GS Paper I of the 2016 Preliminary examination, held on 7 August 2016. 100 questions · 200 marks · one-third negative marking. The questions broke down as Economy 33, Environment & Ecology 22, History 16, General Science 9, Current Events 9, Polity & Governance 6, Geography 5.
The answer under each question is UPSC's official key. The note beside it is the first line of our explanation; the full reasoning, option by option, is one click away.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation. 2. A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — Prorogation ends a session but does not affect pending bills; only dissolution of the Lok Sabha causes bills to lapse (Article 107) — so statement 1 is wrong.
Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? 1. Undernourishment 2. Child stunting 3. Child mortality Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The Global Hunger Index, then published by IFPRI with Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide, combines four indicators: undernourishment (share of population with insufficient calories), child wasting, child stunting and under-five mortality.
There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which action/actions of the following can be taken by the Government to reduce the deficit? 1. Reducing revenue expenditure 2. Introducing new welfare schemes 3. Rationalizing subsidies 4. Reducing import duty Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — A budget deficit is cut by lowering expenditure or raising revenue. Reducing revenue expenditure (1) — salaries, interest, subsidies — and rationalising subsidies (3) directly lower spending.
The establishment of ‘Payment Banks’ is being allowed in India to promote financial inclusion. Which of the following statements is/are correct in this context? 1. Mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains that are owned and controlled, by residents are eligible to be promoters of Payment Banks. 2. Payment Banks can issue both credit cards and debit cards. 3. Payment Banks cannot undertake lending activities. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — RBI's 2014 guidelines allow non-bank PPI issuers, telecom companies, supermarket chains, corporates and cooperatives owned and controlled by residents to promote Payment Banks (statement 1) — Airtel, Paytm and India Post received licences.
With reference to ‘LiFi’, recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission. 2. It is a wireless technology and is several times faster than ‘WiFi’. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) transmits data by modulating visible light from LEDs at speeds imperceptible to the eye (statement 1). It is wireless, and laboratory tests have reached over 200 Gbps — many times faster than Wi-Fi — though it needs line of sight and cannot pass through walls (statement 2).
The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
UPSC's answer: (b) — Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) were the climate action plans each country submitted ahead of the Paris Agreement (COP21, 2015), setting out emission targets and adaptation measures — option (b).
Which one of the following is a purpose of ‘UDAY’, a scheme of the Government?
UPSC's answer: (d) — UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana, 2015) aimed at the financial turnaround of State power distribution companies: States took over 75% of DISCOM debt as bonds, and DISCOMs committed to cut losses and align tariffs with costs — option (d).
With reference to ‘IFC Masala Bonds’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the statements given below is/are correct? 1. The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank. 2. They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group's private-sector arm (statement 1), issued the first 'Masala Bonds' in 2014–15 on the London Stock Exchange.
Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements : 1. The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land. 2. Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (c) — Under Krishnadevaraya (1509–29) land revenue, the main source of income, was assessed according to the fertility and irrigation of the land, with rates ranging from one-sixth to one-fourth of produce (statement 1).
Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
UPSC's answer: (b) — Kalidasa's play Malavikagnimitra tells the love story of Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Shunga (founder of the Shunga dynasty, c. 185 BCE), and Malavika, a maid in his queen's household — option (b).
In the context of which of the following do you sometimes find the terms ‘amber box, blue box and green box’ in the news?
UPSC's answer: (a) — The WTO Agreement on Agriculture classifies domestic farm subsidies into 'boxes': amber box (trade-distorting support like MSP and input subsidies, capped at 10% of production value for developing countries), blue box (production-limiting payments) and green box (minimally distorting support such…
Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India? 1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machinery, etc. 2. Loans received from foreign governments 3. Loans and advances granted to the States and Union Territories Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — The capital budget covers capital receipts and capital expenditure — transactions that create or reduce assets and liabilities. Capital expenditure includes acquisition of assets such as roads, buildings and machinery (1) and loans and advances given to States and UTs (3).
