UPSC CDS-1 Archives

1. The rank of Major General in Indian Army is equivalent to :

The rank of Major General in Indian Army is equivalent to :

Air Marshal in Indian Air Force

Rear Admiral in Indian Navy

Air Commodore in Indian Air Force

Commodore in Indian Navy

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The rank of Major General in the Indian Army is a two-star rank. In the Indian Navy, the equivalent two-star rank is Rear Admiral. In the Indian Air Force, the equivalent two-star rank is Air Vice-Marshal. Therefore, the rank of Major General in the Indian Army is equivalent to Rear Admiral in the Indian Navy.

Knowledge of the equivalent ranks across the three branches of the Indian Armed Forces is required.

The ranking structure generally follows a pattern: single-star (Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore), two-star (Major General/Rear Admiral/Air Vice-Marshal), three-star (Lt. General/Vice Admiral/Air Marshal), four-star (General/Admiral/Air Chief Marshal). Field Marshal and Marshal of the Air Force are five-star honorary ranks.

2. Which of the following statement(s) is /are false ? Wage Boards are

Which of the following statement(s) is /are false ?

Wage Boards are tripartite in nature, with representatives from workers, employers and independent members
Except for the Wage Boards for Journalists and Non-Journalists, all the other wage boards are statutory in nature
Second National Commission on Labour has recommended against the utility of wage boards

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 only

2 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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Statement 1 is correct; Wage Boards are indeed tripartite bodies comprising representatives of workers, employers, and independent members. Statement 3 is correct; the Second National Commission on Labour (2002) recommended phasing out the system of Wage Boards, suggesting minimum wages be determined by expert committees instead. Statement 2 is false; most Wage Boards set up in India were non-statutory, meaning their recommendations were not legally binding unless specifically accepted and notified by the government. Only the recommendations of the Wage Boards for Working Journalists and Non-Journalist Newspaper Employees, once accepted by the government, have statutory backing under specific Acts. Therefore, the claim that *all* other wage boards are statutory is incorrect.

Understanding the nature (statutory vs. non-statutory) and composition (tripartite) of Wage Boards in India, and the recommendations of the Second National Commission on Labour is important.

Wage Boards were historically used in India for specific industries to fix wages. The non-statutory nature of many boards and the delay in government acceptance of recommendations often limited their effectiveness, leading to the recommendation for alternative mechanisms for wage fixation.

3. Which of the following statements are correct ? Ability to pay princ

Which of the following statements are correct ?

Ability to pay principle of taxation holds that the amount of taxes people pay should relate to their income or wealth
The Benefit Principle of taxation states that individuals should be taxed in proportion to the benefit they receive from Government programmes
A progressive tax takes a larger share of tax from poor families than it does from rich families
Indirect taxes have the advantage of being cheaper and easier to collect

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 3 only

2 and 4 only

1, 2 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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Statement 1 is correct as the ability to pay principle suggests that individuals with higher income or wealth should contribute a larger proportion of taxes. Statement 2 is correct as the benefit principle proposes that individuals should pay taxes based on the government services they benefit from. Statement 4 is generally correct; indirect taxes like GST are often easier and cheaper to collect compared to assessing income tax for every individual or corporation. Statement 3 is incorrect; a progressive tax takes a larger share of tax from richer families than from poorer families. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.

Understanding the basic principles and types of taxation (ability to pay, benefit principle, progressive, indirect taxes) is crucial.

A regressive tax takes a larger share from poor families, while a proportional tax takes the same percentage from all income levels. Indirect taxes (like GST, customs duty) are levied on goods and services, while direct taxes (like income tax, corporate tax) are levied on income and wealth.

4. Which of the following statements is / are true ? Faxian’s Gaoseng F

Which of the following statements is / are true ?

Faxian’s Gaoseng Faxian Zhuan was the earliest first-hand Chinese account of Buddhist sites and practices in India
Faxian was only 25 years old at the time of writing the text
Faxian’s main aim in coming to India was to obtain and take back texts containing monastic rules

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1, 2 and 3

2 only

1 and 3 only

3 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.

Statement 1: Faxian’s work, “A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms” (Foguo Ji), is considered one of the earliest and most valuable first-hand accounts by a Chinese traveler of Buddhist sites, practices, and conditions in India and Sri Lanka from his travels in the early 5th century CE. This statement is true.
Statement 2: Faxian undertook his journey to India at an advanced age, seeking authentic Buddhist scriptures. Historical accounts suggest he was quite old, possibly in his sixties, when he began the perilous journey, and was over 80 when he returned and completed his work. The statement that he was only 25 is false.
Statement 3: Faxian’s primary motivation for traveling to India was to obtain Vinaya texts (monastic rules), as he found the versions available in China incomplete or corrupt. He also sought other scriptures like Sutras and Abhidharma. This statement is true.

Faxian’s journey began around 399 CE and lasted about 15 years. His account provides valuable insights into the geography, society, culture, and Buddhist traditions of the regions he visited, including parts of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent (including Pataliputra, Mathura, Sarnath, Rajgir), and Sri Lanka.

