UPSC CAPF Archives

11. Who among the following cricketers has announced his retirement from i

Who among the following cricketers has announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2018?

Steve Smith

David Warner

AB de Villiers

Shane Watson

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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AB de Villiers, the famous South African cricketer, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on May 23, 2018.

This is a factual question about a significant sports event that occurred in May 2018. AB de Villiers’ retirement was a major international news story in the cricket world.

Steve Smith and David Warner were facing bans from Cricket Australia in May 2018 due to the ball-tampering incident. Shane Watson had retired from international cricket earlier, in 2016.

12. In India, Indus Dolphin, one of the world’s rarest mammals, is mainly

In India, Indus Dolphin, one of the world’s rarest mammals, is mainly found in which one of the following rivers?

Ganga

Cauvery

Brahmaputra

Beas

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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The Indus Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) is a subspecies of the South Asian river dolphin. While the main population resides in the Indus River system in Pakistan, a small, isolated population is found in the Beas River in Punjab, India. The Beas is a tributary of the Indus River.

The question specifically asks about the *Indus Dolphin* in India. The Beas River is the only river listed that is part of the Indus River system in India and is home to a population of this specific dolphin subspecies.

The Ganga River is home to the Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica), which is a different subspecies of the South Asian river dolphin. The Cauvery and Brahmaputra rivers have different aquatic ecosystems and are not known habitats for the Indus Dolphin. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the critically endangered Indus Dolphin population in the Beas River.

13. Which one of the following pairs of countries with new names and old n

Which one of the following pairs of countries with new names and old names is correctly matched?
New name Old name

Kingdom of eSwatini : Swaziland

Malawi : Rhodesia

Botswana : Nyasaland

Zimbabwe : Ceylon

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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The pair Kingdom of eSwatini and Swaziland is correctly matched. In April 2018, King Mswati III announced that the official name of the country Swaziland was being changed to the Kingdom of eSwatini.

This question tests knowledge of recent name changes of countries. Swaziland was officially renamed eSwatini in 2018.

Malawi was formerly known as Nyasaland. Botswana was formerly the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Zimbabwe was formerly Southern Rhodesia. Ceylon is the old name for Sri Lanka.

14. Which of the following statements about Jainism is/are correct? 1.

Which of the following statements about Jainism is/are correct?

1. The most important idea in Jainism is that the entire world is animated, even stones, rocks and water have life.
2. Asceticism and penance are required to free oneself from the cycle of Karma.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Statement 1 is correct. A fundamental tenet of Jainism is the belief that the entire universe is animated (jiva), meaning that life is present not only in living beings but also in inanimate objects such as stones, rocks, water, fire, and air. This forms the basis of the principle of Anekantavada and the extreme emphasis on Ahimsa (non-violence) in Jainism.
Statement 2 is correct. Jain philosophy teaches that karma is subtle matter particles that accumulate on the soul and keep it bound to the cycle of birth and death (samsara). Asceticism (tapasya) and rigorous penance are considered essential practices in Jainism to burn off accumulated karma and prevent new karma from attaching to the soul, thereby paving the way for liberation (moksha).

Jainism emphasizes the presence of life in all entities, including supposedly inanimate ones, and prescribes asceticism and penance as the path to shedding karma and achieving liberation.

The three main principles (Triratnas) of Jainism are Right Faith (Samyak Darshana), Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra). Right Conduct involves following the five vows: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy/chastity), and Aparigraha (non-possession/non-attachment).

15. Which of the following statements about Harappa Civilization is/are co

Which of the following statements about Harappa Civilization is/are correct?

1. There is the extraordinary uniformity in artefacts as evident in pottery, seals, bricks and weights.
2. The late Harappa sites also maintained the same construction techniques as were used in mature Harappa sites.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Statement 1 is correct. A striking feature of the Mature Harappan phase (c. 2600-1900 BCE) is the remarkable uniformity observed in artefacts across a vast geographical area, including standardized pottery styles, characteristic seals, bricks of consistent size ratios (usually 1:2:4), and a precise system of weights.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Late Harappan phase (c. 1900-1300 BCE) saw a decline in many of the characteristics of the Mature phase. This included a decrease in the uniformity of artefacts, the abandonment of major urban centers, and a deterioration in construction techniques and planning compared to the sophisticated urban infrastructure of the Mature period. Late Harappan sites often show less standardized brick sizes, less elaborate drainage systems, and generally simpler structures.

