UPSC 1999 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Quit India Movement (1942), also called the August Movement, saw widespread participation from peasants, students, and workers, making it a mass struggle. A is true: The Quit India Movement (1942 saw unprecedented participation from all sections of society, and its intensity led Lord Linlithgow to compare it to the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. R is true: Peasantry participation was significant in regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal, as the movement mobilized rural masses. R the correct explanation of A: The scale of peasantry uprising during August Movement made it clear that independence was imminent, and rebellion against British rule was very serious.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is False: The natural sex ratio at birth worldwide, including in India, favors male births. Typically, about 105 male births occur for every 100 female births. In India, this ratio is similar or sometimes even more skewed toward males, due to both biological factors and socio-cultural practices. For instance, data from the 2011 Census of India show an overall sex ratio of about 940 females per 1,000 males, indicating that more male children are born than female children. Reason (R) is True: Biologically, male infants are known to be more vulnerable to certain health complications, including infections and genetic disorders. Consequently, male children tend to have a slightly higher mortality rate in infancy compared to female children. This phenomenon is observed in many populations worldwide, including India.

Explanation

The Forward policy was a set of foreign policies that aimed to extend British control and influence in the region, especially towards Afghanistan and Central Asia. It was adopted during Viceroyalty of Lord Lytton (1876-1880) in India. The policy involved securing control of targeted territories through invasion, annexation, or by creating compliant buffer states. Other notable events that took place during his tenure as Viceroy include Great Indian Famine, Second Anglo-Afghan War, Arms Act, Vernacular Press Act.

Explanation

Lord Wellesley ensured British dominance in India.

Serving as Governor-General from 1798 to 1805, Wellesley was known for his aggressive expansionist policies. He implemented the Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance, signed treaties with Indian states, and pursued territorial acquisition, greatly expanding British control over India amidst European turmoil. Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary alliance system was applied for taking over the administration of Tanjore and Carnatic. He also concluded the Treaty of Bassein (1802) with the Peshwas.

Explanation

The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1998 profoundly impacted countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea. The primary catalyst for this crisis was the mismanagement of financial resources and weaknesses within the financial sector. This mismanagement led to excessive borrowing, over-leveraging, and speculative investments, creating vulnerabilities within these economies. While factors like currency overvaluation and global economic conditions played contributory roles, the fundamental cause was the structural weaknesses in financial management and governance within these nations.

Explanation

At its 7th Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 1997, Kenya was granted membership, becoming the 16th member of the group.

Explanation

Statement (1) and (2) are correct: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can introduce a bill for Constitutional amendment and pass it with a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.

Statement (3) is incorrect: While the State Legislatures can ratify amendments related to certain matters (like changes to the federal structure) which require ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the states (via simple majority), they cannot initiate amendments.

Statement (4) is incorrect: The President does not have the power to initiate a constitutional amendment. The President’s role is to give assent to a bill passed by Parliament for an amendment.

Explanation

Farmers get resources from various sources such as Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Commercial Banks, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCB), the lead banks such as SBI and PNB, IRDP and IFFCO. Farmers also get credit from informal sources such as private money lenders. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) are grassroots-level cooperative institutions that provide short-term and medium-term loans to farmers for agricultural activities. Commercial Banks both public and private sector banks offer a range of credit products to farmers, including crop loans and investment loans. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were established to enhance rural credit, RRBs focus on providing credit to small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and rural artisans. Despite the growth of institutional credit, many farmers still rely on private money lenders, especially in regions where institutional penetration is low. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

NABARD and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) play crucial roles in refinancing and regulating rural credit institutions but they do not provide direct loans to farmers. District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and Lead Banks facilitate credit but are not direct sources. Development programs like the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) aim to promote self-employment and generate wage employment, respectively, but do not directly provide agricultural credit. Large Scale Multi-purpose Adivasis Programme: This was a government program aimed at the socio-economic development of tribal areas but is not a credit source for farmers. IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited) is a fertilizer cooperative and does not directly provide credit to farmers. It primarily supplies fertilizers and agricultural inputs.

Explanation

Eco-friendly agriculture is a farming approach that focuses on reducing environmental harm while ensuring long-term sustainability and benefiting farmers, communities, and consumers. Sustainable agriculture is crucial for human health, food safety, environmental conservation, long-term food security, soil health, farmer empowerment, water conservation, biodiversity preservation, and addressing climate change.

Option (a) is correct: Organic Farming is eco-friendly. It avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. It relies on natural inputs like compost, crop rotation, and biological pest control, promoting soil health, biodiversity, and reduced pollution. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Shifting Cultivation is not eco-friendly. Also known as "slash and burn" agriculture, it involves clearing forests for temporary farming. This practice leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Cultivation of High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) is not eco-friendly. These varieties often require significant inputs of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and water, which can lead to environmental degradation, including soil depletion, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Growing Plants in Glasshouses is not eco-friendly. Glasshouses typically rely on significant energy inputs for heating, cooling, and artificial lighting, which contribute to carbon emissions unless renewable energy is used.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: Bt cotton is a genetically modified (GM) crop that has been engineered to produce a protein toxic to certain insect pests, particularly bollworms. The gene responsible for this trait is derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). When the Bt gene is inserted into the cotton plant, the plant produces the Bt toxin, which kills specific insect pests when they feed on the plant. Reason (R) is true: The Bt gene is derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. This bacterium naturally produces a protein (Cry protein) that is toxic to certain insects. Scientists isolated the gene responsible for producing this protein and inserted it into the cotton plant’s genome to create insect-resistant transgenic cotton. Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A): The insertion of the Bt gene from Bacillus thuringiensis into cotton plants enables these transgenic plants to produce the Bt toxin internally. The Bt gene encodes a protein that is toxic to certain insects but harmless to humans and other non-target organisms. When the gene is inserted into the cotton plant, the plant itself produces the toxin, reducing the need for chemical insecticides.