Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

The Bundala Biosphere Reserve, located on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, is a significant ecological site recognized for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. In 2005, UNESCO designated Bundala as a Man and Biosphere Reserve, making it the only coastal biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka.

Explanation

In 2005, ONGC-Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL), a joint venture between India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh (ONGC) and Mittal Investment Sarl, entered into an agreement with the Nigerian government to explore offshore oil and gas blocks OPL-279 and OPL-285.

Explanation

In 2005-2006, Niger suffered a severe food crisis, particularly in Maradi, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Zinder, due to early rainfall shortages and desert locust infestations, which damaged crops and pasturelands. Poor harvests and reduced grazing areas worsened food scarcity. High food prices and widespread poverty further restricted access to essential supplies, leading to severe malnutrition and starvation.

Explanation

The Revolt of 1857 was a major upheaval against the British Rule in India which is also called as "sepoy mutiny". The revolt started at Meerut(Uttar Pradesh). John Lawrence called it a sepoy mutiny.

Option (a) is correct: Lord Canning (1856-62) was the Governor-General of India during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Establishment of three universities at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857 and enactment of Indian Councils Act of 1861 also happened during Canning’s time. Transfer of control from East India Company to the Crown through the Government of India Act, 1858 and ‘White Mutiny’ by European troops in 1859 were other notable events during his tenure as Governor General.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Article 249 empowers the Rajya Sabha to pass a resolution allowing Parliament to legislate on matters in the State List if it is in the national interest. This resolution requires a two-thirds majority and remains in effect for one year, with the possibility of extension through subsequent resolutions.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The proclamation of emergency must be approved by a special majority of both the Houses of Parliament within one month from the date of its issue under article 352(6). If a proclamation of emergency is issued when the Lok Sabha is dissolved, or if it dissolves within one month without approval, the proclamation remains valid for 30 days from the first sitting of the newly reconstituted Lok Sabha, provided the Rajya Sabha approves it in the meantime. If approved by both the houses, the Emergency continues for 6 months and can be extended to an indefinite period with an approval of the Parliament for every six months.

Explanation

Nationalized Banks are banks in which the majority stake is held by the government of India. Nationalization was carried out in two major waves (1969 and 1980) to bring a larger portion of the banking sector under government control, with the aim of promoting social and developmental objectives. Private Sector Banks are banks in which the majority stake is held by private individuals, companies, or institutions.

Option (c) is correct: Federal Bank is not a nationalized bank. It is a private sector bank headquartered in Aluva, Kerala.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Charter Act of 1853 did not abolish the East India Company’s monopoly of Indian trade. The company’s monopoly on trade with India was abolished earlier by the Charter Act of 1813, and the monopoly on trade with China ended with the Charter Act of 1833. The Charter Act of 1853 primarily focused on restructuring the administration of India and introduced a merit-based civil service.

Statement 2 is correct: Government of India Act, 1858 abolished the rule of the East India Company after the revolt of 1857 and transferred the administration of India directly to the British Crown. It marked the beginning of the British Raj.

Explanation

An indirect tax is one that can be partially or completely shifted from the person who pays it to others. Service Tax falls under this category as it is imposed on service providers but is typically shifted to the service recipient. Other examples are:

Goods and Services Tax (GST), Customs Duty, Excise Duty, Service Tax (before GST), Value Added Tax (VAT) (before GST). A direct tax is one that the taxpayer is obligated to pay directly to the government and cannot be passed on to someone else. Examples include income tax and property tax. Examples of Direct Taxes in India are Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Wealth Tax (now abolished), Capital Gains Tax, Property Tax. Service Tax was an indirect tax imposed by the Central Government on services provided in India until it was subsumed under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017. It was introduced under the Finance Act of 1994 and was applicable to various services, including those offered by travel agents, restaurants, and cable providers.

Explanation

The Revolt of 1857, also known as the First War of Indian Independence, marked a major uprising against British rule in India. Triggered by political, economic, and social grievances, it united soldiers, peasants, and rulers.

Option (d) is correct: Tantia Tope, originally named Ramchandra Panduranga, was a prominent leader of the 1857 Revolt from Kanpur, alongside Nana Sahib and Azimullah Khan. Betrayed by Mansingh, Raja of Narwar, loyal to the Scindia of Gwalior who opposed the revolt, Tantia Tope was captured and hanged on April 18, 1859.

Explanation

India’s justice system is a three-tiered structure comprising the Supreme Court at the top, followed by High Courts in each state or group of states, and subordinate courts at the district and local levels. This system ensures the rule of law, protection of rights, and fair adjudication of disputes. Assertion (A) is False: India has 28 states but only 25 High Courts. Some, like the Guwahati High Court, serve multiple states. Therefore, not every state has its own High Court. Reason (B) is True: The Indian Constitution provides for High Courts for each state (Article 214) but Article 231 also enables the Parliament to establish common HC for two or more states or for two or more States and a Union territory.