The uniformity in material culture is a hallmark of the Mature Harappan civilization. The Late Harappan phase signifies a period of decline and regional variations, deviating from the earlier standardization in aspects like construction.

The reasons for the decline of the Harappan civilization are debated, but theories include climate change, shifts in river courses, environmental degradation, invasions, and internal social disruption. The Late Harappan phase represents a transition period before the emergence of new cultures in the subcontinent.

16. Who among the following has not written about partition in his works?

Who among the following has not written about partition in his works?

Saadat Hasan Manto

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Bhisham Sahni

Narendranath Mitra

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, a prominent Bengali writer, lived in the 19th century (1838–1894). He wrote extensively on various themes but passed away decades before the Partition of India in 1947. Therefore, he could not have written about Partition in his works.

The other writers listed are known for their works dealing with the Partition of India. Saadat Hasan Manto (Urdu) is famous for his short stories on Partition horrors. Bhisham Sahni (Hindi) wrote the acclaimed novel ‘Tamas’ on Partition. Narendranath Mitra (Bengali) also depicted the trauma of Partition in his writings.

Saadat Hasan Manto’s short stories like ‘Toba Tek Singh’, ‘Khol Do’, ‘Thanda Gosht’ are powerful narratives on Partition. Bhisham Sahni’s ‘Tamas’ is a seminal work on the communal violence during Partition. Narendranath Mitra’s works, such as ‘Mahanagar’ (later adapted into a film by Satyajit Ray), often reflected the social changes and dislocations, including those related to Partition and its aftermath. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s most famous works include ‘Anandamath’ and ‘Durgeshnandini’.

17. Which one of the following statements about the Constitution of India

Which one of the following statements about the Constitution of India is correct?

It was framed between December 1946 and December 1949.

The drafts of the Constitution were discussed in public meetings.

It is the shortest document of a Constitution in the world.

It came fully into operation immediately after the drafting was completed in December 1949.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Statement B is correct. The first draft of the Constitution prepared by the Drafting Committee was published in February 1948 and was circulated for public comments, suggestions, and criticism from the public, provinces, and Princely States. These comments were then discussed and amendments were incorporated into subsequent drafts.

Transparency and public consultation, to a certain extent, were part of the constitution-making process. The Constituent Assembly was formed in December 1946, adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and the Constitution fully came into effect on January 26, 1950. It is one of the longest written constitutions in the world.

Statement A is slightly inaccurate as the framing was completed by November 1949, not December 1949. Statement C is incorrect as the Indian Constitution is known for being one of the most voluminous in the world. Statement D is incorrect as only certain provisions relating to citizenship, elections, provisional parliament, etc., came into force immediately on November 26, 1949 (the date of adoption); the bulk of the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950.

18. Which of the following statements about the Constitution of India is/a

Which of the following statements about the Constitution of India is/are correct?

1. The ‘Objectives Resolution’ was moved by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
2. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee in his capacity as the Law Minister.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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Statement 1 is incorrect because the ‘Objectives Resolution’ was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly. Statement 2 is correct because Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who was the Law Minister of India at that time, served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.

The Objectives Resolution outlined the guiding principles and philosophy for the Constitution of independent India. The Drafting Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, was responsible for preparing the draft of the Constitution.

Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution on December 13, 1946, and it was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution due to his leadership in the Drafting Committee.

19. Who among the following has recently been elected as the Prime Ministe

Who among the following has recently been elected as the Prime Minister of China for a second term?

Li Keqiang

Xi Jinping

Yang Xiaodu

Zhou Qiang

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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In March 2018, Li Keqiang was re-appointed as the Premier (Prime Minister) of China for his second term by the National People’s Congress.

The Premier is the head of government in China, responsible for organizing and administering the Chinese civil bureaucracy. The Premier is nominated by the President and approved by the National People’s Congress.

Xi Jinping is the President of China (Head of State) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, holding the paramount leadership position. Yang Xiaodu was the head of the National Supervisory Commission, and Zhou Qiang was the President of the Supreme People’s Court at that time.

20. Which one of the following countries has recently formally notified it

Which one of the following countries has recently formally notified its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court?

Namibia

Serbia

Philippines

Norway

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2018

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The Philippines formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March 2018.

Countries that ratify the Rome Statute become members of the ICC. Withdrawal requires formal notification and becomes effective one year after the notification date.

The Philippines’ withdrawal became effective on March 17, 2019, one year after its formal notification. The decision followed a preliminary examination opened by the ICC Prosecutor into alleged extrajudicial killings during the government’s “war on drugs”.