UPSC Geoscientist Archives

21. Which one of the following statements with regard to poverty is

Which one of the following statements with regard to poverty is correct?

Poverty line is determined by the monetary value of the minimum calorie intake

The existing mechanism for determining poverty line takes into consideration social factors such as illiteracy, ill health etc.

Income and assets are the only factors associated with poverty

The items included in consumption basket are adequate to estimate the poverty line and the number of poor

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Option A is the most accurate statement among the choices regarding the determination of the poverty line, particularly in the context of historical and foundational methodologies used in India. The poverty line has often been linked to the minimum expenditure required to meet basic needs, including a certain minimum calorie intake.

The poverty line in India is primarily determined based on consumption expenditure needed to meet minimum requirements for food (often anchored to calorie norms) and non-food items.

While modern approaches and committees (like Tendulkar and Rangarajan) have refined the consumption basket to include non-food items and considered urban-rural differences, the link between basic needs (including nutritional requirements represented by calorie intake) and the expenditure required to meet them remains a fundamental element in poverty line determination. Option B is incorrect because the official poverty line calculation method in India has historically relied on expenditure/income thresholds, not directly incorporating social factors like illiteracy or ill health into the calculation of the threshold itself, although these are aspects of multi-dimensional poverty. Options C and D are clearly incorrect.

22. India is a destination for global outsourcing. Which of the following

India is a destination for global outsourcing. Which of the following is/are the more appropriate reason(s) for making the multinational corporations choose India for outsourcing their services?
1. Lower wage rate
2. Higher rate of unemployment
3. Availability of skilled human power
4. Cordial relationship with government
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 only

1 and 3

2 and 4

3 and 4

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Multinational corporations choose India for outsourcing services primarily due to the combination of lower wage rates compared to developed countries and the availability of a large pool of skilled human power, especially in sectors like IT and BPO.

Cost advantage through lower labour costs and the presence of a large, educated workforce with necessary technical and language skills are the most significant factors attracting outsourcing to India.

While factors like favourable government policies and a potentially large labour pool (partially related to unemployment) can play a role, the core business reasons are the economic benefits derived from reduced operational costs and access to talent. “Cordial relationship with government” is too general and not a primary decision driver compared to concrete economic advantages and available skills.

23. The second five year plan of India is regarded as a landmark contribut

The second five year plan of India is regarded as a landmark contribution to development planning. What could be the reasons for the same?
1. Laid emphasis on industrialisation
2. Aimed at increasing the rate of investment
3. Aimed at establishment of socialistic pattern of society
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961), based on the Mahalanobis model, is considered a landmark in Indian development planning for its strong emphasis on industrialisation, particularly heavy industries, its aim to significantly increase the rate of investment, and its explicit goal of establishing a socialistic pattern of society in India.

The plan shifted focus from agriculture (as in the first plan) to rapid industrialization with a focus on building a strong capital goods base through the development of heavy industries under the public sector. It aimed for a higher rate of growth and investment to achieve structural transformation of the economy.

The “socialistic pattern of society” resolution was adopted by the Indian National Congress at its Avadi session in 1955, influencing the objectives and approach of the Second Plan, which envisaged a dominant role for the public sector while allowing for a private sector within the overall planned framework.

24. Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute significantly in

Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute significantly in the economic and social development of the country. Which of the following measures is / are taken by the Government with respect to MSMEs?

1. Ensure better credit flow
2. Technology upgradation
3. Ease of doing business and market access

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

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The Government takes measures across multiple fronts to support Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including ensuring better credit flow, facilitating technology upgradation, and improving the ease of doing business and market access. All three statements list valid government initiatives for MSMEs.

MSMEs are vital for employment generation, economic growth, and regional development in India. The government implements various policies and schemes to address challenges faced by MSMEs related to finance, technology, infrastructure, and market linkages.

Specific schemes and policies include priority sector lending targets for banks, credit guarantee schemes (like CGTMSE), schemes for technological adoption and quality improvement (like CLCS-TUS), promotion of e-commerce and government procurement platforms (like GeM), simplification of registration and compliance procedures (like Udyam registration), and support for marketing and exports.

25. Certain geographical regions in a country may have economic laws diffe

Certain geographical regions in a country may have economic laws different from the country’s typical economic laws. Which one of the following could be the reason for allowing the differences in economic laws for particular geographical regions?

