Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Lala Lajpat Rai was popularly known as Punjab Kesari. He was the INC’s president at the 1920 Calcutta Special Session. In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation, in Lahore. He also wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji, and Shrikrishna. He led a non-violent march in protest against the Simon Commission and was brutally assaulted by the police. He succumbed to a heart attack later, with the assault likely contributing to his weakened condition.

Explanation

Neeldarpan was a Bengali play written in 1860 by Dinabandhu Mitra. It depicted the plight of indigo farmers under British rule, particularly the oppressive system imposed by British planters. The play was later translated into English by Michael Madhusudan Dutt and became influential in the Indigo Revolt In 1863, Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to clear the Indian Civil Services (ICS) Examination. He was the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore and worked towards administrative and social reforms. Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay. It aimed to promote Vedic knowledge and social reform, rejecting idol worship and advocating for women’s education. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandamath, a Bengali novel in 1882. It featured the famous song Vande Mataram, which later became an important slogan in the Indian freedom movement.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: As per Article 361, which deals with the ‘Protection of President and Governors’, states that ‘no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during his term of office’. However, after giving two months’ notice, civil proceedings can be instituted against him during his term of office in respect of his personal acts.

Statement 2 is correct: As per Article 158, which deals with the ‘Conditions of Governor Office’, states that ‘the emoluments and allowances of the Governor shall not be diminished during his term of office’.

Explanation

India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, to comply with its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a member of the WTO, India is bound by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which sets minimum standards for the protection of various forms of intellectual property, including geographical indications (GIs). TRIPS Agreement prescribe the minimum standards of protection that WTO members must provide for GIs. These provisions require member countries to prevent the misuse of GIs and to ensure that only authorized users can use a GI on products originating from the specified region

Explanation

Human capital formation refers to the process of improving the knowledge, skills, and capacities of people, which enhances their productivity and contributes to economic growth. This involves education, training, healthcare, and other investments in people.

Statement 2 is correct: It directly reflects the essence of human capital formation, which focuses on increasing the knowledge, skill levels, and capacities of individuals.

Statement 4 is correct: Human capital is considered intangible wealth, as it represents non-physical assets like skills, education, and health, which contribute to economic productivity. Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect: These refer to the accumulation of physical or tangible capital (like machinery, infrastructure), which is different from human capital.

Explanation

Capital formation refers to the accumulation of physical assets like machinery, tools, and infrastructure, which are expected to boost production.

Option (d) is correct: Even in a high-saving economy, if the capital-output ratio is high, it means that a large amount of capital is required to produce a small increase in output. This indicates inefficient use of capital or diminishing returns on investment, leading to limited growth in output despite increased savings and investments. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect: While weak administration, illiteracy, and high population density can slow economic growth by affecting governance, workforce skills, and resource allocation, they don’t directly influence how efficiently invested capital is converted into output--this efficiency is specifically measured by the capital-output ratio.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and several other food-related laws to bring uniformity in food safety regulations. It aimed to establish a single authority (FSSAI) for regulating food safety and standards in India.

Statement 2 is incorrect: FSSAI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, but it is not under the charge of the Director General of Health Services. Instead, it functions independently with its own Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Central Government.

Explanation

Bengaluru located at 77.5946°E is approximately 0.378 degrees east of Delhi is closest to Delhi. Longitude of Indian Cities:

The longitude of Delhi is 77.216721°E The longitude of Bangalore is 77.59450 E. The longitude of Nagpur is 79.0888°E. The longitude of Pune is 73.8474" E.

Explanation

Opportunity cost: refers to the value of the next best alternative foregone when a choice is made. Even if a commodity is provided "free" to the public, resources (such as government funds, labor, or infrastructure) are still required for its provision.

Option (c) is correct: If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public. As per microeconomics, the opportunity cost is zero for free goods such as air and common goods such as fish/grazing land. For public goods such as street lights and defence, the opportunity cost is involved (The government could have spent that much money on street lights rather than on the military). So, the opportunity cost is not zero.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Aral Sea has experienced a dramatic reduction in size due to the diversion of its feeding rivers for irrigation purposes. The Aral Sea is a salt lake in Central Asia which was previously the fourth-largest salt lake in the world. It started to shrink in the 1960s as a result of the Soviet Union starting to divert water for agricultural use. According to NASA, water diversion for agricultural purposes in the region has caused the Aral Sea to lose nearly 75% of its original size during the past 50 years. The Aral Sea’s depth has similarly dropped, going from 68 metres in the 1960s to less than 10 meters now.