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The correct answer is Coming Back of Domestic Money as FDI.

Key Points

• Round Tripping refers to the circular flow of capital where money leaves a country through various channels and eventually returns to the same country in the form of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
• The primary objective of this practice is often to conceal the original source of funds, typically to convert Black Money into legitimate assets or to evade domestic taxes.
• Investors often utilize Tax Havens such as Mauritius, Singapore, or the Cayman Islands to set up shell companies that reinvest the capital back into the home country.
• This mechanism exploits Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA), allowing domestic entities to enjoy tax concessions and fiscal incentives intended exclusively for foreign investors.
• In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) closely monitor such inflows to prevent Money Laundering and ensure the integrity of the financial system.
• The implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) was a significant legislative step by the Government of India to identify and penalize transactions designed specifically for tax avoidance through round-tripping.

 Additional Information

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):
• Refers to a long-term investment by an entity based in one country into a business or entity located in another country, usually involving management control and a stake of 10% or more.
• In India, it is regulated under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
• Repatriation:
• This process involves the conversion of any foreign currency into one's local currency or the transfer of profits and capital back to the investor's home country.
• Rules for the repatriation of FDI proceeds are governed by the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules.
• Participatory Notes (P-Notes):
• These are offshore derivative instruments issued by Registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who wish to invest in the Indian stock market without registering with SEBI.
• Due to the anonymity they provide, they have historically been associated with concerns regarding round-tripping.

The correct answer is Allegations of data manipulation in rankings of some countries.

Key Points

• The World Bank Group officially decided to discontinue its Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report on September 16, 2021, following internal audits and an independent investigation.
• The primary catalyst for this decision was a series of data irregularities discovered in the 2018 and 2020 reports, which compromised the integrity of the global benchmarking tool.
• An independent probe conducted by the law firm WilmerHale revealed that senior World Bank officials applied undue pressure on staff to manipulate data to artificially boost the rankings of countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates.
• In the case of China, the investigation found that the country's 2018 ranking should have been lower, but data points were altered to prevent it from dropping below its previous position during a period when the Bank was seeking a major capital increase.
• The discontinuation was deemed necessary to protect the institutional credibility and the transparency of the World Bank's research and data collection processes.

 Additional Information

• Overview of Ease of Doing Business Index:
• Launched in 2002, it provided an objective measure of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies.
• It evaluated 10 key indicators including Starting a Business, Dealing with Construction Permits, Getting Electricity, and Enforcing Contracts.
• The index was a vital tool for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) decisions and policy reforms globally.
• Transition to Business Ready (B-READY):
• Following the discontinuation of EoDB, the World Bank introduced a new flagship report titled Business Ready (B-READY).
• This new framework aims to be more comprehensive, focusing on firm-level data and the actual implementation of regulations rather than just the laws on paper.
• It emphasizes a balanced approach between the ease of business and the broader social benefits of regulation.
• Incorrect Options Context:
• The Human Development Index (HDI) is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and remains a separate entity focused on health, education, and standard of living.
• While India had previously expressed concerns about certain methodology nuances, it had actually seen a massive leap in its ranking from 142^nd in 2014 to 63^rd in 2019, making it a proponent of the index rather than an objector leading to its closure.

The correct answer is To promote Perupalem as a tourism destination.

Key Points

• The Perupalem Beach Festival is an annual cultural and promotional event organized by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) in coordination with the district administration.
• The primary objective of the festival is to showcase Perupalem Beach, located in the West Godavari district, as a prominent tourism destination on the eastern coast of India.
• By hosting such events, the state government aims to increase the tourist footfall, which in turn stimulates the local economy and creates livelihood opportunities for residents.
• The festival serves as a platform to highlight the scenic beauty, ecological importance, and the tranquil environment of the coastline, distinguishing it from more crowded urban beaches.
• It integrates cultural heritage with tourism by featuring traditional art forms, music, and local traditions to provide a comprehensive experience to visitors.

 Additional Information

• Geographic and Structural Features:
• Perupalem Beach is situated approximately 20 kilometers from Narsapur and is known for its shallow waters and vast sandy stretches, making it safer for recreational activities.
• The beach is part of the Bay of Bengal coastline and is being developed under the Coastal Tourism Circuit initiative by the state government.
• Event Highlights:
• The festival typically includes cultural performances like Kuchipudi and folk dances, alongside beach sports such as volleyball and kabaddi to engage younger audiences.
• Food stalls at the venue promote the unique Godavari cuisine, offering a taste of local flavors to tourists from other regions.
• Strategic Importance:
• The festival aligns with the broader Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy, which focuses on infrastructure development like better road connectivity and basic amenities at coastal sites to boost sustainable tourism.

The correct answer is Leading armed resistance against British colonial rule.

