UPSC IAS

1. In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is

In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?

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1. Location identification of a person
2. Sleep monitoring of a person
3. Assisting the hearing impaired person

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Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct option is D. Wearable technology devices are capable of performing all the mentioned tasks.
Wearable technology integrates electronics into everyday objects or accessories worn on the body. These devices typically include sensors, processing capabilities, and communication features, enabling them to perform various functions related to health, fitness, location tracking, and communication.
1. **Location identification:** Many wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers have built-in GPS or use connected smartphone GPS to track the user’s location, route, and activity distances.
2. **Sleep monitoring:** Devices like smartwatches and fitness bands use accelerometers and heart rate sensors to track sleep patterns, duration, stages (light, deep, REM), and quality.
3. **Assisting the hearing impaired:** Some wearable devices can provide tactile vibrations or visual alerts for notifications (calls, messages), act as a remote microphone, or display real-time captions, aiding individuals with hearing impairments.
All three capabilities are common features or potential applications of modern wearable technology.

2. Consider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an elect

Consider the following statements: A digital signature is

1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it
2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet
3. an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged

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Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC IAS – 2019
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The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only.
A digital signature is primarily used to verify the authenticity and integrity of an electronic document or message, ensuring that it has not been altered since it was signed (Statement 3). Digital signatures rely on digital certificates, which are issued by Certifying Authorities (CAs) and contain the signer’s public key and identity information. Digital signatures, often in conjunction with certificates, can also be used as a form of strong authentication, serving as proof of identity for accessing secure systems or information (Statement 2).
Statement 1 is imprecise. The digital signature itself is a hash of the document encrypted with the signer’s private key; it is not an electronic record that identifies the CA. The digital *certificate* associated with the signature is the electronic record that identifies the signer and is issued by a CA, thereby identifying the CA. While the signature relies on the certificate, the signature itself doesn’t directly identify the CA in the way the certificate does. Statement 3 is the most accurate and fundamental definition of a digital signature’s purpose. Statement 2 describes a valid and common application of digital signatures in securing access.

3. With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the

With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?

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Functional chromosomes can be created by joining segments of DNA taken from cells of different species.
Pieces of artificial functional DNA can be created in laboratories.
A piece of DNA taken out from an animal cell can be made to replicate outside a living cell in a laboratory.
Cells taken out from plants and animals can be made to undergo cell division in laboratory petri dishes.
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The correct answer is A) Functional chromosomes can be created by joining segments of DNA taken from cells of different species.
While recombinant DNA technology allows joining DNA segments from different species (e.g., inserting a gene from one species into a plasmid or chromosome of another to create a transgenic organism), creating an entire *functional chromosome* de novo by simply joining arbitrary “segments of DNA taken from cells of different species” is significantly more complex. A functional chromosome requires precise organization of elements like origins of replication, centromeres, and telomeres that are species-specific in their function and interaction with cellular machinery. Simply joining random segments from different species is unlikely to yield a functional chromosome capable of stable replication and segregation within a cell.
B) Pieces of artificial functional DNA can be created in laboratories: This is correct and is the basis of synthetic biology, where DNA sequences can be synthesized from scratch.
C) A piece of DNA taken out from an animal cell can be made to replicate outside a living cell in a laboratory: This is correct through techniques like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which performs in vitro DNA amplification (replication).
D) Cells taken out from plants and animals can be made to undergo cell division in laboratory petri dishes: This is correct and describes standard cell culture and tissue culture techniques.
Therefore, creating a *functional chromosome* by simply joining segments from different species, implying a de novo assembly that functions correctly across generations, is the most biologically complex and least straightforward statement compared to the others, making it the most likely intended incorrect statement in this context.

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4. The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

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fossils of a kind of dinosaurs
an early human species
a cave system found in North-East India
a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent
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The correct answer is B) an early human species.
Denisovans are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans. Their existence was first suggested in 2010 based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analysis of a fossil found in Denisova Cave in Siberia. Genetic studies have shown that Denisovans interbred with modern humans and Neanderthals.
The discovery of Denisovans, Neanderthals, and their interbreeding with Homo sapiens has significantly advanced our understanding of recent human evolution and migration patterns. Traces of Denisovan DNA are found in the genomes of present-day populations, particularly in parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

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5. In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the

In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:

1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.
2. In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected onto real-life objects or surroundings.
3. AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phone or PC.
4. VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.

