, and immune disorders<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Existing technologies like <strong>activated carbon or reverse osmosis<\/strong> capture but do not destroy PFAS, leaving disposal as a challenge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scientists at <strong>Rice University<\/strong> developed a <strong>layered double hydroxide (LDH) material<\/strong> made from copper and aluminium to absorb PFAS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The LDH material is <strong>positively charged<\/strong>, enabling rapid attraction and absorption of negatively charged PFAS molecules.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This new material can absorb certain PFAS <strong>up to 100 times faster<\/strong> than current filtration methods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The LDH approach allows <strong>non-thermal destruction<\/strong> of PFAS at relatively lower temperatures (400\u2013500\u202f\u00b0C), producing stable waste suitable for landfill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scaling for industrial use<\/strong> and regulatory approvals remain key challenges for widespread deployment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#c5d9e3\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2024)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. With reference to perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements :<\/strong> <br><br>1. PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging material. <br>2. PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment. <br>3. Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies. <br><br><strong>Which of the statements given above are correct?<\/strong><br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br>(b) 2 and 3 only <br>(c) 1 and 3 only <br><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-69 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0600fa\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gktoday.in\/rice-university-breakthrough-promises-faster-pfas-pollution-cleanup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.gktoday.in\/rice-university-breakthrough-promises-faster-pfas-pollution-cleanup\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-70 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5.With reference to Pygmy Hogs, consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-71 wp-block-paragraph\">I. They are solitary animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-72 wp-block-paragraph\">II. They are keystone grassland species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-73 wp-block-paragraph\">III. They are classified as critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-74 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-75 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) I only\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-76 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) I and III\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-77 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) II only\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-78 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) II and III<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-79 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (c) II only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-80 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-81 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>A little pig goes a long way &#8211; India\u2019s pygmy hog is vanishing from its grasslands, just as it is needed the most<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-82\">\n<li>The pygmy hog inhabits tall wet grasslands of the sub-Himalayan region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once widespread across northern India and parts of Nepal, its current wild population survives only in Assam, mainly in and around Manas and Orang landscapes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adult pygmy hogs are extremely small, measuring about 60\u201365 cm in length and weighing 8\u20139 kg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have dark brownish coats, a tapered head, short tail, and small visible canines in males.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lifespan in the wild is estimated at 8\u201314 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pygmy hogs are<strong> social animals<\/strong> that live in small family groups. <strong>Hence statement 1 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They dig grass nests for shelter, foraging primarily for roots, tubers, insects and other small food items.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Breeding is seasonal, with litters of 2\u20136 piglets after a gestation of about 100 days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ecologically, the pygmy hog is a <strong>keystone grassland species. Hence statement 2 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The species faced near extinction due to rapid loss and degradation of grasslands, caused by unregulated burning, overgrazing, agricultural expansion, and habitat succession.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These pressures drastically reduced both habitat quality and population numbers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A major conservation turnaround began in <strong>1995 with the launch of the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP)<\/strong>, involving captive breeding, habitat management, and systematic reintroduction into protected grasslands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The pygmy hog is classified as <strong>Endangered <\/strong>on the IUCN Red List, listed under CITES Appendix I, and is accorded the highest level of legal. <strong>Hence statement 3 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"754\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3-754x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3-754x1024.png 754w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3-221x300.png 221w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3-768x1043.png 768w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png 902w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 754px) 100vw, 754px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#9de9ca\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2013)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following:<\/strong> <br><br>1. Star tortoise <br>2. Monitor lizard <br>3. Pygmy hog <br>4. Spider monkey <br><br><strong>Which of the above are naturally found in India?<\/strong> <br><br><strong>(a) 1, 2 and 3 only<\/strong> <br>(b) 2 and 3 only <br>(c) 1 and 4 only <br>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-83 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0116fa\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/wildlife-biodiversity\/a-little-pig-goes-a-long-way\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/wildlife-biodiversity\/a-little-pig-goes-a-long-way<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-84 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Consider the following statements with reference to Madras hedgehog:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-85 wp-block-paragraph\">1. It is a nocturnal mammal endemic to peninsular India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-86 wp-block-paragraph\">2. It survives in dense forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-87 wp-block-paragraph\">3. It rolls up to reduce the chance of being captured by predators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-88 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-89 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 and 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-90 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-91 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-92 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) 1 and 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-93 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-94 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-95 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Under moonlit scrub &#8211; Survival of this hidden guardian tells us whether our scrublands still breathe<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-96\">\n<li>Madras hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris), a little-known, nocturnal mammal is endemic to peninsular India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This small species, also called the <strong>bare-bellied hedgehog<\/strong>, survives in<strong> dry scrublands, thorn forests, grasslands, and scrub edges of farmlands, avoiding dense forests.<\/strong> <strong>Hence statement 2 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At night it forages for insects, worms, snails, and small reptiles, acting as a natural pest controller and contributing to soil aeration, an important ecological function in dry ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Madras hedgehog weighs about 130\u2013315 g and lives roughly <strong>five to six years.