Which one of the following groups of countries consists of the members of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC)?

 (a) India, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam

(b) India, Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
(c) India, Bangladesh and Myanmar
(d) India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka

The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative launched on November 10, 2000, in Vientiane, Laos, comprising six member countries: India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Named after two major civilizational rivers—the Ganga and the Mekong—the bloc focuses on fostering deep socio-economic ties through historical and cultural connections.

It forms a crucial pillar of India's Act East Policy, emphasizing cooperation in four traditional areas—tourism, culture, education, and transportation/communication—which have since expanded to include public health, traditional medicine, and water resource management. Major tangible outcomes include the MGC Asian Traditional Textiles Museum in Cambodia and India's Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), which fund short-gestation development projects in the Mekong region.

Which of the following statements relating to Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 are correct?

 1. It mandates the creation of a National Disaster Database

2. It addresses the issue of urban disaster risk management through Provision 41 A
3. It empowers the constitution of an Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA) for State Capitals and all cities having Municipal Corporations (excluding NCT of Delhi and Union Territories of Chandigarh)

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Consider the following statements with reference to Indian Ports Act, 2025:

 1. It established Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) as a statutory consultative body to coordinate between Centre and coastal states

2. Its legislation mandates Global Green Norms and Disaster Readiness for Indian Ports

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements about the administration and control of Scheduled Areas:

 1. The Governors of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall, annually or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State

2. The Executive Power of the Union shall extend to the giving of directions to the States as to the administration of the Scheduled Areas

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the statements regarding the delimitation exercise carried out in Assam in 2023:

 1. The delimitation of constituencies was done on the basis of 2001 census

2. No increase was made in the number of ST Assembly seats

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Which one of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched?

 (a) Formation of the State of Arunachal Pradesh : The Constitution (Fifty-fifth Amendment) Act, 1986

(b) Formation of the State of Mizoram : The Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986
(c) Special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland : The Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962
(d) Reorganisation of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu : The Constitution (Fifty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1987

Which of the following statements with respect to the Ordinance promulgated under Article 213 of the Constitution of India is/are correct?

 1. It shall be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State, or where there is a Legislative Council in the State, before both the Houses

2. It shall cease to operate at the expiration of two months from the reassembly of the Legislature
3. It may be withdrawn at any time by the Governor

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Which one of the following statements related to below mentioned Committees of the Parliament is correct?

 (a) The Rajya Sabha elects more members than the Lok Sabha to the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

(b) The Chairperson of the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
(c) Members nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are more in number than Members nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on the Committee on Empowerment of Women
(d) The Rajya Sabha elects more members than the Lok Sabha to the Public Accounts Committee

Which of the following statements about State Election Commissioner is/are correct?

 1. Preparation of electoral rolls for elections to the Panchayats takes place under his/her direction

2. He/she is appointed by the Governor of the concerned State on the advice of the Chief Election Commissioner of India

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

 1. Using powers given under Article 342 A of the Constitution of India, the President of India may notify a Central List of socially, educationally and economically backward classes with respect to a State

2. Every State may prepare a list of socially and educationally backward classes for its own purposes different from the Central List

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

As regards the ‘disqualification on ground of defection’ as per the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

 1. Disqualification on ground of defection does not apply to any nominated member of a House

2. Disqualification on ground of defection does not apply to a member of a House if she/he does not accept the merger of her/his original political party into another and opts to function as a separate group

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu?

 1. The merger of the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu was given effect to by an Act of the Parliament of India

2. After the merger of the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, three seats have been allocated in the House of People
3. The jurisdiction of the High Court of Bombay continues to extend to this Union Territory

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 only

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

 1. In First-Past-the-Post system of representation, candidate who wins the election may not get majority votes

2. In Proportional Representation system of representation, candidate who wins the election gets majority of votes

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Which of the following statements about National Human Rights Commission, India is/are correct?

 1. It can intervene in court proceedings involving human rights violations with the approval of the court

2. It can undertake research in the field of human rights
3. It cannot investigate human rights violation on its own initiative

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

Who is considered as the father of 'Artificial Intelligence'?

