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The correct answer is 1960.

Key Points

• The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a major water-sharing agreement signed on September 19, 1960, between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan.
• The treaty was brokered by the World Bank, which was then known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), after nearly a decade of negotiations.
• The historic document was signed in Karachi by the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then Pakistani President Ayub Khan.
• It remains one of the most successful transboundary water treaties in the world, having survived multiple conflicts and wars between the two neighboring nations.

 Additional Information

• River Allocation and Distribution:
• The treaty divided the six rivers of the Indus Basin into two distinct groups: the Eastern Rivers and the Western Rivers.
• Eastern Rivers: India was given exclusive rights over the waters of the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
• Western Rivers: Pakistan was allocated the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. However, India maintains certain limited rights on these rivers for non-consumptive use, such as run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plants, irrigation, and domestic consumption.
• Implementation and Dispute Resolution:
• The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was established as a bilateral body to monitor the implementation of the treaty and manage technical data exchange.
• The commission consists of high-ranking Commissioners from both countries who are required to meet at least once a year.
• The treaty outlines a three-step dispute resolution mechanism involving Questions (handled by the Commission), Differences (handled by a Neutral Expert), and Disputes (referred to a Court of Arbitration).

The correct answer is 1995-96.

Key Points

• The Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) was established by the Government of India in the financial year 1995-96.
• The fund was created with the primary objective of providing low-cost developmental loans to State Governments and Union Territories for financing various rural infrastructure projects.
• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the official agency responsible for managing and maintaining the RIDF.
• The resources for the fund are mobilized from the shortfall in Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets of Scheduled Commercial Banks operating in India.
• The initial corpus for the first tranche of the fund (RIDF I) was Rs. 2,000 crore, which has been progressively increased through annual Union Budget allocations.

 Additional Information

• NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development):
• It was established on July 12, 1982, following the recommendations of the B. Sivaraman Committee (CRAFICARD).
• It acts as the apex regulatory body for the overall regulation of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Apex Cooperative Banks in India.
• Scope of RIDF Projects:
• Currently, there are 39 eligible activities categorized under three broad sectors: Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Social Sector, and Rural Connectivity.
• Key eligible projects include minor irrigation, soil conservation, rural drinking water supply, primary school buildings, and rural roads.
• Financing and Repayment Terms:
• The loans sanctioned under RIDF are repayable within a period of 7 years, which includes a grace period of 2 years.
• The interest rates on these loans are usually linked to the Bank Rate prevailing at the time of sanction by the Reserve Bank of India.

The correct answer is 101^st Amendment, 2016.

Key Points

• The 101^st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, is the landmark legislation that facilitated the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a comprehensive indirect tax on the manufacture, sale, and consumption of goods and services throughout India.
• This amendment introduced Article 246A, which conferred concurrent powers upon both the Parliament and the State Legislatures to legislate on taxes relating to goods and services.
• It also led to the insertion of Article 279A, mandating the constitution of the GST Council within sixty days of the commencement of the act to oversee the tax administration and policy.
• The primary objective was to eliminate the cascading effect of taxes (tax on tax) and replace multiple levies like Excise Duty, Service Tax, VAT, and Entry Tax with a single unified structure.
• Following the ratification by more than half of the State Legislatures, the GST regime was officially launched across the country on July 1, 2017, under the principle of One Nation, One Tax.

 Additional Information

• 86^th Amendment Act, 2002:
• This amendment made Education a Fundamental Right for children between 6 and 14 years by inserting Article 21A.
• It also added a new Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(k) for parents or guardians to provide educational opportunities.
• 100^th Amendment Act, 2015:
• This act gave effect to the acquiring of certain territories by India and transfer of certain other territories to Bangladesh.
• It ratified the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between the two nations to resolve long-standing border disputes involving enclaves.
• 97^th Amendment Act, 2011:
• It provided constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies.
• The amendment included the right to form cooperatives as a Fundamental Right under Article 19(1)(c) and added Article 43B to the Directive Principles of State Policy.