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is well adapted to arid landscapes: its quills protect against predators such as foxes, jackals, and mongooses, and<strong> it curls into a tight ball when threatened. Hence statement 3 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its <strong>poor eyesight<\/strong> is compensated by keen smell and hearing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite its ecological role and endemic status, the species is overlooked and under-studied, and its population trends are uncertain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major threats include habitat loss due to agriculture, plantations, and infrastructure development (such as wind and solar projects), poaching, and road mortality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural myths about medicinal properties of its body parts have also led to <strong>illegal hunting in some areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4.png 940w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-4-768x434.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#e4d72538\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2021)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following animals:<\/strong> <br><br>1. Hedgehog <br>2. Marmot <br>3. Pangolin <br><br><strong>To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up\/roll up and protects\/protects its\/their vulnerable parts?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) 1 and 2 only <br>(b) 2 only <br>(c) 3 only <br><strong>(d) 1 and 3 only<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-97 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0400f6\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/wildlife-biodiversity\/under-moonlit-scrub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/wildlife-biodiversity\/under-moonlit-scrub<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-98 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Consider the following about pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-99 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) stores electricity in the form of gravitational potential energy by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-100 wp-block-paragraph\">2. India plans to develop 100 GW of hydro pumped storage capacity by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-101 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-102 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-103 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 2 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-104 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Both 1 and 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-105 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) Neither 1 nor 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-106 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (a) 1 only<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-107 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-108 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-109\">\n<li>India has charted a formal roadmap to develop <strong>100 GW <\/strong>of hydro pumped storage capacity by <strong>2047<\/strong> to help stabilize its rapidly growing renewable energy sector. <strong>Hence statement 2 is incorrect.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This plan integrates long-duration energy storage as a core component of grid reliability and peak demand management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over 120 potential pumped storage sites have been identified nationwide, with total potential exceeding ~180 GW, out of which 100 GW is targeted for development by 2047.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>About 22 GW is already under development, and 50\u201360 GW are shortlisted for rollout by 2032\u201337 in line with renewable expansion plans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key states expected to lead early development include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, with projects that leverage existing reservoirs and off-river (closed-loop) systems to reduce social and environmental impacts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-110 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pumped hydro storage:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-111\">\n<li>Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) is a form of energy storage and grid management technology that works like a giant water-based battery.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It stores electricity in the form of gravitational potential energy by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations. <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is the largest form of grid energy storage worldwide, accounting for the vast majority of installed storage capacity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-112 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mechanism:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-113\">\n<li>When electricity demand is low, surplus or cheap power (often from renewables like solar and wind) is used to pump water from a lower reservoir up to a higher one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When demand is high, water is released back down to the lower reservoir through turbines, generating electricity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The system uses reversible pump-turbines that can both pump water up and generate electricity when water flows down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5.png 940w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-5-768x364.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-114 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-115\">\n<li>PSH balances supply and demand on the grid and stabilises it by storing excess power and releasing it when needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It helps manage intermittent renewable energy, such as solar and wind, by capturing surplus generation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Though it consumes more energy to pump water up than it generates when released, it increases system value by providing electricity at peak demand times when prices are higher.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#dfe5eb\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2024)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Recently, the term \u201cpumped-storage hydropower&#8221; is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Irrigation of terraced crop fields <br>(b) Lift irrigation of cereal crops <br><strong>(c) Long-duration energy storage<\/strong> <br>(d) Rainwater harvesting system<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-116 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#3702f3\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/energy\/india-charts-roadmap-to-tap-100-gw-of-hydro-pumped-storage-to-stabilise-renewables-surge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/energy\/india-charts-roadmap-to-tap-100-gw-of-hydro-pumped-storage-to-stabilise-renewables-surge<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-117 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. Consider the following statements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-118 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Statement-I: <\/strong>The Ratle hydroelectric project is a run\u2011of\u2011river hydro project designed for non\u2011consumptive use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-119 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Statement-II: <\/strong>The Ratle hydroelectric project is being built on one of the \u201cwestern rivers\u201d allocated primarily to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-120 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-121 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-I explains Statement-II<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-122 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-123 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) Statement-1 is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-124 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-125 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-I explains Statement-II<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-126 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-127 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Centre\u2019s panel affirms Ratle hydroelectric project green nod validity till December 2030<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-128 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ratle Hydroelectric Project:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-129\">\n<li>Ratle Hydroelectric Project (850 MW), is a Run of River Scheme located on <strong>River Chenab<\/strong> at village Drabshalla, district Kishtwar, Union Territory of <strong>Jammu and Kashmir.