Answer: B

Explanation:

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice D. Y Chandrachud, discussed the existence of Article 31C alongside a case about government acquisition of private property.  It was introduced by the Constitution (Twenty-fifth) Amendment Act, 1971. Article 31C of the Indian Constitution protects laws that ensure the distribution of the community's "material resources" to serve the common good, and that wealth and the means of production are not "concentrated" to the "common detriment". It was added by the 25th Amendment Act of 1971. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Article 31C states that no law that gives effect to the policy of the state towards securing the principles specified in clause (b) or clause (c) of article 39 shall be deemed to be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by article 14, article 19 or article 31. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Article 31C grants complete immunity from judicial scrutiny to a law if the President certifies that it was enacted to promote the policy laid down in article 39(a) and (b). The courts will not be able to scrutinize whether the law is enacted in fact to promote that policy. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Alok Shukla, convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, has been awarded the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia for Hasdeo Aranya Movement recently. The Hasdeo Aranya Movement is a grassroots environmental  campaign led by activists and local communities around the Hasdeo Aranya region in Chhattisgarh. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The movement aimed to save the biodiversity-rich forests of Hasdeo Aranya from the adverse impacts of proposed coal mining projects. Through community campaigns and advocacy efforts, the movement successfully prevented the establishment of 21 planned coal mines in the region, preserving approximately 445,000 acres of forests. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Alok Shukla, founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, has been awarded the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia. Goldman Prize was founded in 1989 by Richard and Rhonda Goldman. The prize aims to recognize and honor grassroots environmental activists from around the world for their efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainability. It is awarded in six regions: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South and Central America, and islands and island nations. Each winner of the Goldman Prize receives a monetary award of $200,000 to support their ongoing environmental work and initiatives. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The first Hangor Class Submarine was recently launched on April 26 at a Wuhan shipyard in China. The Hangor Class Submarine is a diesel-electric attack submarine, representing an export variant of the Chinese Type 039A Yuan class. It is built for Pakistan, marking the beginning of Pakistan Navy's plan to induct a total of eight submarines of this class by 20 28. The submarine is named after the PNS Hangor, which achieved fame during the 1971 war for sinking the Indian frigate INS Khukri.

The submarine utilizes diesel engines for surface or snorkeling operations, while it relies on a battery-powered system for submerged operation. Equipped with an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, the submarine can enhance its endurance underwater and its overall stealth capabilities. It is armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes and possesses the capability to launch anti-ship missiles and Babur-3 subsonic cruise missiles with a range of 450 km.

Here, statements I and II both are correct but statement-II is not the correct explanation for statement-I. Hence, option (b) is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Recently, the Airports Authority of India has commenced work on the ISHAN Initiative. The ISHAN (Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management) Initiative is a project undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to consolidate India's fragmented airspace management system. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The objective of ISHAN is to merge the country's four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and sub-FIRs into a single entity based in Nagpur. This consolidation aims to enhance efficiency, safety and seamlessness in air traffic operations by streamlining coordination, reducing congestion and increasing capacity in Indian airspace. Hence, statement 2 is correct.