UPSC 2006 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

A-3: Sisupalgarh is an ancient archaeological site in Odisha that dates back to the 7th to 6th centuries BCE. It was the capital of the ancient Kalinga kingdom and is considered one of the largest and best-preserved ancient fortifications in India. B-4: Piprahwa is a village near Siddharthnagar city in Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh is a significant archaeological site related to the early life of Buddha. It is believed to be the location of the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Buddha. C-1: Goalpara is an archaeological site in Assam. It has many archaeological sites, including Sri Surya Pahar, Dadan Hill and Pir Majhar. D-2: Bishnupur is located in Manipur. Here stands the conical temple of Lord Vishnu built in 1467 during the reign of King Kyamba. It is interesting because of its antiquity and architectural design which was influenced by Chinese style. Bishnupur is also known for its stoneware production.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal exhibit contrasting agricultural land use patterns. Andhra Pradesh has a net sown area of approximately 40%, while West Bengal utilizes about 60% of its land for cultivation. This difference in land utilization makes the initial assertion about their respective net sown areas correct. Reason (R) is false: Most of Andhra Pradesh has red sandy soils, black cotton soils, and alluvial soils, not predominantly laterite soils. Laterite soils are found in parts of the Eastern Ghats and some upland areas, but they do not dominate the state’s agricultural landscape.

Explanation

The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) located in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu is an Institution of National Importance by the Act of Parliament set up in 1993. It functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. It serves as an apex body for youth development, training, research, and policy formulation in India.

Explanation

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Anand Math (1882) is based on the historical events of the Sanyasi Rebellion. The Sannyasi Rebellion (1763-1800) was led by Hindu ‘sannyasis’ and Muslim ‘fakirs’ in Bengal against British economic oppression and restrictions on religious activities. It was triggered by the Bengal famine of 1770 and excessive taxation and it became an early symbol of resistance to colonial rule.

Explanation

Assertion A is true: Since Balance of Payments (BoP) includes trade in goods, services, investments, and financial transfers, it offers a more accurate reflection of a country’s international economic engagement than just Balance of Trade (BoT), which only captures the net export-import balance. Reason R is true: The Balance of Payments (BoP) provides a comprehensive account of a country’s international economic transactions, including both visible (goods) and invisible (services, remittances, investments) trade. In contrast, the Balance of Trade (BoT) only considers the difference between exports and imports of goods, making it a less complete measure of a nation’s financial standing. Thus, both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Dolby B and Dolby C are noise reduction systems developed by Dolby Laboratories to reduce the background hiss (high-frequency noise) in analog audio recordings, such as cassette tapes. These systems work by compressing and expanding certain frequency ranges during recording and playback to enhance audio clarity. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Frequency Modulated System known as FM is a modulation technique used in radio transmissions, not in tape noise reduction. Amplitude Modulated Systems AM is another modulation technique used in radio, unrelated to Dolby noise reduction. Dolby systems are unrelated to power supply types DC and AC.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: University Grants Commission (UGC) was established through the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, a legislation passed by Parliament. It is not a constitutional body.

Option (b) is incorrect: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was formed under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It is a statutory body, not constituted by a constitutional provision.

Option (c) is correct: The correct answer is the Election Commission, as it is established under Articles 324 to 329 of the Indian Constitution. These articles outline the creation of the Election Commission and the framework for conducting elections in the country.

Option (d) is incorrect: Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was initially set up through an executive resolution in 1964, later gaining statutory status through the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. However, it is not created by a specific constitutional article.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: INSAT-4A was launched on December 5, 2005, using an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana (not New Mexico).

Statement 2 is correct: Arianespace was responsible for launching INSAT-4A using the Ariane 5 rocket, a major commercial launch vehicle used for heavy payloads like communication satellites.

Statement 3 is correct: Tata Sky, an Indian Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider, uses the INSAT-4A satellite for providing satellite television services in India.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: LIC is not the oldest insurance company in India. The oldest insurance company is "Oriental Life Insurance Company" (established in 1818 in Kolkata). LIC was formed later in 1956 when the government nationalized over 240 private insurance companies.

Statement 2 is correct: The National Insurance Company Limited was nationalized in 1972 and became a subsidiary of the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC). Later, it was made an independent entity.

Statement 3 is correct: United India Insurance Company Limited is headquartered in Chennai and is one of the four public sector insurance companies in India. As per IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) re-ports, these insurance companies play a key role in the country’s financial sector.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: In soldering operations, especially in electronics, the most common solder alloys are made from lead (Pb) and tin (Sn). This combination is used because it has a low melting point, which makes it ideal for joining electronic components without damaging sensitive parts. The typical composition of the solder is 60% tin and 40% lead or 63% tin and 37% lead, though lead-free soldering is becoming more common due to environmental concerns, often comprising tin with small amounts of copper, silver, or other metals. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Iron and tin are not commonly used together in soldering; while iron is typically used as a base metal in some electrical circuit components, it is not a part of the solder itself. Aluminium and lead are not commonly used as soldering materials either. Aluminium is difficult to solder, and its oxide layer makes it less suitable for standard soldering techniques.