UPSC 2001 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Thermal conductivity is a property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat. It is defined as the amount of heat that passes through a unit area of a material over a unit of time, when there is a temperature difference across the material. Assertion (A) is true: When copper and glass are heated to the same temperature, copper feels hotter to the touch because it has a much higher thermal conductivity than glass. Copper transfers heat to your skin more quickly than glass which makes it feel hotter. Reason (R) is true: While it is true that copper has a higher density than glass, the reason copper feels hotter is due to its thermal conductivity, not its density. R is Not a Correct Explanation of A: The reason (R) correctly states that copper is denser than glass, but density alone does not determine how hot an object feels to the touch. The primary factor is thermal conductivity, which determines how quickly heat is transferred from the object to your skin. Directions: The following item 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.

Explanation

The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which its vapour pressure equals the external atmospheric pressure, causing it to change from a liquid to a gas. Assertion (A) is true: The boiling point of water decreases with increasing altitude because atmospheric pressure decreases at higher altitudes. At lower pressure the water molecules require less energy to escape into the vapor phase, so water boils at a lower temperature. For example, at sea level, water boils at 100°C, but at higher altitudes, it can boil at temperatures as low as 90°C or even lower. Reason (R) is false: Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude. As you go higher in the atmosphere, the air becomes less dense, and the pressure exerted by the atmosphere decreases. This is why mountaintops have lower atmospheric pressure compared to sea level.

Explanation

When water is heated from to, it exhibits an unusual behavior due to the anomalous expansion of water. Between 0°C and 4°C, water contracts, meaning its volume decreases as the temperature increases. At 4°C, water reaches its minimum volume (maximum density). Above 4°C the water starts expanding which means its volume increases as the temperature increases further. This behavior is quite unique to water and is crucial for the survival of aquatic life in cold climates.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: Clouds act as a blanket by trapping and reflecting back the longwave infrared radiation (heat) emitted by the Earth’s surface. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect. On cloudy nights, this trapped heat keeps the surface warmer compared to clear nights when heat escapes more easily into space.

Option (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Clouds do not block "cold waves" from descending on earth. The temperature of the Earth’s surface is primarily influenced by the balance of incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation, not by "cold waves" from the sky. Clouds do not produce heat. They are formed by the condensation of water vapor and do not have any internal mechanism to generate heat. Clouds do absorb some heat from the atmosphere but their primary role in warming the Earth’s surface at night is to reflect back the heat radiated by the Earth and not to absorb and send heat from the atmosphere.

Explanation

When light waves pass from air to glass, the wavelength and velocity are affected. Velocity decreases because the speed of light in glass is less than in air due to the higher refractive index of glass. Wavelength also decreases because it is directly proportional to the velocity of light in the medium (=v/f, where ‘f’ is the frequency). Frequency remains unchanged because it is determined by the source of the light and does not depend on the medium.

Explanation

The All-India States People’s Conference (AISPC) was established in 1927 as a federation of political movements within the princely states of British India. Its primary aim was to unite these states and create a platform for them to demand political and administrative rights under British rule. In 1939, Jawaharlal Nehru was elected the president of the All-India States People’s Conference. He played a crucial role in advocating for the rights and aspirations of the people in the princely states.

Explanation

Local bodies are directly responsible for addressing citizens’ grievances related to municipal services, basic amenities, etc. However, the State Government can intervene in cases of inefficiency or corruption.

Explanation

Charles Wilkins was the first Englishman to translate the Bhagavad Gita into English in 1785. His translation, titled The Bhagavat-Geeta, or Dialogues of Kreeshna and Arjoon, was published in 1785. He was a British orientalist and scholar who worked as a translator for the East India Company, making key Indian texts accessible to the Western world.

Option (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

William Jones is known for founding the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784 and made significant contributions to the study of Indian languages. Alexander Cunningham was an archaeologist and the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India. John Marshall too was an archaeologist who was pivotal in the discovery and preservation of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Explanation

Meena Kumari was a legendary actress, but she never won the Bharat Ratna. The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award, and the first female to receive it was Indira Gandhi (1971). Pairs (a), (b) and (c) are correctly matched:

In 1953, India’s first technicolour film ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ was released. My Dear Kuttichatam was the first 3D film of India directed by Jijo Punnoose. It was released in 1984. It was Subhash Ghai, the director of the film, who got his 1999 film Taal insured for a sum of Rs 11 crore with the United India Insurance. Thus, Taal became the first Indian film to be insured ever.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: According to the annual report of the Reserve Bank of India, 2000, India further liberalized foreign exchange regulations by lowering restrictions on current account transactions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), allowing individuals and businesses greater access to foreign currency for trade, education, medical expenses, and travel. This move was part of India’s economic liberalization process aimed at integrating the country into global markets. Reason (R) is false: During the same period, India’s foreign currency assets were actually increasing due to a steady inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI), robust export growth, and rising remittances from overseas Indians. Hence, the relaxation of current account transaction limits was not due to a fall in foreign currency assets, but rather to boost economic activity and international trade. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Annual Report 2000, the liberalization of foreign exchange transactions under FEMA was undertaken to enhance India’s trade competitiveness, while foreign exchange reserves continued to rise.