UPSC NDA-1 Archives

41. Which one of the following statements with respect to Global Positioni

Which one of the following statements with respect to Global Positioning System (GPS) is not correct?

It is based on network of satellites orbiting above the Earth.

It is based on the system of triangulation.

GPS receivers provide location in terms of latitude, longitude and altitude.

It provides information exclusively for military operations.

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is D) It provides information exclusively for military operations.

Let’s evaluate each statement:
A) It is based on network of satellites orbiting above the Earth. Correct. GPS relies on a constellation of dozens of satellites maintained by the United States.
B) It is based on the system of triangulation. Correct. GPS receivers calculate their position by determining the distance from multiple satellites. This process of determining location based on distance measurements from known points is often referred to as trilateration, which is similar in concept to triangulation (which uses angles).
C) GPS receivers provide location in terms of latitude, longitude and altitude. Correct. GPS provides a 3D position fix, including latitude, longitude, and height above a reference ellipsoid.
D) It provides information exclusively for military operations. Incorrect. While GPS was developed and is maintained by the U.S. military (Department of Defense), it has been available for civilian use globally since the 1980s and is used extensively for navigation, mapping, surveying, timing, etc., by both military and civilian users.

There are other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) besides the U.S. GPS, such as Russia’s GLONASS, Europe’s Galileo, China’s BeiDou, and India’s NavIC. Modern receivers often use signals from multiple GNSS to improve accuracy and reliability.

Join Our Telegram Channel

42. While watching news, you hear about a place, of which you had never he

While watching news, you hear about a place, of which you had never heard earlier. You want to know more about the place and you want to locate it on the map. Which of the following is/are required for you to be able to locate the place on the map?

Join Our Telegram Channel

Only latitude of the place

Only longitude of the place

Both longitude and latitude of the place

Latitude, longitude and altitude of the place

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is C) Both longitude and latitude of the place.

To precisely locate any point on the Earth’s surface on a 2D map, you need a system of coordinates. The most common system uses latitude and longitude. Latitude measures the angular distance north or south of the equator, and longitude measures the angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. The intersection of a specific latitude and a specific longitude provides a unique location on the map. Altitude (height above sea level) describes the vertical position and is not needed to locate a point horizontally on a standard map.

Latitude lines (parallels) run horizontally around the globe, parallel to the equator. Longitude lines (meridians) run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole. Together, they form a grid system allowing for the precise identification of any location on Earth. GPS devices use latitude, longitude, and altitude data to determine a user’s position. However, for locating a place on a map, only latitude and longitude are required for the horizontal coordinates.

43. In a group discussion on shape and size of the Earth, three students s

In a group discussion on shape and size of the Earth, three students stated the following points :

Join Our Telegram Channel

1. Student 1 : The shape of the Earth is basically an oblate spheroid.
2. Student 2 : The polar diameter of the Earth is more than the equatorial diameter.
3. Student 3 : Bulge along the equatorial region is due to revolution of the Earth.

Who among the above students is/are correct?

Student 1 only

Student 1 and Student 2 only

Student 2 and Student 3 only

Student 1, Student 2 and Student 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is A) Student 1 only.

Student 1: “The shape of the Earth is basically an oblate spheroid.” This is correct. The Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator. An oblate spheroid is a geometric shape that accurately represents this form.
Student 2: “The polar diameter of the Earth is more than the equatorial diameter.” This is incorrect. The equatorial diameter (approx. 12,756 km) is greater than the polar diameter (approx. 12,714 km) by about 42 km, due to the equatorial bulge.
Student 3: “Bulge along the equatorial region is due to revolution of the Earth.” This is incorrect. The equatorial bulge is primarily caused by the Earth’s *rotation* on its axis. The centrifugal force generated by rotation is strongest at the equator, leading to the outward bulge. Revolution refers to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Therefore, only Student 1’s statement is correct.

The Earth’s actual shape is even more irregular than an oblate spheroid due to variations in gravity and topography; this complex shape is called a geoid. However, for general purposes, an oblate spheroid is a good approximation. The difference between the equatorial and polar diameters is a consequence of the Earth’s formation and ongoing rotation.

44. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, which of the follow

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, which of the following is/are the feature/features of cloudburst?

1. Heavy precipitation in short period of time in a limited geographical area
2. It occurs generally during monsoon period and triggers flash flood and landslides

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Join Our Telegram Channel

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is C) Both 1 and 2.

Statement 1 correctly describes a key feature of a cloudburst: it is a very intense rainfall event concentrated over a small area and occurring within a short duration. This is often defined by specific rainfall intensity thresholds (e.g., 100 mm of rain per hour over a limited area).
Statement 2 correctly describes typical circumstances and consequences of cloudbursts in India: they often occur during the monsoon season, particularly in hilly and mountainous regions where topography enhances rainfall intensity. The sudden and massive volume of water can rapidly overwhelm drainage systems and saturate slopes, triggering flash floods and landslides.

Cloudbursts are highly localized phenomena and are notoriously difficult to predict precisely. While they primarily occur during the monsoon, they are not exclusive to this period and can happen in other seasons under specific atmospheric conditions. However, their association with monsoon and their role in causing hydro-meteorological disasters like flash floods and landslides are well-established, making statement 2 accurate in its description of common occurrences and triggers.

45. Which one of the following does not fall under the jurisdiction of t

Which one of the following does not fall under the jurisdiction of the apex court of India?

