UPSC NDA-1

31. Consider the following features about a geographical phenomenon : 1.

Consider the following features about a geographical phenomenon :

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  • 1. Torrents of snow and ice roaring down a steep mountain side
  • 2. It is hazardous to skiers and mountaineers
  • 3. It involves a mix of falling, rolling, sliding and flowing of materials

Which of the following phenomena can be identified with the above features?

Slump and earthflow
Avalanche
Landslide
Rockslide
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The description of “Torrents of snow and ice roaring down a steep mountain side” is characteristic of an avalanche. Avalanches are rapid mass movements composed mainly of snow and ice. They are a significant hazard in mountainous regions, particularly for skiers and mountaineers. The movement in an avalanche often involves a mix of falling, rolling, sliding, and flowing snow/ice and debris.
An avalanche is a specific type of rapid mass wasting involving snow and ice on a slope.
While landslides can involve rock, debris, or earth, the mention of “snow and ice” specifically points towards an avalanche. Rockslides involve primarily rock material. Slumps and earthflows are types of mass movements involving soil and unconsolidated material, usually less rapid and not primarily composed of snow and ice.

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32. Which of the following statements in respect of landslides are correct

Which of the following statements in respect of landslides are correct?

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  • These occur only on gentle slopes during rain.
  • They generally occur in clay-rich soil.
  • Earthquakes trigger landslides.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 1 is incorrect because landslides occur primarily on steep slopes where gravity is a significant factor, not only on gentle slopes. While rain is a common trigger, landslides can occur due to other factors as well. Statement 2 is correct as clay-rich soils become unstable when saturated, increasing the risk of landslides. Statement 3 is correct as earthquakes are well-known triggers for landslides due to ground shaking.
Landslides are mass movements occurring on slopes. Their occurrence is influenced by factors like slope angle, soil/rock type, water content, and external triggers like rain or earthquakes.
Factors contributing to landslides include geological factors (weak materials, jointing), morphological factors (steep slopes, erosion), physical factors (intense rainfall, seismic activity), and human factors (deforestation, construction). Clay soils are particularly prone to landslides due to their low shear strength when wet.

33. While travelling to a hilly region, you notice a massive boulder, whic

While travelling to a hilly region, you notice a massive boulder, which was loosened by heavy rains and moved downhill. This has resulted due to which of the following processes?

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  • Mass wasting
  • Erosion
  • Weathering

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The scenario describes a process involving multiple geological phenomena. Heavy rains contribute to weathering by saturating the ground and potentially expanding cracks, which helps *loosen* the boulder or the material supporting it. Heavy rains also act as a trigger for mass wasting by increasing the weight of the material, reducing friction (lubrication), and increasing pore water pressure. Erosion by the heavy rain could also potentially undercut the boulder’s support. The actual *movement* of the boulder downhill under the influence of gravity is a clear example of mass wasting (potentially a rockfall or part of a landslide). Thus, weathering contributed to the loosening, erosion by rain contributed to the triggering mechanism, and mass wasting is the process of movement.
Weathering weakens material, making it susceptible to movement. Mass wasting is the downslope movement under gravity. Erosion is the transport of material by agents like water. In this scenario, all three processes are likely involved or contribute to the event.
Mass wasting events like landslides or rockfalls are often preceded by weathering and triggered by events like heavy rainfall or earthquakes. Heavy rain can cause significant erosion, which further destabilizes slopes and contributes to the trigger.

34. Inhabitants are unaware of the speed of rotation of the planet Earth b

Inhabitants are unaware of the speed of rotation of the planet Earth because

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  • the angular velocity is constant for each place on the Earth’s surface
  • the atmosphere rotates with the Earth
  • there are no nearby objects, either stationary or moving at a rate different from that of the Earth

Which of the above is/are the correct explanation(s)?

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three statements provide valid reasons why inhabitants are unaware of the Earth’s rotation speed.
Our perception of motion is relative. Since everything around us (atmosphere, land, buildings) is rotating with us at the same speed, and the rotation is constant, we don’t feel the motion or observe significant relative movement.
Statement 1: The constant angular velocity means there is no significant acceleration (except constant centripetal acceleration, which is small and contributes subtly to gravity variations but not the feeling of rotation speed) that we would feel as a change in motion. Our senses primarily detect changes in velocity (acceleration).
Statement 2: The atmosphere rotating with the Earth means there is no strong wind resistance or relative air movement caused by our speed, which would otherwise make the motion noticeable.
Statement 3: Without nearby stationary objects or objects moving at a different speed, we lack a visual reference frame to perceive our rapid motion. Distant celestial objects are too far away to provide this sense of rapid nearby movement.

