Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Jowar (sorghum) is an important coarse cereal grown in India, mainly in dryland regions. According to Indian Institute of Millet Research (under ICAR) Maharashtra consistently has the largest area under Jowar (sorghum) cultivation in India due to its dryland farming practices. The crop is mostly grown in the rabi season in Maharashtra and contributes significantly to food security and fodder availability in the state.

Statement 2 is incorrect: According to the Economic Survey, in the late 1990s (when this question was framed), while Gujarat is a significant producer of groundnut, the leading position al-ternates with states like Andhra Pradesh depending on the year. Thus the statement claiming Gujarat as the largest producer is wrong.

However, According to Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2023 released by Ministry of Agriculture, Currently, Gujarat is currently the largest producer of groundnut in India.

Statement 3 is correct: Cultivable wasteland refers to land that is suitable for cultivation but remains uncultivated due to reasons like soil degradation, water scarcity, or socio-economic factors. Rajasthan, with its vast desert and arid regions, has the largest area of cultivable wasteland in India. According to the "Agricultural Statistics of Rajasthan, 2020-21," the state reported 37.27 lakh hectares (approximately 9.21 million acres) as cultivable wasteland, accounting for 10.87% of its total reporting area.

Statement 4 is incorrect: States like Karnataka or Tamil Nadu generally show higher per-hectare yields of maize due to better irrigation and agricultural practices compared to Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

With respect to the year 1999-2000; U.P. (115419 in tonnes) >Maharashtra (53143) >Tamilnadu (34285) > Andhra Pradesh (18508) is the correct decreasing order of the above four sugarcane producing States. The given table shows the production of Sugarcane (in tons) of given states in the years 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. State 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 Uttar Pradesh 116483 115419 106069 Maharashtra 47151 53143 49589 Tamil Nadu 33765 34285 33188 Andhra Pradesh 16503 18508 17690 In recent times, According to the Directorate of Sugarcane Development, production of sugarcane in the following states in 2022-2023 are as follows:

State Production (in Million Tonnes) Uttar Pradesh 225.22 MT Maharashtra 123.97 MT Tamil Nadu 16.92 MT Andhra Pradesh 3.12 MT

Explanation

The Roaring Forties are strong westerly winds found between 40° and 50° latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, known for their strength due to the absence of major landmasses.

Statement 1 is incorrect: These winds are exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere, as large landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere disrupt wind flow.

Statement 2 is correct: The Roaring Forties are driven by strong pressure gradients between the subtropical high-pres-sure belt and subpolar low-pressure zone, with the Southern Hemisphere’s vast oceans enhancing their consistency.

Statement 3 is correct: The Coriolis effect causes a deflection of these winds, giving them a north-west to east trajectory.

Statement 4 is correct: These winds carry moisture, often resulting in stormy, rainy conditions, especially in the Southern Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is correct: Jainism emphasized ahimsa (non-violence) as its core principle. It not only prohibited violence against humans and animals but also extended non-violence to plants, insects, and microorganisms. Reason (R) is correct: Agriculturalists could not easily adopt Jainism because farming inherently involves plowing land, which kills many insects and small organisms. Jainism was largely adopted by traders, merchants, and urban elites rather than peasants and farmers. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Reason (R) explains that agricultural practices, which harm insects and pests, conflict with Jainism’s principle of non-violence (Ahimsa). This makes it difficult for agriculturalists to fully embrace Jainism.

Explanation

In computing, memory is typically measured in units such as 1 byte = 8 bit (short for binary digit) or megabytes (MB). A byte is the basic unit of digital information storage and consists of eight binary digits, commonly referred to as bits. Each bit represents a binary value of either 0 or 1, enabling a byte to store 2^8 (256) possible values, ranging from 0 to 255 in decimal notation. This structure forms the foundation of data representation in computers.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: In India, megacities are typically classified as urban areas with a population of over 5 million. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad fall into this category, making them some of the largest and most populous urban centers in the country.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While coastal cities like Mumbai and Chennai serve as important sea ports, not all Indian megacities are located by the coast. For example, Delhi, despite being a large megacity, is inland and lacks direct access to the sea

Statement 3 is correct: Several Indian megacities serve as either national or state capitals. Delhi is the national capital, Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, and Kolkata serves as the capital of West Bengal. These cities are not only economic powerhouses but also administrative centers, making them critical to the governance and development of their respective states or the nation.

Explanation

Iqta is associated with the Delhi Sultans, this system involves land grants assigned to officials (Iqtadars) for revenue collection and administrative responsibilities. Jagir term was pertinent to the Mughals, this was a system where land revenue rights were assigned to officials as compensation for their services. Amaram is associated with the Vijayanagara Empire, this term referred to land assignments granted to military officers (Amaranayakas) who were responsible for providing troops to the central authority. Mokasa - Relevant to the Marathas, it referred to revenue assignments given to local officials or chiefs.

Explanation

The Qutub Minar was built by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, in 1193. It was later completed by his successor Iltutmish in the early 13th century. It is a victory tower or minaret that was constructed to mark the beginning of Muslim rule in India and to celebrate Qutb-ud-Din Aibak’s victory over the Rajputs. Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq is credited with having repaired the tower in the 14th century after it was damaged by lightning. The Qutub Minar was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a Delhi Sultan known for administrative reforms, died in 1388 A.D. Firoz Shah introduced the Faujdar system and created the post of Shiqdar (District head). Vasco da Gama’s arrival at Calicut in 1498 marked the beginning of Portuguese maritime influence in India. Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara (1509-1529 A.D) was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, contributing to military, administrative, and cultural advancements.

Explanation

Santos is the outer port of Sao Paulo in Brazil and is known as the Coffee port of the world.

Explanation

In the Jagirdari System, land was assigned to feudal landlords or nobles (Jagirdars) in exchange for administrative or military service. The land granted to Jagirdars was not permanently owned by them. They were assigned the revenue rights of the land for a fixed term. Under the Zamindari System, intermediaries (Zamindars) collected revenue from peasants and passed it to the government. They did not own the land but had the right to collect taxes from the peasants in exchange for keeping a portion of the collected revenue. In the Ryotwari System, individual peasants (Ryots) owned the land directly and had the right to sublet, mortgage, or sell it. It was mainly implemented in areas like Madras, Bombay, and parts of Assam. The Mahalwari System involved revenue collection based on the collective responsibility of an entire village (Mahal). The head of the village, often a local leader or a prominent landowner, would be responsible for paying the land tax for the entire group of villages.