UPSC 2000 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1580-1627 AD) of Bijapur sultanate was known for promoting religious harmony and blending Hindu-Muslim traditions in music, art, and literature. His secular outlook earned him the title ’Jagadguru’ (World Teacher) among his subjects. He also wrote a book called ’Kitab-i-Nauras’, which discussed religious tolerance and philosophical ideas. Gulshan- i-Ishq was one of his portraits made after his death.

Explanation

Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1720 AD) became the Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire in 1714 during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the grandson of Shivaji Maharaj. He is credited with playing a pivotal role in strengthening the administration of the Maratha Empire and ensuring the centralization of power under the Peshwa system. His leadership set the stage for the Maratha Empire’s expansion in the 18th century.

Explanation

The feudal system in ancient India was a socio-economic and political structure characterized by a hierarchy of landownership and obligations, where land was held in exchange for service, primarily military or administrative. Assertion(A) is true: The feudal system, a hierarchical system of land-use and protection, originated in ancient India due to military campaigns. This is true because, during wars and conquests, victorious rulers granted land to military officers and local chiefs as a reward for their service. These landholders, called samantas, later became hereditary lords, leading to the emergence of feudal structures. Reason (R) is also true: During the post Mauryan and Gupta period feudal system became the main state apparatus as the Guptas granted large land tracts (agraharas and bhukti) to Brahmins, officers, and feudatories (samantas). These landholders gained administrative and military control, further decentralizing power. Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion(A):

Feudal system expanded through other factors, not simply the Gupta period.The emergence of feudalism in India was influenced by the arrival of various foreign invaders and rulers.

Explanation

Sangam literature refers to the ancient Tamil literary corpus, composed between 300 BCE and 300 CE, which includes poems celebrating heroism, love, and ethics. Notable works include the Tolkappiyam, the earliest Tamil grammar text, and the Ettuthokai and Pattupattu, which offer insights into the socio-political and cultural life of Tamil kingdoms. A is true: The Padinen Kilukanakku is a collection of 18 post-Sangam Tamil literary works, divided into Aham (love) and Puram (war) genres. These works are considered a continuation of the Sangam literature in terms of themes, style, and language. They reflect the same poetic traditions and cultural values as the Sangam compositions. R is true: The Padinen Kilukanakku is classified as post-Sangam literature because it was composed after the Sangam period proper. While the Sangam works are the earliest Tamil literary compositions, the Padinen Kilukanakku texts were written later during the post-Sangam period (circa 300-600 CE). R is the correct explanation of A: The Padinen Kilkanakku texts though composed in the Post-Sangam period but carry forward the Aham and Puram poetic traditions of the Sangam era, thereby forming a continuation of the earlier compositions.

Explanation

Upon returning to India from South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi initiated his first successful satyagraha in Champaran in 1917. The movement arose in response to the plight of indigo farmers in Bihar, who were compelled by British planters to grow indigo under oppressive conditions, leading to widespread exploitation. To support these farmers, Gandhi led a peaceful and nonviolent resistance movement, advocating for their rights and justice.

Explanation

The Early Nationalists movement, also known as the Moderates phase of freedom struggle, was led by a group of political leaders between 1885 and 1907. Most of the early nationalist leaders were drawn from educated middle-class professionals including lawyers, teachers and government officials and they adopted a constitutional and peaceful approach to achieve their objectives. Assertion (A) is True: The early nationalists failed to draw the masses into the mainstream of the national movement such that their area of influence remained limited to urban educated Indians. Reason (R) is False: The movement advocated for reforms like better representation in legislative councils, the reduction of discriminatory practices, and educational reforms. While it did not initially address the economic hardships of peasants or workers, it did aim at broader social and political changes within British India.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Jowar (sorghum) is an important coarse cereal grown in India, mainly in dryland regions. According to Indian Institute of Millet Research (under ICAR) Maharashtra consistently has the largest area under Jowar (sorghum) cultivation in India due to its dryland farming practices. The crop is mostly grown in the rabi season in Maharashtra and contributes significantly to food security and fodder availability in the state.

Statement 2 is incorrect: According to the Economic Survey, in the late 1990s (when this question was framed), while Gujarat is a significant producer of groundnut, the leading position al-ternates with states like Andhra Pradesh depending on the year. Thus the statement claiming Gujarat as the largest producer is wrong.

However, According to Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2023 released by Ministry of Agriculture, Currently, Gujarat is currently the largest producer of groundnut in India.

Statement 3 is correct: Cultivable wasteland refers to land that is suitable for cultivation but remains uncultivated due to reasons like soil degradation, water scarcity, or socio-economic factors. Rajasthan, with its vast desert and arid regions, has the largest area of cultivable wasteland in India. According to the "Agricultural Statistics of Rajasthan, 2020-21," the state reported 37.27 lakh hectares (approximately 9.21 million acres) as cultivable wasteland, accounting for 10.87% of its total reporting area.

Statement 4 is incorrect: States like Karnataka or Tamil Nadu generally show higher per-hectare yields of maize due to better irrigation and agricultural practices compared to Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

With respect to the year 1999-2000; U.P. (115419 in tonnes) >Maharashtra (53143) >Tamilnadu (34285) > Andhra Pradesh (18508) is the correct decreasing order of the above four sugarcane producing States. The given table shows the production of Sugarcane (in tons) of given states in the years 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. State 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 Uttar Pradesh 116483 115419 106069 Maharashtra 47151 53143 49589 Tamil Nadu 33765 34285 33188 Andhra Pradesh 16503 18508 17690 In recent times, According to the Directorate of Sugarcane Development, production of sugarcane in the following states in 2022-2023 are as follows:

State Production (in Million Tonnes) Uttar Pradesh 225.22 MT Maharashtra 123.97 MT Tamil Nadu 16.92 MT Andhra Pradesh 3.12 MT

Explanation

The Roaring Forties are strong westerly winds found between 40° and 50° latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, known for their strength due to the absence of major landmasses.

Statement 1 is incorrect: These winds are exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere, as large landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere disrupt wind flow.

Statement 2 is correct: The Roaring Forties are driven by strong pressure gradients between the subtropical high-pres-sure belt and subpolar low-pressure zone, with the Southern Hemisphere’s vast oceans enhancing their consistency.

Statement 3 is correct: The Coriolis effect causes a deflection of these winds, giving them a north-west to east trajectory.

Statement 4 is correct: These winds carry moisture, often resulting in stormy, rainy conditions, especially in the Southern Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is correct: Jainism emphasized ahimsa (non-violence) as its core principle. It not only prohibited violence against humans and animals but also extended non-violence to plants, insects, and microorganisms. Reason (R) is correct: Agriculturalists could not easily adopt Jainism because farming inherently involves plowing land, which kills many insects and small organisms. Jainism was largely adopted by traders, merchants, and urban elites rather than peasants and farmers. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Reason (R) explains that agricultural practices, which harm insects and pests, conflict with Jainism’s principle of non-violence (Ahimsa). This makes it difficult for agriculturalists to fully embrace Jainism.