Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

During the Gupta period, maritime trade flourished, with ports like Surat, Chaul, and Tamralipti facilitating trade with regions such as Southeast Asia, Persia, and the Roman Empire. The Gupta Empire’s thriving seafaring commerce included goods like spices, textiles, and precious stones.

Option (a) is correct:

Ghantasala: Located in present-day Andhra Pradesh, it was a port town during the Gupta period. It was known for its proximity to the sea and played a role in maritime trade, particularly with Southeast Asia. Kadura: identified with a modern day coastal town in Karnataka, is believed to have been a key coastal town with commercial and trade significance. Chaul: located on the west coast of India in present-day Maharashtra, was a prominent port town during the Gupta period. It was an active center for foreign trade, particularly with Persia and Arabia.

Explanation

Fertigation is a technique for applying fertilizer where the drip irrigation system incorporates the fertilizer into the irrigation water. In this technology, irrigation is used to evenly disperse fertiliser solutions. Fertigation is practised extensively in commercial agriculture and horticulture. Fertigation is used to supplement nutrients that are already present or to make up for nutrient shortages found during plant tissue analysis.

Statement 1 is correct: Drip irrigation also avoids water spill-age on the field which could have promoted weed growth or increased soil alkalinity due to water logging.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Rock phosphate is not water-solu-ble and thus not suitable for fertigation. Only water-soluble fertilizers are effectively used in fertigation systems.

Statement 3 is correct: Accurate placement of nutrient, where the water goes the nutrient goes as well. Thus, increased nutrient absorption by plants.

Statement 4 is correct: Fertigation mixes fertilizers into irrigation water so that plants receive small, measured amounts of nutrients regularly, which minimizes the risk of nutrient losses through leaching.

Explanation

The practice of sowing seed without tillage or preparation of soil is called Zero-tillage or No-till farming. In some cases it may reduce labour, fuel, irrigation and machinery costs. Another possible benefit is that because of the higher water content, instead of leaving a field fallow it can make economic sense to plant another crop instead. No-till farming decreases the amount of soil erosion tillage causes in certain soils, especially in sandy and dry soils on sloping terrain.

Statement 1 is correct: Zero tillage is the process where the crop seed will be sown through drillers without prior land preparation and disturbing the soil where previous crop stubbles are present.

Statement 2 is correct: Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is a viable option to reduce the unproductive water flows, with increasing shortage of water, dry-DSR with minimum or zero tillage further enhances the benefits of this technology by saving labour.

Statement 3 is correct: Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change. No-tillage farming has been claimed to increase soil organic matter, and thus increase carbon sequestration.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: PCVs protect against infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. This is particularly important in India, where pneumococcal diseases contribute significantly to child mortality.

Statement 2 is correct: By preventing pneumococcal infections, PCVs decrease the need for antibiotics, thereby mitigating the risk of developing and spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Like other vaccines, PCVs can have mild side effects such as fever, redness at the injection site, and, in rare cases, allergic reactions. No vaccine is completely free of side effects.

Explanation

Sustainable Agriculture is farming in such a way to protect the environment, aid and expand natural resources and to make the best use of nonrenewable resources. Options 1, 2 and 3 are correct:

Mixed cropping or diverse cropping: When two or more crops are cultivated concurrently on a field, it is known as mixed cropping or diversified cropping. In the unlikely event that one crop fails, the other crops will mitigate the risk of a complete crop failure. Legume intensification: A category of plants known as leguminous plants (legume) contain edible roots or knobs that help nitrogen-rich soil grow vegetables or other meals. A leguminous crop is typically cultivated alongside the primary crop. Legumes contribute to increased soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere. Crop Rotation: It entails the methodical planting of various crops in a specific order over the course of several years in the same growing space. It contributes to the preservation of soil nutrients, the reduction of soil erosion, and the prevention of pests and disease in plants. Tensiometer: A tensiometer is a device used to measure soil moisture levels, helping in precision irrigation. Farmers and other irrigation managers can use tensiometers to help them decide when to water the land. It helps in reducing excessive water use and promotes water conservation in agriculture. Option 4 is incorrect: Vertical farming is the process of raising crops in vertical layers and frequently combines soilless farming methods and controlled-environment agriculture, which attempts to maximise plant development.

