UPSC Prelims 2020 — Every Question with Answer and Explanation

The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by:

Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)? 1. Preamble 2. Directive Principles of State Policy 3. Fundamental Duties Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment. 3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 metres in the south-western Indian Ocean during January–March. 2. OMT collected during January–March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean. Select the correct using the code given below:

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. 3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: 1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crops. 2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production. 3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased the production of rabi pulses has decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: 1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such a place as he/she thinks it. 2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions. 3. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Quantitative restrictions on imports by foreign investors are prohibited. 2. They apply to investment measures related to trade in both goods and services. 3. They are not concerned with the regulation of foreign investment. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around: 1. women’s right to gain education 2. age of consent 3. restitution of conjugal rights Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statement: 1. It warned against the Colonial States hypnotic conquest of the mind. 2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs. 3. The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporate protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? 1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Gangotri National Park 3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 4. Manas National Park Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in

Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of a Welfare State?

Consider the following minerals: 1. Bentonite 2. Chromite 3. Kyanite 4. Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?

In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology. “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles 4. Hot mix asphalt technology 5. Portland cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

Consider the following pairs: River Flow into 1. Mekong Andaman Sea 2. Thames Irish Sea 3. Volga Caspian Sea 4. Zambezi Indian Ocean Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? 1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible. 2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible. 3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible. 4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

What is/are the advantage/ advantages of zero tillage in agriculture? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of the previous crop. 2. Without the need for a nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible. 3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

When reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements: 1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body. 2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body. 3. They can be used in biochemical sensors. 4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past? 1. Minimum Support Price 2. Government’s trading 3. Government’s stockpiling 4. Consumer subsidies Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post- Harsha period?

With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements: 1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible pumps. 2. Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with piston. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is the importance of the term “Interest Coverage Ratio” of a firm in India? 1. It helps in understanding the present risk of a firm that a bank is going to give a loan to. 2. It helps in evaluating the emerging risk of a firm that a bank is going to give a loan to. 3. The higher a borrowing firm’s level of Interest Coverage Ratio, the worse is its ability to service its debt. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to “Blockchain Technology” consider the following statements: 1. It is a public ledger that everyone we inspect, but which no single user controls 2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it is about crypto currency only. 3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because:

One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is

Consider the following activities: 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes 3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis. At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

Which of the following statements correctly explain the impact of the Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning 4. Using varnished wooden furniture 5. Using products made of polyurethane Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

A constitutional government by definition is a

Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the:

The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’, sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of

According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? 1. Cassava 2. Damaged wheat grains 3. Groundnut seeds 4. Horse gram 5. Rotten potatoes 6. Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below:

What is the use of biochar in farming? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming. 2. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. 3. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it enables the growing medium to retain water for longer time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct? 1. VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm 2. VLC is known as long - range optical wireless comm- unication. 3. VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth 4. VLC has no electromagnetic interference Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). 2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act. 3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production of cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the period of the Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as:

With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/ are correct? 1. They shall be enforceable by courts. 2. They shall not be enforceable by any court 3. The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

“Gold Tranche” (Reserve Tranche) refers to:

In the context of the Indian economy, non-financial debt includes which of the following? 1. Housing loans owed by households 2. Amounts outstanding on credit cards 3. Treasury bills Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalisation, consider the following statements: 1. Wo r k e r p r o d u c t i v i t y ( R s. p e r w o r k e r a t 2004 -05 prices) increased in urban areas while it decreased in rural areas. 2. The % age share of rural areas in the workforce steadily increased. 3. In rural areas, the growth in the non-farm economy increased. 4. The growth rate in rural employment decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: 1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that in Wholesale Price Index (WPI). 2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does. 3. The Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to decide on changing the key policy rates. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Purantaka 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements: 1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field. 2. When direct planting of seeds is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds. 3. If bad weather conditions prevail when seeds are directly planted, single - budded seeds have better survival as compared to large setts. 4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Foreign Direct Investment in India, which one of the following is considered its major characteristic?

Siachen Glacier is situated to the:

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: 1. ‘Commercial Paper’ is a short-term unsecured promissory note. 2. ‘Certificate of Deposit’ is a long-term instrument issued by the Reserve Bank of India to a corporation. 3. ‘Call Money’ is a short term finance used for interbank transactions. 4. ‘Zero-Coupon Bonds are the interest-bearing short term bonds issued by the Scheduled Commercial Banks to corporations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Parivrajaka: Renunciant and Wanderer 2. Shramana: Priest with a high status 3. Upasaka: Lay follower of Buddhism Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to the funds under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are correct? 1. MPLADS funds must be used to create durable sets like physical infrastructure for health, education, etc. 2. A specified portion of each MP fund must benefit SC/ ST populations. 3. MPLADS funds are sanctioned on yearly basis and the unused funds cannot be carried forward to the next year. 4. The district authority must inspect at least 10% of all work under implementation every year. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have plasma membranes unlike animal cells which do. 3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst an animal cell has many small vacuoles. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? 1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference 2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement 3. Acceptance of Gandhi’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses. 4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to chemical fertilisers in India, consider the following statements: 1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilisers is market-driven and not administered by the Government. 2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas. 3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National park 2. Papikonda National Park 3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve 4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

Consider the following statements 1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only. 2. Only some cyclones develop an eye. 3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C less than that of the surroundings. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Constitution of India a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State 2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop?

If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do? 1. Cut and optimise the Statutory Liquidity Ratio 2. Increase the Marginal Standing Facility Rate 3. Cut the Bank Rate and Repo Rate Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which:

In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following types of citizens? 1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000. 2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000. 3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000. 4. All Senior Citizens Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? 1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops. 2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies. 3. Social Capital development. 4. Free electricity supply to farmers. 5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system 6. Setting up cold storage facilities by the governments. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following statements: 1. In terms of short-term credit delivery to the agriculture sector, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) deliver more credit in comparison to Scheduled Commercial Banks and Regional Rural Banks. 2. One of the most important functions of DCCBs is to provide funds to the Primary Agriculture Credit Societies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the scholars/literatures of ancient India, consider the following statements: 1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. 2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana. 3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term Paramitas?

If you withdraw Rs. 1,00,000 in cash from your Demand Deposit Account at your bank, the immediate effect on aggregate money supply in the economy will be:

Along with the Budget, the finance minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include “The Macro Economic Framework Statement”. The aforesaid document is presented because this is mandated by:

With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. India’s merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports. 2. India’s imports of iron and steel, chemicals, fertilisers and machinery have decreased in recent years. 3. India’s exports of services are more than its imports of services. 4. India suffers from an overall trade/current account deficit. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The Preamble to the Constitution of India, is:

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text -to -Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below:

If another global financial crisis happens in the near future, which of the following actions/policies are most likely to give some immunity to India? 1. Not depending on short-term foreign borrowings 2. Opening up to more foreign banks 3. Maintaining full capital account convertibility Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: Famous Place: Present State 1. Bhilsa: Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwarasamudra: Maharashtra 3. Girinagar: Gujarat 4. Sthanesvara: Uttar Pradesh Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? 1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets 2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks. 3. Consumption requirements of farm households 4. Post-harvest expense 5. Construction of a family house and setting up a village cold storage facility. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture? 1. Crop diversification 2. Legume intensification 3. Tensiometer use 4. Vertical farming Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometers long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to

Consider the following statements: 1. In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India. 2. In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India defines its structure in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy. 2. The Constitution of India provides for ‘Judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? 1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis. 2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug resistant bacteria can be reduced. 3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It is spread over two districts. 2. There is no human habitation inside the Park. 3. It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements: 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent. 2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage. 3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?