UPSC CDS-2 Archives

1. Which one of the following biosphere reserves comprises islands with e

Which one of the following biosphere reserves comprises islands with estuaries, beaches, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves ?

Sunderban biosphere reserve

Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve

Nilgiri biosphere reserve

Nandadevi biosphere reserve

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The correct option is B) Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve.

The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is located in the southeastern tip of India and encompasses a chain of 21 islands, coral reefs, estuaries, seagrass beds, and mangroves along the coastline. It is one of the most ecologically sensitive regions in India.

The Sunderban Biosphere Reserve is primarily known for its vast mangrove forests and deltaic region. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is located in the Western Ghats and is primarily a terrestrial ecosystem of forests and grasslands. The Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve is in the Himalayas and is known for alpine ecosystems. Only the Gulf of Mannar uniquely comprises the mix of islands, estuaries, beaches, coral reefs, salt marshes, and mangroves described.

2. The distance between which two cities has been reduced by the Atal Tun

The distance between which two cities has been reduced by the Atal Tunnel ?

Bagdogra to Gangtok

Jammu to Srinagar

Manali to Leh

Itanagar to Tawang

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The correct option is C) Manali to Leh.

The Atal Tunnel (also known as Rohtang Tunnel) is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh–Manali Highway. It significantly reduces the distance and travel time between Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Leh in Ladakh.

The tunnel is 9.02 km long and is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet. It connects Manali to Lahaul valley year-round, which was previously cut off for about six months due to heavy snowfall on Rohtang Pass. This connectivity greatly facilitates movement towards Leh.

3. Which one of the following States is not prominent for plantation agri

Which one of the following States is not prominent for plantation agriculture ?

Rajasthan

Assam

Nagaland

Kerala

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The correct option is A) Rajasthan.

Plantation agriculture is characterized by large-scale cultivation of a single crop, typically cash crops like tea, coffee, rubber, spices, and sugarcane, grown on large estates. These crops often require specific climatic conditions, such as high rainfall and warm temperatures, and fertile soils.

States like Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and parts of the North-Eastern states (like Nagaland for rubber and tea in some areas) are prominent for plantation agriculture. Rajasthan, on the other hand, has an arid and semi-arid climate and is primarily known for crops like bajra, jowar, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and wheat, and does not have significant areas under plantation crops.

4. Four persons are travelling to different States of India. To whom will

Four persons are travelling to different States of India. To whom will you advise to protect oneself from blizzards ?

The person travelling to Arunachal Pradesh

The person travelling to Assam

The person travelling to Tripura

The person travelling to Odisha

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A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds and significant snowfall, reducing visibility significantly. Blizzards occur in regions experiencing cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, typically at high altitudes or latitudes during winter. Among the given options, Arunachal Pradesh, particularly its higher elevations, is located in the Himalayas where cold conditions and heavy snowfall occur in winter, making it possible to encounter blizzards.

Assam, Tripura, and Odisha are located in lower altitude areas or regions with tropical/subtropical climates that do not experience the combination of severe cold, heavy snowfall, and high winds necessary for blizzards.

Blizzards are dangerous weather phenomena that can cause whiteout conditions, drifting snow, and dangerously low temperatures (wind chill). People traveling in mountainous regions or northern parts of India during winter should be prepared for potential snowstorms, including blizzards, especially in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and the higher parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

5. The Government wants to prepare a plan for drought prone areas of the

The Government wants to prepare a plan for drought prone areas of the country. Which one of the following regions will be predominantly focused ?

Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Ganga plains

North-eastern region

Kutch region

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Drought-prone areas in India are typically characterized by low and erratic rainfall, leading to frequent water scarcity. The Kutch region in Gujarat is part of an arid and semi-arid belt in Western India that consistently experiences low rainfall and is particularly susceptible to drought conditions.

Compared to the other options, Kutch falls within a geographical area known for its desert/semi-desert climate and inherent vulnerability to drought, making it a primary focus for drought management and mitigation planning.

Other significantly drought-prone regions in India include parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra (Vidarbha and Marathwada), Karnataka (North Interior Karnataka), Andhra Pradesh (Rayalaseema), Telangana, and parts of Tamil Nadu and Odisha. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Ganga plains receive relatively higher rainfall, while the North-eastern region receives very high rainfall.

