27th December 2024

Explanation: Both statements are correct. Statement 1 accurately describes the CPI for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW), which has a base year of 2016 and is used for wage adjustments in the organized labor sector. Statement 2 correctly states that CPI Combined, with a base year of 2012, is widely used as the official retail inflation rate in India.

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect as hydrothermal vents were first identified in 1977 near the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, not the Mariana Trench. Statements 2 and 3 are correct, accurately describing the characteristics of black and white smokers. Statement 4 is correct, as hydrothermal vents support unique ecosystems based on chemosynthetic organisms.

Explanation: The Golden Visa programme is a residence by investment plan that grants temporary residency to foreign nationals in exchange for a significant donation or investment in real estate, business, or other fields. It allows high-net-worth individuals to physically relocate to favorable jurisdictions, granting them complete legal residency rights, including the facility to live, work, study, and receive healthcare in that nation.

Explanation: All statements are correct. Lesotho is an enclaved nation entirely surrounded by South Africa (Statement 1). The Orange River rises in the Lesotho Highlands as the Sinqu River (Statement 2). Lesotho's lowest point is 1,400 meters above sea level, making it the country with the highest low point globally (Statement 3).

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. The Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi Initiative is currently piloted in Odisha,  Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, not exclusively in all northeastern states. Statement 2 is correct. The initiative leverages e-learning platforms, AI-powered chatbots, and mobile apps to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance service delivery in Panchayati Raj Institutions.