UPSC IAS Archives

21. Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants? 1. They may rel

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?

1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.
2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.
3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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The correct option is B. Statements 2 and 3 are significant concerns associated with copper smelting plants, while statement 1 is less characteristic as a primary lethal pollution concern compared to sulphur dioxide emissions.

– Copper smelting often involves processing sulfide ores, leading to the release of large quantities of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major air pollutant causing acid rain and respiratory issues. Statement 3 is correct.
– Copper slag, a waste byproduct of the smelting process, contains various heavy metals (including copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, etc.). There is a significant concern about the leaching of these heavy metals into the environment, contaminating soil and water. Statement 2 is correct.
– While carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced from incomplete combustion processes which might occur in some parts of smelting, it is not typically highlighted as the primary or most widespread lethal air pollution concern from large-scale copper smelting operations compared to SO2. Statement 1 is less likely to be a major *defining* concern.

Other environmental concerns related to copper smelting include particulate matter emissions, arsenic emissions (depending on ore composition), and solid waste disposal (slag). Modern smelting facilities employ technologies like sulfuric acid plants to capture SO2 and convert it into sulfuric acid, mitigating air pollution, but environmental risks remain, particularly from older plants and slag disposal.

22. ‘R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the

‘R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of

environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry

ecological management of 'Wetlands of International Importance' under the Ramsar Convention

sustainable practices in the cultivation of agricultural crops in degraded lands

'Environmental Impact Assessment' in the exploitation of natural resources

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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The correct option is A. The ‘R2 Code of Practices’ is a voluntary standard specifically developed for the electronics recycling industry to promote environmentally sound and socially responsible practices.

– R2 stands for Responsible Recycling.
– It provides a framework for electronics recyclers to ensure worker health and safety, environmental protection, security, and proper management of materials throughout the recycling process, especially concerning hazardous materials.

The R2 Standard is managed by SCS Global Services. Adherence to the R2 Standard helps companies minimize environmental and human health risks associated with electronics disposal and recycling. Other standards exist in this domain, such as e-Stewards.

23. In India, the central bank’s function as the ‘lender of last resort’ u

In India, the central bank’s function as the ‘lender of last resort’ usually refers to which of the following?

1. Lending to trade and industry bodies when they fail to borrow from other sources
2. Providing liquidity to the banks having a temporary crisis
3. Lending to governments to finance budgetary deficits

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2

2 only

2 and 3

3 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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The central bank’s function as the ‘lender of last resort’ usually refers to providing liquidity to the banks having a temporary crisis.

The ‘lender of last resort’ is a function of the central bank where it provides emergency liquidity to financial institutions (primarily commercial banks) that are experiencing severe financial difficulties but are considered solvent. The purpose is to prevent bank runs and the collapse of the banking system, thereby maintaining financial stability.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The lender of last resort facility is primarily for banks and sometimes other critical financial institutions, not individual trade or industry bodies. Statement 3 is incorrect: Lending to the government to finance deficits is a fiscal operation or part of monetary policy implementation (e.g., buying government bonds), distinct from the emergency liquidity provision to illiquid banks in times of crisis.

24. With reference to ‘WaterCredit’, consider the following statements:

With reference to ‘WaterCredit’, consider the following statements:

It puts microfinance tools to work in the water and sanitation sector.
It is a global initiative launched under the aegis of the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
It aims to enable the poor people to meet their water needs without depending on subsidies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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Statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Statement 1 is correct: WaterCredit is an initiative of Water.org that applies microfinance principles to address the water and sanitation crisis. It partners with financial institutions to offer small, affordable loans to people in need of access to safe water and sanitation.
Statement 2 is incorrect: WaterCredit is an initiative of the non-profit organization Water.org. While Water.org works with many partners and global organizations, it was not launched specifically under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank.
Statement 3 is correct: A primary goal of WaterCredit is to provide access to finance that enables poor individuals and families to invest in water and sanitation solutions (like building a toilet or connecting to a water supply) without relying solely on potentially scarce or unavailable government subsidies or charity.

Water.org estimates that millions of people have gained access to safe water or sanitation through WaterCredit. The model aims to be sustainable by using loan repayments to fund further projects.

25. With reference to India, consider the following statements: Retail i

With reference to India, consider the following statements:

Retail investors through demat account can invest in ‘Treasury Bills’ and ‘Government of India Bonds’ in primary market.
The ‘Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching’ is a government securities trading platform of the Reserve Bank of India.
The ‘Central Depository Services Ltd.’ is jointly promoted by the Reserve Bank of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

1 and 2

3 only

2 and 3

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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Statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Statement 1 is correct: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ scheme, which allows retail investors to open a ‘Retail Direct Gilt Account’ with the RBI and invest in Government Securities (G-Secs), including Treasury Bills, GoI Bonds, etc., in both the primary auctions and the secondary market through an online portal.
Statement 2 is correct: Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching (NDS-OM) is the main electronic trading platform for G-Secs in India, operated by the Reserve Bank of India.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Central Depository Services Ltd. (CDSL) is one of the two central securities depositories in India (the other being NSDL). CDSL was promoted by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) along with several banks (Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Union Bank of India). The Reserve Bank of India is not a promoter of CDSL.

RBI Retail Direct scheme aims to deepen the bond market by allowing direct participation of retail investors. Depositories like CDSL and NSDL hold securities in electronic form and facilitate trading and settlement.

26. With reference to Indian economy, demand-pull inflation can be caused/

With reference to Indian economy, demand-pull inflation can be caused/increased by which of the following?

