UPSC IAS Archives

11. Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released

Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into environment?

[amp_mcq option1=”They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.” option2=”They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.” option3=”They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.” option4=”They are often found to be used as food adulterants.” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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The correct answer is A) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.

Microbeads are tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 mm in diameter, used in various products like cosmetics, toothpastes, and abrasive cleaners. When washed down drains, they enter wastewater systems but are often too small to be filtered out. They are then released into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Once in aquatic environments, microbeads persist for a very long time and pose a significant threat to marine life.

Aquatic organisms, from small zooplankton to fish and birds, can ingest microbeads, mistaking them for food. Ingested plastic can cause physical harm, block digestive tracts, and leach harmful chemicals. Microbeads also absorb pollutants from the surrounding water, concentrating toxins which can then be transferred up the food chain. This biomagnification of toxins is a major environmental concern. The widespread presence and persistence of microbeads in marine environments necessitate efforts to reduce their use and prevent their release. Concerns about skin cancer, absorption by crop plants, or use as food adulterants are not the primary reasons for concern about microbeads in the environment.

12. Consider the following pairs : Wildlife Naturally found in 1

Consider the following pairs :

Wildlife	Naturally found in
1. Blue-finned Mahseer	Cauvery River
2. Irrawaddy Dolphin	Chambal River
3. Rusty-spotted Cat	Eastern Ghats

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option C is correct. Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

– Pair 1: Blue-finned Mahseer (*Tor remadevii*) is a species of Mahseer considered endemic to the Cauvery river basin in the Western Ghats. This pair is correctly matched.
– Pair 2: Irrawaddy Dolphin (*Orcaella brevirostris*) is found in coastal areas, estuaries, and certain rivers in Southeast Asia and parts of the Bay of Bengal. In India, they are notably found in Chilika Lake. They are *not* naturally found in the Chambal River. The Ganges River Dolphin is found in the Chambal. This pair is incorrectly matched.
– Pair 3: The Rusty-spotted Cat (*Prionailurus rubiginosus*) is one of the smallest wild cat species and is found in India (including parts of the Eastern and Western Ghats), Sri Lanka, and Nepal. This pair is correctly matched.

– The Chambal River is a designated protected area for the Ganges River Dolphin.
– The Rusty-spotted Cat is listed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN.
– Various species of Mahseer are found across Indian rivers; accurate identification and distribution can be complex, but *Tor remadevii* is well-documented in the Cauvery system.

13. Consider the following statements: Some species of turtles are herbi

Consider the following statements:

Some species of turtles are herbivores.
Some species of fish are herbivores.
Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.
Some species of snakes are viviparous.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 3 only” option2=”2, 3 and 4 only” option3=”2 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option D is correct. All four statements are correct.

– Statement 1: Some species of turtles are herbivores (e.g., Green Sea Turtle as adults, many tortoise species).
– Statement 2: Some species of fish are herbivores (e.g., Parrotfish, Surgeonfish, grass carp).
– Statement 3: Some species of marine mammals are herbivores (e.g., Dugongs and manatees are Sirenians and feed on seagrass).
– Statement 4: Some species of snakes are viviparous (give live birth, e.g., many pit vipers like rattlesnakes, boas, anacondas, some sea snakes).

– The animal kingdom exhibits a wide diversity of diets and reproductive strategies. Not all individuals or species within a group share the same characteristics.
– Herbivory is relatively common across various animal groups.
– Viviparity (live birth) occurs in some species within groups where egg-laying (oviparity) is more common, like reptiles (snakes, some lizards).

14. Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

[amp_mcq option1=”Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve” option2=”Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park” option3=”Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park” option4=”Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option A is correct. The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern part of the Western Ghats and includes the Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala, and the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, among other areas.

– Biosphere Reserves often encompass multiple protected areas like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
– Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve spans across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats.
– The constituent sites listed in Option A are geographically located within this region and are part of the Biosphere Reserve.

– Option B lists sites primarily associated with the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and areas slightly north of Agasthyamala.
– Options C and D list protected areas primarily located in the Eastern Ghats and parts of the Deccan Plateau, far from the Agasthyamala region.

15. In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis

In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis and plasma gasification’ mentioned?

[amp_mcq option1=”Extraction of rare earth elements” option2=”Natural gas extraction technologies” option3=”Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles” option4=”Waste-to-energy technologies” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option D is correct. Pyrolysis and plasma gasification are thermal treatment processes used to break down organic and carbonaceous materials, particularly various types of waste (municipal solid waste, biomass, industrial waste), at high temperatures. These processes convert waste into energy (heat, electricity) and valuable byproducts like syngas (synthesis gas), making them key technologies in the waste-to-energy sector.

– Pyrolysis involves heating material in the absence of oxygen.
– Plasma gasification uses extremely high temperatures generated by a plasma arc.
– Both processes convert complex organic matter into simpler compounds, often producing combustible gases (syngas) and solid residue.
– These techniques are applied to efficiently manage waste and recover energy or resources from it.

– While hydrogen fuel can be produced from syngas generated by these methods (Option C), pyrolysis and plasma gasification themselves are technologies for processing waste materials, not primarily for extracting rare earth elements (Option A) or natural gas (Option B).

