Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

The Dandi March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, was a pivotal event in India’s independence movement. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, it began on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram and ended on April 6, 1930, in Dandi, Gujarat. Covering 240 miles, Gandhi and his followers protested against the British salt tax by producing salt from the sea, violating colonial laws.

Option (c) is correct: This act of nonviolent resistance marked the formal launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement, which aimed to challenge British authority through mass protests and the boycott of imperial policies.

Explanation

Elephant Pass is a strategic location in northern Sri Lanka, connecting the Jaffna Peninsula to the rest of the island. This narrow isthmus, about 12 km wide, is the only land route between Jaffna and the rest of Sri Lanka, making it a crucial trade route and a significant cultural and historical site.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan "Do or Die" during his speech at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on August 8, 1942. The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or August Kranti Movement, began on this day. Gandhi’s speech was a final push to force the British to leave India. He said, "We shall do or die. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery".

Explanation

The Deepak Parekh Committee was a committee that recommended ways to finance infrastructure development in India.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi chose the Satyagrahis for the Individual Satyagraha movement which is also known as ‘Delhi Chalo Movement’. The movement began on October 17, 1940. It was non-violent and symbolic in nature, and was meant to affirm the right to speech. The movement was a response to the August Offer made by the then Viceroy of India, Linlithgow. Following were the first few satyagrahis in Individual Satyagraha:

Satyagrahi Name 1 Vinoba Bhave 2 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru 3 Brahma Dutt

Explanation

The Cripps Proposals were introduced by Sir Stafford Cripps in March 1942 during World War II to secure Indian support for the Allied war effort. Cripps aimed to address India’s demand for self-rule by offering a post-war framework.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Cripps Proposals did not offer full independence to India. Instead, it offered the possibility of dominion status for India, which meant self-government within the British Commonwealth.

Statement 2 is correct: The Cripps Proposals included provisions for the creation of a Constitution-making body in India. This body, called the Constituent Assembly, would be responsible for drafting the new constitution. It would consist of representatives from various Indian provinces and political parties, with the authority to shape the country’s future governance

Explanation

Aruna Asaf Ali was an important figure in the Indian freedom struggle. She actively participated in various underground activities and played a significant role in the Quit India Movement. These activities included organizing secret meetings, distributing leaflets and pamphlets, and spreading awareness about the movement. One of the most iconic moments of Aruna Asaf Ali’s involvement in the Quit India Movement was when she hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Explanation

In March 1942, the British government sent the Cripps Mission to gain full Indian cooperation in the war effort. The mission was led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing Labourite and a member of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet.

Explanation

The Shourya is a canisterised missile system that can be easily handled, transported and stored within the canister for longer shelf-life. The high manoeuvrability of the missile makes it less vulnerable to available anti-missile defence systems.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Can carry a payload of 200 to 1000 kg.Propellant - Solid fuel is a hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile. It is known to travel at speeds of up to Mach 7.5, which is slightly less than Mach 8.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The range of the Shourya missile is approximately 750-1900 km, depending on its payload, but its operational range typically does not exceed 1600 km in standard configurations.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: INS Sindhughosh is not an aircraft carrier. It is a diesel-electric submarine of the Sindhughosh class, which is based on the Russian Kilo-class submarines. It is used for anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering.

Statement 2 is incorrect: INS Viraat is not a submarine. It was an aircraft carrier and served as the flagship of the Indian Navy for many years. It played a significant role in enhancing India’s naval power before being decommissioned in 2017.