UPSC Geoscientist Archives

31. Which one among the following biogeographic zones of India covers the

Which one among the following biogeographic zones of India covers the largest area ?

Trans-Himalayas

Desert

Semi-arid region

Himalayan region

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India is divided into 10 major biogeographic zones. Among the options provided, the Semi-arid region covers the largest area in India. Based on commonly cited area percentages for these zones, the Semi-arid region constitutes approximately 15.6% of India’s landmass, compared to the Trans-Himalayas (around 5.7%), Desert (around 6.6%), and Himalayan region (around 6.4%). While the Deccan Peninsula is the largest overall zone, it is not listed as an option.

Among the given options, the Semi-arid region is the largest biogeographic zone in India by area.

India’s 10 biogeographic zones are Trans-Himalayan, Himalayan, Desert, Semi-arid, Western Ghats, Deccan Peninsula, Gangetic Plain, Coasts, North-East, and Islands. The Semi-Arid zone lies adjacent to the Desert and Deccan Peninsula zones and covers parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

32. Which one among the following statements regarding Ecotone is correct

Which one among the following statements regarding Ecotone is correct ?

It represents a transitional region between two ecosystems.

It represents a region which is ecologically perfect.

It represents a region which is ecologically barren of organisms.

It represents an ecosystem containing deep marine organisms.

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An ecotone is a transitional area between two different ecosystems. It is where elements from both bordering communities intermix. This often results in a higher biodiversity than either of the adjacent ecosystems, due to the presence of species from both communities and unique species adapted to the transitional conditions (known as the edge effect).

An ecotone is a boundary or transitional zone between two ecosystems.

Examples of ecotones include mangrove forests (between marine and terrestrial ecosystems), grasslands (between forest and desert), and estuaries (between river and ocean). They are often areas of high ecological interest due to their unique characteristics and biodiversity.

33. Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated by :

Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated by :

UNEP

WWF

Greenpeace

MAB Programme of UNESCO

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The Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated by the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The MAB programme started in the early 1970s and launched the concept of Biosphere Reserves as sites combining conservation with sustainable development.

– UNESCO MAB Programme: An intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
– Biosphere Reserves: Areas designated by UNESCO’s MAB programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems.
– Other options: UNEP (UN Environment Programme) is a leading global environmental authority. WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is a major conservation organization. Greenpeace is an environmental NGO. While these organizations work on environmental issues, the Biosphere Reserve programme is a specific initiative under UNESCO’s MAB.

Biosphere Reserves have three interconnected zones: a core area (strictly protected), a buffer zone (activities compatible with conservation), and a transition area (sustainable development practices). There is a World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the MAB programme.

34. Which one among the following is a source of non-renewable energy ?

Which one among the following is a source of non-renewable energy ?

Geothermal energy

Nuclear energy

Biomass

Hydropower

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Nuclear energy is considered a source of non-renewable energy because it relies on finite natural resources, primarily uranium, which is mined and processed. Once the usable uranium is depleted, it cannot be naturally replenished on a human timescale.

– Non-renewable energy sources are those that exist in a fixed amount or are consumed faster than they can be replenished naturally. Examples include fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and nuclear fuels (uranium).
– Renewable energy sources are replenished naturally over short periods. Examples include solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass.

While nuclear energy is non-renewable, it is often considered a low-carbon energy source because the process of generating electricity does not produce greenhouse gases. However, concerns exist regarding nuclear waste disposal and potential accidents.

35. Which one of the following institutions is not in the ‘World Bank Gr

Which one of the following institutions is not in the ‘World Bank Group’ ?

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (IPFSD)

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

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The ‘World Bank Group’ consists of five international organizations: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (IPFSD) is a set of guidelines or principles related to investment policy, often developed or promoted by international bodies like UNCTAD, but it is not one of the constituent institutions of the World Bank Group. Therefore, IPFSD is not in the World Bank Group.