16. In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest th

In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?

[amp_mcq option1=”Creating the artificial rains in some regions” option2=”Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones” option3=”Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth” option4=”Reducing the global warming” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option D is correct. Cirrus cloud thinning and the injection of sulphate aerosol into the stratosphere are proposed geoengineering techniques falling under the category of Solar Radiation Management (SRM). These methods aim to reflect incoming solar radiation back into space to counteract the warming effects of greenhouse gases, thereby reducing global warming.

– Cirrus cloud thinning involves modifying wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds to make them less reflective or reduce their greenhouse effect.
– Stratospheric aerosol injection proposes releasing aerosols like sulfur dioxide (which forms sulfate aerosols) into the upper atmosphere to mimic the cooling effect observed after large volcanic eruptions.
– Both are geoengineering proposals aimed at increasing Earth’s albedo (reflectivity) or reducing the greenhouse effect of certain clouds.

– These techniques are controversial due to potential unintended side effects on climate patterns, environment, and complex governance issues.
– Creating artificial rain (Option A) is usually done by cloud seeding in lower atmospheric layers.
– While climate change affects tropical cyclones (Option B), these techniques are not specifically designed or guaranteed to reduce cyclone frequency or intensity, although changes in global temperatures could indirectly affect them.
– Solar wind (Option C) is a stream of charged particles from the Sun and is unrelated to these atmospheric techniques.

17. In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some St

In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because

[amp_mcq option1=”poverty rates vary from State to State” option2=”price levels vary from State to State” option3=”Gross State Product varies from State to State” option4=”quality of public distribution varies from State to State” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option B is correct. Official poverty lines in India are estimated for different states because the cost of living, reflected in price levels for essential goods and services, varies from state to state. To achieve the same level of consumption (and thus define a similar poverty threshold in real terms), the required monetary expenditure needs to be adjusted for these state-specific price differences.

– Poverty lines in India are based on consumption expenditure.
– The cost of the basket of goods and services included in the poverty line calculation varies across states due to differences in price levels.
– Therefore, poverty lines are calculated separately for different states using state-specific price indices to account for these variations.

– While poverty rates (Option A), Gross State Product (Option C), and quality of public distribution (Option D) vary across states, these are not the *reason* why the poverty lines themselves are calculated at different monetary values. The lines are different *because* the cost of living (price levels) is different.

18. Consider the following pairs : Famous place River 1. Pandharp

Consider the following pairs :

Famous place	River
1. Pandharpur	Chandrabhaga
2. Tiruchirappalli	Cauvery
3. Hampi	Malaprabha

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option A is correct. Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

– Pair 1: Pandharpur is a major pilgrimage town in Maharashtra located on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River (a bend in the Bhima River that resembles the moon). This pair is correctly matched.
– Pair 2: Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) is a city in Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of the Cauvery River. This pair is correctly matched.
– Pair 3: Hampi, the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka, is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Malaprabha River is a different river in Karnataka, a tributary of the Krishna River. This pair is incorrectly matched.

– The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers, both originating in the Western Ghats.
– The Chandrabhaga River bend in Pandharpur is considered sacred by devotees.

19. Consider the following statements: Asiatic lion is naturally found i

Consider the following statements:

Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option A is correct. Only statement 1 is correct.

– Statement 1: Asiatic lion (*Panthera leo persica*) is naturally found only in the Gir Forest National Park and surrounding areas in Gujarat, India.
– Statement 2: Double-humped camel (*Camelus bactrianus*) is naturally found in Central Asian deserts (e.g., parts of Mongolia and China). A population exists in Ladakh, India (Nubra Valley), but it is not naturally found *only* in India.
– Statement 3: The Great Indian Rhinoceros (*Rhinoceros unicornis*) is found naturally in the Terai region of the Himalayas, which includes parts of India (e.g., Assam, West Bengal) and Nepal (e.g., Chitwan National Park). It is not naturally found *only* in India.

– The double-humped camel population in Ladakh is believed to have been introduced centuries ago for use on trade routes.
– Nepal has significant populations of the One-horned Rhinoceros, particularly in Chitwan National Park.

20. Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘N

Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’?

[amp_mcq option1=”Tobacco, cocoa and rubber” option2=”Tobacco, cotton and rubber” option3=”Cotton, coffee and sugarcane” option4=”Rubber, coffee and wheat” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2019

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Option A is correct. Tobacco (*Nicotiana tabacum*), cocoa (*Theobroma cacao*), and rubber (*Hevea brasiliensis*) are all native to the Americas (the ‘New World’) and were domesticated there before being introduced to the ‘Old World’ (Eurasia and Africa) through the Columbian Exchange.

– The ‘New World’ refers to the Americas, while the ‘Old World’ refers to Eurasia and Africa.
– The Columbian Exchange involved the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Old World and the New World in the 15th and 16th centuries.
– Tobacco, cocoa, and rubber originated and were domesticated in the Americas.

– Cotton has different species native to both the Old World and the New World, although New World varieties eventually became dominant globally.
– Coffee is native to Africa (Old World).
– Sugarcane is native to Southeast Asia (Old World).
– Wheat is native to the Middle East (Old World).