Advanced Quiz – 3 October 2026 | General Studies

Answer: (d) All four

Explanation: All four pairs are correctly matched.

The Niyamgiri Hills form part of the Eastern Ghats and extend across the Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha. They are also associated with the Dongria Kondh PVTG.

The Gandak, known as the Narayani in Nepal, is a transboundary Himalayan river that enters India near Valmikinagar and ultimately joins the Ganga near the Hajipur-Sonepur region.

In Iraq, the Tigris and Euphrates flow southeastward and combine to form the Shatt al-Arab, which drains into the Persian Gulf.

The Zagros Mountains occur in northeastern Iraq, while the Syrian Desert lies toward the west and the Mesopotamian alluvial plain occupies much of the central part of the country.

Answer: (d) All five

Explanation: All five statements are correct according to the source.

GEC-III is centred on Intra-State Transmission Systems (InSTS) and aims to evacuate up to 135 GW of renewable energy by FY 2032-33.

Its design also incorporates 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Storage can absorb electricity when renewable generation is high and release it when required, helping address the variable nature of solar and wind generation.

For implementation, greenfield projects follow Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) under the Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) model. Brownfield strengthening, in contrast, is undertaken on a Cost Plus Basis. State Transmission Utilities serve as the principal implementing agencies.

Answer: (d) All four

Explanation: All four are correctly matched.

GIC Re acts as the Pool Administrator, while participating domestic insurers issue policies. The underlying risks are collectively reinsured among Pool members according to their committed capacity.

BMIP covers multiple maritime risks, including Hull and Machinery, Cargo, Protection and Indemnity (P&I), and War risks. Claims up to USD 100 million are to be met through accumulated reserves and reinsurance recoveries. For larger claims, the sovereign guarantee becomes relevant after the Pool reserves are exhausted.

Thus, BMIP is not itself merely a government insurance company. It functions as a pooled risk-sharing and reinsurance mechanism involving domestic insurers with sovereign backing.

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Household savings constitute an important part of the domestic pool of financial resources available to finance investment.

If domestic savings decline relative to investment requirements, greater reliance may be placed on external sources of finance. Such dependence can increase exposure to global financial conditions and capital-flow volatility.

The relationship is not automatic in every circumstance, but option (b) correctly captures the macroeconomic mechanism described in the source.

Answer: (c) Only three

Explanation: Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct.

Deterrence by denial works by reducing an adversary’s expectation that an attack will succeed. Border fortification and hardening of potential targets are examples of this logic.

Deterrence by punishment works differently. It attempts to alter the adversary’s cost-benefit calculation by establishing a credible capacity and willingness to retaliate after hostile action.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Complete prevention of the initial attack is associated more closely with the logic of denial. Punishment seeks deterrence through the consequences that would follow aggression.

The “perimeter fallacy” refers to treating physical borders as the principal perimeter of national security despite cyberattacks, drones, disinformation, supply-chain vulnerabilities and other threats that can operate across geographical boundaries.