Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The Malacca Strait lies between the Malay Peninsula (in Malaysia) and the Sumatra Island (in Indonesia). It connects the Andaman Sea to the South China Sea and is a crucial shipping route. The Malacca Strait is located around 100°E longitude, which is far to the east of the International Date Line (at 180° longitude). It is relatively far from the IDL compared to the other options.

Option (b) is correct: The Bering Strait is extremely close to the International Date Line. The Bering Strait is located between the Easternmost point of Russia (Chukchi Peninsula) and the Alaskan coast of the United States. It connects the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea. The IDL passes through the Bering Strait, making it the closest to the IDL of all the options listed. This proximity means that the time zone on one side of the strait can be almost a full 24 hours ahead or behind the time zone on the other side, depending on the direction of travel.

Option (c) is incorrect: The Strait of Florida lies between Florida (USA) and the Bahamian Islands, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean. It is located at around 81°W longitude, far to the west of the International Date Line, which places it quite far from the IDL.

Option (d) is incorrect: The Strait of Gibraltar is located between the southern tip of Spain and the northern tip of Morocco, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. It is located at about 5°W longitude, much farther west of the Inter-national Date Line.

Explanation

Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, situated between Ukraine and Romania. It does not share a border with Belarus. Moldova shares its longest border with Ukraine (about 1,222 km), covering its northern, eastern, and southern sides. Moldova shares a westward border (681 km) with Romania, following the Prut River. Moldova does not share a border with Belarus. Ukraine lies between Moldova and Belarus, making a direct border impossible.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Ajman is one of the seven emirates and the smallest in terms of area. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates, established on 2nd December 1971. Initially, six emirates--Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Shar-jah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah--formed the union, while Ras al-Khaimah joined later in 1972.

Statement 2 is correct: Initially, Ras al-Khaimah chose not to join the UAE in 1971, but later became part of the federation on 10th February 1972.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The two countries that follow China and India in decreasing order of population are USA and Indonesia. The USA is the third-most populous country, followed by Indonesia at fourth. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

While Brazil and the USA both have large populations, Indonesia has a higher population than Brazil. Canada and Malaysia, both have relatively smaller populations compared to other countries among the given options. While Nigeria has a fast-growing population, it does not currently rank immediately after India and China. Russia has a smaller population size.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct: India’s best performance in football at the Olympics came during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. India became the first Asian country to reach the semi-finals in the Olympic Football Tournament. They beat Australia 4-2 in the quarter-finals but lost to Yugoslavia in the semi-finals.

Option (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect: India’s football team has participated in the Olympic Games, specifically in 1948, 1952, and 1956. They made appearances in the London, Helsinki, and Melbourne Olympics, respectively.

Explanation

Greece won the Euro Football Tournament in 2004, which was held in Portugal. The UEFA European Football Championship (Euro) is a quadrennial tournament featuring 24 European men’s national teams, starting with a group stage and ending in a knockout phase to crown the champion. The tournament is typically held every four years. It is the second most-watched football tournament worldwide, after the FIFA World Cup.

Explanation

Saurav Ganguly captained the Indian cricket team in Test matches for 49 times, which is the highest among the given options. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Sunil Gavaskar: Captained India in 47 Test matches.

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi: Captained India in 40 Test matches. Mohammad Azharuddin: Captained India in 47 Test matches

Explanation

Mahogany is a tropical hardwood tree native to the Americas. Known for its reddish-brown timber, which is durable, beautiful, and easy to work with, mahogany is highly valued in furniture making, cabinetry, and boatbuilding. However, it is not naturally found in the Himalayan region. The climatic and environmental conditions of the Himalayas are unsuitable for its growth, so any presence of mahogany there would be the result of human introduction rather than natural occurrence.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: As of 2008, the four Indian biosphere reserves recognized under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) were:

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (2000)

2. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (2001)

3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (2001)

4. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (2004) The Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve was not included in the WNBR by UNESCO until 2015. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list only in July 2016, becoming the first "Mixed Heritage" site of India. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, located on India’s southeastern coast, is a biodiversity hotspot with coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and rich marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and marine mammals. It supports traditional fishing communities and promotes sustainable development while conserving its unique ecosystem. Recognized by UNESCO, it highlights the balance between conservation and livelihoods. The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in Uttarakhand includes the Nanda Devi National Park and India’s second-highest peak. It protects pristine alpine habitats with endangered species like the snow leopard and Himalayan musk deer. Recognized by UNESCO, it plays a vital role in conserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and its biodiversity. The Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, located in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, is the world’s largest mangrove forest. It supports iconic species like the Bengal tiger and numerous aquatic animals. Recognized by UNESCO, it protects this critical ecosystem known for coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and supporting local livelihoods.

Explanation

Lord Dalhousie is considered "the creator of the map of India". Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie. This policy allowed the British to annex any Indian princely state if the ruler died without a natural heir or was deemed incompetent. The doctrine was based on the idea that the British, as the paramount power, had the right to decide the succession of Indian states. States annexed under this policy:

Satara (1848): The first state to be annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse. Jhansi (1853): Annexed after the death of Raja Gangadhar Rao without a male heir. Nagpur (1854): Annexed after the death of Raghoji III without a natural heir. Annexation of Awadh (1856):

Awadh (or Oudh) was a wealthy and strategically important state in northern India, ruled by the Nawabs of Awadh. Unlike the states annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse, Awadh had a legitimate ruler, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who had a natural heir. Therefore, the Doctrine of Lapse could not be applied here. To justify the annexation, the British accused Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of misgovernance and claimed that the people of Awadh were suffering under his rule. This was largely a pretext to annex the state, as Awadh was a fertile and revenue-rich region.