UPSC IAS Archives

11. In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come

In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?

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Sand deserts of northwest India

Higher Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir

Salt marshes of western Gujarat

Western Ghats

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is primarily found in dense tropical and subtropical forests.

The Western Ghats region of India is characterized by extensive evergreen and moist deciduous forests, which constitute the natural habitat of the Great Indian Hornbill. They require large tracts of forest for foraging and nesting.

Other habitats in India where the Great Indian Hornbill can be found include the forests of the North Eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are large, fruit-eating birds and play a significant role in seed dispersal in their forest ecosystems. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, facing threats primarily from habitat loss and hunting.

12. With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the fol

With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements :

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Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is B) 2 only. Statement 2 is correct regarding the coverage of post-harvest losses under PMFBY, while statement 1 is incorrect regarding uniform premium rates.

– Statement 1 is incorrect: Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the premium rates vary based on the crop and season. Farmers pay 2% of the sum insured for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. The remaining premium is paid by the government (Central and State).
– Statement 2 is correct: The PMFBY scheme includes coverage for post-harvest losses. These losses are assessed at the individual farm level for damage arising out of specified perils like cyclone, cyclonic rains, and unseasonal rains that occur up to a period of two weeks from harvesting, for those crops which are required to be kept in cut & spread condition to dry in the field.

PMFBY was launched in 2016, replacing previous schemes like the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS. It aims to provide comprehensive risk coverage against non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages.

13. With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon

With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’, consider the following statements :

It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is B) 2 and 3 only. Statements 2 and 3 correctly describe functions of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), while statement 1 is incorrect about its affiliation.

– Statement 1 is incorrect: The OPCW is an independent international organization established by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It is not an organization of the European Union, although individual EU member states are parties to the CWC. It works with relevant international bodies but does not have a formal working relation *as an EU organization* with NATO and WHO.
– Statement 2 is correct: The OPCW verifies the destruction of existing chemical weapons and monitors the chemical industry in member states to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons.
– Statement 3 is correct: The OPCW provides assistance and protection to member states against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons (as per Article X of the CWC). This includes providing advice, coordinating assistance, and conducting exercises.

The OPCW is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

14. Consider the following pairs : Community sometimes mentioned in th

Consider the following pairs :

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Community sometimes mentioned in the news	In the affairs of
1. Kurd	Bangladesh
2. Madhesi	Nepal
3. Rohingya	Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1 and 2

2 only

2 and 3

3 only

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is C) 2 and 3. The pairs for Madhesi and Rohingya communities are correctly matched with their respective regions.

– Pair 1 is incorrect: Kurds are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting a region spanning parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. They are not associated with Bangladesh.
– Pair 2 is correct: The Madhesi are an ethnic group originating from the Terai region of southern Nepal, bordering India. They have been prominent in Nepalese politics due to issues related to representation and federal structure.
– Pair 3 is correct: The Rohingya are a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic group who primarily reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. They have faced persecution and mass displacement, leading to a major humanitarian crisis.

Understanding the location and context of various communities is important for following international and regional news. The conflicts and issues related to the Madhesi in Nepal and the Rohingya in Myanmar have frequently been in the news.

15. Which of the following best describes the term ‘import cover’, sometim

Which of the following best describes the term ‘import cover’, sometimes seen in the news?

It is the ratio of value of imports to the Gross Domestic Product of a country

It is the total value of imports of a country in a year

It is the ratio between the value of exports and that of imports between two countries

It is the number of months of imports that could be paid for by a country's international reserves

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is D) It is the number of months of imports that could be paid for by a country’s international reserves. Import cover is a measure of a country’s ability to meet its import requirements using its foreign exchange reserves.

– Import cover is calculated as the total value of international reserves divided by the average monthly value of imports.
– It indicates how many months a country can continue to pay for imports if its sources of foreign exchange earnings (like exports, remittances, capital inflows) were to cease.
– A higher import cover indicates a stronger external position and greater resilience to external shocks. A common benchmark is 3-4 months of import cover, considered adequate by many international financial institutions.

International reserves typically include a country’s holdings of foreign currencies, gold, SDRs, and its reserve position in the IMF.

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16. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the

With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements :

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Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Answer is Wrong!

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is C) Both 1 and 2. Both statements correctly describe key aspects of the Siddhas (Sittars) of the Tamil region and the Lingayats of the Kannada region in medieval India.

