Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

With respect to the year when this was asked, Bengali has largest number of speakers in the world i.e. 207 million, French - 79 million speakers, Japanese - 125 million speakers, Portuguese - 176 milion speakers.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Abid Hussain Committee (1997) recommended the abolition of the reservation of items for the small-scale sector in industry. This recommendation was made to enhance the competitiveness of small-scale industries (SSIs) by opening up reserved items to medium and large-scale industries and promoting efficiency and modernization. Options (b) is incorrect: Narasimham Committee (1991 & 1998) focused on banking sector reforms to enhance financial stability and improve banking efficiency. Some of its recommendations include:

Reducing Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). Recommended the establishment of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) to address Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). Proposed the autonomy of public sector banks and the establishment of a stronger regulatory framework under RBI. Options (c) is incorrect: Nayak Committee (1992) focused on improving credit availability for small-scale industries (SSIs). Key Recommendations:

Banks should provide working capital equivalent to 20% of the annual turnover of SSIs. Simplify loan procedures and reduce collateral requirements for SSIs. Establish specialized branches for SSI lending. Recommended the formation of a dedicated financial institution to cater to small-scale industries. Options (d) is incorrect: Rakesh Mohan Committee (2004) analyzed small savings schemes and suggested reforms to align them with market rates. It recommended rationalization of interest rates on schemes like National Savings Certificates (NSCs) and Post Office Deposits. It proposed that small savings schemes should no longer distort the financial market and advocated better financial literacy for savers.

Explanation

New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in 1893. The USA gave women full voting rights at the federal level in 1920 with the 19th Amendment. India granted women voting rights in 1950 when India adopted its constitution. Iceland gave women full voting rights in 1915, though initially limited to women over 40.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was India’s largest petrochemical company and not Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL). RIL had established itself as a dominant player in the petrochemical sector, with significant market shares in various products. Specifically, RIL was the largest manufacturer of monoethylene glycol, puri-fied terephthalic acid, and paraxylene, holding an 80% market share in these products. Additionally, the company had a 50% market share in polymers such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and polyethylene.

Option (b) is correct: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is the largest private sector company in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has diversified interests in petrochemicals, refining, oil, telecommunications, and retail.

Option (c) is correct: MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited) was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Option (d) is correct: BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) was the first telecom service organization in India to launch nationwide mobile services. It was formed by separating the telecom services division from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Note: Currently India is second largest producer of steel and coal both.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: India has a significant fertilizer industry, particularly in nitrogenous fertilizers. According to the "Chemical and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance" report by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, India ranks 4th globally in the production of inorganic chemicals, which includes nitrogenous fertilizers.

Option (b) is correct: Regarding steel production, India was the ninth-largest producer in 2002, with a production of 31.8 million metric tons as per worldsteel.org.

Option (c) is correct: India is the second-largest producer of silk globally, after China.

Option (d) is correct: In 2003, India was the third-largest producer of coal globally, following China and the United States.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct: In the fiscal year 2000-01, In-dia’s industrial sector experienced varied growth rates across different industries. According to the Economic Survey 2000-01, during the period from April to December 2000, the growth rates for key industries were as follows:

Cement: The cement industry recorded a growth rate of 2.3%, a significant decline from the 16.0% growth observed during the same period in the previous year. Electricity: The electricity sector experienced a growth rate of 4.7%, down from 7.5% in the corresponding period of the previous year. Coal: The coal industry saw an improvement, with a growth rate of 5.2% compared to 3.0% in the same period of the prior year. Steel: The steel industry achieved a growth rate of 9.0%, which was a decrease from the 11.0% growth rate recorded in the same period of the previous year.

Explanation

The Congress Session at Karachi (1931), under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, did not oppose the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. It supported the pact, which was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (the Viceroy), aimed at ending the Civil Disobedience Movement in exchange for certain concessions, including the release of political prisoners and the right to make salt for personal use. Statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct:

The Rowlatt Act (1919) led to widespread protests, which culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Forward Bloc in 1939 to unite all like minded left-wing factions of the Indian National Congress. Bhagat Singh was one of the key members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). Its members became symbols of sacrifice and resistance.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Alliance Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indian Airlines which was established in 1996. Alliance Air operates regional flights under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme to enhance connectivity to remote areas. Alliance Air was rebranded as Alliance Air (India) Limited in 2022 after the privatization of Air India. Options (b), (c), (d) are incorrect:

As of 2003, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) managed 12 international airports across the country, including major hubs like Chennai, Kolkata, and Trivandrum. The number of international airports under AAI’s management has evolved over time due to the development of new airports and changes in management structures. As of 2024, AAI manages 34 international airports and over 110 domestic airports. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) not AAI is the regulatory body responsible for enforcing civil aviation regulations, air safety, and airworthiness standards in India. The AAI primarily focuses on creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure, including airports and air traffic management. DGCA ensures compliance with international aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The planning and construction of runways and terminal buildings fall under the purview of the Airports Authority of India. The AAI handles the design, development, operation, and maintenance of airports, ensuring the infrastructure meets international standards.

Explanation

When the Congress leaders condemned the Montagu-Chelmsford Report (1918) for not granting enough self-governance to India, many moderate leaders led by Surendra Nath Banerjee who were dissatisfied with Congress’s position left the party and formed the Indian Liberal Federation. This organization aimed to support gradual constitutional reforms and believed in constitutional methods for achieving Indian self-rule.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Kitab-I-Nauras (The Book of 9 Rasas), a collection of songs praising both Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was composed by Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Adil Shahi dynasty in the 16th century. The fifty-nine songs and seventeen couplets of the book are written in Dakhni Urdu. It also indicates the ragas in which they were to be sung. He was a dhrupad singer and the player of an instrument called tambour.

Statement 2 is correct: Amir Khusrau, a renowned Sufi poet, musician, and scholar, is credited with the foundation of Qawwali music in India. Qawali is a devotional form of Islamic music deeply embedded in the mystical traditions of Sufism, and Amir Khusrau is often regarded as its spiritual and musical architect in the Indian subcontinent.