Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: If the global temperature increases beyond 3 “C above the pre-industrial level, the terrestrial biosphere will tend towards being a net carbon source. Taiga and temperate forests act as an important carbon sink that would turn into a carbon source.

Statement 2 is correct: As temperatures rise, mass coral bleaching events occur. If the temperature keeps on rising, widespread coral mortality will occur.

Statement 3 and 4 are incorrect: The temperate regions can still survive if the temperature increases. The temperate zones are where the widest seasonal changes occur. The vegetation can survive there. The weather should be warm and moist during the early stage of the growth of cereals. Therefore, the cultivation of cereals would still be possible if the temperature rises.

Explanation

The Radcliffe Committee was appointed by the British government in 1947 tasked with demarcating the borders between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan. The division primarily focused on the regions of Punjab and Bengal, where large Hindu and Muslim populations coexisted. The resulting Radcliffe Line was announced on August 17, 1947, two days after India’s independence. The border division led to massive population displacement, causing widespread violence and communal riots, with millions of people migrating across the new borders, resulting in significant loss of life and property.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Cassini-Huygens mission was a collaborative project between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to study Saturn and its moons, not Venus. Huygens probe landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon in 2005 and provided valuable data about its atmosphere and surface.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Messenger (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) spacecraft was a NASA mission designed to study Mercury. It orbited Mercury and mapped its surface, studying its geology, and investigating its magnetic field and exosphere.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft were launched by NASA in 1977 to explore the outer planets of the solar system. Voyager 1 flew by Jupiter and Saturn, providing detailed images and data about these planets and their moons. Voyager 2 visited all four outer planets:

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The spacecraft are now in interstellar space, continuing to transmit data about the heliosphere and beyond.

Explanation

A constitutional government is one that operates within the framework of a Constitution. The principle of constitutionalism emphasizes limiting the power of the state to ensure it remains fair and accountable, preventing any form of autocratic rule.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Places effective restrictions on individual liberty in the interest of State Authority" is not characteristic of a Constitutional Government. One of the fundamental principles of a constitutional government is to protect individual rights and freedoms and not to restrict them unnecessarily in favor of state authority.

Statement 2 is correct: A constitutional government limits the authority of the state to prevent it from infringing on individual rights and freedoms. This is achieved through mechanisms such as constitutional checks and balances, the separation of powers, and the judicial review of government actions.

Explanation

The executive organ of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies enacted by the legislature. It is typically headed by the President or Prime Minister and includes various government departments and agencies.

Statement 1 is correct: India follows a Parliamentary type of Government in which the President is the constitutional head of the state. He is the Executive head of India. Article 77(3) of the Indian Constitution says that the President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 77(1) of the Indian Constitution lays down all executive action of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was launched in 1973-74 to mitigate the effects of drought in drought-prone areas by promoting sustainable development. It is implemented under the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Agriculture. The programme focuses on watershed development, soil conservation, and water harvesting to improve agricultural productivity in drought-affected regions.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: The Desert Development Programme aims to combat desertification and mitigate the adverse effects of drought in desert areas. This programme is also over-seen by the Department of Land Resources within the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The DDP aims to minimize the adverse effects of drought and control desertification through the rejuvenation of the natural resource base in identified desert areas.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The National Watershed Devel-opment Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) focuses on the development of rainfed regions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. This project is implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, not the Ministry of Rural Development.

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: The Integrated Watershed Devel-opment Programme (IWDP) emphasizes soil conservation measures to prevent erosion and runoff. By implementing techniques such as terracing, contour plowing, and afforestation, the programme aims to maintain soil health and fertility, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity.

Option 2 is incorrect: The IWDP does not encompass river interlinking projects. Its focuses is on watershed management at the micro-level which aims to conserve soil and water within specific catchment areas. River interlinking is a separate initiative under India’s National Perspective Plan which seeks to transfer water from surplus to deficit regions through large-scale infrastructure projects.

Option 3 is correct: The IWDP emphasizes rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge through the construction of check dams, percolation tanks, and farm ponds. These structures help capture rainwater, allowing it to percolate into the ground and recharge aquifers. This is particularly important in rainfed and arid regions where groundwater levels are critically low.

Option 4 is correct: The programme promotes afforestation and reforestation activities to restore degraded lands. Regen-erating natural vegetation not only prevents soil erosion but also improves biodiversity, enhances carbon sequestration, and supports the livelihoods of local communities through the provision of forest products.

Explanation

Venture capital (VC) is a form of private equity and a type of financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential. The majority of venture capital is often provided by wealthy individuals, investment banks, and other financial organisations. They often provide mentorship and strategic guidance in addition to funds. Investors take on higher risks with the expectation of high returns if the business succeeds. In India, firms such as Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, and Indian Angel Network are well-known VC providers. Sectors like technology, e-commerce, and fintech have seen significant VC investments.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Kinnaur is primarily known for its apple orchards, not for Areca nut production. The region’s agriculture is most famous for apples, along with other fruits like apricots and peaches. Areca nut is mostly produced in states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Assam, which have the ideal climatic conditions for this crop.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Mewat is not particularly famous for mango production. The region is known for agriculture and allied agro-based activities, but mango cultivation is not a primary feature of Mewat. The major mango-growing states in In-dia include Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Coromandel Coast is primarily known for the production of crops like rice, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, and peanuts. It is not known for soybean production. The major states producing soybeans in India are Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which together contribute 89% of the total production of soybeans in the country.

Explanation

Option 1 is incorrect: Bhadrachalam is not famous for the production of traditional sarees or fabric. Instead, it is known primarily for its temples, especially the Sri Rama Temple, and its religious significance.

Option 2 is correct: Chanderi, located in Madhya Pradesh, is renowned for the production of Chanderi sarees. These sarees are famous for their fine, lightweight fabric, often woven from silk and cotton, and embellished with intricate zari work. Chanderi sarees are a hallmark of Indian textile heritage and are considered luxurious due to their delicate craftsmanship.

Option 3 is correct: Kancheepuram, in Tamil Nadu, is internationally famous for its Kanjeevaram sarees. These sarees are made of mulberry silk, renowned for their rich texture and festive quality, often highlighted by the use of gold or silver zari (thread made of precious metals). They are considered one of the finest and most durable traditional sarees in India.

Option 4 is incorrect: Karnal is not known for the production of traditional sarees or fabric. It is primarily recognized for its agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of wheat and rice, and is not associated with textile manufacturing.