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35. Who among the following American Presidents described democracy as “Go

Who among the following American Presidents described democracy as “Government of the People, for the People and by the People”?

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Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
John F. Kennedy
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The most famous definition of democracy as “Government of the People, for the People and by the People” was articulated by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address, delivered during the American Civil War on November 19, 1863.
Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is one of the most important speeches in American history and provides a concise and powerful definition of democratic government.
While Thomas Jefferson was a principal author of the Declaration of Independence and a key figure in establishing American democracy, and George Washington was the first US President, this particular phrase is unequivocally attributed to Abraham Lincoln. John F. Kennedy was a later President known for his inaugural address quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

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36. Which of the following is/are the right/rights mentioned in the ‘Ameri

Which of the following is/are the right/rights mentioned in the ‘American Declaration of Independence’?
1. Life
2. Liberty
3. Pursuit of Happiness
4. Fraternity
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
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The Preamble to the United States Declaration of Independence (1776) famously states, “…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The American Declaration of Independence lists Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness as fundamental, unalienable rights.
The concept of ‘Fraternity’ is prominently associated with the ideals of the French Revolution, along with Liberty and Equality, rather than the American Declaration of Independence.

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37. Panchayati Raj Institutions are primarily the institutions of

Panchayati Raj Institutions are primarily the institutions of

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Popular Government
Self-Government
Federal Government
Quasi-Government
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Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are local self-government bodies at the village, intermediate, and district levels in rural India. Their primary objective, reinforced by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, is to enable democratic decentralization and empower people at the grassroots level to participate in decision-making and local development.
The term ‘self-government’ refers to governance by the people themselves, especially at the local level, empowering communities to manage their own affairs. PRIs embody this principle.
While PRIs are a part of the broader structure of popular government in India, ‘self-government’ is the specific characteristic that defines their nature and purpose at the local level. Federal government pertains to the distribution of power between the central and state governments, not local bodies. Quasi-government refers to entities that are not strictly government but perform governmental functions; PRIs are an integral part of the governmental structure.

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38. The elections to the Lower House of the Parliament of India, held in 2

The elections to the Lower House of the Parliament of India, held in 2019, constituted the

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14th Lok Sabha
15th Lok Sabha
16th Lok Sabha
17th Lok Sabha
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The elections to the Lower House of the Parliament of India (Lok Sabha) held in 2019 were the 17th general elections since India’s independence. Consequently, the Lok Sabha constituted after these elections is the 17th Lok Sabha.
The first general election in India was held in 1951-52, forming the 1st Lok Sabha. Subsequent elections have been held generally every five years, with some exceptions due to premature dissolution.
The 14th Lok Sabha was constituted in 2004, the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009, and the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014.

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39. Which Chinese traveller in ancient India wrote the diary called ‘Recor

Which Chinese traveller in ancient India wrote the diary called ‘Records of the Travels to Middle India’?

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Wang Xuance
Xuanzang
Yijing
Li Yibiao
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Xuanzang (also known as Hiuen Tsang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India in the 7th century CE during the reign of Emperor Harsha. His extensive travelogue, which included observations about the society, religion, and administration of the time, is titled ‘Great Tang Records on the Western Regions’. Descriptions of his journey and findings in various regions of India are often referred to in summaries or selections as ‘Records of the Travels to Middle India’ or similar titles.
Xuanzang’s travel account is one of the most important sources of information for the history of 7th-century India.
Other notable Chinese travellers to ancient India include Faxian (Fa Hien) in the 5th century and Yijing (I-tsing) in the late 7th century. Wang Xuance was a Chinese diplomat who led missions to India in the 7th century.

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40. Which one of the following is not a Constitutional Commission of

Which one of the following is not a Constitutional Commission of India?

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The National Commission for Scheduled Castes
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
The National Commission for Backward Classes
The National Commission for Women
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The National Commission for Women (NCW) is a statutory body, not a Constitutional Commission. It was established by an Act of Parliament, the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, in 1992.
Constitutional Commissions are bodies explicitly mentioned and established by the Constitution of India. Statutory bodies are created by an Act passed by the Parliament or a State Legislature.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338), the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A), and the National Commission for Backward Classes (Article 338B) are all Constitutional Commissions. Article 338B was inserted by the 102nd Amendment Act, 2018, giving constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.

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