Explanation : 

Buddhist and Jaina Texts

Nettipakarana is a Buddhist text, specifically part of the Theravada Buddhist canon within the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka. It is not associated with Jainism.

Conversely, Parishishtaparvan is indeed a Jaina text. Authored by the 12th-century scholar Hemachandra, it reflects the rich tradition of Jain literature.

Avadanashataka, known for its collection of “Hundred Legends,” forms a part of the Sanskrit Buddhist literature and is not a Jain work.

Lastly, Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana (or Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Charitra) is a significant Jain text by Acharya Hemachandra, detailing the lives of 63 eminent figures in Jainism.

In conclusion, “2 and 4 only” correctly identifies the Parishishtaparvan and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana as Jaina texts, while the Nettipakarana and Avadanashataka are not.

Explanation : 

Levant Region UPSC

The term “Levant” refers to a historical and geographical region that encompasses the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This area includes the modern-day countries of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, and sometimes it extends to parts of Cyprus and Turkey. The Levant has been a crossroads of various civilizations, cultures, and religions throughout history, which is reflected in its rich cultural and historical heritage.

Origin and Meaning of the Term

The term itself comes from the French word “levant,” meaning “rising,” as in the direction of the rising sun, indicating the east. It was used historically to describe the lands to the east of the Mediterranean Sea.

Other Regions and their Distinctions

The other regions mentioned do not correspond to the Levant:

• The North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco are known as the Maghreb.
• The region along the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa are separate geographical areas that do not fall under the traditional definition of the Levant.
• The entire coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea include many different regions and countries, extending far beyond the Levant.

Therefore, the correct answer is indeed the region along the eastern Mediterranean shores.

Explanation : 

Capital Expenditure

Acquiring new technology is capital expenditure. This statement is correct. Capital expenditure (CapEx) refers to the funds used by a company to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, industrial buildings, or equipment. This can also include investment in technology such as new software or hardware that is expected to improve the company’s productivity or capacity over the long term. These types of expenses are capitalized, meaning the cost is spread out over the useful life of the asset rather than being fully expensed in the year they were incurred.

Difference Between Capital and Revenue Expenditure

Debt financing is considered capital expenditure, while equity financing is considered revenue expenditure. This statement is incorrect. Debt financing and equity financing are not categorized as expenditures but as forms of raising capital for the company. Debt financing involves borrowing funds that will need to be repaid over time with interest, while equity financing involves selling shares of the company’s stock to raise funds.

Debt Financing Explained

Debt financing does not constitute an expenditure but rather a liability that the company takes on. The interest payments made on the debt can be considered an operating expense, but the principal amount borrowed is not an expenditure; it’s a form of financing.

Equity Financing Explained

Equity financing is not an expenditure either. It is a transaction where the company is exchanging ownership (equity) for capital. It does not appear on the income statement like revenue or expenses do. Instead, it is recorded in the equity section of the balance sheet.

Therefore, the first statement is correct in identifying the acquisition of new technology as capital expenditure, while the second statement is incorrect in categorizing debt and equity financing as capital and revenue expenditures, respectively.

Explanation : 

Somnath Temple: A Revered Jyotirlinga Shrine

The Somnath Temple is indeed one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines which are highly revered in Hinduism. These shrines are considered to be the most sacred abodes of Shiva. Each of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity, each considered a different manifestation of Shiva. Somnath is located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India.

Al-Biruni’s Account of Somnath

The second statement is also correct. The Arab traveler Al-Biruni visited India in the 11th century and described the Somnath Temple in his memoirs. His account provides valuable information about the history of the temple and its significance at that time.

Pran Pratistha of Somnath Temple

However, the third statement is incorrect. The Pran Pratistha (consecration) of the present-day Somnath Temple was not done by President S. Radhakrishnan. The temple was reconstructed several times in the past after being destroyed by various invaders. The final reconstruction of the temple in its current form was completed in December 1951, and the Pran Pratistha was performed by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, not S. Radhakrishnan.

Therefore, the correct answer is “1 and 2 only”.

Explanation : 

Acid Rain and Its Primary Causes

Acid rain is a term that refers to a mixture of wet and dry deposition from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The primary causes of acid rain are emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Key Pollutants Involved in Acid Rain

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas, but it does not contribute to acid rain. It is primarily a concern because it can be harmful to human health, particularly in enclosed spaces.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO), are significant contributors to acid rain. They react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form nitric acid, which can then fall to the ground in precipitation, contributing to the acidification of ecosystems.