6. Who amongst the following will be at more risk with respect to the ear

Who amongst the following will be at more risk with respect to the earthquake hazard zone specified by the Geological Survey of India ?

Shahji at Secunderabad

Ranbir at Indore

Malti at Pithoragarh

Maitri at Bhubaneswar

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Earthquake hazard zones in India are classified based on seismic activity. Pithoragarh is located in Uttarakhand, a state in the Himalayan region, which is categorized in Zone V, the highest seismic risk zone in India according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seismic zoning map.

Zone V is the most seismically active zone, encompassing areas with a high risk of experiencing severe earthquakes. Secunderabad (Telangana) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh) are generally in Zone II (low risk), and Bhubaneswar (Odisha) is in Zone III (moderate risk).

The seismic zoning map of India divides the country into four zones: Zone II (low intensity), Zone III (moderate intensity), Zone IV (severe intensity), and Zone V (very severe intensity). The Himalayan region, parts of the North-East, and the Rann of Kutch are prominent areas falling under Zone V.

7. The rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective rec

The rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective recitation were organized by

Guru Nanak

Guru Angad

Guru Arjan

Guru Govind Singh

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Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, established the institutions of ‘Sangat’ (congregational worship) and ‘Pangat’ (community dining or Langar). He organized the disciples into congregations for collective worship, including the recitation of hymns (Gurbani) and singing of Kirtan, which formed the basis of Sikh devotional practice.

Sangat became the basic unit of Sikh religious and social life, providing a space for collective spiritual practice, learning, and decision-making, emphasizing equality among all participants regardless of caste, creed, or social status.

While subsequent Gurus further developed and consolidated the practices and institutions of Sikhism, the foundational organization of congregational worship and the concept of Sangat itself originated with Guru Nanak as part of the early establishment of the Sikh community.

8. The town of Chisht, from which the Sufi Chishti Silsila derives its na

The town of Chisht, from which the Sufi Chishti Silsila derives its name, is located in

Western Turkey

Central Afghanistan

Eastern Iran

Eastern Iraq

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The Chishtiya Silsila, one of the most influential Sufi orders in the Indian subcontinent, originated in the town of Chisht. Chisht is a small town located about 120 kilometers east of Herat in present-day Afghanistan.

The order was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami (d. 941-42 CE) in Chisht. However, it was Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chishti who is credited with introducing the order to India in the 12th century CE.

The Chishti order emphasized love, peace, tolerance, and detachment from worldly affairs. Its followers in India were known for their inclusive approach and popularity among both Muslims and non-Muslims. Ajmer Sharif Dargah of Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chishti is a major pilgrimage site.

9. Which one of the following was an important Pandya port, celebrated fo

Which one of the following was an important Pandya port, celebrated for its pearls in Sangam poems and Greek accounts?

Muchiri

Korkai

Puhar

Arikamedu

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Korkai was a major port city of the Pandya kingdom, located near the mouth of the Tamraparni River in the present-day Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. It was renowned in Sangam literature and accounts by Greek and Roman writers (like Ptolemy and the author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea) primarily for its flourishing pearl fishery.

The pearl industry was a significant source of wealth for the Pandya rulers and made Korkai a prominent center for trade, exporting pearls to various parts of the ancient world, including Rome.

Muchiri (Muziris) was a major port of the Chera kingdom on the west coast. Puhar (Kaverypattinam) was a prominent port of the Chola kingdom on the east coast. Arikamedu was an important Indo-Roman trading port on the Coromandel coast, known for trade in beads, textiles, and Roman goods. While all were significant ports in ancient South India, Korkai is specifically and famously associated with Pandya pearls.

10. In which one of the following years was the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha

In which one of the following years was the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha established?

1884

1876

1869

1870

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The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was established on April 2, 1870, by Mahadev Govind Ranade, Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi (Sarvajanik Kaka), S. H. Chiplunkar, and others. It was an important socio-political organization in Maharashtra that played a significant role in representing the grievances of the people to the government.

The Sabha worked as a mediator between the government and the people, articulating the demands and aspirations of various sections of society, particularly the peasantry, through petitions, meetings, and publications.

The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was a precursor to the Indian National Congress (INC) and many of its members played crucial roles in the early years of the INC. It helped in fostering political consciousness among the people and laying the groundwork for the nationalist movement in Western India.