26th May 2025

Explanation:
INSACOG was established by the Government of India in December 2020, jointly initiated by the Union Ministry of Health and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with CSIR and ICMR. It is a consortium of 54 laboratories to monitor genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2 through sentinel sequencing, facilitated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), involving the Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). It is not an attached office of ICMR, nor was it launched primarily for patient database or contact tracing.

Explanation:
The New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank founded by the BRICS countries at the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014. The idea was proposed by India at the 4th BRICS summit in 2012 in Delhi. The bank supports infrastructure and sustainable development in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies, not just BRICS countries. India is a founding member and has received loan support, with 28% of NDB’s approved loans going to India, the second highest after China.

Explanation:
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog consists of the Chief Ministers of all States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories. Regional Councils address specific issues impacting multiple states or regions, convened by the Prime Minister and chaired by the Chairperson of NITI Aayog or a nominee. The sixth, not the tenth, meeting of the Governing Council was recently held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, with an agenda including making India a manufacturing powerhouse, reimagining agriculture, improving infrastructure, human resource development, service delivery, and health and nutrition.

Explanation:
The Government replaced the Planning Commission with NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) in January 2015. Its aim is to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and enhance cooperative federalism by involving State Governments in economic policy-making through a bottom-up approach. NITI Aayog provides strategic and technical advice to central and state governments across key policy areas, disseminates best practices, and infuses new policy ideas.

Explanation:
Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force, raised in 1835 in British India with just 750 men. Initially known as the Cachar Levy, it was tasked with protecting British tea estates and settlements from raids by northeast tribes. It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure: administrative control is with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), while operational control is with the Indian Army (under the Ministry of Defence). Salaries and infrastructure are provided by the MHA, but deployment, posting, transfer, and deputation are decided by the Army. Senior ranks are manned by Army officers, with the force commanded by a Lieutenant General from the Indian Army.