UPSC IAS Archives

11. Consider the following animals: 1. Sea cow 2. Sea horse 3. Sea lio

Consider the following animals:

1. Sea cow
2. Sea horse
3. Sea lion

Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

1 only

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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The correct option is B, meaning that Sea cow and Sea lion are mammals, while Sea horse is not.

– Sea cows (which include manatees and dugongs) are aquatic mammals belonging to the order Sirenia.
– Sea horses are small marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus. They are a type of fish, not a mammal.
– Sea lions are marine mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all four flippers on land, and short, thick hair. They belong to the family Otariidae.

Mammals are characterized by features such as having mammary glands (producing milk for young), being warm-blooded, having hair or fur, and typically giving birth to live young. Fish are aquatic vertebrates characterized by gills, fins, and usually scales, and they are cold-blooded.

12. With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assem

With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were

directly elected by the people of those Provinces

nominated by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League

elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies

selected by the Government for their expertise in constitutional matters

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The members of the Constituent Assembly from the British Indian Provinces were indirectly elected by the members of the respective Provincial Legislative Assemblies.

The composition of the Constituent Assembly was based on the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946. This scheme stipulated that representatives from the provinces would be elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies on the basis of proportional representation with single transferable vote. The seats were allocated roughly in proportion to the population of each province and princely state.

Option A is incorrect as it was an indirect election. Option B is incorrect; while the major parties played a significant role, the members were elected by assemblies, not nominated by the parties themselves. Option D is incorrect; selection was through election by existing assemblies, not direct nomination by the government based on expertise, although expertise was certainly a factor in who was elected.

13. Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking wate

Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India?

1. Arsenic
2. Sorbitol
3. Fluoride
4. Formaldehyde
5. Uranium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 and 3 only

2, 4 and 5 only

1, 3 and 5 only

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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Arsenic, Fluoride, and Uranium are well-documented as pollutants found in drinking water sources in various parts of India, often occurring naturally at harmful concentrations.

1. Arsenic: Widespread arsenic contamination of groundwater is a major public health issue in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Assam.
2. Fluoride: Excess fluoride in groundwater is prevalent in many states, leading to fluorosis (dental and skeletal) in affected populations.
3. Uranium: Elevated levels of naturally occurring uranium in groundwater have been detected in multiple states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, posing radiological and chemical risks.

Sorbitol (2) is a sugar alcohol generally not considered a primary widespread pollutant in this context. Formaldehyde (4) is a chemical that can contaminate water, but it’s less commonly cited as a widespread contaminant across *parts of India* due to natural or broad anthropogenic causes compared to arsenic, fluoride, and uranium, which are often geogenic (naturally occurring in rocks and soil).

14. Consider the following : 1. Star tortoise 2. Monitor lizard 3. Pyg

Consider the following :

1. Star tortoise
2. Monitor lizard
3. Pygmy hog
4. Spider monkey

Which of the above are naturally found in India?

1, 2 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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The Indian Star Tortoise, various species of Monitor Lizards, and the Pygmy Hog are naturally found in India. Spider Monkeys are native to the Americas and are not found in the wild in India.

1. The Indian Star Tortoise (*Geochelone elegans*) is native to dry areas of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
2. Several species of Monitor Lizards (*Varanus* spp.) inhabit India, such as the Bengal Monitor, Yellow Monitor, and Desert Monitor.
3. The Pygmy Hog (*Porcula salvania*) is endemic to the grasslands of the southern foothills of the Himalayas, currently found only in Assam, India.
4. Spider Monkeys belong to the genus *Ateles* and are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Identifying species naturally found in a region requires knowledge of biogeography. While some non-native species might be present in zoos or as escaped pets, the question asks which are *naturally* found in India, referring to their native range.

15. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India reco

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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Statements 2 and 3 are correct descriptions based on Yuan Chwang’s account of India during the reign of Harshavardhana. Statement 1 is incorrect as he himself reported being robbed.

Yuan Chwang’s “Si-Yu-Ki” (Records of the Western Regions) is a valuable historical source. He noted the judicial system sometimes employed ordeals by fire, water, poison, or weighing metal to determine guilt or innocence. He also documented that tradesmen were required to pay duties at various checkpoints, including ferries and barrier stations, which constituted a source of state revenue.

Regarding statement 1, Yuan Chwang explicitly details instances where he and his party were attacked and robbed, indicating that the roads and river routes were by no means completely safe or “immune” from robbery, although law and order were generally maintained in many areas under Harsha’s rule.

16. Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be tr

Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferred

1. across different species of plants
2. from animals to plants
3. from microorganisms to higher organisms

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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Recombinant DNA technology allows genes to be transferred across different species and even kingdoms. All three statements describe possible applications of this technology.

