UPSC CDS-1

11. ‘Citizenfour’, the 87 th Academy Award winner in the category of docu

‘Citizenfour’, the 87th Academy Award winner in the category of documentary feature, is based on the life of :

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Abraham Lincoln
Albert Einstein
Edward Snowden
Laura Poitras
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The correct answer is Edward Snowden.
‘Citizenfour’ is a 2014 documentary film directed by Laura Poitras about Edward Snowden and the NSA surveillance revelations. It chronicles Poitras’s meetings with Snowden in Hong Kong as he exposes classified information about global surveillance programs. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony in 2015.
Laura Poitras was one of the journalists contacted by Edward Snowden, along with Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill. The film’s title comes from the pseudonym Snowden used when he first contacted Poitras. While Laura Poitras is a central figure in the documentary’s narrative, the film’s subject matter is the story of Edward Snowden and his leaks.

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12. Which one of the following terms is used in Economics to denote a tech

Which one of the following terms is used in Economics to denote a technique for avoiding a risk by making a counteracting transaction ?

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Dumping
Hedging
Discounting
Deflating
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The correct answer is Hedging.
Hedging is an investment strategy used to offset potential losses or gains that may be incurred by a companion investment. It involves taking an opposite position in a related asset or derivative. The term describes a technique for avoiding a risk (like price fluctuations) by making a counteracting transaction to protect against that risk. Dumping refers to selling goods at an unfairly low price. Discounting relates to calculating present value or deducting interest. Deflating is a reduction in the general price level.
Hedging is commonly used in financial markets, such as currency hedging, interest rate hedging, or commodity hedging, using instruments like futures, options, or forward contracts. It aims to reduce volatility rather than eliminate risk entirely, and it often involves a cost.

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13. Which of the following is/are example(s) of ‘Near Money’ ? Treasury

Which of the following is/are example(s) of ‘Near Money’ ?

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  1. Treasury Bill
  2. Credit Card
  3. Savings accounts and small time deposits
  4. Retail money market mutual funds

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
1, 3 and 4
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The correct answer is 1, 3 and 4.
Near money refers to assets that are highly liquid and can be easily converted into cash with little or no loss in value. They serve as a store of value and can perform some functions of money, though they are not directly used as a medium of exchange in the same way as currency or demand deposits. Treasury Bills are short-term government securities, highly liquid and considered near money. Savings accounts and small time deposits can be readily accessed or converted, making them near money. Retail money market mutual funds invest in short-term, high-quality debt and are typically redeemable on short notice, thus qualifying as near money. A Credit Card is a means of borrowing money, not an asset that represents near cash; it facilitates transactions but is a liability for the user until repaid.
Examples of near money often include savings deposits, time deposits (like Certificates of Deposit), money market mutual funds, treasury bills, and other short-term government securities. They increase the overall liquidity in the financial system.

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14. Consider the following statements: 1. Abhinavagupta wrote a comprehe

Consider the following statements:

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  • 1. Abhinavagupta wrote a comprehensive treatise called the Tantraloka which systematically presents the teachings of the Kula and Trika systems
  • 2. The Samaraichchakaha by Hariibhadra Suri written in Gujarat around the eighth century is technically not a tantric work but is saturated with tantric ideas and practices

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 1 is correct. Abhinavagupta (c. 975-1025 CE) was a prominent philosopher and mystic of Kashmir Shaivism. His monumental work, *Tantraloka*, is considered the most comprehensive and authoritative synthesis of the teachings of the Trika and Kula systems of Kashmir Shaivism, which are indeed forms of Tantra. Statement 2 is incorrect. Hariibhadra Suri (c. 8th century) was a highly respected Jain philosopher and author. His *Samaraichchakaha* is a major narrative work in Prakrit, focusing on Jain doctrines of karma and rebirth through a series of stories. While it deals with philosophical concepts, it is a key text of Jainism and is not generally classified as a tantric work, nor is it considered “saturated with tantric ideas and practices” in the way that term is used in the context of Shaiva or Shakta tantra. Jainism is a distinct philosophical and religious tradition.
Abhinavagupta is central to Kashmir Shaivism and Tantra, while Hariibhadra Suri is a key figure in Jainism, and their works belong to distinct traditions.
Kashmir Shaivism is a non-dualistic tradition that incorporates tantric practices and philosophy. Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that follows a path of non-violence towards all living beings and asceticism.

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15. Consider the following statements about votive inscriptions in the sec

Consider the following statements about votive inscriptions in the second century BC:

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  • They record gifts made to religious institutions
  • They tell us about the idea of transference of the meritorious results of the action of one person to another person

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statements about votive inscriptions from the second century BC are correct. Statement 1 is accurate; votive inscriptions, especially those found at Buddhist sites like Sanchi and Bharhut from this period, primarily record donations (gifts) made by individuals, guilds, or families to religious institutions (stupas, monasteries). Statement 2 is also correct; these inscriptions often mention that the merit gained from the donation is for the welfare and happiness of specific relatives (mother, father, teachers) or even for the welfare of all sentient beings, explicitly indicating the idea of transferring merit accumulated through the virtuous act of donation.
Votive inscriptions from ancient India provide insights into religious practices, patronage, social structure, and philosophical ideas like the transference of merit.
These inscriptions are valuable sources for understanding the history, art, and religious beliefs of ancient India, particularly during the post-Mauryan period when Buddhism and other religious movements gained prominence.

