UPSC CDS-1 Archives

1. Which of the following statements about ‘Green Credit Initiative’ is/a

Which of the following statements about ‘Green Credit Initiative’ is/are correct?

1. It is a response to the challenge of climate change.
2. It promotes plantations on wasteland and and river catchment areas.
3. It is a scheme of the Government of India to replace the kerosene oil with solar power used by the rural poor.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3

1 and 2 only

2 only

1 and 3 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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Statements 1 and 2 about the ‘Green Credit Initiative’ are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.

Statement 1 is correct. The Green Credit Initiative is presented as a market-based mechanism designed to incentivize environmentally friendly actions, contributing to the broader goal of addressing climate change and promoting sustainability.
Statement 2 is correct. One of the initial focuses of the Green Credit Programme is tree plantation, including activities aimed at increasing green cover on wasteland and in river catchment areas.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Green Credit Initiative is focused on creating a market for credits generated from various environmental activities. It is not a scheme specifically for replacing kerosene oil with solar power for the rural poor; that relates to energy access and renewable energy promotion schemes, which are different.

The Green Credit Programme (GCP) aims to create a market-based mechanism that rewards voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors. It envisages issuing ‘Green Credits’ for activities like tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and eco-tourism.

2. Which of the following statements about India’s rank in the Global Inn

Which of the following statements about India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index-2023, published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, is/are correct?

1. India has been placed at 40th rank.
2. India has been on a rising trajectory over the period 2015-2023.

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 CDS-1 – 2024

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Both statements about India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index-2023, published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, are correct.

Statement 1 is correct. In the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023, India was indeed ranked 40th among 132 economies.
Statement 2 is correct. India has shown a consistent upward trend in its GII ranking, improving significantly from 81st in 2015 to 40th in 2023. This represents a substantial rise in innovation performance over the period.

The Global Innovation Index is an annual ranking published by WIPO, tracking innovation trends globally. India’s consistent rise is attributed to efforts in various areas including research and development, startup ecosystem growth, and improved innovation inputs and outputs.

3. Which of the following statements with regard to Bharat Ratna Award is

Which of the following statements with regard to Bharat Ratna Award is/are correct?

1. It was instituted in the year 1972.
2. The award does not carry any monetary grant.

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 CDS-1 – 2024

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Only statement 2 about the Bharat Ratna Award is correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was instituted on January 2, 1954.
Statement 2 is correct. The award does not carry any monetary grant. The recipient receives a certificate (Sanad) signed by the President and a medallion.

The Bharat Ratna is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. Initially limited to achievements in arts, literature, science, and public services, the government expanded the criteria in 2011 to include “any field of human endeavor”.

4. Which of the following statements about the ICC under-19 Men’s Cricket

Which of the following statements about the ICC under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, 2024 is/are correct?

1. Australia won this title for the 4th time.
2. It was organised in South Africa.

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 CDS-1 – 2024

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Both statements regarding the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, 2024 are correct.

Statement 1 is correct. Australia defeated India in the final of the 2024 tournament, securing their 4th title. Their previous victories were in 1988, 2002, and 2010.
Statement 2 is correct. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka but was relocated to South Africa by the ICC following the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket in November 2023.

The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a prominent tournament showcasing young cricketing talent from around the world. India has been one of the most successful teams in the history of the tournament.

5. Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organ

Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) :

1. One of the goals of SCO is to promote a new democratic, fair and rational international political and economic order.
2. Iran is a permanent member of SCO.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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Both statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are correct.

Statement 1 is correct. The founding documents and declarations of the SCO explicitly state the goal of promoting a new democratic, fair, and rational international political and economic order, reflecting the member states’ vision for a multipolar world.
Statement 2 is correct. Iran was admitted as a full member of the SCO in July 2023 during the 23rd SCO Summit held virtually under India’s chairmanship.

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. Its members include China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is seen as a counterweight to Western alliances.

6. Recently the Government of India entered into an agreement for a lithi

Recently the Government of India entered into an agreement for a lithium exploration and mining project with which one among the following countries?

Brazil

Australia

Argentina

Chile

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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The Government of India, through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), signed an agreement for lithium exploration and mining with Argentina.

India’s state-owned KABIL signed an exploration and mining agreement with Catamarca Minera y Energética Sociedad del Estado (CAMYEN), a state-owned mining company of Catamarca province in Argentina. This marked India’s first lithium exploration and mining project abroad.

Lithium is a critical mineral for India’s clean energy transition goals, particularly for the production of batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Argentina is part of the ‘Lithium Triangle’ (along with Chile and Bolivia), which holds a significant portion of the world’s lithium reserves.

7. Consider the following statements about the Regional Comprehensive Eco

Consider the following statements about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP):

1. It is a comprehensive free trade agreement between the ASEAN member States and ASEAN’s free trade agreement partners.
2. India opted out of RCEP.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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Both statements 1 and 2 are correct regarding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

– Statement 1 is correct: RCEP is indeed a free trade agreement signed between the ten member states of ASEAN and their five FTA partners: Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.
– Statement 2 is correct: India was part of the negotiations for RCEP but decided to opt out in November 2019, citing concerns about potential adverse impacts on domestic industries, agriculture, and trade deficits, particularly with China.

– RCEP is the world’s largest trade bloc by GDP. It was signed on 15 November 2020 and came into effect on 1 January 2022 for most signatories. India’s decision to withdraw was influenced by anxieties regarding increased market access demands from member countries, especially China, and the potential for a surge in imports.

8. Which one of the following is an ‘end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem’

Which one of the following is an ‘end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem’ developed recently by the Indian Army?

SANCHAR

VAIBHAV

SAMPARK

SAMBHAV

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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SAMBHAV is an ‘end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem’ developed recently by the Indian Army.

– SAMBHAV stands for Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version. It is a secure mobile framework designed by the Indian Army to provide a secure platform for communication, data exchange, and various applications for its personnel, reducing dependence on potentially vulnerable commercial mobile operating systems and applications.

– The system is developed on an indigenous foundation and aims to enhance the information security posture of the Indian Army in the digital domain. It provides a secure environment for classified and unclassified information exchange within the army network.

9. Who among the following was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the

Who among the following was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army of independent India?

S. M. Srinagesh

K. M. Cariappa

K. S. Thimayya

K. S. Rajendrasinhji

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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General K. M. Cariappa was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army of independent India.

– On 15 January 1949, General K. M. Cariappa took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from its last British Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Francis Butcher. This day is celebrated as Army Day in India.

– K. M. Cariappa was the first Indian officer to be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He was later elevated to the rank of Field Marshal in 1986. S. M. Srinagesh, K. S. Thimayya, and K. S. Rajendrasinhji were also prominent Indian Army chiefs who succeeded Cariappa.

10. Renowned classical singer Prabha Atre, who passed away recently, was a

Renowned classical singer Prabha Atre, who passed away recently, was an exponent of which one of the following Gharanas?

Kirana Gharana

Patiala Gharana

Gwalior Gharana

Agra Gharana

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2024

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Renowned classical singer Prabha Atre was an exponent of the Kirana Gharana.

– Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Padma Vibhushan recipient, and acclaimed vocalist Prabha Atre was a leading figure and torchbearer of the Kirana Gharana tradition of Hindustani classical music.

– Prabha Atre was known for her versatility, mastering various forms like khayal, thumri, dadra, ghazal, and natyasangeet. She passed away in January 2024 at the age of 92. The Kirana Gharana is known for its emphasis on sur (melody) and the systematic development of the raga.