UPSC Civil Services Prelims — 2011

The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?

With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, “Home Charges” formed an important part of the drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted “Home Charges”? 1. Funds used to support the India Office in London. 2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India. 3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

With reference to the Indian economy, ‘stagflation’ is a situation characterized by

Which of the following are included in the current account of India’s Balance of Payments? 1. Merchandise trade 2. Services 3. Income receipts and payments 4. Capital transfers Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following best describes ‘call money’?

Which one of the following best describes ‘commercial paper’?

Which of the following are functions of the Reserve Bank of India? 1. Banker to the Government 2. Custodian of foreign exchange reserves 3. Regulator of money supply 4. Regulator of stock exchanges Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following best describes ‘broad money (M3)’ in India?

Which one of the following is the most likely effect of a sustained increase in crude oil prices on India?

What does the term ‘base effect’ in inflation measurement mean?

Which among the following are likely to directly affect the exchange rate of the rupee? 1. Capital flows 2. Trade balance pressures 3. RBI intervention in foreign exchange market Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following is the most appropriate meaning of ‘financial inclusion’?

What is the correct sequence of constitutional development in India? 1. Regulating Act 2. Pitt’s India Act 3. Charter Act of 1833 4. Government of India Act, 1858

The idea of a ‘Welfare State’ in the Constitution of India is most clearly reflected in the

Which one of the following is not a constitutional body?

The Preamble to the Constitution of India is

Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not normally a function of the Governor?

The Right to Constitutional Remedies in the Constitution of India is intended to

The distribution of legislative subjects between the Union and the States is contained in the

Which of the following are methods of amending the Constitution of India? 1. By simple majority of Parliament 2. By special majority of Parliament 3. By special majority of Parliament and ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures

Which one of the following best describes secularism in the Indian constitutional context?

Under which Article of the Constitution of India can the Supreme Court issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights?

Westerlies in the southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why? 1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere. 2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of the African and Eurasian desert belt? 1. It is located in the sub-tropical high-pressure cells. 2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents. Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

The jet aircraft fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate explanation? 1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower stratosphere. 2. There are no vertical winds in the lower Stratosphere. Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge?

La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino? 1. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. 2. El Nino has adverse effects on the south-west monsoon of India, but La Niña has no effect on monsoon climate. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The lower Gangetic plain is characterized by a humid climate with high temperature throughout the year. Which one among the following pairs of crops is most suitable for this region?

Among the following States, which one has the most suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of a large variety of orchids with minimum cost of production, and can develop an export oriented industry in this field?

The Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers originate in Tibet and flow through narrow and parallel mountain ranges in their upper courses. Of these rivers, Brahmaputra makes a “U’’ turn in its course to flow into India. This “U” turn is due to

A state in India has the following characteristics: 1. Its northern part is arid and semi-arid. 2. Its central part produces cotton. 3. Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops. Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics?

Between India and East Asia, the navigation-time and distance can be greatly reduced by which of the following? 1. Deepening the Malacca straits between Malaysia and Indonesia. 2. Opening a new canal across the Kra isthmus between the Gulf of Siam and Andaman Sea. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Two important rivers- one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha- merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area. Which one of the following could be this?

What is the difference between asteroids and comets? 1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material. 2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury. 3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans-fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers?

A state in India first started energy conservation building code in 2007. Which one of the following has/have provisions in the code?

One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of

What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices? 1. Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz radio frequency band, whereas Wi-Fi can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band. 2. Bluetooth is used for wireless local area networks (WLAN) only, whereas Wi-Fi is used for wireless wide area networks (WWAN) only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In the context of ecosystem productivity, marine upwelling zones are important as they increase marine productivity by bringing the: 1. Decomposer microorganisms to the surface. 2. Nutrients to the surface. 3. Bottom-dwelling organisms to the surface. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

If a tropical rainforest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because

The “Red Data Books” published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN) contain lists of: 1. Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots. 2. Threatened plant and animal species. 3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following is not a site for the in-situ method of conservation of flora?

Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: 1. Species richness 2. Vegetation density 3. Endemism 4. Ethno-botanical importance 5. Threat perception 6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions. Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?

Consider the following statements: 1. Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes. 2. Along the mountain gradients, biodiversity is normally greater in the lower altitudes as compared to the higher altitudes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the following ways: 1. Soil formation 2. Prevention of soil erosion 3. Recycling of waste 4. Pollination of crops. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The Himalayan Range is very rich in species. Which one among the following is the most appropriate reason for this phenomenon?

With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced. 2. It is the only means of irrigation in dryland farming. 3. In some areas of farming, the receding of groundwater tables can be checked. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

There is a concern over the increase in harmful algal blooms in the seawaters of India. What could be the causative factors for this phenomenon? 1. Discharge of nutrients from the estuaries. 2. Run-off from the land during the monsoon. 3. Upwelling in the seas. Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of: 1. Its escape into the outer stratosphere. 2. The photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans. 3. The trapping of air in the polar ice caps. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following: 1. Carbon dioxide 2. Oxides of Nitrogen 3. Oxides of Sulphur. Which of the above is/are the emission/emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?

The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?

Regarding “carbon credits”, which one of the following statements is not correct?

With reference to India, consider the following Central Acts: 1. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947 2. Mining and Mineral Development (Regulation) Act, 1957 3. Customs Act, 1962 4. Indian Forest Act, 1927. Which of the above Acts have relevance to/bearing on the biodiversity conservation in the country?