UPSC Prelims 2013 — Every Question with Answer and Explanation

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

The national income of a country for a given period is equal to the:

Consider the following statements: 1. Inflation benefits the debtors. 2. Inflation benefits the bond-holders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the: 1. Meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky. 2. Lightning that separates the nimbus clouds. 3. Violent upward movement of air and water particles. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand for money, there will be:

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala 3. Karnataka 4. Andhra Pradesh Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements: 1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India. 2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. 3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following historical places: 1. Ajanta Caves 2. Lepakshi Temple 3. Sanchi Stupa Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

The balance of payments of a country is a systematic record of:

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school: 1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul. 2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the following physical phenomena are responsible for this? 1. Dispersion 2. Refraction 3. Internal reflection Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following crops 1. Cotton 2. Groundnut 3. Rice 4. Wheat Which of these are Kharif crops?

With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:

Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing? 1. Chikungunya 2. Hepatitis B 3. HIV-AIDS Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following minerals: 1. Calcium 2. Iron 3. Sodium Which of the minerals given above is/are required by the human body for the contraction of muscles?

Consider the following pairs: National Park River flowing through the Park 1. Corbett National Park Ganga 2. Kaziranga National Park Manas 3. Silent Valley National Park Kaveri Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

What will follow if a Money Bill is substantially amended by the Rajya Sabha?

Acid rain is caused by the pollution of environment by

Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because

Consider the following statements: Attorney General of India can- 1. Take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha 2. Be a member of a committee of the Lok Sabha 3. Speak in the Lok Sabha 4. Vote in the Lok Sabha Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The efforts to detect the existence of the Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/importances of discovering this particle? 1. It will enable us to understand why elementary particles have mass. 2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. 3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear missions. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for:

Economic growth in country X will necessarily have to occur if:

Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s foreign-exchange reserves?

Quit India Movement was launched in response to:

Priority Sector Lending by banks in Indian constitutes the lending to:

Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?

The people of India agitated against the arrival of the Simon Commission because:

The Parliament can make any law for whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties:

Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to 1. Resist drought and increase absorptive area 2. Tolerate extremes of pH 3. Resist disease infestation Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Variations in the length of daytime and night time from season to season are due to:

Photochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among

Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct? 1. They are generally red in colour. 2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash. 3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP. 4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

“Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders.” The above statement best describes which of the following regions?

With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements: 1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feeds upon each other. 2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species. 3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effect?

Annie Besant was: 1. Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement 2. The founder of the Theosophical Society 3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.

In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins known as aflatoxins which are not generally destroyed by the normal cooking process. Aflatoxins are produced by:

Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because

Consider the following statements: 1. The Council of Ministers in the Centre shall be collectively responsible to the Parliament. 2. The Union Ministers shall hold the office during the pleasure of the President of India. 3. The Prime Minister shall communicate to the President about the proposals for legislation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Disguised unemployment generally means

‘Economic Justice’ as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitutional has been provided in:

Consider the following: 1. Star tortoise 2. Monitor lizard 3. Pygmy hog 4. Spider monkey Which of the above are naturally found in India?

Which of the following adds nitrogen to the soil? 1. Excretion of urea by animals 2. Burning of coal by man 3. Death of vegetation Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following statements is correct?

An increase in the Bank Rate generally indicates that the:

To obtain full benefits of the demographic dividend, what should India do?

Consider the following organisms: 1. Agaricus 2. Nostoc 3. Spirogyra Which of the above is/are used as biofertilizer/biofertilizers?

Consider the following: 1. Electromagnetic radiation 2. Geothermal energy 3. Gravitational force 4. Plate movements 5. Rotation of the earth 6. Revolution of the earth Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?

The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the:

Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/ characteristics of equatorial forests? 1. Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy 2. Coexistence of a large number of species 3. Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

According to the Constitution of India, which of the following are fundamental for the governance of the country?