5. Consider the following statements: The province of Assam was created

Consider the following statements:

The province of Assam was created in the year 1911
Eleven districts comprising Assam were separated from the Lieutenant Governorship of Bengal and established as an independent administration under a Chief Commissioner in the year 1874

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 – 2016

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The correct answer is 2 only.

Statement 1: The province of Assam was not created in 1911. Assam was reconstituted as a Chief Commissioner’s Province in 1912 after the annulment of the Partition of Bengal. It was separated from Bengal as a Chief Commissioner’s Province much earlier, in 1874.
Statement 2: Eleven districts comprising Assam were indeed separated from the Lieutenant Governorship of Bengal and established as an independent administration under a Chief Commissioner in the year 1874. This statement is correct.

The administrative history of Assam saw several changes. It was part of the Bengal Presidency under British rule. In 1874, it was separated and made a Chief Commissioner’s Province. In 1905, it was merged with Eastern Bengal following the Partition of Bengal. In 1912, the Partition was annulled, and Assam was again made a Chief Commissioner’s Province, and later a Governor’s Province in 1921.

6. Consider the following statements: The inscriptions on the pillar at

Consider the following statements:

The inscriptions on the pillar at Rummindei give vivid details of Ashoka’s Dhamma
The Nigalisagar inscription records the fact of Ashoka having visited the Konagamana stupa

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 – 2016

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The correct answer is 2 only.

Statement 1: The Rummindei pillar inscription of Ashoka records his visit to Lumbini (the birthplace of Gautama Buddha), his veneration of the site, and his decision to exempt the village of Lumbini from *bali* tax and reduce the *bhaga* tax (from one-eighth to one-sixth). It does not provide vivid details of Ashoka’s Dhamma; its focus is on his pilgrimage and associated tax concessions.
Statement 2: The Nigalisagar pillar inscription records that King Priyadasi (Ashoka) visited the Konagamana stupa and enlarged it for the second time. Konagamana was a past Buddha. This statement is factually correct based on the inscription.

Ashoka’s Dhamma is extensively described in his Major and Minor Rock Edicts and some other pillar inscriptions, which cover aspects like tolerance, non-violence, respect for elders, truthfulness, welfare measures, etc. The Rummindei and Nigalisagar inscriptions belong to the category of his pillar inscriptions related to pilgrimages and associated actions.

7. The Right to Education was added to the Fundamental Rights in the Cons

The Right to Education was added to the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution of India through the :

Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002

Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, 2005

Constitution (87th Amendment) Act, 2003

Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002.

The Right to Education was incorporated into the Constitution of India as a Fundamental Right (Article 21A) by the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002. This amendment mandates the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen years. The same amendment also modified Article 45 (Directive Principle related to early childhood care and education) and added a new Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(k), stating that it is the duty of every citizen who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

Following the 86th Amendment, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) was enacted to provide the detailed framework for the implementation of this fundamental right.

8. The category of ‘Overseas Citizens of India’ was entered in the Citize

The category of ‘Overseas Citizens of India’ was entered in the Citizenship Act of India through an amendment in the year :

1986

1992

1996

2003

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is 2003.

The category of ‘Overseas Citizens of India’ (OCI) was introduced in the Citizenship Act, 1955 through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003. This was based on the recommendations of the High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora headed by L.M. Singhvi. The OCI scheme initially provided certain benefits to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from specific countries, excluding Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Subsequently, the OCI scheme was modified and expanded. In 2015, the government merged the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card scheme with the OCI scheme through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2015, creating a single OCI card for eligible individuals of Indian origin and spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders.

9. Which one of the following services of India Post has permanently been

Which one of the following services of India Post has permanently been discontinued ?

Money Order

Postal Life Insurance

Inland Letter

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is Telegram.

The Telegram service, a historical form of communication via telegraph, was permanently discontinued by India Post on July 15, 2013, after 163 years of service. Money Order, Postal Life Insurance, and Inland Letters are services that continue to be offered by India Post, although their usage patterns may have changed over time due to technological advancements.

The decline of the telegram service was largely due to the advent and widespread adoption of modern communication methods like mobile phones, SMS, and internet-based messaging services. The cost and infrastructure required to maintain the telegram network became increasingly unviable compared to the declining volume of traffic.

10. Which one of the following is not a thrust area in the Railway Budge

Which one of the following is not a thrust area in the Railway Budget 2015-16 ?

Online booking of disposable bed rolls

Defence Travel System to eliminate Warrants

180 days in advance ticket booking facility for passengers

Bio-toilets

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is 180 days in advance ticket booking facility for passengers.

The Railway Budget 2015-16, presented by Suresh Prabhu, focused on several key areas including improved passenger amenities, technology adoption, safety, infrastructure development, and sustainability. Online booking of disposable bed rolls was indeed proposed. The development of a Defence Travel System to eliminate warrants was a stated priority. Bio-toilets were a major push for environmental sustainability and hygiene. However, the budget proposed increasing the advance ticket booking period from 60 days to 120 days, not 180 days. Therefore, 180 days advance booking was not a thrust area mentioned in that budget.

Other thrust areas in the Railway Budget 2015-16 included improving cleanliness, developing station amenities, focusing on high-speed corridors, attracting investment, and emphasizing safety and security. The increase in advance booking period was a measure aimed at passenger convenience and better planning.