22nd May 2025

Consider the following statements regarding the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly:

1. The agreement establishes a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system requiring manufacturers to provide 20% of real-time production to WHO, with half as donations and the remainder at affordable prices.
2. The agreement grants WHO unprecedented authority to impose mandatory lockdowns and vaccine mandates on member states during pandemic emergencies.
3. The agreement represents only the second international legal instrument adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, following the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
4. Full implementation requires ratification by at least 60 countries and finalization of key mechanisms by May 2026.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Consider the following statements about the SPICED scheme launched by the Spices Board for 2025-26:

1. The scheme's full form "Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development" reflects its comprehensive approach toward enhancing productivity of small and large cardamom while promoting organic farming and good agricultural practices.
2. Financial assistance under SPICED includes support for replanting cardamom plantations, installation of modern post-harvest infrastructure like dryers and grading machines, and procurement of essential equipment such as spice polishers and turmeric boilers for farmers and FPOs.
3. The scheme establishes Spice Incubation Centres, provides geo-tagged activity monitoring, and prioritizes first-time applicants and SMEs in export development programs while requiring valid CRES certification for participation in international trade fairs.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Which of the following best describes the significance of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal in India's telecommunications security framework?

Examine the following statements regarding the Polavaram Project and its multifaceted implications:

1. Located near Polavaram village in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh at the confluence with Chhattisgarh and Odisha borders, the project was conceived in 1980 following recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal and has been accorded national project status.
2. The spillway design with 50 lakh cusecs discharge capacity is engineered to withstand thousand-year floods and is set to surpass the Three Gorges Dam of China, while the dam structure spans 1.2 km with 54m pier height and 48 radial gates.
3. The project's comprehensive objectives include developing 4,36,825 hectares of gross irrigation potential, generating 960 MW hydropower, providing drinking water to 28.50 lakh population across 611 villages, and transferring 80 TMC water from Godavari to Krishna river basin.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Analyze the following statements about India's maritime development initiatives and their strategic implications:

1. The Maritime Development Fund of Rs 25,000 crore with 49% government funding aims to attract Rs 1.5 lakh crore investment by 2030, while the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy 2.0 provides Rs 18,090 crore in direct subsidies to Indian shipyards.
2. The establishment of SCI Bharat IFSC Ltd at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in August 2024 operates under the ship leasing framework to focus on vessel ownership and chartering activities within the International Financial Services Centre structure.
3. India's current merchant fleet of approximately 1,500 vessels includes only 50-60 large ships, necessitating the strategic objective of adding 1,000 new ships by 2034 to reduce freight costs by 33% by 2047.
4. The Coastal Shipping Bill 2024 eliminates the separation between coastal and riverine vessels while the Merchant Shipping Bill 2024 extends ownership rights to NRIs, OCIs, and Indian-registered businesses.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional mechanisms for judicial accountability in India:

1. The K Veeraswami judgment established that while judges can be considered public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the sanction for prosecution must come from the Chief Justice of India rather than the President to prevent executive overreach.
2. The in-house inquiry mechanism, though created by the Supreme Court to address judicial misconduct outside formal impeachment, lacks constitutional sanctity and can only recommend actions without enforcing removal of judges.
3. Under Articles 124(4) and 217 of the Constitution, impeachment remains the sole constitutional method for removing judges, requiring proven misbehavior or incapacity through a political process initiated by Parliament.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?