Answer: (b)
Mission Utkarsh initiative, collaboration between the Ministries of Ayush and Women and Child Development, aims to combat anaemia.
Launched in five aspirational districts initially, it focuses on elevating districts below national averages.
The pilot phase targets improving anaemic status in adolescent girls (14-18 years) across states like Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Approximately 10,000 Anganwadi Centres in these districts will cover 95,000 girls, utilizing Ayush systems for a cost-effective and evidence-backed approach.

Answer: (a)
Only statement 1 is correct.
Melanism in Indian tigers, specifically observed in the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, is a rare phenomenon caused by a genetic mutation leading to pseudo-melanism. This condition results in distinctive dark stripe patterns on the tigers’ skin, making them appear black or darker than usual.
A study led by Uma Ramakrishnan and Vinay Sagar identified a single genetic mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene responsible for the broadening and spreading of black stripes in these tigers. Pseudo-melanism, unlike true melanism, is characterized by an unusually high deposition of melanin, the dark pigment. The rarity of black tigers is attributed to the recessive nature of the gene causing pseudo-melanism, making it challenging for two unrelated tigers to carry and pass on the same gene.

Answer: (a)
Only statement 1 is correct.
The Genome India Project, initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) on January 3, 2020, aims to collect 10,000 genetic samples from individuals across India to build a reference genome.
This project is led by the Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, coordinating with 20 institutions for sample collection and research.

Answer: (c)
Obelisks are rod-like structures formed by their twisted RNA strands and have genetic sequences of approximately 1,000 nucleotides.
Obelisks are recently identified virus-like entities residing within the human body. They are characterized by structural symmetry, named after the rod-like structures formed by their twisted RNA strands. Obelisks have compact genetic sequences of approximately 1,000 nucleotides, making them distinct from other biological agents. They are positioned between viruses and viroids, constituting a unique class of organisms. While some aspects of obelisks, such as their host interaction and ecological significance, are still under study, they represent a novel discovery in the field of microbiology.

Answer: (d)
Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people represents the democratic system. Hence option 1 is incorrect.
Article 75(3) states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.
A parliamentary system is a system of democratic governance of a state in which the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is held accountable to, the legislature (parliament).
The Executive forms a part of the legislature. In India, the person should be a member of parliament to become a member of the executive.