UPSC 2020 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Preamble to the Constitution of India is part of the Constitution but lacks independent legal force. It outlines guiding principles like justice, liberty, and equality. The Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) affirmed it as integral to understanding the Constitution’s philosophy, although it doesn’t confer enforceable rights. It serves as a guiding tool for interpreting the Constitution’s objectives.

Explanation

The G20 (Group of Twenty) is an international forum consisting of 19 countries, African Union and the European Union. It represents the world’s largest economies, including both industrialized and developing nations. The G20 focuses on global economic issues, financial stability, and sustainable devel-opment. G20 Member Countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada; China, France, Germany, India; Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, United Kingdom, United States, Europe-an Union and African Union.

Option (a) is correct: Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey all are members of G20

Option (b) is incorrect: Malaysia and New Zealand are not a part of G20

Option (c) is incorrect: Iran & Vietnam are not a part of G20

Option (d) is incorrect: Singapore is not a member of G20.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: While India-Sri Lanka trade has grown over time but it has not shown consistent growth every year. Trade fluctuated due to factors such as economic slow-downs, policy changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement 2 is correct: Textiles and textile articles form a major component of India’s exports to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a leading global exporter of garments, and it imports raw materials (cotton, yarn, and fabric) from India for its textile and apparel industry. Textiles and made-ups account for 56% of Indian imports from Bangladesh.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Bangladesh, not Nepal, has been In-dia’s largest trading partner in South Asia over the past five years. In the fiscal year 2022-23 India’s exports to Bangladesh were valued at US$ 13.84 billion which makes it one of India’s top export destinations.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Bhilsa is the medieval name of the modern day Vidisha city of Madhya Pradesh. Vidisha was also known as Besnagar in ancient times. King Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty served as the Governor of Vidisha during his father’s regime. It is known for its archaeological sites including the Udayagiri Caves and the Heliodorus Pillar.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Dwarasamudra was the capital of the Hoysala kingdom in the 11th century. Today it is known as Halebidu - a town located in Hassan district in Karnataka and is known for exquisite Hoysala architecture, including the Hoysaleswara Temple.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Girinagar also known as Girnar or Revatak Parvat is a group of mountains in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Temples situated on Mount Girnar are sacred to both Digambar and Swetambars branches of Jainism.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Thanesar (Thaneshwar) is an old Hindu pilgrimage town of Haryana that was famous as Sthanesvara in ancient times. Thaneshwar was ruled by the great King Harsha of the Vardhan dynasty.

Explanation

Factors/Policies affecting the Price of Rice in recent past are:

Minimum Support Price: MSP is a type of market intervention that the government uses to protect farmers against a sudden drop in farm prices. Rice is included in MSP and thus the government announces MSP for rice, ensuring farmers receive a minimum price for their produce. A high MSP leads to increased procurement costs and can push up market prices. Government Trading: The government imports or exports rice through agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Restrictions or encouragement in exports/imports can affect domestic rice prices. Government’s Stockpiling: The government maintains buffer stocks under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and food security programs. Large stockpiling can reduce market supply, influencing prices. Consumer Subsidies: The government provides subsidized rice through schemes like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and PDS. While subsidies help consumers, they can distort market demand and affect pricing trends.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) in Alma-Ata (now Almaty, Kazakhstan). It emphasized "Health for All" and the importance of primary healthcare.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 primarily focus on the laws of war and the conduct of hostilities including the prohibition of certain means of warfare. The control of biological and chemical weapons is covered by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), not the Hague Convention.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Talanoa Dialogue was launched by Fiji during its presidency of the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2017. It is a facili-tative dialogue aimed at encouraging countries to enhance their climate action and ambition under the Paris Agreement. The term "Talanoa" refers to a traditional Pacific Island approach to inclusive and participatory dialogue.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: The Under2 Coalition is an initiative for climate action which brings together subnational governments (states, provinces, and cities) to limit global warming below 2°C and not on child rights. Child rights are addressed by other organizations and agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Dr. Rakhmabai was an Indian physician and a feminist. At the young age of eleven, she was married to Dadaji Bhikaji, who was then nineteen. The Rakhmabai case did not centrally involve the women’s right to gain education.

Statement 2 is correct: The Rakhmabai case of 1884 was instrumental in the drafting of the Age of Consent Act in 1891.

Statement 3 is correct: She was married off at the young age of eleven with Dadaji Bhikaji, who was nineteen years old. In 1885, after 12 years of marriage, Bhikaji filed a petition in the court and sought "restitution of conjugal rights".

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Union Government provides subsidies on fertilizers to ensure their affordability for farmers and to maintain agricultural self-sufficiency. As a result, fertilizer prices in India are regulated by the government. For example, the retail price of urea is directly controlled, while non-urea fertilizers fall under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme, where prices have some market influence but still receive government support.

Statement 2 is correct: Ammonia (NH) is a key raw material for making urea. It is produced by reacting natural gas (CH) with steam to extract hydrogen, which then combines with nitrogen from the air to form ammonia in the Haber-Bosch process.

Statement 3 is correct: Sulphur is a key ingredient in the production of phosphoric acid, which is used to make phosphatic fertilizers (e.g., DAP - Di-Ammonium Phosphate). It is obtained as a by-product from oil refineries and natural gas processing plants.

Explanation

Public Investment is the investment by the State (Central, state and local governments or through publicly owned companies) to build the nation’s capital stock by devoting resources to the basic physical infrastructure (such as roads, bridges, rail lines, airports, and water distribution), research and development, etc. that leads to increased output and/or living standards. The following can be considered as Public Investment in Agriculture:

Option 2 is correct: Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies will enhance productivity in the agricultural sector, as there will be easy and timely access of credit. This improves efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of credit for farmers, contributing to agricultural development.

Option 3 is correct: Investing in the development of social capital for farmers fosters a network of support and knowledge-sharing, which can significantly enhance the adoption of new agricultural technologies and practices.

Option 6 is correct: Setting up cold storage facilities by the governments will enhance productivity in the agricultural sector as agricultural products are generally perishable in nature and the facility of cold storage may help in increasing the shelf life of the products. Options 1, 4 and 5 are incorrect:

MSP is a price support mechanism rather than an investment. It ensures farmers get a minimum price for their crops but does not involve creating infrastructure or long-term agricultural improvements. Free electricity supply to farmers reduces costs for farmers, it is a subsidy rather than an investment in long-term infrastructure. Loan waivers offer quick financial relief to farmers burdened with debt, but they do not aid in the improvement of agricultural infrastructure or services. Similar to subsidies, they serve as financial assistance rather than investments aimed at fostering growth or enhancing efficiency.

Explanation

Announced in the 1998-1999 budget, the Kisan Credit Card Scheme aims to provide farmers with the institutional credit they need to meet their financial needs at various phases of farming. It is implemented by all public sector banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks across the nation. Options 1, 3 and 4 are correct: Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for the following purposes:

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme provides credit for working capital requirements, including maintaining and repairing farm assets like equipment, machinery, and other resources. KCC also provides credit for the consumption requirements of the farmer’s family, such as food, fuel, and other basic household needs. Post Harvest Expenses: The scheme provides support for expenses related to post-harvest activities, such as packaging, storage, and transportation. Other than these the Kisan Credit Cards are issued to the farmers so that they may use them to purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs. Options 2 and 5 are incorrect:

The KCC scheme is not intended for funding non-agricultural investments like constructing a family house or setting up a cold storage facility, which are typically covered under other rural development or infrastructure schemes. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks which is not a short term investment. It needs heavy capital and is not possible with short-term credit support provided under KCC.