Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: As per Article 243B Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs. So, the states which have a population below 20 Lakh are given an option to not to have the intermediate level.At present, States of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Union Territories of Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have two-tier Panchayati Raj System.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 243F makes provisions for disqualifications from the membership of Panchayat. Under Article 243F, the minimum age prescribed to become a member of the Panchayat is 21 years.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Article 243I provides for the Constitution of a Finance Commission to review the financial position of the panchayats. Such a Finance Commission is constituted by the Governor.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional forum of seven member countries. BIMSTEC forum brings together five countries in South Asia (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and two in South East Asia (Myanmar and Thailand). BIMSTEC includes countries of the Bay of Bengal region and seeks to act as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia.

Statement 2 is incorrect: BIMSTEC was originally formed as BIST-EC in June 1997. It was founded as BIST-EC, in June 1997, with the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand are founding members of this organisation. It was originally formed as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation) in 1997. It became BIMST-EC after Myanmar joined it in 1997 itself. It became BIMSTEC in 2004 with the joining of Nepal and Bhutan. Nepal joined in 2004.

Statement 4 is incorrect: the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit (Colombo, Sri Lanka (virtual), 30 March 2022) approved the following seven Sectors and Sub-sectors of BIMSTEC Cooperation: (i)Trade, Investment and Development (ii) Environment and Climate Change (iii) Security; Sub-sectors: Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime; Disaster Management; Energy (iv) Agriculture and Food Security; Sub-sectors: Agriculture; Fisheries and Livestock (v) People-to-People Contact; Sub-sectors: Culture; Tourism; People-to-People Contact (vi) Science, Technology, and Innovation; Sub-sectors: Technology; Health; Human Resource Development (vii) Connectivity. Tourism is led by Nepal while India leads Security.

Explanation

The Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted in 1995 by the Government to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Peace Prize is awarded for social, economic and political transformation through non-violence, to any deserving person/s or institution/s. The award comprises a citation and an amount of Rs 1 crore. The awardee is selected by a five-member jury composed of the Prime Minster of India, Chief Justice of India, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and two eminent personalities.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) is a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Its primary objective is to provide satellite-based navigation services with enhanced accuracy and integrity, crucial for civil aviation applications. The system improves the accuracy of GPS signals, ensuring reliable and precise navigation over the Indian airspace.

Statement 2 is correct: GAGAN facilitates more uniform and high-quality air traffic management by providing accurate navigation services across the Indian Flight Information Region (FIR). This enhancement allows for improved air traffic control, efficient flight operations, and increased safety in the aviation sector.

Statement 3 is incorrect: While GAGAN was primarily developed for aviation, its applications extend beyond this sector. The system benefits other modes of transportation and sectors such as:

Maritime Navigation: Enhancing the safety and efficiency of ship movements. Railways: Improving train tracking and management systems. Road Transport: Assisting in vehicle navigation and traffic management. Agriculture: Supporting precision farming techniques. Disaster Management: Aiding in emergency response and resource deployment.

Explanation

Statement I is correct: The AI Action Summit was held at the Grand Palais in Paris on February 10-11, 2025, and was co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This summit built upon the progress made at the AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park in 2023 and the AI Seoul Summit in 2024. The Paris summit emphasized an open, multi-stakeholder, and inclusive approach to AI development.

Statement II is Incorrect: While the Paris summit concluded with the adoption of the "Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet", which was signed by over 60 countries including France, India, China, and members of the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the declaration. The UK cited concerns about national security and the need for clearer definitions of global AI governance, while the US expressed apprehensions about potential overregulation hindering innovation.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The UN General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The United Nations has proclaimed 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 26 February 2024 to declare 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution to declare 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust. It calls on the international community to resolve conflicts through inclusive dialogue and negotiation in order to ensure the strengthening of peace and trust in relations between UN member states as a value that promotes sustainable development, peace and security, and human rights. 2025 has been proclaimed an international year devoted to four different themes: International Year of Glaciers, Peace, Quantum science and Cooperatives.

Pair 4 is correctly matched: In 2024, the UN General Assembly declared 2029 the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence to take advantage of the close approach of 99942 Apophis and raise global awareness about asteroids.

Explanation

The BRICS is a forum for cooperation among a group of leading emerging economies. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the original five members. The BRICS now includes 10 countries - Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Arab Emirates.

Statement 1 is correct: The 16th BRICS Summit was held under Russia’s Chairship, in Kazan. At the conclusion of the Summit, the leaders adopted the ‘Kazan Declaration’. The 17th BRICS Summit will be hosted by Brazil.

Statement 2 is correct: Recently, Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS group as the 10th member, effective from January 2025. Indonesia has been admitted as a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security."

Explanation

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for the establishment of a body of Lokpal for the Union. Statement 1 is incorrect: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 shall apply to public servants in and outside India. Thus, the Lokpal has jurisdiction over all public servants, whether posted in India or abroad.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Section 3 of the Lokpal Act says that the Chairperson or a Member of Lokpal shall not be a member of Parliament or a member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory. It also provides that the Lokpal shall consist of a Chairperson, who is or has been a Chief Justice of India or is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or an eminent person.

Statement 3 is correct: As per Section 3 of the Lokpal Act, the Chairperson or a Member shall not be a person of less than forty-five years of age, on the date of assuming office as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be.

Statement 4 is incorrect: As per Section 14 of the Lokpal Act, the jurisdiction of the Lokpal extends to any person who is or has been a Prime Minister. However, there are exceptions here. There are certain cases in which Lokpal shall not inquire into any matter involving the Prime Minister.

Explanation

The Kho Kho World Cup 2025 concluded in New Delhi with India claiming the men’s and women’s titles after beating Nepal in both finals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on January 19.In the men’s division, India outplayed Nepal by a 54-36 scoreline in the summit clash while the women’s title decider finished 78-40 in the hosts’ favour.

Explanation

Statement I is incorrect: In the finals of the 45th Chess Olympiad held in 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest world chess champion but not after defeating the Russian Nepomniachtchi. The Indian defeated China’s Ding Liren on December 12, 2024 at age of 18 years and 195 days.

Statement II is correct: Abhimanyu Mishra is the holder of the record for being world’s youngest-ever Grandmaster in history on June 30, 2021, at the age of 12 years, four months, and 25 days. Sergey Karjakin held the record previously at 12 years and seven months.