1. Transfer across different species of plants: Yes, this is common in developing Genetically Modified (GM) crops, for example, transferring herbicide resistance genes between plant species or varieties.
2. From animals to plants: Yes, while perhaps not as common as plant-to-plant or microorganism-to-plant transfers for agricultural purposes, it is technically possible to transfer genes from animals to plants using genetic engineering techniques. This has been explored in research for various purposes.
3. From microorganisms to higher organisms: Yes, this is a very common application. For instance, transferring genes from bacteria (like the Bt gene) to plants for pest resistance (e.g., Bt cotton), or inserting genes from humans into bacteria or yeast for the production of therapeutic proteins like insulin.

Recombinant DNA technology involves techniques like gene cloning and transformation, allowing scientists to isolate a gene from one organism and introduce it into another organism, often unrelated, to express a desired trait or produce a specific product. This technology has vast applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry.

17. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, conside

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements :

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 and 3 only

3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Statement 3 is correct. At Ellora, caves were carved for different religious faiths, specifically Buddhism (caves 1-12), Hinduism (caves 13-29), and Jainism (caves 30-34).

Statement 1 is incorrect. The caves at Badami belong to the 6th century CE (Chalukya period). The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India are generally considered to be the Barabar Caves, dating back to the Mauryan period (3rd century BCE).
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Barabar rock-cut caves were indeed made for Ajivikas, but they were built by Emperor Ashoka (c. 268-232 BCE) and his successor Dasharatha, who were part of the Maurya dynasty but were not Chandragupta Maurya.

The Ellora Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for their synthesis of three different religious traditions in one complex. The Barabar Caves are located in Bihar and represent some of the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India. The Badami Cave Temples in Karnataka are known for their blend of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Dravidian styles.

18. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? Geographica

Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Geographical Feature	Region
(a) Abyssinian Plateau	: Arabia
(b) Atlas Mountains	: North-Western Africa
(c) Guiana Highlands	: South-Western Africa
(d) Okavango Basin	: Patagonia

Abyssinian Plateau : Arabia

Atlas Mountains : North-Western Africa

Guiana Highlands : South-Western Africa

Okavango Basin : Patagonia

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The pair “Atlas Mountains : North-Western Africa” is correctly matched. The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb region of North-Western Africa, stretching through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

(a) Abyssinian Plateau is located in Ethiopia, East Africa, not Arabia.
(c) Guiana Highlands are located in northern South America.
(d) Okavango Basin (including the delta) is located in Southern Africa (primarily Botswana, Namibia, Angola), not Patagonia (which is in South America).

Accurate geographical knowledge is crucial for matching features with their correct regions. Knowing the approximate locations of major geographical features like plateaus, mountains, basins, and highlands is important for such questions.

19. Which one of the following statements is correct?

Which one of the following statements is correct?

In India, the same person cannot be appointed as Governor for two or more States at the same time

The Judges of the High Court of the States in India are appointed by the Governor of the State just as the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President

No procedure has been laid down in the Constitution of India for the removal of a Governor from his/her post

In the case of a Union Territory having a legislative setup, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Lt. Governor on the basis of majority support

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Statement C is correct. The Constitution of India does not lay down a specific procedure for the removal of a Governor from his/her post. Article 156(1) states that the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President. This means the President can remove a Governor at any time without stating a reason.

A) Incorrect: Article 153 explicitly states that “nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.”
B) Incorrect: Judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, not the Governor of the State. The Governor is consulted in the appointment of High Court Judges.
D) Incorrect: In Union Territories with a legislative setup (like Delhi, Puducherry), the Chief Minister is appointed by the President, usually acting through the Lt. Governor, but the appointment is based on the majority support in the Assembly and formally made by the President. The Lt. Governor administers the UT on behalf of the President.

While the Constitution does not prescribe a procedure for removal, the Supreme Court in Rameshwar Prasad & Ors vs Union Of India & Anr (2006) ruled that the power to remove a Governor cannot be exercised arbitrarily or capriciously. Removal should be based on compelling reasons related to the Governor’s unsuitability or unfitness for office.

20. What will follow if a Money Bill is substantially amended by the Rajya

What will follow if a Money Bill is substantially amended by the Rajya Sabha?

The Lok Sabha may still proceed with the Bill, accepting or not accepting the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha

The Lok Sabha cannot consider the Bill further

The Lok Sabha may send the Bill to the Rajya Sabha for reconsideration

The President may call a joint sitting for passing the Bill

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If a Money Bill is substantially amended by the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha may still proceed with the Bill, accepting or not accepting the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha.

Under Article 109 of the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha has limited powers regarding Money Bills. It cannot amend a Money Bill itself but can only make recommendations within a period of fourteen days. The Lok Sabha is not bound by these recommendations.

If the Lok Sabha accepts any recommendations, the Bill is deemed passed by both houses with those amendments. If the Lok Sabha rejects all recommendations, the Bill is deemed passed by both houses in the form in which it was passed by the Lok Sabha. This highlights the Lok Sabha’s primacy in financial matters. There is no provision for a joint sitting for Money Bills because the Lok Sabha’s decision is final.