23rd January 2026

 Consider the following statements regarding the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):

1. It was established by an Act of Parliament as a wholly-owned subsidiary of IDBI Bank.
2. Its functions include administering the Small Industries Development Fund and the National Equity Fund.
3. It provides both direct finance to MSMEs and indirect refinance to banks and NBFCs.
4. Its major stakeholders include the Government of India, LIC, NABARD, and all public sector banks.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the Atal Pension Yojana (APY):

1. The scheme is specifically targeted at workers in the unorganised sector.
2. A salaried employee paying income tax is eligible to become a subscriber under the scheme.
3. The government co-contribution was a permanent feature for all eligible subscribers.
4. Upon voluntary exit before the age of 60, the subscriber is entitled to the accumulated corpus including the government co-contribution.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

 Consider the following statements regarding the ICE Cloud platform:

1. It is an indigenous cloud platform designed to facilitate complex scientific research by integrating Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing.
2. The platform is exclusively available to government research institutions and not accessible to private start-ups or individual researchers.
3. It was funded by the Department of Science and Technology to support advancements in quantum technologies and simulation studies.
4. The platform offers services such as bioinformatics tools, AI visualisation, and development environments on the cloud.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

 With reference to Steel Slag, consider the following statements:

1. It is primarily produced during steel-making using electric arc furnaces and cannot be obtained from basic oxygen furnaces.
2. Due to its high oxide mineral content, it can be used as a barrier material to immobilise heavy metals leaching from contaminated sites.
3. It possesses superior impact strength compared to conventional coarse aggregates, making it suitable for certain construction applications.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Borax, consider the following statements:

1. It is a naturally occurring mineral, but can also be produced synthetically.
2. Its chemical composition includes sodium, boron, and water of crystallisation.
3. It finds application as a flux in metallurgy, a component in glazes, and as a disinfectant.
4. The natural formation of borax is primarily associated with the evaporation of permanent seawater bodies.

How many of the above statements are correct?