UPSC 2008 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

In 2008, the percentage of persons above 65 years of age in India’s population was approximately in the range of 5-6%. According to the World Bank, approximately 7.07% of India’s population was aged 65 and above in 2023. This means that approximately 7.07% of India’s total population is currently aged 65 and above.

Explanation

ITER, which stands for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, is a massive international collaboration aimed at harnessing the power of nuclear fusion. This groundbreaking project is being constructed in Cadarache, Southern France. ITER aims to replicate nuclear fusion, where light atomic nuclei combine to release vast energy, offering a limitless, clean power source. Using a tokamak design, it employs powerful magnetic fields to heat plasma to over 150 million degrees Celsius. The project is a global collaboration involving China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the US. India has provided in-wall shielding components and the cryo lines and cryo distribution system, crucial for the reactor’s operation.

Explanation

According to the Census of India 2001, the percentage of rural population in various states was as follows:

Himachal Pradesh: 90.2% Bihar: 89.5% Orissa (now Odisha): 85.0% Uttar Pradesh: 79.2% Therefore, among the given options, Himachal Pradesh had the highest percentage of rural population to its total population in 2001.

Explanation

According to the Census of India 2001, the populations of the given regions were as follows:

Sikkim: 540,851 Mizoram: 888,573 Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry): 974,345 Chandigarh: 900,635 Therefore, among the options provided, Sikkim had the smallest population as per the 2001 Census. According to the Census of India 2011, the populations of the specified regions are Sikkim: 610,577, Mizoram: 1,097,206, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry): 1,247,953 & Chandigarh: 1,055,450

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: India holds the largest livestock population in the world, with about 192.5 million cattle and a total bovine population of 307.5 million. India holds around 14-15% of the world’s cattle and leads globally in buffalo population. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Brazil has the second-largest cattle population globally, with approximately 194.4 million cattle. However, while Brazil excels in beef production and exports, its total livestock population (including cattle, poultry, goats, etc.) is less than India’s. China has a large livestock population, particularly in poultry and pigs. It is the world’s largest producer of pork and has a significant poultry industry. However, when considering total livestock (including cattle, buffaloes, goats, etc.), China still lags behind India. The United States has a significant cattle population (~94 million), focusing on beef production and exports. The USA also leads in poultry and pig farming, but its total livestock population is lower than India’s.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Chikmagalur, located in Karnataka, is renowned for its coffee production rather than sugar. The region’s elevation, rainfall, and temperature create ideal conditions for cultivating some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Today, Chikmagalur is one of India’s highest coffee-pro-ducing areas, with its culture and lifestyle deeply intertwined with coffee cultivation.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Mandya, also situated in Karnataka, is primarily known for its sugarcane cultivation and sugar production, not coffee. The district is home to several sugar factories and numerous jaggery-making units, underscoring its prominence in sugar production.

Explanation

The term "million-plus cities" refers to urban agglomerations with a population exceeding one million. Based on the Census of India data below, the populations of the selected cities in 2001 and 2011 are as follows:

City Population in 2001 Population in 2011 Ludhiana 1,398,467 1,618,879 Kochi Urban Agglomeration 1,355,406 2,117,990 Surat 2,433,835 4,467,797 Nagpur 2,052,066 2,405,421 Hence, cities--Ludhiana, Surat, Kochi and Nagpur--were classified as million-plus cities in India based on the 2001 census data.

Explanation

A PIL lets individuals, NGOs, or groups file lawsuits to protect public interest, tackling significant social, environmental, or economic issues, often involving systematic or structural problems that affect many people.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Justice V R Krishna Iyer served the Supreme Court as a judge but never as Chief Justice.

Statement 2 is correct: Justice V R Krishna Iyer, a pioneer of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India, expanded the judiciary’s scope to address public grievances and protect marginalized groups. Along with V R Krishna Iyer, Justice P.N. Bhagwati, a key figure in the development of the PIL movement, significantly contributed to its growth through landmark cases such as S.P. Gupta vs. Union of India (1981), Hussainara Khatoon vs. State of Bihar (1979) expanding access to justice for public grievances.

Explanation

Palitana Temples is a well-known Jain pilgrimage place in Gujarat that is close to Bhavnagar. They are composed of more than 800 finely carved marble temples dedicated to 24 Tirthankars. and are located atop Shatrunjaya Hill. Every pious Jain is obliged to make the Palitana Yatra (pilgrimage) at least once in their lifetime because the temples are regarded as one of the holiest places in Jainism. Many Jain patrons contributed to the construction of these temples over a period of 900 years. Famous Temples in Mount Abu (Rajasthan) Dilwara Temples - A group of exquisitely carved Jain temples built between the 11th and 13th centuries, known for their intricate marble craftsmanship. Adhar Devi Temple - Dedicated to Goddess Durga, built inside a natural cave, requiring 365 steps to reach. Raghunath Temple - A Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, known for its historical and spiritual significance. Famous Temples in Nasik (Maharashtra) Trimbakeshwar Temple - One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, located near the origin of the Godavari River. Kalaram Temple - An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Rama, built entirely of black stone. Sundarnarayan Temple - A Vishnu temple, famous for its unique alignment with the rising sun during the equinox. Kapaleshwar Temple - A rare Shiva temple without a Nandi idol, as it is believed that Shiva himself performed penance here. Famous Temples in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh):

Mahakaleshwar Temple - One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, known for its Bhasma Aarti, where sacred ash is offered to Lord Shiva every morning. Kal Bhairav Temple - Dedicated to Lord Bhairav, where liquor is offered as a ritual to the deity. Harsiddhi Temple - One of the Shakti Peethas, dedicated to Goddess Durga. Chintaman Ganesh Temple - An ancient temple where Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the "remover of worries".

Explanation

BRIT (Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology) is an organisation under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. It specialises in isotope applications, radiopharmaceuticals, industrial radiography, and radiation processing. BRIT provides radioisotopes and radiation technologies for a range of uses, which are essential to nuclear medicine, agriculture, industry, and research. It supports healthcare by providing radioisotopes for cancer diagnosis and treatment and contributes to food preservation, sterilisation of medical products, and industrial testing.