The correct answer is Andhra Pradesh.

Key Points

• Indian Space Research Organization's Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located at Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh. 
• Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, the Spaceport of  India, is responsible for providing Launch Base Infrastructure for the Indian  Space Programme.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Option 4.

• In India, maize is grown in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.​

Key Points

Maize

• In India, maize is the third most important food crop after rice and wheat.
• Maize in India contributes nearly 9% of the national food basket.
• In addition to staple food for human beings and quality feed for animals,
• It serves as a basic raw material ingredient in industrial products, including-
  • starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries, etc.
• The predominant maize-growing states that contribute more than 80 % of the total maize production are:
  •  Andhra Pradesh (20.9 %), Karnataka (16.5 %), Rajasthan (9.9 %), Maharashtra (9.1 %), Bihar (8.9 %), Uttar Pradesh (6.1 %), Madhya Pradesh (5.7 %), Himachal Pradesh (4.4 %).
•  Apart from these states, maize is also grown in Jammu and Kashmir, and North-Eastern states.
• Hence, maize has emerged as an essential crop in non-traditional regions.
• State like Andhra Pradesh which ranks 5th in the area (0.79 m ha) has recorded the highest production (4.14 mt) and productivity (5.26 t/ha ) in the country.

Additional Information

Requirement for maize production:

• It is a Kharif crop.
• Irrigation facilities, usage of fertilizers, and usage of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seed contributed to the massive increase in maize production in India.
• Maize grows well in temperatures ranging from 21°C to 27°C.
• It grows well in old alluvial soil.
• maize is a warm-weather crop
• it cannot survive freezing
• Therefore, the best soils for maize growth should have a sufficient ability to hold water and efficient drainage.

The correct answer is Option 4.

In News

The Hindu: Navy steps up vigil amid piracy threat.

Key Points

Operation Sankalp:

• It is a maritime security operation by the Indian Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for the protection of Ships. Hence, Option 4 is correct.
• The Indian Navy has launched ‘Operation Sankalp’ in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman as a measure to assure the safety and security of the Indian vessels, following the recent maritime incidents in the region.
• The Indian Navy’s maritime security operations under the aegis of Operation Sankalp in the Gulf of Aden have completed 100 days.
• During the 100 days of Operation Sankalp, the Indian Navy has responded to 18 incidents and has played a pivotal role as the “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region.

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• Rainfed agriculture is a type of farming that relies on rainfall for water.
• It provides much of the food consumed by poor communities in developing countries.
• Rainfed areas in India are highly diverse, ranging from resource rich areas to resource-constrained areas.
• In India, about 60% of the total net sown area comes under rainfed lands.
• Rainfed crops account for 48 per cent of the area under food crops and 68 per cent under non-food crops.
• Rain-fed crops are seasonal crops.
• They require natural precipitation as a source of water for their growth.
• They are susceptible to seasonal changes, that is, they fail to grow in absence of rainfall or if rainfall is scanty.
• They usually grow in regions with greater than 750 mm of rainfall.
• Humid and sub-humid regions are ideal for their growth.
• Examples: Wheat, Millet, Peas, Maize, Soybean, Sorghum, Chickpeas, Cotton. Hence option 4 is correct.
• Rain-fed areas account for 89 per cent of millets production, 88 per cent of pulses, 73 per cent of cotton, 69 per cent of oilseeds (which include groundnut and Sesamum) and 40 per cent of rice production in the country.
• Coarse cereals are grown in rainfed areas.

The correct answer is A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4.

Key Points

• Bareilly is known for Nauchandi Mela.
• Agra is famous for Dadri Mela.
• Mathura hosts the Mudiya Puno Mela.
• Badaun is known for Kakora Fair.