Increasing trade in the country

Discretionary allocation of natural resources

Increasing foreign investment

Leverage connections to extract a larger share of existing wealth

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Certain geographical regions may have economic laws different from the country’s typical laws primarily to attract foreign investment and boost economic activity, such as in the case of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). These regions offer incentives like tax breaks, relaxed regulations, and simplified procedures specifically to create a favorable environment for investors.

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are examples of such regions, established with distinct economic regulations to promote exports, generate employment, and attract domestic and foreign investment. The differential laws are designed to make the region globally competitive for business and investment.

While increasing trade (especially exports) is a major objective and outcome of establishing such regions, attracting investment (both domestic and foreign) is the primary driver for creating a distinct legal and regulatory framework, as investment is the engine for economic activity and subsequent trade growth. Discretionary allocation of natural resources or leveraging connections for personal gain are not the stated or legitimate reasons for establishing such zones.

26. Ayushman Bharat – the centrally sponsored scheme takes care of which o

Ayushman Bharat – the centrally sponsored scheme takes care of which of the following?

1. Includes almost all secondary care and most of tertiary care procedures
2. Includes all pre and post-hospitalisation expenses
3. Increased access to quality health and medication

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1, 2 and 3

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

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All three statements correctly describe features and objectives of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which is a key component of the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government, providing a health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families.

The scheme covers pre-hospitalisation expenses for up to 3 days and post-hospitalisation expenses for up to 15 days, including diagnostics and medicines. It empanels public and private hospitals to provide cashless access to healthcare services, significantly increasing access to quality health and medication for the eligible population. The other component of Ayushman Bharat is the establishment of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) for comprehensive primary health care.

27. G-20 is a forum of countries that intends to promote global economic s

G-20 is a forum of countries that intends to promote global economic stability and sustainable growth. Which among the following group of countries DOES NOT form a part of the forum?

Argentina, South Africa, Turkey

Australia, Brazil, India

Italy, United Kingdom, Indonesia

Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden

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The group of countries consisting of Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden does not form a part of the G20 forum. The G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union.

The G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union.

The G20 was established in 1999 in response to the financial crises of the late 1990s and is a forum for international cooperation on the most important aspects of the international financial and economic agenda. Its members account for a large majority of the world’s gross domestic product, international trade, and population.

28. “Sustainable Development is defined as the development that meets the

“Sustainable Development is defined as the development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.” This well accepted definition of sustainable development was put forth in:

Rotterdam Convention

Stockholm Convention

Brundtland Commission

Kyoto Conference

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The widely cited definition of sustainable development as “development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs” was coined by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), also known as the Brundtland Commission, in their 1987 report “Our Common Future”.

The Brundtland Report brought the concept of sustainable development to the forefront of global discussions and emphasized the interconnectedness of environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth.

The Rotterdam Convention deals with the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which committed state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

29. Proteins are made from atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and

Proteins are made from atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and some also contain sulphur and phosphorus. Molecules made up of these atoms that synthesise protein are known as:

Amino acid

Nucleic acid

Glucose

Cellulose

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Proteins are polymers made up of repeating monomer units called amino acids. Amino acids contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and some also contain sulfur (e.g., in cysteine and methionine) or are post-translationally modified with phosphorus (e.g., in phosphoproteins).

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 standard amino acids that are genetically encoded for protein synthesis. They link together via peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains, which then fold into functional proteins.

Nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA) are made up of nucleotides and carry genetic information, playing a crucial role in protein synthesis but are not the monomers of protein itself. Glucose and Cellulose are carbohydrates, made primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

30. Which organelle of Eukaryotic cells has DNA?

Which organelle of Eukaryotic cells has DNA?

Lysosome

Golgi apparatus

Mitochondria

Endoplasmic reticulum

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Mitochondria, often called the powerhouse of the cell, are organelles in eukaryotic cells that contain their own genetic material in the form of circular DNA.

Eukaryotic cells have their primary DNA located in the nucleus. However, mitochondria (in animals, fungi, and plants) and chloroplasts (in plants and algae) also contain their own distinct DNA.

The presence of DNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts supports the endosymbiotic theory, which suggests that these organelles originated from free-living prokaryotic organisms that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells. Lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, and Endoplasmic reticulum are other eukaryotic organelles but do not possess their own DNA.