UPSC CDS-2 Archives

21. Who among the following is the recipient of the Jnanpith Award, 2016?

Who among the following is the recipient of the Jnanpith Award, 2016?

[amp_mcq option1=”Shankha Ghosh” option2=”Raghuveer Chaudhari” option3=”Pratibha Ray” option4=”Rehman Rahi” correct=”option1″]

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The recipient of the Jnanpith Award for the year 2016 was Shankha Ghosh, a celebrated Bengali poet.

The Jnanpith Award is one of the highest literary awards in India, given annually to an author for their outstanding contribution to literature.

Raghuveer Chaudhari received the award for 2015. Pratibha Ray received it for 2011. Rehman Rahi received it for 2004. The award is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith.

22. Who among the following is the author of the book, The Social

Who among the following is the author of the book, The Social Contract?

[amp_mcq option1=”Voltaire” option2=”Hobbes” option3=”Locke” option4=”Rousseau” correct=”option4″]

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The book ‘The Social Contract’ was written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher whose political philosophy influenced the Enlightenment in France and across Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution.

Voltaire was known for his advocacy of freedom of speech, religion, and separation of church and state. Thomas Hobbes authored ‘Leviathan’, arguing for a social contract based on submission to an absolute sovereign. John Locke, author of ‘Two Treatises of Government’, proposed a social contract based on natural rights and limited government, significantly influencing liberal political theory.

23. Which one of the following combinations of year and event concerning t

Which one of the following combinations of year and event concerning the French Revolution is correctly matched?

[amp_mcq option1=”1789 : Napoleonic Code” option2=”1791 : Tennis Court Oath” option3=”1792 : National Convention” option4=”1804 : New Constitution of France” correct=”option3″]

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The National Convention was a key legislative body during the French Revolution, coming into existence in September 1792 after the overthrow of the monarchy. It governed France during a turbulent period, including the Reign of Terror.

The year 1792 marks a significant turning point in the French Revolution with the establishment of the First French Republic by the National Convention.

The Tennis Court Oath took place in June 1789. The Napoleonic Code was promulgated in 1804, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule as Emperor, not during the initial phase of the Revolution in 1789. While France saw several constitutions during this period, 1804 is more associated with the First French Empire rather than a “New Constitution” in the context of the revolutionary phases typically discussed alongside events like the National Convention.

24. Which of the following statements with regard to the heterodox sect be

Which of the following statements with regard to the heterodox sect between sixth and fourth century BC are correct?
1. The Jain ideas were already being circulated in the seventh century BC by Parshva.
2. Although Buddhism, and to a lesser extent Jainism, took account of the changes in material life and reacted against orthodoxy, neither of these sought to abolish the caste system.
3. The first female disciple of Mahavira is said to have been a captured slave woman.
4. Buddha held that nuns could attain spiritual liberation just like a monk and granted them an equal status in the mendicant order.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ option2=”1, 2 and 3 only” option3=”1, 2 and 4 only” option4=”3 and 4 only” correct=”option2″]

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Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct with regard to the heterodox sects between the sixth and fourth centuries BC.

1. Jain traditions acknowledge a lineage of Tirthankaras preceding Mahavira; Parshvanatha is accepted as the 23rd Tirthankara who lived in the 7th century BC.
2. While both Buddhism and Jainism challenged Brahmanical dominance and offered alternative paths to liberation accessible to all social strata within their monastic orders, they did not attempt to abolish the caste system entirely for the lay society, which continued to exist.
3. According to Jain texts, Chandana (or Chandanbala), who became the first female disciple (Sadhvi), was a princess who had been captured and enslaved.
4. While Buddha allowed women into the monastic order (Bhikkhuni Sangha), he instituted additional rules and conditions for nuns that placed them in a subordinate position to monks, indicating that they were not granted an equal status in the mendicant order’s hierarchy and governance compared to monks.

Both Jainism and Buddhism emerged in a period of significant social and economic change, challenging the established Vedic order and the dominance of the Brahmanical class. They offered paths to spiritual liberation outside the traditional rituals and sacrifices.

25. Which one of the following statements about the Sayyid brothers during

Which one of the following statements about the Sayyid brothers during the period of Later Mughals is not true?

[amp_mcq option1=”They brought Jahandar Shah to power.” option2=”They wielded administrative power.” option3=”They followed a tolerant religious policy.” option4=”They reached an agreement with King Shahu.” correct=”option1″]

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The statement that the Sayyid brothers brought Jahandar Shah to power is incorrect. Jahandar Shah ascended the throne with the help of Zulfiqar Khan after the death of Bahadur Shah I. The Sayyid brothers rose to prominence by defeating and killing Jahandar Shah in 1713 and installing Farrukhsiyar.

The Sayyid brothers, Abdullah Khan (Wazir) and Hussain Ali Khan (Mir Bakhshi), were known as ‘Kingmakers’ for their ability to place and depose Mughal emperors. They wielded considerable administrative power and followed a generally tolerant religious policy, including the abolition of Jaziya.

