1. Under which of the following articles the President may refer a “question of law or fact” to the Supreme Court for its opinion
(a) Article 141
(b) Article 142
(c) Article 143
(d) Article 145
Answer: (c) Article 143
In News:After President Murmu seeks advisory opinion from SC, can court overturn its R N Ravi decision?
Explanation:
- President Droupadi Murmu has invoked the Supreme Court’s advisory jurisdiction on whether timelines could be set for the President and Governors to act on Bills passed by state Assemblies.
- Under Article 143(1) of the Constitution, the President may refer a “question of law or fact” to the Supreme Court for its opinion. The opinion, unlike a ruling, is not binding.Hence option(c) is correct.
- The reference was made on May 13, five weeks after the SC’s April 8 ruling in which it fixed a three-month deadline for the President to clear Bills reserved for her consideration by the Governor.
- That ruling, by a two-judge Bench headed by Justice J B Pardiwala, set aside Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to 10 pending Bills.
Source:
2. Under which of the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute?
(a) Article 131
(b) Article 132
(c) Article 141
(d) Article 145
Answer: (a) Article 131
In News: President Droupadi Murmu has invoked the Supreme Court’s advisory jurisdiction under Article 143(1) of the Constitution to determine whether timelines can be set for the President and Governors to act on Bills sent by state Assemblies
Explanation:
- Article 131 states that subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute.Hence option(a) is correct.
- The Constitution extended the provision in the Government of India Act, 1935 to seek the opinion of the Federal Court on questions of law to questions of fact as well, including certain hypotheticals.
- Article 145(3) requires any such reference to be heard by five judges, after which the SC returns the reference to the President with the majority opinion.
- Under the Constitution, the President acts on the aid and advice of the Cabinet. The advisory jurisdiction allows her the means to seek independent advice to act on certain constitutional matters.
- It is a power that the President has invoked on at least 15 occasions since 1950.
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3.With reference to Economic Capital Framework, consider the following statements:
1. Based on the ECF, the RBI transfers dividends to the government every year.
2. The Economic Capital Framework which is used to determine risk provisioning and surplus distribution by the central bank to the government.
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: (c) Both 1 and 2
In News: RBI Board reviews Economic Capital Framework; dividend to govt may rise up to Rs 3 lakh crore
Explanation:
- The central board of directors of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reviewed the Economic Capital Framework (ECF), which is used to determine risk provisioning and surplus distribution by the central bank to the government.
- Based on the ECF, the RBI transfers dividends to the government every year. According to various estimates, the RBI may transfer Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3 lakh crore as surplus to the government for the accounting year 2024-25. Hence option(c) is correct.
- This would be a fresh record dividend transfer by the RBI to the government. For the accounting year 2023-24, the RBI had transferred the highest-ever surplus transfer of Rs 2.11 lakh crore to the government
- The central board of the RBI is likely to meet on May 23 to determine the dividend amount to be transferred to the government for FY25, in line with the revised Economic Capital Framework.
- The RBI transfers surplus to the government from its profit after setting aside the Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB).
- The RBI’s CRB is the country’s savings for a ‘rainy day’ (a financial stability crisis) which the central bank consciously maintained in view of its role as Lender of Last Resort (LoLR).
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4. With reference to The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security,consider the following statements:
1. It is the regulatory body for civil aviation security in India.
2. It is responsible for aviation security regulation of air transport services to/from and within India
3.It co-ordinate all civil aviation security regulatory functions with International Civil Aviation Organisation
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (c) All three
In News:Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revokes Security Clearance of M/s Celebi and its associated companies in the interest of national security
Explanation:
- The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has revoked the security clearance of M/s Celebi and its associated companies on grounds related to national security.
- Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt of India, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu has made it clear that nothing is above the security of our nation and our fellow citizens. National interest and public safety are paramount and non-negotiable.
- The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is the regulatory body for civil aviation security in India.
- It is responsible for aviation security regulation of air transport services to/from and within India, formulation and enforcement of civil aviation security standards, and also co-ordinate all civil aviation security regulatory functions with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Hence option(c) is correct.
Source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128963
5. India launched two major research and innovation initiatives recently under the Trade and Technology Council with
(a) United Kingdom
(b) European union
(c) USA
(d) Israel
Answer: (d)Israel
In News: India-EU join hands to find innovative research solutions to Marine Plastic Litter and Waste to Hydrogen
Explanation:
- India and the European Union (EU) have launched two major research and innovation initiatives under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
- The TTC was established in 2022, by Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen the bilateral partnership on trade and technology.Hence option(b) is correct.
- With a joint investment of ₹391 crore (~ €41 million), the initiatives focus on two coordinated calls in the areas of Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH), co-funded by Horizon Europe—the EU’s research and innovation framework programme—and the Government of India.
Source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128923
6. Indian Council of Agricultural Research recently released the new variety DRR Dhan 100 is a
(a) Maize
(b) Rice
(c) Soyabean
(d) Mustard
Answer: (b) Rice
In News: How did India develop genome edited rice?
