• Quantum Scale Objectives: The mission aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50–1000 physical qubits within an 8-year timeframe using superconducting and photonic platforms.
• Thematic Hubs: Four dedicated Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) are being established across premier national research institutions covering Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: GenomeIndia is an independent indigenous project; it is not part of the international Human Genome Project which concluded in 2003.
• Statements 2 and 3 are correct: It is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and executed with IISc, aiming to sequence 10,000 genomes to catalogue Indian genetic diversity.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Drone swarms use standard tactical RF bands (UHF/VHF/ISM); Terahertz frequencies are not used in practical swarm operations.
• Statements 2 and 3 are correct: Drones communicate peer-to-peer within the swarm for decentralized coordination, and GPS spoofing is a common counter-drone attack technique.

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: IN-SPACe is the autonomous nodal body to facilitate private space entities, and Agnikul Cosmos launched Agnibaan SOrTeD using a single-piece 3D-printed engine.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Skyroot built the solid-propulsion Vikram-S rocket; GSLV fuel systems are built by ISRO.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Natural gas reforming with CCS produces Blue Hydrogen, not Green.
• Statements 2 and 3 are correct: Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis powered entirely by renewable energy, with a mission target to abate nearly 50 MMT of annual GHG emissions by 2030.

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Stealth relies on low radar cross-section (RCS) and Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM), and lower frequency radars can detect them.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Metamaterials are used to absorb or deflect signals away, not to increase scattering towards radar systems.

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Autoregressive language models assign probability distributions to predict subsequent tokens, and training uses mathematical optimization (gradient descent) to minimize cross-entropy loss.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: LLMs inherit and reflect biases present in their web training data, so their outputs are not inherently unbiased.

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Genetic medicines compensate for faulty genes and use engineered viruses or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as delivery carriers.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Genetic therapies do not alter the entire genomic DNA sequence.

• Transparency & Tamper-Proofing: Records stored on a blockchain remain accessible to designated network participants while cryptography and consensus mechanisms eliminate the risk of unauthorized alteration.
• Distributed Node Synchronization: Every participating computer (node) maintains a replicated copy of the entire ledger, synchronizing data across the network in real time.
• Cryptographic Immutability: Each block carries a cryptographic hash linking it to previous entries, making accepted data mathematically impossible to forge or delete without corrupting the entire chain.
• Note: A blend of public and private ledgers is termed a hybrid blockchain; a consortium blockchain is governed by a predetermined group of organizations.

• DIR-V Initiative: DHRUV64 is the third major chip taped out under the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Programme, conceptualized to achieve silicon and microprocessor self-reliance in India.
• Architecture & Specifications: It is officially recognized as India’s first homegrown 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor designed by the SHAKTI processor team at IIT Madras.
• Applications: Built for commercial embedded devices, IoT hardware, and sovereign secure communication systems.

Correct Answer: (d) None

• Statement I is incorrect: Oceans contain over 10³⁰ viruses, primarily bacteriophages that regulate microbial populations and global carbon cycling.
• Statement II is incorrect: Bacteriophages specifically infect and replicate within bacteria (used in phage therapy).
• Statement III is incorrect: Viruses alter and manipulate host cellular transcriptional activity to promote viral gene expression.

Correct Answer: (a) Nitric oxide

• Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase in the endothelial lining of blood vessels.
• It causes vasodilation by relaxing vascular smooth muscles, promoting blood flow.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3

• Statement 1 is correct: Probiotics comprise live beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus) as well as yeasts (e.g., Saccharomyces boulardii).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Probiotic microbes naturally colonize and inhabit the human gut flora.
• Statement 3 is correct: Certain strains contain β-galactosidase, aiding the breakdown of lactose (milk sugar).

Correct Answer: (d)

• T lymphocytes (T cells): Directly identify and destroy infected/cancerous cells and regulate immune response.
• B lymphocytes (B cells): Synthesize specialized defensive proteins called antibodies to neutralize pathogens.

Correct Answer: (a) Ant

• Leafcutter ants (Attini tribe) cut fresh vegetation to cultivate specialised fungal gardens inside their colonies as their primary nutritional source.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Cnidarians: Form symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae (Zooxanthellae in corals).
• Fungi: Form Mycorrhizae with plant roots and Lichens with algae/cyanobacteria.
• Protozoa: Flagellated protozoans live symbiotically inside termite guts to digest wood cellulose.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

• Bacteria and Fungi synthesize their own metabolic energy and can readily grow on synthetic nutrient agar.
• Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites; they lack independent metabolic machinery and cannot reproduce without living host cells.

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only

• Lichens and Mosses are pioneer organisms capable of colonizing bare rock surfaces and masonry without true root systems or soil substrate.
• Ferns require moist rooting soil; Mushrooms require rich decaying organic substrate.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

• The boiling point of water inside increases with the internal steam pressure.
• Pressure is governed by the weight of the lid and the vent hole area.
• The flame temperature only alters the rate of boiling, not the maximum achievable cooking temperature.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Furnace oil is a heavy bottom residue obtained from refinery crude distillation units.
• Extensively burned in industrial boilers and thermal power plants.
• Contains high sulphur concentrations, leading to SO₂ pollution and acid precipitation.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Copper smelters do not emit lethal levels of carbon monoxide.
• Statement 2 is correct: Slag byproducts contain heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead) that leach into soil/groundwater.
• Statement 3 is correct: Smelting sulphide ores (chalcopyrite) releases massive volumes of sulphur dioxide gas.

