UPSC questions

42. Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss? 1. Hard and waxy leaves 2. Tiny leaves 3. Thorns instead of leaves Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

41. Consider the following statements: 1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party. 2. In the Lok Sabha, a “Leader of the Opposition” was recognised for the first time in 1969. 3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

40. With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements: 1. ‘The National Programme for Organic Production’ (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development. 2. ‘The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’ (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP. 3. Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

39. Consider the following: 1. Birds 2. Dust blowing 3. Rain 4. Wind blowing Which of the above spread plant diseases? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

38. Consider the following statements: 1. The definition of “Critical Wildlife Habitat” is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

37. Consider the following items: 1. Cereal grains hulled 2. Chicken eggs cooked 3. Fish processed and canned 4. Newspapers containing advertising material Which of the above items is/are exempted under GST (Goods and Services Tax)? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

36. With reference to the governance of public sector banking in India, consider the following statements: 1. Capital infusion into public sector banks by the Government of India has steadily increased in the last decade. 2. To put the public sector banks in order, the merger of associate banks with the parent State Bank of India has been affected. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

35. With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only

34. In which one of the following States in Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located? (a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Manipur (c) Meghalaya (d) Nagaland

33. Consider the following: 1. Areca nut 2. Barley 3. Coffee 4. Finger millet 5. Groundnut 6. Sesamum 7. Turmetic The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has announced the Minimum Support Price for which of the above? (a) 1, 2, 3 and 7 only (b) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only (c) 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

32. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statements? (a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution (b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV (c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III (d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution

31. Consider the following events: 1. The first democratically elected communist party government formed in a State in India. 2. India’s then largest bank, ‘Imperial Bank of India’, was renamed ‘State Bank of India’. 3. Air India was nationalised and became the national carrier. 4. Goa became a part of independent India. Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence of the above events? (a) 4 – 1 – 2 – 3 (b) 3 – 2 – 1 – 4 (c) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3 (d) 3 – 1 – 2 – 4

30. The term “sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction” is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of (a) Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems. (b) Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs. (c) Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity. (d) Mankind’s over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.

29. With reference to the circumstances in India agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture? 1. Avoiding the monoculture practices 2. Adopting minimum tillage 3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops 4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface 5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 (c) 2, 4 and 5 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 5

28. The terms ‘WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue’ sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to (a) Exoplanets (b) Cryptocurrency (c) Cyber attacks (d) Mini satellites

27. Consider the following statements: 1. The Earth’s magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. 2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide. 3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

26. Consider the following statements: 1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities. 2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments. 3. Treasury bills offer are issued at a discount from the par value. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

25. In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? 1) Mobile phone operations 2) Banking operations 3) Controlling the power grids Select of the correct answer using the code below : a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1,2 and 3

24.Consider the following pairs : Crafts Heritage of 1. Puthukkuli shawls Tamil Nadu 2. Sujni embroidery Maharashtra 3. Uppada jamdani saris Karnataka Which of the pairs given above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 c) 3 only d) 2 and 3

23. If the president of India exercise his power as provided under article 356 of the constitutional in respect of a particular state, then a) The assemble of the state is automatically dissolved. b) The powers of the legislature of that state shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the parliament. c) Article 19 is suspended in that state. d) The president can make laws relating to that state.

22.Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India on the 19th century was the a) Increase in the export of Indian handicrafts b) Growth in the number of Indian owned factories. c) Commercialization of Indian agriculture. d) Rapid increase in the urban population

21. After the Santhal uprising subsided, what was/were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government? 1) The territories called ‘santhal paraganas were created. 2) It became illegal for a santhal to transfer land to a non-santhal. Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

20.Despite being a high saving economy, capital formation may not result in significant increase in output due to a) Weak administrative machinery b) Illiteracy c) High population density d) High capital output ratio

19. Consider the following statements. Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables. a) Individuals of a country to accumulate more capital. b) Increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country. c) Accumulation of tangible wealth. d) Accumulation of intangible wealth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1) 1 and 2 2) 2 only 3) 2 and 4 4) 1,3 and 4

18. Increase in absolute and per capital real GNP do not connote a higher level of economics development, if a) Industrial output fails to keep pace with agriculture output. b) Agriculture output fails to keep pace with industrial output. c) Poverty and unemployment increase. d) Imports grow faster than exports.

17. If a commodity is provided free to the public by the government, then a) The opportunity cost is zero. b) The opportunity cost is ignored. c) The opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public. d) The opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the government.

16. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money? a) The money which is tendered in courts of law to defray the fee of legal cases. b) The money which a creditors is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims. c) The bank money in the forms of cheque, drafts, bills of exchange, etc. d) The metallic money in circulation in a country.

15.Consider the following pairs :  Region sometimes mentioned in news country 1. Catalonia          –         Spain 2. Crimea             –        Hungary 3. Mindanao          –       Philippines 4. Oromia              –       Nigeria Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? a) 1, 2 and 3 b) 3 and 4 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 2 and 4 only

14. With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs: Institution                                          Founder 1. Sanskrit college at Banaras          William Jones 2. Calcutta Madarsa                         Warren Hastings 3. Fort William college                      Arthur Wellesley Which of the pairs given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 b) 2 only c) 1 and 3 d) 3 only

13. “ Momentum for change : Climate neutral now ” is an initiative launched by a) The intergovernmental panel on climate change b) The UNEP secretariat c) The UNFCCC secretariat d) The world meteorological organization

12. Consider the  following statements 1. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters. 2. More than one third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. 3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1,2 and 3

11. Why is a called Prosopis julifloru often mentioned is news? a) Its extract is widely used in cosmetics. b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows. c) Its extracts is used in the synthesis of pesticides. d) None of the above

10. Consider the following statements: 1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory. 2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar. 3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 3 only (d) 1 and 3

9. “3D printing” has applications in which of the following? 1. Preparation of confectionery items 2. Manufacture of bionic ears 3. Automotive industry 4. Reconstructive surgeries 5. Data processing technologies Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only (b) 2, 3 and 5 only (c) 1 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

8. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at (a) The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg (b) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro (c) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris (d) The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi

7. With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements: 1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capacity. 2. Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle. 3. Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

6. Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in riverbeds? 1. Decreased salinity in the river 2. Pollution of groundwater 3. Lowering of the water-table Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

4. In 1920, which of the following changed its name to “Swarajya Sabha”? (a) All  India  Home  Rule  League (b) Hindu  Mahasabha (c) South  Indian  Liberal  Federation (d) The  Servants  of  India  Society

3. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: 1. It   is   the   flagship   scheme   of   the   Ministry   of   Labour   and   Employment. 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital   literacy. 3. It   aims   to   align   the   competencies   of   the   unregulated   workforce   of   the   country   to   the National  Skill  Qualification  Framework. Which   of   the   statements   given   above   is/are   correct? (a) 1   and   3   only (b) 2   only (c) 2   and   3   only (d) 1,   2   and   3

2. Which   one   of   the   following   is   an   artificial   lake? (a) Kodaikanal   (Tamil   Nadu) (b) Kolleru   (Andhra   Pradesh) (c) Nainital   (Utrarakhand) (d) Renuka   (Himachal   Pradesh)

1. Which   of   the   following   led   to   the   introduction   of   English   Education   in   India? 1. Charter   Act   of   1813 2. General   Committee   of   Public   Instruction,   1823 3. Orientalist   and   Anglicist   Controversy Select   the   correct   answer   using   the   code   given   below: (a) 1   and   2   only (b) 2   only (c) 1   and   3   only (d) 1,   2   and   3