Correct Answer: (b) 

Explanation:

• Under Article 338(8), the NCSC has all the powers of a civil court while investigating any matter, including summoning and enforcing attendance, examining witnesses, and requisitioning documents. Hence Statement 1 is Correct.
• The NCSC’s jurisdiction extends to both the Union and the States. It can investigate matters relating to Scheduled Castes throughout India, as its constitutional mandate under Article 338(5) is not territorially limited. “Social justice” and “welfare of Scheduled Castes” are matters on the Concurrent List (Entry 20), not the Union List. Hence Statement 2 is Incorrect

While the recommendations of the NCSC are not legally binding, they carry constitutional weight. Article 338(9) requires the President (and by extension, the executive) to lay the report and an action-taken memorandum before Parliament, creating a constitutional expectation of responsiveness, consistent with the principle of constitutional morality and accountability. Hence Statement 3 is Correct

Correct Answer: (a) 

Explanation:
Thalassemia is an inherited genetic blood disorder caused by defective synthesis of haemoglobin chains (alpha or beta globin). This leads to anemia, fatigue, and organ damage due to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
It is commonly managed through blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy.

Correct Answer: (a) 

Explanation:

• The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is not a statutory body. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1998. It functions independently, though it often collaborates with government agencies and international conservation bodies. Hence Statement 1 is Incorrect

WTI indeed works with government departments, local communities, and international partners to carry out initiatives in wildlife rescue, species recovery, habitat protection, and conflict mitigation. Hence Statement 2 is Correct

Correct Answer: (d) 

Explanation:
The Nine-Dash Line is a demarcation line used by China to claim vast areas of the South China Sea, overlapping with the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian nations — notably Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016 ruled that China’s claims under this line have no legal basis under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Correct Answer: (c) 

Explanation:

• The discovery of iron, people were able to clear dense forests of the Ganga valley and expand agriculture. This led to growth of permanent villages and towns. Hence Statement 1 is Correct
• The PGW culture (c. 1200–600 BCE) is described in NCERT as an Iron Age pottery tradition found in parts of western U.P., Haryana, and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. It is often associated with later Vedic communities, though not exclusively identified with them. Hence Statement 2 is Correct

NBPW (c. 700–300 BCE) as a hallmark of the second urbanization, characterized by growth of cities, trade, and Mahājanapadas in the middle Ganga valley. Hence Statement 3 is Correct