15th May 2025

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. Afrikaners are a white ethnic group native to South Africa, shaped through ethnogenesis on African soil, and are often referred to as "Africa's White Tribe" due to their deep-rooted historical presence since the 17th century.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Afrikaner community originated in 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck, under the Dutch East India Company (VOC), not the British East India Company, established a resupply station at the Cape of Good Hope.

Statement 3 is correct. A unique Afrikaner identity developed through interactions among Europeans, slaves, and the indigenous Khoikhoi, marked by paternalistic household systems, strict social hierarchies, and the development of Afrikaans as a distinct language.

Statement 4 is correct. Over time, the settlers included French Huguenots fleeing persecution after the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685), along with Germans and enslaved people from India, Indonesia, Madagascar, and East Africa, contributing to the ethnic mix.

Explanation:

Option b is correct. The Government of India has declared that Ayurveda Day will now be observed annually on 23rd September, starting from 2025. This date coincides with the autumnal equinox, when day and night are nearly equal, representing balance in nature and aligning with the Ayurvedic principle of equilibrium.

Option a is incorrect as Ayurveda Day is not observed on the summer solstice.

Option c is incorrect as Ayurveda is divided into three branches: Nara Ayurveda (focused on human life and health), Satva Ayurveda (deals with animal health and diseases), and Vriksha Ayurveda (focused on plant growth, health, and diseases).

Option d is incorrect as it was the Indian Medical Council Act of 1971, not 1980, that provides formal recognition to Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha systems.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect. Unlike the Transantarctic Mountains, which are partially visible above the ice, the Gamburtsev Mountains remain entirely buried, concealed under several kilometers of ice.

Statement 2 is correct. New data published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains were formed over 500 million years ago, during the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Statement 3 is correct. Scientists analyzed zircon grains from sandstones deposited by ancient rivers flowing from the mountains. Zircons contain trace uranium, which decays at a known radioactive rate, enabling accurate age determination.

Statement 4 is correct. Findings show that uplift began approximately 650 million years ago, Himalayan-scale peaks were reached around 580 million years ago, and crustal melting and flow ceased around 500 million years ago.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. The Supreme Court has scrapped the points-based assessment system it introduced in 2017 for designating senior advocates, and the Full Court of the SC or respective HC will now make final decisions on designation1.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Permanent Secretariat created under the 2017 rules will continue to scrutinize applications and submit eligible names to the Full Court, rather than being dissolved1.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The requirement of a minimum 10 years of legal practice remains valid under the new guidelines1.

Statement 4 is correct. Senior Advocates are bound by specific ethical and procedural restrictions including being prohibited from drafting pleadings or affidavits themselves and not being allowed to accept briefs or instructions directly from clients1.

Explanation:

Pair 1 is correctly matched. Buddhavanam is a Buddhist theme park located on the northern bank of Krishna River in Telangana.

Pair 2 is correctly matched. Nagarjunakonda was indeed named after the famous Buddhist scholar and Madhyamika philosopher Acharya Nagarjuna.

Pair 3 is correctly matched. The Mahastupa at Buddhavanam features intricate carvings on the drum and dome portions and a virtual hanging sky with lotus petals under the sky inside the structure.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Excavations conducted at Nagarjunakonda between 1954 and 1960 revealed not only Buddhist structures but also a palace complex and a few Brahmanical temples built of bricks, indicating Brahmanical influence in the area.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. HIMARS is an air-transportable wheeled launcher mounted on a 5-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) that can carry either a launcher pod of six rockets or one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

Statement 2 is incorrect. The HIMARS requires less than 20 seconds (not more than one minute) to be prepared for firing, and a full launcher load of six rockets can be fired within 45 seconds (not two minutes).

Statement 3 is incorrect. HIMARS is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, a United States-based security and aerospace company, not by a European defense contractor as part of NATO's standardized weapons program.

Statement 4 is correct. The HIMARS is equipped with the Increased Crew Protection cabin, which is designed to protect the three-man operating crew against plume gases, rocket launch debris, and small arms.