Explanation:

Statement 1: Correct. Sahitya Akademi announced the Yuva Puraskar 2025 in June across 23 languages (one fewer than the usual 24), as one language category was left vacant.

Statement 2: Correct. The Dogri category had no Yuva Puraskar declared this year, which is why the total count stood at 23.

Explanation:

Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A. Poverty lines are built around a basic-needs consumption basket priced at local costs. What counts as basic and the minimum acceptable standard for food, housing, clothing, energy, transport, and social inclusion varies across regions and evolves over time; therefore countries adopt different baskets and periodically revise them, so the poverty line differs across countries and over time. 

Explanation:

Rajya Sabha seat allocation to States is fixed by the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. The current allocations are:
– Maharashtra: 19
– Karnataka: 12
– Bihar: 16
– Tamil Nadu: 18

Mapping to List-II numbers (1=16, 2=18, 3=19, 4=12):
– A (Maharashtra) → 19 → 3
– B (Karnataka) → 12 → 4
– C (Bihar) → 16 → 1
– D (Tamil Nadu) → 18 → 2
Thus, A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2, which is Option 4.

Explanation:

Mapping each mission to its launch date:
– A. Chandrayaan-3 — launched on 14 July 2023 (LVM3-M4) → 3
– B. Aditya-L1 — launched on 02 September 2023 (PSLV-C57) → 1
– C. INSAT-3DS — launched on 17 February 2024 (GSLV-F14) → 2
– D. RLV-LEX-01 — autonomous landing experiment conducted on 02 April 2023 at ATR, Chitradurga → 4
Thus, A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4, which corresponds to Option 2.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Silver articles tarnish and appear black when exposed to air over time.

Statement 2 is correct: The black tarnish is a thin film of silver sulphide (Ag2S) formed when silver reacts with trace sulfur-containing gases in air, especially hydrogen sulphide (H2S). This is the primary cause of blackening; silver oxide is not the main tarnish under normal conditions.
Therefore, both statements are correct.

Explanation:

The accepted dimensions of food security are: Availability, Access/Accessibility, Utilization, and Stability (FAO framework). In NCERT texts, the three emphasized dimensions are Availability, Accessibility, and Affordability. “Accountability” is not a recognized dimension of food security.

– Availability: Ensuring sufficient food supply through production, stocks, and imports — a core dimension.
– Accessibility: Physical and economic access to food via markets, distribution, etc. — a core dimension.
– Affordability: The ability to purchase food at reasonable prices; treated as part of access or as a distinct dimension in NCERT — accepted dimension.
– Accountability: A governance principle, not a food security dimension.

Explanation:

Mapping each refinery to its state:
– A. Nayara — Vadinar (Jamnagar district), Gujarat → 2
– B. Manali — CPCL Manali refinery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu → 4
– C. Numaligarh — NRL, Golaghat district, Assam → 1
– D. Tatipaka — ONGC Tatipaka refinery, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh → 3
Thus the correct sequence is A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3 → Option 2.

Explanation:

Assertion (A) is true: Investment in human capital (education, training, health, nutrition) yields returns in the future through higher productivity, better employment prospects, and higher lifetime earnings; these benefits materialize over time, hence the future orientation.

Reason (R) is also true: Education enhances skills and knowledge, and health reduces morbidity and absenteeism—both directly increase worker productivity. R correctly explains A because the mechanism by which human capital investments yield future returns is the productivity gain that translates into higher wages and output.

Explanation:

Correct matching:
– A–2: Kabir is traditionally held to be a disciple of Swami Ramananda, a leading Vaishnava Bhakti saint of Banaras.
– B–3: Amir Khusrau was the foremost murid (disciple) of the Chishti Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya.
– C–4: Surdas, the Krishna-bhakti poet, is associated with the Pushtimarg of Vallabhacharya (often cited as his disciple in standard references).
– D–1: Bhai Mardana was the close companion and disciple of Guru Nanak Dev, accompanying him on his udasis.

Hence, the correct code is A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1 (Option 3).

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 312, if the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) declares by a resolution that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest, Parliament may by law create one or more All India Services.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The required majority is two-thirds of the members present and voting, not two-thirds of the total membership of the House.

Therefore, only Statement 1 is correct.