John McCarthy is widely regarded as the “Father of Artificial Intelligence (AI)”.

He coined the term “Artificial Intelligence” in 1956.

He organized the Dartmouth Conference (1956), considered a foundational event in AI research.

Battle of Carnatic (Carnatic Wars: 1746–1763)

 

1. Introduction

• The Carnatic Wars were three conflicts fought in South India between the British East India Company and the French East India Company from 1746 to 1763.
  
  
• Fought mainly in the Carnatic region, they were part of larger European rivalries and tied directly to succession disputes in Carnatic and Hyderabad.
  
  
• The wars marked the decline of French influence and the start of British political dominance in India.
  
  

2. Causes

• Rivalry between the British and French for trade and territorial dominance.
  
  
• European wars spilling over into the Indian theater.
  
  
• Succession disputes in Carnatic and Hyderabad.
  
  
• Desire of both companies to expand political and commercial power.
  
  
• Support sought by rival Indian rulers to bolster positions in internal conflicts.
  
  

3. First Carnatic War (1746–1748)

• European Context: War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748).
  
  
• Major Events:
  
  
  • French forces under La Bourdonnais captured Madras in 1746.
    
    
  • Nawab of Carnatic, Anwar-ud-din, attempted to intervene.
    
    
  • French defeated the Nawab's forces at the Battle of St. Thomé (Adyar) in 1746.
    
    
• Result: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) – Madras was restored to the British.
  
  
• Significance: Demonstrated that European-trained troops could defeat significantly larger Indian armies.
  
  

4. Second Carnatic War (1749–1754)

• Background: Linked to succession disputes in Carnatic and Hyderabad.
  
  
• Key Indian Rulers Supported:
  
  
  • Carnatic: Chanda Sahib (backed by French) vs. Muhammad Ali (backed by British).
    
    
  • Hyderabad: Muzaffar Jang (backed by French) vs. Nasir Jang (backed by British).
    
    
• Important Events:
  
  
  • Battle of Ambur (1749) – Anwar-ud-din was defeated and killed; Chanda Sahib became Nawab of Carnatic.
    
    
  • Robert Clive captured Arcot in 1751 and successfully defended it.
    
    
• Result: Treaty of Pondicherry (1754) – Muhammad Ali was recognized as Nawab of Carnatic; Dupleix was recalled to France.
  
  
• Significance: Robert Clive emerged as an important British leader, increasing British prestige in India.
  
  

5. Third Carnatic War (1756–1763)

• European Context: Part of the global Seven Years' War (1756–1763).
  
  
• Major Events:
  
  
  • Battle of Wandiwash (1760) – British forces under Sir Eyre Coote defeated the French forces under Count de Lally.
    
    
  • British captured Pondicherry in 1761.
    
    
• Result: Treaty of Paris (1763) – France retained minor trading settlements but lost all political ambitions in India.
  
  
• Significance: Battle of Wandiwash served as the decisive battle that ended French power in India.
  
  

6. Reasons for British Success

• Superior naval support.
  
  
• Greater financial resources.
  
  
• Effective military leadership (Robert Clive, Eyre Coote).
  
  
• French financial and logistical complications.
  
  
• Strategic ability to exploit Indian political divisions.
  
  
• Better alignment between military objectives and commercial interests.
  
  

7. Consequences

• Political: Sharp decline in French political influence; British established themselves as the dominant European power in India.
  
  
• Economic: Expansion of British commercial interests; French restricted to a few trading posts.
  
  
• Military: Highlighted the effectiveness of European military techniques and increased reliance on disciplined infantry.
  
  
• Long-Term: A major milestone transforming the British East India Company from a commercial trading body into a political power.
  
  

8. Summary Table

War	Period	European Context	Key Event	Result
First Carnatic War	1746–1748	War of Austrian Succession	French capture Madras (1746); Battle of Adyar	Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)
Second Carnatic War	1749–1754	Succession disputes	Clive captures Arcot (1751)	Treaty of Pondicherry (1754)
Third Carnatic War	1756–1763	Seven Years' War	Battle of Wandiwash (1760)	Treaty of Paris (1763)