Consider the following Bhakti Saints: 1. Dadu Dayal 2. Guru Nanak 3. Tyagaraja Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of energy 2. Viruses can be cultured in any synthetic medium. 3. Viruses are transmitted from one organism to another by biological vectors only Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? Geographical Feature Region

The Reserve Bank of India regulates the commercial banks in matters of: 1. Liquidity of assets 2. Branch expansion 3. Merger of banks 4. Winding-up of banks Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which of the following is/are the characteristic/charac- teristics of Indian coal? 1. High ash content 2. Low sulphur content 3. Low ash fusion temperature Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in:

With reference to National Legal Services Authority consider the following statements: 1. Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker section of the society on the basis of equal opportunity. 2. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following fauna and India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?

Consider the following statements: 1. Size of the sun at dusk 2. Colour of the sun at dawn 3. Moon being visible at dawn 4. Twinkle of stars in the sky 5. Polestar being visible in the sky Which of the above are optical illusions?

Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both?

With reference to the food chains in ecosystems, which of the following kinds of organism is/are known as decomposer organism/organisms? 1. Virus 2. Fungi 3. Bacteria Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following statements: 1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds. 2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma. 3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because–

In India, deficit financing is used for raising resources for:

Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? 1. Arsenic 2. Sorbitol 3. Fluoride 4. Formaldehyde 5. Uranium Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Recombination DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferred: 1. Across different species of plants 2. From animals to plants 3. From microorganisms to higher organisms Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts: 1. Consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha. 2. Scrutinises appropriation and finance accounts of the Government. 3. Examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste? 1. Beryllium 2. Cadmium 3. Chromium 4. Heptachlor 5. Mercury 6. Lead 7. Plutonium Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion:

Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism but also its functional role in the community of organisms?

Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine? 1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practise penance. 2. Every object, even the smallest particle, has a soul. 3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?

Which of the following characterises/characterises the people of the Indus Civilization? 1. They possessed great palaces and temples. 2. They worshipped both male and female deities. 3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare. Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below

Consider the following pairs: 1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve - Garo Hills 2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake - Barail Range 3. Namdapha National Park - Dafla Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/ are the reason/reasons? 1. Thermal difference between land and water 2. Variation in altitude between continents and oceans 3. Presence of strong winds in the interior 4. Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of:

Consider the following animals: 1. Sea cow 2. Sea horse 3. Sea lion Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

In the context of Indian economy, ‘Open Market Operations’ refers to:

In the context of India, which of the following principles is/are, implied institutionally in the parliamentary government? 1. Members of the Cabinet are Members of the Parliament. 2. Ministers hold the office till they enjoy confidence in the Parliament. 3. The Cabinet is headed by the Head of the State. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which of the following constitute a Capital Account? 1. Foreign Loans 2. Foreign Direct Investment 3. Private Remittances 4. Portfolio Investment Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following statements: 1. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha are not the members of that House. 2. While the nominated members of the two Houses of the Parliament have no voting right in the presidential election, they have the right to vote in the election of the Vice President. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following grants/grant direct credit assistance to rural households? 1. Regional Rural Banks 2. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 3. Land Development Banks Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?

A rise in the general level of prices may be caused by: 1. An increase in the money supply 2. A decrease in the aggregate level of output 3. An increase in the effective demand Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following pairs: Tribe States 1. Limboo (Limbu) Sikkim 2. Karbi Himachal Pradesh 3. Dongaria Kondh Odisha 4. 4Bonda Tamil Nadu Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following Bhakti Saints: 1. Dadu Dayal 2. Guru Nanak 3. Tyagaraja Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

The Narmada River flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? 1. It occupies a linear rift valley. 2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras. 3. The land slopes to the west from Central India. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following statements: 1. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only. 2. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the usefulness of the by products of the sugar industry, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Bagasse can be used as biomass fuel for the generation of energy. 2. Molasses can be used as one of the feedstocks for the production of synthetic chemical fertilizers. 3. Molasses can be used for the production of ethanol. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?

Consider the following liquid assets: 1. Demand deposits with the banks 2. Time deposits with the banks 3. Savings deposits with the banks 4. Currency The correct sequence of these assets in the decreasing order of liquidity is

The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz., gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the following statements is not correct?