The correct answer is Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

Key Points

• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has entered into a licensing and manufacturing agreement with BAE Systems to produce the BvS10 all-terrain vehicle in India.
• The variant specifically developed for the Indian Army is named the BvS10 Sindhu, reflecting the indigenous customization for local requirements.
• The project is a significant boost to the Make in India initiative, with manufacturing slated for L&T's Armoured Systems Complex located at Hazira, Gujarat.
• The BvS10 Sindhu is designed to operate in extreme environments, such as the high-altitude Himalayan borders, marshes, and the desert regions of the Thar and Rann of Kutch.
• The Indian Army requires these Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles (AATVs) to ensure logistical support and tactical mobility in regions where traditional wheeled or tracked vehicles struggle.

 Additional Information

• BvS10 Sindhu Features:
• It is a twin-cabin articulated vehicle that provides exceptional amphibious capabilities and can traverse snow, ice, and soft ground.
• The vehicle offers superior crew protection against small arms fire and shell splinters while maintaining high payload capacity.
• Other Entities in the Options:
• Mahindra Defence Systems: An Indian company specializing in light armoured vehicles like the Armado, but not involved in the BvS10 contract.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL): A public sector undertaking primarily focused on defense electronics, radars, and missile systems.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL): A premier aerospace organization responsible for manufacturing fighter jets like the Tejas and helicopters like the Prachand.

The correct answer is India.

Key Points

• The GSAT-7R is an advanced, indigenous communication satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) primarily for the Indian Navy.
• With a mass of approximately 4400 kg, it represents a significant milestone in the domestic production of high-throughput satellites within India.
• The satellite is designed to replace the aging GSAT-7 (Rukmini) and is intended to provide secure, real-time communication for maritime assets.
• The development and launch of a satellite in this weight class underscore India's self-reliance in space technology and its ability to manufacture heavy-duty payloads.
• It utilizes multiple frequency bands, including UHF, S-band, C-band, and Ku-band, to facilitate network-centric warfare capabilities for the Indian Armed Forces.

 Additional Information

• GSAT Series Evolution:
• GSAT-7: Launched in 2013, it was the first dedicated multi-band communication satellite for the Indian Navy to monitor the Indian Ocean Region.
• GSAT-7A: Known as the 'Angry Bird', it was launched in 2018 to provide connectivity for the Indian Air Force.
• GSAT-7B: A dedicated satellite approved for the Indian Army to enhance tactical communication.
• Launch Vehicle Capability:
• The launch of satellites weighing over 4000 kg is typically handled by the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3), formerly known as GSLV Mk III.
• Before the LVM3 became operational, India often relied on the European Space Agency's Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana for such heavy payloads.
• The transition to launching 4400 kg satellites from Indian soil marks a strategic shift in ISRO's heavy-lift capabilities.

The correct answer is Jyothi Surekha Vennam.

Key Points

• Jyothi Surekha Vennam clinched the bronze medal in the women’s individual compound event during the Archery World Cup Final 2025 held in Nanjing, China.
• Her achievement in this elite season-ending tournament reinforces her status as one of the premier compound archers globally, representing India at the highest level of the sport.
• The World Cup Final is an exclusive event where only the top performers from the year’s four outdoor stages qualify to compete for the ultimate title.
• Vennam has been a consistent podium finisher for India, having previously secured multiple medals at the World Archery Championships, Asian Games, and various World Cup stages throughout her career.

 Additional Information

• Deepika Kumari:
• She is a highly decorated Indian recurve archer and a former World No. 1.
• Deepika has represented India in four consecutive Olympic Games (2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024) and has won numerous gold medals at World Cup stages.
• Ankita Bhakat:
• A specialist in recurve archery, she made headlines by finishing in fourth place in the mixed team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• She is a key member of the Indian women’s recurve team and has won medals at the World Youth Championships.
• Bhajan Kaur:
• An emerging talent in the recurve discipline who earned her spot in the Indian Olympic contingent for the Paris 2024 Games.
• She is recognized for her precision and steady rise in the international archery rankings.

The correct answer is Swathi Thirunal.

