1. With reference to the appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India explicitly mentions the procedure for the appointment of the CJI.
2. The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the CJI by convention.
3. The President of India appoints the CJI after consulting the Prime Minister and the Union Cabinet.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
News: Justice B.R. Gavai takes over as CJI for a six-month tenure
- The Constitution does not explicitly mention the procedure for appointing the CJI. Hence Statement (1) is incorrect.
- Appointment by seniority is convention, not law. Hence Statement (2) is correct.
- The President appoints the CJI based on the outgoing CJI’s recommendation, through the Law Minister and Prime Minister, not the full Union Cabinet.
- Appointment Process of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)
- Seniority Convention: By established convention, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is recommended as the next CJI. This convention is followed unless there are compelling reasons to depart from it.
- Recommendation by the Outgoing CJI: The outgoing Chief Justice recommends the name of the senior-most judge to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, typically about a month before retirement.
- Processing by the Government: The Union Minister of Law and Justice forwards the recommendation to the Prime Minister.
- The Prime Minister then advises the President on the appointment.
- Presidential Appointment: Under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, the President appoints the Chief Justice of India.
- Article 124(2) says that “Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary…“
- Consultation in Case of Doubt: If there is any doubt about the fitness of the senior-most judge, the President may consult other judges of the Supreme Court, in line with Article 124(2).
- Memorandum of Procedure (MoP): The MoP outlines the detailed steps and timelines for such appointments and is based on judicial precedents (notably the Three Judges Cases) and executive-judiciary consensus.
2. With reference to the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), consider the following statements:
1. It was established by the UN Security Council in response to increasing acts of terrorism.
2. The UNOCT coordinates counter-terrorism efforts across the UN system through the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
News: Indian team in UN to present evidence on Pahalgam attack
Explanation:
- The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by United Nations General Assembly in 2017.
- It was created to provide leadership on the General Assembly’s counter-terrorism mandates and to enhance coordination and coherence across the UN system’s counter-terrorism activities.
- The UNOCT supports Member States in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
- UNSC-CTC (Counter-Terrorism Committee): It was established by Security Council resolution 1373 which was adopted unanimously on 28th September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US.
- The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact (also known as the Counter-Terrorism Compact) was established in 2018 as a framework to strengthen a common UN action approach to counter-terrorism.
- The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact is the largest coordination framework across the three pillars of work of the United Nations:
1. peace and security,
2. sustainable development,
3. human rights and humanitarian affairs. Hence option(b) is correct.
- The Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assists Member States in strengthening national capacity to implement universal legal instruments against terrorism.
3. Karegutta Hill, a very difficult and hilly terrain recently seen in news for biggest-ever operation against Naxalism is situated between
(a) Chhattisgarh-Telangana border
(b) Telangana-Andhra Pradesh border
(c) Chhattisgarh-Odisha border
(d) Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border
Answer: (a)Chhattisgarh-Telangana border
News: ‘21-day anti-Naxal operation dislocated Maoist leadership’
Explanation:
- Achieving a historic success in the resolve of a ‘Naxal-free India’, security forces kill 31 Naxalites in the biggest-ever operation against Naxalism at Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) on Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
- Also, Chakarbanda Hilly Region and Boodha Pahad as areas similar to the Karegutta Hill.Hence option(a) is correct.
- “These inaccessible regions were acting as bastions for the Naxals and were no-go areas for the security forces. With them being cleared, achieving the goal of Naxal-free India in the future seems easy.
- Home minister Amit Shah reassured that India will be achieved as Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128736
4. Consider the following statements:
1. The Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021, released by the Registrar General of India (RGI)
2. It is the largest demographic survey in the country, to provide annual estimates on fertility and mortality indicators such as birth rates and death rates.
3. According to this Report, the slowest rate of decline in birth rate was seen in States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
How many statement(s) of the above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b)Only two
News: Birth rates in Delhi, Kerala, and T.N. declining at twice the rate of national average: report
Explanation:
- The annual crude birth rates (live births per 1,000 people in the population) in Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Kerala are declining at twice the rate of the national average, showed data from the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report, 2021, released by the Registrar- General of India. Hence Statement (1) is correct.
