24th March 2026

Explanation - Cabinet Committee on Security is headed by the Prime Minister of India and is responsible for important discussions and decisions on defence policy, expenditure, and matters related to national security. History: A committee comparable to the current CCS structure was first formed in independent India in 1947 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Formed against the background of a newly independent nation facing national security challenges. It was reportedly chaired by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with Home Minister Sardar Patel and Defence Minister Baldev Singh as its members. It was after the 1999 Kargil War that the committee evolved to adopt the present formal structure of the CCS and became a high-powered committee for defence and national security. Over time, the CCS has evolved into the apex decision-making body concerning internal and external security matters of the Government of India. Composition: With the Prime Minister as its chairperson, the committee typically comprises the Home Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and External Affairs Minister as members. The National Security Advisor (NSA) acts as secretary-level coordinator on matters within its purview. While the Defence Minister is a permanent invitee to the panel, other members may be included as per requirements. The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for maintaining records of all the meetings and proceedings of the CCS. Function: The CCS concerns itself with all matters related to defence, foreign affairs, intelligence, nuclear issues, space policy, and major appointments related to national security. It is also the apex body when it comes to the appointments of the officials in the national security bodies.

Explanation - Forex reserves are funds held by a country's central bank in foreign currencies (like the US dollar). They act as a financial buffer during times of economic stress. Their key roles include: Funding the current account deficit (CAD) — the gap between what India earns and spends in foreign exchange. Smoothening rupee volatility by selling dollars when foreign investors pull money out (FPI outflows). Strengthening a country's overall macroeconomic credibility. Even if the CAD is small (currently ~1% of GDP), funding it becomes difficult when capital outflows are high — making adequate reserves critical. Where Do India's Forex Reserves Stand Today? As of March 13, 2026, India's forex reserves stood at $709.75 billion (RBI data). This is enough to cover over 12 months of imports, which is considered very comfortable. India is currently well above the danger zone, but the recent depletion warrants attention.

Explanation - Sahiwal Cattle is considered to be one of the best milch cattle breed of India. The breed derives its name from Sahiwal area in Montgomery district of Punjab in Pakistan. Other Names: These animals are also known as "Lambi Bar", "Lola", "Montgomery", "Multani" and "Teli". Appearance — The cows are brownish red in colour; shades may vary from a mahogany red brown to more greyish red. Extremities in bulls are darker than rest of body colour. Occasionally there are white patches. Its unique traits are, tick-resistant, heat tolerant, high milk production and noted for its high resistance to parasites, both internal and external. Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean.

Explanation - Kolleru Lake is the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia, situated between the Krishna and Godavari deltas. The lake drains into the Bay of Bengal through the Upputeru River, not the Krishna River. Kolleru Lake is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and lies on the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), supporting migratory birds. Kolleru Lake was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2002, not 1999.

Explanation - Litani River rises west of Baalbek (in the Bekaa Valley), flows southwestward through the valley, and falls into the Mediterranean Sea. The Bekaa Valley is "not as intensively farmed as the country's coastal plain because of less rainfall and a wider variation in temperature." The statement in the question reverses the causal factors, claiming it is more intensively farmed due to more consistent rainfall and moderate temperatures. "Qaraoun Dam, or Albert Naqash Dam" is one of the dams on the Litani River and the river is a major source for water supply, irrigation, and hydroelectricity.