(b) Only two statements are correct (2nd and 3rd)
Project Devil was aimed at developing short-range surface-to-air missiles, not surface-to-surface missiles. Project Valiant was focused on developing long-range surface-to-surface missiles, not surface-to-air missiles. (Incorrect)
Both projects were indeed part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
Project Devil led to the development of the Prithvi missile, and Project Valiant led to the development of the Agni missile.
In the 1970s, Abdul Kalam oversaw the development of two projects;
Project Devil and Project Valiant aimed to create ballistic missiles using the SLV program’s successful technology.
In 1982, Kalam oversaw the development of several successful missiles, including the Agni and Prithvi missiles, earning him the title of “Missile Man of India.”

(b) Only two statements are correct (1st and 3rd)
In weather forecasting, X-band radars are used for short-range weather monitoring, such as predicting rainfall intensity and landslides. They are also used in air traffic control and military applications.
X-Band Radar operates in the frequency range of 8-12 GHz, corresponding to wavelengths of 2-4 cm.
X-Band Radar is typically used for short-range weather forecasting and tracking smaller-scale atmospheric phenomena due to its higher resolution and shorter range. (Incorrect)
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has approved the installation of an X-Band Radar in Wayanad to improve monitoring and prediction of weather conditions, specifically for early warnings related to landslides and floods.

(a) Only one statement is incorrect (2nd)
The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme is an initiative by the Government of India to modernize the country’s defense industry. It was launched by the Prime Minister in 2018 to promote innovation and technology development in the defense and aerospace sectors. The scheme aims to: Create pathways for adopting technologies in the Indian armed services, Seed India’s future defense enterprises, and Promote self-reliance.
The scheme is implemented by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), a not-for-profit company under the Ministry of Defence (MoD). (Incorrect)
The scheme provides grants and funding to startups, MSMEs, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia.
The scheme offers up to Rs 1.50 crore in grants to startups and MSMEs under the Support for Prototype and Research Kick start (SPARK Framework).

(a) Deep-sea isopod
Researchers have named a new species of deep-sea isopod discovered off the Kollam coast after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The tiny fish-parasitic crustacean, belonging to the genus Brucethoa, was recovered from the base of the gill cavity of the Spinyjaw greeneye, a marine fish.

(b) Only two statements are correct (1st and 2nd)
The Swallowtail Butterflies: An Action Plan for their Conservation is a document prepared in 1991 by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) that outlines conservation efforts for swallowtail butterflies. The plan was the first insect action plan created by the IUCN SSC.
The plan covers 34 regions around the world, and considers the conservation status of each species in each region. The plan covers 573 species of swallowtail butterflies, and 170 of them are considered to need conservation action.
The IUCN has designated India’s Northeast as a “Swallowtail-rich zone,” focusing on conservation efforts in this region to protect 69 species through habitat preservation and sustainable plant use. (Incorrect)