Ozone (O3) is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. It is not a direct contributor to acid rain. Ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant and a key component of smog, but it does not form acidic compounds that lead to acid rain.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas that is produced by volcanic eruptions and industrial processes, particularly the combustion of coal and oil at power plants and the smelting of mineral ores that contain sulfur. In the atmosphere, SO2 can oxidize to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which is a major component of acid rain.

Therefore, the correct answer is “2 and 4 only” because nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide are the pollutants that contribute to acid rain, while carbon monoxide and ozone do not.

Explanation : 

DNA Barcoding

DNA barcoding is a method of species identification using a short section of DNA from a specific gene or genes. The concept is based on the fact that there is enough variation in the DNA sequences between different species to allow for identification, much like how a barcode identifies different products in a store.

Does DNA Barcoding Assess the Age of Organisms?

DNA barcoding does not provide information about the age of a plant or animal. The age of an organism is not encoded in the DNA sequences used for barcoding. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

Identification of Cryptic Species

DNA barcoding is particularly useful for distinguishing between species that look very similar to one another, also known as cryptic species. Morphological identification can be challenging or even impossible in some cases, but DNA barcoding allows for precise identification based on genetic differences. Therefore, this statement is correct.

Detecting Food Fraud and Allergens

DNA barcoding can be used to identify components of processed foods, ensuring that the ingredients are correctly labeled and that no undesirable or mislabeled animal or plant materials are present. This application is particularly important for detecting food fraud, allergens, or the presence of species that are not supposed to be in the food product. Therefore, this statement is correct.

Explanation : 

Explanation : 

B Cells in the Adaptive Immune System

B cells, or B lymphocytes, are white blood cells that play a key role in the humoral immune response. They are responsible for producing antibodies, which are specific proteins that bind to antigens on the surface of pathogens or infected cells. When B cells encounter an antigen that matches their specific antibody, they can differentiate into plasma cells that secrete large quantities of antibodies into the bloodstream. These antibodies neutralize pathogens by blocking their ability to infect cells, tagging them for destruction by other immune cells, or activating the complement system to destroy the pathogen.

T Cells in the Adaptive Immune System

T cells, or T lymphocytes, are another type of white blood cell that is essential for the adaptive immune response. There are several types of T cells, including helper T cells (CD4+ T cells) and cytotoxic T cells (CD8+ T cells).

Helper T Cells

Helper T cells assist in activating and directing other immune cells, including B cells and cytotoxic T cells. They release cytokines that help orchestrate the immune response.

Cytotoxic T Cells

Cytotoxic T cells directly kill infected cells by recognizing small fragments of antigens (peptides) presented on the surface of these cells by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.

Regulatory T Cells

Another subset of T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), help maintain immune tolerance and prevent autoimmune responses by suppressing the activity of other immune cells.

Explanation : 

Ramanuja: A Pioneering Theologian and Philosopher

Ramanuja was an influential theologian, philosopher, and one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. His philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the Bhakti movement.

Ramanuja’s Teachings and Devotion to Vishnu

Ramanuja’s teachings focused on the importance of personal devotion to Vishnu as the supreme God and the use of the Lord’s grace in achieving salvation. He advocated for surrender to God (prapatti) and devotion (bhakti) as the best means to attain moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is:
a) The best means of salvation was devotion.

Explanation : 

Vasishta Yoga Samhita (Sanskrit: योगवासिष्ठम्, IAST: yoga-vāsiṣṭham; also known as Maha-Ramayana, Arsha Ramayana, Vasiṣṭha Ramayana, Yogavasistha-Ramayana and Jnanavasistha.) is a historically popular and influential syncretic philosophical text of Hinduism, dated to the 1st-3rd century BCE. It is attributed to Maharishi Valmiki, but the real author is unknown. The complete text contains over 29,000 verses. The short version of the text is called Laghu yogavāsiṣṭham and contains 6,000 verses.

During the Mughal Dynasty the text was translated into Persian several times, as ordered by Akbar, Jahangir and Darah Shikuh. One of these translations was undertaken by Nizam al-Din Panipati in the late sixteenth century AD. This translation, known as the Jug-Basisht, which has since become popular in Persia among intellectuals interested in Indo-Persian culture. The Safavid-era mystic Mir Findiriski (d. 1641) commented on selected passages of Jug-Basisht.

Source – Yoga Vasistha – Wikipedia