UPSC 1998 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The World Environment Conference to discuss global warming in 1997 was held in Kyoto, Japan. This conference led to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: China had the highest participation rate, exceeding 70%, primarily due to state policies emphasizing gender equality in employment and a high demand for labor in both agricultural and industrial sectors. The socialist economic model historically encouraged women to contribute to the workforce. Options (a) is incorrect: The United States (USA) had a participation rate of approximately 59%, reflecting a strong labor market with relatively high employment opportunities for women, particularly in the service sector. Options (c) is incorrect: Russia had around 57% female workforce participation. After the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, many women remained active in the labor market, although economic instability led to job losses in certain sectors. Options (d) is incorrect: South Korea had the lowest rate among the given countries at approximately 47%, as traditional gender roles were still prevalent, and workforce participation among married women was relatively lower compared to Western economies.

Explanation

The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is the minimum percentage of a bank’s net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) that it must maintain in the form of liquid assets such as cash, gold, or government-approved securities. This requirement ensures that banks have sufficient liquidity to meet withdrawal demands and maintain financial stability. The Re-serve Bank of India (RBI) sets and regulates the SLR to control the expansion of bank credit and ensure the solvency of banks. As of December 6, 2024, the SLR is set at 18%. The RBI has the authority to adjust this rate as part of its monetary policy toolkit.

Explanation

The Educated Indians largely remained neutral and regarded the Revolt of 1857 as a reactionary movement that sought to restore the feudal order and resist the social, political, and economic changes brought about by modernity. They viewed the uprising as a protest by traditional forces, including rulers, landlords, and soldiers, who were unwilling to adapt to the evolving world. These educated individuals, exposed to Western ideas, had high hopes that British rule would bring about an era of modernization through reforms like education, infrastructure development, and legal systems.

Explanation

As of 1998, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) operated on an accounting year spanning from July to June. This system had been in place since March 11, 1940, when the RBI transitioned its accounting period from January-December to July-June. However, in 2020, the RBI decided to align its accounting year with the Government of India’s fiscal year, which runs from April to March. This change was implemented to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy and fiscal operations. Consequently, the accounting year 2020-21 was a transitional period of nine months, from July 2020 to March 2021. Subsequently, from April 2021 onwards, the RBI adopted the April-March accounting cycle

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Panchayat Raj was first introduced in India in October 1959 in the state of Rajasthan. The state took the lead in implementing the Panchayat Raj system with the implementation of the Panchayati Raj Act in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. This was the beginning of decentralized governance in rural India, aimed at promoting grassroots democracy.

Explanation

A fuse is a safety device designed to protect electrical circuits from overloads or short circuits. It works by having a thin wire or filament that melts when the current exceeds a certain level, breaking the circuit and preventing damage to electrical appliances. The fuse is specifically made with a low melting point to ensure it melts quickly in the event of excessive current flow, protecting the circuit from potential damage. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

They are wired in series with the circuit not parallelbecause this setup ensures that the full current passing through the circuit flows through the fuse. This allows the fuse to effectively interrupt the circuit and halt the electrical flow in the event of an overcurrent. Fuses are not constructed from silver alloys as they are usually made from materials such as copper, zinc, or tin. They do not need high resistance rather, they should allow normal current flow until the current exceeds a safe limit. Direction: 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

Assertion (A) is true: The flow of electric current through a conductor causes energy dissipation in the form of heat due to the collisions between free electrons and the metal atoms. Reason (R) is true: As electrons travel through a metal as they collide with metal atoms causing the atoms to vibrate more and collide with each other which produces heat. The phenomenon is known as Joule heating. When current flows through the metal wire, the free electrons that carry the current interact with the metal atoms, transferring energy and causing the atoms to vibrate more, leading to a temperature increase due to Joule heating. The amount of heat generated depends on factors such as the wire’s resistance, the current, and the duration of the current flow. This effect is the foundation for devices like electric heaters. Thus Reason (R) explains Assertion (A)

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Theodore Beck served as the Principal of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (now Aligarh Muslim University) in Aligarh.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Ilbert Bill was introduced in 1883 during the Viceroyalty of Lord Ripon. It aimed to allow Indian judges to try European defendants.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Pherozeshah Mehta was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress (INC) and played a prominent role in its early years.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Badruddin Tyabji was a prominent lawyer and an important figure in the Indian National Congress. He was the first Muslim to preside over a session of the Congress in 1887. He was not associated with the Muslim League.

Explanation

The Ghadar Party was established in 1913 by Indian expatriates, primarily in San Francisco, United States. Its primary aim was to overthrow British rule in India through armed rebellion.

Option (b) is correct: Lala Har Dayal (1884-1939) was a prominent Indian revolutionary and intellectual who played a key role in the Indian independence movement, particularly as a founder of the Ghadar Party in 1913. Some of the prominent Ghadar leaders were: Baba Gurmukh Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Rahmat Ali Shah, Bhai Parmanand, and Mohammad Barkatullah.