UPSC 2020 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is the largest tiger re-serve in India having a Core/ Critical Tiger Habitat of 2595.72 SqKm. The tiger reserve spans states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The reserve is home to the multifunctional reservoirs Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar. This reserve’s basin is bisected by the Krishna River. In addition to the Bengal Tiger, which serves as the area’s top predator, other species are also present here, including the leopard, rusty-spotted cat, pangolin, mugger crocodiles, Indian rock python, and countless different types of birds. A variety of wood-lands, from southern mixed deciduous tropical forest to southern thorn forest multiple types of hurbs and bamboo thickets also grow in this area.

Explanation

Kanha National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla and Balaghat districts. It officially introduced a mascot, "Bhoorsingh the Barasingha". Kanha National Park (Mandla and Balaghat districts, Madhya Pradesh) is home to the Hard Ground Barasingha, also known as the Swamp Deer(Rucervus duvaucelii). They are exclusively graminivorous, meaning their diet consists solely of grasses. It is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh and is only found in the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Bear, Gaur, and Indian Python are some of the other species discovered. Evergreen Sal forests are the most famous feature (Shorea Robusta) of Kanha National Park’s flora. The Indian Swamp Deer (Rucervus duvaucelii), also known as Barasingha, is a large herbivorous mammal primarily found in India, with some populations in Nepal and Bangladesh. It is known for its distinctive long, branched antlers and yellowish-brown coat. The species is graminivorous, thriving on grasses in wetlands, marshes, and floodplains. The Hard Ground Barasingha, a subspecies, is notably found in Kanha National Park, where successful conservation efforts have helped prevent its extinction. These deer are mostly solitary but gather during the breeding season, and their diet is primarily grass, which they graze in marshy areas. The species faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and human encroachment, leading to its vulnerable status.

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: To safeguard the critically endangered Musk Deer and its environment, the Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary was established. The refuge is sometimes referred to as "Green Paradise on Earth." It is situated in Askot, a tiny village in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, musk deer, loong, monal, kalij pheasant, and cheer pheasant are some examples of the local fauna.

Option 2 is correct: Gangotri National Park is located in Uttar-kashi, Uttrakhand, in the Bhagirathi River’s upper watershed. Gangotri Glacier is situated inside the park. The park is completely surrounded by temperate coniferous forests. The typical vegetation includes chirpine, deodar, fir, spruce, oak, and rhododendron. The park is home to a number of rare and endangered animals, including the snow leopard, musk deer, Himalayan monal, Himalayan snowcock, and blue sheep (also known as bharal). Options 3 and 4 are incorrect: Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is home to Tigers, Leopards, Pythons, Barking Deer, Ghariyal, Wild Boar and Swamp Deers, not musk deer. It lies along the banks of the Sharada river. Manas National Park in Assam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Re-serve as well as a Biosphere Reserve. Manas National Park is home to a varied species of Fauna of the likes of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, Asiatic Elephants, Indian Tigers, Clouded Leopards, Hoolock Gibbons, Barking Deer, etc.

Explanation

Asian Elephants come in three sub-species i.e. Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan. The majority of the continent’s remaining elephants belong to the Indian subspecies, which has the largest range.

Statement 1 is correct: The leader of a group is the oldest female. She guides the herd in their search for food and water sources. These matriarchal units can occasionally divide into smaller, temporary groups.

Statement 2 is correct: The gestation period lasts for 22 months, yielding a single baby.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Although sexually mature in their early teens, elephants generally only start to mate at about 20 years and stop bearing calves at about 50.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Recent census showed Kerala as having 5,706 elephants, while Karnataka has 6049 elephants.

Explanation

The Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus monilig-er), Coppersmith barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), Gray-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris), and White-throated redstart (Myioborus albogularis) are all species of birds found in India. These birds are known for their unique characteristics and are an important part of India’s rich avifauna. The Ceylon frogmouth is a nocturnal bird, while the Coppersmith barbet is known for its distinctive call that sounds like a coppersmith at work.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Aurang is a Persian term referring to a warehouse where goods are collected before being sold.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The term Banian (or Banyan) was used during the colonial period to refer to Indian agents or intermediaries who acted as local representatives or agents for European trading companies, including the East India Company. They helped the company in business dealings, acted as middlemen, and facilitated trade.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: A Mirasidar was a landowner or hereditary holder of land in South India under the Ryotwari settlement system. The East India Company recognized mirasdars as the only proprietors of land, dismissing tenants’ rights completely. They acted as a designated revenue payer of the state.

Explanation

The Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the mass production of textiles and other goods in Britain, which flooded the Indian market. This caused a decline in demand for Indian handicrafts which could not compete with the cheaper, machine-made British goods. This led to the ruin of traditional handicraft industries and artisans. Machine-based production in Indian textiles became more prominent after the 1850s, with the establishment of British-owned factories like the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Mill (1854). The first railway line in India was opened in 1853 between Bombay and Thane. By the latter half of the 19th century, the railway network expanded rapidly to facilitate the movement of goods (especially raw materials for British industries). British goods were often imported into India without heavy duties. British colonial policy was designed to ensure that India served as a market for British manufactured goods.

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: Nagarhole National Park is located in the Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. The Nagarahole River flows through the park which joins the Kabini River which also is a boundary between Nagarahole and Bandipur National Park.

Option 2 is incorrect: Papikonda National Park is located in the East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. It lies in the Godavari River Basin, not the Cauvery Basin.

Option 3 is correct: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is located at the confluence region of Western and Eastern Ghats, in the Erode district of the state of Tamil Nadu. In the northern part of Erode district, the Palar river flows and drains into the Cauvery river. The Bhavani River, a major tributary of the Cauvery, flows through this region.

Option 4 is correct: Kabini river, a tributary of the Cauvery river flows through the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Explanation

Non-financial debt refers to the debt owed by entities that are not part of the financial sector, such as households, businesses, and government bodies. This type of debt includes various forms of borrowing, such as housing loans, credit card balances, and government-issued instruments like Treasury bills. Housing Loans: Housing loans taken by house-holds are considered non-financial debt because they involve borrowing money for the purchase of property, which is a physical asset. These loans are typically not tied to financial assets like stocks or bonds. Credit Card Debt: The amounts owed on credit cards are also considered non-financial debt. Credit card debt is a form of borrowing, but it is not related to financial assets, rather to consumption or goods and services. Treasury Bills: Treasury bills are short-term borrowing instruments issued by the government to generate funds. Since they are issued by the government, which is outside the financial sector, they also fall under the category of non-financial debt.

Explanation

Fort William College was established in 1800 by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India in Calcutta (now Kolkata). The primary purpose of the college was to train British civil servants in Indian languages, customs, and laws to improve the efficiency of the East India Company’s administration in India. Lord Wellesley recognized that British officials often lacked knowledge of Indian languages, culture, and traditions which hindered effective governance. The college was designed to train newly recruited British civilians in Indian languages (such as Persian, Sanskrit, Arabic, and regional languages) and familiarize them with local customs and laws. He believed that a well-trained administrative cadre would help the East India Company govern India more effectively and reduce reliance on Indian intermediaries.