Expansionary policies
Fiscal stimulus
Inflation-indexing wages
Higher purchasing power
Rising interest rates

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 4 only

3, 4 and 5 only

1, 2, 3 and 5 only

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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Demand-pull inflation can be caused/increased by Expansionary policies, Fiscal stimulus, and Higher purchasing power.

Demand-pull inflation occurs when aggregate demand in an economy outpaces aggregate supply.
1. Expansionary policies (monetary or fiscal) increase the money supply or government spending/reduce taxes, leading to higher aggregate demand.
2. Fiscal stimulus is a type of expansionary fiscal policy specifically aimed at boosting demand.
4. Higher purchasing power means consumers and businesses have more ability and willingness to spend, directly increasing aggregate demand.
3. Inflation-indexing wages can contribute to persistent inflation by maintaining demand and fueling a wage-price spiral, but it’s often discussed in the context of cost-push or inertial inflation as well. However, maintaining purchasing power supports demand.
5. Rising interest rates reduce borrowing and spending, thus decreasing aggregate demand, which is the opposite of what causes demand-pull inflation.
Given the options, {1, 2, 4} represent the most direct and clear drivers of demand-pull inflation. Statement 3 is debatable in its primary classification but does support demand. Statement 5 directly reduces demand.

The typical causes of demand-pull inflation include increased consumer spending, increased investment spending, increased government spending, and increased net exports. These are often stimulated by expansionary government policies or positive economic sentiment leading to higher purchasing power.

27. 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?

Increase in the Cash Reserve Ratio in the banks

Increase in the Statutory Liquidity Ratio in the banks

Increase in the banking habit of the people

Increase in the population of the country

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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The money multiplier in an economy increases with an increase in the banking habit of the people.

The money multiplier is the ratio of the money supply to the monetary base. It is influenced by the reserve requirements (CRR, SLR) and the public’s preference for holding currency versus deposits. The formula for the money multiplier is approximately (1 + Currency Ratio) / (Reserve Ratio + Currency Ratio). The Currency Ratio is the ratio of currency held by the public to demand deposits.
An increase in the banking habit of people means they prefer to hold less cash and deposit more money in banks, leading to a decrease in the Currency Ratio. A lower Currency Ratio in the money multiplier formula results in a higher money multiplier.

Increase in CRR (A) increases the Reserve Ratio, decreasing the money multiplier. Increase in SLR (B) also increases the Reserve Ratio, decreasing the money multiplier. Increase in population (D) does not directly determine the money multiplier, though it can affect the total volume of money and economic activity.

28. With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2

2 only

1 and 3

3 only

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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Only statement 2 is correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Mitakshara and Dayabhaga systems were schools of Hindu law primarily dealing with inheritance and property rights, based on different interpretations of ancient Dharmasastras. They were geographically relevant (Mitakshara prevalent across most of India, Dayabhaga primarily in Bengal and Assam) and based on differing legal principles regarding joint family property and inheritance, not on caste distinctions.
Statement 2 is correct: This statement accurately describes a key difference. Under the Mitakshara system, a son acquires a right by birth in the ancestral property of the joint family (coparcenary). Under the Dayabhaga system, the son does not acquire any right in the father’s property during the father’s lifetime; inheritance occurs only after the father’s death, when the property becomes divisible.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Both systems traditionally dealt with coparcenary property, which primarily consisted of property held by male members in a joint family. While the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (and its 2005 amendment) significantly reformed this by giving daughters equal rights in ancestral property, the traditional systems as originally conceived did not deal equally with property held by both male and female members in the manner implied.

The Mitakshara system is based on the commentary by Vijnaneswara on the Yajnavalkya Smriti. The Dayabhaga system is based on the text by Jimutavahana. These systems represented divergent interpretations of Hindu law, particularly concerning property rights within a family.

29. Consider the following statements : 1. St. Francis Xavier was one o

Consider the following statements :

1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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Statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Statement 1 is correct: St. Francis Xavier was indeed one of the original six companions of Ignatius of Loyola who co-founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order) in 1540.
Statement 2 is incorrect: St. Francis Xavier died on Shangchuan Island, off the coast of mainland China, on December 3, 1552. His body was later moved and is enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, but he did not die in Goa.
Statement 3 is correct: The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is a major religious festival celebrated annually in Goa on December 3rd, commemorating his death anniversary.

St. Francis Xavier was a pioneering Christian missionary, particularly in Asia. Goa holds his relics and is a significant pilgrimage site.

30. Consider the following statements : 1. It was during the reign of I

Consider the following statements :

1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chenghiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

1 and 2

3 only

2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

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Only statement 1 is correct.

Statement 1 is correct: Chenghiz Khan did reach the banks of the Indus River in 1221 AD while pursuing the Khwarezmian prince Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu. This event occurred during the reign of Iltutmish (1211-1236 AD) in the Delhi Sultanate.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Timur invaded India and sacked Delhi in 1398 AD. At that time, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq (1394-1413 AD), the last ruler of the Tughluq dynasty, not Muhammad bin Tughluq (1324-1351 AD).
Statement 3 is incorrect: Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, on the coast of Kerala, in 1498 AD. Deva Raya II reigned the Vijayanagara Empire from 1422 to 1446 AD. The ruler of Vijayanagara around 1498 AD was Immadi Narasimha Nayaka or Vira Narasimha Raya.

Iltutmish’s decision to refuse asylum to Jalal ad-Din is considered a wise diplomatic move that saved the nascent Delhi Sultanate from a potential Mongol invasion. Timur’s invasion marked the end of the Tughluq dynasty’s effective rule over northern India. Vasco da Gama’s arrival marked the beginning of European sea trade with India and paved the way for colonial rule.