UPSC 2005 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Constituent Assembly of India, tasked with drafting the Constitution, formed several committees to address specific aspects of the Constitution. One of these was the Union Constitution Committee, which focused on defining the federal structure and relationship between the union and the states. Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed as the Chairman of the Union Constitution Committee. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for the final wording of the Constitution. J. B. Kripalani and Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar were also influential members of the Constituent Assembly but did not chair this committee.

Explanation

Assertion (a) is true: The conditions on Venus are extremely harsh for human life, and its atmosphere and surface are inhos-pitable for humans. Venus has an extremely high surface temperature, high atmospheric pressure, and a toxic atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide (96.5%), with clouds of sulfuric acid. Reason (R) is true: The atmosphere of Venus is composed primarily of carbon dioxide (CO), with small amounts of nitrogen and trace gases. CO constitutes about 96.5% of the atmosphere, and this contributes to a runaway greenhouse effect that traps heat and causes extreme surface temperatures around 465°C. Assertion A and Reason R are true and R correctly explains A as the inhospitability of Venus for humans is explained by the presence of carbon dioxide in the environment.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: The Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, meaning that the same hemisphere of the Moon is always facing Earth. This occurs because the Moon’s rotational period (the time it takes to spin once on its axis) is equal to its orbit-al period (the time it takes to complete one revolution around the Earth). As a result, only about 59% of the Moon’s surface is ever visible from Earth due to lunar libration (a slight wobbling motion). The remaining 41% is permanently hidden from direct view from Earth and is called the far side of the Moon (often incorrectly referred to as the "dark side"). Reason (R) is false: The actual time the Moon takes to rotate on its own axis is 27.3 days, not 23.5 days. The Moon’s orbital period around the Earth is also 27.3 days (called the sidereal month) not 23 and a half days. Since these two periods are equal, the same face of the Moon always faces Earth, which is a result of synchronous rotation (tidal locking)

Explanation

Kochi, located on the Malabar Coast, was a key maritime hub during the colonial era due to its strategic location and spice trade. Over centuries, Kochi witnessed control by multiple European powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, each leaving a distinct mark on its history and architecture. Statement (a) is incorrect: The Dutch controlled Kochi after defeating the Portuguese in 1663, but their control ended long before India’s independence. Kochi later became a princely state under British suzerainty. Statement (b) is incorrect: The Portuguese built Fort Emmanuel in Kochi, not Fort William. Fort William, located in Kolkata, was constructed by the British. Statement (c) is incorrect: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish control over Kochi in 1503. The Dutch defeated the Portuguese in 1663 and took over, but Kochi was never a Dutch colony before the Portuguese. Statement (d) is correct: Kochi remained a princely state under British indirect rule, but it was never fully integrated as a part of British India. The local rulers retained nominal control, and Kochi maintained its identity distinct from direct British colonies.

Explanation

The 18th century in India was a tumultuous period marked by battles involving European powers and Indian states, vying for dominance over trade, territory, and political control. Key battles during this era shaped the trajectory of British colonial rule and defined European influence in India. The Battle of Ambur (1749), during the Second Carnatic War, marked the start of Anglo-French rivalry, with the French backing Chanda Sahib and the British supporting Muhammad Ali. The Battle of Plassey (1757) saw Robert Clive’s British East India Company defeat Siraj-ud-Daulah, establishing British political control in India. The Battle of Wandiwash (1760), in the Third Carnatic War, ended French ambitions in India with a British victory. The Battle of Buxar (1764) secured British control over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, defeating a coalition of the Nawab of Awadh, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, and Mir Qasim.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, did not establish a regular police force. Instead, he reorganized the existing system of policing and appointed a superintendent of police for each district. The British-style police system was introduced later by Lord Cornwallis in 1786.

Statement 2 is correct: The Regulating Act of 1773 established the Supreme Court in Calcutta with jurisdiction over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, hearing civil, criminal, and commercial cases, and exercising both original and appellate jurisdiction.

Statement 3 is correct: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was drafted by the first Law Commission of India established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the chairmanship Thomas Babington Macaulay and was formally enacted in 1860 during the time of the British East India Company.

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Constitution of India originally had 22 parts, though with amendments, it now has 25 parts. Thus, the statement that the Constitution has 20 parts is incorrect.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Originally, the Constitution had 395 Articles, but due to amendments, the number of Articles has increased to 448.

Statement 3 is correct:

Explanation

Assertion (A) is false: Wind patterns in the Northern Hemisphere move clockwise around high-pressure systems and counterclockwise around low-pressure systems. In the Southern Hemisphere, the pattern is opposite: counter-clockwise around high-pressure systems and clockwise around low-pressure systems. The statement in the Assertion (A) is incorrect because it gener-alizes wind patterns without distinguishing between high-pres-sure and low-pressure systems. Reason (R) is true: The Coriolis effect, caused by the Earth’s rotation, deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This influences the direction of wind patterns, making R correct. Conclusion:

Since A is false but R is true, the correct answer is (d):

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Article 301 pertains to the freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse throughout India, not the Right to Property. Currently, The Right to Property is covered under Article 300A of the Indian Constitution.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Right to Property, initially a Fundamental Right under Article 31, was made a legal right through the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978 and placed under Article 300A.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Article 300A was indeed inserted by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978, but not by the Congress government. The 44th Amendment removed the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights and made it a legal right under Article 300A. This change was made during the Janata Party government, not the Congress Party government.

Explanation

Milinda’s period is separated by centuries with other given personalities. Bimbisara (approx. 558-491 BCE) was the ruler of Magadha and a contemporary of Gautama Buddha (c. 563-483 BCE). Prasenjit (6th century BCE) was the king of Kosala and also lived during the time of Buddha. Milinda (Greek king Menander I) ruled much later, in the 2nd century BCE. He was not a contemporary of the other three, making him the correct answer.