- The data showed that the all-India crude birth rate was 19.3 in 2021, dropping at a rate of 1.12% every year from 2016 to 2021.
- In comparison, in the same period, the birth rate in Tamil Nadu has been declining at a rate of 2.35% every year, Delhi’s at a rate of 2.23% and Kerala’s at 2.05%.
- The SRS is the largest demographic survey in the country, meant to provide annual estimates on fertility and mortality indicators such as birth rates and death rates. Hence Statement (3) is correct.
- Apart from the southern States, birth rates were seen declining faster than the national average for Maharashtra (1.57%), Gujarat (1.24%), Odisha (1.34%), Himachal Pradesh (1.29%), Haryana (1.21%), and J&K (1.47%), with Punjab’s birth rate declining almost at the same rate as that of the national average.
- The data showed that the slowest rate of decline in birth rate was seen in States such as Rajasthan (0.48%), Bihar (0.86%), Chhattisgarh (0.98%), Jharkhand (0.98%), Assam (1.05%), Madhya Pradesh (1.05%), West Bengal (1.08%), and Uttar Pradesh (1.09%). The data further revealed that Uttarakhand was the only State which saw a rise in birth rate in this period. Hence Statement (2) is incorrect.
5. Consider the following statements:
1. The Chairman and other members of a Public Service Commission shall be appointed by the President.
2. A member of a Public Service Commission shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains the age of sixty-two years and whichever is earlier.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)2 only
News: Ajay Kumar Takes Oath As New UPSC Chairman
Explanation:
- The Chairman and other members of a Public Service Commission (UPSC) shall be appointed by the President, and in the case of a State Commission (SPSC), by the Governor of the State as per Article-316 which deals with appointment and term of office of members.
- Provided that as nearly as one-half of the members of every Public Service Commission shall be persons who at the dates of their respective appointments have held office for at least ten years either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State.
- If the office of the Chairman of the Commission becomes vacant or if any such Chairman is by reason of absence or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office, those duties shall, until some person appointed under clause (1) to the vacant office has entered on the duties thereof or, as the case may be, until the Chairman has resumed his duties, be performed by such one of the other members of the Commission as the President, in the case of the Union Commission or a Joint Commission, and the Governor of the State in the case of a State Commission, may appoint for the purpose.
- A member of a Public Service Commission shall hold office for a term of six years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains, in the case of the Union Commission, the age of sixty-five years, and in the case of a State Commission or a Joint Commission (JPSC) , the age of sixty-two years, whichever is earlier.Hence option(b) is correct.
Source: https://www.newsonair.gov.in/ajay-kumar-takes-oath-as-new-upsc-chairman/
6. The first ever pan-India National Household Travel Survey conducted recently by
(a) Reserve Bank of India
(b) Ministry of Statistics and program implementation
(c) NITI aayog
(d) Ministry of Tourism and Culture
Answer: (b) Ministry of Statistics and program implementation
In News: Changes in Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from 2025
Explanation:
- National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MOSPI) is making continuous efforts to bring significant improvements in the surveys conducted by NSS through enhancement of the frequency, scope, relevance of the surveys along with reduction in the timeline for dissemination of survey findings and provisioning easy access to the survey data.
- NSO, MOSPI has conducted the back-to-back surveys of Household Consumption Expenditure (HCES) during 2022-23 and 2023-24, has completed the second pan-India Time Use Survey (TUS) undertaken during 2024 and is in the process of undertaking the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey (DTES) and first ever pan-India National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) from July 2025.Hence option(b) is correct.
- As a part of this continuous endeavour aimed at enhancing the surveys of NSS, the sampling design of PLFS has been revamped from January 2025 to address the requirement of high frequency labour market indicators with enhanced coverage from PLFS.
Source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128662
7.With reference to The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Consider the following statements:
1. It has been constituted by the Government of India ,under the Human rights Rights Act,2005
2. The commission consists of a chairperson and six members.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
In News: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights convenes National Consultation on Dissemination and Awareness of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
Explanation:
- The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), held an online National Consultation on Dissemination and Awareness of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) CAL (P&R) Act, 1986.
