UPSC IAS Archives

1. Consider the following towns of India : 1. Bhadrachalam 2. Chanderi

Consider the following towns of India :

1. Bhadrachalam
2. Chanderi
3. Kancheepuram
4. Karnal

Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

1, 3 and 4

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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Chanderi and Kancheepuram are well-known centres in India famous for the production of traditional sarees and fabrics. Chanderi is known for its lightweight sarees woven with silk and cotton, while Kancheepuram is renowned for its heavy silk sarees with rich zari work.

– Bhadrachalam is a significant pilgrimage town in Telangana, primarily known for its temple dedicated to Lord Rama, not textiles.
– Karnal is a city in Haryana, known for agriculture and industry, but not traditionally famous for sarees or fabrics.

Traditional handloom weaving is a significant part of India’s cultural heritage, with numerous towns and regions specializing in distinct styles of sarees and fabrics like Banarasi silk, Mysore silk, Pochampally Ikat, Paithani, etc.

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2. The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of Ind

The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in

the President of India

the Parliament

the Chief Justice of India

the Law Commission

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The correct answer is B) the Parliament. The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in the Parliament of India.

Article 124(1) of the Constitution of India states that the Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice of India and, until Parliament by law provides for a larger number, of not more than seven other Judges. This explicitly grants Parliament the power to determine the strength of the Supreme Court beyond the initial prescribed number.

Parliament exercises this power by enacting laws, such as the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, which has been amended several times over the years to increase the number of judges as the workload of the court has grown. The most recent increase was in 2019, raising the number of judges from 31 to 34 (including the Chief Justice).

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3. Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class

Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three?

Crab

Mite

Scorpion

Spider

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is A) Crab. We need to classify the given organisms to find the one that belongs to a different class from the others.

– All four organisms (Crab, Mite, Scorpion, Spider) belong to the phylum Arthropoda.
– Within Arthropoda, they are further classified into classes.
– Crab belongs to the class Malacostraca, which is part of the subphylum Crustacea.
– Mite, Scorpion, and Spider all belong to the class Arachnida.

Arachnids are characterized by having eight legs (four pairs), no antennae, and body divided into two segments (cephalothorax and abdomen). Crustaceans, like crabs, typically have ten legs (five pairs, including claws), two pairs of antennae, and usually a body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen, often covered by a carapace.

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4. Consider the following statements: 1. Maize can be used for the prod

Consider the following statements:

1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.
2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is D) 1, 2 and 3. Maize (corn) is a versatile crop with numerous uses in food, animal feed, and various industrial applications.

1. Maize can be used for the production of starch: Corn starch is a major product derived from maize and is used in food processing, paper manufacturing, textiles, and adhesives.
2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel: Corn oil is extracted from the germ of the maize kernel and is used as cooking oil and in various industrial applications, including as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production.
3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize: Maize is fermented to produce ethanol, which is used in alcoholic beverages (like Bourbon whiskey) and as a biofuel.

Maize is one of the world’s most widely cultivated cereal crops. Its primary use globally is as animal feed, followed by human food (direct consumption or processed products like flour, starch, oil, syrup), and industrial uses (biofuel, plastics, etc.).

5. Consider the following techniques/ phenomena: 1. Budding and graftin

Consider the following techniques/ phenomena:

1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants
2. Cytoplasmic male sterility
3. Gene silencing

Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic crops?

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1 only

2 and 3

1 and 3

None

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is B) 2 and 3. Transgenic crops are created through genetic engineering, which involves introducing or altering genes in a plant.

1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants: These are methods of asexual (vegetative) propagation used to combine traits from different plants or propagate desired varieties. They do not involve introducing foreign genes to create a transgenic organism. This is not used to create transgenic crops.
2. Cytoplasmic male sterility: While CMS itself is a biological phenomenon used in hybrid breeding, genetic engineering techniques *can* be used to introduce or restore male sterility genes (like the barnase/barstar system), thereby creating transgenic plants with engineered CMS. In this context, the concept is linked to the creation of transgenics for breeding purposes.
3. Gene silencing: Techniques like RNA interference (RNAi) are methods of gene silencing where the expression of a specific gene is inhibited. These techniques are widely used in genetic engineering to modify plants, for example, to reduce levels of undesirable compounds, improve nutritional value, or confer resistance. Using gene silencing to modify a plant *creates* a transgenic crop.

Creating transgenic crops involves techniques for gene isolation, vector construction, gene transfer (e.g., Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, gene gun), and selection of transformed cells/plants. Gene silencing is a tool used in the genetic modification process. While CMS is a trait, the methods to engineer it into a plant fall under genetic engineering techniques used for creating transgenics.

6. The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the

The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

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advisory jurisdiction

appellate jurisdiction

original jurisdiction

writ jurisdiction

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The correct answer is C) original jurisdiction. The Supreme Court of India has original jurisdiction in certain matters, which means these cases can be filed directly in the Supreme Court, bypassing lower courts.

