UPSC 2013 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Bhakti movement was a devotional reform movement in India that emphasized personal devotion to a chosen deity, transcending ritualism and caste distinctions. It gained momentum through saints like Kabir, Ramanuja, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Alvars, and Nayanars, who spread the message of love and surrender to God.

Option (b) is correct: Guru Nanak was preaching during the time when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over. He emphasized the oneness of God, equality of all people, selfless service, and devotion to truth, transcending religious divisions. While Dadu Dayal was born after the fall of the Lodi dynasty and was active during the latter part of the 16th century, so he was not preaching when Babur took over. Tyagaraja, on the other hand, lived in the 18th-19th century, much later than the fall of the Lodi dynasty.

Explanation

The Indian schools of orthodox philosophy (stika) include Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta, all of which accept the authority of the Vedas. These schools emphasize reasoning, metaphysical principles, and the pursuit of liberation through knowledge, ethics, and meditation.

Statement 1 is incorrect: While Samkhya accepts rebirth (or samsara) and acknowledges that the soul’s entanglement with Prakriti results in repeated cycles of reincarnation, it does not emphasize karma in the same way as the systems that directly teach the law of cause and effect leading to future rebirths. Samkhya philosophy is dualistic and not monistic because it has two entities, Purush (spirit) and Prakriti (nature).

Statement 2 is correct: Samkhya emphasizes the attainment of knowledge of the self by means of concentration and meditation. It believes that after you have ‘died’ in this life you will go through a process of rebirth where depending on your actions in your former life your status will be decided. Liberation (moksha) occurs when the Purusha realizes its distinct nature from Prakriti, ending the cycle of reincarnation.

Explanation

Yuan Chwang, the Chinese traveler, provided a detailed account of India during the 7th century, noting its thriving culture, well-organized society, and vibrant Buddhist institutions. He described India’s cities, roads, and religious life.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Roads and river routes were not completely robbery-free. He described the condition of roads as generally safe, but he also noted that there were occasional dangers and robberies on certain routes. Hiuen-Tsang himself was looted a couple of times.

Statement 2 is correct: Criminal law was very severe. He mentioned that the judicial system in India involved ordeals by fire, water, and poison as a way to determine guilt or innocence.

Statement 3 is correct: Duties were to be paid at trade barriers without fail. It was a source of income for the kingdom.

Explanation

The Bhakti movement began to spread across eastern and northern India from the 15th century. The movement’s central idea was love, devotion, and the pursuit of equality. Prominent Bhakti saints such as Ramanuja, Chaitanya, Jaidev, Kabir, and Ramanand emphasized the unity of God. Guru Nanak was born in India during the period 1469-1539. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First battle of Panipat in 1526. Therefore, when Babur was strengthening the Mughal dynasty in India Guru Nanak was preaching Sikhism in India. Tyagaraja, a Carnatic music composer was born in 1767 and Daddu Dayal was a poet-saint of Gujrat born in 1544. These events do not match with the timeline of Battle of Panipat when the Lodi dynasty fell.

Explanation

Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that require a host cell to reproduce. They consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat (capsid). They can cause a wide range of diseases in humans, animals, and plants.

Statement 1 is correct: Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites and lack the metabolic machinery, including enzymes, to generate energy. They depend entirely on their host cells for energy and replication.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Viruses cannot replicate or survive in synthetic media alone. They require living host cells for replication. Common methods of culturing viruses include using cell cultures, embryonated eggs, or live animals.

Statement 3 is incorrect:

While some viruses are transmitted through biological vectors (e.g., mosquitoes for dengue), many are transmitted by other means such as: Respiratory droplets (e.g., influenza virus), Direct contact (e.g., herpes simplex virus), Fomites (e.g., contaminated surfaces).

Explanation

Tattoos may cause diseases because tattoo instruments come in contact with blood and bodily fluids if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilised. However, tattoo-related infections are uncommon in sterile, contemporary tattoo parlours using single-use needles. Hepatitis B is a bloodborne infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Unsafe tattooing practices, such as using unsterilized needles or contaminated ink, can easily transmit Hepatitis B. Studies show that Hepatitis B has a significantly high transmission risk through needlestick injuries or exposure to infected blood. HIV is transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk. Though the risk of HIV transmission through tattooing is lower compared to Hepatitis B, it exists if contaminated needles are used. Chikungunya is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes and is not spread through blood or contaminated instruments.

Explanation

The Indian Statutory Commission, commonly referred to as the Simon Commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon arrived in British India in 1928. The Simon Commission originated as a result of the Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms), which introduced Dyarchy in provinces. The Act had a provision that after ten years, its impact would be reviewed to decide further constitutional reforms. It was appointed by the British government to assess India’s constitutional development and recommend constitutional reforms. The main reason behind the agitation against the Simon Commission was that there were no Indian members of the panel and only seven British members of the British Parliament. This was viewed as racist and colonialist.

Explanation

In Buddhist architecture, a chaitya is a prayer hall or sanctuary, typically containing a stupa (a mound-like structure that houses relics of the Buddha). Chaityas were places of worship, where Buddhist communities gathered for prayers, rituals, and meditation. These structures often have a barrel-vaulted roof and a central nave leading to the stupa at the far end. A vihara is a monastic dwelling or residence for monks. It usually consists of a series of cells or rooms surrounding a central courtyard, where monks lived, meditated, and studied. Viharas were intended for residential purposes, as opposed to chaityas, which were for communal worship. They can be found in Ajanta Caves, Karle Caves, etc.

Explanation

Buddhist philosophy emphasizes the Four Noble Truths, which teach that suffering (dukkha) arises from craving (tanha) and that the cessation of suffering is possible through the Eightfold Path. In Buddhism, Nirvana is the ultimate goal of the spiritual path, and it refers to the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the end of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). It is achieved by extinguishing the "flame of desire". It is often described as the extinction of three fires- greed(raga), aversion(dwesha) and ignorance(moksha). When these flames are extinguished, the cycle of rebirth is skipped. Achieving Nirvana is the goal of the Buddhist path, attained through ethical conduct, meditation, and wisdom.

Explanation

According to Article 37 of the Indian Constitution, though Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are not enforceable by any court, but the principles therein laid down are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws. DPSP constitutes a comprehensive socio-economic and political programme for a modern democratic State. DPSP are ‘positive in nature’, which embodies the concept of a ‘welfare state’ and not that of a ‘police state’. DPSP are the constitutional instructions or recommendations to the State in legislative, executive and administrative matters.