Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Kapildhara Falls is l situated on the Narmada River located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is named after sage Kapila who is believed to have meditated here.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Jog Falls on Sharavathi River is located in Shivamogga district, Karnataka.. This impressive waterfall is formed by the Sharavathi River plunging down a deep gorge. It is also called "Gerusoppa Falls" or "Jogada Gundi".

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Shivasamudram Falls is another well-known waterfall in Karnataka, is correctly associated with the Cauvery River. This waterfall is not only a natural spectacle but also a source of hydroelectric power.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Daman Ganga Irrigation Project is located in Gujarat. This project utilizes the waters of the Damanganga River which flows through both Gujarat and Maharashtra, to provide irrigation to agricultural lands in the region. This project is crucial for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial water supply in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Girna Irrigation Project is situated in Maharashtra. This project harnesses the waters of the Girna River, a tributary of the Tapi River.The key component of the project is the Girna Dam, an earthfill dam constructed across the Girna River. The primary purpose of the Girna Irrigation Project is to provide irrigation to agricultural lands in the Nashik and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra. The project helps to stabilize and increase agricultural production in this region.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Pamba River originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Pathanamthitta district, Kerala before emptying into the Vembanad Lake. The Pamba Irrigation Project was built for agriculture and drinking water supply, mainly benefiting Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts. This river is also spiritually significant as it flows near the Sabarimala Temple.

Explanation

The Tapovan and Vishnugarh hydroelectric projects are located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. These projects utilize the waters of the Dhauliganga River. The Tapovan-Vishnugarh project is a run-of-river scheme, meaning it harnesses the natural flow of the river without creating a large storage reservoir. Developed by NTPC Limited, a major power generation company in India, the Tapovan-Vishnugarh project has a planned installed capacity of 520 MW. This capacity represents a substantial contribution to the power generation capabilities of Uttarakhand and the nation. Run-of-river projects like this generally have a smaller environmental footprint compared to large dam projects with vast reservoirs.

Explanation

Nagender Singh served as India’s Chief Election Commissioner (1986-1990). A.N. Ray was appointed Chief Justice of India in 1973, superseding three senior judges. R.K. Trivedi was a judge who served as President of the International Court of Justice. Ashok Desai was India’s Attorney General (1996-1998).

Explanation

The policy aims to provide electricity access to all households by 2009, ensure quality and reliable power at reasonable rates, and guarantee a minimum lifeline consumption of one unit per household per day as a merit good by 2012.

Explanation

In a rare honour, 30 Rig Veda manuscripts dating from 1800 to 1500 BC have been included in Unesco’s Memory of the World Register, a compendium of documentary heritage of exceptional value, this year. However, India’s second entry, the Sharada script, could not make it to the register.

Explanation

A-4, K. P. Singh, Chairman of DLF Ltd., is a key figure in India’s real estate sector. B-1, Vikram Pandit, former CEO of Citigroup, is a prominent name in banking. C-2, Roopa Farooki is an acclaimed contemporary fiction author known for novels like The Way Things Look to Me. D-3, Kishore Biyani, Founder and CEO of Future Group, is recognized as the "King of Indian Retail."

Explanation

The Veerappa Moily Committee was set up by the Government of India for Administrative Reforms. This committee’s main focus was to recommend measures for improving the efficiency and accountability of the Indian administrative system. The committee’s report, known as the Moily Committee Report, primarily dealt with reforms in the administrative processes of the government, addressing issues like the modernization of the administrative machinery and better governance.

Explanation

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential over 25 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a 100-year period. The primary sources of methane emissions can be categorized into natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) sources.

Option 1 is correct: Rice fields emit methane due to the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in waterlogged conditions. This is a significant contributor to global methane emissions, particularly in rice-producing countries.

Option 2 is correct: Coal mining releases methane trapped within coal seams during the mining process. This is known as fugitive methane emissions and is a key source of industrial methane.

Option 3 is correct: Domestic animals, particularly ruminants like cattle and sheep, produce methane during enteric fermentation, a digestive process where microbes break down food in the stomach.

Option 4 is correct: Wetlands are natural sources of methane, produced through the anaerobic decomposition of organic material in water-saturated soils.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Passion flower plant is not an insectivorous plant. Passion flowers are flowering plants, typically known for their beautiful blooms and use in ornamental gardening.

Option (b) is correct: Pitcher plant is an insectivorous plant that derives nutrients by trapping and digesting insects. Its leaves are modified into pitcher-like structures containing digestive fluids. Insects are lured by the plant’s bright colors and nectar and are trapped when they fall into the pitcher. This adaptation helps the plant survive in nutrient-poor soils such as those lacking nitrogen.

Option (c) is incorrect: Night queen also known as Raat ki Rani, this is a type of flowering plant known for its fragrant flowers that bloom at night. It is not insectivorous.

Option (d) is incorrect: Flame of the forest is a flowering tree (also known as Butea monosperma), primarily used for its ornamental and medicinal properties, and is not an insectivorous plant.