UPSC 2005 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The U.P. Kisan Sabha was formed in February 1918 to address the grievances of peasants in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). It was initiated by Madan Mohan Malviya, Gauri Shankar Misra, and Indra Narain Dwivedi, who worked together to mobilize the peasantry against oppressive taxes, such as high rents, land revenue, and exploitation by landlords. Jawaharlal Nehru was not directly associated with the formation of U.P. Kisan Sabha.

Explanation

Pair (1) is correctly matched: Rajendra Prasad actively participated in Champaran Satyagraha under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership to address the grievances of indigo farmers against oppressive plantation laws.

Pair (2) is incorrectly matched: Ahmedabad Mill Workers Strike was led by Mahatma Gandhi to secure fair wages and better working conditions for mill workers in Ahmedabad in 1918. Morarji Desai was not involved in this movement.

Pair (3) is correctly matched: Vallabhbhai Patel, under Gandhi’s guidance, led the movement in 1918 to demand tax remission for peasants affected by famine in the Kheda district of Gujarat.

Explanation

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that commits industrialized nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (the third Conference of the Parties) in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan.

Statement 1 is correct: The Kyoto Protocol officially came into force on February 16, 2005.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Kyoto Protocol primarily focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, not on the depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone layer issue is addressed by the Montreal Protocol, which focuses on phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Statement 3 is correct: Methane (CH₄) is a more potent green-house gas than carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the short term. Although CO₂ persists longer in the atmosphere, methane has a much higher global warming potential over a 20-year period--about 84 times more potent than CO₂.

Explanation

The 98th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in India to reform the judicial appointment process by establishing a National Judicial Commission (NJC). The NJC was proposed to replace the existing collegium system, which had been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability in selecting judges. The Commission would have included the Chief Justice of India, senior judges, and members from the executive, ensuring a more inclusive and structured process for judicial appointments. However, the proposed amendment did not come into effect, as it was struck down by the Supreme Court, which upheld the collegium system in its 2015 judgment. Probably UPSC has mistakenly used word ‘Act instead of bill’.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Earth’s magnetic axis is tilted at approximately 11 degrees relative to its geographic axis (the axis around which the Earth rotates). The 23.5-degree tilt refers to the Earth’s rotational axis relative to its orbit around the Sun, which is responsible for the seasons, not the magnetic field.

Statement 2 is correct: The North Magnetic Pole is currently located in the Arctic region of Northern Canada, specifically on Ellesmere Island. The magnetic poles are not fixed and move over time due to changes in the Earth’s magnetic field.

Statement 3 is correct: The magnetic equator is an imaginary line where the Earth’s magnetic field is entirely horizontal (no dip angle). The magnetic equator passes near Thumba in South India. The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station was established in this location due to its proximity to the magnetic equator.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The total land area of the Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers or 147.5 million square kilometers. The Earth’s surface area is about 510 million square kilometers, with land covering roughly 29% of it.

Statement 2 is incorrect: About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and 29% is land. This gives a land-to-water ratio of approximately 1:2.4 and not 1:4 as mentioned in the question.

Statement 3 is correct: The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean, covering an area of about 168 million square kilometers. It contains the maximum percentage of Earth’s water, contributing significantly to the planet’s hydrosphere.

Explanation

The correct order of continents in terms of their percentage of Earth’s land area is:

Asia > Africa > North America > South America > Antarctica > Europe > Australia. The sequence that accurately reflects the decreasing order of land area is:

Africa: Second largest continent, covering 20.3% of Earth’s land area. North America: Third largest continent, covering 16.3% of Earth’s land area. South America: Fourth largest continent, covering 12.0% of Earth’s land area. Europe: Sixth largest continent, covering 6.8% of Earth’s land area.

Explanation

NASA’s THEMIS mission (launched in 2007) investigates the origin and mechanisms of auroras, the colorful lights in high-latitude skies caused by interactions between Earth’s magnetosphere and solar wind. The mission studies substorms--sudden energy releases in the magnetosphere--and processes like magnetic reconnection and plasma waves. that magnetotail reconnection triggers substorms, improving understanding of space weather and its impacts on satellites, communication systems. The mission contributes to heliophysics by exploring Earth’s magnetosphere dynamics. Its primary goal was to study auroras and their connection to energy releases in the magnetosphere.

Explanation

The Quit India Movement (QIM) was a mass civil disobedience campaign launched by the Indian National Congress in August 1942, led by Mahatma Gandhi, demanding an end to British rule in India. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi promoted non-violent resistance during the Quit India Movement but did not ask government servants to quit their roles. He focused on mass civil disobedience and non-cooperation, urging Indians to refuse support for British rule and demand independence. Gandhi ji did not ask soldiers to leave their posts.

Statement 3 is correct: Gandhi preached self-rule (Swaraj) and independence from British rule, advocating for the princely states to embrace their people’s sovereignty.

Explanation

In the 1936-37 elections, the Indian National Congress formed a ministry in 8 out of 11 provinces under the Government of India Act, 1935. Congress did not secure a majority in Punjab. Instead, the Unionist Party, a coalition of landlords and representatives of various religious communities, led by Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, formed the government with support from the Muslim League.