Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Option (a) is correct:

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It was established in 1916 and is a premier research institute under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. It conducts research in hydraulic engineering, water resources, river and reservoir modeling, coastal engineering, and dam safety.

Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Sileru (Andhra Pradesh): Known for the Sileru Hydroelectric Project. Jamnagar (Gujarat): Famous for oil refineries and marine national parks. Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh): Known for the Srisailam Dam and temple.

Explanation

Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL) is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It was established in 1978 and specializes in design engineering, procurement, and supervision of construction/ commissioning in the field of fertilizer plants (Urea, Ammonia, Phosphatic fertilizers) and Chemical and allied industries.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the 2006 data, Petronet LNG Ltd. was setting up another LNG terminal at Kochi, Kerala (not Mangalore).

Statement 2 is correct: The Head Office of the Dredging Corporation of India is at Visakhapatnam. DCI is a crucial organization for maintaining and developing India’s waterways. They are responsible for dredging harbors, ports, and shipping channels, ensuring safe and efficient navigation for vessels.

Statement 3 is correct: The Narwapahar Mine is operated by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited. UCIL is the primary company responsible for uranium mining and processing in India, and the Narwapahar Mine in Jharkhand is one of their key operations. It’s an important source of uranium ore, which is essential for India’s nuclear power program.

Explanation

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It is a subtractive color model used in color printing, especially in offset printing and digital printing. Offset printing is widely used for printing newspapers, magazines, brochures, and packaging materials.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Electricity-related appeals are handled through a structured system. While each state has a State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) to oversee its electricity sector, including tariffs, licensing, and consumer complaints, appeals against SERC orders don’t go to a state-level body. Instead, they are directed to the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), a national-level tribunal. The APTEL also hears appeals against orders from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and adjudicating officers. While the idea of having accessible avenues for appeals related to electricity matters is important, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) is actually a national-level body, not one established by each individual state government.

Statement 2 is correct: The Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP), later revamped and renamed as the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) and now subsumed under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), did indeed have a strong focus on upgrading the sub-transmission and distribution network as a core component.

Explanation

A-3: Sisupalgarh is an ancient archaeological site in Odisha that dates back to the 7th to 6th centuries BCE. It was the capital of the ancient Kalinga kingdom and is considered one of the largest and best-preserved ancient fortifications in India. B-4: Piprahwa is a village near Siddharthnagar city in Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh is a significant archaeological site related to the early life of Buddha. It is believed to be the location of the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Buddha. C-1: Goalpara is an archaeological site in Assam. It has many archaeological sites, including Sri Surya Pahar, Dadan Hill and Pir Majhar. D-2: Bishnupur is located in Manipur. Here stands the conical temple of Lord Vishnu built in 1467 during the reign of King Kyamba. It is interesting because of its antiquity and architectural design which was influenced by Chinese style. Bishnupur is also known for its stoneware production.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal exhibit contrasting agricultural land use patterns. Andhra Pradesh has a net sown area of approximately 40%, while West Bengal utilizes about 60% of its land for cultivation. This difference in land utilization makes the initial assertion about their respective net sown areas correct. Reason (R) is false: Most of Andhra Pradesh has red sandy soils, black cotton soils, and alluvial soils, not predominantly laterite soils. Laterite soils are found in parts of the Eastern Ghats and some upland areas, but they do not dominate the state’s agricultural landscape.

Explanation

The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) located in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu is an Institution of National Importance by the Act of Parliament set up in 1993. It functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. It serves as an apex body for youth development, training, research, and policy formulation in India.

Explanation

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Anand Math (1882) is based on the historical events of the Sanyasi Rebellion. The Sannyasi Rebellion (1763-1800) was led by Hindu ‘sannyasis’ and Muslim ‘fakirs’ in Bengal against British economic oppression and restrictions on religious activities. It was triggered by the Bengal famine of 1770 and excessive taxation and it became an early symbol of resistance to colonial rule.

Explanation

Assertion A is true: Since Balance of Payments (BoP) includes trade in goods, services, investments, and financial transfers, it offers a more accurate reflection of a country’s international economic engagement than just Balance of Trade (BoT), which only captures the net export-import balance. Reason R is true: The Balance of Payments (BoP) provides a comprehensive account of a country’s international economic transactions, including both visible (goods) and invisible (services, remittances, investments) trade. In contrast, the Balance of Trade (BoT) only considers the difference between exports and imports of goods, making it a less complete measure of a nation’s financial standing. Thus, both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.