Article 131 of the Constitution of India defines the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It states that the Supreme Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in any dispute between:
(a) the Government of India and one or more States; or
(b) the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or
(c) two or more States.
Disputes between the Centre and States fall under this category.

The Supreme Court’s other jurisdictions include:
– Appellate Jurisdiction: Hearing appeals against judgments of High Courts and other courts.
– Advisory Jurisdiction (Article 143): President can seek advice on a question of law or fact of public importance.
– Writ Jurisdiction (Article 32): Issuing writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

7. Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change?

Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change?

1. Crystallization of sodium chloride
2. Melting of ice
3. Souring of milk

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 and 2 only

3 only

1, 2 and 3

None

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Answer is Wrong!

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is B) 3 only. A chemical change results in the formation of new substances with different properties, while a physical change only alters the form or appearance of a substance, but not its chemical composition.

1. Crystallization of sodium chloride: This is a process where dissolved salt precipitates out of a solution as crystals. It is a physical change because the chemical composition (NaCl) remains the same.
2. Melting of ice: This is a change of state from solid water (ice) to liquid water. It is a physical change because the substance is still water (H₂O), just in a different form.
3. Souring of milk: This occurs when bacteria convert lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid. This process creates new chemical substances (lactic acid) and changes the milk’s properties (taste, smell, texture). This is a chemical change.

Indicators of a chemical change often include the formation of a gas, a change in color, a change in temperature, the formation of a precipitate, or the production of light or sound. Souring of milk is a form of fermentation, a biochemical process leading to chemical transformation.

8. Consider the following pairs: Region Well-known for the productio

Consider the following pairs:

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Region	Well-known for the production of
1. Kinnaur	Areca nut
2. Mewat	Mango
3. Coromandel	Soya bean

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

1 and 2 only

3 only

1, 2 and 3

None

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is D) None. Let’s examine each pair:
1. Kinnaur: Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh is famous for apples, grapes, and apricots. Areca nut (supari) is predominantly grown in coastal regions of South India and parts of Northeast India. This pair is incorrectly matched.
2. Mewat: Mewat region spans parts of Haryana and Rajasthan and is primarily an agricultural area known for crops like wheat, barley, mustard, and also dairy farming. It is not particularly known for large-scale mango production compared to traditional mango-growing belts in India. This pair is incorrectly matched.
3. Coromandel: The Coromandel Coast is the southeastern coast of India. While agriculture is practiced, it is not primarily known for large-scale soya bean production. Soya bean cultivation is concentrated in states like Madhya Pradesh (often called the “Soya State”), Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. This pair is incorrectly matched.

Geographical regions are often known for specific agricultural products based on climate, soil conditions, and traditional practices. Knowing the primary produce of different regions in India is relevant for geography and economics.

Areca nut cultivation is significant in states like Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, and Meghalaya. Major mango-producing states include Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of soya bean in India.

9. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

Spacecraft	Purpose
1. Cassini-Huygens	Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2. Messenger	Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager 1 and 2	Exploring the outer solar system

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Answer is Wrong!

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. Let’s examine each pair:
1. Cassini-Huygens: This was a joint NASA/ESA/ASI mission to study Saturn and its moon Titan. It did not orbit Venus. This pair is incorrectly matched.
2. Messenger: This was a NASA mission to study the planet Mercury. The name stands for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging. This pair is correctly matched.
3. Voyager 1 and 2: These are NASA probes launched in 1977 to explore the outer solar system, specifically Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. This pair is correctly matched.

Space missions are designed with specific target celestial bodies or regions. Correctly identifying the purpose of famous spacecraft is important for general knowledge about space exploration.

Cassini-Huygens arrived at Saturn in 2004 and orbited it until 2017. The Huygens probe landed on Titan in 2005. Messenger orbited Mercury from 2011 until it was deliberately crashed into the surface in 2015. Voyager 1 and 2 are now in interstellar space, continuing to send back data.

10. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?

1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.

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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Answer is Wrong!

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UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct answer is D) 1, 2 and 3. All three statements regarding vegetative propagation are generally considered correct in the context of its benefits and applications.

1. **Clonal population:** Vegetative propagation involves using parts of a single parent plant (like stems, roots, leaves, buds) to grow new plants. The offspring are genetically identical to the parent plant, thus forming a clonal population.
2. **Eliminating virus:** Specific techniques within vegetative propagation, such as meristem culture, are effectively used to produce virus-free plants from infected stock. While not all vegetative methods eliminate viruses, this is a significant application.
3. **Practiced most of the year:** Compared to sexual reproduction from seeds which is often seasonal, many vegetative propagation methods can be carried out across a wider range of the year, especially under controlled environmental conditions like greenhouses.

Vegetative propagation offers advantages such as maintaining desirable traits of the parent plant, faster maturation compared to seed-grown plants, and propagation of plants that do not produce viable seeds. Techniques include cutting, grafting, layering, tissue culture, etc.

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