Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Indian subcontinent is indeed the original home of the cotton plant. The Neolithic Site of Mehrgarh near Bolan Pass in Balochistan region of Pakistan has the oldest evidence of cotton. Many Harappan sites provide evidence of cotton cultivation.

Statement 2 is correct: The first commercial cotton hybrid was Hybrid-4 (H-4), developed by Indian scientist Chandrakant T. Patel in 1970. This hybrid was created by crossing the Gujarat-67 variety with the American variety. These hybrids offer advantages like higher yields, improved resistance to pests and diseases, and better adaptability to diverse climatic conditions.

Explanation

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the regulatory body responsible for granting environmental release of genetically modified (GM) crops like Bt Cotton in India, while the final approval for commercial cultivation is decided by the central government. It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was established under the 1989 Rules, which were framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It oversees the safety assessment of GM crops before their commercial release. Final approvals for cultivation are based on GEAC’s recommendations, but the central government makes the final decision after considering inputs from other stakeholders like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Ministry of Agriculture."

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: India was the second-largest producer of fruits after Brazil in 2003-04. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, this trend continued, and in 2019, India remained the world’s second-largest producer of both fruits and vegetables.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Ranked by volume, Zimbabwe, China, India (3rd), and Malawi were major exporters of tobacco in 2002. However by 2021-22, India was the second largest tobacco producer behind China and India was the 2nd largest exporter of tobacco behind Brazil.

Explanation

Amongst the given, In 2003 as well as the in the latest ranking Japan had the highest life expectancy in the world. The highest average life expectancy countries according to statista are-Monaco > Republic of Korea (South Korea) > China (Hongkong) > Spain > Malta > Israel. In India, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved from 63 years in 2000 to 67.3 years in 2021. Comparison of option countries:

Country Life Expectancy (Approx.) Canada ~83.9 years Germany ~81.5 years Japan ~85.2 years Norway ~83.3 years

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Ethnic Albanians are the largest minority in Macedonia. In 2007, rising tensions over Kosovo’s final status appeared to spark outbreaks of violence. Ethnic Albanian extremists were seeking to break away from Macedonia to join Kosovo. Likewise, Macedonians are a minority in Albania. Greeks are the largest minority of Albania.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Serbs are the largest minority group in Kosovo while the Ethnic Albanian makes up the majority. The conflict in Kosovo was largely driven by ethnic Albanian demands for independence from Serbia.

Explanation

Below is a table summarizing approximate population figures for the four countries in question for the years 2003 and

2024:

Country Population (2003) Population (2024) Indonesia ~222 million ~275 million Pakistan ~158 million ~240 million Japan ~127 million ~123 million Sudan ~39 million ~45 million

Explanation

Based on the data from the Census of India 2001 and 2011, the population densities (persons per square kilometer) for the specified states are as follows:

State Population Density (2001) Population Density (2011) West Bengal 903 1,029 Kerala 819 860 Uttar Pradesh 698 829 Madhya Pradesh 196 236

Explanation

In 2003, among the given countries, India had the lowest GDP per capita. Here’s a comparison of estimated GDP per capita (in USD) around that time:

China - Higher due to rapid industrialization and economic reforms. Indonesia - Had a stronger economy than India, despite the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Sri Lanka - Had a smaller but more stable economy with a relatively higher GDP per capita than India. India - Despite economic growth, per capita income remained the lowest among these countries due to its large population and slower per capita income growth.

Explanation

The Basque people primarily inhabit the Basque Country, which is located in northern Spain and southwestern France. However, their separatist movement has been more prominent in Spain, where the group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) historically fought for an independent Basque state. Though ETA officially disbanded in 2018, Basque nationalism remains an important political issue in Spain.

Explanation

Argentina was plunged into a devastating economic crisis in December 2001/January 2002, when a partial deposit freeze, a partial default on public debt, and an abandonment of the fixed exchange rate led to a collapse in output, high levels of unemployment, and political and social turmoil. This also caused mass protests, social unrest, and frequent changes in government, bank freezes (Corralito), and a sharp decline in living standards, fueling widespread discontent.