Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained a ‘Neutral’ policy stance. This stance provides the RBI with the flexibility to move interest rates in either direction (up or down) based on future economic data.

Statement 2 is incorrect: In the Aprilreview, the repo rate was kept unchanged at 5.25% rather than increased. While increasing the repo rate is a standard tool to control inflation, it was not the action taken in this specific recent review.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Monetary Policy Committee is chaired by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (ex-officio), not the Finance Minister. The Finance Minister does not hold a seat on the committee.

Answer: B

Explanation:

According to the recent meeting of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) (April 6–8, 2026), the correct structure of policy rates is as follows:

• Repo Rate – 5.25%


• Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate – 5.00%


• Bank Rate – 5.50% (6.00% is given in the question, which is incorrect)


• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) – 3.00%

Therefore, the correct answer is (a) 1, 2, and 4 only.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was established in 2016 under the amended Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, to formalize inflation targeting.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The MPC consists of 6 members, not 5. The composition includes:

• Three members from the RBI: The Governor (Chairperson), the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, and one officer nominated by the RBI Board.


• Three external members: Appointed by the Central Government.

Statement 3 is correct: Each member has one vote, but in the event of a tie (an equality of votes), the RBI Governor exercises a casting vote (or second vote) to break the deadlock.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Article 20(3) (Right against Self-Incrimination): Custodial torture is often used to compel a person to confess or witness against themselves, which directly violates Article 20(3).

Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty): The Supreme Court, in cases like D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal and Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa, has consistently held that custodial death/torture is a gross violation of the right to life and dignity, which is protected under Article 21.

Article 22 (Protection against Arrest and Detention): Article 22 provides rights to an arrested person, including being informed of the grounds of arrest, the right to consult a lawyer, and being produced before a magistrate within 24 hours. Custodial deaths often occur when these procedures are ignored, violating this article. Therefore, custodial deaths and violence are a violation of fundamental rights, especially Articles 20, 21, and 22.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Sixteenth Finance Commission was constituted on December 31, 2023, by the President of India in pursuance of Article 280 of the Constitution.

Statement 2 is correct: Dr. Arvind Panagariya, the former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, was appointed as the Chairman of the Commission.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Finance Commissions are typically constituted for a five-year period. Specifically, the Sixteenth Finance Commission is mandated to make recommendations for the five-year period commencing on April 1, 2026, and ending on March 31, 2031.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Designated Repositories are notified under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Statement 2 is correct: These repositories are responsible for preserving biological resources, specifically voucher specimens of newly discovered species, and associated data/documentation.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Repositories are generally government-recognized institutions, such as central or state laboratories, research institutions, and universities (e.g., CMLRE, Kochi and Agharkar Research Institute, Pune), not just private institutions.

Answer: D

Explanation:

These three institutions together form a three-tier structure:

National Level: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

State Level: State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)

Local/Grassroots Level: Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)

This structure ensures the conservation of biological resources, their sustainable use, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.