Original Jurisdiction

Appellate Jurisdiction

Collegiate Jurisdiction

Advisory Jurisdiction

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is C) Collegiate Jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court of India exercises several types of jurisdictions:
1. Original Jurisdiction: Matters where the Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to hear the case directly (e.g., disputes between the Union and states, or between states).
2. Appellate Jurisdiction: The power to hear appeals against judgments of lower courts, primarily High Courts. This includes constitutional, civil, and criminal matters.
3. Advisory Jurisdiction: The power to give advice to the President of India on a question of law or fact which is of public importance, as per Article 143 of the Constitution.
Collegiate Jurisdiction is not a recognized category of jurisdiction for the Supreme Court. The term ‘collegiate’ refers to a body of judges sitting together as a bench (e.g., a division bench or a full bench), rather than a specific type of legal authority or competence to hear certain cases.

Other powers of the Supreme Court include review jurisdiction (reviewing its own judgments), writ jurisdiction (issuing writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights), and the power to transfer cases. However, ‘Collegiate Jurisdiction’ is not among the constitutional or statutory classifications of the Supreme Court’s powers.

Join Our Telegram Channel

46. Who among the following had the shortest span in office as the Prime M

Who among the following had the shortest span in office as the Prime Minister of India?

Lal Bahadur Shastri

Chaudhary Charan Singh

Chandra Shekhar

H. D. Deve Gowda

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is B) Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Let’s examine the tenures of the listed Prime Ministers:
– Lal Bahadur Shastri: 9 June 1964 – 11 January 1966 (approx. 1 year and 7 months)
– Chaudhary Charan Singh: 28 July 1979 – 14 January 1980 (approx. 5 months and 17 days)
– Chandra Shekhar: 10 November 1990 – 21 June 1991 (approx. 7 months and 11 days)
– H. D. Deve Gowda: 1 June 1996 – 21 April 1997 (approx. 10 months and 20 days)
Comparing these tenures, Chaudhary Charan Singh had the shortest span in office.

Chaudhary Charan Singh’s government was a minority government supported by the Congress party, which later withdrew its support, leading to his resignation without ever facing Parliament. Among the options provided, his term was the shortest. V.P. Singh (Dec 1989 – Nov 1990) also had a relatively short term (just under a year), but he is not among the options.

Join Our Telegram Channel

47. The Parliament of India is primarily based on the model of

The Parliament of India is primarily based on the model of

Join Our Telegram Channel

German Parliament

British Parliament

American Congress

French Parliament

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is B) British Parliament.

India adopted the parliamentary system of government, which is primarily based on the Westminster model of the British Parliament. Key features borrowed include: the nominal head of state (President of India) and the real head of government (Prime Minister), the principle of collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha, the concept of rule of law, a bicameral legislature (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), parliamentary privileges, and the role of the Speaker.

While the Indian Constitution borrowed various features from different countries, the foundational structure of the executive and legislature, and their relationship, is largely derived from the British model due to India’s historical colonial connection with Britain. Other systems like the American presidential system or German/French models have different structures regarding the executive’s relationship with the legislature.

48. Early Buddhist sculptors did not show Buddha in human form. Through wh

Early Buddhist sculptors did not show Buddha in human form. Through which of the following symbols was Buddha’s presence shown by the early sculptors?

Empty Seat and Stupa only

Wheel and Tree only

Wheel, Tree and Stupa only

Empty Seat, Wheel, Tree and Stupa

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is D) Empty Seat, Wheel, Tree and Stupa.

In early Buddhist art (before the emergence of iconic Buddha images in schools like Gandhara and Mathura), the presence of the Buddha was represented through symbols. These symbols were visual metaphors for key events in his life or his teachings. Common symbols included: the Empty Seat (representing his meditation and enlightenment or his absence after Parinirvana), the Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra, symbolizing his first sermon), the Bodhi Tree (representing his enlightenment), footprints of the Buddha, and the Stupa (symbolizing his Mahaparinirvana or final liberation).

This aniconic phase of Buddhist art lasted for several centuries. The development of the Buddha image is generally attributed to the Gandhara and Mathura schools around the 1st century CE. The use of symbols did not entirely disappear even after the advent of iconic images, but the human form of the Buddha became the dominant representation.

Join Our Telegram Channel

49. When did Charaka Samhita originate?

When did Charaka Samhita originate?

6th Century BCE

3rd to 2nd Century BCE

4th Century BCE

5th Century BCE

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is B) 3rd to 2nd Century BCE.

The precise dating of the Charaka Samhita is debated among scholars. While the final redaction by Dridhabala is placed in the 4th century CE and Charaka himself is often associated with the Kushan period (1st-2nd century CE), the core material and earlier versions of the text are believed to have been compiled much earlier. The period from the 3rd to the 2nd century BCE is considered by some scholars as a possible time frame for the significant development or compilation of earlier Ayurvedic texts that form the basis of the Charaka Samhita.

The Charaka Samhita is one of the foundational texts of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. It is a comprehensive treatise on various aspects of medicine, including pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and pharmacology. Alongside the Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya, it forms part of the ‘Greater Trinity’ (Brihat Trayee) of Ayurvedic classics.

Join Our Telegram Channel

50. Arthashastra, the classical work of Indian political thought, focuses

Arthashastra, the classical work of Indian political thought, focuses primarily on

economy

culture

statecraft

monarchy

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

The correct answer is C) statecraft.

Arthashastra is a comprehensive ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy written by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), the chief advisor to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. While it does discuss economic aspects (Artha means wealth or economy), its primary focus is on the theory and practice of effective governance, administration, diplomacy, and law necessary for the welfare of the state.

The text is divided into 15 books, covering topics from the training of a king and the organization of government departments to foreign policy, war, and social welfare. It is considered one of the most important works on political science in ancient India and reflects a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to governance.

Join Our Telegram Channel