7th February 2025

Assertion (A): The renaming of Fort William in Kolkata to Vijay Durg signifies a complete erasure of its colonial history and legacy.
Reason (R): The fort's original construction by the English East India Company and its role in historical events, such as the 'Black Hole of Calcutta,' are no longer relevant in contemporary India.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the PRASAD scheme:
1. The PRASAD scheme, launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2014, aims to develop and promote spiritual tourism circuits by enhancing infrastructure, connectivity, and the overall pilgrim experience at identified pilgrimage destinations.
2. The PRASAD scheme operates under a funding model that exclusively relies on public funding, with no provisions for incorporating voluntary contributions through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives or Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
3. The primary objective of the PRASAD scheme is to promote eco-friendly tourism by upgrading infrastructure, connectivity enhancement, and starting conservation projects that help in preserving and conserving the pilgrimage sites of cultural and spiritual significance.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

Regarding the NavIC (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System), consider the following statements:
1. NavIC was conceived as a direct consequence of the 1999 Kargil War to provide India with an independent and secure navigation system, primarily for civilian applications, thereby reducing reliance on foreign military-controlled systems like GPS.
2. The operational status of NavIC has been consistently robust since its declaration of completion in 2016, with minimal disruptions caused by malfunctions in rubidium atomic clocks or satellite deployment failures.
3. While NavIC offers positioning accuracy better than 20 meters across India, its dual- frequency capabilities, utilizing both L5 and S bands, are exclusively reserved for military applications under the Restricted Service (RS).
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

Consider the following statements regarding India's revised approach to Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs):
1. The impetus for revising the 2016 model BIT stems from concerns raised by Western trade partners, particularly regarding regulatory risks and the need for enhanced protection for Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs).
2. The revised BIT, exemplified by the UAE-India BIT, mandates that investors exhaust domestic legal remedies for a period of five years before seeking international arbitration, a condition readily accepted by Western nations.
3. The proposal for a "fork-in-the-road" clause suggests that investors must irrevocably choose between pursuing remedies in domestic courts or international arbitration, thereby precluding simultaneous engagement in both avenues.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the "Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024" as proposed in India, consider the following statements:
1. The bill seeks to replace the Emigration Act of 1983 primarily due to the latter's inadequacy in addressing contemporary global migration patterns, specifically concerning the welfare of Indian emigrants in irregular migration routes.
2. The bill mandates that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) must incorporate feedback from the general public within a strict timeframe of 15 days, ensuring a participatory approach before presenting the bill to the Cabinet.
3. The bill proposes to diminish the role of the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) by limiting their direct intervention in addressing grievances and resolving employment disputes of Indian workers abroad, in an attempt to promote the autonomy of foreign employers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?