– Statement 1 is correct: The Siddhas (or Sittars) were mystic saints in Tamil Nadu known for their heterodox views. They often critiqued traditional Brahmanical practices, including caste hierarchy and idol worship, emphasizing an inner spiritual path. Many of their teachings can be interpreted as leaning towards monotheism, focusing on the ultimate reality (often Shiva) beyond forms.
– Statement 2 is correct: The Lingayats (Virashaivas), founded by Basavanna in the 12th century in the Karnataka region, strongly rejected caste hierarchy and traditional rituals. They questioned the theory of rebirth (samsara) as understood in conventional Hinduism, focusing instead on achieving union with the divine (isto-linga) and transcending the cycle of birth and death in this life.

Both Siddha and Lingayat movements represented significant challenges to the prevailing social and religious norms of their time, promoting more egalitarian and personal paths to spirituality.

17. ‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to

‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to

rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood

release the sex workers from their practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood

eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers

release the bonded labourers from their bondage and rehabilitate them

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The correct answer is C) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers. ‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign specifically aimed at ending the practice of manual scavenging.

– Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan is a grassroots campaign initiated by the Jan Sahas movement, working with various civil society organizations across India.
– Its primary objective is to eradicate manual scavenging and secure the rights and rehabilitation of manual scavengers, particularly women, who are historically subjected to this degrading practice.
– The campaign focuses on mobilizing communities, advocating for policy implementation, and providing support for rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods.

Manual scavenging is prohibited by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 in India. However, the practice continues in various forms, and campaigns like Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan play a crucial role in raising awareness and working towards its complete elimination.

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18. With reference to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (

With reference to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), consider the following statements :

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1. IMFC discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy, and advises the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the direction of its work.
2. The World Bank participates as observer in IMFC’s meetings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Answer is Wrong!

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is C) Both 1 and 2. Both statements regarding the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) are correct.

– Statement 1 is correct: The IMFC is a key advisory body to the IMF’s Board of Governors. It discusses matters of common concern affecting the global economy and advises the IMF on the direction of its work, including on the evolution of the international monetary and financial system.
– Statement 2 is correct: The IMFC consists of 24 members who are Governors of the IMF (usually ministers of finance or central bank governors). The World Bank President typically attends the IMFC meetings as an observer, along with observers from other international bodies like the UN, BIS, OECD, etc.

The IMFC meets twice a year, during the Spring Meetings and the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. It does not have formal decision-making powers but plays a vital role in guiding the IMF’s policy direction.

19. Recently, which one of the following currencies has been proposed to b

Recently, which one of the following currencies has been proposed to be added to the basket of IMF’s SDR?

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Rouble

Rand

Indian Rupee

Renminbi

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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is D) Renminbi. The Chinese currency, Renminbi (Yuan), was proposed and subsequently added to the basket of the IMF’s Special Drawing Right (SDR).

– The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement the official reserves of member countries.
– The value of the SDR is based on a basket of key international currencies. Prior to 2016, the basket consisted of the US dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, and British Pound.
– In 2015, the IMF’s Executive Board decided to include the Chinese Renminbi (RMB) in the SDR basket, effective October 1, 2016.

The inclusion of the Renminbi reflected its increased role in international trade and finance. The composition and weighting of the SDR basket are reviewed periodically by the IMF.

20. What is/are the importance/importances of the United Nations Conventio

What is/are the importance/importances of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.

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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UPSC IAS – 2016

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The correct answer is C) 1 and 3 only. Statements 1 and 3 correctly describe aspects of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), while statement 2 is inaccurate regarding its specific focus and resource allocation.

– The UNCCD is a global convention that addresses desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD). It promotes integrated approaches to land management.
– Statement 1 is correct: The convention aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
– Statement 3 is correct: The UNCCD emphasizes a bottom-up approach, recognizing the crucial role of local communities and their participation in combating desertification.
– Statement 2 is incorrect: While desertification affects South Asia and North Africa, the UNCCD’s focus is global, particularly on affected areas in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Mediterranean, and Central and Eastern Europe. The Secretariat facilitates resource mobilization but does not have a specific mandate to allocate a major portion *solely* to South Asia and North Africa.

The UNCCD was adopted in 1994 and entered into force in 1996. It is one of the three Rio Conventions, along with the UNFCCC (Climate Change) and the CBD (Biodiversity). Its implementation is primarily through national action programmes.

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