Key Points

• Born as Chandra Shekhar Tiwari on July 23, 1906, in Bhabhra village of Madhya Pradesh, he remains one of India's most iconic revolutionary leaders.
• He earned the title 'Azad' (The Free) after being arrested during the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921; when asked his name by a magistrate, he replied 'Azad', his father's name as 'Swatantra' (Independence), and his residence as 'Jail'.
• Azad was a master of guerrilla warfare and became the chief strategist for the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), which he later reorganized into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.
• He played a central role in high-profile revolutionary activities, including the Kakori Train Robbery (1925), the shooting of J.P. Saunders (1928) to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, and the 1929 attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train.
• Determined never to be captured alive by the British Police, he fought a lone battle at Alfred Park in Allahabad on February 27, 1931, and used his last bullet to martyr himself.

 Additional Information

• Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA):
• Formed at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi by Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.
• The organization moved away from purely nationalist goals toward socialist ideologies, aiming for an India free from both foreign rule and economic exploitation.
• Significance of July 2025:
• July 23, 2025, marks the 119^th birth anniversary of Chandra Shekhar Azad, a day celebrated to honor the bravery of armed revolutionaries in the freedom struggle.
• Comparison of Revolutionary Contributions:
• While Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is the chief architect of the Constitution of India, Azad represents the militant nationalist phase.
• The RSS was founded by K.B. Hedgewar in 1925, focusing on cultural and social organization, distinct from Azad's clandestine armed struggle.

The correct answer is Neolithic.

Key Points

• The Neolithic Period, also known as the New Stone Age, represents the final stage of cultural evolution in prehistoric humans, beginning around 10,000 BCE.
• This era is defined by the Neolithic Revolution, a significant shift from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a sedentary, food-producing society through agriculture.
• The transition to farming led to the establishment of the first permanent settlements, as communities needed to reside near their cultivated lands to manage crops like wheat and barley.
• Humans in this period began the domestication of animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle, providing a steady supply of meat, milk, and hides.
• Key archaeological sites like Mehrgarh in Pakistan and Çatalhöyük in Turkey provide clear evidence of early rectangular mud-brick houses and organized village life.
• Technologically, the period is marked by the development of polished stone tools, which were much sharper and more durable for farming tasks compared to older chipped stone tools.

 Additional Information

• Paleolithic:
• Known as the Old Stone Age, it is the longest period of human history.
• Humans were nomadic, moving frequently in search of food, and utilized crude, unpolished stone tools.
• Mesolithic:
• The Middle Stone Age served as a bridge between the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras.
• Characterized by the use of microliths (small, specialized stone tools) and the beginning of semi-permanent seasonal camps.
• Chalcolithic:
• Often called the Copper-Stone Age, it followed the Neolithic period.
• It represents the first time humans utilized metal (copper) alongside stone implements for construction and tool-making.
• Neolithic Innovations:
• Development of pottery for storing agricultural surplus and cooking food.
• Invention of weaving using wool and flax to create textiles for clothing.

The correct answer is Only Statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Key Points

• Statement 1: Ethanol 100 was launched in March 2024 by the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas at Indian Oil retail outlets. It is a high-octane fuel, typically ranging between 100 and 105 octane, which allows for higher engine efficiency and reduced emissions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Statement 2: Ethanol 100 is not composed of 100% pure ethanol; absolute ethanol is unsuitable for direct use as a commercial fuel because its flame is invisible in daylight, posing a severe safety hazard during leaks or accidents. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Statement 3: To ensure safety and engine compatibility, the fuel typically contains about 93-95% ethanol blended with a small fraction of motor spirit (gasoline) and specific co-solvents that provide flame visibility and improve cold-start combustion efficiency. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

 Additional Information

• Ethanol Blending Program (EBP):
• The Government of India has set a target to achieve 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol by the fuel year 2025-26.
• Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs): These vehicles are equipped with engines capable of running on varied percentages of ethanol, including E100, through a Fuel Oxygen Sensor.
• Environmental Impact: Using ethanol significantly reduces the tailpipe emissions of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Particulate Matter compared to pure gasoline.
• Economic Benefits: This initiative reduces crude oil imports, promotes energy security, and provides an alternative market for sugarcane farmers and grain producers.
• Production: Ethanol is primarily produced via fermentation of C-heavy molasses, sugarcane juice, and food grains like maize and broken rice.

The correct answer is It follows a dead war photographer navigating the afterlife during the civil war.

