24th February 2026

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The islets are known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan. They have also been known as the Liancourt Rocks, named by French whalers in 1849.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The islets are currently administered by South Korea (which maintains a small police detachment), while Japan claims sovereignty — the statement reverses the roles.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The islets are located in the Sea of Japan, not the East China Sea.

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Gulf of Mannar is endowed with three distinct coastal ecosystems — coral reef, seagrass bed, and mangroves.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: It is coral reefs (not seagrass beds) that are often referred to as "underwater tropical rainforests" and treasure houses for marine biodiversity. Seagrass beds serve as ideal feeding grounds for the endangered Dugong.

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Vaan Island is part of the Tuticorin group of islands within the Gulf of Mannar, which was declared a marine biodiversity park in 1986.
• Statement 2 is correct: To arrest severe erosion, scientists deployed specially designed artificial reef modules around the island beginning in 2015.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The reef modules not only prevented erosion but also facilitated rapid biological colonisation, supporting coral colonies per module.

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: PRASHAD is a scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, not the Ministry of Culture, though it was launched with the vision of focused infrastructure development to harness pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations.
• Statement 2 is correct: PRASHAD is a Central Sector Scheme with complete financial assistance by the Government of India. It was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15.

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: NOTTO is set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — not under ICMR.
• Statement 2 is correct: One of its two key divisions is the National Biomaterial Centre.
• Statement 3 is correct: NOTTO functions as the apex centre for organ and tissue donation and transplantation registry across the country.
• Statement 4 is correct: NOTTO is responsible for laying down policy guidelines and protocols for various functions related to organ transplantation.