Answer: (C)

Explanation: The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) has recently completes 6 years with a total of 75 airports have being and 499 UDAN routes being operationalized under UDAN. The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN aims to improve infrastructure and connectivity in India, especially in remote and underserved regions. It is a vital component of India's National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) with a 10-year vision. The first RCS-UDAN flight was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi. The scheme focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizens. UDAN 5.1 – designed specifically for helicopter routes by increasing the scope of operations for helicopter operators, enhancing viability gap funding (VGF) and reducing Airfare Caps. UDAN 5.2 – is underway to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country, achieve last-mile connectivity. The scheme will provide greater operational flexibility to the small aircraft operators. Hence, all statements are correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Recently several state governments requested schools to seek parental consent for the creation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR), a new student identity card. APAAR is envisioned as a special ID system for all students in India, starting from childhood. The main objective of the APAAR is to make education hassle-free and reduce the need for students to carry physical documents. It would also serve as a gateway to Digilocker, a digital system where students can store their important documents and achievements. It also aims to reduce fraud and duplicate educational certificates by providing a single, trusted reference for educational institutions. Every individual will have a unique APAAR ID, which will be linked to the Academic Bank Credit (ABC). Academic Bank Credit (ABC) is a digital storehouse that contains information of the credits earned by students throughout their learning journey. With the APAAR ID, students would be able to store all their certificates and credits, whether they come from formal education or informal learning. To sign up for APAAR, students will have to provide basic information such as name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph. This information will be verified using their Aadhar number. ‘One nation, One Student ID’ initiative was launched as part of the National Education Policy 2020 by the Education Ministry. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Indian peafowl are a species in a group of birds called pheasants. The males are called peacocks, while the females are called peahens. Together, they are peafowl. The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a brightly-coloured bird that lives mainly on the ground. Peafowl are among the largest of all birds that fly such as ostriches and emus. It is regarded as the national bird and is listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2022. The IUCN status of the Indian peafowl is Least Concern. It can be found in forest, forest edge and agricultural land. It presence in forest areas often indicates the presence of a predator such as a tiger. Indian peafowl are native to India and Sri Lanka in South Asia. The recent research by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology (SACON) in Coimbatore suggest that the population of peafowls has increased exponentially across Tamil Nadu in the last 5 to 10 years. One of the reasons for the proliferation of peafowls is due to a drop in the numbers of predators such as jackals. Another could be due to the rising temperatures due to climate change and subsequent increase in dry areas, which are preferred by the bird. Hence, all statements are correct.

Answer: (A)

Explanation: Reference fuels (Gasoline and Diesel) are high-value premium goods used for vehicle calibration and testing by automakers and organizations involved in testing and certification in the automobile industry. For the first time in India, Indian Oil has successfully begun the manufacture of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Currently, India imports these reference fuels from a few European and American corporations. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Bidenomics is a wordplay on Reaganomics, the nickname for the Reagan administration’s economic policies, which emphasized four pillars: tax cuts, deregulation, domestic spending cuts and inflation reduction. Bidenomics, according to the White House, is a rejection of the trickle-down economic policies that defined Reaganomics. It is a vision cantered around three key pillars: making smart public investments; empowering and educating workers to grow the middle class; and promoting competition to lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive. Hence, option (b) is correct.