Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• The POSCO Act of 2012, officially known as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, was passed by the Indian Parliament on May 22, 2012, and came into effect on November 14, 2012. The act was enacted to provide a comprehensive legal framework to protect children from sexual offenses, define various forms of sexual abuse, and establish stringent punishments for offenders. The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years and recognizes the right of every child to be free from any form of sexual violence. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The Act recognizes that both girls and boys can be victims of sexual abuse and that such abuse is a crime regardless of the gender of the victim. This is in line with the principle that all children have the right to protection from sexual abuse and exploitation, and that laws should not discriminate based on gender. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The POSCO Act sets up special courts exclusively for the trial of cases related to child sexual abuse in order to ensure swift justice and reduce the trauma experienced by child victims during legal proceedings. India is a signatory to the UN convention on the Rights of the Child. So, the POCSO Act was a mandatory international commitment to protect the rights of children. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• Graphene is a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon, consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the thinnest material known, with a thickness of just one atom. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Graphene could dramatically increase the lifespan of a traditional lithium-ion battery, meaning devices can be charged quicker and hold more power for longer. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Graphene is the world's thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material for both electricity and heat. It conducts electricity better than copper and is 200 times stronger than steel while being six times lighter. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• The global graphene market size was valued at $175.9 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 46.6% between 2023 and 2030. China, the U.S., the U.K., Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Singapore are leading countries in graphene research, with China being a dominant player in graphene-related patent filings. Commercial production of graphene is led by China and Brazil, while India produces1/20 of China, a very smaller quantity compared to them.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

• Offer for sale (OFS) is a simpler method of share sale through the exchange platform for listed companies. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The mechanism was first introduced by India’s securities market regulator SEBI, in 2012, to make it easier for promoters of publicly-traded companies to cut their holdings and comply with the minimum public shareholding norms by June 2013. The method was largely adopted by listed companies, both state-run and private, to adhere to the SEBI order. Later, the government started using this route to divest its shareholding in public sector enterprises. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• The mechanism is available to 200 top companies in terms of market capitalisation. In an OFS, a minimum of 25 per cent of the shares offered, are reserved for mutual funds (MFs) and insurance companies. At any point, no single bidder other than these two institutional categories is allocated more than 25 per cent of the size of the offering. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Zombie lending refers to the practice of providing credit to entities that do not have the capability to repay. An increase in lending to unproductive firms, popularly referred to as zombies will inflates credit growth and the resultant loan defaults haunt financial institutions at a later stage. The process of evergreening of loans, a form of zombie lending, is typically a temporary fix for a bank. If an account turns into a non-performing asset (NPA), banks are required to make higher provisions which will impact their profitability. A loan turns into a nonperforming asset, or NPA, if the interest or instalment remains unpaid even after the due date — and remains unpaid for a period of more than 90 days. So, to avoid classifying a loan as an NPA, banks adopt the evergreening of loans. In the past, many banks had indulged in dressing up bad loans and given additional funds to companies who didn’t have the capacity to repay. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das raised red flags over banks adopting innovative methods for evergreening of loans – covering up the real status of stressed loans of corporates – to project an artificial clean image in cahoots with corporates. Hence, option (d) is correct.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

• Humayun ascended the throne in 1530 and in 1533 he founded a new city, Din-i-Panah, on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Purana Qila was a part of the city complex constructed by Sher Shah Suri. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The single-domed Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541 is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design and an early example of the extensive use of the pointed arch in the region as seen in its five doorways with the 'true' horseshoe-shaped arches. The Sher Mandal named for Farid (Sher Shah) who had tried to finish what was ordered by Babur but had died during the initial phase and so construction was halted until the arrival of Humayun. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Purana Qila, built by Sher Shah Suri and Mughal emperor Humayun, is believed by many to be the site of Indraprastha, as mentioned in the Mahabharat and it is builot on the River Yamuna. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• A fresh round of excavations at the site of Delhi’s Purana Qila (Old Fort) has uncovered evidence of the continuous history of the city since the pre-Mauryan era. This was the third round of excavations at the site, beginning from January. Earlier excavations had been carried out in 2013-14 and 2017-18. The findings include shards of Painted Gray Ware pottery which are usually dated to around 1200 BC to 600 BC. The new excavations have also found remains of a 900-year-old Vaikuntha Vishnu from the Rajput period, a terracotta plaque of Goddess Gaja Lakshmi from the Gupta period, the structural remains of a 2,500-year-old terracotta ring well from the Mauryan period, and a well-defined four-room complex from the Sunga-Kushan period dating back to 2,300 years ago, besides beads, seals, copper coins and a bone needle. More than 136 coins and 35 seals have been discovered from a small excavated area, indicating the site’s pivotal role as a centre for trade activities.