UPSC Geoscientist Archives

21. The life-size terracotta images of Ganga and Yamuna dating to the peri

The life-size terracotta images of Ganga and Yamuna dating to the period 300-600 AD have been found at:

Ahichchhatra, Uttar Pradesh

Akhnur, Kashmir

Devnimori, Gujarat

Bhitargaon, Uttar Pradesh

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Excavations at Ahichchhatra, located in Uttar Pradesh, have yielded significant archaeological findings, including life-size terracotta images of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. These figures are stylistically attributed to the Gupta period, which broadly falls within the 300-600 AD timeframe mentioned in the question.

The site of Ahichchhatra is famous for its terracotta art from the Gupta period. The life-size images of Ganga and Yamuna are notable examples of this craftsmanship and their association with this specific archaeological site.

Ahichchhatra was an ancient city and the capital of the Panchala Mahajanapada. It remained an important center during subsequent periods, including the Gupta era, and is known for its extensive archaeological remains. Other sites like Akhnur (Kashmir), Devnimori (Gujarat), and Bhitargaon (Uttar Pradesh, famous for its brick temple) have their own significant archaeological finds but are not primarily known for these specific life-size terracotta images of Ganga and Yamuna dating to this period.

22. In which one of the following years did Indian National Congress inclu

In which one of the following years did Indian National Congress include in its goal the independence of the Princely States?

1927

1929

1938

1939

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The correct answer is 1938. In 1938, the Indian National Congress included the goal of independence for the Princely States in its official policy.

– Prior to 1938, the Congress policy towards Princely States was generally one of non-interference in their internal affairs, though it supported the demand for responsible government by the people within the states.
– At the Haripura Session of the Congress in 1938, presided over by Subhash Chandra Bose, a resolution was passed that explicitly declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as the goal for the Princely States as well as British India.
– This marked a shift towards closer involvement in the political movements within the states (often organized under ‘Praja Mandals’ or ‘Praja Parishads’) and aligning their aspirations with the national goal of independence.

The years 1927 and 1929 were significant for Congress’s demand for Purna Swaraj for British India (Lahore Session, 1929, formalizing the goal). However, the explicit inclusion of Princely States in this goal and a more active stance on their future occurred in 1938. The 1939 session (Tripuri) saw the re-election of Subhash Bose and subsequent crisis leading to his resignation.

23. Which one among the following groups was known as ‘no-changers’ opposi

Which one among the following groups was known as ‘no-changers’ opposing Congress Party’s entry into Legislative Council following the withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement?

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. M.A. Ansari

C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru and S.C. Mitra

Anil Baran Roy, Subhash Bose and S. Satyamurti

Srinivas Iyenghar and B.S. Munje

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The correct answer is A) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. M.A. Ansari. This group was known as the ‘No-changers’.

– Following the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922, a significant debate arose within the Indian National Congress regarding the future course of action.
– Two main factions emerged: the ‘Pro-changers’ (Swarajists) led by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, who advocated for entry into the legislative councils to obstruct government functioning from within; and the ‘No-changers’, who opposed council entry and emphasized constructive work among the masses outside the councils (like promoting Khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity, anti-untouchability campaigns, etc.).
– Prominent ‘No-changers’ included Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari, and M.A. Ansari.

Option B lists prominent ‘Pro-changers’ or Swarajists. Options C and D include individuals who were active in the national movement but were not the primary leaders of the ‘No-changer’ faction; Subhash Bose, for instance, had a different political trajectory later.

24. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct about Khilafat

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct about Khilafat movement?

It was led by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali

It demanded that Turkish Sultan must retain control over the Muslim sacred places in the erstwhile Ottoman Empire

Khalifa must be left with sufficient territory to enable him to defend the Islamic faith

The Congress did not support the movement

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The correct answer is D) The Congress did not support the movement. This statement is NOT correct about the Khilafat movement.

– The Khilafat movement (1919-1924) was an Indian Muslim movement protesting the treatment of the Ottoman Caliph (Khalifa) by the Allied powers after World War I.
– It was led by prominent Muslim leaders including the Ali brothers, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.
– Key demands included that the Turkish Sultan/Khalifa must retain control over the Muslim sacred places and be left with sufficient territory to defend the Islamic faith.
– Critically, Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress supported the Khilafat movement and launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 in tandem with it, seeing it as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims against the British rule.

The joint platform of the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements represented a significant phase of Hindu-Muslim unity in the Indian freedom struggle, though the unity proved to be temporary. The movement lost momentum after the abolition of the Caliphate in Turkey in 1924 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

25. Which one of the following groups of movements/revolts/rebellions/riot

Which one of the following groups of movements/revolts/rebellions/riots is in chronological order (starting from the earliest)?

Santhal uprising, Tebhaga movement, Deccan riots

Kol rebellion, Santhal uprising, Deccan riots

Santhal uprising, Tebhaga movement, Kol rebellion

Kuka revolt, Deccan riots, Santhal uprising

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The correct answer is B) Kol rebellion, Santhal uprising, Deccan riots. This option lists the events in chronological order from earliest to latest.

– Kol rebellion: 1831-1832 (primarily in the Chota Nagpur region).
– Santhal uprising: 1855-1856 (in the Santhal Parganas region).
– Deccan riots: 1875 (agrarian riots in the Poona and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra).
– Tebhaga movement: 1946-1947 (peasant movement in Bengal).
– Kuka revolt (or Namdhari movement’s violent phase): 1872 (in Punjab).

