6th May 2025

Explanation - National Institute of Solar Energy, an autonomous institution of Ministry of New and Renewable (MNRE), is the apex National R&D institution in the field Solar Energy. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna (Category - I) Government of India Enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987 engaged in promoting, developing and extending inancial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation with the motto: "ENERGY FOR EVER". "Solar Energy Corporation of India Itd" (SECI) is a CPSU under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), set up on 20th Sept, 2011. It is the only CPSU dedicated to the solar energy sector. It is responsible for implementation of a number of schemes of MNRE, major ones being the VGF schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under JNNSM, solar park scheme and grid-connected solar rooftop scheme, along with a host of other specialised schemes such as defence scheme, canal-top scheme, Indo-Pak border scheme etc.

Explanation - The Central Water Commission (CWC) was established under the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 1945 to address water-related challenges. The CWC is responsible for the scientific planning and management of water resources, including river basin studies and flood forecasting. The CWC does not focus on telecommunications infrastructure and rural development projects; rather, its primary focus is on monitoring and assessing water resources, developing water-related projects, and managing flood control measures. The CWC's mandate includes monitoring and assessing water resources, developing water-related projects, and managing flood control measures.

Explanation - APJ Abdul Kalam served as the first PSA to the Government of India in the year 1999.

Explanation - It was created in 1999 by the AB Vajpayee government. At the time, the position was a Cabinet rank position, with the first PSA being APJ Abdul Kalam. The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India advises the government in science and technology polices and interventions that are of strategic socio-economic importance to the country.

Explanation - The current order states that no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste. Hence, Dalits who get converted to Christianity and Islam are not covered and they do not get the quota benefits. Interestingly, the religion-based bar does not apply to converted STs and OBCs. As per the government, the rights of a person belonging to a Scheduled Tribe are independent of his/her religious faith. Also, following the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, several Christian and Muslim communities have found place in the Central and state lists of OBCs.