Q1. In the event that an enemy initiates a nuclear strike it will never be able to destroy all the land and air based nuclear weapons of the target country Again the enemy might attack population centres and not nuclear weapon sites in that case all the nukes of the target country would be available for retaliation In either case the deterrence capability of the target country would remain intact If the possession of the naval leg were to deter the enemy ab initio from initiating a nuclear launch it would add to the deterrence value

Q2. The world as we know it is changing so fast and so much Global mega trends only reinforce this fact The Internet has taken over our lives smartphone penetration is growing rapidly demographics are evolving For the first time in 2019 millennials born between 1981 and 1996 who feel fully at home in a digital world will overtake the population of baby boomers with strong implications for the future of our planet and its inhabitants

Q3. Directions In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank Select the best out of the five answer choices given to make the passage complete and coherent coherent means logically complete and sound In popular imagination the Railway Budget was seen as a grand spectacle with the Railway Minister using it as a platform for populism and political grandstanding What is not appreciated is that the Budget is not merely a statement of allotment of funds to various projects and programmes unlike other ministries but comprises a fairly detailed performance review physical and financial of the previous year and prospects for the current Budget year A separate post Budget discussion in Parliament on the Railways as indicated by the Finance Minister is no substitute as the focus most likely will be on allotments to various projects not on financial performance

Q4. Each year a specific aspect of water is highlighted while observing International World Water Day this year s theme was wastewater which is defined as any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influences and as a result of domestic industrial commercial and agricultural activities Most of our freshwater sources are under threat When public awareness of pollution is limited the cost of pollution to our health and the ecosystem is huge The victims are generally the poor or socially vulnerable communities and the end result is a high financial burden on the community and government

Q5. Nuclear arms are weapons of mass destruction and their existence represents the gravest threat to global security and stability in the post cold war context It may be just a question of time before terrorist groups and individuals lay their hands on them A The scale of their destructive potential and the perceived addition to military might and deterrent effect explain both the monopoly that nuclear weapons states insist on retaining and the ever growing quest for their acquisition by other states B It is clear too that it will be difficult for states to retain total control over nuclear material and weapons C But countries cannot do without them in a situation where the landscape is dotted with conflict zones