Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), established by FAO & WHO in 1963, sets international food safety standards. The WTO’s SPS Agreement recognizes Codex for food safety disputes.

Option (b) is incorrect: IFAN promotes standardization awareness but does not set food safety standards.

Option (c) is incorrect: ISO develops voluntary standards, including ISO 22000, but WTO relies on Codex under the SPS Agreement for food safety disputes.

Option (d) is incorrect: WSC, a partnership between ISO, IEC, and ITU, focuses on technical standards, not food safety, making it irrelevant to WTO disputes.

Explanation

Buddhism emerged in India around the 6th century BCE, and reached its zenith during the reign of Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism and instituted dharma as the state ideology. (3rd century BCE). Later, it began to decline in the 4th-6th century CE due to increasing influence of Brahmanism and was mostly replaced by Hinduism by the 12th century.

Statement 1 is correct: Buddhism declined during the entire phase of Bhakti movement absorbing various aspects of Hinduism such as Buddha’s inclusion as 9th incarnation of Vishnu thus becoming a part of Vaishnavism. This assimilation made Buddhist practices and beliefs blend into mainstream Hinduism.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Kushans, the Sakas, the Greeks, and the Parthians were some of the Central Asian tribes that invaded India. Though some tribes like the Huns adopted Hinduism during the period 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. Buddhism gained a strong foothold in the north western India. Many of the foreigners like the Indo-Greeks and the Kushanas, who invaded India during this time accepted Buddhism

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Gupta rulers gave patronage to Bhagvatism. But they were tolerant to other religions too. The Chinese pilgrims Fa Hien and Hsuan Tsang, who came to India during the reign of Chandragupta II and Harsha respectively, clearly give the impression that Buddhism was also flourishing.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: According to World Bank data, India’s nominal GDP grew significantly between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, India’s nominal GDP was around $468.4 billion, and by 2010, it had crossed $1.7 trillion, reflecting an increase of approximately 2.5 to 3 times. While this reflects robust and steady economic expansion, it falls short of the fourfold increase claimed in the statement. Over the last decade from 2014 to 2024, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) witnessed substantial growth, rising from around $2 trillion in 2014 to approximately $3.7 trillion in 2023, reflecting an increase of $1.7 trillion during this period.

Statement 2 is correct: In the early 1990s, the public sector contributed significantly to India’s GDP, accounting for around 25-30% of the total GDP. By 2010, following economic liberalization and reforms that encouraged private sector growth, the public sector’s share had declined to around 20-22%. Between 2014 and 2024, the public sector’s share in India’s GDP declined from around 20-22% to approximately 15-17% (RBI, Economic Survey). This reduction is driven by aggressive disinvestment, privatization of PSUs like Air India, and a policy shift favoring private sector growth in non-strategic sectors.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 countries, mostly former British territories. It has no formal treaty but follows agreements like the 1971 Singapore Declaration and 1991 Harare Declaration. The Commonwealth Charter (2013) was adopted as a non-binding declaration of principles, but it does not serve as a legal constitution or treaty.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Membership is not automatic--some former British territories opted out, while others joined later. Mozambique and Rwanda became members despite no British colonial ties, while the U.S. is not a member despite its history.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: About 97.5% of Earth’s water is saltwater found in oceans. The remaining 2.5% is freshwater. Most of it is locked in glaciers, ice caps, or deep underground. Only about 0.3% of total freshwater is readily available in rivers, lakes, and accessible groundwater for human use. Since 0.3% of 2.5% is less than 1% of total water, this confirms that freshwater available for use is indeed less than 1%.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Around 68.7% of all freshwater is stored in ice caps and glaciers, primarily in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. The remaining freshwater is found in groundwater, rivers, and lakes. The volume of water in rivers and lakes combined is only about 0.3% of the total freshwater available.

Explanation

Statement (1) is incorrect: The European Council does not legislate economic policies; it sets the EU’s broad political direction. Legislation is handled by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.

Statement (2) is incorrect: The European Commission consists of commissioners from each EU country, nominated by governments and approved by the European Parliament. The European Council includes EU Heads of State/Government, its President, and the European Commission President--not members nominated by the European Parliament.

Explanation

Pondicherry (now Puducherry), a key port town on the southeastern coast of India, witnessed the influence of multiple European powers due to its strategic importance in trade and colonial expansion.

Statement 1 is correct: The Portuguese were the first European power to occupy Pondicherry (Puducherry). They established their control in the early 16th century, setting the stage for later European involvement.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The second European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Dutch, not the French. The French later established control in 1674 and made Pondicherry their stronghold in India, but they were not the immediate successors to the Portuguese.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The English did occupy Pondicherry multiple times during their conflicts with the French. The British captured Pondicherry in 1761 and returned it to French control as part of treaty settlements.

Explanation

Option (1) is incorrect: The NSAP’s primary constitutional foundation lies in the Directive Principles of State Policy, not Fundamental Rights. While it contributes to the socio-economic conditions that enhance the enjoyment of Fundamental Rights, it is not designed or implemented as a means of enforcing them.

Option (2) is incorrect: Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Article 51A) are directed towards citizens and do not impose obligations on the state. The NSAP is not linked to the fulfillment of Fundamental Duties.

Option (3) is correct: The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) launched by the Government of India aims to provide social assistance to the elderly, disabled, and other vulnerable sections of society. It directly aligned with the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), which guide the government towards social welfare under:

Article 41: The State is directed to provide public assistance in case of old age, sickness, and disablement, which is the primary aim of NSAP. Article 42: Deals with just and humane conditions of work, which is indirectly addressed through such social assistance programs. Article 46: Promotes the welfare of weaker sections, which the NSAP specifically targets.

Explanation

The 1793 regulation was introduced as part of Lord Cornwallis’s judicial and administrative reforms during his tenure as Governor-General of India. Statement (a) is incorrect: Cornwallis’s reforms aimed at revenue efficiency, but the primary goal of depriving the District Collector of judicial powers was to ensure systemic fairness and prevent the concentration of power. Statement (b) is incorrect: The policy was not based on a racial division of duties; instead, it focused on the principle of separating powers to prevent misuse. Statement (c) is correct: Lord Cornwallis was concerned about the concentration of power in the hands of the District Collector, who held both revenue and judicial authority. To prevent inefficiency and corruption, he restructured the system, separating executive and judicial functions. Statement (d) is incorrect: While judicial work required knowledge and training, Cornwallis’s decision was primarily driven by the need to separate powers rather than concerns about the qualifications of the District Collector.

Explanation

The Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-1997) marked a shift in India’s industrialization strategy by emphasizing infrastructure development and liberalization policies over traditional heavy industries. This change stemmed from the economic reforms of 1991, which aimed to boost private sector participation, attract foreign investment, and focus on services and technology-driven industries. This shift had significant implications, including the modernization of infrastructure, which improved connectivity and efficiency, and the expansion of the private sector, which became a key driver of economic growth and employment opportunities.