Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

When the oil tanker accelerates forward, the oil inside experiences an inertial force (pseudo force) acting in the opposite direction to the acceleration. This causes the free surface of the oil to tilt. 1. The rear end of the tanker has larger depth because the inertial force pushes the oil backward.

2. The front end has smaller depth as the oil moves away from it. Thus, The free surface of the oil becomes inclined, with the rear end having a larger depth

Explanation

The Whitley Commission (1929), also known as the Royal Commission on Labour in India, was established by the British colonial government to investigate labour conditions in India. Chaired by Sir William Whitley, its purpose was to examine issues like wages, working hours, and living conditions of industrial workers. It recommended improving labour welfare, establishing labour unions, and creating welfare funds, along with measures for industrial peace, better working conditions, and health and safety improvements for workers.

Explanation

The Oudh Commercial Bank, founded in 1881 in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, was the first Indian-managed bank to be established as a limited liability company. It was created by local businessmen and marked a significant shift in India’s banking sector, which had previously been dominated by the British. The bank’s establishment highlighted the increasing involvement of Indians in economic activities, especially in banking, and it aimed to provide financial services to local industries and trade, representing a milestone in Indian-controlled commercial banking.

Explanation

In India, a High Court (HC) can have jurisdiction over more than one state or Union Territory. This means that a High Court may serve as the judiciary for multiple states and Union Territories.

Option (b) is correct: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India, come under the jurisdiction of the Kolkata High Court. This arrangement is due to the geographical and administrative placement of the islands under the jurisdiction of West Bengal.

Explanation

The Wood’s Despatch of 1854, often called the "Magna Carta of English Education in India," laid the foundation for modern educational policies in colonial India. Its primary focus was to establish a comprehensive system of education, emphasizing scientific learning and rational thinking over traditional religious teachings. The dispatch included support for education for girls and encouragement for private and missionary involvement. It provided government grants to qualifying schools. In it’s three tier educational hierarchy of Education, vernacular languages for basic education, English and Indian languages at the secondary level and English at the Higher level i.e. at University level (Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras).

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Steam at 100°C contains significantly more heat than boiling water at 100°C. This is because steam has absorbed additional energy in the form of latent heat of vaporization which is the energy required to convert water at 100°C into steam at the same temperature without changing its temperature.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The latent heat of fusion of ice (the energy required to convert ice at 0°C to water at 0°C) is approximately 334 kJ/kg while the latent heat of vaporization of water (the energy required to convert water at 100°C to steam at 100°C) is approximately 2260 kJ/kg.

Statement 3 is correct: In an air-conditioner the refrigerant absorbs heat from the room air at the evaporator coils and cools the air. This heat is then transported to the condenser coils, where it is released to the outside environment. This process is based on the principles of thermodynamics and the refrigeration cycle.

Explanation

The diffusion of light in the atmosphere occurs mainly due to dust particles and aerosols, which scatter sunlight in all directions. This scattering, known as Mie scattering, happens when particles like dust or water droplets are comparable in size to the wavelength of light, scattering all wavelengths almost equally. It causes the sky to appear uniformly bright and ensures visibility even in shadows. Other aerosols like Water Vapors, Smoke, etc can also contribute to the diffusion effect. However, dust particles are the most prominent cause in this context.

Explanation

Option (c) is incorrect: Humidity (water vapor) actually increases the speed of sound in air. This is because water molecules are lighter than nitrogen and oxygen molecules, reducing the overall density of the air. The speed of sound in humid air is higher than in dry air at the same temperature. Options (a), (b) and (d) are correct:

The velocity of sound in air increases with temperature because higher temperatures increase the energy of air molecules, allowing sound to travel faster. The velocity of sound in air is independent of pressure at constant temperature since both pressure and density change proportionally, leaving the speed unchanged. The velocity of sound is unaffected by amplitude and frequency as it depends only on the medium>s properties like temperature, density, and composition.

Explanation

The Finance Commission of India primarily deals with the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Finance Commission does not authorize withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund of India. This function falls under the purview of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Statement 2 is correct: One of the key roles of the Finance Commission is to determine the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States, ensuring an equitable allocation of resources.

Statement 3 is correct: The Finance Commission considers applications for grants-in-aid from States. These grants help supplement the financial resources of states, particularly those in need.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The Commission does not supervise or report on tax compliance by the Union or State governments. Its primary focus is on reviewing financial relations and making recommendations on revenue sharing and grants.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The descending order of the lengths of the rivers is as follows:

Godavari River: The total length is 1,465 km. It is the second-longest river in India after the Ganges and flows eastward from its origin in Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra, to the Bay of Bengal. Narmada River: The total length is 1,312 km. It originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat. Mahanadi River: The total length is approximately 851 km. It originates from the highlands of Chhattisgarh and flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. Tapi (Tapti) River: The total length is about 724 km. It originates from the Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward into the Arabian Sea. Therefore, the correct sequence of rivers in the descending order of their length is Godavari - Narmada - Mahanadi - Tapi.