UPSC 2018 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Sanskrit College at Benaras was founded in 1791 by Jonathan Duncan (not William Jones). The objective was to promote the study of Hindu law and philosophy among the people of Benaras., Sir William Jones was a renowned philologist and scholar who founded the Asiatic Society in 1784 in Calcutta, aiming to encourage Oriental studies.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Calcutta Madrasah was established by Warren Hastings in 1781 for the study of Muslim law and related subjects to promote the study of Islamic law and jurisprudence among the Muslim population.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Fort William College was set up by Lord Richard Wellesley in 1800 for training of civil servants of the Company in languages and customs of Indians.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly vacates his office in three cases:

1. If he ceases to be a member of the assembly;

2. Speaker Resigns by writing to the deputy speaker and vice versa and

3. Removed by the resolution passed by a majority of all the members of the assembly.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 179 provided that, whenever the Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the Assembly after the dissolution.

Explanation

The Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), established in 1948, is one of the prominent trade union organizations in India. Founded by notable leaders such as Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam, and G.G. Mehta, HMS aimed to represent the interests of Indian workers and promote their rights and welfare. The organization played a vital role in advocating for labor reforms, improving working conditions, and securing fair wages for workers across various industries.

Explanation

Lala Lajpat Rai was popularly known as Punjab Kesari. He was the INC’s president at the 1920 Calcutta Special Session. In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation, in Lahore. He also wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji, and Shrikrishna. He led a non-violent march in protest against the Simon Commission and was brutally assaulted by the police. He succumbed to a heart attack later, with the assault likely contributing to his weakened condition.

Explanation

Neeldarpan was a Bengali play written in 1860 by Dinabandhu Mitra. It depicted the plight of indigo farmers under British rule, particularly the oppressive system imposed by British planters. The play was later translated into English by Michael Madhusudan Dutt and became influential in the Indigo Revolt In 1863, Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to clear the Indian Civil Services (ICS) Examination. He was the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore and worked towards administrative and social reforms. Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay. It aimed to promote Vedic knowledge and social reform, rejecting idol worship and advocating for women’s education. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandamath, a Bengali novel in 1882. It featured the famous song Vande Mataram, which later became an important slogan in the Indian freedom movement.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: As per Article 361, which deals with the ‘Protection of President and Governors’, states that ‘no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during his term of office’. However, after giving two months’ notice, civil proceedings can be instituted against him during his term of office in respect of his personal acts.

Statement 2 is correct: As per Article 158, which deals with the ‘Conditions of Governor Office’, states that ‘the emoluments and allowances of the Governor shall not be diminished during his term of office’.

Explanation

India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, to comply with its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a member of the WTO, India is bound by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which sets minimum standards for the protection of various forms of intellectual property, including geographical indications (GIs). TRIPS Agreement prescribe the minimum standards of protection that WTO members must provide for GIs. These provisions require member countries to prevent the misuse of GIs and to ensure that only authorized users can use a GI on products originating from the specified region

Explanation

Human capital formation refers to the process of improving the knowledge, skills, and capacities of people, which enhances their productivity and contributes to economic growth. This involves education, training, healthcare, and other investments in people.

Statement 2 is correct: It directly reflects the essence of human capital formation, which focuses on increasing the knowledge, skill levels, and capacities of individuals.

Statement 4 is correct: Human capital is considered intangible wealth, as it represents non-physical assets like skills, education, and health, which contribute to economic productivity. Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect: These refer to the accumulation of physical or tangible capital (like machinery, infrastructure), which is different from human capital.

Explanation

Capital formation refers to the accumulation of physical assets like machinery, tools, and infrastructure, which are expected to boost production.

Option (d) is correct: Even in a high-saving economy, if the capital-output ratio is high, it means that a large amount of capital is required to produce a small increase in output. This indicates inefficient use of capital or diminishing returns on investment, leading to limited growth in output despite increased savings and investments. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect: While weak administration, illiteracy, and high population density can slow economic growth by affecting governance, workforce skills, and resource allocation, they don’t directly influence how efficiently invested capital is converted into output--this efficiency is specifically measured by the capital-output ratio.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and several other food-related laws to bring uniformity in food safety regulations. It aimed to establish a single authority (FSSAI) for regulating food safety and standards in India.

Statement 2 is incorrect: FSSAI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, but it is not under the charge of the Director General of Health Services. Instead, it functions independently with its own Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Central Government.