Additional Information

• Bareilly: Hosts the Nauchandi Mela, a significant cultural event.
• Agra: Famous for the Dadri Mela, the second largest cattle fair in India.
• Mathura: Known for the Mudiya Puno Mela, an important religious fair.
• Badaun: Hosts the Kakora Fair, attracting visitors from various regions.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Key Points

Tropical Deciduous Forests:

• These are the most widespread forests in India.
• They are also called monsoon forests.
• They spread over regions that receive rainfall between 70-200 cm. 
  • Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• On the basis of the availability of water, these forests are further divided into moist and dry deciduous.
• Moist Deciduous Forests: 
  • They are more pronounced in the regions which record rainfall between 100-200 cm.
  • These forests are found in the northeastern states along the foothills of the Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha.
  • Teak, sal, shisham, hurra, mahua, amla, semul, Kusum and sandalwood, etc. are the main species of these forests.
• Dry Deciduous Forest: 
  • They cover vast areas of the country, where rainfall ranges between 70 -100 cm.
  • On the wetter margins, it has a transition to the moist deciduous, while on the drier margins to thorn forests.
  • These forests are found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• In the higher rainfall regions of the Peninsular plateau and the northern Indian plain, these forests have a parkland landscape with open stretches in which teak and other trees interspersed with patches of grass are common.
• As the dry season begins, the trees shed their leaves completely and the forest appears like a vast grassland with naked trees all around.
• Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, axlewood, etc. are the common trees of these forests.
• In the western and southern parts of Rajasthan, vegetation cover is very scanty due to low rainfall and overgrazing.

Important Points

Tropical Evergreen Forests-

• These forests are found in the western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• They are found in warm and humid areas with annual precipitation of over 200 cm and a mean annual temperature above 22 degrees C.
• Tropical evergreen forests are well stratified, with layers closer to the ground and are covered with shrubs and creepers, with short structured trees followed by a tall variety of trees.
• In these forests, trees reach great heights up to 60 m or above.
• There is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves, flower, and fruition. As such these forests appear green all year round.
• Species found in these forests include rosewood, mahogany, aini, ebony, etc.
  • Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

The correct answer is Option 2.

In News

• The Print: National Internet Exchange to unveil BhashaNet portal on Universal Acceptance Day.

Key Points

BhashaNet Portal:

• The Bhasha-Net Portal is a digital platform launched by NIXI, aimed at promoting Universal Acceptance (UA). Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The portal specifically focuses on ensuring that individuals, regardless of the language or script they use, can fully participate in the digital world.
• The portal is designed to provide resources, tools, and information to support the integration of diverse languages and scripts into online platforms, websites, and applications.
• Objectives:
  • To provide a truly multilingual Internet, where local language website name and local language email ID, work everywhere seamlessly. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • To foster digital inclusivity by addressing linguistic barriers and promoting the use of local languages and scripts in digital communication.

Additional Information

• National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI):
  • Established on June 19, 2003, the NIXI is a not-for-profit organization under the auspices of MeitY.
  • NIXI is dedicated to enhancing internet penetration and adoption in India by facilitating essential infrastructure and services.
  • It plays a crucial role in enabling the internet ecosystem to be accessible and utilized by the masses, thereby promoting digital empowerment and inclusion nationwide.
  • Four key services include:
    • Setting up Internet Exchange Points,
    • Managing the.IN Registry,
    • Promoting IPv4 and IPv6 address adoption through IRINN
    • Offering data center services under NIXI-CSC.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Key Points