- Around 300 participants from various Central and State Ministries, State Police Departments, SCPCRs, NGOs participated in the aforementioned event.
- The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been constituted by the Government of India ,under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act,2005 to exercise and perform the powers and functions assigned to it under CPCR Act,2005.Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
- The commission consists of the following members namely:-
- A chairperson who, is a person of eminence and has done outstanding work for promoting the welfare of children.Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Six members, out of which at least two are woman, from the following fields, is appointed by the Central Government from amongst person of eminence, ability, integrity.
Source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128731
8.TAPAS,RUSTOM,HERON recently seen in a news is a
(a) Surface to air missile
(b) Torpedo
(c) Surveillance and Reconaissance drones
(d) Air defence system
Answer: (c) Surveillance and Reconaissance drones
In News: Operation SINDOOR: The Rise of Aatmanirbhar Innovation in National Security
Explanation:
- Operation SINDOOR emerged as a calibrated military response to an evolving pattern of asymmetric warfare, one that increasingly targets unarmed civilians along with military personnel.
- The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April 2025 served as grim reminder of this shift. India’s response was deliberate, precise, and strategic.
- IG Drones is a Drone Technology Company for manufacturing and R & D of Drones specialized in defence and other industry applications along with provider of drone related services like drone surveying, mapping & inspection by industry experts.
- The company has partnered with the Indian Army, Government of India , multiple State Governments, among others.
Hence option(c) is correct.
Source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128746
9. Consider the following statements:
Statement -I: Akash is a mobile short-to-medium-range air to surface missile system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
Statement -II: The system can simultaneously engage multiple aerial targets such as enemy aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is the correct explanation for Statement – I
(b) Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is not the correct explanation for Statement – I
(c) Statement – I is correct but Statement – II is incorrect
(d) Statement – I is incorrect but Statement – II is correct
Answer: (d) Statement – I is incorrect but Statement – II is correct
In News: Story of India’s Akash missiles that nullified Pakistan’s aerial attacks
Explanation:
- Akash (“sky” in Sanskrit) is a mobile short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and currently in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army..Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
- Akash is designed to provide air defence cover to the vulnerable areas and critical installations.
- The system can simultaneously engage multiple aerial targets such as enemy aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)..Hence statement 2 is correct
- The development of Akash began in the late 1980s as a part of the DRDO’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
- The early systems trials, field trials and target neutralisation trials were conducted in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- These were followed by the extensive user trials by the IAF and Army; the IAF inducted Akash into in 2014, and the Army in 2015. Both the IAF and the Army currently have multiple squadrons/groups operating the missile system.
Source:
10. Consider the following:
1. life expectancy at birth
2. Expected years of schooling
3. Mean years of schooling
4. Gross national income (GNI) per capita.
How many of the above is/are indicators of the Human Development Report?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer: (d) All four
In News: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its latest Human Development Report (HDR) titled “A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI.”
Explanation:
- According to UNDP, “Human Development Reports (HDRs) have been released most years since 1990 and have explored different themes through the human development approach.
- They have had an extensive influence on development debate worldwide.” The Human Development Report Office produces it for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- HDI is composite index that measures average achievement in human development taking into account four indicators: life expectancy at birth (Sustainable Development Goal 3); expected years of schooling (SDG 4.3); mean years of schooling (SDG 4.4); and gross national income (GNI) per capita (2017 PPP$) (SDG 8.5). Hence option d is correct.
- According to UNDP, the cutoff-points of classification of countries based on HDI value are “HDI of less than 0.550 for low human development, 0.550–0.699 for medium human development, 0.700–0.799 for high human development and 0.800 or greater for very high human development.”
- The report noted that India’s HDI value has increased by over 53% since 1990, showing a growth faster than both the global and South Asian averages. The targeted social protection and welfare programmes, and economic growth are cited as reasons for the progress.
Source:Knowledge Nugget: Why Human Development Report 2025 is UPSC essential