What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’? 1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships. 2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions. 3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The UNCCD (1994), one of the three Rio Conventions, is the only legally binding framework linking environment, development and sustainable land management.
Recently, which one of the following currencies has been proposed to be added to the basket of IMF's SDR?
UPSC's answer: (d) — In November 2015 the IMF decided to add the Chinese renminbi (yuan) to the Special Drawing Rights basket, effective October 2016, alongside the US dollar, euro, yen and pound sterling — option (d). The renminbi was judged 'freely usable' and given a 10.9% weight, the third-largest.
With reference to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), consider the following statements : 1. IMFC discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy, and advises the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the direction of its work. 2. The World Bank participates as observer in IMFC's meetings. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (c) — The IMFC, a 24-member committee of the IMF Board of Governors meeting twice a year, discusses developments affecting the global economy and advises the IMF on the direction of its work (statement 1). Observers at its meetings include the World Bank, WTO, BIS, OECD, FSB and the UN (statement 2).
‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to
UPSC's answer: (c) — Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan is a national campaign led by the NGO Jan Sahas for the eradication of manual scavenging and the dignified rehabilitation of manual scavengers, mostly Dalit women — option (c).
With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements : 1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. 2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (c) — The Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil Nadu, such as Sivavakkiyar, were mystic poets who preached a formless one God, attacked idol worship, ritual and caste (statement 1).
Which of the following best describes the term ‘import cover’, sometimes seen in the news?
UPSC's answer: (d) — Import cover measures how many months of imports a country's foreign exchange reserves can pay for; it is a standard gauge of external-sector resilience — option (d). India's reserves covered about 10–12 months of imports in recent years, against a rule-of-thumb minimum of three.
Consider the following pairs : Community sometimes mentioned in the news : In the affairs of 1. Kurd : Bangladesh 2. Madhesi : Nepal 3. Rohingya : Myanmar Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
UPSC's answer: (c) — Pair 2 is correct: the Madhesis of Nepal's Terai plains protested the 2015 constitution over representation and citizenship, leading to a border blockade. Pair 3 is correct: the Rohingya, a Muslim minority of Myanmar's Rakhine State, were denied citizenship and driven out in 2017.
With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’, consider the following statements : 1. It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO. 2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging. 3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (b) — The OPCW, based in The Hague, implements the Chemical Weapons Convention (1997) with 193 member States; it is an independent international organisation, not an EU body — statement 1 is wrong.
With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements : 1. Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year. 2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (b) — Under PMFBY (2016) farmers pay a premium of 2% of sum insured for kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5% for rabi crops and 5% for annual commercial/horticultural crops — not a uniform 2%, so statement 1 is wrong.
In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Great Indian Hornbill, a large fruit-eating bird with a yellow casque, lives in tall evergreen and moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats and the north-eastern hills — option (d). It is the State bird of Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh and depends on large old trees for nesting.
Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’? 1. River basin is the unit of planning and management. 2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level. 3. One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (a) — The NGRBA (2009), set up under the Environment (Protection) Act, adopted the river basin as the unit of planning and management (statement 1) and spearheaded Ganga conservation at the national level (statement 2).
Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?
UPSC's answer: (b) — Neem oil contains compounds that inhibit nitrifying bacteria, so a neem coating slows the conversion and dissolution of urea in the soil, releasing nitrogen gradually — option (b).
Consider the following statements : 1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State. 2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Chief Secretary, head of the State civil service, is appointed by the Chief Minister (formally by the State Government), not the Governor — statement 1 is wrong.
With reference to ‘Stand Up India Scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. 2. It provides for refinance through SIDBI. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — Stand Up India (2016) requires each bank branch to lend between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least one SC/ST borrower and one woman borrower for setting up a greenfield enterprise (statement 1).
The FAO accords the status of ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)’ to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative? 1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity 2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities 3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — FAO's GIAHS programme (2002) identifies and safeguards remarkable traditional agricultural systems — their landscapes, agrobiodiversity, indigenous knowledge and cultures — and supports their dynamic conservation (statement 2).
Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra? 1. Dibang 2. Kameng 3. Lohit Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Brahmaputra enters India as the Siang/Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh and is joined near Sadiya by the Dibang (1) and the Lohit (3) to form the Brahmaputra proper. The Kameng (2), called Jia Bharali in Assam, rises in Tawang district and joins the Brahmaputra near Tezpur.
The term ‘Core Banking Solutions’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following statements best describes/describe this term? 1. It is a networking of a bank's branches which enables customers to operate their accounts from any branch of the bank on its network regardless of where they open their accounts. 2. It is an effort to increase RBI's control over commercial banks through computerization. 3. It is a detailed procedure by which a bank with huge non-performing assets is taken over by another bank. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (a) — Core Banking Solutions (CBS) is the centralised software and networking that links all branches of a bank so customers can transact from any branch ('anywhere banking'), and enables ATMs, internet and mobile banking (statement 1).
Consider the following pairs : Terms sometimes seen in the news : Their origin 1. Annex–I Countries : Cartagena Protocol 2. Certified Emissions Reductions : Nagoya Protocol 3. Clean Development Mechanism : Kyoto Protocol Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
UPSC's answer: (c) — Pair 3 is correct: the Clean Development Mechanism, letting developed countries earn credits by funding emission-reduction projects in developing countries, was created by the Kyoto Protocol (1997).
In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to
UPSC's answer: (b) — The transcriptome is the complete set of RNA transcripts — chiefly messenger RNA — produced by the genome of a cell or organism at a given time; it shows which genes are switched on and how strongly — option (b).
‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to
UPSC's answer: (a) — Mission Indradhanush (December 2014) of the Health Ministry aims to fully immunise all children under two and pregnant women against vaccine-preventable diseases, targeting districts with low coverage — option (a).
Which of the following best describes/describe the aim of ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India? 1. Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the ‘green accounting’ 2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future 3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The Green India Mission, one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, aims to increase forest/tree cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of another 5 million hectares, enhancing carbon sinks and ecosystem services while building adaptation and mitigation…
With reference to pre-packaged items in India, it is mandatory to the manufacturer to put which of the following information on the main label, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011? 1. List of ingredients including additives 2. Nutrition information 3. Recommendations, if any, made by the medical profession about the possibility of any allergic reactions 4. Vegetarian/non-vegetarian Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 require every pre-packaged food to show the name of food, list of ingredients including additives (1), nutritional information per 100 g/ml (2), the vegetarian/non-vegetarian logo (4), net quantity, lot number, date of manufacture, best-before…
‘Project Loon’, sometimes seen in the news, is related to
UPSC's answer: (b) — Project Loon was Google's (later Alphabet's) venture to beam internet to remote areas from high-altitude balloons floating in the stratosphere at about 20 km, acting as floating cell towers — a wireless communication technology, option (b).
‘Net metering’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the
UPSC's answer: (a) — Net metering lets a consumer with a rooftop solar system feed surplus electricity into the grid; the meter runs backwards and the consumer is billed only for net consumption — option (a). It is the main incentive for rooftop solar under the National Solar Mission and State regulations.
India's ranking in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?
UPSC's answer: (c) — The Ease of Doing Business ranking came from the World Bank's annual Doing Business report (2003–2020), scoring 190 economies on ten regulatory indicators — option (c). India rose from 142nd (2014) to 63rd (2020) before the report was discontinued in 2021 over data irregularities.
Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Banjaras were nomadic traders who moved grain, salt and other goods on huge caravans of pack-oxen (tandas) across medieval India, supplying towns and armies — option (d). Jahangir noted their role; Mughal and Maratha armies depended on them for grain in campaigns.
Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
UPSC's answer: (b) — James Prinsep, an officer of the Calcutta Mint and secretary of the Asiatic Society, deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837 and read Ashoka's edicts, identifying 'Devanampiya Piyadasi' with Ashoka — option (b).
