UPSC 2019 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Government of India is not obligated to protect and conserve all the wetlands within its territory. It is only obligated to conserve the wetlands that are recognised under the Ramsar convention as Ramsar sites.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, aim to conserve and manage wetlands in India and prevent their degradation. However, they were not based on the Ramsar Convention’s recommendations. Its objectives are wetland conservation, protection, and management to prevent further degradation of wetlands in India.

Statement 3 is correct: As per Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 a wetland includes natural or artificial areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, with static or flowing water, fresh, brackish, or salt, and marine areas with a depth at low tide not exceeding six meters. It also covers inland waters such as lakes, reservoirs, tanks, backwaters, lagoons, creeks, estuaries, and man made wetlands, along with their drainage areas or catchment regions.

Explanation

National Parks are designated protected areas aimed at preserving the natural environment, ecosystems, and wildlife. India’s first national park, i.e Jim Corbett National Park was established in 1936. As of 2023 India has 106 national parks, covering a total area of 44,402.95 km². Valley of Flowers National Park was established in 1982. Located in Chamoli, in the state of Uttarakhand, it is renowned for its meadows of indigenous alpine flowers and the variety of vegetation. The park is entirely inside the temperate alpine region. It is located close to Joshimath in the Garhwal area, tucked in the upper reaches of the Bhyundar Ganga river’s Pushpawati river valley. The Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep are among the rare and endangered species that call this area home. Himalayan monal pheasants and other high-altitude birds can also be seen in the park. The Valley of Flowers is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. It lies within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and is part of a biodiversity hotspot in the Indian Himalayas. The park’s ecosystem is highly sensitive and provides a home to numerous endangered plant species. The valley plays a significant role in conserving alpine flora and provides a refuge for various Himalayan wildlife species.

Explanation

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve was established in 2001. It is located near the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats. It includes the following wildlife sanctuaries: Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It comprises the tropical wet evergreen forests of India, the moist deciduous forests of the South Western Ghats, the montane rain forests of the South Western Ghats, and the Shola forests. The Kanikaran tribe, one of the oldest extant ancient tribes in the world, is also found in Agasthyamalai. In 2016, it was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.

Explanation

The Charter Act of 1813 renewed the East India Company’s charter for another 20 years, ending its monopoly on trade with India (except for trade in tea and opium with China). It also allocated funds for promoting education in India and acknowledged the need for social and economic reforms. It gave missionaries permission to travel to India was one of the key components of this law.

Statement 1 is correct: The Charter Act 1813 ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company except for the trade in tea, opium, and with China.

Statement 2 is correct: company’s territories in India came under the sovereignty of the British Government through this Act.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The revenue of India was controlled by the British parliament through Pitt’s India Act 1784.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a subspecies of lion that is naturally found only in India. The Gir Forest is a protected area that provides a habitat for these majestic animals, and conservation efforts are in place to protect and manage the Asiatic lion population.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Double-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus) are naturally found in the Central Asian region, particularly in countries like Mongolia, China, and parts of Afghanistan. In India, they are found in the Ladakh region, but their native habitat is not India alone.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found in India, particularly in Assam and other northeastern states and it is also found in parts of Nepal and Bhutan.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Many species of turtles are herbivores, especially those that live in freshwater or on land. For instance, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is primarily herbivorous, feeding on seagrass and algae. Similarly, the Aldab-ra giant tortoise is also herbivorous, feeding mainly on grasses and leaves.

Statement 2 is correct: Several species of fish are herbivores, consuming algae, aquatic plants, or detritus. Examples include parrotfish, which graze on algae, and certain species of sur-geonfish, which feed on marine plants.

Statement 3 is correct: Some marine mammals are herbivores, notably the manatee and dugong, which feed on seagrasses. These mammals are specialized to thrive on a plant-based diet.

Statement 4 is correct: Boa Constrictors and Green Anacon-das are examples of viviparous snakes, meaning they give birth to live young with no eggs involved at any stage of development.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Blue Finned Mahseer is found in the Mula-Mutha River close to the Indian city of Pune, a part of the Krishna River basin. It is a freshwater fish. It is also known as Deccan Mahseer or Tor Khudree.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Irrawaddy Dolphin’s habitat extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines. It is found in three rivers namely the Irrawaddy (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong but not in Chambal river. The highest single lagoon population of dolphins is considered to be found in Chilika Lake.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Rusty Spotted Cat has been observed in eastern Gujarat’s Gir National Park, in Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and along India’s Eastern Ghats.

Explanation

Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 was passed to regulate the procedure for the investigation and proof of the misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court.

Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, a removal motion signed by 100 members (Lok Sabha) or 50 members (Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/ Chairman. The speaker has the discretion to accept or reject the motion. Statement is 2 incorrect: The Constitution of India does not define and gives details of the expression ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India which are the ground for the impeachment of the Judges.

Statement 3 is correct: The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India is governed by the Judges Enquiry Act (1968).

Statement 4 is correct: If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires that the motion be passed by a ‘special majority’ i.e. majority of the total membership of the House and majority of not less than two thirds members present and voting.

Explanation

The Old World refers to the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, known to Europeans before the discovery of the Americas. The New World refers to the Americas, including North and South America, which were "discovered" by Europeans after Christopher Columbus’s voyages in the late 15th century. Tobacco, cocoa, and rubber were domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’ through the European explorers in the late medieval or early modern era. The Columbian exchange was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Explanation

Article 142 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court and orders as to discovery, etc. The SC Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to make orders that may not be bound by existing laws enacted by Parliament, enabling the Court to act in ways that ensure complete justice.