Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

The first linguistic state in India, Andhra State, was established on October 1, 1953, after being separated from the Madras Presidency. From 1953 until 1956, Kurnool served as the capital of Andhra State. Hyderabad became the capital after Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 (after Telangana and Hyderabad State merged).

Explanation

Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency is the largest parliamentary constituency in India by area. It covers the entire Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir (now a Union Territory since 2019), spanning over 173,266 square kilometers. Despite being the largest in area, it has one of the lowest populations among Lok Sabha constituencies due to its harsh terrain and sparse settlements.

Explanation

Coffee Board Establishment: Created in accordance with the 1942 Coffee Act. Bengaluru, Karnataka, is the headquarters. Functions: Research, extension, development, market intelligence, internal and external promotion, and welfare initiatives are the main areas of concentration for the Coffee Board, which supports coffee production in India. Rubber Board Establishment: Constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947. Headquarters: Kottayam, Kerala. Functions: The Rubber Board is responsible for the overall development of the rubber industry in India, including research, extension, and market development activities. Tea Board Establishment: Constituted under the Tea Act, 1953. Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal. Functions: The Tea Board promotes the cultivation, processing, domestic trade, and export of tea from India. It also oversees research and development activities to improve tea quality and production. Tobacco Board Establishment: Constituted under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975. Headquarters: Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Functions: The Tobacco Board regulates the production and marketing of tobacco in India, promoting exports and ensuring fair trade practices.

Explanation

Convert feet to centimetres: 1 foot = 30.48 cm 6 feet = 6 × 30.48 = 182.88 cm Convert centimeters to nanometers: 1 cm = 10 nanometers 182.88 cm = 182.88 × 10 nm 183 × 10 nm

Explanation

In India, there are three High Courts (excluding UTs) that have jurisdiction over more than one state. These are:

1. Punjab and Haryana High Court - Jurisdiction over Punjab and Haryana.

2. Bombay High Court - Jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

3. Guwahati High Court - Jurisdiction over Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Explanation

In India, Ebrahim Alkazi was a well-known theatre director, acting instructor, and art enthusiast. From 1962 until 1977, he was the Director of the National School of Drama (NSD), where he transformed Indian theatre education. By fusing Indian customs with Western methods, Alkazi significantly contributed to the modernisation of Indian theatre. He also served as a tutor to Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, among other well-known performers. For his services to Indian theatre, he received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

Explanation

Asian Development Bank (ADB)- India is a founding member of ADB (established in 1966) and one of its largest borrowers. It has 69 members, 49 of whom are from Asia and the Pacific and 20 of whom are from outside, up from its founding in 1966 with 31 members. Owners of shares: The People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), Australia (5.7%), and Japan and the United States (each holding 15.6% of the total shares) are the top five shareholders of ADB as of December 31, 2019. Its headquarters is in Manila, Philippines. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)- In 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) was founded as a regional economic forum to capitalize on the region’s increasing interconnectedness. Through speeding regional economic integration and encouraging balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secure growth, APEC seeks to increase prosperity for the people of the area. The APEC process is supported by a permanent secretariat based in Singapore. India is not a member of APEC. Colombo Plan-The Colombo Process is a regional consultative body with 12 Asian member states. It seeks to encourage South and Southeast Asian nations that send migrant workers outside to share best practices in this area. India is a founding member of the Colombo Plan (established in 1950) for economic and social development in Asia-Pacific. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) provides technical and administrative support to the Colombo Process. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)- It is an international organisation of 38 countries committed to democracy and the market economy. OECD members are typically democratic countries that support free-market economies. The OECD was established on December 14, 1960, by 18 European nations, plus the United States and Canada. Headquarters: Paris, France. India is not a full member of the OECD but participates as a key partner in some OECD initiatives.

Explanation

The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) launched by the Government of India to support elderly individuals from below-poverty-line (BPL) house-holds.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The scheme is applicable to individuals aged 60 years or above who belong to BPL households. How-ever the eligibility is not restricted to rural areas alone as it encompasses both rural and urban BPL households.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The central assistance provided under IGNOAPS is 200(not 300) per month for beneficiaries aged between 60 to 79 years and 500 per month for those aged 80 years and above. States are encouraged to contribute an equivalent or higher amount to enhance the pension received by the beneficiaries.

Explanation

Bimbavati Devi is a renowned Manipuri classical dancer. She is the daughter of Kalavati Devi and Guru Bipin Singh, two renowned Manipuri dancers. She has promoted Raas Leela and other traditional Manipuri dance styles through her numerous performances in India and overseas. The traditional Vaishnavite ceremonial motions of ancient Manipuri form and delicate developments for her modern productions are expertly balanced in Bimbavati Devi’s present style.

Explanation

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), also known as Rio+10, was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002. This summit marked the 10th anniversary of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992. The WSSD focused on sustainable development issues, including poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, and the promotion of sustainable practices worldwide. In 1992, the Earth Summit (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It resulted in key outcomes such as the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and the establishment of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).