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Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
3 and 4
1, 2 and 3
4 only
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The correct answer is B) 3 and 4.
Virtual Reality (VR) creates a completely simulated environment, shutting out the physical world to provide a full immersion experience. Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital information (images, sounds, text) onto the real-world environment, enhancing or augmenting the user’s perception of reality, often using device cameras.
Statement 1 is incorrect as it describes VR, not AR. In AR, the physical world is *not* completely shut out; it is augmented.
Statement 2 is incorrect as it describes AR, not VR. VR creates a simulated environment from scratch, it doesn’t project images onto real-life objects.
Statement 3 is correct. AR allows the user to remain present in the real world while digital elements are added to the view, often facilitated by device cameras (like on smartphones or PCs).
Statement 4 is correct. VR aims to create a sense of complete immersion by replacing the real world with a simulated one, effectively “closing the world” to the user.

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6. The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the

The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?

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Increase in the cash reserve ratio
Increase in the banking habit of the population
Increase in the statutory liquidity ratio
Increase in the population of the country
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The correct answer is B) Increase in the banking habit of the population.
The money multiplier is the ratio of the money supply to the monetary base (high-powered money). It is inversely related to the reserve ratio (CRR + SLR) and the public’s cash-to-deposit ratio. When the banking habit of the population increases, people hold less cash and deposit more money in banks. This reduces the cash-to-deposit ratio. With a lower cash-to-deposit ratio, a larger proportion of the monetary base is held as reserves by banks, enabling banks to create more credit and expand the money supply through the process of deposit multiplication, thereby increasing the money multiplier.
Options A and C are incorrect because an increase in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) or the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) forces banks to hold more reserves, reducing the funds available for lending and decreasing the money multiplier. Option D, an increase in the population, does not directly or necessarily increase the money multiplier; its effect would depend on how it influences other factors like banking habits or savings rates.

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7. Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization

Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?

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Japan
Russia
The United Kingdom
The United States of America
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The correct answer is B) Russia.
India and Russia have a long-standing and deep cooperation in the nuclear field. They have signed various agreements and action plans to prioritize and implement cooperation areas, including the construction of nuclear power plants (like the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant). Such ‘Action Plan’ deals are periodically signed to further specific aspects of their nuclear collaboration.
While India has nuclear cooperation agreements with other countries like the United States, France, and Japan, the specific mention of an ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ aligns strongly with the structured and ongoing strategic cooperation between India and Russia in this sector. Russia remains a key partner for India’s civilian nuclear energy program.

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8. Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy fo

Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?

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Australia
Canada
The European Union
The United States of America
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The correct answer is C) The European Union.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individual citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area. It was adopted in April 2016 and became enforceable from 25th May 2018.
GDPR aims primarily to give control to individuals over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU. It is one of the most significant data privacy regulations globally and has influenced data protection laws in many other countries outside the EU.

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9. Consider the following statements: The Reserve Bank of India’s recent

Consider the following statements:
The Reserve Bank of India’s recent directives relating to ‘Storage of Payment System Data’, popularly known as data diktat, command the payment system providers that

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  • 1. they shall ensure that entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India
  • 2. they shall ensure that the systems are owned and operated by public sector enterprises
  • 3. they shall submit the consolidated system audit report to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India by the end of the calendar year

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC IAS – 2019
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The correct answer is A) 1 only.
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) directive on ‘Storage of Payment System Data’ requires all system providers to ensure that the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India. This is the core of the ‘data localization’ mandate.
Statement 2 is incorrect; the RBI directive applies to all payment system providers (including private companies, foreign entities operating in India, etc.) and does not mandate that the systems must be owned and operated by public sector enterprises.
Statement 3 is incorrect; the payment system providers are required to submit the System Audit Report to the RBI, not the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. The CAG audits government accounts and public sector undertakings, not typically the compliance reports of private payment system providers submitted to the regulator (RBI).

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10. Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Governme

Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of Indian rupee?

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Curbing imports of non-essential goods and promoting exports
Encouraging Indian borrowers to issue rupee denominated Masala Bonds
Easing conditions relating to external commercial borrowing
Following an expansionary monetary policy
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The correct answer is D) Following an expansionary monetary policy.
An expansionary monetary policy typically involves lowering interest rates and increasing liquidity in the economy. This can lead to increased domestic demand and inflation, potentially making the country’s exports less competitive and increasing import demand. Furthermore, lower interest rates might make domestic assets less attractive to foreign investors, potentially leading to capital outflows. All these factors tend to weaken a currency (cause it to slide), not stop its slide.
Options A, B, and C are measures that can help strengthen the Indian Rupee:
A) Curbing imports (reduces demand for foreign currency) and promoting exports (increases supply of foreign currency) improves the trade balance and supports the rupee.
B) Encouraging Indian borrowers to issue rupee-denominated Masala Bonds abroad brings foreign currency into India as foreign investors buy these bonds, increasing demand for the rupee.
C) Easing conditions for External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) encourages Indian entities to borrow in foreign currency from abroad, bringing foreign currency into India and increasing its supply relative to the rupee.
Therefore, an expansionary monetary policy is the least likely measure to be taken to stop a currency slide.

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