Explanation : 

Origins of Palm Oil

Contrary to popular belief, the palm oil tree is native to West Africa, not Southeast Asia. Despite this, countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have become the leading producers of palm oil globally.

Industrial Uses of Palm Oil

Palm oil’s versatility extends to various industries. It is a key ingredient in cosmetics, such as lipstick, and is also used in personal care products like soaps and detergents for its conditioning properties and texture consistency.

Palm Oil in Renewable Energy

The use of palm oil is not limited to consumer products; it also plays a significant role in the production of biodiesel, a renewable energy source that is gaining traction as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Explanation : 

Culturing Bacteria

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that can be grown on various nutrient agar plates or in broth cultures. The media can be tailored to support the growth of specific bacteria by providing the necessary nutrients, such as carbon sources, nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals. Some bacteria require more specialized media if they have particular growth requirements, but in general, many bacteria can be cultured in the laboratory using artificial media.

Fungi Cultivation

Fungi, which include yeasts and molds, can also be cultured on artificial media. These organisms may require different nutrients compared to bacteria, often needing a source of carbon and nitrogen, among other nutrients. Fungi can grow on solid media like agar plates or in liquid cultures.

Viruses and Culture Limitations

In contrast to bacteria and fungi, viruses are not living organisms in the traditional sense; they are obligate intracellular parasites. Viruses require a host cell to replicate and cannot carry out metabolic processes on their own. As such, they cannot be cultured on artificial or synthetic media alone. To culture viruses, researchers must use living cells, such as cell lines derived from animals or humans, that the virus can infect, providing the necessary machinery for viral replication.

Therefore, the correct answer is “1 and 2 only” because bacteria and fungi can be cultured in artificial/synthetic media, while viruses cannot and require living host cells for propagation.

Explanation : 

Moringa and Tamarind

The Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree. This statement is incorrect. Moringa oleifera, commonly known as the drumstick tree, is not a leguminous tree. It belongs to the family Moringaceae and is not evergreen in the strictest sense; it can be deciduous in dry conditions.

The Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia. This statement is incorrect. The tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) is not endemic to South Asia, although it is widely grown there. It is believed to have originated in Africa and is now found in many tropical regions around the world.

In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce. This statement is correct. In India, tamarind is often collected from the wild, from trees growing in forests or rural areas, and is considered a minor forest produce.

India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa. This statement is correct. India is one of the largest producers of tamarind and moringa, and it exports both the tamarind fruit and the seeds of the moringa tree.

Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels. This statement is correct. Seeds from both moringa and tamarind have been researched for their potential use in biofuel production. Moringa seeds contain oil that can be converted into biodiesel, and tamarind seeds contain polysaccharides that can be fermented to produce ethanol.

Given the analysis above, the correct statements are 3, 4, and 5. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is “3, 4, and 5“.

Explanation : 

Ocean Food Chains: Primary Producers

Primary producers are organisms that can produce their own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals. In the context of ocean food chains, primary producers typically refer to organisms that perform photosynthesis, converting sunlight into chemical energy, which then serves as the base for the ocean’s food web.

Examining Oceanic Organisms:-
Let’s examine the organisms listed:

1. Copepods

Copepods are small crustaceans found in the sea and nearly every freshwater habitat. They are not primary producers; instead, they are consumers that eat primary producers (like phytoplankton) or other small organisms.

2. Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria. They are indeed primary producers because they can produce their own food by photosynthesis, using sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds.

3. Diatoms

Diatoms are a major group of algae and are among the most common types of phytoplankton. They are also primary producers, as they can perform photosynthesis and produce energy that supports other organisms in the ocean food web.

4. Foraminifera

Foraminifera are a large group of amoeboid protists with reticulating pseudopods, fine strands of cytoplasm that branch and merge to form a dynamic net. They are not primary producers; they typically feed on diatoms, algae, bacteria, and other small particles in the water.

Given this information, the correct answer is “2 and 3” because both cyanobacteria and diatoms are primary producers in the food chains of oceans. They are capable of photosynthesis and form the base of the marine food web, providing energy and organic material for a wide variety of marine consumers.

Explanation : 

Natural Mosquito Repellents: Power of Lemongrass

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is commonly used in preparing natural mosquito repellents due to its high citronella content, which is a natural oil that repels mosquitoes. Citronella is often used in mosquito repellent sprays, candles, and oils, and it works by masking scents that are attractive to mosquitoes, thus making it harder for them to locate their targets.

Comparing Grasses: Lemongrass vs. Others

The other grasses listed do not have the same mosquito-repelling properties as lemongrass:

Congress grass, also known as Parthenium hysterophorus, is an invasive weed that can cause allergic reactions in humans and has no known insect-repelling properties.

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), also known as Napier grass, is a tall grass used for fodder and erosion control, not for repelling mosquitoes.

Nut grass, also known as Cyperus rotundus, is a weed that can be problematic in gardens and agricultural fields and does not have mosquito repellent properties.

Therefore, lemongrass is the correct answer as it is the one known for its use in natural mosquito repellent formulations.

Explanation : 

Survival of Organisms on Surfaces Without Soil

Lichens and mosses are organisms that are well-adapted to survive on surfaces without soil. These unique organisms have developed special adaptations that allow them to thrive in environments where traditional soil-dependent plants would not survive.

Lichen

Lichens are symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga or a cyanobacterium. They are incredibly resilient and can colonize harsh environments, including bare rock, tree bark, and other surfaces where soil is absent or minimal. Lichens can survive in extreme conditions due to their ability to withstand desiccation (drying out) and then rapidly rehydrate when moisture becomes available.