Ordering the events by their starting years: Kol (1831) < Santhal (1855) < Kuka (1872) < Deccan (1875) < Tebhaga (1946). Option B correctly follows the sequence Kol, Santhal, Deccan.

26. In 1797, under a clause of which one of the following settlements, Raj

In 1797, under a clause of which one of the following settlements, Raja of Burdwan’s estate was auctioned when he failed to pay the revenue to the East India Company?

Taluqdari

Ryotwari

Permanent

Mahalwari

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The correct answer is Permanent. The auction of the Raja of Burdwan’s estate in 1797 occurred under the provisions of the Permanent Settlement.

– The Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. It fixed the land revenue demand in perpetuity and recognized Zamindars as the owners of the land.
– A strict ‘Sunset Clause’ was part of the Permanent Settlement, which mandated that revenue payments had to be made by a specified date (sunset). Failure to pay led to the auction of the Zamindar’s estate. The case of the Raja of Burdwan is a famous example of this clause being enforced.

– Ryotwari Settlement was introduced in parts of Madras and Bombay presidencies, where revenue was settled directly with the cultivators (Ryots).
– Mahalwari Settlement was introduced in parts of the North-Western Provinces, Punjab, etc., where revenue was settled with the village community or a group of villages (Mahal).
– Taluqdari is a system where Taluqdars collected revenue over an area, sometimes linked to other settlements but not the primary settlement under which the Burdwan auction took place.

27. Which one of the following was NOT a feature of Criminal Tribes Act,

Which one of the following was NOT a feature of Criminal Tribes Act, 1871?

Communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as criminal tribes

The tribes were declared criminal on the basis of their profession

The notified criminal tribes were expected to live only in the notified village settlements

The criminal tribes were not allowed to move out without a permit

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The correct answer is B) The tribes were declared criminal on the basis of their profession. This was NOT a feature of the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.

– The Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, classified specific communities as ‘criminal tribes’ based on the colonial perception of their hereditary involvement in crime, not their profession. The Act assumed that criminality was hereditary.
– Features of the Act included: registration of members, strict surveillance, restrictions on movement (requiring permits), and compulsory settlement in designated areas or reformatory settlements (as mentioned in C and D). Option A is partially misleading; while some individuals in these communities might have been craftsmen etc., the classification was based on the ‘criminal tribe’ label itself, not their occupation.

The Act was widely criticized as a discriminatory and oppressive piece of legislation that stigmatized entire communities based on birth rather than individual actions. It was repealed in 1949 after India’s independence, and these communities were ‘denotified’, but they continue to face social stigma and challenges.

28. Which one of the following pairs of founder and newspaper is NOT corre

Which one of the following pairs of founder and newspaper is NOT correctly matched?

Bande Mataram – Bankim Chandra

Kesari – Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bombay Samachar – Fardonjee Marzban

Al Hilal – Abul Kalam Azad

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The correct answer is Bande Mataram – Bankim Chandra. This pair is NOT correctly matched.

– The newspaper ‘Bande Mataram’ was primarily associated with figures like Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghose, particularly during the Swadeshi movement.
– Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is renowned for composing the song ‘Vande Mataram’ and writing the novel ‘Anandamath’, but he was not the founder or primary figure behind the newspaper ‘Bande Mataram’.
– Kesari was founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
– Bombay Samachar was founded by Fardonjee Marzban.
– Al-Hilal was founded by Abul Kalam Azad.

‘Bande Mataram’ was an English newspaper that became prominent around 1906. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee passed away in 1894, long before the newspaper gained prominence under the editorship of Aurobindo Ghose.

29. Which one of the following Indian states does NOT have mangrove

Which one of the following Indian states does NOT have mangrove forest?

Odisha

Telangana

Andhra Pradesh

West Bengal

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The correct answer is Telangana. Telangana is a landlocked state in India and does not have a coastline.

– Mangrove forests are unique ecosystems that grow in intertidal zones along coastlines, estuaries, and river deltas, requiring brackish or saline water conditions.
– Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal are coastal states with significant mangrove cover along their shores and deltas (like the Mahanadi Delta in Odisha, Godavari and Krishna Deltas in Andhra Pradesh, and the Sundarbans in West Bengal).

Telangana was formed in 2014 by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. Being situated in the interior Deccan Plateau, it lacks the coastal or estuarine environment necessary for mangrove growth. Major mangrove areas in India include the Sundarbans (West Bengal), Bhitarkanika (Odisha), Pitchavaram (Tamil Nadu), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

30. Which one of the following ecosystems has the highest net primary

Which one of the following ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity?

Rainforest

Extreme desert

Lakes and streams

Mid-latitude grassland

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The correct answer is Rainforest. Tropical rainforests exhibit the highest net primary productivity (NPP) among terrestrial ecosystems.

– Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is the rate at which producers (plants) accumulate biomass or store energy, calculated as Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) minus the energy used in respiration.
– Tropical rainforests have ideal conditions for plant growth: high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and high light intensity throughout the year, leading to very high rates of photosynthesis and biomass accumulation.

– Extreme deserts have very low NPP due to limited water availability.
– Lakes and streams (freshwater ecosystems) have moderate NPP, varying greatly depending on factors like nutrient levels and light penetration.
– Mid-latitude grasslands also have moderate NPP, often limited by seasonal rainfall and temperature variations compared to tropical rainforests. Estuaries and coral reefs are aquatic ecosystems with also very high NPP, sometimes comparable to or exceeding rainforests on a per-unit-area basis, but rainforests cover much larger areas globally.