14.08.2026

Statements:

1. E20 petrol contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, with ethanol blending intended to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and lower certain tailpipe emissions.
2. Vehicles manufactured before 2023 were generally designed for E5/E10, and ethanol's solvent and hygroscopic properties can affect certain older fuel-system components.

III. Unlike India, Brazil transitioned to higher ethanol blending levels along with vehicle modifications over a period spanning several decades.

Inferences:

1. Ethanol blending can contribute to India's energy-security objectives by partially substituting petroleum-based fuel requirements.
2. Since E20 can affect components of some older vehicles, all petrol vehicles in India are equally vulnerable to ethanol-related damage.
3. India's relatively rapid transition from the E10 milestone to E20 provides a shorter period for vehicle adaptation compared with Brazil's gradual transition.

Which of the following is/are correct?

Statement I: UPI transactions in India have expanded from a small-scale digital payment system in 2016 to billions of transactions annually, with UPI accounting for a dominant share of India’s digital payment volumes.

Statement II: The zero-MDR framework for UPI transactions was introduced to encourage wider adoption of digital payments by keeping transaction costs low for users and merchants.

Statement III: Despite rapid growth in transaction volumes, the UPI ecosystem faces concerns regarding the sustainability of its cost structure, as banks and other ecosystem participants continue to incur expenses in processing transactions.

Which one of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements?

1. The rapid expansion of UPI indicates that reducing transaction costs can significantly facilitate the adoption of digital payment systems.
2. The zero-MDR framework by itself ensures the long-term financial sustainability of all entities participating in the UPI ecosystem.
3. The increasing scale of UPI transactions implies that future policy attention may need to address both wider adoption and the financial sustainability of the payment ecosystem.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. The Namib Desert lies along Namibia’s Atlantic coast.
2. The Brandberg (Mount Brand) is Namibia’s highest mountain and is located along the western escarpment of the Central Plateau.
3. The Zambezi River forms part of Namibia’s northern boundary and separates Namibia from Zimbabwe along a short stretch.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?