UPSC 2004 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The government sets specific procurement targets for each crop season based on factors like estimated production, buffer stock requirements and market conditions. In case, there is no procurement target, the government allows the procurement agencies like the FCI to buy flexibly from the farmers.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Government of India announces MSP for a variety of crops, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and commercial crops like cotton and jute.

Statement 3 is correct: Under the Targeted public Distribution System (TPDS), wheat and rice are allocated to States/Union Territories by the Government of India at uniform Central Issue Prices (CIP) for distribution to different categories, such as Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

Explanation

A is matched with 2: Article 14 of the Indian Constitution guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws within India, ensuring that no person is discriminated against unfairly by the state. B is matched with 1: Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them thereby promoting social justice and inclusivity. C is matched with 4: Article 16 provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters of employment or appointment to any office under the State. No citizen can be discriminated against or be ineligible for any employment or office under the State on grounds of only religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth or residence. D is matched with 3: Article 17 abolishes untouchability, a social evil, and forbids its practice in any form, aiming to uplift marginalized communities and promote social harmony. Together, these provisions protect individual dignity and promote equal treatment in all spheres.

Explanation

Article 24 prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories, mines, or any other hazardous employment. This is part of the Fundamental Rights under the Right against Exploitation. Options(b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Article 45 pertains to the Directive Principle of State Policy, focusing on providing free and compulsory education for children below 14 years. Article 330 relates to the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People (Lok sabha). Article 368 deals with the amendment provisions in the Indian Constitution.

Explanation

Spanish has over 540 million native and second-language speakers worldwide. It is the second most spoken language by native speakers after Mandarin Chinese. Arabic has over 420 million native and second-language speakers worldwide. It is widely spoken in the Middle East and North Africa. French has over 300 million total speakers (including native and second-language speakers). It is spoken in France, parts of Africa, Canada, and other regions.

Explanation

Agency Headquarter United Nations Development Programme (UNDP New York, USA United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi, Kenya United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Vienna, Austria Universal Postal Union (UPU) Berne, Switzerland

Explanation

Fidel Castro (1926-2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who ruled Cuba as Prime Minister (1959-1976) and President (1976-2008), totaling 49 years. He established a socialist state aligned with the Soviet Union. He handed over power to his brother in 2008.

Explanation

British Columbia is a province in Canada.

Bavaria is a federal state in Germany.

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory of the UK. Rhode Island is a state in the USA.

Explanation

Benin was formerly known as Dahomey.

Belize was formerly known as British Honduras.

Botswana was formerly known as Bechuanaland.

Malawi was formerly known as Nyasaland.

Explanation

Statements (1) and (2) are correct: In 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was renamed Serbia and Montenegro, forming a confederation before Montenegro’s independence in 2006. Croatia was part of the Habsburg Empire and under Hungarian rule within the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918, when the empire collapsed after World War I. Statements (3) and (4) are incorrect: The Macedonia dispute involved Greece, not Belgium. Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia, not Czechoslovakia, which peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993 (Velvet Divorce).

Explanation

King Kharavela of Kalinga is well-known for his support of Jainism, which helped to spread Jain doctrines within his region during the 1st century BCE. His inscriptions in the Hathigumpha cave (Udayagiri, Odisha) mention Jain religious activities and his support for Jain monks.He reinstalled a Jain idol in Kalinga that had been taken away by Nanda rulers earlier.

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

The spread of Jainism in South India is more closely linked to Bhadrabahu (not Sthalabahu) who migrated to the south with a group of monks during a famine. The Shvetambara sect emerged after the council at Pataliputra but it was not led by Bhadrabahu. the Shvetambaras were the group that remained in the north and adopted the practice of wearing white clothes. Bhadrabahu led the Digambara sect which migrated to the south. Early Jainism was aniconic (did not worship idols). Image worship in Jainism started later (after 1st century CE) under the influence of Hinduism.