Moss

Mosses are non-vascular plants that can grow on a variety of substrates, including rocks, tree bark, and other surfaces where soil is not present. They do not have a traditional root system but instead have structures called rhizoids that help anchor them to the substrate. Mosses can absorb water and nutrients directly through their leaves, which allows them to inhabit environments without soil.

Comparison with Soil-Dependent Plants

In contrast to lichens and mosses, other plants such as ferns and mushrooms generally require soil or organic matter to thrive. Ferns, for instance, are typically soil-dependent and require a substrate rich in organic matter for growth. While some fern species can grow on rock surfaces or as epiphytes on other plants, they usually need some form of soil or organic matter accumulation. Mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies of fungi, also predominantly rely on organic material such as soil rich in decaying matter for growth.

Therefore, the correct answer is “2 and 3” because lichens and mosses are the organisms most likely to be found surviving on surfaces without soil.

Explanation : 

Burzahom – Rock-cut shrines

Burzahom is an archaeological site located in the Kashmir Valley of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its Neolithic and Megalithic phases and not for rock-cut shrines. Therefore, this pair is not correctly matched.

Chandraketugarh – Terracotta art

Chandraketugarh is an archaeological site located in the state of West Bengal, India. It is known for its rich collection of terracotta plaques and figurines that date back to the pre-Mauryan and Gupta periods. The terracotta art from Chandraketugarh is indeed famous for its intricate detailing and beauty. This pair is correctly matched.

Ganeshwar – Copper artefacts

Ganeshwar is a village in Rajasthan, India, known for its archaeological site dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The site has yielded a large number of copper artefacts, suggesting that it was a center for the production of copper items. This pair is also correctly matched.

Therefore, the pairs that are correctly matched are 2 and 3, making “2 and 3” the correct answer.

Explanation : 

Role of Detritivores in Ecosystems

Detritivores are organisms that feed on dead organic material, particularly plant detritus. They play a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient cycling by breaking down organic matter and returning nutrients to the soil or water column.

Examples of Detritivores

Earthworms are detritivores. They consume dead plant material and other organic matter, breaking it down as they move through the soil, which helps with decomposition and soil structure.

Jellyfish are not detritivores. They are typically carnivorous, feeding on small fish, zooplankton, and other marine organisms. They capture their prey using their tentacles.

Millipedes are detritivores. They feed on decaying leaves and other dead plant matter, contributing to the decomposition process.

Seahorses are not detritivores. They are carnivorous and feed primarily on small crustaceans like shrimp and other small marine organisms, which they suck in through their snouts.

Woodlice, also known as pill bugs or roly-polies, are detritivores. They feed on dead plant material and play a role in breaking down organic matter.

Given this information, the correct answer is “1, 3 and 5 only,” as earthworms, millipedes, and woodlice are detritivores, while jellyfish and seahorses are not.

Explanation : 

Filter Feeders: The Oyster Example

Filter feeders are organisms that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. Among the options provided, the oyster is the filter feeder.

Oysters are bivalve mollusks that live in marine or brackish habitats. They have specialized gills that work as a filtration system. Water is drawn over the gills through the beating of cilia, and particles in the water, including plankton and organic matter, are trapped in mucus on the gills. The mucus with the trapped food is then transported to the oyster’s mouth for consumption. This method of feeding allows oysters to process large volumes of water and extract the nutrients they need to survive.

Feeding Strategies of Other Aquatic Animals

The other options listed do not employ filter feeding as their primary method of feeding:

• Catfish are bottom-dwellers that use a variety of feeding strategies, including scavenging and predation. Some species may sift through sediment to find food, but they do not filter feed in the same way oysters do.
• Octopuses are predators that typically hunt live prey, such as crustaceans and small fish, using their arms and suckers to capture them.
• Pelicans are birds that feed primarily by scooping up fish in their large bill pouches while swimming at the surface or by plunge-diving.

Therefore, the correct answer is the oyster, as it is the only filter feeder among the options provided.

Explanation : 

Mitakshara and Dayabhaga Legal Systems

The correct answer to the question is indeed “2 only“. Let’s analyze each statement:

Statement 1: Caste-Based Distinction of Civil Laws

This statement is incorrect. The distinction between Mitakshara and Dayabhaga schools of Hindu law was not based on caste lines. Both were commentaries on the ancient Hindu law texts and were followed in different geographical regions of India, irrespective of caste. Mitakshara was followed throughout most of India, while Dayabhaga was prevalent in Bengal and Assam.

Statement 2: Rights to Property in Mitakshara and Dayabhaga Systems

This statement is correct. The Mitakshara school advocates for the concept of joint family and coparcenary property, where the male members acquire an interest in the property by birth. In contrast, under the Dayabhaga school, the right to property is not acquired by birth but only upon the death of the owner.

Statement 3: Gender and Property Rights in Mitakshara and Dayabhaga Systems

This statement is incorrect. While it is true that the Mitakshara system was more patriarchal and provided limited rights to women, it is not accurate to say that it dealt exclusively with property held by male members. Women did have certain rights, albeit limited. The Dayabhaga system did provide somewhat better rights for women, but it did not specifically deal with property held by both male and female members; rather, it was more liberal in allowing women to inherit property.

Therefore, the only correct statement is the second one, making the answer “2 only“. The Mitakshara and Dayabhaga schools are distinguished by their rules concerning the timing of when sons can claim rights to the property and not by caste or the gender of property holders.