UPSC 2003 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

METSAT (renamed as Kalpana - 1) was the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites built by ISRO.

Statement 1 is correct: India successfully launched its first full-fledged meteorological satellite, METSAT using the PSLV-C4 rocket. It was India’s first dedicated meteorological satellite, designed to monitor weather conditions and cyclone development in the Indian Ocean region.

Statement 2 is correct: PSLV-C4 carried METSAT (1,060 kg) into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), marking the first time PSLV carried a payload exceeding 1000 kg into GTO. This demonstrated ISRO’s ability to deploy heavier payloads into higher orbits, advancing India’s space technology capabilities.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The formula: The value of the vote of an elected Member of Legislative Assembly equals = [{State Population / (Number of Elected MLAs of the state} X 1000]. Thus the equation should have 1000 at the place of multiplication not 100.

Statement 2 is correct: The statement is slightly incorrect because the value of vote of an elected member of the Parliament equals the total value of the votes of all elected MLAs divided by total number of elected MPs.

Statement 3 is incorrect: For the 2003 question the latest Presidential election was held in 2002 which had 4896 electors.

Explanation

The Interim Cabinet was formed in September 1946 as part of the transition to India’s independence. It was established under the Cabinet Mission Plan and acted as the provisional government of India. It included leaders from the Indian National Congress and later some members from the Muslim League.

Option (b) is correct: Jawaharlal Nehru was the head of the Interim Cabinet, which was formed in September 1946. He held the position of Vice President of the Executive Council (equivalent to Prime Minister). Other Interim Cabinet Members Important Positions C.H. Baba Works, Mine and Power. John Mathai Industries and Supplies. Asaf Ali Railways and Transport. Baldev Singh Defence. Jagjivan Ram Labour. Liaquat Ali Khan Finance (Muslim League). I.I. Chundrigar Commerce (Muslim League).

Explanation

The Bardoli Satyagraha was a significant peasant movement in Bardoli, Gujarat in 1928, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was sparked by the British government’s decision to increase land revenue by 22%, which severely affected the farmers. He organized the farmers to refuse to pay the increased taxes, leading to a successful non-violent protest that resulted in the reversal of the tax hike. His leadership earned him the title "Sardar" (leader) from the women of Bardoli for his success in forcing the British to roll back the revenue hike.

Explanation

The Cripps Mission was sent to India in March 1942 by the British government to secure Indian support for the British war effort during World War II. The mission, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, aimed to offer India greater autonomy in return for cooperation. The Cripps Mission proposed the creation of an Indian Union with Dominion status after the war, which would grant India a degree of self-governance but still leave it under British sovereignty. The Cripps Mission was a failure because it did not meet the expectations of Indian political leaders and both Indian National Congress and Muslim League rejected the proposals.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: The eastern coastal states (West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu) are among the largest rice-producing regions in India. The western coastal region (Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala) produces comparatively less rice due to limited lowland areas suitable for large-scale paddy cultivation. Reason (R) is false: The western coast (Konkan, Malabar) receives higher rainfall than the eastern coast due to the south-west monsoon and orographic effect of the Western Ghats. The eastern coast receives sufficient rainfall, mainly from the south-west monsoon (except Tamil Nadu, which depends on the northeast monsoon). Additionally, major rivers like the Ganga, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri provide irrigation, supporting rice cultivation.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Indian subcontinent is indeed the original home of the cotton plant. The Neolithic Site of Mehrgarh near Bolan Pass in Balochistan region of Pakistan has the oldest evidence of cotton. Many Harappan sites provide evidence of cotton cultivation.

Statement 2 is correct: The first commercial cotton hybrid was Hybrid-4 (H-4), developed by Indian scientist Chandrakant T. Patel in 1970. This hybrid was created by crossing the Gujarat-67 variety with the American variety. These hybrids offer advantages like higher yields, improved resistance to pests and diseases, and better adaptability to diverse climatic conditions.

Explanation

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the regulatory body responsible for granting environmental release of genetically modified (GM) crops like Bt Cotton in India, while the final approval for commercial cultivation is decided by the central government. It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was established under the 1989 Rules, which were framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It oversees the safety assessment of GM crops before their commercial release. Final approvals for cultivation are based on GEAC’s recommendations, but the central government makes the final decision after considering inputs from other stakeholders like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Ministry of Agriculture."

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: India was the second-largest producer of fruits after Brazil in 2003-04. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, this trend continued, and in 2019, India remained the world’s second-largest producer of both fruits and vegetables.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Ranked by volume, Zimbabwe, China, India (3rd), and Malawi were major exporters of tobacco in 2002. However by 2021-22, India was the second largest tobacco producer behind China and India was the 2nd largest exporter of tobacco behind Brazil.

Explanation

Amongst the given, In 2003 as well as the in the latest ranking Japan had the highest life expectancy in the world. The highest average life expectancy countries according to statista are-Monaco > Republic of Korea (South Korea) > China (Hongkong) > Spain > Malta > Israel. In India, life expectancy at birth (years) has improved from 63 years in 2000 to 67.3 years in 2021. Comparison of option countries:

Country Life Expectancy (Approx.) Canada ~83.9 years Germany ~81.5 years Japan ~85.2 years Norway ~83.3 years