UPSC 2000 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

1st ARC Recommendation (1966): The first ARC recommended the appointment of persons having long experience in public life and administration and non-partisan attitude as governors. Rajamannar Committee (1969): The Rajamannar Committee recommended the provision that the state ministry holds office during the pleasure of the governor should be omitted. Sarkaria Commission (1983): The "Sarkaria Commission" recommended that the Governor should be a distinguished outsider without intense political links, that he should not have recently participated in politics, and that he should not be a member of the ruling party. National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000): The committee recommended that the president should appoint the governor of a state only after consultation with the chief minister of that state.

Explanation

Decibels (dB) are units used to measure the intensity of sound. The decibel scale is logarithmic, meaning each 10 dB increase represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

Option (d) is correct: A noise level of 100 decibels corresponds to Noise from a machine shop. A sound at 100 decibels is quite loud. It is typical of sounds like those found in a machine shop or at a loud concert. For reference: 0 decibels is the threshold of hearing (just audible sound). 30-40 decibels corresponds to a quiet room. 60-70 decibels corresponds to ordinary conversation. 100 decibels is in the range of very loud noise, such as machinery or a chainsaw. Directions: The following items consist of two statements, one labeled as the Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). You have to answer these items using the code given below. (2000)

Explanation

Subhash Chandra Bose, while delivering the presidential address at the 51st Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) in Haripura (1938) proposed the introduction of the Roman script for Hindi to make the language more accessible especially for non-Hindi speakers. Bose believed that adopting the Roman script would help simplify learning Hindi for Indians from different linguistic backgrounds and improve its adaptability. He emphasized that language should not be a barrier in national unity and sought a pragmatic approach to linguistic communication. Most leaders and linguists, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, opposed the idea of Romanizing Hindi. After independence, the Devanagari script was retained for Hindi, and English was kept as an associate official language to bridge linguistic diversity.

Explanation

In the case of a compact disc (CD), when sunlight or any other light source hits its surface, the following optical phenomena occur. Diffraction: The CD’s surface contains tiny, closely spaced grooves that act like a diffraction grating. This causes the light to spread out into different colors, creating the rainbow effect that is visible. Refraction: Light also passes through the transparent plastic layer of the CD, and as it enters and exits this layer, it bends due to the change in the refractive index between the plastic and air. Transmission: Some light also passes through the CD material, further contributing to the observed effects. Together, these phenomena--refraction, diffraction, and transmission--combine to produce the beautiful rainbow-like colors seen when a CD is viewed in sunlight.

Explanation

Name figures in the voters’ list is a crucial condition. According to the Constitution and election laws, a candidate must be registered in the voters’ list of the respective local body area to be eligible for nomination. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

He obtains permission from the principal of his college:

This is not a requirement under the law for contesting elections to a Municipal Council. The student does not need permission from his college principal unless there is an institutional policy specifically for that purpose. He is a member of a political party: While candidates may contest elections as members of political parties, membership is not a mandatory requirement. Independent candidates can also run for election. He files a declaration owing allegiance to the Constitution of India: Although a declaration of allegiance to the Constitution is important for various public offices, it is not typically a formal requirement for Municipal Council elections.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct:

List-I (Local Bodies) List-II (States) A. Zila Parishads at the sub-divisional level

2. Assam B. Mandal Praja Parishad 1. Andhra Pradesh C. Tribal Councils 4. Meghalaya D. Absence of Village Panchayats 3. Mizoram Zila Parishads at the sub-divisional level: In the year 1999, Zila Parishads in Assam were associated with the sub-divisional level Mandal Praja Parishad: In Andhra Pradesh, Mandal Praja Parishads are the intermediate-level bodies. Tribal Councils: Meghalaya has Tribal Councils, which are autonomous bodies governing tribal areas. Absence of Village Panchayats: Mizoram does not have Village Panchayats, as seen in other states, but operates through Autonomous District Councils and other related forums for governance.

Explanation

A fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube is a gas discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapour. The excited mercury atoms produce shortwave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light. The choke coil reduces current in the circuit. A choke coil, also known as an inductor, is used in fluorescent tubes to limit the current flowing through the circuit. It provides impedance to the alternating current (AC) which helps in stabilizing the current and preventing it from reaching excessively high levels. The choke coil does not step up or step down the voltage (these functions are typically performed by a transformer).

Explanation

A is matched with 1: The Chittagong Armoury Raid was led by Surya Sen and Kalpana Dutt, aimed at seizing arms from the British. The raid was conducted in April 1930 and involved 65 activists under the banner of Indian Republican Army--Chittagong Branch. B is matched with 3: Abhinav Bharat was set up by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in the year 1904, as a secret organization during the Indian War of Independence with the aim of overthrowing British rule. C is matched with 4: Anushilan Samiti traces its history back to 1902 when it was established by Barrister Promotha Mitter and his friends in present-day Kolkata. Aurobindo Ghosh was closely associated with the Samiti. D is matched with 2: Kuka Movement was a socio-religious reform movement led by Guru Ram Singh in Punjab.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Indian rupee has been fully convertible on the current account since 1994, meaning that individuals and businesses can freely exchange rupees for foreign currency for trade, services, education, travel, and remittances. This was a key reform under the Liberalized Exchange Rate Management System (LERMS) and later formalized under FEMA 1999.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The rupee is not fully convertible on the capital account due to restrictions on capital flows, foreign investments, and external borrowings to prevent excessive volatility and capital flight. India follows a managed convertibility regime under RBI regulations.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The rupee is not convertible into gold, as India does not follow a gold standard. The exchange rate is determined by market forces and central bank interventions, not by a fixed gold reserve system.

Explanation

The growth rate of per capita income at current prices is higher than at constant prices because the latter accounts for inflation. Current price per capita income measures total income without adjusting for inflation, meaning it reflects nominal growth. Constant price per capita income is adjusted for inflation using a base year price index, giving a more accurate picture of real income growth. Since inflation increases the price of goods and services over time, the difference between nominal and real per capita income growth is due to rising price levels. For example, if nominal per capita income grows by 10% and inflation is 5%, the real (constant price) per capita income would only increase by 5% after adjusting for inflation.