UPSC 2024 Prelims Questions with Answers

Explanation

The International Grains Council (IGC) is an inter-governmental organization established in 1949 to promote cooperation and stability in the global grain trade. It operates under the Grains Trade Convention (GTC), 1995, which aims to enhance market transparency and international policy coordination. Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, the IGC has 30 member countries, including India, the USA, the EU, China, and Russia, working together to monitor grain supply, demand, and trade policies worldwide.

Statement 1 is correct: The IGC is an intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation in the global grain trade. India, along with 29 other countries, is a member of the International Grains Council (IGC).

Statement 2 is incorrect: A country does not need to be a member of the IGC to export or import rice and wheat. Membership in the IGC is not a prerequisite for engaging in international trade of grains. Many countries actively participate in the global grains market without being members of the IGC.

Explanation

Statement I is correct: The Sahel region has been experiencing escalating instability and poor security situation due to a combination of factors, including violent extremism, weak governance, climate change, and displacement crises. Terrorist groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (IS Sahel) have expanded their influence, leading to widespread violence and insecurity across countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Statement II is correct: Over the last three years, the African Sahel region has witnessed a wave of coups d’état in seven countries that extend from Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean to Sudan on the Red Sea. Five military coups succeeded in five countries, in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and Gabon, while three other nations--Tunisia, Chad, and Sudan--had constitutional coups. These coups have further destabilized the region by weakening governance structures and creating power vacuums that terrorist groups have exploited. The coups disrupted counterterrorism efforts, weakened state institutions, and led to the withdrawal of foreign military support (e.g., France’s Operation Barkhane), all of which have emboldened extremist groups to expand their activities. Thus, both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I.

Explanation

Statement I is correct: The European Parliament recently approved the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to bolster EU production in technologies needed for decarbonization. The "Net-Zero Industry Act", sets a target for Europe to produce 40% of its annual deployment needs in net-zero technologies by 2030, based on National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The European Union aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050, not 2040, an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. By 2040, the EU aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels, as part of its interim climate goals. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal, and is a legally binding target thanks to the European Climate Law.

Explanation

Venezuela is an example of a petrostate, where the government is highly dependent on fossil fuel income, power is concentrated, and corruption is widespread. Petrostates are vulnerable to what economists call Dutch disease, in which a government develops an unhealthy dependence on natural resource exports to the detriment of other sectors.

Statement I is incorrect: While Venezuela has shown modest economic growth in recent years, it is far from achieving a full recovery from its prolonged economic crisis. Poverty, hyperinflation, and deteriorating public services persist, and millions of Venezuelans continue to emigrate due to poor living conditions and political instability. As of 2025, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, making it one of the largest refugee crises in the world.

Statement II is correct: Venezuela has the largest amount of oil reserves in the world with more than 300 billion barrels in reserve. Saudi Arabia has the second-largest amount of oil re-serves in the world with 297.5 billion barrels.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The World Toilet Organization (WTO) is an independent global non-profit organisation committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions world-wide. It was founded in 2001. It is not an agency of the United Nations but it was granted consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2013.

Statement 2 is correct: Through its initiatives, such as World Toilet Day, World Toilet Summit, World Toilet College and SaniShop, WTO continues to mobilise an international network of partners, supporters, donors, governments and international organisations to advocate for effective sanitation policies to ensure health, dignity and well-being for everyone, everywhere. The World Toilet Summit and World Toilet Day were launched in 2001, and the World Toilet College was introduced in 2005 to address sanitation challenges through education and training.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The main focus of the organisation is to continue to build the global sanitation movement through collaborative action. The WTO’s primary focus is on advocacy, education, and capacity building rather than directly granting funds. It provides a platform for stakeholders to collaborate and exchange knowledge but does not primarily act as a funding body.

Explanation

The "100 Million Farmers" initiative, spearheaded by the World Economic Forum, aims to revolutionize global food systems by encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Its key goals include achieving net-zero carbon emissions, improving biodiversity, and strengthening farmers’ resilience to the effects of climate change. The platform unites diverse stakeholders--such as businesses, governments, farmers, international organizations, and innovators--to collaboratively advance this transformation. By prioritizing regenerative agriculture and climate adaptation strategies, the initiative seeks to help farmers transition to sustainable practices through innovative financial models and partnerships. It also aims to position food systems and farmers at the forefront of global efforts to address climate and environmental challenges, aligning with broader sustainability objectives.

Explanation

Fig.: Heat budget of the earth Statement-I is incorrect: The atmosphere is primarily heated by terrestrial radiation, which is the longwave radiation emitted by Earth’s surface after it absorbs solar radiation. While the atmosphere does absorb some direct solar radiation, it is the outgoing longwave radiation from the Earth’s surface (which gets trapped by greenhouse gases) that plays a major role in warming the atmosphere. From the diagram above, 65 units out of 100 units of heat are absorbed by the atmosphere in the form of longwave radiation. Thus terrestrial radiation is the major cause behind the heating of the atmosphere. Statement-II is correct: The longwave radiation is absorbed by atmospheric gases, particularly by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It is mainly because their molecular structure allows them to vibrate and absorb infrared energy emitted by the Earth’s surface.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The troposphere is the low-ermost layer of the atmosphere. Its average height is 13 km and extends roughly to a height of 8 km near the poles and about 18 km at the equator.

Statement 2 is correct: At the equator, strong convectional currents form due to intense solar heating. These currents carry heat and moisture to great heights, pushing the troposphere upwards and increasing its thickness.

Statement 2 explains Statement 1: The greater thickness of the troposphere at the equator (Statement-I) is due to strong convectional currents (Statement-II). Intense solar heating at the equator causes air to rise, creating powerful convection currents that push the tropopause higher, expanding the troposphere. In contrast, weaker convection at the poles, due to minimal solar heating, results in a thinner troposphere.

Explanation

The organisms Cicada, Froghopper, and Pond Skater are all insects. They belong to the class Insecta within the phylum Arthropoda. Cicadas are insects belonging to the order Hemiptera. They are known for their loud, distinctive calls and long life cycles with some species spending years underground as nymphs before emerging as adults. Froghoppers are also insects in the order Hemiptera. They are known for their jumping ability and the foam-like "cuckoo spit" produced by their nymphs. Pond skaters (also called water striders) are insects in the order Hemiptera. They are known for their ability to walk on water due to surface tension and their hydrophobic legs. (a) Cicada (b) Froghopper (c) Pond skater Fig: (a) Cicada, (b) Froghopper, and (c) Pond skater

Explanation

Shantiniketan located in West Bengal is the home of Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva-Bharati University. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023 for its cultural and educational significance. Santiniketan which means ‘abode of peace’ started taking shape in 1901, and it was this place Tagore later put up the foundations of Visva Bharati University. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas: The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas locatd in Karnataka, include the Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebid, and Somnathapura. These temples were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023 for their exceptional architecture and artistry. The shrines are characterized by hyper-real sculptures and stone carvings that cover the entire architectural surface, a circumambulatory platform, a large-scale sculptural gallery, a multi-tiered frieze, and sculptures of the Sala legend. Other sites:

Rani-ki-Vav located in Gujarat is an 11th-century stepwell known for its intricate architecture and sculptures. These stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. It was included in UNESCO WHS list in 2014. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It was included in the UNESCO WHS list in 2002.