Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect because the provision is restricted to serious offences that carry a punishment of imprisonment of 10 years or more, life imprisonment, or the death penalty.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The trial can begin only after 90 days from the date of framing of charges.
Statement 3 is correct. Section 356 dictates that if the accused does not have legal representation, the court must appoint a State-funded Defence Counsel to ensure a fair trial.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Paraquat dichloride is a contact herbicide (not systemic), meaning it destroys only the green plant tissues that it directly comes into contact with. Because it is non-selective, it kills whatever plant parts it touches, acting rapidly upon impact.

Statement 2 is correct: One of the primary reasons cited by medical experts for a nationwide ban is that paraquat poisoning has no known antidote. Even small quantities can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Statement 3 is correct: Paraquat damages plant tissues by creating free radicals that disrupt cell membranes and quickly interrupt the process of photosynthesis.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Under the current Insecticides Act, 1968, state governments can temporarily suspend or restrict the sale and use of hazardous chemicals to protect public health. However, they lack the legal authority to impose permanent, nationwide bans or make independent long-term prohibitions without central review.

Statement 2 is correct: The regulation of agrochemicals in India mandates that every pesticide must be officially registered with the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) before it can be legally imported, manufactured, or marketed.

Statement 3 is correct: To modernize the regulatory framework, the government has proposed the Draft Pesticides Management Bill (PMB), 2025 to replace the nearly six-decade-old Insecticides Act, 1968. The new bill aims to introduce digital traceability, stricter monitoring, and mandatory reporting of pesticide poisoning cases.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 – Correct:
Under the CETA, the United Kingdom has immediately eliminated tariffs on 96.8% of tariff lines, covering approximately 97.7% of India's trade value. This will significantly enhance market access for Indian exports, particularly agricultural products, textiles, and engineering goods.

Statement 2 – Correct:
The agreement is a forward-looking and gold-standard Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that, for the first time, includes a dedicated Gender Chapter to support women entrepreneurs. Its objective is to promote the participation of women in global value chains.

Statement 3 – Incorrect:
Under the agreement, India will gradually reduce tariffs on a large share of its imports. However, necessary protections have been retained for sensitive sectors associated with the Make in India initiative. Therefore, tariffs have not been completely eliminated across all sectors.

Statement 4 – Correct:
The agreement is accompanied by the Double Contribution Convention (DCC), under which Indian professionals and workers contributing to India's social security system will be exempt from making social security contributions in the U.K. for a specified period. This provision is expected to benefit more than 75,000 Indian professionals.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 – Correct:
The CETA includes mechanisms for cooperation on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) to reduce non-tariff barriers. This will lower the risk of rejection of Indian agricultural and marine product exports and facilitate easier access to the U.K. market.

Statement 2 – Correct:
Under this trade agreement, India has, for the first time, granted eligible U.K. companies treaty-backed access to a limited portion of its central government procurement market. This access will be available in sectors such as green energy, transport, and infrastructure, provided the companies meet the prescribed local content requirements.

Statement 3 – Incorrect:
Although the agreement facilitates greater access to generic medicines and medical devices, it does not provide for the complete deregulation of intellectual property rights (IPR). Instead, IP protections are retained and regulated within a balanced framework aimed at strengthening technological and economic cooperation between the two countries.