1. With reference to the ‘Booker Prize’, consider the following statements:

1. The Booker Prize was founded in 1969, initially just for writers from the Commonwealth, but later opened to writers globally.
2. Each year, the prize is awarded to a single work of fiction in English, French or Spanish.
3. Indian author ‘Geetanjali Shree’ won the 2023 Booker Prize for his novel 'Tomb of Sand'.
4. Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel have won the International Booker Prize 2023 for the novel ‘Time Shelter’.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• Only one
• Only two
• Only three
• All Four

2. Which one of the following best describes the 'Antares' recently seen in the news?

• A flowering plants that belong to the genus Taraxacum
• A small freshwater fish commonly kept as pets
• The brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius which is bigger than the sun
• A nuclear submarine recently inducted by Russia amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict

3. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Ajrakh’ from Kutch which recently got GI tag status:

1. The Ajrakh fabric is a traditional hand-block printing technique that originated in Kutch, Gujarat.
2. It uses natural dyes and intricate patterns to create beautiful textiles, which are then used to make sarees, dupattas, stoles, and other garments.
3. The unique feature of Ajrakh is its use of geometric patterns and rich earthy colours like indigo, madder, and mustard.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• 3 Only
• 1 and 3 Only
• 2 and 3 Only
• 1, 2 and 3

4. The Red Colobus (Piliocolobus) Conservation Action Plan, which prioritises safeguarding red colobus to protect Africa's forests and curb unsustainable hunting for wild meat, is an initiative of:

• Wildlife Conservation Society
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
• Fauna and Flora International

5. Consider the following statements regarding the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) System:

1. It is a canister-based, long-range anti-submarine missile system.
2. It has been developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Navy.
3. SMART uses a two-way data link connected to airborne or ship-based submarine detection and identification systems.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• Only one
• Only two
• All three
• None of the above