They played a crucial role in the politics of the Later Mughal period, making significant alliances, including the agreement with Maratha King Shahu in 1719, which granted the Marathas rights to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi in the Deccan. Their power eventually led to their downfall when Emperor Muhammad Shah orchestrated their assassination/imprisonment.

26. Which one of the following peasant struggles was an outcome of British

Which one of the following peasant struggles was an outcome of British opium policy?

[amp_mcq option1=”Phulaguri Dhawa (1861)” option2=”Birsaite Ulgulan (1899-1900)” option3=”Pabna Revolt (1873)” option4=”Maratha Peasant Uprising (1875)” correct=”option1″]

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The Phulaguri Dhawa (1861) in Assam was a peasant uprising that was directly an outcome of the British opium policy, alongside other grievances like taxation on betel leaf. The British government had imposed heavy taxes and restrictions on local opium cultivation, which was widely practiced by the tribal people for personal consumption and medicinal purposes.

This uprising is known for its direct link to peasant resistance against the British government’s intervention in the traditional practice of opium cultivation and its taxation policies.

The Birsaite Ulgulan was a tribal revolt led by Birsa Munda against land alienation and forest laws in the Chota Nagpur region. The Pabna Revolt was an agrarian unrest in Bengal primarily against the oppressive practices of zamindars. The Maratha Peasant Uprising (Deccan Riots) was against moneylenders and the high land revenue demands in the Deccan region.

27. The monetary policy in India uses which of the following tools? 1. B

The monetary policy in India uses which of the following tools?

1. Bank rate
2. Open market operations
3. Public debt
4. Public revenue

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option1″]

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The monetary policy in India, conducted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), uses tools like the Bank Rate and Open Market Operations.

Monetary policy aims to control the money supply, credit conditions, and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic objectives. Public debt and public revenue are instruments of fiscal policy, which is handled by the government.

Other monetary policy tools used by the RBI include the Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF). Fiscal policy involves government spending, taxation, and public borrowing (leading to public debt) and revenue.

28. Arrange the following events in sequential order as they happened in I

Arrange the following events in sequential order as they happened in India:

1. Mahalanobis Model
2. Plan Holiday
3. Rolling Plan

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2, 3″ option2=”3, 2, 1″ option3=”2, 3, 1″ option4=”1, 3, 2″ correct=”option1″]

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The correct chronological order of the events is Mahalanobis Model, followed by Plan Holiday, and then Rolling Plan.

The Mahalanobis Model was the basis for the Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961). The Plan Holiday occurred after the Third Five Year Plan (1966-1969). The Rolling Plan concept was introduced by the Janata Party government for the period 1978-1980.

The Mahalanobis model focused on rapid industrialization with emphasis on heavy industries. The Plan Holiday was a period of annual plans due to economic and political crises. The Rolling Plan was designed as a flexible planning system where targets and projections are updated annually.

29. The phenomenon of ‘demographic dividend’ of a country relates to

The phenomenon of ‘demographic dividend’ of a country relates to

[amp_mcq option1=”a sharp decline in total population” option2=”an increase in working age population” option3=”a decline in infant mortality rate” option4=”an increase in sex ratio” correct=”option2″]

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The phenomenon of ‘demographic dividend’ refers to the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, primarily when the proportion of the working-age population (usually 15 to 64 years) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population.

It is characterized by a bulge in the working-age population relative to dependents (children and elderly), leading to a potentially larger workforce and higher savings rate.

This demographic shift typically occurs during a country’s demographic transition when fertility rates decline, leading to fewer young dependents, and mortality rates decline, leading to increased life expectancy. A decline in total population or an increase in sex ratio are not the primary definitions of demographic dividend, although infant mortality decline contributes to the demographic transition that enables the dividend.

30. Which one of the following statements about various horticulture crops

Which one of the following statements about various horticulture crops of India for the year 2016-17 is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The area under horticulture crops has increased over previous year.” option2=”Fruit production during the current year is higher than the previous year.” option3=”Rate of increase in onion production is more than potato production in the current year in comparison to the previous year.” option4=”The major tomato-growing States are Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Gujarat.” correct=”option3″]

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Based on data for the year 2016-17, the rate of increase in onion production was not necessarily more than that of potato production compared to the previous year. While both productions increased, potato production saw a significant rise in 2016-17.

This question tests specific knowledge about agricultural production statistics for a particular year. Statements A, B, and D are generally consistent with the overall trends in Indian horticulture during 2016-17, which saw increased area and production, and the listed states being major tomato producers. Statement C makes a specific comparative claim about growth rates which was not accurate based on the actual data for that year.

In 2016-17, India witnessed record horticulture production. Area under horticulture increased, and fruit production also registered growth. Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, and Gujarat are indeed among the major tomato-growing states in India. However, potato production saw a substantial increase (over 13%) in 2016-17, while onion also increased but possibly at a different rate, making statement C incorrect.