Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: ORV Sagar Manthan is India’s advanced indigenous ocean research vessel built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).

Statement 2 is correct: The ₹840-crore vessel is built to gradually replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya. It will undertake scientific research in the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Southern Ocean, and Antarctica.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The vessel operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), not the Ministry of Defence. Its core mandate is scientific research (marine minerals, climate change, tsunamis, and biodiversity), not military or submarine rescue operations.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: India’s Deep Ocean Mission was launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with a focus on deep-sea exploration and strengthening the Blue Economy.

Statement 2 is correct: A major component of the mission is 'Samudrayaan', which aims to develop MATSYA 6000—an indigenous manned submersible capable of carrying three aquanauts to a depth of 6,000 meters.

Statement 3 is correct: ORV Sagar Manthan is equipped with Swath multibeam, seismic survey systems, and AUV/ROV deployment capabilities, which directly support and strengthen the Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration component of the Deep Ocean Mission.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has retained the marital rape exception under Section 63. It does not fully criminalise non-consensual sexual acts within marriage if the wife is an adult.

Statement 2 is correct: Under the erstwhile Section 375 of the IPC, the exception did not apply if the wife was below 15 years. The BNS has updated this exception under Section 63, increasing the age threshold to 18 years. Therefore, a husband can only be prosecuted for rape if his wife is a minor under 18 years of age.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Supreme Court recently noted a serious legal dilemma regarding the prosecution of husbands for rape. The Court clarified that unless the statutory exception in Section 63 of the BNS is declared unconstitutional by a court, husbands cannot be readily prosecuted for rape because recognizing an act as harmful is distinct from expanding a criminal offence without legislative backing.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: According to the WRI India working paper, Tier-2 cities recorded the highest absolute quantities of waste burned, rising from roughly 21 tonnes/day in summer to 41 tonnes/day in winter.

Statement 2 is correct: Tier-3 cities recorded the highest incidence of burning, reaching around 49.6 incidents per sq. km. per day during the winter season (with poorer neighbourhoods seeing spikes up to 84 incidents per sq. km.).

Statement 3 is incorrect: Open waste burning actually contributed less than 1% of the total citywide PM2.5 and PM10 emissions in the assessed cities. However, because it occurs very close to human settlements, roads, and homes, it triggers severe localised short-term exposure and serious public health risks.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Strait of Hormuz is a vital geographical chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf (west) to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (east). It handles approximately 20% of global oil trade and 25% of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Statement 2 is incorrect: While the northern coast is controlled by Iran, the southern coast is controlled by Oman (specifically its Musandam Peninsula exclave) and the UAE. The narrowest point of the shipping lane lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, not the UAE alone.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Major oil exporters like Saudi Arabia (via the East-West Pipeline to Yanbu) and the UAE (via the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline) have alternative bypass routes. However, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain lack viable bypass pipelines and remain completely dependent on the Strait of Hormuz to export their energy resources.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Strait of Hormuz is recognized as a "Strait Used for International Navigation". According to Part III of UNCLOS, ships and aircraft of all nations enjoy the right of transit passage, which cannot be suspended or impeded by coastal states during peace times, provided the transit is continuous and expeditious. (Note: Although Iran has signed but not ratified UNCLOS, the U.S. and the international community recognize transit passage as customary international law).

Statement 2 is correct: In response to escalating tensions, oil tanker attacks, and maritime insecurity in the region, the Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp. This deployment acts as a deterrent and provides security escorts to ensure the unhindered movement of Indian merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.