DAE-Nurtured Olympiad Programme Powers India's Yuva Shakti at International Science and Mathematics Olympiads 2026

Statement 1 is correct: National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF) is indeed an autonomous body established under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India. Statement 2 is incorrect: NIF's focus is not on highly advanced scientific research but rather on recognizing and supporting grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge developed by individuals and communities. These innovations often come from outside the formal scientific establishment. So, NIF works on a different level than collaborating with advanced foreign institutions, although its work can complement scientific research efforts.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is a flagship initiative launched and implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, not the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Statement 2 is Correct: Matsya-6000 is an indigenous manned submersible vehicle developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). It is specifically designed to carry 3 people (aquanauts) in a titanium alloy sphere to a depth of 6,000 meters for deep-sea exploration, including the study of marine biodiversity and the mining of rare minerals like polymetallic nodules. Statement 3 is Correct: Samudrayaan is India's first manned deep-sea ocean mission and is a primary sub-project under the broader Deep Ocean Mission. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is set up under the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), which is the premier policy 'Think Tank' of the Government of India. The Atal Innovation Mission was launched by the Government of India in 2016 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. The key objectives of the Atal Innovation Mission are : 1. To create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. 2. To establish Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India to foster a culture of innovation from a young age. 3. To set up Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) to support entrepreneurs and startups. 4. To provide mentorship and funding support to innovative startups and entrepreneurs.

India is a key participant in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a global nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject. ITER is set to become the world's largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment, aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale, sustainable energy source. India's involvement in ITER provides technological expertise, research collaboration, and industrial capabilities, which can significantly contribute to its future efforts in developing nuclear fusion reactors for commercial power generation. By participating in this international project, India gains access to cutting-edge advancements in fusion technology, potentially paving the way for its own fusion-based energy infrastructure.
Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Relationship 1 is Correct: Statement I outlines the core objective of the Sagarmala Programme, launched in 2015, which is port-led economic development through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure. Statement II provides empirical evidence of its success, such as the 118% growth in coastal shipping, a 700% surge in inland waterway cargo movement, and improved global port rankings (with nine Indian ports now in the global top 100). Thus, the tangible achievements in Statement II directly validate the effectiveness of the foundational strategies mentioned in Statement I. Relationship 2 is Correct: Statement III highlights the goals of Sagarmala 2.0, which focuses on smart ports, green shipping, and positioning India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat visions. This acts as an evolutionary extension of the foundational infrastructure goals in Statement I, embedding them into a broader, future-oriented innovation framework rather than replacing them. Relationship 3 is Incorrect: Statement I does not contradict Statement III. The initial focus on traditional and sustainable coastal infrastructure in the original Sagarmala Programme serves as the necessary physical base upon which the modern innovation and technology-driven goals of Sagarmala 2.0 are built. The two phases are complementary and represent a progressive policy evolution, not a contradiction. Therefore, relationships 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the correct choice.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Hydrogen obtained from fossil fuels (primarily natural gas) through steam methane reforming, where the resulting carbon emissions are captured and stored using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, is known as Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen. Statement 2 is Correct: Green Hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis, using electricity generated entirely from renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind). It is a completely zero-emission process. Statement 3 is Correct: The National Green Hydrogen Mission launched by the Government of India has set quantified targets for 2030. It aims to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum. This will lead to the abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, alongside reducing fossil fuel imports and creating over 6 lakh jobs. Therefore, the correct option is B.

Statement 1 is Correct: The National Quantum Mission (NQM) aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50 to 1000 physical qubits within 8 years. Specifically, it targets 50–100 physical qubits in 5 years and scales up to 50–1000 physical qubits in 8 years using platforms like superconducting and photonic technology. Statement 2 is Correct: The implementation of the mission explicitly includes the establishment of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and national R&D institutes across India. These hubs focus on distinct technology verticals: Quantum Computing (led by IISc Bengaluru), Quantum Communication (led by IIT Madras), Quantum Sensing & Metrology (led by IIT Bombay), and Quantum Materials & Devices (led by IIT Delhi). Therefore, both statements are correct.

Statement 1 is Correct: A primary objective of the Bharat Forecast System (BFS) is to generate hyper-local, highly accurate weather forecasts down to the Panchayat cluster level (village and block level) to aid rural communities, agriculture, and disaster management. It operates on an ultra-fine 6 km x 6 km grid (upgraded from India's previous 12 km resolution models), making it the highest-resolution operational global weather model currently used by any national meteorological agency in the world. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Bharat Forecast System was indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, which is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It was not developed by IIT Delhi. The model is powered by advanced High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, specifically the new 'Arka' supercomputer at IITM Pune and 'Arunika' at NCMRWF Noida. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Option A is correctly matched: The Union Cabinet approved the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility by CG Power and Industrial Solutions (in partnership with Renesas Electronics and STARS Microelectronics) to be set up in Sanand, Gujarat. Option B is correctly matched: Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd. (TSAT) is establishing a greenfield semiconductor assembly and test facility in Jagiroad, Assam. It marks a major industrial investment in Northeast India. Option C is incorrectly matched: The OSAT facility by the HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture (India Chip Pvt. Ltd.) is being established in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh (in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority region), not Madhya Pradesh. It will manufacture display driver chips. Option D is correctly matched: SicSem Pvt. Ltd. is setting up a Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductor manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is designed to be India's first commercial compound semiconductor fab. Therefore, Option C is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was established in 2020 as an autonomous, single-window nodal agency under the Department of Space (DOS). Its primary mandate is to promote, authorize, and facilitate the participation of private entities in India's space sector, acting as a bridge between ISRO and private players. Statement 2 is Correct: In May 2024, the Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched the Agnibaan SOrTeD suborbital rocket from its private launchpad in Sriharikota. This historic mission marked the world’s first flight powered by a single-piece, fully 3D-printed rocket engine (a semi-cryogenic engine named Agnilet). Statement 3 is Incorrect: Skyroot Aerospace is a prominent private Indian startup that develops its own independent launch vehicles (the Vikram series) and engines. However, it does not develop fuel or engines for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The GSLV is an ISRO-owned heavy-lift rocket, and its liquid and cryogenic stages and fuels are developed entirely in-house by ISRO (e.g., via the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre). Therefore, the correct option is C.

The article states, 'At the heart of this success is the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE)... As the national nodal centre for India's Science and Mathematical Olympiad Programmes, HBCSE conducts a rigorous, multi-stage process...'

Statement 1 is correct: The article mentions 'including historic Golden Sweeps in Physics and Chemistry'. Statement 2 is correct: The article states, 'Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a National Centre of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), an aided institution under the Department of Atomic Energy.' Statement 3 is correct: The article notes, 'the Indian contingent won an impressive 12 Gold, 7 Silver, including historic Golden Sweeps in Physics and Chemistry, besides outstanding performances in Biology and Mathematics.'

The article explicitly states, 'reaffirming India's emergence as a global force in science and mathematics' and 'reaffirm the transformative impact of sustained investment in scientific education and talent nurture.' Options A, C, and D are not supported by the article's main message regarding the significance of the Olympiad success.