UPSC Prelims 2015 — Every Question with Answer and Explanation

With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommen-dations of the ‘Sedition Committee’. 2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilise the Home Rule League. 3. Demonstrations against the arrival of the Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following rivers: 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranahita 4. Pennar Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?

Consider the following pairs: Place of Pilgrimage Location 1. Srisailam Nallamala Hills 2. Omakareshwar Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar Mahadeo Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Who/Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India?

With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements: 1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products. 2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers. 3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following? 1. Gravitational force of the Sun 2. Gravitational force of the Moon 3. Centrifugal force of the Earth Select the correct answer using the code given below.

There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit? 1. Reducing revenue expenditure 2. Introducing new welfare schemes 3. Rationalising subsidies 4. Expanding industries Select the correct answer using the code given below.

When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points, which of the following is likely to happen?

Consider the following States: 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Mizoram In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

‘Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for:

What is the Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a herbivorous marine animal. 2. It is found along the entire coast of India. 3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from 32 percent to 42 percent. 2. It has made recommendations concerning sector- specific grants. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/ are the essential element/elements of the feudal system? 1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority 2. The emergence of an administrative structure based on control and possession of the land 3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following pairs: Medieval Indian State: Present Region 1. Champaka: Central India 2. Durgara: Jammu 3. Kuluta: Malabar Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following statements: 1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu. 2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements: 1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade. 2. The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

With reference to the use of nanotechnology in the health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nano- technology. 2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The ideal of ‘Welfare State’ in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its

Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?

With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements: 1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes. 2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat. 3. It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/ are correct? 1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction. 2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete. 3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?

Consider the following statements regarding the Directive Principles of State Policy: 1. The principles spell out of the socio-economic democracy in the country. 2. The provisions contained in these Principles are not enforceable by any court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the:

Consider the following statements: 1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister. 2. The Prime Minister is the ex Officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India? 1. Dadabhai Naoroji 2. G. Subramania Iyer 3. R.C. Dutt Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following? 1. Slowing economic growth rate 2. Less equitable distribution of national income Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Kalamkari painting refers to:

With reference to an organisation known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations. 2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organisation. 3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the:

When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by

In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?

Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?

With reference to Indian economy, consider the following: 1. Bank rate 2. Open market operations 3. Public debt 4. Public Revenue Which of the above is/are component/components of Monetary Policy?

Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?

The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in agricultural production is an example of

With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN) and the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/ are correct? 1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments. 2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments. 3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Conventional does not take the place of national laws. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields. 2. NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other. 3. NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight?

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined:

Consider the following statements: 1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill. 2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants. 3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The fundamental object of the Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following? 1. People’s participation in development 2. Political accountability 3. Democratic decentralisation 4. Financial mobilisation Select the correct answer using the code given below.

What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture? 1. Proliferation of nitrogen fixing microorganisms in soil can occur. 2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place. 3. Leaching of nitrate to the groundwater can occur. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following statements: 1. The winds which blow between 30 N and 60 S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies. 2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North- Western region of India are part of westerlies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Convertibility of rupee implies:

The problem of international liquidity is related to the nonavailability of:

Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter current?

Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’?

‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’ often seen in the new, seeks to:

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

In India, the steel production industry requires the import of:

With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It recommended a federal government. 2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts. 3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following statements: 1. The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State. 2. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of the Legislative Council of that particular State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over.” Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?

Who of the following organised a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct? 1. It is intended to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. 2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following: The arrival of Babur into India led to the: 1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent 2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region’s architecture 3. establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to:

Consider the following statements: 1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers. 2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in

Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements: 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of the Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament. 2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India. 3. All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?

With reference to inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct?

In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news: 1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometer of ice. 2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter. 3. It is buried deep in the ice. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?