Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

The Nehru Report, drafted in response to Lord Birkenhead’s challenge, was prepared by a committee led by Motilal Nehru. Key members included Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.S. Aney, Subhash Chandra Bose, and G.R. Pradhan.

Option (b) is correct: Recommendations were:

Dominion status on lines of self-governing dominions but not full independence. Rejection of separate electorates. Joint electorates with reservation of seats for Muslims at the Centre and in areas where they were in minority. Nineteen fundamental rights, including the rights to form unions, the right to equal treatment for women, and universal adult suffrage. Responsible government at the Centre and in provinces. Provisions to protect the cultural and religious rights of minorities.

Explanation

Jain’s philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by Universal laws. Jainism does not support belief in the creator god. According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents (soul, matter, space, time and motion) have always existed. Jainism believes in the theory of Karma. Both the idea of reincarnation and the universal soul are accepted in Jainism. To break free from the circle of karma and reach salvation, Jainism teaches that one must lead a life of extreme austerity and penance. Jainism theory of Anekantavada stresses that there are many different facets to the ultimate truth and reality, or the "theory of plurality."

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: La Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific (not the Indian Ocean). In contrast, El Niño is associated with unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Statement 2 is incorrect: El Niño events are associated with a weakening of the Indian monsoon leading to reduced rainfall and drought conditions in India. This occurs because the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean alters atmospheric circulation patterns, which can suppress the monsoon rains over the Indian subcontinent. La Niña events typically have the opposite effect, strengthening the Indian monsoon and often resulting in above-average rainfall. The cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean during La Niña enhances the monsoon circulation, leading to increased precipitation over India.

Explanation

New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, signed in 2010 and enforced from 2011. The treaty caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 per country and imposes limits on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers. Serving as a successor to the original START I treaty (1991), it continued the nuclear arms control initiatives established during the Cold War. In 2021, the treaty was extended for an additional five years, remaining in effect until Feb 4th, 2026.

Option (b) is incorrect: The East Asia Summit deals with regional economic and security issues, but New START is unrelated to energy security or multilateral agreements.

Option (c) is incorrect: Russia and the EU have energy agreements, but New START is strictly a nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the USA.

Option (d) is incorrect: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) focuses on economic cooperation, not nuclear arms reduction.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. Wi-Fi, depending on the standard, operates in the 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz bands.

Option (b) is incorrect: Bluetooth is typically used for short-range communication, forming Personal Area Networks (PANs), such as connecting peripherals like headphones or keyboards to a computer. Wi-Fi is used for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), providing network connectivity within a local area like a home or office. Neither Bluetooth nor Wi-Fi is typically used for Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs), which cover broader areas and are usually associated with cellular networks.

Option (c) is incorrect: Bluetooth does not require a direct line of sight between devices as it can transmit data through obstacles like walls or furniture, though the presence of obstacles can affect the range and quality of the connection. Wi-Fi also does not require line of sight and can cover greater distances than Bluetooth, with its signals capable of passing through walls and other obstructions, though signal strength may degrade with obstacles.

Option (d) is incorrect: Since statement (b) is incorrect the fourth statement ("The statements (a) and (b) given above are correct in this context") is also incorrect.

Explanation

The most geostrategically significant factor about Southeast Asia is its location between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and its dominance in maritime trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Malacca, Sunda Strait, and Lombok Strait. The Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most crucial maritime chokepoints, is vital for global shipping, making Southeast Asia central to global trade and security. Southeast Asia serves as a critical link between major global economies such as China, India, Japan, and the USA. It controls some of the world’s busiest sea lanes, with a significant portion of global trade and energy supplies passing through the region.

Explanation

A VPN is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection(computer network) over a public internet network (such as the internet) to allow remote users to access their organization’s private network securely. It ensures that data transmitted between the user and the organization’s network is protected from interception or unauthorized access. A VPN encrypts the data transmitted between the user’s device and the VPN server. This ensures that even if the data is intercepted it cannot be read by unauthorized parties. They allow users to bypass geo-restrictions and access content that may be blocked in their region (e.g., streaming services, websites, or social media platforms).

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: One of the key goals of the Look East Policy was to strengthen India’s presence and influence in East and Southeast Asia, aligning with major economies like ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea. It aimed at enhancing trade, investment, defense cooperation, and connectivity in the region.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The end of the Cold War led to a shift in global power dynamics, but the Look East Policy was not specifically aimed at filling a power vacuum. Instead, it was driven by India’s need for economic liberalization, regional integration, and diversification of foreign policy.

Statement 3 is correct: India has deep-rooted cultural and historical links with Southeast and East Asian countries, particularly through Buddhism, Hinduism, and trade routes. The policy is aimed at reviving these traditional ties to strengthen diplomatic and economic partnerships.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Australia Group (AG) is indeed an informal arrangement that aims to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. However, the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) is also an informal group, not a formal OECD body. The Wassenaar Arrangement focuses on the control of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, not chemical or biological weapons.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Australia Group consists of 42 members (including the USA, European countries, Australia, and Japan). It does not primarily comprise Asian, African, or North American nations. The Wassenaar Arrangement consists of 42 members, mainly from Europe, North America, and some Asian countries (including India, Japan, and South Korea). However, it is not exclusive to European and American continents.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Strait of Malacca is already a deep and navigable waterway between Malaysia and Indonesia and is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. Deepening the Malacca Strait would not significantly reduce navigation time because ships already use this route effectively. The real challenge is congestion and piracy, not depth.

Statement 2 is correct: The Kra Canal (proposed) would create a shortcut through Thailand’s Kra Isthmus, connecting the Gulf of Thailand (Siam) with the Andaman Sea. This would allow ships to bypass the long detour through the Malacca Strait, reducing both travel time and distance between India and East Asia. However, the canal has not yet been constructed, though discussions and feasibility studies have taken place.