Explanation:

Correct matching:
– A. Dachingam (intended as Dachigam National Park) → Jammu & Kashmir (4): Near Srinagar, famous for the Hangul (Kashmir stag).
– B. Keoladeo → Rajasthan (2): Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur; renowned bird sanctuary.
– C. Kanha → Madhya Pradesh (1): In Mandla–Balaghat region; noted for barasingha conservation.
– D. Periyar → Kerala (3): Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, Western Ghats.

Hence, A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3 → Option 4.

Explanation:

All three listed are the recognized Financial Committees of the Indian Parliament: (1) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) examines the accounts and CAG reports to ensure legislative control over public expenditure; (2) Estimates Committee examines budget estimates and suggests economies and improvements; (3) Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) examines the reports and accounts of PSUs and evaluates their efficiency. Hence, all 1, 2, and 3 are Financial Committees.

Explanation:

Global water distribution clearly shows: Oceans (~96.5%) hold by far the largest share; Polar ice and glaciers (~1.7–2%) come next; Groundwater (~1.6–1.7% including saline and fresh) follows; Rivers are minuscule (~0.0001%). Hence the descending order is 1 (Oceans) > 3 (Polar ice & glaciers) > 4 (Groundwater) > 2 (Rivers).

Explanation:

• Mandi: A Late Harappan (Indus Valley) site in western Uttar Pradesh (Upper Ganga–Yamuna Doab); listed among Harappan presences in present-day UP.
• Rakhigarhi: Located in Hisar district, Haryana (the largest Harappan site in India), not in Uttar Pradesh.
• Hulas: A well-known Late Harappan site in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

Explanation:

A–3: Trivikram Bhatta wrote Nal Champu (Nalachampu), an early champu-kavya on Nala–Damayanti.
B–4: Somadeva authored Katha Sarit Sagar, the famous Sanskrit compendium of tales based on the lost Brihatkatha.
C–1: Jaidev (Jayadeva) composed Gita Govinda, the celebrated lyrical poem on Krishna and Radha.
D–2: Kshemendra wrote Brihatkathamanjari, a summary of the Brihatkatha.

Explanation:

Statement 1 — Correct: As per Article 243E of the Constitution (73rd Amendment), a Panchayat shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless sooner dissolved.

Statement 2 — Incorrect: Article 243D specifies reservations. Not less than one-third (33.33%) of the seats reserved for SCs/STs must be reserved for women of those categories, not one-fourth (25%). Additionally, at least one-third of the total seats are reserved for women overall.

Explanation:

Only Lalitpur shares its boundary with exactly one Uttar Pradesh district.
– Lalitpur: Lies as a southern projection of UP into Madhya Pradesh; within UP it touches only Jhansi. Hence it qualifies.
– Saharanpur: Borders two UP districts—Muzaffarnagar and Shamli—besides Haryana and Uttarakhand. So not “only one”.
– Sonbhadra: In the southeast, it borders two UP districts—Mirzapur and Chandauli—along with MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. So not “only one”.
Therefore, only statement 1 is correct; Option 4.

Explanation:

Chronology with years:
– Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) — 1978–79 (pilot), nationwide 1980–81 — earliest.
– National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) — launched in 1980.
– Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) — 1982–83 as a sub-scheme of IRDP.
– Jawahar Rojgar Yojana (JRY) — launched in 1989 by merging NREP and RLEGP — latest.

Thus, the correct chronological order is 3, 4, 2, 1.

Explanation:

Correct matching:
– A. Union Constitution Committee — Jawaharlal Nehru (he chaired this and the Union Powers Committee)
– B. Rules of Procedure Committee — Dr. Rajendra Prasad (as President of the Constituent Assembly)
– C. Drafting Committee — Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
– D. Fundamental Rights Sub-committee — J. B. Kripalani (a sub-committee under Sardar Patel’s Advisory Committee)

Thus, A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 → Option 3.

Explanation:

Only Nilanjana S. Roy is an Indian novelist-journalist on the five-member jury for the 2026 International Booker Prize.