With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases. 2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 creates village-level courts presided over by a Nyayadhikari (first-class judicial magistrate) to provide cheap, speedy justice. Statement 1 is wrong: Gram Nyayalayas try both criminal cases (listed in the First Schedule) and civil suits (Second Schedule).
With reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements : 1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia. 2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Trans-Pacific Partnership (signed 2016) was a free-trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries — the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Chile, Peru and New Zealand. Statement 1 is wrong: many Pacific Rim countries besides China and Russia (e.g.
Consider the following statements : The India-Africa Summit 1. held in 2015 was the third such Summit 2. was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (a) — The India–Africa Forum Summit was first held in New Delhi in 2008, then Addis Ababa in 2011, and the third — attended by all 54 African countries — in New Delhi in October 2015 (statement 1).
What is/are the purpose/purposes of the ‘Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)’ announced by RBI? 1. These guidelines help improve the transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining the interest rates on advances. 2. These guidelines help ensure availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as well as the banks. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The RBI introduced MCLR in April 2016, replacing the base-rate system, to link lending rates to banks' marginal cost of funds, operating costs, CRR cost and a tenor premium.
What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India? 1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater. 2. It survives by grazing on mangroves. 3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (a) — The Kharai camel of Kachchh, Gujarat, is a unique breed that swims up to 3 km in the sea to reach mangrove islands (statement 1) and feeds on mangroves and saline vegetation (statement 2).
Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
UPSC's answer: (a) — In 2015 Botanical Survey of India scientists described Musa indandamanensis, a new wild banana species about 11 m tall with orange-pulped fruit, from the Little Andaman island of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands — option (a).
Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
UPSC's answer: (c) — INS Astradharini, commissioned in October 2015 at Visakhapatnam, is an indigenously designed torpedo launch and recovery vessel used by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (DRDO) to test underwater weapons — option (c).
What is ‘Greased Lightning–10 (GL–10)’, recently in the news?
UPSC's answer: (a) — Greased Lightning GL-10 was a battery-powered, ten-engine, tilt-wing prototype drone built and flight-tested by NASA's Langley Research Center in 2014–15; it takes off vertically like a helicopter and flies like a plane — option (a).
With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with cluster approach. 2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme. 3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and microirrigation equipment. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — INSIMP (2011–12), launched under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, promoted millets through demonstrations of improved production and post-harvest technologies and value addition in an integrated, cluster-based manner (statement 1).
The ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the
UPSC's answer: (a) — Swadeshi (use of Indian goods) and boycott (of British goods, schools and institutions) were first adopted as methods of political struggle in the agitation against the Partition of Bengal, formally proclaimed at the Calcutta Town Hall meeting of 7 August 1905 — option (a).
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. 2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. 3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (b) — A Bodhisattva is a compassionate being on the path to Buddhahood (statement 2) who, in Mahayana teaching, postpones his own nirvana to help all sentient beings reach liberation (statement 3).
‘Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)’, often in the news, is
UPSC's answer: (b) — Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in Paris in 1971 by doctors and journalists, is an independent international medical humanitarian NGO that delivers emergency care in conflicts, epidemics and disasters — option (b).
With reference to an initiative called ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum. 2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity. 3. It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — TEEB (2007) is a global initiative hosted by UNEP, launched by the G8+5 and the European Commission, that draws attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity and the costs of its loss (statement 2).
With reference to ‘Red Sanders’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India. 2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (a) — Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a tree endemic to the Seshachalam hills of southern Andhra Pradesh (statement 1), prized for its red heartwood and heavily smuggled to China and Japan.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to 1. protection of biodiversity 2. resilience of forest ecosystems 3. poverty reduction Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of carbon stocks) pays developing countries to keep forests standing.
What is ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol’?
