UPSC 1998 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The construction sequence is Qutub Minar (1193) > Tughlaqabad Fort (1321)>Lodi Garden (1451-1526)> Fatehpur Sikri (1571). Qutub Minar (1193-1220) construction was initiated by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed by Iltutmish during the early Delhi Sultanate era. Tughlaqabad Fort was built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq as a fortified city during the Tughlaq dynasty. It was designed with robust defense mechanisms, including thick walls, towers, and a deep moat. Lodi Garden was made during the Lodi dynasty. The park is home to several notable tombs from the Lodi dynasty, including the tomb of Sikandar Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dynasty, and the tomb of Muhammad Shah Lodi, the last Sultan of the Lodi dynasty. Fatehpur Sikri was constructed by Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. It served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for a brief period before it was abandoned.

Explanation

The satellite launched by Canada (RADARSAT-1 Satellite) has helped in the preparation of a complete and high resolution map of Antarctica. Data collected from six satellites over the course of 25 years was used to create the most accurate map of ice velocity in Antarctica, shedding light on the effects of climate change on glaciers for the continent.

Explanation

Akbar ascended to the throne of the Mughal Empire in February 1556, at the age of 13 years and four months. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, after Humayun died while Akbar was fighting a war to reclaim the Mughal throne. The Battle of Haldighati was a military conflict that took place in June 1576, between the forces of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Akbar. Queen Elizabeth I granted the East India Company a charter on December 31, 1600, that gave the company the exclusive right to trade with the East. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj died on April 3, 1680, at Raigad after suffering for three weeks from fever and dysentery. Nadir Shah of Iran captured Delhi in 1739 after defeating the Mughal Empire in the Battle of Karnal. The battle was a turning point in the region’s history and marked the effective end of the Mughal Empire.

Explanation

The "Limits to Growth" is a famous report published in 1972 by Donella Meadows, Dennis Meadows, Jorgen Randers, and William Behrens for the Club of Rome. The report used computer simulations to predict the consequences of unchecked population growth, industrialization, pollution, food production, and resource depletion on Earth. Key Prediction by Meadows (1972):

If current trends in population growth, resource consumption, and pollution continue unchanged, the world would reach its limits to growth within the next 100 years. This would lead to economic decline, resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and possible societal collapse. The report recommended sustainable development and policy changes to avoid such a crisis.

Explanation

The Hang Seng Index, or HSI, is a free-float market capitalization-weighted index of the largest companies that trade on the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEx). Dow Jones Industrial Average also called Dow Jones: New York (Wall Street). Dow Jones is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, also called the FTSE 100 or, informally, the "Footsie" is a share index of the 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Indian Financial market Indexes:

Sensex is meant to denote the most popular market index of 30 companies listed under the Bombay Stock Exchange. Sensex was first introduced on January 1, 1986. NIFTY is a market index introduced by the National Stock Exchange. It showcases the top 50 equity stocks traded in the stock exchange. Nifty 50 Index has an inception date of November 3, 1995.

Explanation

Mercosur (Southern Common Market) is an economic and political bloc of Latin America established in 1991 through the Treaty of Asuncion to promote economic integration and free trade among member countries. It includes Asunción, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia (approved in July 2024), with Venezuela currently suspended. The Common Market Council serves as the bloc’s highest decision-making body, and its official languages are Spanish and Portuguese. The headquarters is in Montevideo, Uruguay. India and Mercosur concluded negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in 2005 to strengthen economic ties.

Explanation

Amartya Sen, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, is renowned for his contributions to welfare economics, social choice theory, and economic justice. He also played a role in the WTO draft document.

Explanation

White goods are products for conspicuous consumption. They typically include large and costly household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and other major home appliances. White goods typically refer to major household appliances that are traditionally white in color (although this is less of a defining characteristic now). These are durable consumer goods, often considered non-essential but associated with a certain level of comfort and lifestyle.

Explanation

The August Offer (1940) was a constitutional framework proposed by the British government to gain Indian cooperation in WWII, offering Dominion status after the war. It was rejected by Indian leaders. The Quit India Movement (1942) was a mass civil disobedience movement launched by the Indian National Congress demanding an immediate end to British rule. The I.N.A Trial (1945-46) of Indian National Army officers at the Red Fort led to widespread public outrage and rise in nationalist sentiment. The Royal Indian Naval Ratings’ Revolt (1946) by Indian naval personnel in Bombay and other cities, demonstrated the growing discontent among the armed forces.

Explanation

Lord Mountbatten was appointed Viceroy of India in 1947 with the task of overseeing the transfer of power from British rule. His primary goal was to keep India united, but escalating communal tensions and Jinnah’s demand for Pakistan made this impossible. After failed negotiations for a united India, Mountbatten proposed the 3rd June Plan, which led to the partition of India into two nations--India and Pakistan. He expedited the process, ensuring the transfer of power was completed by August 15, 1947, despite the challenges posed by widespread violence and political divisions.