Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are grassroots functionaries whose primary role is to assist the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) by conducting field verification, facilitating forms, and identifying deceased, shifted, or duplicate voters. BLOs do not have the statutory authority to independently decide on claims and objections. The ERO is the sole competent authority to make decisions regarding the inclusion, correction, or deletion of electoral entries.

Statement 2 is correct: Form 7 under the registration rules is specifically used either to object to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll (on grounds like death, permanent shifting, being underage, or not being an Indian citizen) or to seek the deletion of one's own name.

Statement 3 is correct: Under Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, an ERO is authorized to correct, transpose, or delete entries in the electoral roll. However, this power must be exercised following due procedure, which mandates an appropriate inquiry and giving the affected person a reasonable opportunity to respond.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Article 324 of the Constitution of India vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, the office of the President, and the Vice-President in the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The ECI does not conduct Panchayat and Municipal elections. Under Articles 243K and 243ZA of the Constitution, elections to Panchayats and Municipalities are superintended, directed, and controlled by the respective State Election Commissions (SECs).

Statement 3 is correct: Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 penalizes making false statements or declarations regarding electoral registration (such as submitting fraudulent objections via Form 7) with imprisonment or fine.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the RAKSHA document in New Delhi on 3 September 2026. It outlines a 10-year vision for India's global defence partnerships.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The framework does not include nuclear arms expansion as a pillar. Its four core pillars are Strategic Partnerships, Capacity Building, Indigenous Defence Exports, and Maritime Security.

Statement 3 is correct: Maritime security is a major focus. It helps India act as a Net Security Provider and First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The latest GCRMN report points out that global hard coral cover has declined by approximately 9.5% compared to historical baselines/reference periods.

Statement 2 is correct: Climate-induced marine heatwaves have triggered widespread bleaching events, making climate change the strongest and most pervasive driver of coral loss worldwide.

Statement 3 is correct: GCRMN is indeed an operational network of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), supported globally to track the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Corals and zooxanthellae have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship. Zooxanthellae live inside the coral tissues, providing energy via photosynthesis, while the coral provides shelter and compounds needed for photosynthesis.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While most reef-building corals thrive in warm, shallow, and clear tropical waters, there are also deep-water (cold-water) corals that exist in colder, deeper regions of the ocean.

Statement 3 is correct: Coral polyps are tiny marine animals (invertebrates), and zooxanthellae are microscopic photosynthetic algae (plants/protists).