Prelims Mantra (Practice Questions) (31/08/2026)

Consider the following statements regarding the national income accounting and quarterly GDP estimates released by the National Statistical Office (NSO):

1. Real GDP is calculated by valuing current economic output at constant base year prices, eliminating the distortion of price inflation.
2. Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) measures the net additions of fixed assets produced within the domestic economy over an accounting period.
3. Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices is derived by adding product taxes and subtracting product subsidies from GDP at market prices.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System based on Technology) framework completely eliminates the requirement for physical Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) across all notified crop zones in India.

Statement-II: YES-TECH integrates satellite remote sensing data, drone imagery, and agrometeorological parameters to calculate yield estimates at the Gram Panchayat level.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following geographic features of the Bundelkhand region and its drainage network:

1. The region represents an ancient granitic-gneissic peninsular shield characterized by undulating plateau topography and thin red soils.
2. The Mandakini River originating in the Vindhyan Range drains into the Yamuna River near Chitrakoot.
3. The Ken-Betwa Link Project transfers surplus water from the Betwa River basin in Uttar Pradesh to the deficit Ken River basin in Madhya Pradesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

Consider the following agricultural technology platforms operationalized under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare:

1. YES-TECH : Automated crop yield estimation through remote sensing and AI
2. WINDS : Hyperlocal automatic weather station data dissemination network
3. CROPIC : Photo-enabled geo-tagged crowd-sourced assessment of localized crop loss
4. DigiClaim : Direct Benefit Transfer module for automated insurance claim disbursement

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

With reference to the governance and statutory framework of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in India, consider the following statements:

1. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is proposed to be merged into the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).
2. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) allows students to deposit and redeem academic credits across multidisciplinary streams indefinitely without any expiry period.
3. Higher education coordination and standard-setting is a subject enumerated in the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Blue Carbon’ and ocean-based climate mitigation:

1. Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, predominantly mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses.
2. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems sequester carbon predominantly in deep organic sediment pools where anaerobic conditions prevent microbial decomposition.
3. Despite covering less than 2% of the total ocean area, coastal vegetated habitats account for nearly half of all carbon sequestered in ocean sediments.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Flying Fox (*Pteropus medius*):

1. It is a megabat species endemic to the Indian subcontinent that lacks echolocation capability and relies on keen vision and olfaction to forage.
2. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, the Indian Flying Fox was placed under Schedule I, granting it the highest level of statutory protection alongside the Bengal Tiger.
3. It serves as a vital pollinator and seed disperser for ecologically and commercially valuable tree species, including Mahua (*Madhuca longifolia*).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the traditional ‘Shitol Pati’ mats of India, consider the following statements:

1. It is a traditional mat-weaving craft practicing in the states of Assam and West Bengal.
2. The craft is woven from the fibrous outer strips of the *Murta* plant (*Schumannianthus dichotomus*), a wetland reed.
3. The traditional art of Shitol Pati weaving is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to civil aviation security and emergency response governance in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was established following the recommendations of the Justice P.B. Sawant Committee.
2. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides the dedicated Airport Security Group (ASG) for operational anti-hijacking and perimeter security across major commercial airports.
3. The Central Aviation Crisis Management Committee (CACMC) is the apex national body responsible for strategic decision-making during civil aviation security emergencies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the regulatory framework for Synthetic Biology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in India:

1. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the statutory apex body for approving environmental releases of GMOs.
2. Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSCs) are established at every institution engaged in genetic engineering research to oversee low-risk laboratory experimentation.
3. India is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which regulates the transboundary movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs).

Which of the statements given above are correct?