UPSC CDS-2 Archives

41. Which of the following concepts are considered as pillars of Human Dev

Which of the following concepts are considered as pillars of Human Development ?

1. Equity
2. Sustainability
3. Productivity
4. Security

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

3 and 4 only

1, 2 and 3 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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All four concepts listed are considered pillars of Human Development.

The concept of Human Development, championed by economists like Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen, emphasizes expanding people’s freedoms and opportunities and improving their well-being. Four key pillars are often identified:
1. **Equity**: Ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender, race, income, etc.
2. **Sustainability**: Ensuring that development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
3. **Productivity**: Ensuring that people are fully engaged in income generation and other productive processes, which requires investing in their capabilities and providing an enabling environment.
4. **Empowerment/Security**: Ensuring that people are able to participate in the decisions that affect their lives and are free from chronic threats and sudden disruptions. Security (including economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political security) is closely linked to empowerment and is often considered the fourth pillar or a critical component.

The Human Development Index (HDI), published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), measures development based on three basic dimensions: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. While HDI uses specific indicators, the broader concept of Human Development is built upon these underlying pillars.

42. Consider the following statements about the Public Distribution System

Consider the following statements about the Public Distribution System :

1. The Public Distribution System is operated under the joint responsibility of Centre and State/Union Territories.
2. Food Corporation of India has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage and transportation of food grains to the State Governments.
3. Both Centre and State have the joint responsibility to identify eligible beneficiaries.
4. Some States also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oil, etc.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 4

1 and 2 only

3 and 4 only

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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The correct statements are 1, 2, and 4.

Statement 1 is correct. The Public Distribution System (PDS) operates under the joint responsibility of the Central and State/Union Territory Governments. The Centre is responsible for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains up to the designated depots, while the States/UTs are responsible for distribution, identifying eligible families, issuing ration cards, and supervising the Fair Price Shops (FPS).
Statement 2 is correct. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the primary agency responsible for the procurement, storage, and movement of food grains to the depots from where they are transported to the States/UTs for distribution under the PDS.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The identification of eligible households and issuance of ration cards is primarily the responsibility of the respective State/UT Governments.
Statement 4 is correct. While the Central Government focuses on essential food grains like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene, many States/UTs distribute additional items of mass consumption such as pulses, edible oils, salt, etc., through the PDS outlets using their own resources.

The PDS is a crucial component of India’s food security system, aimed at providing subsidized food and non-food items to the poor. The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, gives legal entitlement to receive subsidized foodgrains under PDS.

43. Which of the following statements about ASEAN are correct ? 1. The C

Which of the following statements about ASEAN are correct ?

1. The Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.
2. The Chairmanship is decided by voting among the Member States.
3. “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” is the ASEAN motto.
4. 12th August is celebrated as ASEAN Day.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

3 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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The correct statements are 1 and 3.

Statement 1 is correct. The Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually among the Member States in alphabetical order of their English names.
Statement 3 is correct. The official motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”, adopted in 2008.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Chairmanship rotation is based on alphabetical order, not voting.
Statement 4 is incorrect. ASEAN Day is celebrated on 8th August, commemorating the signing of the Bangkok Declaration in 1967 which established ASEAN.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia later joined the bloc.

44. Consider the following statements with reference to the Nataraj bronze

Consider the following statements with reference to the Nataraj bronze sculpture of Chola period :

1. Shiva is shown balancing himself on his right leg representing tirobhava.
2. Shiva is shown raising his left leg in bhujangatrasita stance, representing kicking away the illusion from the devotee’s mind.
3. The main right hand holds the damaru, Shiva’s favourite musical instrument.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

2 and 3

1, 2 and 3

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Statement 1 is correct. Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.

1. Shiva’s right leg is placed upon the demon Apasmara (representing ignorance/illusion). The action of suppressing Apasmara with the right foot symbolizes Shiva’s act of *Tirobhava* (concealment or illusion), hiding the ultimate reality from the deluded soul. Balancing on this leg while performing the cosmic dance links the stance to this aspect. Thus, statement 1 is correct.
2. Shiva’s left leg is raised in the dance. This raised foot symbolizes *Anugraha* (grace) and *Moksha* (salvation), the release from the cycle of birth and death achieved through Shiva’s grace. While liberation involves overcoming illusion, describing it as “kicking away the illusion” might not be the standard or most accurate interpretation of the raised leg’s primary symbolism. The stance is indeed bhujangatrasita. Thus, statement 2 is likely incorrect in its interpretation.
3. The Nataraja sculpture features four arms. The *upper* right hand holds the Damaru (drum), symbolizing creation. The *lower* right hand is in the Abhaya Mudra (gesture of fearlessness), symbolizing preservation. The statement says the “main right hand” (implying the lower one) holds the damaru, which is incorrect.

The cosmic dance (Tandava) of Shiva Nataraja represents the five divine acts (Panchakriya): creation (Srishti), preservation (Sthiti), destruction (Samhara), illusion (Tirobhava), and grace (Anugraha). The circle of fire surrounding Shiva represents the cosmic energy or the boundaries of the universe.

