Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Article 129 grants the Supreme Court the power to punish for contempt while Article 215 provides similar powers to the High Courts. Judicial activism on the other hand is an innovation of courts. Assertion (A) is true: Contempt of Court, per Section 2(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, means willful disobedience to court orders or breach of an undertaking given to the court. Reason (R) is true: Judicial activism enables judges to interpret the law and Constitution broadly, influencing public policy. However, it requires the power to punish contempt to maintain the judiciary’s effectiveness and authority. Reason (R) does not explain Assertion (A) because the courts punish contempt to maintain their authority and ensure compliance with their rulings, thus upholding the rule of law and not aimed at judicial activism.

Explanation

Surface tension is the force that acts on the surface of a liquid, causing it to contract and minimize its surface area. This effect occurs because molecules at the surface of the liquid experience a net inward force due to the attractive forces between the molecules. As a result, the liquid tends to form shapes that have the least surface area, such as spherical droplets. This tendency to minimize surface area is why liquid droplets form spherical shapes in free space, as a sphere has the smallest surface area for a given volume.

Explanation

A vector quantity is a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction. In addition to how much of a quantity there is, you also need to know the direction in which it acts. Some examples of vector quantities include force, velocity, acceleration and displacement. Momentum is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction (it depends on the direction of motion and the velocity of the object).

Explanation

The chronological sequence is Macaulay’s Minute (1835) Wood’s Despatch (1854) Hunter Commission (1882) Sargent Report (1944). Macaulay’s Minute on Education (1835): Drafted by Lord Macaulay, it played a pivotal role in establishing English as the medium of instruction in Indian schools. Wood’s Education Despatch (1854) was issued by Sir Charles Wood, then President of the Board of Control for the East India Company and stressed on emphasizing scientific learning and rational thinking over traditional religious teachings. Indian Education Commission (Hunter Commission) (1882) was headed by William Wilson Hunter and recommended that primary education be provided in vernacular languages and highlighted the importance of expanding primary education. The Sargent Education Report (1944) proposed compulsory and free education for children up to the age of 14, intending to raise educational standards to international levels.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The working principle of a washing machine is Centrifugation. It is a process used to separate substances of different densities by spinning them at high speed. In a washing machine, the centrifugal force generated during the spin cycle helps remove water from the clothes along with dirt and stain.

Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Dialysis is a process used to remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood in patients with kidney failure. It involves the diffusion of solutes across a semipermeable membrane. Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules and larger particles from water. It is commonly used in desalination and water filtration systems. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. While diffusion plays a role in processes like the mixing of detergents in water but it is not the main working principle of a washing machine.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct:

Non-plan expenditure refers to all recurring and obligatory expenses of the government, which are not associated with specific planned development projects. It includes:

Defence expenditure: A significant part of non-plan expenditure allocated for maintaining the country’s security. Subsidies: Expenditures on subsidies like food, fertilizers, and petroleum products are non-plan in nature. Expenditures linked to previous plans: Commitments made during past plan periods, like spillovers of plan projects, also fall under non-plan expenditure. Interest payments: Payments on borrowings are a substantial component of non-plan expenditure and have consistently been the largest contributor.

Explanation

The description perfectly matches Gopal Krishna Gokhale, one of the most respected leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. Gokhale graduated from Elphinstone College, Bombay (Mumbai), in 1884 at the age of 18. He was one of the first Indian graduates of the university. He became a professor of history and political economy at Fergusson College, Pune. He also became associate editor of the newspaper ’Sudharak’ which was run by his mentor M.G. Ranade. He became secretary of the Pune Sarvajanik Sabha, an organization that worked for Indian political rights. He was also involved in provincial-level conferences advocating for self-governance. In 1895 at the age of 29 Gokhale became Secretary of the Indian National Congress (INC). In 1897 Gokhale testified before the Welby Commission (Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure) in England and advocated for financial autonomy for India. He was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council in 1900 at the age of 34. In 1902 he was nominated to the Imperial Legislative Council, where he became a key advocate for Indian self-governance and social reforms. In 1905, at the age of 39, Gokhale was elected President of the Indian National Congress in Benares (Varanasi) Session. Mahatma Gandhi regarded Gokhale as his political mentor, calling him "Mahatma without the title".

Explanation

While family planning was a key consideration for the 73rd Amendment, the specific provision stating that Panchayati Raj functionaries will be disqualified if they have more than two children was not part of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. This provision was added later through state-level legislation in certain states, but it was not mandated by the 73rd Amendment itself. The one-third reservation for women at all levels of Panchayati Raj bodies is a key provision in the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act. The formation of State Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayats is also a provision under the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act. The requirement to hold elections within six months of dissolution or superseding is part of the 73rd Amendment, ensuring that elected bodies are not left vacant for long periods.

Explanation

Paramagnetism refers to the property of a material that is weakly attracted to an external magnetic field due to the presence of unpaired electrons in its atomic or molecular structure. When placed in a magnetic field, these unpaired electrons align their magnetic moments in the direction of the field, causing a weak but positive magnetization. However, this effect disappears once the external field is removed.

Option (c) is correct: Oxygen (O₂) is paramagnetic because it has two unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital configuration, making it weakly attracted to a magnetic field. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Iron is ferromagnetic (not always paramagnetic), meaning it is strongly attracted to magnetic fields. Hydrogen and Nitrogen are diamagnetic, meaning they are weakly repelled by magnetic fields due to their paired electrons. Directions: The following item consists of two statements, one labeled as the Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). You have to answer this item using the code given below.

Explanation

The Servants of India Society was founded in 1905 by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to promote India’s welfare and self-reliant development. The society focused on legal reforms and education, which aligned with the professional interests of these three individuals.

Option (d) is correct: M.C. Setalvad, B.N. Rao, and Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer were members of the Society. Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of India. He was a lawyer and legal expert who contributed his expertise to the drafting and formulation of the constitution. M.C. Setalvad and B.N. Rao were also pioneers in Indian Legal and constitutional Studies.