Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

At its 7th Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 1997, Kenya was granted membership, becoming the 16th member of the group.

Explanation

Statement (1) and (2) are correct: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can introduce a bill for Constitutional amendment and pass it with a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.

Statement (3) is incorrect: While the State Legislatures can ratify amendments related to certain matters (like changes to the federal structure) which require ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the states (via simple majority), they cannot initiate amendments.

Statement (4) is incorrect: The President does not have the power to initiate a constitutional amendment. The President’s role is to give assent to a bill passed by Parliament for an amendment.

Explanation

Farmers get resources from various sources such as Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Commercial Banks, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCB), the lead banks such as SBI and PNB, IRDP and IFFCO. Farmers also get credit from informal sources such as private money lenders. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) are grassroots-level cooperative institutions that provide short-term and medium-term loans to farmers for agricultural activities. Commercial Banks both public and private sector banks offer a range of credit products to farmers, including crop loans and investment loans. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were established to enhance rural credit, RRBs focus on providing credit to small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and rural artisans. Despite the growth of institutional credit, many farmers still rely on private money lenders, especially in regions where institutional penetration is low. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

NABARD and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) play crucial roles in refinancing and regulating rural credit institutions but they do not provide direct loans to farmers. District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and Lead Banks facilitate credit but are not direct sources. Development programs like the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) aim to promote self-employment and generate wage employment, respectively, but do not directly provide agricultural credit. Large Scale Multi-purpose Adivasis Programme: This was a government program aimed at the socio-economic development of tribal areas but is not a credit source for farmers. IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited) is a fertilizer cooperative and does not directly provide credit to farmers. It primarily supplies fertilizers and agricultural inputs.

Explanation

Eco-friendly agriculture is a farming approach that focuses on reducing environmental harm while ensuring long-term sustainability and benefiting farmers, communities, and consumers. Sustainable agriculture is crucial for human health, food safety, environmental conservation, long-term food security, soil health, farmer empowerment, water conservation, biodiversity preservation, and addressing climate change.

Option (a) is correct: Organic Farming is eco-friendly. It avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. It relies on natural inputs like compost, crop rotation, and biological pest control, promoting soil health, biodiversity, and reduced pollution. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Shifting Cultivation is not eco-friendly. Also known as "slash and burn" agriculture, it involves clearing forests for temporary farming. This practice leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Cultivation of High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) is not eco-friendly. These varieties often require significant inputs of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and water, which can lead to environmental degradation, including soil depletion, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Growing Plants in Glasshouses is not eco-friendly. Glasshouses typically rely on significant energy inputs for heating, cooling, and artificial lighting, which contribute to carbon emissions unless renewable energy is used.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: Bt cotton is a genetically modified (GM) crop that has been engineered to produce a protein toxic to certain insect pests, particularly bollworms. The gene responsible for this trait is derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). When the Bt gene is inserted into the cotton plant, the plant produces the Bt toxin, which kills specific insect pests when they feed on the plant. Reason (R) is true: The Bt gene is derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. This bacterium naturally produces a protein (Cry protein) that is toxic to certain insects. Scientists isolated the gene responsible for producing this protein and inserted it into the cotton plant’s genome to create insect-resistant transgenic cotton. Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A): The insertion of the Bt gene from Bacillus thuringiensis into cotton plants enables these transgenic plants to produce the Bt toxin internally. The Bt gene encodes a protein that is toxic to certain insects but harmless to humans and other non-target organisms. When the gene is inserted into the cotton plant, the plant itself produces the toxin, reducing the need for chemical insecticides.

Explanation

A is matched correctly with 2: Cotton cultivation needs 1500-2000 mm of rainfall and the suitable temperature range required for cotton growth is 25° - 35°C. Cotton is a tropical and subtropical crop that needs a long growing season with plenty of sunshine. Excessive rainfall can damage the crop, so moderate rainfall is ideal. The states of India with significant cotton production are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. B is matched correctly with 3: Flax cultivation needs 600-800 mm of rainfall and temperature requirement varies from 5° - 18°C. The major flax growing states in India are Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Nagaland and Assam accounting for about 97 percent of total area of the country. Flax prefers cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall. It is commonly grown in regions with mild summers and well-distributed rainfall. C is matched correctly with 5: The suitable climatic condition for sugar beet requires 500-600 mm and temperature 18°-22°C. D is matched correctly with 4: Jute cultivation needs 500-1000 mm rainfall and temperature between 18°-22°C. The jute industry is among the oldest and most prominent industries in India. It is primarily grown in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta region of India and Bangladesh. The major jute-producing states in India are West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

The Union Government levies and collects income tax and shares its proceeds with the states based on the recommendations of the Finance Commission. This ensures a balanced revenue-sharing mechanism between the Union and State Governments to promote equitable development. The Constitution of India, under Article 270, mandates the sharing of income tax between the Union and States, excluding specific surcharges which are retained by the Union. As per Finance Commission recommendations, the distribution formula considers parameters such as population, area, and fiscal discipline to ensure fair allocation. This practice is pivotal for fostering fiscal federalism in India.

Explanation

The British colonial economic model transformed India into a supplier of raw materials like cotton, indigo, and iron ore, which were sent to Britain for processing. India was forced to sell these materials at low prices and buy British-made goods at higher prices. Industrial development in India was discouraged to prevent competition with British industries, keeping India dependent on Britain for finished goods and limiting its own industrial growth. The lack of heavy industries discouraged independent industrial development.

Explanation

Imperial Preference was a British colonial trade policy that granted preferential treatment to British goods in its colonies, including India. British goods were sold at lower tariffs or duty-free, while colonies like India were required to sell raw materials to Britain at favorable prices. This system subordinated the economic interests of colonies, prevented the development of Indian industries, and ensured Britain’s economic dominance. It also reinforced political control, making colonies dependent on Britain for both manufactured goods and trade.

Explanation

Both the bullet and the monkey experience the same downward acceleration due to gravity provided the air resistance is negligible. When the hunter fires the bullet, the bullet starts moving along a curved trajectory due to the combined effects of its horizontal velocity and the vertical acceleration caused by gravity. When the monkey jumps, it also begins to fall freely under gravity with an initial vertical velocity of zero. Since the hunter aims directly at the monkey at the moment of firing, the bullet and the monkey will both fall the same vertical distance due to gravity at the same time. Therefore, the bullet will hit the monkey at the point aimed.