– World Bank Group members: IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, ICSID.
– IBRD & IDA together are often referred to as “the World Bank”, providing financing to governments.
– IFC finances private sector development.
– MIGA provides political risk insurance and credit enhancement.
– ICSID resolves international investment disputes.
– IPFSD is a framework, not an institution.

The World Bank Group is a family of international financial institutions that provide loans, grants, and advice to developing countries and facilitate investment and trade. Each of the five institutions has a distinct role but works together towards the WBG’s goals.

36. Which of the following statements about ‘Good Governance Index’ (GGI)

Which of the following statements about ‘Good Governance Index’ (GGI) is/are not correct ?

1. The first Good Governance Index, prepared by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in partnership with the Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad, was brought out in 2019.
2. The framework of assessment includes some sectors and indicators. GGI 2021 excluded ‘Agriculture and Allied sectors’ from the framework of assessment.
3. According to GGI 2021, Jharkhand is one of the few states that has performed badly.
4. Union Territories are not under the purview of GGI.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 and 2

2, 3 and 4

2 only

4 only

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Statement 1 is correct: The first Good Governance Index was indeed prepared by DARPG in partnership with the Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad, and launched on December 25, 2019.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The GGI 2021 framework of assessment *included* ‘Agriculture and Allied sectors’ as one of the ten sectors evaluated.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While Jharkhand ranked relatively low (16th out of 18) in its category (‘Other States – Group B’) in GGI 2021, whether it is “one of the few states that has performed badly” is subjective and depends on the overall distribution of scores and rankings across all categories. Given that option B includes this statement as incorrect along with two definitively incorrect statements (2 and 4), it is likely intended to be incorrect, perhaps because many states performed similarly poorly, making the description “one of the few” inaccurate.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Union Territories *are* under the purview of GGI and are ranked separately.
Therefore, statements 2, 3, and 4 are not correct.

– GGI is a quantitative tool to assess the state of governance in Indian states and UTs.
– It assesses performance across various sectors like Agriculture, Commerce & Industry, Human Resources, Public Health, Public Infrastructure, Economic Governance, Social Welfare, Judicial & Public Security, Environment, and Citizen-Centric Governance.
– States are categorized into groups (e.g., Big States, North-East & Hill States, Union Territories) for ranking.

Good Governance Day is celebrated in India on December 25th, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The GGI is released on this day to coincide with the observance. The index aims to provide a framework for states and UTs to benchmark performance and improve governance.

37. Arrange the following events in the correct chronological order : 1. P

Arrange the following events in the correct chronological order :
1. Passage of the Anti-defection law by the Parliament of India
2. Mizoram was made a state
3. Voting age was reduced from 21 to 18
4. Maithili was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India
Select the answer using the code given below :

2, 3, 1, 4

1, 3, 2, 4

4, 3, 2, 1

1, 2, 3, 4

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Let’s place the events in chronological order based on their years:
1. Passage of the Anti-defection law (52nd Amendment Act): 1985.
2. Mizoram was made a state (State of Mizoram Act): 1986, came into effect in 1987.
3. Voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 (61st Amendment Act): 1989.
4. Maithili was added to the Eighth Schedule (92nd Amendment Act): 2003.
The correct chronological order is 1, 2, 3, 4.

– Anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule): Added by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.
– Statehood for Mizoram: Achieved on February 20, 1987, through the State of Mizoram Act, 1986.
– Reduction of Voting Age: Done by the 61st Amendment Act, 1989, amending Article 326 of the Constitution.
– Addition of Maithili to Eighth Schedule: One of the four languages (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santali) added by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003.

These events represent significant constitutional and political developments in India’s post-independence history, impacting the parliamentary system, federal structure, electoral process, and cultural recognition.

38. Consider the following statements with reference to a Report titled ‘T

Consider the following statements with reference to a Report titled ‘The Paths to Equal’, published in 2023, prepared by ‘UN Women’ and ‘UNDP’ (United Nations Development Programme) :

1. This Report introduces two new indices : Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) and Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI).
2. Less than 1% of women and girls live in a country with high women’s empowerment and a small gender gap.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct. The report “The Paths to Equal,” jointly published by UN Women and UNDP in 2023, indeed introduced two new indices: the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) and the Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI) to provide a more comprehensive measure of gender equality. The report’s findings indicated that less than 1% of women and girls live in a country characterized by both high women’s empowerment (high WEI) and a small gender gap (high GGPI).

