UPSC NDA-1 Archives

41. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I (Type of climate)	List II (State)
A. Monsoon with Short Dry Season (Amw)	1. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
B. Cold Humid Winter with Short Summer (Dfc)	3. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Monsoon with Dry Winter (Cwg)	4. Kerala and Karnataka Coast
D. Monsoon with Dry Summer (As)	2. Tamil Nadu Coast

Code :

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	A	B	C	D
(a)	4	3	1	2
(b)	4	1	3	2
(c)	2	1	3	4
(d)	2	3	1	4

Code (a)

Code (b)

Code (c)

Code (d)

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The correct matching is A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2. This corresponds to Code (a).

Based on the Köppen-Geiger climate classification (or simplified versions adapted for India):
– Amw (Monsoon with Short Dry Season): Found along the west coast south of Goa, including coastal Karnataka and Kerala. It is characterized by a distinct dry season but gets heavy monsoon rainfall. Matches Kerala and Karnataka Coast (4).
– Dfc (Cold Humid Winter with Short Summer): Found in very high altitudes in the Himalayan region where winters are very cold and summers are short and mild. Parts of Arunachal Pradesh at high elevation fit this description. Matches Arunachal Pradesh (3).
– Cwg (Monsoon with Dry Winter): Typical of the vast North Indian plains (Ganga valley), receiving monsoon rainfall during summer and experiencing a dry winter. Matches Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (1).
– As (Monsoon with Dry Summer): Found in areas that receive rainfall mainly from the retreating monsoon during the winter season, having a dry summer (during the main south-west monsoon). The Tamil Nadu coast is a prime example due to its location in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats during the summer monsoon and receiving rainfall from the North-East monsoon. Matches Tamil Nadu Coast (2).

Matching the types:
A. Amw -> 4. Kerala and Karnataka Coast
B. Dfc -> 3. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Cwg -> 1. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
D. As -> 2. Tamil Nadu Coast
This gives the code 4, 3, 1, 2, which is option (a).

42. Which of the following are correct with regard to Indian Monsoonal Rai

Which of the following are correct with regard to Indian Monsoonal Rainfall ?

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1. Largely governed by the topographical features
2. Regional and seasonal variation in the distribution of rainfall
3. Heavy downpour resulting in considerable runoff
4. Beginning and end of rain is regular and on time

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

3 and 4 only

2, 3 and 4

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Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct regarding Indian Monsoonal Rainfall. Statement 4 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct option is B (1, 2 and 3).

1. Largely governed by topographical features: The Himalayas act as a barrier to the monsoon winds, causing rainfall in the plains, while the Western Ghats cause heavy orographic rainfall on the windward side.
2. Regional and seasonal variation: Rainfall distribution varies significantly across India (e.g., high rainfall in the North-East and Western Ghats, low rainfall in Rajasthan) and is concentrated in the monsoon season (June to September).
3. Heavy downpour resulting in considerable runoff: Monsoon rainfall is often intense, leading to high runoff, river flooding, and soil erosion.
4. Beginning and end of rain is regular and on time: The Indian monsoon is known for its variability in terms of onset, withdrawal, and intensity each year. While there is a typical timeline, variations are common and have significant impacts, especially on agriculture. Hence, this statement is incorrect.

The variability of the monsoon is a key challenge for Indian agriculture and water management. The monsoon is influenced by various factors, including the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

43. Which one among the following is the correct order of tiger reserves s

Which one among the following is the correct order of tiger reserves situated from North to South in India ?

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Corbett – Simlipal – Sariska – Periyar

Periyar – Sariska – Simlipal – Corbett

Corbett – Sariska – Simlipal – Periyar

Periyar – Simlipal – Sariska – Corbett

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The correct order of the given tiger reserves from North to South in India is Corbett – Sariska – Simlipal – Periyar.

