UPSC CDS-2

11. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

List-I (Term)
Kurinchi
Palai
Neytal
Mullai

List-II (Meaning)
1. Pastoral region
2. Seashore
3. Arid region
4. Mountainous region

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A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
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The correct match for the terms from List-I (Term) to List-II (Meaning) according to the fivefold classification of land in ancient Tamil literature is:
Kurinchi – Mountainous region (4)
Palai – Arid region (3)
Neytal – Seashore (2)
Mullai – Pastoral region (1)
Therefore, the correct matching is A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, which corresponds to option C.
– Kurinchi corresponds to mountainous landscapes.
– Palai corresponds to arid or desert landscapes.
– Neytal corresponds to coastal or seashore landscapes.
– Mullai corresponds to pastoral or forest landscapes.
– The fifth landscape type, Marutam, corresponds to agricultural or riverine plains, but is not included in this list.
The classification of land into five types (Thinai) is a significant concept in Sangam literature, reflecting the ecology and associated life forms and occupations of each region. It is a key element in understanding the social and cultural context of ancient Tamil Nadu.

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12. Consider the following statements about Harappan cities: 1. Roads were

Consider the following statements about Harappan cities:
1. Roads were not always absolutely straight and did not always cross one another at right angles.
2. A striking feature is the uniformity in the average size of the bricks for houses and for city walls.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statements about Harappan cities are correct. The answer is C) Both 1 and 2.
Harappan urban planning was sophisticated, featuring a grid layout in major cities where main roads intersected at right angles. However, this was not universally applied to all roads and lanes within the city, and smaller streets or those in less prominent areas were not always perfectly straight or right-angled. Thus, statement 1 is correct. A highly distinctive feature of the Harappan civilization was the remarkable uniformity and standardization of brick sizes (typically in the ratio 1:2:4 for thickness, width, and length) used for construction across different sites, for both houses and city walls. This demonstrates advanced planning and organization, making statement 2 correct.
The uniformity in brick size is often cited as evidence of a strong central authority or at least a shared cultural and technical tradition across the vast expanse of the Harappan civilization. Other features of Harappan cities included elaborate drainage systems, a citadel or elevated area, and lower town where the majority of the population lived.

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13. Which one of the following statements with regard to the Ninth Schedul

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India is not correct?

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It was inserted by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
The Acts and Regulations specified in the Ninth Schedule shall become void on the ground that it violates a fundamental right in Part III of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review of an Act included in the Ninth Schedule on the doctrine of basic structure.
The appropriate Legislature can repeal or amend an Act specified in the Ninth Schedule.
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The statement which is not correct with regard to the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India is B).
Statement B is incorrect because Acts and Regulations placed in the Ninth Schedule were initially intended to be beyond the scope of judicial review, even if they violated fundamental rights (though this absolute immunity was later challenged and modified by the Supreme Court). The statement says they *shall become void* on the ground of violating a fundamental right, which is the opposite of the original protective intent of the Ninth Schedule.
The Ninth Schedule was added to the Constitution by the First Amendment Act, 1951, primarily to protect land reform laws from being challenged in courts on the ground that they violated fundamental rights, particularly the right to property (which was a fundamental right at the time). The Supreme Court, in the I.R. Coelho case (2007), held that laws placed in the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 (the date of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment) are open to judicial review if they violate the basic structure of the Constitution. Legislatures do have the power to repeal or amend Acts placed in the Ninth Schedule.

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14. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India pertains to the admini

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India pertains to the administration of tribal areas in which of the following States?

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Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram
Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura
Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh
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The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India pertains to the administration of tribal areas in the states of A) Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
The Sixth Schedule provides for the administration of certain tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It allows for the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Autonomous Regional Councils (ARCs) in these areas, which have powers to make laws on various matters, including land, forest management, primary schools, etc., and also have certain judicial and financial powers.
The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any state other than the four states covered by the Sixth Schedule. The states mentioned in the other options (Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh) have tribal populations but their administration is generally governed by the normal constitutional provisions or, in the case of tribal areas in states other than the four, by the Fifth Schedule.

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15. Which of the following are constitutional provisions and laws for the

Which of the following are constitutional provisions and laws for the protection of the rights of the Scheduled Castes in India?
1. Article 17 of the Constitution of India
2. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
3. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3
2 and 3 only
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All three listed provisions and laws are for the protection of the rights of Scheduled Castes in India. The correct answer is C) 1, 2 and 3.
Article 17 of the Constitution abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form, making its enforcement an offence punishable by law. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 was enacted to give effect to Article 17 by prescribing punishments for the practice of untouchability. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is a specific law enacted to prevent atrocities and crimes against persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and provides for special courts for the trial of such offences.
These constitutional provisions and laws form the bedrock of legal protection against discrimination and atrocities faced by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India. They represent progressive steps taken to address historical injustices and ensure equality and dignity for these communities.

