Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Strength of ECI is not specified in the Constitution, and it is determined by the President. Currently, there are 3 Members.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The most important function of the commission is to decide the election schedules for the conduct of periodic and timely elections, whether general or bye-elections.

Statement 3 is correct: It grants recognition to political parties & allot election symbols to them along with settling disputes related to splits/mergers of recognized political parties.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: QCI was established jointly by the Government of India and Indian industry associations-- ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI--to set up a national accreditation structure and drive the National Quality Campaign.

Statement 2 is correct: The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister, based on recommendations from the industry to the government. The Council governing QCI consists of 38 members, equally representing the government, industry, and other stakeholders. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, serves as the nodal ministry for QCI.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Career Service (NCS) is an initiative of the Directorate General of Employment, Ministry of Labour and Employment, not the Department of Personnel and Training.NCS offers dynamic job matching, career counselling, job notifications, vocational guidance, and information on skill development courses and internships.

Statement 2 is incorrect: It was launched in 2015 as a mission-mode project under the E-Governance Plan. It aims to bridge the gap between job-seekers and employers, as well as candidates seeking training and career guidance and agencies providing these services. It is for everyone seeking a job not just for the uneducated. It provides career counseling as well as skill and training if needed.

Explanation

All State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments are eligible for National Pension System (NPS). After the Central Government’s adoption of the NPS in 2004, many State Governments have also implemented the NPS for their employees joining after the respective notification dates. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

National Pension System (NPS) is not limited to resident Indian citizens. It is open to all Indian citizens, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) provided they meet the age and KYC requirements. The NPS allows individuals between the ages of 18 and 70 (not only 21 to 55)to join. There is no upper age limit for years of age at the time of application. NPS was made mandatory for all Central Government employees (except the Armed Forces) joining services on or after January 1, 2004 and not April 1, 2004.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, a transaction can still be considered a benami transaction even if the owner of the property is unaware of or denies knowledge of the ownership. The Act defines a benami transaction as one where the property is held by one person but paid for by another, irrespective of whether the ostensible owner is aware or not.

Statement 2 is correct: Benami properties are liable for confiscation by the government without compensation, as per Section 5 of the Act.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Act establishes three authorities for investigation--Initiating Officer, Approving Authority, and Adjudicating Authority--but also provides for an appellate tribunal to handle disputes and appeals related to benami transactions.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct:

Great Nicobar is closest to Sumatra. Great Nicobar lies on the south of the Nicobar Islands of India and it is the largest island of the Nicobar Islands. South of Great Nicobar is the island of Sumatra. The distance between the two places is approximately 150 Kms. The close proximity of Sumatra to Great Nicobar has implications beyond mere geography. Historically, this nearness has influenced trade routes, cultural exchanges, and even ecological patterns between the two regions. For instance, certain flora and fauna exhibit similarities due to this geographical closeness.

Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

The distance from Great Nicobar to Borneo is 2,398 kms. The distance from Great Nicobar to Java stands at 1,817 kms. The distance from Great Nicobar to Sri Lanka is 1437 kms.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian Himalayan spans 13 states and union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Western Ghats are spread over six states namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat and not 5 states.

Statement 3 is correct: Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake in India and spreads over the two states namely Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Large varieties of birds, including Painted Storks and Grey pelicans, frequent the area every year.

Explanation

The Mediterranean Sea is a significant body of water almost entirely enclosed by land, serves as a natural border for numerous countries across three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Option (c) is correct: The countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: Traveling by road from Kohima in Nagaland to Kottayam in Kerala involves traversing multiple Indian states. To determine the minimum number of states one would pass through, including the origin and destination, let’s analyze the shortest route:

Nagaland: Starting point at Kohima.

Assam: Proceed westward into Assam.

West Bengal: Continue through Assam into West Bengal. Odisha: Travel southward from West Bengal into Odisha. Andhra Pradesh: Proceed further south into Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu: From Andhra Pradesh, enter Tamil Nadu. Kerala: Finally, arrive at Kottayam in Kerala. This route covers seven states in total. Alternatively, after Andhra Pradesh, one could enter Karnataka before reaching Kerala, still totaling seven states.

Explanation

In the context of the economic history of medieval India, the term ’Araghatta’ refers to a waterwheel, an important piece of technology used for irrigation. The term ‘Araghatta’ derives from the words "ara" which means "spoke" and "ghatta" means "pot". The waterwheels were used to lift water from wells or rivers to irrigate crops. This technology played a significant role in agricultural productivity, particularly in regions with an agrarian economy by providing a reliable and efficient method of irrigation. Baburnama provides a comprehensive explanation and a picture of the Persian Wheel which was in use in the Punjab province. 2 Medieval History