Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

The Senkaku Islands (called "Diaoyu Islands" by China) are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea which is controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. The islands are located northeast of Taiwan, east of China, and southwest of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture. They cover around 7 square kilometers and are strategically important due to their rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves. Japan claims it incorporated the islands in 1895 considering them terra nullius (land belonging to no one). China claims historical sovereignty over the islands, citing maps and records dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Taiwan also claims the islands and refers to them as Tiaoyutai.

Explanation

Sangam literature, composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE, is a collection of Tamil poems reflecting ancient South Indian society, culture, and politics. It was composed by poets at the Sangam councils held in Madurai and include contributions from poets like Agastya, Kapilar, and Nakkirar. The literature is divided into Eighteen Greater and Ten Lesser Anthologies, covering themes of love (akam), valor (puram), and ethics. Key texts include Tolkappiyam (grammar), Purananuru (heroic poetry), and Akananuru (love poetry), offering insights into the region’s political, social, and religious life. The two major Tamil epics, Silappathikaram and Manimekalai, are cornerstones of Tamil literature and reflect the cultural and spiritual life of ancient Tamil society

Option (b) is correct: Sangam literature does make references to the social classification of Varna, which was a system of social classification in ancient India based on occupation and birth. Sangam Literature provides valuable details about the Sangam society and polity.Social classification of varna was known to Sangam poets.There is mention of social classes like the Arashar (kings), Vaishiyar (traders), and Velalar (farmers).

Explanation

Akbar had commissioned the translation of many Sanskrit works such as Mahabharata, Ramayana, Lilavati, and Yogavashishta into the Persian language. A Maktab Khana (translation bureau) was also established at Fatehpur Sikri for this purpose.

Option (a) is correct: The "Yoga Vasistha" was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of Akbar. It was commissioned by Akbar as part of his efforts to bring together different religious and philosophical ideas, bridging the gap between Hinduism and Islam. This translation helped introduce key concepts from Vedanta, Yoga, and Hindu philosophy to Persianspeaking audiences

Explanation

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body.

Statement 1 is correct: Probiotics can be composed of bacteria, yeast, or both. The most common types of bacteria used as probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while Saccharomyces boulardii is an example of a yeast that is sometimes used as a probiotic.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Probiotics contain microorganisms that are similar to or the same as those naturally present in our bodies, especially in the digestive tract. Our gut microbiota consists of many types of bacteria, some of which are also found in probiotic products. These probiotics are often called "good" or "friendly" bacteria because they support gut health.

Statement 3 is correct: Some probiotic bacteria, like Lactobacillus, produce an enzyme called lactase, which helps in the digestion of milk sugar (lactose). Lactase breaks down lactose into simpler sugars, making it easier for the body to absorb. This is especially helpful for people who are lactose intolerant and have difficulty digesting dairy products.

Explanation

B cells and T cells are integral components of the human immune system, each playing distinct roles in protecting the body from diseases caused by pathogens. B cells are primarily responsible for humoral immunity. They produce antibodies that specifically target and neutralize pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. T cells play a crucial role in cell-mediated immunity, not by producing antibodies but by carrying out essential immune functions. Helper T cells activate B cells to stimulate other immune cells to enhance the body’s defense. Cytotoxic T cells target and destroy infected or cancerous cells, eliminating harmful threats. Regulatory T cells help maintain immune balance by preventing excessive or inappropriate immune responses.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The word Mandamus means "we command". It directs activity and commands issued by the court to public officials asking him to perform. It is issued against any public body, corporation, inferior court, tribunal or government for the same purpose. Mandamus cannot be issued against a private individual or body.

Statement 2 is incorrect: In specific situations, Mandamus can be used against a government corporation and/or company and if a private entity till it is entrusted with a public duty. Supreme Court in Pradeep Kumar Biwas vs Indian Institute of Chemical Biology 2002 has deliberated upon this in detail.

Statement 3 is correct: The meaning of the word Quo Warranto is "By what authority or warrant". Quo Warranto is issued by the court to inquire into the legality of the claim of a person to a public office. Unlike the other writs, this can be sought by any interested person and not necessarily by the aggrieved person. Note: UPSC has given Option (d) as the official answer.

Explanation

Abdur Razzak, was a the Iranian ambassador who visited the Indian subcontinent during the reign of Deva Raya II, noted that in Vijayanagar, three types of coins were prominently used:

Varaha, Dinara, and Fanam. Among these, the Fanam was the most widely used. The chief gold coin of the Vijayanagar Empire was the varaha or pagoda. Tar was a silver coin Jittal was a copper coin.

Explanation

Ghadar Party was a revolutionary group organised around a weekly newspaper "The Ghadar" with its headquarters at San Francisco and branches along the US coast and in the Far East.

Option (d) is correct: The moving spirits behind the Ghadar Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah and Bhai Parmanand, Rash Behari Bose, etc. Barindra Kumar Ghosh was associated with a revolutionary group called Jugantar and Jogesh Chatterjee was associated with the Hindustan Republican Association/ Army (HRA).

Explanation

Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are the two most important GHGs after carbon dioxide (CO₂). The most rapid increase in CH₄ emission was found in natural wetlands and rice fields due to increased rice cultivation area and climate warming. N₂O emission increased substantially in all the biome types and the largest increase occurred in upland crops due to increasing air temperature and nitrogen fertilizer use. Rice paddies are considered one of the most important sources of CH₄ and N₂O emissions, which have attracted considerable attention due to their contribution to global warming.

Explanation

The System of Rice Intensification involves cultivating rice with as much organic manure as possible, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wider spacing in a square pattern; and with intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and frequent inter cultivation with weeder that actively aerates the soil. SRI is not a standardised, fixed technological method. It is rather a set of ideas, a methodology for comprehensively managing and conserving resources by changing the way that land, seeds, water, nutrients, and human labour are used to increase productivity from a small but well-tended number of seeds. Advantages of SRI Disadvantages of SRI Higher yields - Both grain and straw Higher labour costs in the initial years Reduced duration Difficulties in acquiring the necessary skills Reduced seed requirement Not suitable when no irrigation source available Lesser chemical inputs Less water requirement Reduced electricity consumption Less chaffy grain rain weight increased without change in grain size Higher head rice recovery Withstand cyclonic gales Cold tolerance Soil health improves through biological activity Reduced methane production