Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Ashokan edicts and inscriptions, carved on pillars and rocks across the Indian subcontinent, convey Ashoka’s policies of Dhamma, promoting non-violence, religious tolerance, and moral conduct. The Kanaganahalli inscription located in Kanganahalli (in present-day Gulbarga, Karnataka), is a significant discovery. The inscription and relief depict Ashoka in the form of a portrait and a reference to his title, "Ranyo Ashoka," highlighting his role as a ruler.

Explanation

Dew formation occurs when the Earth’s surface cools down sufficiently at night, causing moisture in the air to con-dense into water droplets on cool surfaces. On clear nights, the Earth’s surface loses heat rapidly through a process called radia-tive cooling. This cooling lowers the temperature of surfaces like grass or leaves, leading to the formation of dew as the air reaches its dew point.

Option (b) is correct: On cloudy nights, the situation changes. Clouds act like a blanket, reflecting back the infrared radiation (heat) emitted by the Earth’s surface. This process is known as the greenhouse effect at a smaller scale. Because the heat is trapped, the Earth’s surface doesn’t cool enough for dew to form.

Explanation

Liberty is generally understood not as the absence of restraint or mere freedom to do whatever one likes, but as the freedom to develop one’s full potential within the framework of laws and rights that ensure the same freedom for others. This idea aligns with the concept of positive liberty, which is the ability to act in ways that allow personal and collective growth, while also respecting the freedoms of others.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air is not part of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). It is a supplementary protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) adopted in 2000. The UNCAC was adopted in 2003 and focuses specifically on combating corruption and does not include provisions related to migrant smuggling.

Statement 2 is correct: The UNCAC adopted in 2003 is the first legally binding global instrument to combat corruption. It provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and criminalizing corruption, promoting international cooperation, and recovering illicitly acquired assets. It has been ratified by nearly all UN member states.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The UNTOC primarily focuses on combating transnational organized crime, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illicit arms trafficking. It includes provisions for international cooperation and asset recovery but it does not have a specific chapter dedicated to returning assets to their rightful owners. This is a key feature of the UNCAC, which has a detailed chapter (Chapter V) on asset recovery.

Statement 4 is correct: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is responsible for helping countries implement both UNCAC and UNTOC. UNODC provides technical assistance, legal advice, and training to strengthen anti-corruption and anti-crime efforts.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The IMF focuses on global financial stability and publishes reports like the World Economic Outlook (WEO) and Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR).

Option (b) is incorrect: UNCTAD publishes reports on trade and development such as the World Investment Report (WIR) and Trade and Development Report (TDR).

Option (c) is correct: The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) ranks economies using the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). It evaluates factors like infrastructure, innovation, and market efficiency.

Option (d) is incorrect: The World Bank publishes reports like the World Development Report (WDR). However, this report has been discontinued recently.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field was signed between India and Russia in 2018. This agreement is part of the long-standing strategic partnership between India and Russia in the field of civil nuclear energy. The deal aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as nuclear power plant construction, nuclear fuel supply, and joint research and devel-opment in nuclear technology. The agreement was signed during the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Key areas of cooperation included:

Construction of more nuclear power plants in India (like Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu). Localization of nuclear component manufacturing in India. Joint collaboration in third-country nuclear projects.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Australia has its own privacy regulations under the Privacy Act of 1988. While it does have laws to protect personal data, they are not as comprehensive or as strict as the GDPR.

Option (b) is incorrect: Canada follows the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which also protects data privacy but is not as extensive as the GDPR. PIPEDA regulates the handling of personal information in the private sector, but it is not as stringent or comprehensive as the GDPR.

Option (c) is correct: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law on data protection and privacy adopted by the European Union (EU) It is one of the most comprehensive and stringent data protection laws globally, aimed at enhancing individuals’ control over their personal data and regulating how businesses process and store personal information. It includes rights such as data portability, the right to be forgotten, and the right to access personal data.

Option (d) is incorrect: The United States of America has a more fragmented approach to data privacy, with sector-specif-ic regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). There is no single overarching federal law like the GDPR in the US.

Explanation

The Economic Cost of food grains to the FCI includes the Minimum Support Price and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus the procurement incidentals and distribution cost. Procurement incidentals are expenses incurred during procurement till the food grains reach the first point of godown. Distribution costs are now included in economic costs, whilst buffer carrying costs are now included in buffer subsidies.

Explanation

India’s Imports of Top-10 Agricultural Commodities [Value in Rs. Crores. Quantity in ‘000’ Tonnes)

Option (d) is correct: As per the data from Department of Commerce, Government of India, Vegetable oils account for the highest import in terms of value in the last five years(i.e. Between 2014-15 and 2018-19). India relies on imports for 70% of its edible oil consumption. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect: Pulses account for second-most highest while fresh fruits account for third highest and spices account for least imports in terms of value in the last five years among the above-mentioned agricultural commodities imported in India.

Explanation

Land reforms in independent India were primarily aimed at redistributing land to achieve social equity and increase agricultural productivity.

Option (a) is incorrect: Ceiling laws often target individual holdings to prevent landowners from circumventing the laws by splitting land among family members. While some states applied ceilings to family holdings, this was not consistent across India. Example: In Uttar Pradesh, ceiling laws were implemented based on individual holdings, allowing families to distribute land titles among relatives to bypass ceilings. In contrast, states like Kerala applied ceilings based on family holdings.

Option (b) is correct: The primary goal of land reforms in independent India was to redistribute land to landless farmers and promote social justice. This aimed to reduce inequalities in land ownership and improve agricultural productivity.

Option (c) is incorrect: Land reforms primarily focused on redistribution and tenancy reforms, with the aim of promoting food security and subsistence farming rather than the cultivation of cash crops. Example: In West Bengal and Kerala, land reforms led to increased production of rice and staple crops, not cash crops like cotton or sugarcane.

Option (d) is incorrect: Many states provided exemptions to ceiling limits for specific purposes, such as plantations, religious institutions, and educational establishments. Example: Religious and charitable institutions were also exempt in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.