Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Lichens and Mosses do not need soil to grow and survive. Lichens are generally found on rock, tree bark, soil (but can survive without soil as well), houses, tombstones, cars, old farm equipment, etc. Thus, lichen can be found surviving on surfaces without soil. Mosses are non-vascular plants. They do not need soil to survive. They have a rhizoid multi-cell anchoring structure that is used to climb and grip over rocky surfaces. Moss thrives in moist and shady areas. Ferns and Mushrooms generally need soil to grow. Ferns are vascular plants and typically require soil for anchorage and to absorb water and nutrients. While they can grow in places like cracks in rocks, they usually still need some form of substrate (soil or organic material) to thrive. A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. They typically require organic matter to decompose as a source of nutrients. Mushrooms are unlikely to grow on a surface without soil unless there is some decaying organic material available.

Explanation

Primary Producers are organisms like plants and algae that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemo-synthesis. They form the base of the food chain in marine eco-systems. Cyanobacteria and Diatoms are primary producers. Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) are photosynthetic bacteria that play a significant role in marine ecosystems by converting sunlight into energy and producing oxygen. They are particularly important in nutrient-poor (oligotrophic) oceanic regions. Diatoms are a type of phytoplankton that perform photosynthesis. They are among the most important primary producers in the oceans which contribute significantly to global carbon fixation. They are a key food source for zooplankton and other marine organisms. Copepods and Foraminifera are consumers. Copepods are small crustaceans that are not primary producers. They are zooplankton that feed on phytoplankton (primary producers) and other small organisms. They play a crucial role in marine food webs as a link between primary producers and higher trophic levels. Foraminifera are not primary producers. They are single-celled protists that belong to the zooplankton group. They feed on phytoplankton, detritus, and other small organisms. They are important in marine ecosystems as indicators of environmental conditions.

Explanation

India’s cave architecture is a unique form of ancient rock-cut architecture, primarily serving religious and monastic purposes. Ex-Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra), Udayagiri Caves (Madhya Pradesh), Badami Caves (Karnataka) etc.

Option (a) is correct: The Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. They are carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff along the Waghora River. The caves are renowned for their exquisite Buddhist rock-cut architecture and paintings, dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE.

Option (b) is incorrect: The Sanchi Stupa is located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh near the town of Sanchi. It is not in the gorge of the Chambal River but on a hill near Betwa River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains one of the oldest Buddhist stupas.

Option (c) is incorrect: The Pandu-Lena (Trirashmi) Caves are located near Nashik, Maharashtra.The closest river is the Godavari River, not Narmada. These are Buddhist rock-cut caves, dating from 1st century BCE to 6th century CE and have inscriptions related to the Satavahanas and Western Kshatrapas.

Option (d) is incorrect: The Amaravati Stupa is located in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in India built during the Satavahana period (2nd century BCE). It was rediscovered by Colin Mackenzie in 1797 and located on the banks of the Krishna River, not the Godavari River.

Explanation

Detritivores also known as detritivores, detritophag-es, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces). By doing so, all these detritivores contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles.

Option (c) is correct: Earthworms, Millipedes and Woodlice are Detritivores. Detritivores are an important aspect of many ecosystems. They can live on any type of soil with an organic component, including marine ecosystems, where they are termed interchangeably with bottom feeders. Typical detritivorous animals include earth-worm, millipedes, springtails, woodlice, dung flies, slugs, many terrestrial worms, sea stars, sea cucumbers, fiddler crabs, and some sedentary polychaetes such as worms of the family Terebellidae.

Explanation

India’s historical sites highlight diverse peculiarities as Bhimbetka’s prehistoric rock art, Nalanda’s ancient university, Sanchi’s stupas, Dholavira’s urban planning, Pattadakal’s Chalukyan temples, and Khajuraho’s erotic sculptures, reflecting the subcontinent’s rich contributions to art, architecture, and education across areas.

