Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The total land area of the Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers or 147.5 million square kilometers. The Earth’s surface area is about 510 million square kilometers, with land covering roughly 29% of it.

Statement 2 is incorrect: About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and 29% is land. This gives a land-to-water ratio of approximately 1:2.4 and not 1:4 as mentioned in the question.

Statement 3 is correct: The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean, covering an area of about 168 million square kilometers. It contains the maximum percentage of Earth’s water, contributing significantly to the planet’s hydrosphere.

Explanation

The correct order of continents in terms of their percentage of Earth’s land area is:

Asia > Africa > North America > South America > Antarctica > Europe > Australia. The sequence that accurately reflects the decreasing order of land area is:

Africa: Second largest continent, covering 20.3% of Earth’s land area. North America: Third largest continent, covering 16.3% of Earth’s land area. South America: Fourth largest continent, covering 12.0% of Earth’s land area. Europe: Sixth largest continent, covering 6.8% of Earth’s land area.

Explanation

NASA’s THEMIS mission (launched in 2007) investigates the origin and mechanisms of auroras, the colorful lights in high-latitude skies caused by interactions between Earth’s magnetosphere and solar wind. The mission studies substorms--sudden energy releases in the magnetosphere--and processes like magnetic reconnection and plasma waves. that magnetotail reconnection triggers substorms, improving understanding of space weather and its impacts on satellites, communication systems. The mission contributes to heliophysics by exploring Earth’s magnetosphere dynamics. Its primary goal was to study auroras and their connection to energy releases in the magnetosphere.

Explanation

The Quit India Movement (QIM) was a mass civil disobedience campaign launched by the Indian National Congress in August 1942, led by Mahatma Gandhi, demanding an end to British rule in India. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi promoted non-violent resistance during the Quit India Movement but did not ask government servants to quit their roles. He focused on mass civil disobedience and non-cooperation, urging Indians to refuse support for British rule and demand independence. Gandhi ji did not ask soldiers to leave their posts.

Statement 3 is correct: Gandhi preached self-rule (Swaraj) and independence from British rule, advocating for the princely states to embrace their people’s sovereignty.

Explanation

In the 1936-37 elections, the Indian National Congress formed a ministry in 8 out of 11 provinces under the Government of India Act, 1935. Congress did not secure a majority in Punjab. Instead, the Unionist Party, a coalition of landlords and representatives of various religious communities, led by Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, formed the government with support from the Muslim League.

Explanation

The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, held in December 1929, was a landmark event in India’s struggle for independence. Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, this session marked a significant shift in the Congress’s approach towards British rule. The Congress formally adopted the resolution of Purna Swaraj (complete independence), rejecting the earlier goal of dominion status within the British Empire.

Option (b) is correct: One of the key outcomes was the authorization given to the Congress Working Committee to launch a program of civil disobedience if the British government failed to meet Indian demands.

Explanation

The Shimla Conference (1945) aimed to discuss India’s future governance but failed due to Congress-Muslim League disagreements. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (1946) saw Indian sailors revolt against British rule, protesting poor conditions and discrimination.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The conference took place in June

1945 under Lord Wavell, who served as Viceroy from 1943 to 1947. Mountbatten only assumed the role in March 1947, shortly before India’s independence.

Statement 2 is correct: The Indian Navy Revolt began on February 18, 1946, with sailors in Bombay and Karachi protesting poor conditions and discrimination. They demanded national independence and the release of INA and political prisoners, symbolizing India’s growing nationalist sentiment.

Explanation

The Round Table Conferences (1930-1932) were three meetings in London between British officials and Indian leaders to discuss constitutional reforms.

Statement 1 is correct: At the First Round Table Conference in London in 1930, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar represented the depressed classes (now Scheduled Castes) and demanded separate electorates to ensure their adequate representation and protect their interests.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Poona Pact was an agreement between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi(his representatives) in 1932. It provided reserved seats for the depressed classes (Scheduled Castes) in provincial legislatures and ensured their political representation. This pact replaced the separate electorates initially proposed for depressed classes.

Statement 3 is correct: The Indian National Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi, boycotted the Third Round Table Conference in London in 1932. The Congress had reservations about the British government’s proposals, believing the discussions would not yield a satisfactory outcome for India’s future.

Explanation

Government of India Act, 1935, which introduced significant constitutional reforms. All the three given statements are correct: The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for:

Provincial autonomy, granting greater powers to provincial legislatures. The establishment of a Federal Court to resolve disputes between the central and provincial governments. The creation of an All-India Federation at the center, though it was never fully implemented. The expansion of the electorate, allowing more Indians to vote. The introduction of a bicameral legislature at the center, consisting of the Council of States and the Federal Assembly.

Explanation

While North-East India has a high proportion of tribal communities relative to its total population, it does not account for over half of India’s total tribal population.The largest tribal populations are actually concentrated in central In-dia--states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. As per Census 2011, the North-Eastern states account for approximately 12-15% of the total Scheduled Tribe population in India, not more than half. Statements (a), (c) and (d) are correct:

The Constitution of India does not provide a specific definition for Scheduled Tribes. Instead, under Article 342, the President is empowered to specify the tribes or tribal communities to be recognized as Scheduled Tribes in consultation with the respective state governments. The Todas are an indigenous tribe residing in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. They are known for their distinct culture, traditional barrel-vaulted houses, and pastoral lifestyle centered around buffalo herding. Lotha is both a language and the name of a tribe in Nagaland. The Lotha Naga people predominantly inhabit the Wokha district of Nagaland.