Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

The reflectivity of a surface, known as albedo, determines how much sunlight is reflected back. Surfaces with higher albedo reflect more sunlight, while those with lower albedo absorb more.

Option (c) is correct: Land covered with fresh snow has the highest albedo amongst the options given above. Snow reflects approximately 80-90% of the sunlight that strikes it. This makes snow-covered surfaces highly reflective compared to others. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Sand deserts have a lower albedo, generally ranging between 30-40%. This means they absorb more sunlight and reflect less compared to snow-covered land. Paddy crop land, similar to prairie land, has a lower albedo of 22-24% due to its vegetation, which absorbs more sunlight rather than reflecting it. The albedo of these areas can change based on vegetation type, moisture levels, and the season. Prairie land, like paddy crop land, typically has a lower albedo of 20-25 % as it is covered with grasses and other vegetation that absorb sunlight rather than reflecting it.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Mediterranean region is characterized by a warm and dry climate with mild, wet winters and is home to evergreen oak trees. The region, including parts of Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia (e.g., Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey), aligns with these climatic and vegetative features, making it distinct compared to other areas. The Mediterranean climate is marked by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters, supporting this unique vegetation. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Eastern China, including the Yangtze River Basin and Shanghai, has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters. It features deciduous forests and bamboo groves, with year-round rainfall, unlike the warm, dry Mediterranean climate with evergreen oaks. Central Asia, covering countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, has a continental climate with hot summers and very cold winters. The region is dominated by grasslands (steppes) and desert vegetation, with minimal tree cover, and lacks the evergreen oak trees and mild, wet winters associated with Mediterranean climates. The Atlantic coast of North America, stretching from the Southeastern United States to the Mid-Atlantic states, features a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild to cool winters. Vegetation includes pine forests, deciduous trees, and wetlands, but it does not exhibit the evergreen oak trees or the warm, dry climate typical of Mediterranean regions.

Explanation

The Coriolis force, which is caused by the Earth’s rotation, is responsible for the deflection of wind patterns. This force influences moving objects, such as winds, and causes them to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis effect is strongest at the poles and diminishes towards the equator. In the Southern Hemisphere, the wind is deflected to the left due to the Earth’s rotation, which results in the clockwise movement of cyclones and alters global wind patterns like trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies.

Explanation

The Champaran Satyagraha was a significant event in India’s freedom struggle, marked by Mahatma Gandhi’s efforts to address the exploitation of indigo farmers.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Dr. Rajendra Prasad was not the one who persuaded Gandhi to visit Champaran. It was Raj Kumar Shukla, a local farmer and indigo cultivator, who approached Gandhi and urged him to look into the plight of the peasants suffering under the oppressive indigo cultivation system.

Statement 2 is correct: Acharya J.B. Kriplani was one of the leaders who supported Gandhi during the Champaran investigation. As a nationalist leader, Kriplani actively worked alongside Gandhi to address the grievances of the oppressed farmers and contribute to the success of the movement.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Sugarcane price in India is determined by statutory provisions of the Sugarcane (Con-tro) Order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955. Until 2009, the Union Government fixed the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) for sugarcane under the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966. However, from the 2009-10 sugar season onwards, the SMP was replaced by the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), which continues to be fixed by the Union Government based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). FRP is the minimum price that is determined by the government of India on the recommendation of CACP.

Statement 2 is correct: Both sugar and sugarcane are classified as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which allows the government to regulate their production, supply, and distribution to ensure availability and control prices.

Explanation

The Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1906 was significant for its adoption of four key resolutions that defined the strategies of the Congress during the Swadeshi movement. These resolutions were: boycotting British goods, resolution on nationalist education system independent of British control, resolution on Swadeshi, adoption of the demand for Swaraj or self-rule. However, the "Annulment of partition of Bengal" was not among these resolutions.

Explanation

Nagarjuna (2nd century A.D.), a key figure in Mahayana Buddhism, founded the Madhyamaka school, emphasizing philosophical concepts like emptiness (shunyata). He was not associated with the Bhakti cult, which focused on devotional worship of a personal deity. In contrast, Tukaram (a Marathi saint), Tyagaraja (a Carnatic music composer), and Vallabhacharya (proponent of Pushtimarg) were central figures in the Bhakti movement, emphasizing love and devotion to God.

Explanation

The Swadeshi Movement was initiated as a direct response to the partition of Bengal announced by Lord Curzon in 1905. The partition was perceived as a deliberate attempt to fragment the Bengali-speaking population along religious lines, thereby weakening the unity of the nationalist movement. The movement focused on boycotting British goods and promoting locally made products, advocating for self-reliance and economic independence. Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak played key roles. Initially strong in Bengal, it spread nationwide, fostering national pride and unity.

Explanation

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), adopted in 1989, is a comprehensive human rights treaty that recognizes the full range of rights for children. The Convention outlines four broad categories of rights for children:- Survival Rights include the child’s right to life, adequate nutrition, healthcare, and a standard of living adequate for development. Development Rights encompass the right to education, access to information, and opportunities for personal, cultural, and social development. Participation Rights include the child’s right to freedom of expression, thought, association, and participation in decisions affecting their lives. Protection Rights safeguard children from exploitation, abuse, and harm. The Right to Recreation is included under development rights, while the Right to Expression falls under participation rights. Together, all three options: development, expression, and recreation are recognized as rights of the child under the UNCRC.

Explanation

The Simon Commission, set up in 1927, was tasked with reviewing the functioning of the Government of India Act, 1919. The key focus of its recommendations revolved around the governance structure in India. It recommended the replacement of dyarchy with responsible government in the provinces. The dyarchy system had divided the responsibilities between the elected Indian ministers and the British-appointed executive, which many viewed as a flawed system.