UPSC 2006 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Formation of Bangladesh (1971): Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan on 16 December 1971, following the Indo-Pak war. Pokhran (1974): India’s first successful nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, was conducted at Pokhran on 18 May 1974 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sikkim Statehood (1975): Sikkim was officially merged into India and became its 22nd state on 16 May 1975 through 36th Constitutional Amendment Act. SLV-3 Launch (1980): India’s first successful satellite launch vehicle, SLV-3, carried the Rohini satellite (RS-1) and was launched on 18 July 1980 under Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s leadership.

Explanation

Amartya Sen (A - 2): ‘The Argumentative Indian’ is a collection of essays by Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate in Economics. The book explores India’s history, identity, and culture, emphasizing its tradition of debate and intellectual pluralism. Bimal Jalan (B - 3): Bimal Jalan, an economist and former RBI Governor wrote ‘The Future of India’, which discusses India’s economic policies, governance, and future growth prospects. Arundhati Roy (C - 1): Arundhati Roy, a Booker Prize-winning author, wrote ‘An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire’, a collection of political essays criticizing globalization, imperialism, and policies affecting the poor. Mani Shankar Aiyar (D - 4): Mani Shankar Aiyar, a politician and writer, wrote ‘Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist’, advocating secularism and critiquing communal politics in India.

Explanation

Fluorescent tube lights are commonly rated by their color temperature, which is measured in Kelvin (K). Color temperature refers to the hue of light emitted by the tube and it is based on the concept of a black-body radiator.

Option (c) is correct: The color temperature of fluorescent tube lights is typically around 6500 K, which corresponds to "daylight" and provides a bright white light. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Color temperatures as low as 220 K or 273 K are not suitable for lighting as they are far too low. 273 K represents a color temperature lower than a standard incandescent bulb (around 2700 K). A 9000 K light would appear slightly blue and is not commonly used for general room lighting, but rather for specialized purposes like aquarium lighting.

Explanation

Pair (a) is not correctly matched: Raja Rao wrote primarily in English, not Telugu. He was an eminent Indian writer known for novels like Kanthapura and The Serpent and the Rope, which explore Indian philosophy, culture, and spirituality in English prose.

Explanation

Amaravati Stupa is located in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It was built during the Satavahana period (3rd century BCE - 3rd century CE). It is associated with Mahayana Buddhism and has intricate sculptures depicting Jataka tales.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct:

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It was established in 1916 and is a premier research institute under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. It conducts research in hydraulic engineering, water resources, river and reservoir modeling, coastal engineering, and dam safety.

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

Sileru (Andhra Pradesh): Known for the Sileru Hydroelectric Project. Jamnagar (Gujarat): Famous for oil refineries and marine national parks. Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh): Known for the Srisailam Dam and temple.

Explanation

Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL) is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It was established in 1978 and specializes in design engineering, procurement, and supervision of construction/ commissioning in the field of fertilizer plants (Urea, Ammonia, Phosphatic fertilizers) and Chemical and allied industries.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the 2006 data, Petronet LNG Ltd. was setting up another LNG terminal at Kochi, Kerala (not Mangalore).

Statement 2 is correct: The Head Office of the Dredging Corporation of India is at Visakhapatnam. DCI is a crucial organization for maintaining and developing India’s waterways. They are responsible for dredging harbors, ports, and shipping channels, ensuring safe and efficient navigation for vessels.

Statement 3 is correct: The Narwapahar Mine is operated by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited. UCIL is the primary company responsible for uranium mining and processing in India, and the Narwapahar Mine in Jharkhand is one of their key operations. It’s an important source of uranium ore, which is essential for India’s nuclear power program.

Explanation

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It is a subtractive color model used in color printing, especially in offset printing and digital printing. Offset printing is widely used for printing newspapers, magazines, brochures, and packaging materials.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Electricity-related appeals are handled through a structured system. While each state has a State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) to oversee its electricity sector, including tariffs, licensing, and consumer complaints, appeals against SERC orders don’t go to a state-level body. Instead, they are directed to the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), a national-level tribunal. The APTEL also hears appeals against orders from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and adjudicating officers. While the idea of having accessible avenues for appeals related to electricity matters is important, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) is actually a national-level body, not one established by each individual state government.

Statement 2 is correct: The Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP), later revamped and renamed as the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) and now subsumed under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), did indeed have a strong focus on upgrading the sub-transmission and distribution network as a core component.