Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: PPP is an economic concept that compares the value of currencies by examining the cost of a standard "basket of goods" across different countries. It determines the exchange rate required for one currency to buy the same quantity of goods and services as it would in another country.

Statement 2 is incorrect: As of the latest available data, India ranks as the third-largest economy globally in terms of GDP based on PPP. According to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook, India’s GDP (PPP) is approximately $13.17 trillion, placing it behind China and the United States.

Explanation

According to the World Bank, Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. The new extreme poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, which replaces the $1.90 poverty line, is based on 2017 PPPs

Option (b) is correct: The official poverty line in India is determined based on the minimum income required to meet basic consumption needs, primarily food, adjusted for other essentials like housing, education, and healthcare. Since the cost of living and price levels differ across states due to factors like inflation, regional disparities, and market conditions, the poverty line is higher in states where the price levels are higher. For instance, states with higher urbanization or living costs like Maharashtra or Delhi might have a higher poverty line compared to states with lower living costs like Bihar or Odisha.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, provides for 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for women employees for the first two children. Of this, a maximum of 8 weeks can be availed before delivery, and the remaining after childbirth. For women with more than two children, the entitlement is reduced to 12 weeks (6 weeks pre-delivery and 6 weeks post-delivery).

Statement 2 is incorrect: Establishments with 50 or more employees must provide crèche facilities, but the law does not mandate six crèche visits per day, rather mothers are allowed to visit the crèche four times a day, including rest intervals.

Statement 3 is correct: The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, specifies that women who already have two or more surviving children are entitled to only 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, compared to 26 weeks for those with fewer than two children.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, there are 75 PVTGs officially notified in India, residing across 18 States and one Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

Statement 2 is correct: A declining or stagnant population is one of the key criteria for identifying a PVTG, along with dependence on subsistence-level economy and limited access to modern facilities. The criteria for identifying PVTGs include:

Pre-agricultural level of technology, Low level of literacy, Economic backwardness, A stagnant or declining population.

Statement 3 is incorrect: As of now, there are 75 officially notified PVTGs, not 95.

Statement 4 is correct: Both Irular (Tamil Nadu) and Konda Reddi (Andhra Pradesh) tribes are included in the official list of PVTGs.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Pandharpur is a famous pilgrimage town in Maharashtra and is located on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. It is renowned for the Vitthal Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vitthal (a form of Lord Vishnu). It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. During the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi festival, thousands of devotees take a holy dip in the Chandrabhaga River.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Tiruchirappalli is an Indian city of Tamil Nadu on the banks of the Cauvery River. The city is historically and culturally significant with landmarks such as the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and Rock Fort Temple.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom and is located on the bank of the Tungabhadra River in present state of Karnataka. The Malaprabha River is a separate river that originates in the Western Ghats and flows through the Belagavi district of Karnataka. It is a tributary of the Krishna River.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Bandarpunch Glacier is the source of the Yamuna River. It is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is one of the major rivers in northern India.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Bara Shigri Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in Himachal Pradesh. The meltwater from this glacier forms the Chandra River which combines with the Bhaga River to create the Chenab River.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The Milam Glacier located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand is the source of the Gori Ganga River, not the Mandakini River. The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath.

Pair 4 is correctly matched: The Siachen Glacier, one of the longest glaciers in the world, is located in the Karakoram range in Ladakh. It is a major source of the Nubra River, which is a tributary of the Shyok River. The Nubra Valley, known for its cold desert landscape, lies along the Nubra River, making the glacier a crucial hydrological feature of the region.

Pair 5 is incorrectly matched: Zemu Glacier is the primary source of the Teesta River not Manas River. The Teesta flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. The Manas River originates in Bhutan and has no connection to the Zemu Glacier. Major River Associated Glacier/Origin Ganga (Bhagirathi) Gangotri Glacier Ganga (Mandakini) Chorabari Glacier Yamuna Yamunotri Glacier Indus Siachen Glacier Brahmaputra Angsi Glacier, Chemayungdung Glacier Chenab Bara-Shigri Glacier Teesta Glaciers in Sikkim Himalayas (Tso Lhamo Lake) Narmada Amarkantak

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula. The countries with coasts on the Adriatic sea are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Black Sea is not bordered by Croatia. Black Sea is a large inland sea situated at the southeastern extremity of Europe. It is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water, variously classed as the world’s largest lake or a full-fledged sea. It is an endorheic basin (a basin without outflows) located between Europe and Asia. It is bounded by Kazakhstan in the northeast, Russia in the northwest, Azerbaijan in the west, Iran in the south and Turkmenistan in the southeast.

Pair 4 is correctly matched: The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the west to Asia in the east and separates Europe from Africa. The countries surrounding the Mediterranean in clockwise order: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.

Pair 5 is incorrectly matched: Red Sea is a narrow strip of water extending south-eastward from Suez, Egypt to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. It further connects with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The six countries bordering the Red Sea: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti. The Red Sea is not bordered by Syria.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: If industrial growth lags behind agriculture, job creation slows, leading to underemployment and lower productivity. However, it doesn’t hinder development un-less stagnation sets in. For instance, the Green Revolution initially saw agriculture outpace industry but still spurred economic development, improving food security and livelihoods.

Option (b) is incorrect: Slower agricultural growth can lead to food shortages and rural distress, especially in agrarian economies. However, in modern economies, a shift from agriculture to industry, like in South Korea, can drive economic development through job creation and higher incomes.

Option (c) is correct: Economic development is a broader concept than economic growth. While an increase in absolute and per capita real Gross National Product (GNP) indicates economic growth, true development includes improvements in living standards, employment opportunities, and poverty reduction. If poverty and unemployment increase despite GNP growth, it suggests that the benefits of growth are not being equitably distributed, leading to an absence of real economic development.

Option (d) is incorrect: A trade imbalance doesn’t always signal poor development. If imports rise for capital goods or technology, it can boost future growth. For example, China’s imports of advanced machinery in the 1990s aided in its economic development. However, a persistent trade deficit without export growth, like in some developing nations, can strain reserves, financial stability and thus stall economic development.

Explanation

Mughal and Nawabi architecture is marked by the use of red sandstone, white marble, and intricate brickwork. This choice reflects cultural influences seen in monuments like the Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, and the Taj Mahal.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence) and Khankah (Sufi monastery) at Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. It is made of red sandstone, with some white marble used for decorative inlays. White marble is not the primary material.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Bada Imambara, located in Lucknow was built by Asaf-ud-daula in 1784. It was built to give employment and revenue to the public This structure has been made by interlocking bricks without the use of mortar in its construction. Rumi Darwaza is also located in Lucknow, built by Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-daula. It is built using lakhauri bricks, coated with lime. It does not use red sandstone or marble. Stucco ornamentation (gajkari) was used to decorate the monuments, giving it a deep relief effect even on flat walls.

Explanation

Both warm and mid-latitude deserts have a predomi-nance of xerophytic or drought-resistant plants. This comprises cacti, thorny bushes, wiry grasses with extensive roots, and scattered dwarf acacias.

Option (d) is correct: In order to gather moisture and search for ground water, the majority of desert shrubs have lengthy roots that are widely distributed. These plants typically have a few (or no leaves) tiny, needle-shaped, waxy, leathery leaves or hairy foliage to reduce water loss through transpiration.