Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: China is the world’s largest producer of rice, yet it exports only a small portion of its total production. The majority of its rice is directed towards domestic consumption, reflecting the country’s significant internal demand rather than a focus on international exports.

Option (b) is correct: Over the last five years, India has firmly held its position as the largest exporter of rice in the world. The country exports a wide range of rice varieties, including basmati rice, known for its aromatic quality, and non-basmati rice, which caters to diverse global markets. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India has maintained its leading position in rice exports from 2018 to 2023.

Option (c) is incorrect: Myanmar is an important regional rice exporter, particularly to China and ASEAN countries. However, its export volumes are much smaller, and political instability in recent years has affected its agricultural output.

Option (d) is incorrect: Vietnam consistently ranks amongst the top three rice exporters after India. While it exports significant quantities to Africa and Southeast Asia, its total exports are considerably lower than India’s.

Explanation

Swadeshi Movements were large-scale protests against the partition of Bengal. Later, the movement spread to other regions of the nation. New means of protest like processions, public meetings, and boycotts of imported goods were used.

Statement 1 is correct: Emphasis was placed on Self-Reliance (Atma Shakti), honour, social and economic regeneration of the villages. Swadeshi textile mills, banks, etc, were set up. At Tuticorin, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company. This gave a boost to indigenous artisans.

Statement 2 is correct: The National Council of Education, established in 1906, was created to organize and promote national education in India, with a particular emphasis on teaching in the vernacular languages.

Explanation

Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the "right to life and personal liberty", which the Supreme Court has interpreted to include the right to marry a person of one’s choice. In several landmark judgments, the Court has emphasized that this right is part of an individual’s personal liberty, and any interference with it must meet strict scrutiny under the Constitution. In the famous Hadiya case(Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M.), the court held that the right to choose a partner is essential to a person’s meaningful existence and autonomy.

Explanation

During the Gupta period, forced labor (vishti) became a source of income for the state and was also looked upon as a form of taxation on the subjects. Vishti was forced labor instead of taxes hence no weekly wages were entitled. Anyone from the family can be sent as a forced laborer, not particularly the eldest son of the family.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Saint Nimbarka (1130-1200) is thought to have lived in the 11th and 12th centuries CE. His theology revolves around Krishna and Radha, with a focus on bhakti. The Mughal emperor Akbar lived from 1542 -1605. Nimbarkacharya also known as Nimbarka, Nimbaditya or Niyamananda, was a Hindu philosopher, theologian and the chief proponent of the theology of Dvaitadvaita (dvaita-advaita) or dualistic-non-dualistic. He wrote Dashashlokee.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Saint Kabir (1440-1518) was a famous mystic poet and saint considered to have been influenced by Sant Tukaram, Vishnu-based bhakti traditions, and Sufism, but Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624), a later figure, was not a contemporary of Kabir. In fact, Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was a reformist figure in the Naqshbandi Sufi order and his thoughts were centered around orthodox Islam.

Explanation

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs, making infections harder to treat. When microorganisms such as bacteria develop resistance to multiple drugs, it is specifically termed Multidrug Resistance (MDR), posing a serious challenge to effective treatment.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Multi-drug resistance is primarily a result of microbial adaptation, excessive antibiotic use, and misuse rather than human genetic predisposition. Genetic predisposition is a genetic trait that, in response to environmental factors, may influence the potential phenotypic development of an individual organism within a species or community. Antibiotic resistance is not related to the genetic tendency of a small minority of persons in a society.

Statement 2 is correct: Misuse of antibiotics, such as incorrect dosing, premature discontinuation of prescribed antibiotics, or self-medication, allows bacteria to survive and develop resistance. WHO mentions inappropriate use of antibiotics as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance.

Statement 3 is correct: The extensive use of antibiotics in animals, especially for growth promotion and disease prevention, contributes to the development of resistant bacteria. These resistant strains can transfer to humans through the food chain or direct contact.

Statement 4 is incorrect: While having multiple chronic diseases (like diabetes, hypertension, or cancer) may lead to prolonged or frequent use of antibiotics due to recurrent infections, it is not a direct cause of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in microbial pathogens.

Explanation

The Cas9 protein, often referred to as "molecular scissors," is an enzyme utilized in targeted gene editing. It originates from the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) system, which serves as an adaptive immune mechanism in bacteria. Guided by a specific RNA sequence, Cas9 binds to a complementary DNA sequence and introduces a double-stranded break. This break facilitates targeted modifications, such as gene insertion, deletion, or correction. Cas9 has revolutionized genetic research and therapy by enabling precise edits in the genomes of various organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. This technology holds potential for treating genetic disorders, developing disease-resistant crops, and advancing gene therapy.

Explanation

In India, pesticides must be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare’s Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage before they can be used. A 2015 report by the Anupam Verma Committee recommended banning 27 pesticides, including some commonly used chemicals mentioned above:

Carcinogenic: Oxyfluorfen, Pendimethalin (causes Thyroid follicular cell adenoma) Endocrine disruptor: Dicofol, Carbofuran, Oxyfluorfen Eco-toxic: Carbofuran, Monocrotophos, Carbofuran, Oxyfluorfen.

Explanation

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by viral infections (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E). Its symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Statement (a) is correct: Both Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV are transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, or other body fluids. Statement (b) is incorrect: A vaccine is available for Hepatitis B, which is effective in preventing HBV infection. However there is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C. Statement (c) is correct: The global prevalence of HBV and HCV infections is significantly higher than that of HIV. Statement (d) is correct: Both HBV and HCV can lead to chronic infections where individuals remain asymptomatic for years, often until significant liver damage has occurred.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Jagirdars were granted land assignments (known as jagir) in return for military, administrative, or service-related duties. Zamindars, on the other hand have the primary role of revenue collection. But in many cases, especially during the Mughal period, Zamindars were also responsible for maintaining law and order in their regions, depending on the specific region and the emperor’s policies.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Jagirdars did not necessarily hold hereditary land assignments. The jagir was often granted for services rendered. The emperor could change or revoke these assignments as needed, which means the jagir was not hereditary in the strict sense. Zamindars, however, typically held hereditary rights over the lands they controlled. The right to collect revenue from their land passed down through generations, making their position mostly hereditary in nature.