• The Swadeshi movement was a direct consequence of the British Indian government's decision to partition Bengal.
• The two main goals of this movement were the use of Swadeshi goods and the boycott of foreign-made goods.
• A Boycott Resolution was passed in Calcutta City Hall on August 7, 1905, where it was decided to boycott the use of Manchester cloth and salt from Liverpool.
• Vande Mataram became the boycott and Swadeshi movement theme song.
• However, the Indian National Congress under the Presidentship of G.K.Gokhale formally approved the Swadeshi Movement at Banaras session in December 1905. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Objectives:
  • Condemn the partition of Bengal,
  • Condemn the reactionary policies of Curzon, and
  • Support the anti-partition and Swadeshi Movement of Bengal.
• As the Moderate-Extremist disputes were there regarding the attitude towards the Swadeshi Movement, it increased with the pace of the movement, and techniques of struggle reached a deadlock, Hence, to resolve it, Dadabhai Nauroji attempted in the Calcutta Session.
• Under Swadeshi, Rabindranath Tagore founded Shanti Niketan and Satish Mukherjee founded Dawn Society to impart native education.
• Rabindranath Tagore gave a call for Rakhi Bandhan as a token of Hindu-Muslim unity and wrote articles under the title “ Atma Shakti “. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The original conception of Boycott was mainly an economic one. It had two distinct, but allied purposes in view.
  • To bring pressure upon the British public by the pecuniary loss they would suffer by the boycott of British goods, particularly the Manchester cotton goods for which Bengal provided the richest market in India.
  • It was regarded as essential for the revival of an indigenous industry which being at its infant stage could never grow in the face of free competition with foreign countries which had highly developed industries.
• Bal Gangadha Tilak described Swadeshi as Yoga of Bahiskar, a religious ritual of self-punishment.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• Due to a reduction in the moisture content in the winds, the rainfall decreases from the East to the West in Northern India. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• There is an intensification of low-pressure situations over the northern plain, by early June.
• In the southern hemisphere, the trade winds will be attracted by this. Warm subtropical areas of the southern oceans are the place where these southeast trade winds originate.
• These winds bring rain to India.
• Moisture is brought to the subcontinent in sufficient quantities, as these winds were blowing over warm oceans.
• These trade winds enter India as Southwest monsoons, they blow with an average velocity of 30 Km/hr.
• Generally, by the first week of June, the monsoon arrives at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. 
• Later the Monsoon splits into two branches – the Bay of Bengal branch and the Arabian Sea branch. 
• In Assam, the Bay of Bengal branch arrives by the first week of June.
• The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon reaches Delhi by the end of June.
• The Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon merges over the Ganga plains, in its Northwestern part.
• The inflow of the southwest monsoon into India is such that the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy rainfall, more than 250 cm.
• The rain shadow region receives scanty rainfall and the moisture-laden clouds shed the maximum rainfall of this season in the northeastern part of the country.
• Thus, Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills receives the highest average rainfall in the world.
• Rainfall in the Ganga valley decreases from the east to the west. 
• Hence, Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat which are on the western get scanty rainfall.
• As we move up in the Ganga plains, the Himalayan mountains come, so the monsoonal winds have to go higher up in these regions. Even from the figure of the pattern of Monsoon winds, we can see that the winds turn up towards North in Ganga plains due to impasse with the Himalayan Mountains. Hence statement 2 is correct.

The correct answer is ​2, 3 and 4 only.

Key Points

• Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) technology uses locally available resources to manage soil nutrition, fertility, pests, and weeds.
• The technology completely avoids the use of inorganic fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.
• It emphasises the effective utilisation of water through specified methods and recommends less tilling, to produce higher yields.
• This farming practice asserts that ZBNF is resilient to climate change, reduces the cost of cultivation, and increases farmers’ income.
• ​Zero budget natural farming in the drought-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh is helping soils to produce more, offering smallholder farmers decent livelihoods.
  • The practices make farmers more resilient and able to fight climate change. 
• Universal Principles Of Natural Farming Soil
  • To Be Covered With Crops 365 Days (Living Root)
  • Minimal Disturbance of Soil
  • Biostimulants As Necessary Catalysts
  • Use Indigenous Seed Diverse Crops, trees 15 -20 Crops
  • Integrate Animals Into Farming
  • Increase Organic Residues On The Soil
  • Pest Management Through Botanical Extracts
  • No Synthetic Fertilizers, Pesticides, Herbicides
• Benefits
  • ZBNF processes require 50%–60% less water and less electricity (than non-ZBNF) for all the selected crops. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • ZBNF reduces methane emissions significantly through multiple aerations. 
  • It also has the potential to avoid residue burning by practising mulching. Hence, statement 4 is correct.
  • The cost of cultivation is lower in ZBNF for all crops by INR 3,000–INR 22,000 per acre, except in cotton (higher by INR 9,000, due to greater labour engagement). Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The net revenue is higher in ZBNF by INR 9,000–INR 37,000 for all the crops because of the lower cost of cultivation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
    • The difference in yield between ZBNF and non-ZBNF for chilli and paddy is negligible.
    • For the remaining crops, non-ZBNF exhibits higher yields, with an increase in the range of 0.3 Mt/acre–0.7 Mt/acre. Nevertheless, the net revenue is high hence making it an ideal option for even small farmers.
  • Furthermore, non-ZBNF-based chilli, maize, and groundnut show higher dispersion (more risk) than ZBNF crops.
  • The study also observed a positive outlook towards ZBNF by the farmers, in terms of ease of production and health benefits.