Key Points

• The Trinity of Carnatic Music, also referred to as the Three Jewels or Trimurti, consists of three legendary composers of the 18^th century who laid the foundation for modern South Indian classical music.
• The trio includes Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Shyama Shastri. Their era is considered the Golden Age of Carnatic Music due to the structural and melodic innovations they introduced.
• A remarkable historical fact is that all three members of the Trinity were born in the same temple town of Thiruvarur in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu.
• Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. Although he was a prolific composer and a major patron of the arts during the same era, he is historically not included in the Trinity.
• The Trinity is celebrated for perfecting the Kriti musical form, which remains the mainstay of Carnatic music concerts today.

 Additional Information

• Tyagaraja:
• He composed primarily in Telugu and was a staunch devotee of Lord Rama.
• His most famous works include the Pancharatna Kritis (Five Gems) and thousands of devotional songs that emphasize Bhakti (devotion).
• Muthuswami Dikshitar:
• His compositions are mostly in Sanskrit and are known for their intellectual depth and complex raga descriptions.
• He often used the Mudra (signature) Guruguha in his songs and is known for the Navagraha Kritis.
• Shyama Shastri:
• The oldest of the three, he was a devotee of Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchipuram and composed mainly in Telugu and Sanskrit.
• He is credited with popularizing the Swarajati form as a concert piece.
• Swathi Thirunal:
• A versatile genius who composed in over eight languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada.
• His contributions include Varnams, Padams, and Tillanas, and he was instrumental in blending elements of Hindustani and Carnatic styles.

The correct answer is Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

Key Points

• National Engineers Day is celebrated every year on September 15 in India to honor the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a pioneer in the field of engineering and nation-building.
• For the year 2025, the theme of the celebration was 'Deep Tech & Engineering Excellence', highlighting the integration of frontier technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, and Robotics into modern engineering practices.
• Sir M. Visvesvaraya, popularly known as the 'Architect of Modern Mysore', served as the 19^th Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918 and was instrumental in the industrialization of the region.
• He was the chief engineer responsible for the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam in Mysuru, which was then the largest reservoir in Asia, and he invented automatic weir water floodgates first installed at the Khadakwasla Reservoir in Pune.
• In recognition of his monumental contributions to the public good and engineering, he was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1955.

 Additional Information

• Srinivasa Ramanujan:
• A world-renowned mathematician whose birth anniversary on December 22 is celebrated as National Mathematics Day.
• He is famous for his work on elliptic functions, continued fractions, and the Hardy-Ramanujan number 1729.
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam:
• Known as the 'Missile Man of India', he served as the 11^th President of India and played a key role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
• His birth anniversary on October 15 is recognized globally as World Students Day.
• Jagadish Chandra Bose:
• A polymath and pioneer in the investigation of radio and microwave optics; he is often credited with inventing the Crescograph to measure plant growth.
• He founded the Bose Institute in Kolkata, dedicated to interdisciplinary research.

The correct answer is Anaimudi, Anamalai Hills.

Key Points

• Anaimudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and is widely recognized as the highest point in South India.
• It stands at an elevation of 2,695 meters (8,842 feet) and is located in the Idukki district of Kerala.
• The peak is strategically situated at the junction of three major mountain ranges: the Anamalai Hills to the north, the Palani Hills to the northeast, and the Cardamom Hills to the south.
• The name Anaimudi literally translates to Elephant's forehead in Malayalam and Tamil, referring to the mountain's resemblance to an elephant's head.
• It is part of the Eravikulam National Park, which is a significant conservation area for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
• The peak is a prominent monadnock and represents the highest point in India south of the Himalayas.

 Additional Information

• Doddabetta:
• Located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, it is the highest peak in that specific range.
• With an elevation of 2,637 meters, it is the second-highest peak in the Western Ghats.
• Mullayanagiri:
• It is the highest peak in the state of Karnataka, standing at an altitude of 1,930 meters.
• It is part of the Baba Budan Giri range in the Chikkamagaluru district.
• Mahabaleshwar:
• A significant hill station in the Sahyadri range (Western Ghats) of Maharashtra.
• It stands at an elevation of 1,438 meters and serves as the source of the Krishna River.