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Burzahom (Kashmir) had a well-developed bone tool industry. Other finds at Burzahom include pits and coarse pottery. Rock-cut shrines were not a feature of the Burzahom site.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Chandraketugarh is located in the Ganges delta in West Bengal. It is known for its rich collection of terracotta plaques and figurines that date back to the pre-Mauryan and Gupta periods.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Ganeshwar is located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan. Hundreds of copper artifacts have been found at this site which suggests it must have been a copper working center.

Explanation

The phosphorus cycle is unique for not have a significant atmospheric component. Phosphorus is primarily released into the cycle through the weathering of rocks containing phosphate minerals (e.g., apatite). Weathering releases phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) into soil and water, making it available for uptake by plants and other organisms. Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients in biological systems since it is a fundamental ingredient of nucleic acids, phospholipids, and several phosphor-ylated compounds.

Explanation

All of the given species can establish a symbiotic relationship with other organisms. Symbiotic Relationship:

A relationship between two (or more) species that may or may not be advantageous to one or both is referred to as symbiotic. Symbiosis typically occurs between different species. Interactions within the same species (intraspecific) are usually not categorized as symbiosis but may involve other forms of cooperation. For eg., Coral has a symbiotic relationship (each gives something to the other and gets something back in return) with ‘zooxanthellae’ microscopic algae which live on coral.

Option 1 is correct: The relationship between cnidarians and dinoflagellate algae is termed "symbiotic" because both the animal host and the algae are benefiting from the association. It is a mutualistic interaction.

Option 2 is correct: Two common mutualistic relationships involving fungi are mycorrhiza (fungi and plant roots) and lichen (fungi and either cyanobacteria or green algae).

Option 3 is correct: Protozoa mostly represent a close mutualistic association between a protozoan and unicellular symbionts such as bacteria, cyanobacteria or/and unicellular algae or protozoans and a multicellular organisms such as ruminants, lower termites, wood-eating cockroaches, plants.

Explanation

Reservoir Volume (Million Cubic km) Percentage of the Total Oceans 1,370 97.25 Ice caps and Glaciers 29 2.05 Groundwater 9.5 0.68 Lakes 0.125 0.01 Soil Moisture 0.065 0.005 Atmosphere 0.013 0.001 Streams and Rivers 0.0017 0.0001 Biosphere 0.0006 0.00004 Water makes up about 71% of the Earth’s surface, while the other 29% consists of continents and islands. Oceans and Seas make up 97% of the Earth’s water and only about 2.5% is in the form of freshwater. 71 % of earth surface constitutes water & only 29 % constitutes a land area of earth. 97 % of water area constitutes Oceans & Seas & 2.5 % as freshwater.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Fresh Water distribution is as given below: Ice Caps and Glaciers > Groundwater >Lakes Ice & Snow > Soil Moisture > Atmosphere > Rivers and Streams.

Statement 2 is correct: While about 69% of earth’s freshwater is in ice caps and glacier, groundwater has about 30% of earth’s freshwater. Kakes, Rivers and swamps etc make up the remaining 1%. While 75 % of freshwater is in glaciers & ice caps, only 7 % of freshwater is groundwater. Saline ground-water 0.93% Saline lakes 0.07% Freshwater 2.5% Surface water and other freshwater 1.3% Atmoshpheric water 0.22% Biological wate 0.22% Rivers 0.46% Swamps and marshes 2.53% Soil moisture 3.52% Ice and snow 73.1% Glaciers and ice caps 68.6% Oceans 96.5% Groundwater 30.1% Lakes 20.1% Surface water and other freshwater Freshwater Total Global water Distribution of Earth’s Water Resources

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: In the pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince, Changez Khan arrived in India during the reign of Iltutmish. By denying shelter to Prince Jalaluddhin of Central Asia, Iltutmish protected India from Changez Khan’s fury.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The period of Muhammad bin Tughlaq was from 1325 to 1351. Taimur invaded India during the reign of Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq (1394-1412), the last Tughlaq ruler.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala in 1498, but Deva Raya II ruled the Vijayanagara Empire earlier, from 1424 to 1446. At the time of his arrival, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire was Krishnadevaraya (reigned 1509-1529).

Explanation

The State refers to a political institution that represents a sovereign people organised under one independent government within a definite territory and subject to no outside control.