– Corbett Tiger Reserve is located in Uttarakhand, which is in the northern part of India.
– Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan, situated to the south-west of Uttarakhand.
– Simlipal Tiger Reserve is located in Odisha, which is in eastern India, geographically south-east of Rajasthan.
– Periyar Tiger Reserve is located in Kerala, situated in the southern part of India, south of Odisha.
Arranging these locations from North to South gives the order: Uttarakhand (Corbett) -> Rajasthan (Sariska) -> Odisha (Simlipal) -> Kerala (Periyar).

This question tests the geographical location knowledge of important National Parks/Tiger Reserves in India.

44. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I (Mineral)	List II (Leading State)
A. Manganese	1. Uttarakhand
B. Gypsum	2. Karnataka
C. Limestone	3. Rajasthan
D. Magnesite	4. Odisha

Code :

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	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	3	2	4
(b)	1	2	3	4
(c)	4	2	3	1
(d)	4	3	2	1

Code (a)

Code (b)

Code (c)

Code (d)

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The correct matching is A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1. This corresponds to Code (d).

– Manganese: Odisha is the leading producer state for Manganese ore in India. So A matches 4.
– Gypsum: Rajasthan is the largest producer of Gypsum in India. So B matches 3.
– Limestone: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka are major limestone producing states. Among the options, Karnataka is listed. So C matches 2.
– Magnesite: Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan are significant producers. Uttarakhand (especially Almora) is a major source. So D matches 1.

Matching the leading states with minerals:
Manganese -> Odisha (4)
Gypsum -> Rajasthan (3)
Limestone -> Karnataka (2) – While Rajasthan is the largest producer overall, Karnataka is a significant producer, and this match completes the correct combination with other well-established leading states.
Magnesite -> Uttarakhand (1) – Uttarakhand has significant deposits, particularly in the Almora district.
Thus, A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 is the correct set of matches.

45. The colourful part of the Sunflower or Marigold plant is

The colourful part of the Sunflower or Marigold plant is

Flower

Inflorescence

Fruit

Seed

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The colourful part of the Sunflower or Marigold plant is an inflorescence.

Plants like Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Marigold (Tagetes spp.) belong to the family Asteraceae (also known as Compositae). Their characteristic flower structure is a capitulum or head, which is a type of inflorescence. What appears to be a single flower is actually a composite structure made up of many smaller individual flowers called florets. The outer, colourful “petals” are typically ray florets, while the central part consists of numerous disc florets.

A single flower is a reproductive structure. An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or complicated arrangement of branches. Fruits develop from flowers (or inflorescences in some cases), and seeds are contained within the fruit, developing from ovules.

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46. Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops in India. It is grown to

Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops in India. It is grown to obtain

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Starch

Glucose

Fructose

Sucrose

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Sugarcane is primarily grown to obtain sucrose.

Sugarcane juice is rich in sucrose, which is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. Sucrose is extracted and refined from sugarcane to produce table sugar. While sugarcane juice also contains small amounts of glucose and fructose, the main sugar produced is sucrose. Starch is a polysaccharide found in tubers and grains, not the main product from sugarcane.

Sugarcane is processed to extract the juice, which is then purified, concentrated, and crystallized to obtain sucrose. Byproducts like molasses are also produced.

47. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

All proteins are enzymes

Mostly enzymes are proteins

All fats are energy rich compounds

Glucose is a common carbohydrate

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Statement A is incorrect.

Enzymes are biological catalysts, and the vast majority of enzymes are proteins. However, not all proteins function as enzymes. Proteins perform a wide variety of functions in living organisms, including structural support (e.g., collagen, keratin), transport (e.g., haemoglobin), defence (antibodies), movement (actin, myosin), and signaling (hormones like insulin). Only a subset of proteins possesses enzymatic activity. There are also some non-protein enzymes, such as ribozymes (RNA molecules).

