Answer: (C)

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court, in its landmark 1973 judgment in the Kesavananda Bharati case, determined that Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution, but its fundamental principles or basic structures cannot be amended. This decision placed restrictions on Parliament's power to enact sweeping amendments. This landmark decision confirmed the Supreme Court's right to subject parliamentary laws to judicial review. Additionally, it advanced the notion of separation of powers among the three branches of government: legislative, executive and judiciary.

• Hence statement 1 is correct.

• In 1951, in Shankari Prasad vs Union of India, the Supreme Court ruled that as per Article 368, Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution, including the fundamental rights.
• In 1965, in Sajjan Singh vs. State of Rajasthan, the Supreme Court upheld its previous decision of Shankari Prasad case of 1951, confirming that Parliament can indeed amend any part of the Constitution under Article 368. Nevertheless, worth noting, Justices Hidayatullah and Mudholkar, while dissenting from the majority opinion, expressed reservations about the unrestricted power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and potentially curtail the fundamental rights of citizens.
• In 1967, in Golak Nath vs. State of Punjab, the Supreme Court overturned the Shankari Prasad decision, holding that Article 368 completely delineates the procedure for amending the Constitution and empowers Parliament to amend any part of the Constitution. Does not give unrestricted rights to.
• In 1973, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 24th Constitutional Amendment Act in Keshavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala. However, it modified the decision of the Golak Nath case and ruled that the Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution, but it must ensure that the fundamental structure of the Constitution, known as the "Basic Structure '' Known, remain intact. This case is famous for introducing the concept of "Basic Structure of the Constitution''.
• In 1975, the principle of basic structure of the Constitution was reaffirmed and implemented by the Supreme Court in the case Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narayan. Also invalidated the provision of the 39th Amendment Act (1975), in which election disputes involving the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha were kept out of the jurisdiction of the court.

• Hence statement 3 is correct.

• 42nd Amendment Act (1976), there is no limit to the power of Parliament to amend the constitution and it cannot be called in question in any court on any ground on any amendment.

• Hence statement 2 is correct.

• In 1980, in Minerva Mills v. Union of India, the Supreme Court declared certain provisions of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act invalid. The Court's judgment emphasized that Parliament cannot limit the right of "Judicial Review" as it is an integral part of the "Basic Structure" of the Constitution.
• In 1981 in Wamana Rao vs Union of India case, the court introduced the concept of 'Doctrine of Prospective Overruling'. It determined that prior to the Kesavananda judgment, laws included in the Ninth Schedule could not be challenged for infringement of fundamental rights. However, it has allowed the laws made after the Kesavananda judgment to be challenged in court.

• Hence option (c) is correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Jal Jeevan Mission, is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India. The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission. JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• Zealandia is a long, narrow microcontinent that is mostly submerged in the South Pacific Ocean.
• A microcontinent is a landmass that has broken off from a main continent. Zealandia broke off from Antarctica about 100 million years ago, and then from Australia about 80 million years ago.
• Zealandia is about half the size of Australia, but only 7 percent of it is above sea level. Most of that terrestrial land makes up the two large islands of the country of New Zealand, the North Island and the South Island. Stewart Island, just south of the South Island, and many smaller islets are also a part of Zealandia. New Caledonia, a collection of islands governed by France, makes up the northern tip of Zealandia.

Hence, option (a) is Correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• Kuruvai cultivation refers to the seasonal cultivation of paddy (rice) during the Kuruvai season in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• The Kuruvai season, also known as the "short-term" or "lesser" monsoon season, typically occurs between June and September.
• It is characterized by the onset of the southwest monsoon, which brings rainfall to the region.

Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct while statement 3 is not correct.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

About Gilbert Hill –

• It is a 200-foot monolithic column of black basalt rock located at Andheri in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The rock has a sheer vertical face and was formed when molten lava was squeezed out of the Earth's clefts during the Mesozoic Era about 66 million years ago.
• It was declared a National Park in 1952, while the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation categorised it as a Grade II heritage structure in 2007.
• The 'hill' is only one of three outcrops of volcanic rock worldwide.
• Arguably the oldest heritage site in the country in its original form, Gilbert Hill has a few temples and a small garden atop. These are accessed by a steep staircase carved into the rock.

Hence, option (d) is correct.