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16. Which kingdom did the temple of Hazara Rama belong to ?

Which kingdom did the temple of Hazara Rama belong to ?

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Avadh
Travancore
Vijayanagara
Ahom
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The Hazara Rama temple is a significant temple located within the Royal Enclosure of Hampi, the capital city of the historical Vijayanagara Empire. It was built in the early 15th century by Deva Raya I or II and is renowned for its intricate carvings depicting scenes from the Ramayana.
Hampi, where the Hazara Rama temple is located, was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its spectacular ruins that belong to the once-flourishing Vijayanagara Empire (14th to 16th centuries).

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17. Which one of the following languages is not recognized in the Eighth S

Which one of the following languages is not recognized in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India ?

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English
Sanskrit
Urdu
Nepali
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The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. As of now, it lists 22 languages. Sanskrit, Urdu, and Nepali are all included in the Eighth Schedule. English, although widely used for official purposes and communication, is not listed in the Eighth Schedule.
The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages recognized by the Constitution; English is not among them.
The original Constitution had 14 languages. Subsequently, Sindhi (1967), Konkani, Manipuri, Nepali (1992), and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali (2004) were added through amendments.

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18. A Member of Lok Sabha does not become disqualified to continue as a Me

A Member of Lok Sabha does not become disqualified to continue as a Member of the House if the Member :

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voluntarily gives up his / her membership of the political party from which he / she was elected
is expelled by the political party from which he / she had been elected to the House
joins a political party after being elected as an independent candidate
abstains from voting contrary to the direction by his / her political party
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Under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law), a member of a House belonging to a political party becomes disqualified if they voluntarily give up membership (A), vote or abstain against the party whip (D), or if an independent member joins a party after election (C). However, being *expelled* from the political party (B) does not automatically lead to disqualification under the Tenth Schedule. The expelled member continues to be a member of the House but may be treated as an unattached member. They would only be disqualified if they then join another political party or vote/abstain against the whip of the party they were originally elected from (though the applicability of whip after expulsion is a debated point).
Expulsion from a political party is not a direct ground for disqualification under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law).
The Tenth Schedule was added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985. It was designed to prevent political defections. The power to decide on disqualification is vested in the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

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19. Which of the following statements with regard to preventive detention

Which of the following statements with regard to preventive detention in India is / are correct ?

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  • The detenu has no rights other than those mentioned in clauses (4) and (5) of Article 22 of Constitution of India
  • The detenu has a right to challenge the detention order on the ground that he was already in jail when the detention order was passed
  • The detenu can claim bail on the ground that he has been in prison beyond twenty-four hours without an order of the magistrate

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 and 2 only
2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 1 is incorrect because a detenu has rights beyond Article 22(4) and (5), such as the right to challenge the detention order itself in court on grounds like vagueness of grounds, malafide intent, or exceeding the powers given by the law. Statement 3 is incorrect because Article 22(2), requiring production before a magistrate within 24 hours and the right to bail, applies to ordinary arrests, not preventive detention (as per Article 22(3)). Statement 2 is correct. A preventive detention order can be challenged if the person is already in custody and the grounds are not fresh or relevant to preventing future prejudicial acts after release. The Supreme Court has held that preventive detention cannot be used to keep a person in custody who is already in jail under normal law unless there are compelling fresh reasons.
Preventive detention is distinct from punitive detention; constitutional safeguards under Article 22, particularly clauses (4) and (5), apply, but not all rights applicable to ordinary arrest/detention (like mandatory production before magistrate within 24 hours) are available. The detention order can be challenged in court on various grounds.
Article 22(4) states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorize detention for more than three months unless an Advisory Board has reported sufficient cause. Article 22(5) grants the detenu the right to be informed of the grounds of detention and to make a representation against the order.

20. Which one of the following is not an objective of the Rashtriya Uchcha

Which one of the following is not an objective of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)?

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Improve the overall quality of private educational institutions
Ensure reforms in the affiliation, academic and examination systems
Correct regional imbalances in access to higher education
Create an enabling atmosphere in the higher educational institutions to devote themselves to research and innovations
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The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013 that provides strategic funding to eligible *state higher educational institutions*. Its primary focus is on improving access, equity, and quality in state-funded universities and colleges. Improving the overall quality of *private* educational institutions is not an objective of RUSA; they are not direct beneficiaries of its funding.
RUSA is specifically designed to fund and improve *state* higher educational institutions, not private ones.
Other key objectives of RUSA include improving the quality of teaching and learning, promoting autonomy in state universities, ensuring adequately qualified faculty, encouraging research and innovation, and expanding the institutional base by creating additional capacity in existing institutions and establishing new ones.

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