Statement B is correct: Mostly enzymes are proteins. Statement C is correct: Fats are a major source of stored energy and are thus energy-rich compounds. Statement D is correct: Glucose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) and is a very common and fundamental carbohydrate, serving as the primary energy source for many organisms.

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48. Colour vision in human eyes is the function of photoreceptor cells

Colour vision in human eyes is the function of photoreceptor cells named

Rods

Cones

Blind spot

Fovea

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Colour vision in human eyes is the function of photoreceptor cells named Cones. The retina contains two main types of photoreceptor cells: rods and cones.

Rods are highly sensitive to light intensity and are responsible for vision in dim light conditions (scotopic vision). They are monochromatic, meaning they do not contribute to color perception. Cones are less sensitive to light but are responsible for detailed vision and color perception in bright light conditions (photopic vision). Humans typically have three types of cones, each sensitive to different ranges of wavelengths of light (corresponding roughly to red, green, and blue colors).

The blind spot is an area on the retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye; it contains no photoreceptors and thus causes a blind spot in vision. The fovea is a small central pit in the retina, densely packed with cones, and is responsible for sharp, central vision and high-resolution color vision. While important for color vision, the fovea is a region containing photoreceptors, not the photoreceptor type itself.

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49. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I (Noble gas)	List II (Use)
A. Argon	1. In lights for advertising display
B. Neon	2. Airport landing lights and in light houses
C. Krypton	3. Light in photographer’s flash gun
D. Xenon	4. In tungsten filament to last longer

Code :

3 1 2 4

3 2 1 4

4 2 1 3

4 1 2 3

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The correct match is A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3. This option correctly pairs each noble gas with one of its common or significant uses listed.

– Argon is widely used as an inert filling gas in incandescent light bulbs (tungsten filament lamps) to prevent the oxidation of the filament and reduce its evaporation, thereby increasing the bulb’s lifespan (List II – 4).
– Neon is famously used in “neon signs” for advertising displays, producing a characteristic red-orange glow when an electric current is passed through it (List II – 1).
– Krypton is used in various lighting applications, including some high-efficiency fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, and is also used in some airport lighting systems and blended into other high-intensity discharge lamps (List II – 2 is a plausible use, although Xenon is more primary).
– Xenon is used in high-intensity discharge lamps such as those found in cinema projectors, high-end car headlights, airport landing lights, lighthouses (List II – 2), and in photographic flash lamps/guns (List II – 3).

Based on typical primary uses, A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 would be the most accurate. However, examining the options provided, Option D matches A-4, B-1, C-2, and D-3. Matches A-4, B-1, and D-3 are correct and common uses. While Krypton (C) is not the primary gas for airport landing lights (which is usually Xenon), it is sometimes used in specific systems or blends. Xenon (D) is also a primary gas for photographer’s flash guns. Given the options, D provides the best set of matches, correctly pairing Argon with tungsten filaments, Neon with advertising displays, and Xenon with flash guns, leaving Krypton with a plausible secondary use in airport lighting.

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50. The valency of an element depends upon the

The valency of an element depends upon the

total number of protons in an atom

mass number of an atom

total number of neutrons in an atom

total number of electrons in the outer most shell of an atom

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The valency of an element depends upon the total number of electrons in the outermost shell of an atom. These electrons are called valence electrons.

Valency is the combining capacity of an element, which is determined by how readily an atom gains, loses, or shares electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, typically like that of a noble gas (usually a full outer shell). The number of electrons in the outermost shell dictates how an atom will participate in chemical bonding. Elements with a few valence electrons tend to lose them (forming positive ions), elements with nearly full outer shells tend to gain electrons (forming negative ions), and elements with partially filled outer shells often share electrons (forming covalent bonds).

The total number of protons determines the atomic number and identifies the element. The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons and relates to the atom’s mass and isotopes. The number of neutrons affects isotopes but generally not the chemical properties or valency of the element. The arrangement of electrons in the outer shell is the primary factor governing chemical reactivity and valency.

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