Advanced Quiz – 22 October 2026 | General Studies

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, approves the FRP of sugarcane. FRP is the centrally determined minimum price payable by sugar mills to farmers.
• Statement 2: Correct. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends the FRP after considering production costs, demand and supply, domestic and international prices, and sugar recovery rates.
• Statement 3: Correct. The Minimum Selling Price of sugar is the minimum ex-mill price below which sugar mills cannot sell sugar. It supports the financial viability of sugar mills and their ability to pay farmers.
• Statement 4: Incorrect. FRP concerns the price payable to sugarcane farmers, whereas the Minimum Selling Price of sugar concerns the sale of processed sugar by mills.

Remember for Prelims:

• FRP: Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane.
• CACP: Recommends FRP.
• CCEA: Approves FRP.
• Sugar MSP: Minimum Selling Price of processed sugar, distinct from agricultural Minimum Support Price.
• Sugar Recovery Rate: Percentage of sugar obtained from processed sugarcane.
• Botanical Family: Poaceae.
• Propagation: Sugarcane is commonly propagated through stem cuttings called setts.
• Bagasse: Fibrous residue used in electricity generation and paper production.
• Molasses: By-product of sugar manufacturing used in ethanol production.

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The SCO was established in Shanghai in 2001 by six founding countries. It evolved from the Shanghai Five mechanism established in 1996.
• Statement 2: Correct. India and Pakistan joined as full members at the Astana Summit in June 2017. Iran joined in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. RATS is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The SCO Secretariat is located in Beijing, China.
• Statement 4: Correct. The Council of Heads of State is the supreme decision-making body of the SCO, responsible for determining major policy directions and strategic priorities.

Remember for Prelims:

• Established: 2001.
• Founding Members: Six.
• Full Members: Ten, as of October 2026.
• India and Pakistan: Joined in 2017.
• Iran: Joined in 2023.
• Belarus: Joined in 2024.
• SCO Secretariat: Beijing, China.
• RATS Headquarters: Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• Three Evils: Terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• Nature: The SCO is not a collective-defence military alliance like NATO.

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. UDAN, meaning Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, was launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, to improve affordable regional air connectivity.
• Statement 2: Correct. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) provides financial support to selected airline operators to help sustain operations on commercially challenging regional routes.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. UDAN also supports helicopter services and seaplane operations, particularly for remote, island and difficult-terrain regions.
• Statement 4: Correct. The first flight under UDAN was inaugurated on 27 April 2017, connecting Shimla and Delhi.

Remember for Prelims:

• UDAN: Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik.
• Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Implementing Agency: Airports Authority of India.
• Unserved Airports: Airports without scheduled commercial flight operations.
• Underserved Airports: Airports with limited scheduled commercial connectivity.
• VGF: Financial assistance to support commercially challenging routes.
• Modified UDAN 2026: Focuses on regional aviation infrastructure, operational sustainability and improved connectivity.

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, empowered the Central Government to specify a carbon credit trading scheme. The CCTS was notified in 2023.
• Statement 2: Correct. India’s compliance mechanism uses greenhouse gas emission-intensity targets, measured as emissions per unit of output. This differs from a conventional cap-and-trade system, which sets an overall emissions limit.
• Statement 3: Correct. Obligated entities performing better than their prescribed targets may receive tradable Carbon Credit Certificates. Entities failing to meet targets may need to purchase certificates to fulfil compliance obligations.
• Statement 4: Incorrect. The PAT scheme focuses on energy efficiency and operates through Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts), not Carbon Credit Certificates.

Remember for Prelims:

• CCTS: Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.
• ICM: Indian Carbon Market.
• BEE: Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a key institution in the carbon market framework.
• CCC: Carbon Credit Certificate.
• PAT: Perform, Achieve and Trade.
• ESCert: Energy Saving Certificate.
• MRV: Monitoring, Reporting and Verification.
• Emission intensity: Emissions per unit of output.
• EU ETS: An example of a cap-and-trade system.

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. Gallium is used in compound semiconductors such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN), important for high-frequency electronics, power devices and radar systems. Germanium is used in semiconductors, infrared optics and fibre-optic technologies.
• Statement 2: Correct. Graphite is widely used as an anode material in conventional lithium-ion batteries. Restrictions on battery-grade graphite can affect electric vehicle supply chains.
• Statement 3: Correct. NdFeB magnets contain neodymium, iron and boron. They are used in electric motors, wind turbines, industrial machinery and defence applications.
• Statement 4: Incorrect. TBMs are primarily used for metro, railway and underground infrastructure. However, tunnelling capabilities also have strategic applications in border connectivity and defence infrastructure.

Remember for Prelims:

• Gallium: Semiconductors, radar and power electronics.
• Germanium: Infrared optics, fibre optics and semiconductors.
• Graphite: Major anode material in lithium-ion batteries.
• Neodymium: Rare-earth element used in permanent magnets.
• Antimony: Flame retardants, alloys and certain defence applications.
• National Critical Mineral Mission: Strengthens domestic exploration, mining, processing, recycling and overseas acquisition of critical minerals.