1. With reference to Smooth-Coated Otters (Lutrogaleperspicillata), consider the following statements:

1. They are the largest otter species in South Asia.
2. They are exclusively marine animals and depend on coastal mangroves for survival.
3. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

2. Nüshu, recently in news, is significant because:

• It is the oldest undeciphered script of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• It is the precursor to modern Mandarin Chinese characters.
• It was the earliest script used by Buddhist monks in East Asia.
• It is the only known writing system in the world created and used exclusively by women.

3. The Dardanelles Strait connects:

• The Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea directly
• The Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea
• The Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara
• The Arabian Sea with the Persian Gulf

4. Which of the following is/are correct about NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO) program?

1. OCO-1 was lost during launch failure in 2009.
2. OCO-2 (2014) and OCO-3 (2019) provided global CO? data and plant growth monitoring.
3. It discovered that the Amazon rainforest is a net carbon sink while boreal forests are carbon sources.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

5. Which of the following advantages does satellite internet offer over conventional internet networks?

1. Connectivity in remote and disaster-hit regions
2. Mobility for aircraft, ships, and defence units
3. Independence from terrestrial telecom infrastructure

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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