UPSC's answer: (a) — The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (1998–2001), is the most widely used international accounting standard for measuring and managing greenhouse-gas emissions by companies, cities and governments…
With reference to ‘Financial Stability and Development Council’, consider the following statements : 1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog. 2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister. 3. It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (c) — The FSDC (2010) was set up by executive order on the Raghuram Rajan committee's recommendation; it is chaired by the Union Finance Minister (statement 2) with the heads of RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA and finance secretaries as members.
With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development. 2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (a) — Agenda 21 is a comprehensive, non-binding global action plan for sustainable development covering social, economic and environmental dimensions (statement 1).
Satya Shodhak Samaj organized
UPSC's answer: (c) — The Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seekers' Society) was founded by Jyotiba Phule in Pune in 1873 to fight Brahmanical dominance, caste oppression and untouchability, and to promote education of women and lower castes — an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra, option (c).
Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect 1. bacteria 2. fungi 3. plants Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — Viruses are obligate parasites that infect every form of cellular life. Bacteriophages infect bacteria (1) and are used in phage therapy; mycoviruses infect fungi (2); plant viruses such as tobacco mosaic virus and tomato leaf curl infect plants (3), spread by insects like whiteflies.
The term ‘Base Erosion and Profit Shifting’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
UPSC's answer: (b) — Base Erosion and Profit Shifting refers to tax-planning strategies by multinational companies that exploit gaps between countries' tax rules to shift profits to low- or no-tax jurisdictions, eroding the tax base of countries where the economic activity occurs.
Recently, India's first ‘National Investment and Manufacturing Zone’ was proposed to be set up in
UPSC's answer: (a) — National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) were conceived under the National Manufacturing Policy, 2011 as large integrated industrial townships with world-class infrastructure.
What is/are the purpose/purposes of ‘District Mineral Foundations’ in India? 1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts 2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations 3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licences for mineral exploration Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — District Mineral Foundations were created by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 (Section 9B) in every mining district as non-profit trusts funded by a share of royalty (10–30%).
‘SWAYAM’, an initiative of the Government of India, aims at
UPSC's answer: (d) — SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds), launched by the Ministry of Education in 2017, is India's MOOC platform offering free online courses from Class 9 to post-graduation, with low-cost certification — option (d).
The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Montagu–Chelmsford Report (1918), by Secretary of State Edwin Montagu and Viceroy Lord Chelmsford, proposed constitutional reforms — dyarchy in the provinces, a bicameral central legislature and expanded franchise — enacted as the Government of India Act, 1919 — option (d).
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? 1. Both were built in the same period. 2. Both belong to the same religious denomination. 3. Both have rock-cut monuments. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — Both Ajanta (Maharashtra) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) have rock-cut monuments — Ajanta's Buddhist caves and Mahabalipuram's Pallava rathas, mandapas and reliefs (statement 3).
With reference to ‘Bitcoins’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries. 2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address. 3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — Bitcoin is a decentralised cryptocurrency running on a public blockchain maintained by a peer-to-peer network, with no central bank or authority tracking or controlling it — statement 1 is wrong.
Consider the following statements : 1. New Development Bank has been set up by APEC. 2. The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (b) — The New Development Bank was established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) under the Fortaleza Declaration of 2014, with USD 50 billion initial capital — not by APEC, so statement 1 is wrong. Statement 2 is correct: its headquarters is in Shanghai, China; K.V.
‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel under Madhav Gadgil (2011) recommended declaring the entire Western Ghats an Ecologically Sensitive Area with graded zones; the Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group (2013) diluted this to about 37% of the area — both concern protection of the Western Ghats…
Consider the following : 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation 3. Indian Reform Association Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
UPSC's answer: (b) — Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Indian Reform Association (1870) for social reform, women's education and temperance (3), and in 1881 the Nava Vidhan or 'Church of the New Dispensation' (2), blending Hindu, Christian and other faiths.
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
UPSC's answer: (a) — The Gulf Cooperation Council (1981) has six Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Iran, a Persian (non-Arab) republic on the opposite shore, is not a member — option (a).
