Answer: (b)
Papikonda National Park is located in Andhra Pradesh. It is known for its role in high precipitation, which contributes to the origin of various small streams and rivulets draining into the perennial River Godavari. The park is also home to a unique dwarf breed of goat called “kanchu mekha.” Additionally, it has been recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by BirdLife International. The vegetation in the park includes Dry Mixed Teak Forests, Southern dry mixed deciduous forests, and Southern moist mixed deciduous forests. The fauna includes species like tiger, leopard, hyena, Indian gaur, sambar, barking deer, and spotted deer.

Answer: (d)
a) SGBs are indeed government securities denominated in grams of gold. This means that investors buy bonds from the government that are backed by a certain amount of gold, rather than physical gold itself.
b) The statement is accurate. The SGB Scheme was indeed first launched by the Government of India on October 30, 2015, as a means to reduce the demand for physical gold and to channelize the savings of individuals into financial instruments.
c) This statement is also correct. The bond is indeed issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Government of India. The RBI acts as the issuing authority for these bonds, ensuring their credibility and stability.
d) This statement is incorrect. In the case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 KG applies to each applicant individually, not just the first applicant. Therefore, the investment limit is cumulative for all holders of the bond, regardless of the order in which they apply.

Answer: (c)
a) This statement is CORRECT. A pulsar is indeed a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation. These beams are observed as regular pulses of radio waves, X-rays, or gamma rays, depending on the orientation of the pulsar’s magnetic axis relative to Earth.
b) This statement is also CORRECT. Pulsars are incredibly dense and have a mass greater than that of the Sun, packed into a sphere with a diameter of about 20 kilometres. Despite their small size, they contain more mass than the Sun due to the extreme compression of matter in a neutron star.
c) This statement is NOT CORRECT. Pulsars emit regular, not irregular, pulses of radio waves. These regular pulses give rise to their name, “pulsar,” as they appear to pulse or flash like a cosmic lighthouse as they rotate.
d) This statement is CORRECT. Pulsars are indeed incredibly dense, with a diameter of about 20 kilometres. Despite their small size, they are incredibly massive due to the collapse of a massive star’s core during a supernova explosion, leaving behind a compact neutron star.

Answer: (c)
Statement 3 is NOT correct. Rest are correct.
Earth System Model (ESM) is open-source software integrating atmosphere, ocean, land, ice, and biosphere interactions to estimate regional and global climate states.
It leverages numerical weather prediction and data assimilation, enabling accurate climate change predictions.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, in collaboration with the Centre for Climate Change Research, is pioneering the development of India’s first Earth System Model.
Aimed at enhancing forecasts, facilitating long-term climate studies, and predicting future climate impacts.
The IITM-ESM integrates earth system components into the Climate Forecast System from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP, USA), transitioning it to a long-term climate mode.
A ₹192.28 crore allocation under the Monsoon Convection, Clouds, and Climate Change (MC4) sub-scheme supports the development of this climate forecasting system.
The model’s development is currently underway and slated for completion by 2025.

Answer: (b)
• In India, polygamy is allowed for Muslims under the Muslim Personal Law Application Act (Shariat) of 1937, as construed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
• Polygamy is recognized as a religious practice within the Muslim community, and Muslims have the legal right to enter into polygamous marriages.
Laws in India banning Polygamy
• Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: This act applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs and declares polygamous marriages as void. Section 11 of the act specifically states that a marriage is void if either party has a living spouse at the time of the marriage.
• Special Marriage Act, 1954: This act allows individuals from different religions or those who do not wish to follow their respective religious laws to marry. Like the Hindu Marriage Act, it also prohibits polygamy under Section 4(1)(i).
• Indian Penal Code, 1860: Sections 494 and 495 of the IPC deal with the offence of bigamy. Section 494 states that marrying again during the lifetime of one’s spouse is illegal and punishable, while Section 495 prescribes punishment for concealing a former marriage.