Correct Answer: (b) Polycarbonate

• Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial endocrine-disrupting chemical widely utilized in manufacturing hard, clear polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

Correct Answer: (a) It is dipolar in nature

• Water possesses a high dipole moment and high dielectric constant. The unequal sharing of electrons creates partial positive and negative poles that dissociate ionic lattice structures.

Correct Answer: (d) Speed of light is always same

• Under the laws of physics, the speed of light in vacuum ($c$) is invariant and constant across the universe, providing an immutable baseline for cosmological measurements.

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

• Statement 1 is correct: Plant cells possess a rigid outer cellulose wall.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Both plant and animal cells possess a functional plasma (cell) membrane.
• Statement 3 is correct: Plant cells develop a prominent central vacuole taking up to 90% volume.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Slag aggregates provide structural stability for road sub-bases.
• High lime/calcium content makes it effective for neutralizing acidic soils.
• Used as raw material in blast-furnace Portland slag cement manufacture.

Correct Answer: (b) an early human species

• Denisovans are an extinct subspecies of archaic hominins identified from bone fragments in the Denisova Cave in Siberia, coexisting with Neanderthals.

Correct Answer: (b)

• Highly effective preventative vaccines exist for Hepatitis B, while no widely available preventive vaccine currently exists for Hepatitis C.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• General relativity formulated gravitational lensing (light deflection by massive objects), the dynamic curvature of space-time fabric, and provided the cosmological basis for cosmic expansion.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Lead is a known trace contaminant in lip cosmetics.
• Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) acts as an emulsifier in citrus soft drinks.
• MSG (Ajinomoto) is an umami flavour enhancer in Asian fast food.

Correct Answer: (c) Absence of readily available free electrons

• Electrical conduction occurs through the movement of delocalized electrons.
• In non-metals, outer electrons are held tightly by the nucleus in localized covalent or ionic bonds, resulting in the absence of free mobile electrons.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Bacteriophages infect bacteria.
• Mycoviruses infect fungi.
• Numerous plant viruses (like Tobacco Mosaic Virus) infect and cause pathology in flora.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

• Pair 1 is correctly matched: Vitamin C deficiency causes Scurvy.
• Pair 2 is correctly matched: Vitamin D deficiency causes Rickets in children.
• Pair 3 is incorrect: Night blindness is caused by Vitamin A deficiency (Vitamin E deficiency results in neurological deficits and impaired reproduction).

Correct Answer: (b) 3 only

• Crystallization and Melting of ice are reversible physical phase changes where molecular composition remains identical.
• Souring of milk is an irreversible chemical process wherein bacteria convert lactose into lactic acid.

Correct Answer: (b) Algae and fungi

• Lichens represent a mutualistic partnership between a photosynthetic partner (alga/cyanobacterium providing carbohydrates) and a structural partner (fungus providing shelter, water, and minerals).

Correct Answer: (b)

• Solar energy (radiant/free kinetic energy) is trapped by chlorophyll pigments and converted into stable chemical potential energy stored within the bonds of glucose molecules.

Correct Answer: (a) Crab

• Mite, Scorpion, and Spider belong to the class Arachnida (characterized by 8 legs and lack of antennae).
• Crab belongs to the class Crustacea (typically 10 jointed legs and 2 pairs of antennae).

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

• Statement 1 is correct: Offspring are genetically identical clones of the parent plant.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Viral infections present in systemic tissues are readily transmitted to vegetative propagules.
• Statement 3 is correct: Can be implemented throughout majority periods under controlled horticulture.

Correct Answer: (c) rate of respiration is decreased

• Cold temperatures significantly lower the enzymatic activity responsible for plant respiration and metabolic degradation, suppressing ethylene production and slowing senescence.

Correct Answer: (c) most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation

• Microscopic root hairs are delicate single-cell extensions responsible for absorbing water and dissolved minerals; uprooting shears them off, inducing severe transplant shock.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

• Statement 1 is correct: Viruses lack ATP-generating metabolic enzymes and mitochondria.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: They cannot propagate in synthetic nutrient media; they require living host cells.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Can also be transmitted through air, water, direct contact, and mechanical vectors.

Correct Answer: (c)

• By replacing sliding friction with rolling friction, ball bearings dramatically diminish the effective contact surface area between the moving wheel and stationary axle, mitigating frictional wear and resistance.

Correct Answer: (a) Gravity is the strongest of the four

• Gravity is actually the weakest fundamental force in the cosmos (Strong nuclear force is the strongest, approximately 10³⁸ times stronger than gravity).

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• When light penetrates a spherical raindrop, it experiences refraction upon entry, breaks into its component spectrum through dispersion, undergoes internal reflection at the rear boundary, and refracts again upon exit.

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4

• Size of the sun at dusk: Apparent enlargement is an optical/psychological illusion.
• Color of sun at dawn & Twinkling of stars: Result from atmospheric scattering and refractive turbulence.
• Moon and Polestar positions are physical celestial locations, not illusions.

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

• Calcium: Directly triggers actin-myosin binding in muscle fibers.
• Sodium: Generates action potentials across muscular membranes.
• Iron: Essential constituent of myoglobin delivering oxygen required for muscular contractions.

Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

• Sea cow (Dugong/Manatee): Herbivorous marine mammal (order Sirenia).
• Sea lion: Pinniped marine mammal.
• Seahorse: Syngnathid bony fish (not a mammal).

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

• Statement 1 is correct: Confirms the existence of the Higgs field, explaining how gauge bosons acquire mass in the Standard Model.
• Statements 2 & 3 are fictitious and unrelated to Higgs field physics.

Correct Answer: (a)

• Creating functional artificial chromosomes entirely by splicing DNA segments between completely different species remains technologically unviable.
• Laboratory artificial DNA synthesis and cell division in petri dishes have been achieved.