Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Marsupials are a group of mammals commonly referred to as pouched mammals, such as kangaroos and wallabies. These animals are characterized by giving birth to underdeveloped young, which then continue their development in the mother’s pouch (marsupium). They give live birth, but they do not have long gestation times like placental mammals. The pouch provides protection and access to nourishment during this critical growth stage. Statement-I is correct: Marsupials can be observed in regions spanning Australia, Papua New Guinea, and South America. They are not naturally found in India. Examples of marsupials include kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, opossums, bandicoots, and koalas. Statement-II is incorrect: These creatures predominantly inhabit arid and semi-arid areas, and they are not restricted solely to montane grasslands. Marsupials are highly adaptable and thrive in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, grasslands. Additionally, they coexist with predators like dingoes, eagles, and foxes in their natural environments.

Explanation

Option 1 is incorrect: Lion-tailed Macaque, also referred to as the wanderoo, inhabits the upper canopy of tropical evergreen rainforests and monsoon forests across various elevations. This species is endemic to the Western Ghats. They are diurnal which means it is active during the day and not nocturnal. IUCN Red List: Endangered Option 2 is correct: Malabar Civet is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Malabar civet is considered nocturnal and so elusive that little is known about its biology and ecology apart from habitat use. IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered Option 3 is incorrect: The Sambar, a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, is crepuscular, active during twilight (morning and evening), and occasionally after sunset. Males are mostly solitary while females form small herds of up to 16 individuals. IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Explanation

Qutb-ud-Din Bahadur Shah, originally named Bahadur Khan, was a ruler of the Muzaffarid dynasty who governed the Gujarat Sultanate from 1526 to 1535 and again from 1536 to 1537. In 1532, the Mughal Emperor Humayun invaded Gujarat, leading to its temporary fall. Bahadur Shah managed to regain control in 1536, but he was later killed by the Portuguese aboard a ship while negotiating with them. Conclusively, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was the ruler who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese.

Option (a) is incorrect: Ahmad Shah Bahadur, also known as Mirza Ahmad Shah or Mujahid-ud-Din Ahmad Shah Ghazi (1725-1775), was the fourteenth Mughal emperor and the son of Emperor Muhammad Shah.

Option (b) is incorrect: Mahmud Begada (Mahmud Shah I) (1459-1511 CE) was a Sultan of Gujarat known for capturing Pavagadh and Junagadh forts, earning him the title "Begada." He later established Champaner as the capital.

Option (d) is incorrect: Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Shah was the thirteenth Mughal emperor (1719-1748). He was a patron of arts, culture, and administration, often referred to as Muhammad Shah Rangila for his artistic inclinations.

Explanation

The waggle dance is a unique form of communication performed by honey bees (Apis mellifera) to convey information about the direction and distance of food sources, water, or potential nesting sites to other members of their hive. Worker honeybees, all of which are females, constitute the only bees typically observed flying outside the hive by the general populace. Bees perform two distinct types of dances: The Round Dance and the Tail-wagging or Waggle Dance. The waggle dance of honeybees has long been recognized as a behaviour that communicates in-formation about resource location from a foraging worker to her nest mates.

Explanation

Hoysala Dynasty: Originating from the Indian subcontinent, the Hoysala Empire held sway over a significant portion of present-day Karnataka from the 11th to the 14th centuries. While the Hoysalas initially established their capital at Belur, it was later relocated to Halebidu. Gahadavala Dynasty: Following the dissolution of the Pratihara empire, several Rajput states emerged in northern India. Among these, the Gahadavalas of Kanauj (12th to 13th century), the Paramaras of Malwa, and the Chauhans of Ajmer were the most prominent. Kakatiya Dynasty: The Kakatiya dynasty ruled the region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the 12th and 14th centuries. Their capital was Warangal in Telangana. The distinct style of Kakatiya-era architecture is seen in the Thousand Pillar Temple and Ramappa Temple near Warangal. Yadava Dynasty: The Yadava dynasty ruled in the 12th-14th-century and comprised the Hindu kingdom of central India in what is now the Indian state of Maharashtra. Originally a feudatory of the Eastern Chalukyas of Kalyani, the dynasty became paramount in the Deccan under Bhillama (c. 1187-91), who founded Devagiri (later Daulatabad) as his capital.

Explanation

Microorganisms are classified into three primary groups on the basis of their preferred range of temperature:

Psychrophiles (cold-loving microbes) Mesophiles (moderate - temperature - loving microbes) Thermophiles (heat-loving microbes).

Statement 1 is correct: Hyperthermophiles such as Pyrobolus and Pyrodictium can grow at temperatures exceeding 100°C especially in high-pressure environments like deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Statement 2 is correct: Psychrophiles such as Colwellia psy-chrerythraea and Pseudomonas syringae can grow at temperatures as low as -10°C and remain metabolically active even at -20°C in environments like Arctic permafrost, deep-sea polar waters, and glacial ice. These microbes produce cryoprotectants such as antifreeze proteins to prevent ice crystal formation in-side their cells.

Statement 3 is correct: Acidophiles such as Ferroplasma acidar-manus and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans thrive in environments with pH as low as 0.5, such as acidic hot springs, acid mine drain-ages, and volcanic sulfur pools. These microbes have evolved mechanisms to pump out excess protons (H ions) to maintain internal pH stability. Some acidophiles like Thermoplasma lack a cell wall but possess specialized membrane structures to withstand extreme acidity.

Explanation

Orangutans are highly intelligent great apes known for their tool-using abilities. They have been observed breaking off small branches and using them as tools to scrape insects from holes in trees or logs. This behavior demonstrates their advanced cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability in foraging. None of the other listed animals.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: In India, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are established at the local level under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) work with BMCs to regulate access to biological resources and traditional knowledge, ensuring compliance with the Nagoya Protocol.

Statement 2 is correct: Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers BMCs to determine Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms for biological resources found within their jurisdiction. They can levy collection fees on any person or entity accessing biological resources for commercial use.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Besnagar (located in Madhya Pradesh) is not known for being a Shaivite Cave Shrine. It is known for Garuda Pillar dedicated to lord Vasudeva by Heliodorus, an envoy of an Indo-Greek ruler Antialkidas in the court of Bhagabhadra. Heliodorus followed Vaishnava Sect.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Bhaja (located in Maharashtra) is renowned for its Buddhist cave complex dating back to the 2nd century BCE. The 22 cave complex is part of the early phase of Buddhist rock-cut architecture and include a chaitya (prayer hall) and viharas (monastic cells).

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Sittanavasal (located in Tamil Nadu) is famous for its Jain cave complex which dates back to the 2nd century BCE. The site includes a rock-cut cave temple with beautiful frescoes depicting Jain themes such as the Samavasarana (divine preaching hall).

Explanation

The ‘Small Farmer Large Field’ (SFLF) concept is an innovative agricultural model designed to address the challenges faced by small and marginal farmers. In this approach numerous smallholder farmers in a specific region come together to form groups and collectively manage and synchronize their farming activities. By pooling their resources and coordinating operations--from seed selection to harvesting--they effectively transform their fragmented individual plots into a unified larger field. Key Features of the SFLF Model:

Collective Decision-Making: Farmers jointly select crop varieties and plan the cultivation process, ensuring uniformity and efficiency across the consolidated land. Synchronized Agricultural Operations: Activities such as planting, irrigation, pest management, and harvesting are carried out in a coordinated manner, optimizing resource use and reducing operational costs. Enhanced Bargaining Power: By operating as a collective, farmers gain better leverage when negotiating with suppliers for inputs like seeds and fertilizers, and when marketing their produce to buyers, leading to improved income and market access.