1. Which of the following statements best describes Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)?

• It is a bacterial infection affecting the spinal cord, usually caused by tuberculosis.
• It is a progressive and fatal neurological disorder that occurs due to persistent measles virus infection in the brain.
• It is a congenital disorder transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.
• It is a parasitic disease primarily affecting the intestines and causing neurotoxicity.

2. With reference to the Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs, recently included in India’s UNESCO Tentative List, consider the following statements:

1. They are located in Karnataka, close to the Tungabhadra River.
2. The site contains both funerary and astronomical features.
3. It is estimated to date back to the Iron Age.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• 1 and 2 only
• 1 and 3 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 1, 2 and 3

3. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, recently in news due to U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, connects which of the following?

• Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea
• Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
• Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

4. In the context of optics, polarization refers to:

• The bending of light at an interface between two different media.
• The orientation of the magnetic field of light in a birefringent medium.
• The direction in which the electric field of light oscillates.
• The frequency change of light due to motion of the source.

5. Which of the following countries have demonstrated autonomous space docking capability as of 2025?

1. Russia
2. United States
3. India
4. Japan
5. China

Select the correct answer using the code below:

• 1, 2 and 3 only
• 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
• 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
• 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5