UPSC 1997 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The chronological sequence is Macaulay’s Minute (1835) Wood’s Despatch (1854) Hunter Commission (1882) Sargent Report (1944). Macaulay’s Minute on Education (1835): Drafted by Lord Macaulay, it played a pivotal role in establishing English as the medium of instruction in Indian schools. Wood’s Education Despatch (1854) was issued by Sir Charles Wood, then President of the Board of Control for the East India Company and stressed on emphasizing scientific learning and rational thinking over traditional religious teachings. Indian Education Commission (Hunter Commission) (1882) was headed by William Wilson Hunter and recommended that primary education be provided in vernacular languages and highlighted the importance of expanding primary education. The Sargent Education Report (1944) proposed compulsory and free education for children up to the age of 14, intending to raise educational standards to international levels.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The working principle of a washing machine is Centrifugation. It is a process used to separate substances of different densities by spinning them at high speed. In a washing machine, the centrifugal force generated during the spin cycle helps remove water from the clothes along with dirt and stain.

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

Dialysis is a process used to remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood in patients with kidney failure. It involves the diffusion of solutes across a semipermeable membrane. Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules and larger particles from water. It is commonly used in desalination and water filtration systems. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. While diffusion plays a role in processes like the mixing of detergents in water but it is not the main working principle of a washing machine.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct:

Non-plan expenditure refers to all recurring and obligatory expenses of the government, which are not associated with specific planned development projects. It includes:

Defence expenditure: A significant part of non-plan expenditure allocated for maintaining the country’s security. Subsidies: Expenditures on subsidies like food, fertilizers, and petroleum products are non-plan in nature. Expenditures linked to previous plans: Commitments made during past plan periods, like spillovers of plan projects, also fall under non-plan expenditure. Interest payments: Payments on borrowings are a substantial component of non-plan expenditure and have consistently been the largest contributor.

Explanation

The description perfectly matches Gopal Krishna Gokhale, one of the most respected leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. Gokhale graduated from Elphinstone College, Bombay (Mumbai), in 1884 at the age of 18. He was one of the first Indian graduates of the university. He became a professor of history and political economy at Fergusson College, Pune. He also became associate editor of the newspaper ’Sudharak’ which was run by his mentor M.G. Ranade. He became secretary of the Pune Sarvajanik Sabha, an organization that worked for Indian political rights. He was also involved in provincial-level conferences advocating for self-governance. In 1895 at the age of 29 Gokhale became Secretary of the Indian National Congress (INC). In 1897 Gokhale testified before the Welby Commission (Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure) in England and advocated for financial autonomy for India. He was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council in 1900 at the age of 34. In 1902 he was nominated to the Imperial Legislative Council, where he became a key advocate for Indian self-governance and social reforms. In 1905, at the age of 39, Gokhale was elected President of the Indian National Congress in Benares (Varanasi) Session. Mahatma Gandhi regarded Gokhale as his political mentor, calling him "Mahatma without the title".

Explanation

While family planning was a key consideration for the 73rd Amendment, the specific provision stating that Panchayati Raj functionaries will be disqualified if they have more than two children was not part of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. This provision was added later through state-level legislation in certain states, but it was not mandated by the 73rd Amendment itself. The one-third reservation for women at all levels of Panchayati Raj bodies is a key provision in the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act. The formation of State Finance Commissions to allocate resources to Panchayats is also a provision under the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act. The requirement to hold elections within six months of dissolution or superseding is part of the 73rd Amendment, ensuring that elected bodies are not left vacant for long periods.

Explanation

Paramagnetism refers to the property of a material that is weakly attracted to an external magnetic field due to the presence of unpaired electrons in its atomic or molecular structure. When placed in a magnetic field, these unpaired electrons align their magnetic moments in the direction of the field, causing a weak but positive magnetization. However, this effect disappears once the external field is removed.

Option (c) is correct: Oxygen (O₂) is paramagnetic because it has two unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital configuration, making it weakly attracted to a magnetic field. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Iron is ferromagnetic (not always paramagnetic), meaning it is strongly attracted to magnetic fields. Hydrogen and Nitrogen are diamagnetic, meaning they are weakly repelled by magnetic fields due to their paired electrons. Directions: The following item consists of two statements, one labeled as the Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). You have to answer this item using the code given below.

Explanation

The Servants of India Society was founded in 1905 by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to promote India’s welfare and self-reliant development. The society focused on legal reforms and education, which aligned with the professional interests of these three individuals.

Option (d) is correct: M.C. Setalvad, B.N. Rao, and Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer were members of the Society. Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of India. He was a lawyer and legal expert who contributed his expertise to the drafting and formulation of the constitution. M.C. Setalvad and B.N. Rao were also pioneers in Indian Legal and constitutional Studies.

Explanation

A comet is a small celestial body composed of ice, dust, and rocky material that orbits the Sun in an elliptical path. When it gets close to the Sun, the heat causes its icy nucleus to vaporize, forming a glowing coma.

Option (c) is correct: The tail of a comet is directed away from the Sun due to the solar wind and radiation pressure exerted by the Sun. The Sun emits charged particles (mainly electrons and protons) that interact with the comet’s nucleus and coma, pushing gas and dust away. This creates a glowing tail that always points opposite the Sun, regardless of the comet’s orientation. The tail’s direction can change as the comet moves, influenced by factors like solar wind intensity, the coma’s shape, and the Sun’s magnetic field.

Explanation

Butler Committee Report (1927) focused on the relationship between the Indian states and the British Paramount Power. It studied the status and governance of princely states under British rule. Hurtog Committee Report (1929) studied the growth of education in India and its future potential. The committee also emphasized on the role of higher education in producing trained administrative personnel for the British government. Hunter Inquiry Committee Report (1920) investigated the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and its aftermath. The report was criticized for being a whitewashed account of the massacre, as it did not hold Dyer accountable in a meaningful way. The Muddiman Committee Report (1924) examined the working of the dyarchy introduced under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919). The committee’s report found that the dyarchy system was not working effectively due to several reasons, such as the lack of real power in the hands of Indian ministers, bureaucratic resistance, etc.

Explanation

A is matched with 5: Chennai (formerly Madras) is located at approximately 13°N latitude, while Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is located at around 22.5°N latitude. The closer a location is to the equator, the higher the average temperature due to more direct sunlight throughout the year. This is why Chennai is warmer than Kolkata, as it is situated closer to the equator. B is matched with 2: Snowfall in the Himalayas is primarily due to high altitude, rather than latitude. The Himalayas have several peaks above 6,000 meters (20,000 feet), where temperatures remain below freezing for most of the year. C is matched with 4:West Bengal is closer to the Bay of Bengal, which brings heavy monsoon rains during June-September. As you move inland towards Punjab, the moisture-laden winds lose their strength and moisture due to the continental effect (distance from the sea). D is matched with 3: During winter (December-February), the Western Disturbances (low-pressure systems from the Mediterranean region) bring rainfall to northern India, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.