Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Cristina Kirchner made history by becoming the first elected female President of Argentina, succeeding her husband Nestor Kirchner in 2007. She served as the President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, leading the country through a period of significant economic and social change.

Explanation

ISRO successfully conducted a rocket test using cryogenic engines at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) located in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities necessary for realising the cutting edge propulsion technology products for the Indian space programme. Formerly, IPRC was known as LPSC, Mahendragiri. The IPRC is responsible for developing cryogenic propulsion systems essential for high-performance launch vehicles. A cryogenic engine uses supercooled liquids, typically liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) as propellants. These engines are highly efficient because cryogenic fuels have a higher specific impulse, meaning they provide greater thrust for a given mass of fuel.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Orange Prize, now known as the Women’s Prize for Fiction, is a prestigious international award that recognizes and celebrates outstanding fiction written by women. Established in 1996, this prize acknowledges and promotes exceptional literary works by female authors worldwide.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Pulitzer Prize has a different focus and eligibility criteria. It is an esteemed award that honors exceptional achievements in journalism, literature, and music composition within the United States. Administered by Columbia University in New York City, the Pulitzer Prize is not affiliated with the Commonwealth Foundation, nor is it open to citizens of Commonwealth countries for literary works in English.

Explanation

Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect: Apophis was a near-Earth asteroid named after the Egyptian God of chaos. Spitzer is an infrared space telescope launched by NASA in 2003. TechSar is a reconnaissance satellite equipped with synthetic-aperture radar, used for surveillance and intelligence purposes.

Option (b) is correct: Cassini was a groundbreaking planetary exploration mission led by NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian space agency (ASI). This advanced robotic spacecraft was designed to study Saturn, its rings, and its moons in extraordinary detail. As part of the mission, Cassini carried the ESA-built Huygens probe, which landed on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. During its descent through Titan’s dense atmosphere, Huygens captured remarkable images and data, eventually landing on an icy floodplain damp with liquid methane.

Explanation

The earthquake in 2007 that led to massive radioactive water leakage occurred in Japan. The incident took place at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (net capacity of 7,965 megawatts), which is the largest nuclear plant in the world.

Explanation

World Summit on Sustainable Development WSSD (Rio+10) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, marking 10 years since the 1992 Earth Summit. It focused on balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. Key Outcomes - Affirmed commitment to Agenda 21 and the Millennium Development Goals, leading to the Johannesburg Declaration for global sustainable development.

Explanation

In June 1945, Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, proposed the Wavell Plan at the Simla Conference to reconstitute the Viceroy’s Executive Council. The plan’s key features included: 1. All members of the Executive Council would be Indian except the governor general and commander-in-chief. 2. Equal representation for Caste Hindus and Muslims. 3. All portfolios, including that of War Members were to be held by the Indians. 4. The Viceroy/Governor-General would retain veto power, but its use would be minimal.

Explanation

The first desalination plant in India, which produces one lakh litres of freshwater per day based on the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) principle, was commissioned in Kavaratti, the capital of Lakshadweep. This plant was developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

Explanation

In the 1936-37 elections, the Indian National Congress formed a ministry in 8 out of 11 provinces under the Government of India Act, 1935. Congress ministries were formed, focusing on education, economic reform, and civil liberties. Assertion (A) is true: In 1939, all Congress ministries resigned from their positions in the provinces. The resignations marked the end of Congress-led governance under the Government of India Act, 1935, intensifying the freedom struggle. Reason (R) is true: Congress ministries resigned in 1939 because the Viceroy declared India a belligerent in WWII without consulting Indian leaders. While Congress believed India should decide independently, they also opposed supporting Britain’s war against Germany under colonial rule. This lack of consultation was the direct cause of their resignation. Therefore Reason (R) correctly explains the Assertion (A).

Explanation

Hand-in-Hand 2007’ was a joint anti-terrorism military training exercise conducted between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. This was part of confidence-building measures between the two countries to improve bilateral military cooperation. The only joint military exercise between India and China.