UPSC Civil Services Prelims — 2012

With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements: 1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the government. 2. The government gave Pattas to the ryots. 3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he— 1. Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British. 2. Interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians. 3. Stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following: 1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops. 2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare. 3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies. Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?

Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919? 1. Introduction of diarchy in the executive government of the provinces. 2. Introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims. 3. Devolution of legislative authority by the centre to the provinces. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the:

During Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj? 1. It opposed idolatry. 2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts. 3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The Rowlatt Act aimed at:

The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because: 1. The Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence. 2. The rift between the extremists and moderates was resolved in that Session. 3. A resolution was passed rejecting the two-nation theory in that Session. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because:

Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar? 1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India 2. All India Scheduled Castes Federation 3. The Independent Labour Party Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because:

Which one of the following is likely to have the highest impact on fixing the Minimum Support Price for agricultural crops?

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: 1. The Reserve Bank of India regulates the money supply in the economy. 2. The Securities and Exchange Board of India regulates the stock market. 3. The Foreign Exchange Management Act provides the framework for external payments and foreign exchange transactions. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Which one of the following best describes ‘capital market’?

Which of the following are included in India’s foreign exchange reserves? 1. Foreign currency assets 2. Gold holdings 3. Special Drawing Rights 4. Reserve Tranche Position in the IMF Select the correct answer using the code given below:

What does the term ‘repo rate’ signify in the Indian economy?

Which of the following best describes ‘reverse repo rate’?

Which one of the following is not included in the assets of a commercial bank?

Which of the following are likely consequences of a high fiscal deficit? 1. Increased government borrowing 2. Possibility of crowding out private investment 3. Inflationary pressure under certain conditions Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following is considered a non-debt creating capital flow for India?

In India, ‘Treasury Bills’ are

The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the

Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not a Fundamental Right?

Which of the following are included in the Directive Principles of State Policy? 1. Equal pay for equal work for both men and women 2. Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases 3. Organization of village panchayats Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following correctly describes the function of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India?

Which one of the following schedules of the Constitution of India contains the recognized languages?

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is

Which of the following statements about the President of India is correct?

Which one of the following statements best reflects the principle of collective responsibility in the Indian parliamentary system?

Which of the following are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens under the Constitution of India? 1. To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals 2. To protect and improve the natural environment 3. To vote in public elections Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The anti-defection provisions in the Constitution of India are contained in the

A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village which was situated 5 km east of the point where he was standing. He had no instruments to find the direction but he located the polestar. The most convenient way now to reach his village is to walk in the

Electrically charged particles from space traveling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm living beings if they reach the surface of the Earth. What prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth?

Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth’s surface, because 1. The atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth’s surface 2. There is more moisture in the upper atmosphere. 3. The air is less dense in the upper atmosphere. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?

The acidification of oceans is increasing. Why is this phenomenon a cause of concern 1. The growth and survival of calcareous phytoplankton will be adversely affected. 2. The growth and survival of coral reefs will be adversely affected. 3. The survival of some animals that have phytoplanktonic larvae will be adversely affected. 4. The cloud seeding and formation of clouds will be adversely affected. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following factors 1. Rotation of the Earth 2. Air pressure and wind 3. Density of ocean water 4. Revolution of the Earth Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?

Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’?

Consider the following crops of India: 1. Groundnut 2. Sesamum 3. Pearl millet Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?

When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following: 1. Deep gorges 2. U-turn river courses 3. Parallel mountain ranges 4. Steep gradients causing landslides Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

Consider the following statements: 1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India. 2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A particular State in India has the following characteristics: 1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan. 2. It has over 80% of its area under forest. 3. Over 12% of forest cover constitutes the Protected Area Network in this State. Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics?

With reference to the wetlands of India, consider the following statements: 1. The country’s total geographical area under the category of wetlands is recorded more in Gujarat as compared to other States. 2. In India, the total geographical area of coastal wetlands is larger than that of inland wetlands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason?

Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to:

The acidification of oceans is increasing. Why is this phenomenon a cause of concern?

A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no predators in that area, but its existence is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat. Which one of the following could be that animal?

Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the energy crisis. In the context of this, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. In gasification, biomass is heated directly in air to produce electricity. 2. In gasification, biomass is heated in a limited supply of air to produce a combustible gas. 3. Energy can be obtained from biomass by fermentation. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? 1. Global warming 2. Fragmentation of habitat 3. Invasion of alien species Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment describes the following major categories of ecosystem services— provisioning, supporting, regulating, preserving and cultural. Which one of the following is a supporting service?

What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason? 1. The ocean as a carbon sink would be adversely affected. 2. The food chains in the ocean would be adversely affected. 3. The density of ocean water would drastically decrease. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

How does the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting Indian Agriculture? 1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects the indigenous and traditional genetic resources. 2. NBA directly monitors and supervises the scientific research on genetic modification of crop. 3. Application for Intellectual Property Rights related to genetic/biological resources cannot be made without the approval of NBA. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage. In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?

Consider the following statements: Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone-depleting substances, are used: 1. In the production of plastic foams 2. In the production of tubeless tyres 3. In cleaning certain electronic components 4. As pressurizing agents in aerosol cans. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, because it absorbs

Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? 1. Global warming 2. Fragmentation of habitat 3. Invasion of alien species 4. Promotion of vegetarianism. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India? 1. Right to healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21. 2. Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1). 3. Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(a). Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following protected areas: 1. Bandipur 2. Bhitarkanika 3. Manas 4. Sunderbans. Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?

In which one among the following categories of protected areas in India are local people not allowed to collect and use the biomass?

Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bat 2. Bee 3. Bird. Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?

The Government of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant? 1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification. 2. It is a rich source of biodiesel. 3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes. 4. Its timber is of great commercial value. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?

What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?

Consider the following: 1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard. Which of the above are naturally found in India?