Answer: (c)
The Paruveta Festival takes place at the Sri Narasimha Swamy temple in Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh. It attracts devotees from diverse backgrounds and is celebrated by people of all castes, fostering communal harmony. Devotees from various religious communities, including Muslims, offer prayers to Lord Narasimha during the festival. Folklore narrates that Lord Vishnu married Chenchulakshmi, a tribal girl, in Ahobilam, strengthening ties between the deity and the local Chenchu tribe. Unlike other temples where Paruveta rituals occur during Vijayadasami or Sankranti, at Ahobilam, the festival celebration spans a ‘mandala’ of 40 days. Rituals include ceremoniously taking the deity to the 32 Chenchu tribal villages, where Chenchus demonstrate their protective devotion by symbolically aiming arrows at the deity’s palanquin. Chenchu devotees undertake ‘Narasimha Deeksha’ during the 40-day period, donning yellow robes and observing celibacy. Temple staff reside in these hamlets, reflecting a historical casteless society devoid of untouchability.

Answer: (c)
Blue Corner Notices facilitate sharing critical crime-related information and locating individuals before criminal charges are filed.
Explanation:
Blue Corner Notices, also known as “enquiry notices,” are issued by Interpol to facilitate the sharing of critical crime-related information and to locate individuals. Unlike Red Corner Notices, which are issued for the arrest of wanted criminals after criminal convictions, Blue Notices precede criminal charges. For example, in January 2020, Interpol issued a Blue Corner Notice to locate fugitive Nithyananda, a self-styled godman. Red Corner Notices enable arrests and other consequences like bank account closures, while Blue Notices primarily serve to exchange information and verify criminal records.

Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is not correct.
Kiru Hydel Project
• Location: Situated over the Chenab River near Patharnakki and Kiru villages in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• Capacity: A 624MW run-of-river project.
• Developers: Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP), a joint venture of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC, 49%), Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC, 49%), and Power Trading Corporation (PTC, 2%).
• Beneficiary States: J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Union territories of Chandigarh & Delhi.
• The Hydropower Plant consists of :
1. 135m-high concrete gravity dam near Kiru.
2. Catchment area of 10,225km², with a 6.5km-long and 1.03km² reservoir.
3. 700m-long horse-shoe shaped diversion tunnel with two openings to divert river flow for dam construction.

Answer: (c)
The solar cycle is an 11-year cycle during which the Sun’s magnetic field reverses polarity and sunspot activity waxes and wanes.
The solar cycle is an approximately 11-year cycle during which the Sun’s magnetic field strength varies, reaching maximum and minimum levels. This cycle is characterized by changes in solar activity, including the number of sunspots and solar flares. Approximately every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic poles reverse, meaning that the north magnetic pole becomes the south magnetic pole and vice versa. This cycle of magnetic reversal coincides with changes in solar activity, with periods of high sunspot activity (solar maximum) followed by periods of low activity (solar minimum).

Answer: (c)
Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
ASHA, or Accredited Social Health Activist, is a trained community health worker who plays a crucial role in the National Rural Health Mission. ASHAs are responsible for creating awareness, motivating behavior change, and connecting communities to health systems. Their job functions include accompanying women to health facilities for antenatal care checkups, counseling them regarding nutrition and immunization, and ensuring proper antenatal care. However, ASHAs are not directly involved in conducting deliveries of babies or using pregnancy test kits for early detection of pregnancy.