45. Where is the famous Gupta period Deogarh Temple situated ?

Where is the famous Gupta period Deogarh Temple situated ?

Uttar Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Chhattisgarh

Rajasthan

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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The famous Gupta period Deogarh Temple, specifically the Dashavatara Temple, is situated in Uttar Pradesh.

The Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh is located in the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the earliest known Panchyatana style temples in North India and is renowned for its exquisite Gupta-era sculptures and architecture, including the famous relief panels depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

Deogarh was an important center during the Gupta period. The temple dedicated to Vishnu is a prime example of Gupta art and architecture and signifies the developments in Hindu temple construction during that era.

46. Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not co

Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not correctly matched ?

Nagarakkani : Land owned by the nagaram

Nattar : Male serpent deity

Yupa : Sacrificial post

Viragal : 'Hero stone' in the Tamil Nadu area

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The pair “Nattar : Male serpent deity” is not correctly matched.

‘Nattar’ in South Indian historical context, particularly in the Chola period and earlier, refers to the assembly or leaders of a ‘Nadu’, which was a rural administrative unit. They were involved in local administration, land management, and social affairs. A male serpent deity is typically referred to as Naga devata or similar terms related to serpents (Naga).

Nagarakkani likely refers to land belonging to a ‘nagaram’ (a guild or town of merchants). Yupa is indeed a sacrificial post used in Vedic rituals. Viragal or Veerakkal are memorial stones (hero stones) erected in memory of fallen warriors or heroes, commonly found in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India.

47. Who among the following is not a woman Nayanar saint ?

Who among the following is not a woman Nayanar saint ?

Karaikkal Ammaiyar

Mangayarkkarasiyar

Andal

Isaignaniyar

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Andal is not a woman Nayanar saint; she is a famous woman saint among the Alwars.

Nayanars were Tamil Shaivite poet-saints who lived between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. There are 63 Nayanars, including several women like Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Mangayarkkarasiyar, and Isaignaniyar. Alwars were Tamil Vaishnavite poet-saints who also composed devotional hymns. Andal is the only female Alwar and is highly revered in Vaishnavism.

Karaikkal Ammaiyar is one of the earliest Nayanars, known for her fervent devotion and ascetic life. Mangayarkkarasiyar was the queen of the Pandya king Nedumaran and a devout Shaivite. Isaignaniyar was the mother of Sundarar, one of the three principal Nayanars (Thevaram trio).

48. Who among the following is the author of the book ‘The Indian Struggle

Who among the following is the author of the book ‘The Indian Struggle 1920 – 1942’ ?

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Subhas Chandra Bose

Vallabhbhai Patel

Sarat Chandra Bose

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The book ‘The Indian Struggle 1920 – 1942’ was written by Subhas Chandra Bose.

This book provides an account of the Indian independence movement from the perspective of Subhas Chandra Bose, covering a crucial period including the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the early years of World War II as it impacted India.

Subhas Chandra Bose was a prominent nationalist leader who advocated for complete and unconditional independence. He held various positions within the Indian National Congress before forming the Forward Bloc and later leading the Indian National Army (INA). Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a leading figure of the Hindu Mahasabha. Vallabhbhai Patel was a key leader in the Indian National Congress and later served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Sarat Chandra Bose was Subhas’s elder brother and also a prominent political leader.

49. Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological

Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological order :

1. Attack on Afzal Khan
2. Capture of Torna
3. Attack on Shaista Khan
4. Annexation of Javli

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

2, 4, 1, 3

4, 2, 1, 3

1, 2, 3, 4

3, 1, 2, 4

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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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The correct chronological order of the given events associated with Shivaji is Capture of Torna, Annexation of Javli, Attack on Afzal Khan, and Attack on Shaista Khan.

The events occurred in the following approximate order:
1. Capture of Torna: 1646 (Considered Shivaji’s first fort capture).
2. Annexation of Javli: 1656 (Defeat of the Morey of Javli).
3. Attack on Afzal Khan: 1659 (Meeting and killing of Bijapuri general Afzal Khan).
4. Attack on Shaista Khan: 1663 (Raid on Mughal governor Shaista Khan in Pune).

These events mark crucial steps in Shivaji’s rise to power and consolidation of his kingdom, establishing him as a formidable challenge to both the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.

50. In ovules of Angiosperms, which one of the following is not a haploid

In ovules of Angiosperms, which one of the following is not a haploid cell?

Nucellus

Synergid

Egg

Antipodal

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The Nucellus in the ovule of Angiosperms is diploid.

The Angiosperm ovule contains the female gametophyte (embryo sac) surrounded by parental diploid tissue. The nucellus is the mass of parenchyma cells that makes up the body of the ovule, enclosing the embryo sac. It is derived from the sporophyte generation and is therefore diploid (2n). The embryo sac itself contains haploid cells like the egg cell, synergids, and antipodal cells, as well as a central cell which is typically diploid (formed by the fusion of two haploid polar nuclei).

The embryo sac develops from a haploid megaspore through mitosis. The egg cell, synergids (usually two), and antipodal cells (usually three) are all haploid (n). The central cell contains two polar nuclei, which fuse to form a diploid (2n) or polyploid nucleus depending on the species.