– Statement 1: The report introduced WEI and GGPI as complementary tools to measure women’s empowerment and gender parity respectively. WEI measures women’s power and freedoms to make choices and shape their lives, while GGPI measures the gap between women and men across key dimensions.
– Statement 2: The report highlighted the global disparity, showing that despite some progress, the majority of women and girls live in countries where empowerment is low and gender gaps are wide. The statistic about less than 1% is a key finding from the report.

The report analyzed data from 114 countries, providing a comprehensive overview of the state of gender equality globally through these new metrics. It aimed to inform policy and action towards achieving gender equality as enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 5.

39. Which one among the following statements about the United Nations (UN)

Which one among the following statements about the United Nations (UN) is not correct ?

All the main bodies of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, etc. were established with the founding of the UN in 1945.

The United Nations System comprises not only the main bodies, but also many funds, programmes and specialized agencies.

Specialized agencies of the UN System are funded by both voluntary and assessed contributions.

The programmes and funds of the UN System are financed only through assessed contributions.

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Statement D is not correct. The programmes and funds of the UN System (such as UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, etc.) are primarily financed through *voluntary* contributions from member states, intergovernmental organizations, foundations, and the private sector, not assessed contributions. Assessed contributions are mandatory payments from member states that fund the core budget of the United Nations itself and some peacekeeping operations.

– Statement A is correct: The six principal organs of the UN (General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, ICJ, Secretariat) were established in 1945.
– Statement B is correct: The UN System encompasses the principal organs, funds, programmes, and specialized agencies.
– Statement C is correct: Specialized agencies (like WHO, FAO, ILO) receive funding from both assessed contributions (for regular budgets) and voluntary contributions (for specific projects and programmes).
– Statement D is incorrect: UN Funds and Programmes rely mainly on voluntary contributions.

The distinction between assessed and voluntary contributions is key to understanding UN financing. Assessed contributions are based on a scale determined by the General Assembly, reflecting a country’s capacity to pay. Voluntary contributions are discretionary and often tied to specific projects or themes.

40. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Motions’ in the Par

Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Motions’ in the Parliament of India :

1. A Censure Motion must specify the ground on which it is based.
2. A Censure Motion can be moved even against an individual minister.
3. A No-confidence Motion can be initiated in either House of the Parliament. However, a government will fall only if the No-confidence Motion is passed in the Lok Sabha.
4. A No-confidence Motion must specify the charges against the Council of Ministers on the basis of which the Motion is to be based.

How many of the above statements is/are correct ?

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Statement 1 is correct: A Censure Motion is specific and must state the reasons or grounds for the censure. Statement 2 is correct: A Censure Motion can be moved against the entire Council of Ministers, a group of Ministers, or even an individual Minister. Statement 3 is incorrect: A No-confidence Motion can *only* be initiated in the Lok Sabha (House of the People). Statement 4 is incorrect: A No-confidence Motion does not need to state the grounds or charges; it simply expresses a lack of confidence in the Council of Ministers as a whole. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct. The question asks how many statements are correct, and there are 2 correct statements (1 and 2).

– Censure Motion: Expresses disapproval of specific policy or action, requires grounds, can be against individual Minister or group or the whole Council. If passed, does not necessarily lead to resignation but indicates severe disapproval.
– No-confidence Motion: Tests the confidence of the Lok Sabha in the entire Council of Ministers. Can only be moved in Lok Sabha. If passed, the Council of Ministers must resign. Does not require specifying grounds.

Both Censure Motion and No-confidence Motion are tools used by the opposition to check the executive. A No-confidence Motion requires the support of at least 50 members to be admitted in the Lok Sabha.