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16. The members of NAFTA are,

The members of NAFTA are,

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USA, Canada and Mexico
USA, Canada and India
USA, Canada and Japan
USA, UK and India
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The members of NAFTA were A) USA, Canada and Mexico.
NAFTA stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement. It was a trade bloc that came into effect in 1994, creating a free-trade zone in North America. Its member countries were the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
NAFTA was renegotiated and replaced by the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which came into effect on July 1, 2020. The USMCA retained much of NAFTA’s structure but introduced several updates and changes, particularly concerning automotive rules of origin, labor provisions, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

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17. Who among the following is the Chairman of the Fourteenth Finance

Who among the following is the Chairman of the Fourteenth Finance Commission?

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C. Rangarajan
Vijay Kelkar
Y. V. Reddy
Rakesh Mohan
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Y. V. Reddy is the Chairman of the Fourteenth Finance Commission.
Dr. Y. V. Reddy, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, was appointed as the Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission. The Commission was constituted in January 2013 and submitted its report in December 2014, covering the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020.
C. Rangarajan chaired the 12th Finance Commission (2005-2010), and Vijay Kelkar chaired the 13th Finance Commission (2010-2015). Finance Commissions are constitutional bodies in India that make recommendations on the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States, as well as between the States themselves. N. K. Singh is the Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission (2020-2025).

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18. Which of the following is/are credit rating agency/agencies in India?

Which of the following is/are credit rating agency/agencies in India?

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CRISIL
CHRE
ICRA
All of the above
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Based on the likely intent of the question format including “All of the above” and the presence of known rating agencies, the correct option is D) All of the above.
CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) and ICRA (Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited) are well-known and major credit rating agencies operating in India. While “CHRE” is not a widely recognized standard name for a credit rating agency in India and may be a typo or reference to an obscure entity, the inclusion of “All of the above” as an option, alongside two definite rating agencies, strongly suggests that the question setter intended to list three entities considered to be credit rating agencies, making option D the intended answer if all three are assumed correct by the source.
Other prominent credit rating agencies in India include CARE Ratings, Fitch India, India Ratings and Research (formerly Fitch Ratings India), and Brickwork Ratings. Credit rating agencies assess the creditworthiness of individuals, corporations, and governments, providing ratings on debt instruments that help investors evaluate risk.

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19. In India, the term ‘hot money’ is used to refer to

In India, the term ‘hot money’ is used to refer to

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Currency + Reserves with the RBI
Net GDR
Net Foreign Direct Investment
Foreign Portfolio Investment
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In India, the term ‘hot money’ is used to refer to D) Foreign Portfolio Investment.
‘Hot money’ refers to speculative capital flows that move quickly in and out of countries, seeking the highest short-term returns or reacting to expected exchange rate movements. Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), which involves investing in stocks, bonds, and other financial assets, is typically considered more liquid and volatile than Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and thus is often referred to as ‘hot money’ because of its potential for rapid withdrawal during times of economic uncertainty.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) involves establishing or acquiring businesses in a foreign country and is generally considered a long-term investment. Currency plus reserves with the RBI relate to the country’s monetary base and foreign exchange reserves. Net GDRs are a mechanism for Indian companies to raise foreign currency, but FPI encompasses a broader category of short-term financial investments which fit the description of ‘hot money’.

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20. Which one of the following statements is correct with respect to the c

Which one of the following statements is correct with respect to the composition of national income in India?

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The share of manufacturing sector has declined.
The share of services sector has increased sharply.
The share of agriculture has remained static.
The share of services sector has declined.
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The correct statement is B) The share of services sector has increased sharply.
Over the past several decades, the Indian economy has undergone a significant structural transformation. The share of the services sector in the country’s national income (GDP) has risen dramatically and is now the largest contributor, while the share of the agricultural sector has declined substantially. The share of the manufacturing sector has remained relatively stagnant or has seen modest growth, but not a sharp decline.
This trend of services-led growth is somewhat unusual compared to typical development paths where manufacturing plays a larger role in the middle-income phase. While services have grown sharply, creating jobs and income, the lagging growth in manufacturing poses challenges for creating sufficient employment opportunities for a large workforce transitioning out of agriculture.

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