UPSC 2010 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Nagarjuna (2nd century A.D.), a key figure in Mahayana Buddhism, founded the Madhyamaka school, emphasizing philosophical concepts like emptiness (shunyata). He was not associated with the Bhakti cult, which focused on devotional worship of a personal deity. In contrast, Tukaram (a Marathi saint), Tyagaraja (a Carnatic music composer), and Vallabhacharya (proponent of Pushtimarg) were central figures in the Bhakti movement, emphasizing love and devotion to God.

Explanation

The Swadeshi Movement was initiated as a direct response to the partition of Bengal announced by Lord Curzon in 1905. The partition was perceived as a deliberate attempt to fragment the Bengali-speaking population along religious lines, thereby weakening the unity of the nationalist movement. The movement focused on boycotting British goods and promoting locally made products, advocating for self-reliance and economic independence. Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo Ghosh, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak played key roles. Initially strong in Bengal, it spread nationwide, fostering national pride and unity.

Explanation

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), adopted in 1989, is a comprehensive human rights treaty that recognizes the full range of rights for children. The Convention outlines four broad categories of rights for children:- Survival Rights include the child’s right to life, adequate nutrition, healthcare, and a standard of living adequate for development. Development Rights encompass the right to education, access to information, and opportunities for personal, cultural, and social development. Participation Rights include the child’s right to freedom of expression, thought, association, and participation in decisions affecting their lives. Protection Rights safeguard children from exploitation, abuse, and harm. The Right to Recreation is included under development rights, while the Right to Expression falls under participation rights. Together, all three options: development, expression, and recreation are recognized as rights of the child under the UNCRC.

Explanation

The Simon Commission, set up in 1927, was tasked with reviewing the functioning of the Government of India Act, 1919. The key focus of its recommendations revolved around the governance structure in India. It recommended the replacement of dyarchy with responsible government in the provinces. The dyarchy system had divided the responsibilities between the elected Indian ministers and the British-appointed executive, which many viewed as a flawed system.

Explanation

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a hybrid business structure that combines the features of a partnership and a corporation.

Option (a) is correct: There is no upper limit on the number of partners in an LLP. It is a feature of traditional partnerships under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, where the maximum number of partners is limited to 50 for certain businesses.

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

In an LLP, partners can directly manage the business and there is no requirement for a separation between ownership and management. This is a key feature of LLPs. The internal governance of an LLP including the rights and duties of partners, can be decided by mutual agreement among the partners. This flexibility is a characteristic feature of LLPs. An LLP is a corporate body with a separate legal entity, and it enjoys perpetual succession, meaning the LLP continues to exist even if the partners change or leave.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The Forward Markets Commission (FMC) was the regulatory authority for commodity futures markets in India. It was responsible for overseeing trading in commodity futures, including the regulation of commodity exchanges like NCDEX and MCX. In 2015, the FMC was merged with SEBI to create a unified regulator for both commodities and securities markets. So, if this question were about the present day, SEBI would be the correct answer for regulating commodities futures trading! Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect: Currency Futures Trading and Equity Futures Trading are regulated by SEBI. FMC only regulated commodities futures trading. Financial futures (like equity and currency futures) were regulated by SEBI.

Explanation

The Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005 was enacted to boost economic growth by creating designated zones with special incentives for businesses.

Statement 1 is correct: One of the key objectives of the SEZ Act is to develop world-class infrastructure facilities within these zones. This includes roads, power, water supply, and other utilities to attract businesses and promote industrial growth.

Statement 2 is correct: The SEZ Act aims to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) by offering tax incentives, simplified regulations, and a business-friendly environment. This helps in bringing in capital and technology from abroad.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The SEZ Act is not limited to promoting exports of services only. It aims to promote both goods and services exports. SEZs are designed to boost over-all export-oriented production, including manufacturing, IT services, and other sectors.

Explanation

The 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz ISM band (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) is a part of the radio frequency spectrum commonly used for short-range communication technologies. This range is globally available for unlicensed use, making it ideal for a variety of wireless communication applications. Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, microwave ovens, Wi-Fi baby monitors, wireless cameras, and RFID systems operate in the 2.4 to 2.5 GHz range of the radio frequency band. While it allows a variety of devices to operate within it, managing interference is a key challenge in environments with multiple devices using the same frequency. This range is commonly used due to its balance between range and data capacity, making it suitable for short-range communication and other applications.

Explanation

LASIK is primarily used to treat refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. LASIK uses a laser to reshape the cornea, allowing light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina, improving vision. The goal of LASIK is to correct refractive errors and thereby reduce or eliminate the need for corrective eyewear like glasses or contact lenses. LASIK is typically not recommended for individuals under the age of 18 because their eyes may still be changing. Additionally, people over the age of 40 may not be ideal candidates due to presbyopia, a condition that affects near vision.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a wired broadband technology that uses telephone lines to transmit digital data. It is used for high-speed internet connections, but it is not a wireless technology. It does NOT belong to the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication). DSL is a wired broadband technology that provides internet access over telephone lines and is unrelated to mobile networks. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) belongs to the GSM family. It is an enhancement of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and is considered part of 2.5G and 2.75G networks within the GSM framework. LTE (Long-Term Evolution) belongs to the GSM family. LTE is a 4G technology that evolved from GSM and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). It provides high-speed wireless communication but is not strictly GSM-based; however, it is considered part of the evolutionary path of GSM networks.