Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Magnetite particles are a highly magnetic mineral form of iron and are known to be present in air pollution. Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) is associated with pulmonary, cardiovascular and neurological problems.

Option 1 is correct: Vehicle brake systems are the major source of airborne magnetite at the roadside.

Option 2 is correct: Petrol and diesel-engine exhaust are also a source of airborne magnetite.

Option 4 is correct: Other sources of Magnetite pollution include Power plants. Options 3 and 5 are incorrect: Household microwave stoves and telephone lines not are established as sources of airborne magnetite particles. Other sources of Magnetite pollution include microwave Stoves within homes, As per WHO, Telephone lines produce low frequency, low energy electromagnetic fields which are the potential source of magnetite particles.

Explanation

The Common Carbon Metric’ is a protocol developed by United Nations Environment Program’s Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) for measuring energy use & reporting GHG emissions from Building Operations. Its purpose is to support greenhouse gas (GHG) emission’s reductions through accurate measurement of energy efficiency improvements in building operations.

Explanation

Blue Carbon is the carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. There are three types of coastal ecosystems -- mangroves, seagrasses and tidal marshes; these store half the "blue" carbon buried beneath the ocean floor. These areas absorb and store carbon at a much faster rate than other areas, such as forests, and can continue to do so for millions of years. The carbon found in coastal soil is often thousands of years old.

Explanation

Black cotton soil, also known as regur soil, is highly valued in India because of its excellent moisture-retaining properties and suitability for cotton cultivation. Black cotton soil is primarily formed from the weathering of basaltic rocks, which are a type of fissure volcanic rock. These basaltic rocks were originally erupted during the Cretaceous period as part of the Deccan Traps in the northwest Deccan plateau. The weathering process of these volcanic rocks releases minerals that, combined with climatic factors, result in the formation of the distinctive black soil. The high clay content of black cotton soil enables it to retain moisture efficiently. Its properties make it particularly suitable for cotton cultivation, hence the alternative name "black cotton soil."

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Instead, the ranking was based on the percentage of points (PCT) earned from matches played. Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the ICC modified the ranking system in 2020, and PCT (Points Percentage System) be-came the deciding factor rather than just the number of wins.

Statement 2 is incorrect: England won more matches than New Zealand in the WTC cycle (England won 11, New Zealand won 7). However, New Zealand had a higher PCT (70%) compared to England (61.4%), securing their place in the final.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Hyderabad was recognized as the "2020 Tree City of the World", but not by the UNCDF. The recognition was given by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Arbor Day Foundation, not the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

Statement 2 is correct: Hyderabad was selected due to its urban afforestation initiatives, including the Haritha Haram Program, which focuses on increasing green cover and maintaining urban forests. The city met the Tree Cities of the World standards, which require maintaining urban greenery, community involvement, and sustainable forestry policies.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: 21st February is recognized as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO, not UNICEF. It was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and observed worldwide since 2000. The day commemorates the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where protesters were killed for demanding Bangla as an official language.

Statement 2 is correct: In 1948, Dhirendranath Datta, a member from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), raised the demand for Bangla to be recognized as one of the national languages of Pakistan in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. The West Pakistani leadership rejected the demand, leading to protests and eventually the Bengali Language Movement (Bhasha Andolon). This movement later contributed to the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The NYDF was launched and endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York on September 23, 2014. It was a significant global effort to address deforestation and promote forest conservation.

Statement 2 is correct: The NYDF sets a global timeline to end natural forest loss by 2030 and to restore 350 million hectares of degraded forest and agricultural land by the same year. It also aims to halve deforestation by 2020 (though this target was not met).

Statement 3 is incorrect: The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a voluntary and non-legally binding international declaration aimed at ending global deforestation.

Statement 4 is correct: The NYDF has been endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders, including national governments, multinational companies, NGOs, and indigenous communities. Over 200 entities have pledged their support.

Statement 5 is incorrect: India was not a signatory to the NYDF at its inception. While many countries, including the United States, Canada, and several European nations, endorsed the declaration, India has still not joined as a signatory.

Explanation

Astronomical distances are measured in light-years to effectively express the vast distances in space using a consistent and universal unit. A light-year represents the distance light travels in one year in a vacuum, which is approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers (5.88 trillion miles). Astronomers calculate the distances of stars and other celestial objects in the time it takes for light to reach us since estimating distances in miles or kilometres is inadequate on the cosmological scale. Since the speed of light is known to be constant throughout the universe and for high precision, astronomical distances are expressed in terms of light-years. The fastest light can move is in vacuum.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Quit India Resolution was passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on 8th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan) in Bombay, marking the launch of the Quit India Movement against British rule. Key Features of the Resolution:

Demanded immediate end to British rule in India.

Proposed the formation of a provisional government after British withdrawal. Declared that India would not support Britain in World War II unless granted independence. Gandhi’s famous call: "Do or Die" encouraged mass civil disobedience.