What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government's ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and ‘Gold Monetization Scheme’? 1. To bring the idle gold lying with Indian households into the economy 2. To promote FDI in the gold and jewellery sector 3. To reduce India's dependence on gold imports Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — The Gold Monetisation Scheme (2015) lets households and temples deposit idle gold with banks to earn interest, bringing an estimated 20,000+ tonnes of private gold into productive use (statement 1).
‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Belt and Road Initiative (formerly One Belt One Road), announced by President Xi Jinping in 2013, is China's trillion-dollar programme of roads, railways, ports and pipelines linking Asia, Europe and Africa through the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road — option…
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at
UPSC's answer: (a) — PMMY (2015) provides collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh (now ₹20 lakh) — Shishu, Kishore, Tarun — to micro and small non-farm enterprises through banks, NBFCs and MFIs, refinanced by MUDRA Ltd.
In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found? 1. Cambay Basin 2. Cauvery Basin 3. Krishna-Godavari Basin Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — Shale gas is natural gas trapped in fine-grained shale rock, extracted by hydraulic fracturing. India's identified shale resources lie in the Cambay (Gujarat), Cauvery, Krishna–Godavari, Assam–Arakan, Gondwana and Indo-Gangetic basins; the US EIA estimates about 96 tcf recoverable.
‘Global Financial Stability Report’ is prepared by the
UPSC's answer: (b) — The Global Financial Stability Report is published twice a year by the International Monetary Fund, assessing risks to the global financial system and capital markets — option (b).
Regarding ‘Atal Pension Yojana’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers. 2. Only one member of a family can join the scheme. 3. Same amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after subscriber's death. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — Atal Pension Yojana (2015) guarantees a fixed monthly pension of ₹1,000–5,000 from age 60 to subscribers aged 18–40, mainly unorganised-sector workers, administered by PFRDA (statement 1).
The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as
UPSC's answer: (b) — RCEP is a free-trade agreement negotiated from 2012 among the ten ASEAN members and their FTA partners — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and originally India — and signed in 2020 — option (b).
On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label? 1. Ceiling fans 2. Electric geysers 3. Tubular fluorescent lamps Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Bureau of Energy Efficiency's Standards & Labelling programme (2006) rates appliances from 1 to 5 stars by energy efficiency.
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
UPSC's answer: (d) — ITER, under construction at Cadarache, France, is a tokamak designed to prove that nuclear fusion — fusing deuterium and tritium as in the Sun — can yield net energy; India joined in 2005 and contributes about 9% of the cost in components like the cryostat.
In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs : Term Description 1. Eripatti : Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank 2. Taniyurs : Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins 3. Ghatikas : Colleges generally attached to the temples Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
UPSC's answer: (d) — Pair 1 is correct: in Chola inscriptions, eripatti was land whose revenue was earmarked for maintaining the village tank (eri). Pair 3 is correct: ghatikas were Brahmanical colleges of higher learning, usually attached to temples, as at Kanchi.
Consider the following statements : 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (a) — The International Solar Alliance was launched by India and France at the Paris climate conference (COP21) on 30 November 2015, with its headquarters at Gurugram (statement 1).
‘European Stability Mechanism’, sometimes seen in the news, is an
UPSC's answer: (b) — The European Stability Mechanism (2012), based in Luxembourg, is the eurozone's permanent crisis-resolution fund with €500 billion lending capacity; it gives loans and financial assistance to euro-area countries in difficulty, as it did for Greece, Cyprus and Spain's banks — option (b).
Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation? 1. Reduction in weed 2. Reduction in soil salinity 3. Reduction in soil erosion Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — Drip irrigation delivers water slowly at the root zone of each plant. Because the inter-row soil stays dry, weed growth is reduced (1); because water is applied gently rather than flooded, soil erosion and run-off are reduced (3).
Regarding ‘DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme. 2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (c) — DigiLocker (2015) is a cloud-based digital locker provided by MeitY under the Digital India programme, linked to Aadhaar (statement 1).
Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?
UPSC's answer: (b) — In September 2015 Andhra Pradesh completed the Pattiseema lift scheme, diverting Godavari water through the Polavaram right canal into the Krishna river above the Prakasam barrage — India's first major river-linking project — option (b).
In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index? 1. Carbon dioxide 2. Carbon monoxide 3. Nitrogen dioxide 4. Sulfur dioxide 5. Methane Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — India's National Air Quality Index (2014) is computed from eight pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (3), sulphur dioxide (4), carbon monoxide (2), ozone, ammonia and lead. Carbon dioxide (1) and methane (5) are greenhouse gases, not local air-pollutants, and are not part of the AQI.
With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space. 2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (d) — AstroSat, launched by PSLV in September 2015, is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, observing in ultraviolet, optical and X-ray bands. Statement 1 is wrong: besides the US and Russia, the European Space Agency and Japan have also launched space observatories.
With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to
UPSC's answer: (c) — Araghatta (Persian wheel / rahat) was a wheel with pots on a chain, turned by animals, used to lift water from wells for irrigation; it spread widely in medieval north India and boosted agriculture — option (c).
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?
UPSC's answer: (d) — Magadhas were bards and chroniclers who, with the sutas, memorised and recited royal genealogies, dynastic histories and epic tales at courts and sacrifices — option (d).
Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?
UPSC's answer: (d) — In June 2015 Maharashtra became the first State to declare a State butterfly — the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor), a large swallowtail found in the Western Ghats — option (d).
Consider the following statements : The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO 1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission 2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA 3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (c) — Mangalyaan is the popular name of ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission, launched in November 2013 and inserted into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014 (statement 1). Statement 3 is correct: India became the first country to succeed in its maiden attempt, and did so at a cost of only about ₹450 crore.
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
UPSC's answer: (b) — At Surat (1907) the Congress split between Moderates led by Gokhale and Extremists led by Tilak. The Extremists had lost faith in the Moderates' methods of petitions and negotiation, wanted the Swadeshi–Boycott programme extended nationwide, and distrusted the Moderates' willingness to accept the…
The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War
UPSC's answer: (d) — The Cripps Mission (March 1942) offered that after the War India would become a Dominion with the right to secede from the Commonwealth, with a constitution-making body elected by provincial legislatures, and provinces free to opt out — option (d).
Consider the following pairs : Famous place : Region 1. Bodhgaya : Baghelkhand 2. Khajuraho : Bundelkhand 3. Shirdi : Vidarbha 4. Nasik (Nashik) : Malwa 5. Tirupati : Rayalaseema Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
UPSC's answer: (c) — Khajuraho lies in Chhatarpur district in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh (pair 2); Tirupati is in Chittoor district in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh (pair 5).
The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the
UPSC's answer: (d) — Under Article 249, Parliament may legislate on a State List matter in the national interest if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of members present and voting — option (d).
Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to sea by a long navigational channel?
UPSC's answer: (d) — In 2015–16 Rajasthan explored an artificial inland port near Jalore, to be linked to the Arabian Sea at the Gulf of Kachchh by a 400-km navigational channel through Gujarat, to give the landlocked State sea access — option (d).
With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017. 2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 °C or even 1·5 °C above pre-industrial levels. 3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC's answer: (b) — Statement 2 is correct: the Paris Agreement aims to hold the rise in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C.
Consider the following statements : 1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’. 2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (b) — The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015 as the 2030 Agenda, to be achieved by 2030 (statement 2).
A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of
UPSC's answer: (a) — 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' (2015), starring Dev Patel, is based on Robert Kanigel's biography of the mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and his collaboration with G.H. Hardy at Cambridge — option (a). Chandrasekhar (b) was an astrophysicist, S.N.
Consider the following statements : 1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years. 2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC's answer: (b) — Article 243F allows any person qualified to be a member of a State Legislature to be a Panchayat member, except that the minimum age is 21 years, not 25 — so statement 1 is wrong.
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