UPSC 2005 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Brisbane has never been the capital of Australia.

Melbourne was the capital of Australia from 1901 until 1927, when Canberra became the capital.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrectly matched: Seikan Rail Tunnel is located in Japan and not China. It is one of the longest railway tunnels in the world, connecting the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. The world’s longest railway tunnel is the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland. Options (b), (c) and (d) are correctly matched:

The Petronas Towers are iconic skyscrapers located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Appalachian Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the eastern United States. The Rogun Dam is a hydroelectric dam under construction in Tajikistan.

Explanation

The official language of the Republic of Congo is French. It has four national languages: Swahili, Tshiluba (Kiluba), Lingala, and Kongo. French is the official language and the language of instruction, business, administration, and international communications. The Republic of Congo, like many countries in Africa, was colonized by European powers. Specifically, it was a French colony, and as a result, French became the official language. Thus, Spanish is not an official language in the Republic of Congo due to its colonial history with France.

Explanation

The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that gained historical significance due to an incident in 1914 involving Indian immigrants attempting to immigrate to Canada. The ship carried 376 passengers, mostly Sikhs, Punjabis, and other Indians, who were seeking a new life in Canada. Upon arrival in Vancouver, the passengers were denied entry due to Canada’s discriminatory Continuous Journey Regulation, which aimed to restrict immigration. After being stranded for two months, the ship was forced to return to India. Upon arrival in Calcutta, the passengers faced arrest and violence from British colonial authorities.

Explanation

Harold Wilson served as the Prime Minister of the UK (1964-1970 and 1974-1976) and was a member of the Labour Party. John Major served as the Prime Minister of the UK from 1990 to 1997 and was a member of the Conservative Party. James Callaghan served as the Prime Minister of the UK from 1976 to 1979 and was a member of the Labour Party. Margaret Thatcher served as the Prime Minister of the UK from 1979 to 1990 and was a member of the Conservative Party.

Explanation

The Parliament of South Africa is located in Cape Town. While South Africa has three capital cities, each serving a different purpose, Cape Town is the legislative capital and houses the Parliament. Pretoria is the Administrative capital (seat of the executive branch). Cape Town is the Legislative capital (seat of the Parliament). Bloemfontein is the Judicial capital (seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal).

Explanation

The Ghadar revolutionaries were primarily based in North America, particularly in regions like California, USA, and British Columbia, Canada. They established the Ghadar Party in 1913 to organize revolutionary activities against British colonial rule in India specifically in cities like San Francisco and Vancouver. The party played a significant role in spreading revolutionary ideas and organizing uprisings, particularly during World War I, aiming to incite mutiny in the British Indian Army and disrupt British operations in India. Central America, West America, and South America regions did not serve as significant bases for the Ghadar revolutionaries.

Explanation

The resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Program was drafted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress in 1931. The Resolution on Fundamental Rights guaranteed free speech and free press, the right to form associations, the right to assemble, universal adult franchise, equal legal rights irrespective of caste, creed and sex, free and compulsory primary education, protection to culture, language, the script of minorities and linguistic groups

Explanation

In October 1920, M.N. Roy (Manabendra Nath Roy) headed a group of Indians in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to establish the Communist Party of India (CPI). This marked the formal introduction of communism in India. The party was founded with the support of the Comintern (Communist International), reflecting global efforts to spread Marxist ideologies. This group, influenced by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia, sought to establish a Marxist-oriented political organization in India.

Explanation

Rourkela Steel Plant was established with West German collaboration, not the Soviet Union. It was India’s first public sector integrated steel plant, commissioned in 1959. The Bhilai Steel Plant was set up with Soviet assistance. The plant was a fruit of Indo-German friendship, with machinery and expertise provided by Germany’s Krupp and Demag. Options (b), (c) and (d) are correct:

Salem Steel Plant, located in Tamil Nadu, is a premier producer of stainless steel in India. It’s a unit of SAIL and specializes in producing stainless steel in various forms like coils, sheets, and blades. It caters to both domestic and international markets. Maharashtra Elektrosmelt Ltd. (MEL) is a subsidiary of SAIL located in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. It specializes in producing ferroalloys, which are critical raw materials for steel production. Ferroalloys are used to enhance the strength and durability of steel, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant also known as Vizag Steel is operated by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). It was the first shore-based steel plant in India and plays a key role in regional industrial development.