UPSC 1998 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

A is correctly matched with 2: Alibag is renowned for its beautiful beaches(Alibag Beach and Kihim Beach) and coastal scenery, making it a popular holiday destination. Its proximity to Mumbai has led to its development as a resort town, attracting tourists seeking leisure and relaxation. B is correctly matched with 1: Balapur, located near the coast, has a community primarily engaged in fishing activities. The town’s economy is significantly supported by its fishing industry, supplying seafood to nearby regions. C is correctly matched with 4: Nhava Sheva, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), is India’s largest container port located near Mumbai. D is correctly matched with 3: Ratnagiri is known for its petrochemical industries, including oil refineries and other related facilities.

Explanation

Surface road density is calculated as the total length of surface roads (in km) divided by the area of the state (in 100 km² units). States with higher road density have better road connectivity and infrastructure. The correct descending order by state number is: Tamil Nadu (4) > Punjab (3) > Maharashtra (2) > Haryana (1) Tamil Nadu (State 4): 158.78 km per 100 km2 Punjab (State 3): 127.78 km per 100 km2 Maharashtra (State 2): 117.61 km per 100 km2 Haryana (State 1): 63.70 km per 100 km2

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Konkan Railway runs along the Konkan region of India, covering the western coastal states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. The railway was inaugurated in 1998 and significantly improved connectivity and economic development in these states. The Konkan Railway runs from Roha in Maharashtra to Thokur in Karnataka, covering a distance of approximately 760 km. It benefits towns and cities in Kerala situated nearby karnataka borders.

Option (b) is incorrect: Option includes Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which are not part of the Konkan region. These states do not benefit directly from the Konkan Railway.

Option (c) is incorrect: Option lists Tamil Nadu, a southern state not served by the Konkan Railway, which runs along the western coast.

Option (d) is incorrect: Option contains Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, both of which lie outside the typical route of the Konkan Railway. Gujarat is in the north-west and Tamil Nadu in the south-east, making this option unsuitable.

Explanation

The Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway is a 6-lane expressway that connects the cities of Ahmedabad and Vadodara in Gujarat. It was one of India’s first expressways and significantly reduced travel time between the two cities. The expressway became operational in the late 1990s. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is also a 6-lane expressway but was officially opened to traffic in 2002.

Explanation

The Group of 15 (G-15) held its Seventh Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 28 to November 5, 1997. During this summit, Kenya was admitted as the 16th member of the group. Therefore, the summit was attended by 16 member countries.

Explanation

The World Development Report (WDR) 1996, published by the World Bank, classified economies into different income groups based on their Gross National Product (GNP) per capita. According to this report, low-income economies were defined as those with a per capita GNP of $725 or less in 1994. The classification was based on World Bank estimates using the Atlas method, which adjusts for exchange rate fluctuations to provide a more stable measure of income across countries.

Explanation

The historic treaty banning anti-personnel landmines, known as the Ottawa Treaty or Mine Ban Treaty, was opened for signature in Ottawa, Canada, on December 3, 1997. Representatives from over 120 countries attended this conference to sign the treaty.

Explanation

In 1997, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded jointly to Robert C. Merton and Myron S. Scholes for their development of a new method to determine the value of derivatives. Their work led to the formulation of the Black-Scholes-Merton model, a foundational tool in financial economics for pricing options and other derivative instruments.

Explanation

The European Monetary Union (EMU) introduced the Euro () as its official currency. The decision to adopt a single currency was part of the Maastricht Treaty (1992), and the Euro was officially launched on January 1, 1999, for electronic transactions and accounting purposes. Physical Euro banknotes and coins entered circulation on January 1, 2002 in 12 European Union (EU) countries. Today, the Eurozone consists of 20 EU member states that use the Euro as their official currency.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: USA has, in the past, pressured the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose trade sanctions on developing countries for alleged violations of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, particularly concerning child labor and labor rights. This aligns with Assertion (A), making it true. Reason (R) is false because the USA itself has not ratified several key ILO conventions, including those related to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and forced labor. The USA has been selective in adopting ILO conventions, often opposing ILO-enforced labor standards through WTO trade measures.