• Solution: (c) 

Explanation:

• Option A (Statement 1): Incorrect. While cloudbursts are more common in mountainous regions due to orographic effects, they are not exclusive to such regions. Cloudbursts can occur in plains and coastal areas as well under suitable atmospheric conditions.
• Option B (Statement 2): Correct. Orographic lifting can cause rapid ascent of moist air, leading to condensation and intense rainfall over a short duration, which is a key mechanism behind many cloudbursts.

Thus, S2 is correct but does not justify S1 completely, as S1 is factually inaccurate.

• Solution: (b) 

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Biochar can retain carbon in the soil for 100–1,000 years due to its strong and stable characteristics, making it an effective carbon sink. Hence the statement is Correct
• Statement 2: While biochar has potential for carbon removal, it is currently underrepresented in India’s carbon credit market due to barriers like weak monitoring, limited awareness, and lack of verification frameworks. Hence the statement is Incorrect
• Statement 3: The byproducts of biochar production such as syngas and bio-oil can be used to produce electricity and fuels, contributing to energy generation. Hence the statement is Correct

• Solution: (a) 

Explanation:
The prize honors women within two years of earning their PhDs for exceptional work in mathematics, and is part of the Breakthrough Prizes initiative. It promotes gender equity in mathematical research and commemorates Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal.

• Solution: (a) 

Explanation:

• First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769) → Treaty of Madras (1769)
• Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) → Treaty of Mangalore (1784)
• Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792) → Treaty of Seringapatam (1792)
• Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799) → No treaty; Tipu Sultan was killed, and Mysore was placed under British control.

• Solution: (c) 

Explanation:

• Statement 1: 1G biofuels use food crops like sugarcane and maize, which can impact food availability and prices. Hence the statement is Correct
• Statement 2: 2G biofuels use non-food biomass such as crop residues and forest waste, avoiding the food vs. fuel conflict. Hence the statement is Correct