13 MARCH 2026

13 MARCH 2026

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the International Malaria Conference 2026:

  1. It was organised by ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research under the Indian Council of Medical Research.
  2. The conference theme was “Discovery, Development and Delivery: Driving Malaria Elimination and Beyond.”
  3. Malaria is caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
  4. The conference focused on innovations in malaria diagnostics, surveillance technologies, and vaccine research.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Assertion (A): India amended the Press Note 3 (2020) rules to allow limited foreign investment from countries sharing a land border with India through the automatic route.

Reason (R): The amendment permits companies from neighbouring countries to hold up to 10% beneficial ownership in Indian companies without prior government approval, provided they have non-controlling stakes and follow sectoral regulations.

Options:

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

(c) A is true, but R is false

(d) A is false, but R is true

Q3. With reference to Near-Earth Objects, consider the following statements:

  1. Asteroid YR4 belongs to the category of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs).
  2. It was first discovered in December 2024 using the ATLAS telescope in Chile.

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

Q4. Which of the following locations host Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) in India?

  1. Visakhapatnam
  2. Mangaluru
  3. Padur

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Speaker of the Lok Sabha:

  1. The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members.
  2. The salary of the Speaker is charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
  3. The Speaker certifies whether a bill is a Money Bill.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 only