Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that travel in a parabolic, predictable arc, hypersonic missiles travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 and possess high maneuverability. They can fly at lower altitudes and alter their course, rendering them extremely difficult to detect and intercept by conventional radar and missile defense systems.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) are launched into the upper atmosphere using a rocket, after which they glide and maneuver toward their target without continuous engine propulsion. It is the Scramjet-powered Hypersonic Cruise Missiles that are powered continuously by high-speed air-breathing engines.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engines are designed specifically to use atmospheric oxygen for combustion instead of carrying heavy oxidizers on board. This makes the missile lighter and more efficient.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: MIRV technology allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads, not just one. These warheads can be directed to strike different targets that are hundreds of kilometers apart.

Statement 2 is correct: Once the missile carrying MIRVs reaches space, its payload portion—often called the "bus"—releases the individual re-entry vehicles. These vehicles then follow separate, independent trajectories toward assigned targets.

Statement 3 is correct: With this successful test, India has officially joined an elite group of nations (which includes the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK) capable of deploying MIRVed ballistic missiles.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The flight trial of the Advanced Agni missile was conducted from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island), located off the coast of Odisha. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is ISRO's spaceport in Sriharikota.

Statement 2 is correct: The advanced variant of the Agni missile tested has a range exceeding 5,000 to 5,500 km, classifying it securely in the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) category.

Statement 3 is correct: By utilizing MIRV technology, a single missile can hit multiple, widely separated targets simultaneously. This significantly boosts India's second-strike capability and upholds its doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, as it can easily overwhelm standard missile defense systems.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is Incorrect:
The rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) is not strictly endemic to India alone; it is natively found in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Additionally, its IUCN status is Near Threatened (not Vulnerable). While it faces significant habitat pressures, it does not meet the threatened thresholds for Vulnerable.

Statement 2 is Correct:
In India, the rusty-Spotted cat enjoys the highest level of legal protection. It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This provides the species with absolute protection, and offenses committed against it attract the highest penalties.

Statement 3 is Correct:
Recent photographic evidence of a female rusty-spotted cat and her kitten in the Aravalli region (near Faridabad, Delhi-NCR) is highly significant. It provides concrete proof of a breeding population rather than just a stray individual. This indicates that despite human-induced fragmentation, scrubland ecosystems like the Aravallis continue to provide critical habitat, prey availability, and ecological stability for rare wildlife.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Government of India consolidated 29 archaic central labour laws into four functional codes: Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Social Security Code, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code. These codes significantly expand the net of social security to unorganised workers, migrant workers, and gig/platform workers.

Statement 2 is correct: The Code on Wages (2019) mandates the Centre to fix a National Floor Wage, taking into account minimum living standards. State governments cannot fix minimum wages lower than this national floor.

Statement 3 is incorrect: 'Labour' is a subject under the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. This means that both the Parliament and state legislatures can make laws on labour matters, which is why the harmonised national codes serve as a foundational framework for state-level rule formulation.

Statement 4 is correct: The OSHWC Code mandates gender equality and provides uniform provisions for women's employment. Women are permitted to work night shifts; however, it requires their consent and the employer must provide adequate safety, security, and transport facilities.