Explanation:
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently announced that India has become the First country in the world to develop rice varieties using genome editing technology.
- The new seeds will be available for farmers after the required clearances within six months and large-scale seed production will probably take place during the next three crop seasons
- A team of researchers from various institutions, guided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), were behind the development of the two varieties the DRR Dhan 100, also known as Kamala, which was developed from a popular high yielding green rice Samba Mahsuri, and Pusa DST Rice 1, which was developed from the Maruteru 1010 (MTU1010) variety.Hence option(b) is correct.
- According to the ICAR, the increase in food demand, challenges posed by climate change and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses such as pest attacks and scarcity of water, led to the development of high yielding, climate resilient and nutritionally rich crop varieties.
- Kamala has shown superior yield, drought tolerance, high nitrogen use efficiency and 20 days early over its parent variety.
- It has an average yield of 5.37 tonnes per hectare against the 4.5 tonnes per hectare of Samba Mahsuri across two years and 25 locations of testing in the country.
- “The earliness trait will help in saving water, fertilizers, and reduced emission of methane,” the ICAR said.
- The second variety, Pusa DST Rice 1, has a yield of 3,508 kilograms per hectare (a capacity of 9.66% more) over the parent rice variety, MTU 1010, which has an average yield of 3,199 kg per hectare under ‘inland salinity stress’.
Source: TH Delhi 15-05-2025
7.HQ-9 SAM recently seen in the news belongs to which of the following countries?
(a) Turkey
(b) China
(c) Israel
(d) USA
Answer: (b) China
In News: Indigenous weapon systems highly effective, says Centre
Explanation:
- The performance of indigenous defence systems against Chinese and Turkish weapon systems stood out during Operation Sindoor, government and military officials have said.
- For instance, the indigenous Akash short-range surface-to-air systems proved their capability, while the Chinese HQ-9 SAMs deployed by Pakistan failed to effectively intercept the precision-guided munitions launched by India.
- All offensive strikes on Pakistan military targets were executed without loss of Indian assets, under scoring the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems
- The Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakis tan’s Chinese-supplied air defence systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes, demonstrating India’s technological edge
Source: TH Delhi 15-05-2025
8. Right to Digital access is implicitly mentioned in which of the following Fundamental right?
(a) Article 19
(b) Article 21
(c) Article 14
(d) Article 21A
Answer: (b) Article 21
In News: Does Article 21 include right to digital access?
Explanation:
- The SC has consistently held that accessibility for PwDs is a ‘constitutional imperative’. In Rajive Raturi versus Union of India (2024), it ruled that ‘accessibility’ is central to the right to life, dignity, and freedom of movement under Article 21. Hence option b is correct.
- During the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the court emphasised that digital registration must be fully accessible to prevent exclusion. In the instant case, the top court held that ‘digital barriers’ blatantly violate the rights of PwD under the UNCRPD and India’s disability laws.
- Anchoring its judgment in the principle of ‘substantive equality’, it directed that digital KYC guidelines be revised with ‘accessibility’ at their core.
- It flagged that the digital divide affects not just PwDs, but rural users, senior citizens, the economically disadvantaged, and linguistic minorities.
Source:
Does Article 21 include right to digital access? | Explained – The Hindu
9. Consider the following statements:
1. Bio-based chemicals and enzymes
2. Functional foods and Smart proteins
3. Precision biotherapeutics
4. Climate resilient agriculture
5. Carbon capture and its utilisation
6. Futuristic marine and space research
How many of the above is/are the focus areas of the BioE3 policy?
(a) Only four
(b) Only two
(c) Only five
(d) All six
Answer: (d) All six
In News: India to Study Sustainability of Human Life in Space, as an important initiative under the BioE3 Biotechnology policy launched by PM Sh Narendra Modi
Explanation:
- “BioE3 policy will prove to be a milestone not only for the bio economy but a game changer for Viksit Bharat @2047”
- The policy is aimed at ‘Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing’ aligned with National initiatives of the government of India such as ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for environment).
- The Science and Technology Minister said “BioE3 policy will have a momentous impact on various sectors like food, energy and health”. He also highlighted the six thematic themes which were 1. Bio-based chemicals and enzymes; 2. Functional foods and Smart proteins; 3. Precision biotherapeutics; 4. Climate resilient agriculture; 5. Carbon capture and its utilisation; 6. Futuristic marine and space research. Hence option d is correct.
- “It is the best time for Bio-Technology, highlighting the progress of biotechnology in India”. He also emphasised India ‘s resources and said “India has a huge wealth of bioresources, an unsaturated resource waiting to be harnessed and an advantage in Biotechnology especially due to the vast biodiversity and the unique bioresources in the Himalayas.
Source:
Press Release: Press Information Bureau
10. With reference to “water vapour”, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC PYQ 2024)
1.It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only