10th July 2026

Explanation – The AISHE is a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Education (not solely the UGC), which tracks key indicators in the higher education sector. It covers student enrolment, faculty and teaching staff, infrastructure and facilities, programme and course offerings, and gender and social category participation.

The survey is a critical policy tool that informs decisions related to higher education planning, financial allocations, and reforms under initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Data is submitted voluntarily by registered institutions through a web-based portal and verified using built-in validation checks. The latest AISHE covers 59,533 higher education institutions with an institutional participation rate of over 90%.

Explanation – The Galathea Bay is adjacent to Galathea National Park in Great Nicobar Island. It was earlier proposed as a wildlife sanctuary in 1997 for the protection of turtles and was also the site of a long-term monitoring programme. The monitoring was stopped after the tsunami devastation of 2004, but it provided the first systematic evidence of numbers and importance of these beaches.

Explanation – Indira Point marks India's southernmost tip. It is located on the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is an important maritime landmark, lying to the south of Galathea Bay — the site where a transshipment port has been proposed under the larger GNI mega infrastructure project.

The lighthouse at Indira Point serves as a key landmark on the Singapore-Colombo international maritime route, acting as a navigational aid for mariners. It also holds growing importance for safe navigation toward Galathea Bay, given the upcoming transshipment port planned there.

A Brief History of the Site:

• Indira Point was earlier known as Pygmalion Point. It was renamed in 1985 in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, following her death.
• The lighthouse itself was commissioned in April 1972 and stands 35 metres tall. Its tower is made of cast iron (not concrete), painted in distinctive red and white bands.

Explanation – The "Hummus Trail" refers to a well-known travel circuit across India that is especially popular among Israeli tourists — many of whom are young veterans recently discharged from mandatory Israeli army service. Around 80,000 Israelis visit India every year. Many undertake what is called the Tiul Gadol — an extended trip that can last anywhere from six months to a year, largely funded by the discharge bonus soldiers receive after completing their military service.

In February 2026, the Israeli government (not the Indian government) allocated 4 million NIS (New Israeli Shekel) specifically to boost tourism collaboration with India, so statement 2 is incorrect.

Where Does This Trail Run? The Hummus Trail spans locations across India, from north to south, including Kasol (often called "mini-Israel"), Kodaikanal, Gokarna, Goa, Hampi, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Pushkar, Almora, Dharamkot, and more recently the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In these areas, one can observe visible cultural shifts — Hebrew-language signage, posters promoting the Israeli Defence Forces, and cafes, stores, and hostels run by Israeli nationals. In 2015, an Israeli-run café in Himachal Pradesh faced backlash for allegedly displaying a "whites only" sign that denied entry to Indians.

Explanation – Only statements 3 and 4 are correct. It is the largest Hindu temple complex (not Buddhist) in Indonesia, located in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Southern Java. It is known locally as the Temple of the Slender Virgin (Roro Jonggrang). It was built in the 9th century (not 8th) by the Sanjaya dynasty (not Sailendra), a Hindu kingdom that ruled over central Java.

It is dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti, the three main gods of Hinduism: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The temple complex was buried for centuries before being rediscovered and restored in the 19th century. In 1991, UNESCO designated Prambanan Temple as a World Heritage Site.