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is designed with a 133\u202fm <strong>gravity dam<\/strong> and an underground powerhouse housing four main turbines, aiming to generate approximately 3,136\u202fmillion units of electricity annually once completed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has four <strong>205\u202fMW Francis turbines<\/strong> and one 30\u202fMW unit, giving an installed capacity of 850\u202fMW.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The project is executed by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a joint venture between NHPC Ltd and the Jammu and Kashmir government.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Ratle project is built on the Chenab, one of the <strong>\u201cwestern rivers\u201d<\/strong> (along with Jhelum and Indus) allocated primarily to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. The treaty allows India non\u2011consumptive use such as run\u2011of\u2011river hydro projects but with design constraints to protect downstream flows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-130 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hence both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-I explains Statement-II<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#9ae9cb\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (1979)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Which hydro-electric project produces maximum power energy?<\/strong> <br><br><strong>(a) Bhakra Nangal<\/strong> <br>(b) Koyna <br>(c) Hirakud <br>(d) Salal<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-131 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0206f2\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/centres-panel-affirms-ratle-hydroelectric-project-green-nod-validity-till-december-2030-10490895\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/centres-panel-affirms-ratle-hydroelectric-project-green-nod-validity-till-december-2030-10490895\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-132 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. Why is the Rafah Border Crossing particularly important during conflict in Gaza?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-133 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) It allows Israel to control all trade<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-134 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) It serves as the main international airport for Gaza<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-135 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) It provides the only viable external link when land, sea, and air routes are restricted<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-136 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) It is the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-137 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (c) It provides the only viable external link when land, sea, and air routes are restricted<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-138 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-139 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In NEWS: <\/strong>Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt could reopen to increase humanitarian efforts<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-140 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rafah Border Crossing:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"774\" src=\"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6.png 771w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-6-768x771.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-141\">\n<li>The Rafah Border Crossing is the only border crossing <strong>between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and is located in Rafah at the southern edge of Gaza and the northern border of Egypt.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It serves as <strong>Gaza\u2019s sole gateway to a country other than Israel<\/strong>, making it crucial for people movement and humanitarian access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The crossing was <strong>opened after the 1979 Egypt\u2013Israel peace treaty and remained under Israeli control until 2005.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2005, control was transferred to the Palestinian Authority on the Gaza side and Egyptian Border Guards on the Egyptian side, with oversight from the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM Rafah).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, the EU mission withdrew, and Egypt closed the crossing. Since then, Rafah has only been opened intermittently for limited movements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rafah is vital for <strong>humanitarian aid delivery, access to medical care, and travel out of Gaza<\/strong>, because the other border crossings are controlled by Israel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is especially important during conflict when land, sea, and air access to Gaza is restricted, making Rafah the primary external link for civilians. <strong>Hence option (c) is correct.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#94e1f2b8\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2023)<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Q. Consider the following pairs:<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Region often mentioned in news\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reason for being in news<\/strong> <br>1. North Kivu and Ituri\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0                  &#8211; War between Armenia and Azerbaijan <br>2. Nagorno-Karabakh\u00a0 \u00a0                    &#8211; Insurgency in Mozambique <br>3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0         &#8211;\u00a0Dispute between Israel and Lebanon <br><br><strong>How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?<\/strong> <br><br>(a) Only one <br>(b) Only two <br>(c) All three <br><strong>(d) None<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-142 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0e00ff\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/rafah-border-crossing-between-gaza-and-egypt-could-reopen-to-increase-humanitarian-efforts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.newsonair.gov.in\/rafah-border-crossing-between-gaza-and-egypt-could-reopen-to-increase-humanitarian-efforts\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-143 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Consider the following pairs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>National Park<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>River Flowing through the park<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Corbett National Park<\/td><td>Ganga<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Kaziranga National Park<\/td><td>Manas<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Silent Valley National Park<\/td><td>Kaveri<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-144 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of the above pairs is\/are correctly matched?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-145 wp-block-paragraph\">(a) 1 and 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-146 wp-block-paragraph\">(b) 3 only<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-147 wp-block-paragraph\">(c) 1 and 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-148 wp-block-paragraph\">(d) None<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-149 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (d) None<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-150 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-151\">\n<li>The <strong>Ramganga River <\/strong>flows through Corbett, not the Ganga itself. While Ramganga is a tributary, technically the park does not have the main Ganga river flowing through it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Brahmaputra River<\/strong> flows through Kaziranga, not Manas. Manas River flows through Manas National Park.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Kaveri River originates near Talakaveri in Karnataka, while Silent Valley National Park is in Kerala. The river flowing through Silent Valley is <strong>Kunthipuzha<\/strong>, a tributary of Bharathapuzha.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-152 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hence all are incorrect.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Consider the following statements in respect of Padma Awards: 1. The Government servants including those working with PSUs, except [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,68,71,11,42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-daily-current-affairs","category-good-morning-test","category-prelims","category-prelims-current-affairs-gmt"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2834"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2834\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2841,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2834\/revisions\/2841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}