Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Recently, the maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise - Ayutthaya between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was conducted. The IndIa-Thailand Bilateral Exercise is being named as ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’, which literally translates to ‘The Invincible One’ or ‘Undefeatable’. It symbolises the significance of two of the oldest cities Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand, the historic legacies, rich cultural ties and shared historical narratives dating back to several centuries. Hence, option (a) is correct.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

India cut its windfall tax on petroleum crude to 1,700 rupees ($20.53) a tonne from 2,300 rupees a tonne, according to a recent government notification.

It is a tax levied by governments against certain industries when economic conditions allow those industries to experience significantly above-average profits. The term “windfall” refers to an unexpected rise in profits, and the tax on windfall gains is known as the windfall tax. When the government notices a sudden increase in an industry's revenue, they impose this tax. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The unexpected windfalls are taxed by the government over and above the normal tax rates. The most common industries that fall target to windfall gains tax include oil, gas, and mining. A recent example is the sudden rise in the profits of the oil and gas industries due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

The tax is imposed on the above average profit made by the industry. Therefore, the price of the commodity will not have any effect. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Recently, a photographer has spotted an extremely rare all-white Gentoo penguin in Chilean Antarctica. It is exclusively found in the Southern Hemisphere between 45 and 65 degrees south latitude.

Within this range, gentoos are found on the Antarctic Peninsula as well as many sub-Antarctic islands. One of the most predominant locations gentoos inhabit is the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

The major difference between gentoo penguins and other penguin species are their head markings. Gentoos feature two white wedges around their eyes that are connected by a medium-sized line across the tops of their heads. It is listed as least concern in the IUCN Red List. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

On January 16, 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government launched a solar-powered boat on the Saryu River in Ayodhya. The boat is part of the government's efforts to make Ayodhya a model solar city. A solar boat is a boat that uses solar panels and storage batteries to convert sunlight into electrical power. The electric motors and batteries are charged by the solar panels and photovoltaic cells, which can significantly reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The boat is a dual-mode boat that runs on 100% solar electric power. It can run for 5–6 hours on a full charge, but the boat tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. The boat tour allows passengers to see the historical temples and heritage sites along the riverbanks. It is an environmentally-friendly passenger water transportation that does not cause air, sound or water pollution. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Instrument Landing System is a ground-based radio navigation system that provides pilots with accurate information about their aircraft's position and alignment with the runway. It guides pilots along both horizontal and vertical axes, aiding them in maintaining the correct approach path during low-visibility conditions. With the help of ILS systems, pilots are able to understand how their aircraft is positioned with respect to an airport runway without needing to physically see it. This system warns pilots in case their jets are not flying to meet the runway's centreline. It will also warn pilots in case their jets are too low or too high and thus, at the risk of undershooting or overshooting the runway. Both of these tasks performed by the Instrument Landing System are crucial in ensuring landing in cases where the pilots aren't able to see the runway clearly. In addition to ILS, modern aircraft are equipped with advanced avionics and autopilot systems that enhance precision during foggy landings. Hence, both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.