Explanation

Biochar is a high-carbon, fine-grained residue that is currently produced through modern pyrolysis processes (direct thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen and preventing combustion). The extremely porous nature of biochar is found to be effective at retaining both water and water-solu-ble nutrients. When applied to soil, biochar can improve water retention, increase soil fertility, and enhance microbial activity, leading to better crop yields.

Statement 1 is correct: The use of biochar in vertical farming, part of the growing medium, can increase output significantly. As biochar migrates vertically through the soil profile, therefore can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming.

Statement 2 is correct: Its presence on the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity, and reduce pressure on old-growth forests. Using biochar in the soil promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms.

Statement 3 is correct: Biochar is hygroscopic. Thus it is a desirable soil material in many locations due to its ability to attract and retain water.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Panini, the great grammarian, is not associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. He is traditionally believed to have lived during the Maurya period, possibly around the 4th century BCE. Pushyamitra Shunga, however, founded the Shunga dynasty around 185 BCE, well after Panini’s time. Panini is most famous for his work "Ashtadhyayi", a treatise on Sanskrit grammar.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Amarasimha, an eminent scholar and lexicographer, is associated with the Gupta period, not Harshavardhana. He is known for compiling the Amarakosa, a famous Sanskrit lexicon. Amarasimha is believed to have lived during the reign of Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire (c. 4th century CE), not during Harshavardhana’s reign (7th century CE).

Statement 3 is correct: Kalidasa, one of the greatest classical Sanskrit poets and playwrights, is traditionally associated with the Gupta period, specifically with Chandragupta II, also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya (r. 375-413 CE). Kalidasa is believed to have flourished at the Gupta court, and his works such as "Abhijnanasakuntalam", "Meghaduta", and "Raghuvamsa" reflect the grandeur of the Gupta Empire. Kalidasa and Amarsimha were among the nine jewels of Chandragupta-II aka Chandragupta Vikramaditya.

Explanation

Paramitas are qualities to be perfected in order to attain a state of self enlightened Universal Buddha (a samma sambuddha) a term prevalent in Eastern and Northern Buddhist traditions. Paramitas These are qualities to be perfected in order to transcend into a self enlightened Universal Buddha. Here, The Fourth Noble Truth outlines the Eightfold Path, which is a practical guideline for attaining the cessation of suffering (nirvana), while the Ten Paramitas focus more on the qualities required of a Bodhisattva, both paths lead toward enlightenment. Following are the Ten Paramitas: Generosity, Morality, Patience, Energy, Meditation, Wisdom, Skillful means, Resolution, Power, Knowledge.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Sthaviravadins were an early Buddhist sect that later became associated with Theravada Buddhism, not Mahayana.

Statement 2 is correct: Mahasanghika was further subdivided into several sects including Lokottarvadin, Kavya Variks, Kaukkitikas in coming years. Lokottarvadin was based on the philosophy of Lokottar Buddha or Supernatural Buddha.

Statement 3 is correct: The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghika fostered Mahayana Buddhism. They attributed divinity to Buddha and worship of Buddha in Statue form started which is still prevalent in modern days.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: AI-powered systems are used in smart grids and industrial automation to minimize electricity consumption. AI algorithms analyze energy consumption patterns and adjust systems in real-time to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

Statement 2 is correct: AI advancements such as natural language processing (NLP) and generative models like GPT can create meaningful short stories and songs. Tools like OpenAI’s GPT-3 and AI music generators demonstrate the ability to produce creative content that resonates with human audiences. Note: UPSC did not consider this option as correct probably because Generative AI was not so advanced at that time.

Statement 3 is correct: AI is widely used in healthcare for disease diagnosis. Machine learning algorithms analyze medical data such as imaging scans, genetic information, and patient records to detect diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions with high accuracy. AI systems like IBM Watson and Google DeepMind are prominent examples.

Statement 4 is correct: AI-powered text-to-speech (TTS) systems such as Google WaveNet and Amazon Polly can convert written text into natural-sounding speech. These systems are widely used in virtual assistants, audiobooks, and accessibility tools for visually impaired individuals.

Statement 5 is incorrect: Wireless transmission of electrical energy is a physical and engineering challenge and not directly related to AI. While AI can optimize energy systems but it does not play a direct role in the wireless transmission of electricity, which relies on technologies like inductive coupling or microwave transmission. Note: Considering the options provided most suitable answer is Option (b).