18th September 2026

With reference to the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and its policy framework, consider the following statements:

1. Phase 1 of the India Semiconductor Mission focused primarily on chip design startups, whereas ISM 2.0 exclusively subsidizes large fabrication foundries.
2. Under the Semicon 2.0 guidelines, approved units receiving fiscal incentives are barred from selling or mortgaging project assets before commercial production commences.
3. Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) are wide-bandgap compound semiconductors widely used in high-power and high-temperature electronics.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the constitutional provisions governing education and school policy in India, consider the following statements:

1. Education was shifted from the State List to the Concurrent List via the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
2. Article 351 directs the Union to promote the spread and development of the Hindi language throughout India.
3. The Three-Language Formula is a statutory mandate explicitly codified in the original text of Part XVII of the Constitution.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

1. CBAM functions as an import tax designed to equalize the carbon price paid by domestic EU manufacturers with that of imported goods.
2. If an exporter secures an import quota under a Free Trade Agreement, they are automatically exempt from paying CBAM charges.
3. The scope of CBAM includes carbon-intensive sectors such as steel, aluminium, cement, and fertilizers.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, consider the following statements:

1. Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, the Election Commission of India has the power to decide disputes between rival factions of a recognized political party.
2. In the event of an internal dispute without sufficient time for a complete inquiry, the Election Commission can freeze the party's name and reserved symbol as an interim measure.
3. Following an interim freeze, neither faction is permitted to contest elections until the Commission delivers a final verdict on the dispute.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to glaciology and cryosphere dynamics in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, consider the following statements:

1. 'Peak Water' represents the point where seasonal glacial discharge reaches zero due to the complete melting of ice reserves.
2. The deposition of black carbon increases the surface albedo of glaciers, thereby reflecting solar radiation and slowing melting rates.
3. Himalayan river basins feed major agricultural regions including the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?