Key Points

• Statement 1 suggests the book is a memoir from the colonial period, but the narrative is a work of fiction set in the late 20^th century. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2 correctly identifies the plot, where the protagonist Maali Almeida, a war photographer, wakes up dead in a celestial afterlife and has seven nights (moons) to lead his loved ones to a hidden cache of photos that expose the horrors of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 classifies the book as a collection of essays on conflict resolution, whereas it is actually a supernatural satire and a magical realism novel. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Statement 4 claims the work is historical fiction regarding the life of Buddha, but the story is focused on political turmoil and human rights during the 1980s in Sri Lanka. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

 Additional Information

• Shehan Karunatilaka:
• He is the Sri Lankan author who won the 2022 Booker Prize for this novel.
• He is the second Sri Lankan-born author to receive this honor, following Michael Ondaatje.
• The book was originally published in 2020 under the title Chats with the Dead.
• Historical and Cultural Context:
• The novel is set in Colombo in 1989, a period characterized by intense violence involving government death squads, JVP insurgents, and the LTTE.
• It utilizes the In Between, a bureaucratic version of the afterlife, to provide a scathing critique of the corruption and brutality of the Sri Lankan Civil War.
• The narrative style uses the second-person perspective, addressing the deceased protagonist directly.

The correct answer is Chapter II.

Key Points

• The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) was enacted to modernize criminal procedure in India, officially replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
• Chapter II of the Sanhita is titled Constitution of Criminal Courts and Offices and encompasses Section 6 to Section 20.
• Section 6 explicitly categorizes the classes of criminal courts in every State as: Courts of Session, Judicial Magistrates of the First Class, Judicial Magistrates of the Second Class, and Executive Magistrates.
• This chapter provides the legal basis for establishing Sessions Divisions, appointing Judicial Officers, and defining the territorial limits of their jurisdiction.
• It also contains provisions for the Directorate of Prosecution and the appointment of Public Prosecutors to represent the State in criminal trials.

 Additional Information

• Chapter I:
• Identified as the Preliminary chapter, it introduces the short title, commencement date, and territorial application of the Sanhita.
• Contains Section 2, which defines critical legal terminology used throughout the document.
• Chapter III:
• Title: Power of Courts.
• It details the specific sentences that High Courts, Sessions Judges, and Magistrates are legally competent to pass.
• Chapter IV:
• Divided into two parts: Powers of Superior Officers of Police and Aid to the Magistrates and the Police.
• It mandates that the public must assist Magistrates and Police Officers in preventing escapes or suppressing disturbances.

The correct answer is Lala Hansraj.

Key Points

• Lala Hansraj, popularly known as Mahatma Hansraj, was a prominent Arya Samaj leader, social reformer, and educationist who dedicated his life to the cause of national awakening through learning.
• He was the principal founder of the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) College Trust and Management Society, establishing the first DAV School in Lahore on June 1, 1886.
• The DAV movement was established to commemorate the legacy of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, aiming to synthesize traditional Vedic values with modern scientific education and English literature.
• He served as the honorary Principal of DAV College, Lahore, for 25 years, famously refusing to draw a salary for his services, which earned him immense respect across the Indian subcontinent.
• Under his leadership, the DAV institutions became a breeding ground for nationalists and provided a template for indigenous education that challenged the purely colonial British education system.

 Additional Information

• Govind Ballabh Pant:
• A towering leader of the Indian Independence Movement, he served as the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and was instrumental in the abolition of the Zamindari system.
• He served as the Union Home Minister from 1955 to 1961 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1957.
• Asaf Ali:
• An eminent lawyer and freedom fighter who defended Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt during the Central Assembly Bombing Case in 1929.
• He served as the first Indian Ambassador to the United States and later as the Governor of Odisha.
• Arun Chandra Guha:
• A revolutionary belonging to the Yugantar group, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and a veteran politician from West Bengal.

The correct answer is Seychelles.

Key Points

• The SAGAR initiative, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region, was first unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2015 during his visit to Mauritius.
• Seychelles is a critical archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean and a primary partner in India’s maritime security architecture designed to maintain a rules-based order in the region.
• The initiative focuses on five pillars: maritime cooperation, deepening economic ties through the Blue Economy, disaster management (HADR), collective action against maritime threats, and sustainable development.
• India and Seychelles share a robust defense partnership, highlighted by India’s gifting of the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) PS Zoroaster in 2021 and the development of coastal surveillance radar systems.

 Additional Information

• Geographical Context of Options:
• Uzbekistan: It is a doubly landlocked country located in Central Asia, meaning it is surrounded by other landlocked countries and has no direct access to any ocean.
• Nepal and Bhutan: Both are landlocked Himalayan nations. While they are key partners under India's Neighborhood First Policy, they do not fall under the maritime scope of the SAGAR initiative.
• Strategic Significance of SAGAR:
• The policy serves as the maritime component of India’s Act East Policy, aiming to counter regional challenges and ensure freedom of navigation.
• It involves other island nations such as Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar, forming a security net against piracy and illegal fishing.
• The vision aligns with the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) to promote ecological and resource security.