UPSC NDA-2 Archives

1. Which one of the following statements is not true about Ijarah system

Which one of the following statements is not true about Ijarah system ?

It was a system of revenue farming.

It encouraged the role of middlemen.

Under this system, land revenue was fixed for the peasant.

The ijaradar paid a fixed amount to the State treasury.

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The correct option is C) Under this system, land revenue was fixed for the peasant.

The ijarah system (revenue farming) involved leasing out the right to collect land revenue to the highest bidder (ijaradar) for a fixed amount. The ijaradar then collected revenue from the peasants. The amount collected by the ijaradar from the peasants was not fixed by the state; it was often maximized by the ijaradar, leading to exploitation.

The ijarah system was primarily a feature of the Mughal administration, especially in later periods, and continued into the British era. It encouraged revenue maximization at the expense of peasant welfare and agricultural development and strengthened the position of intermediaries.

2. CORAS is a separate Commando Unit of

CORAS is a separate Commando Unit of

National Security Guard

Central Industrial Security Force

Railway Protection Force

Central Reserve Police Force

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The correct option is C) Railway Protection Force.

CORAS stands for Commando for Railway Security. It is a specialised commando unit of the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

The unit was launched to tackle threats like terrorism, Naxalism, and sabotage in railway areas. The first batch of CORAS commandos completed their training in Naxalite-affected Chhattisgarh.

3. SAMARTH is a flagship skill development scheme of which one of the fol

SAMARTH is a flagship skill development scheme of which one of the following Ministries ?

Ministry of Textiles

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Ministry of Human Resource Development

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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SAMARTH is the name of a flagship skill development scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The full name of the scheme is “Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SAMARTH)”. Its objective is to provide skill development training to youth in the textile sector, covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving in the organised sector.

The scheme aims to train 10 lakh persons (9 lakh in the unorganised sector and 1 lakh in the organised sector) over a period of time. It is demand-driven and placement-oriented, providing support to training institutions and industries for skill development activities.

4. Betel leaf of which one of the following States has been accorded a GI

Betel leaf of which one of the following States has been accorded a GI tag recently ?

Andhra Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Kerala

Mizoram

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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Geographical Indication (GI) tags are awarded to products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The Tirur betel leaf from Kerala received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019. Tirur betel vine is cultivated in Tirur and its adjacent areas in Malappuram district, Kerala.

The Tirur betel leaf is known for its medicinal properties and stimulating effect. The GI tag helps protect the unique identity and quality of products from specific regions and supports the local producers. India is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and GI tags are covered under the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

5. Who among the following were selected for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

Who among the following were selected for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2019 ?

Vijay Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt

Sakshi Malik and Jitu Rai

Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu

Bajrang Punia and Deepa Malik

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The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award) is India’s highest sporting honour. For the year 2019, the award was conferred upon two athletes: Bajrang Punia for wrestling and Deepa Malik for para-athletics. The other options list athletes who received the award in different years: Vijay Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt in 2012; Sakshi Malik and Jitu Rai in 2016; Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu in 2018.

The award is given for the most spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of the previous four years. The name of the award was changed from Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in August 2021.

6. The first UDAY (Utkrisht Double Decker Air-Conditioned Yatri) Express

The first UDAY (Utkrisht Double Decker Air-Conditioned Yatri) Express train runs between

Delhi and Kalka

Bengaluru and Coimbatore

Chennai and Visakhapatnam

Chennai and Bengaluru

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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The UDAY (Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-Conditioned Yatri) Express is a double-decker train service launched by Indian Railways specifically for business travellers. The first UDAY Express train was flagged off between KSR Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Coimbatore. This route was chosen due to the high volume of traffic, particularly business travellers, between these two cities.

The UDAY Express aims to improve capacity on busy routes. These trains feature comfortable seating, infotainment systems, and are designed to reduce congestion on popular corridors.

7. Consider the following statements concerning the American War of Indep

Consider the following statements concerning the American War of Independence :

The Americans raised the slogan, ‘No taxation without representation’.
The American merchants resorted to the boycott of the British products.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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Both statements accurately describe key aspects of the lead-up to and the American War of Independence. The slogan “No taxation without representation” was a central grievance of the American colonists, protesting against taxes imposed by the British Parliament where they had no elected representatives. This was a major catalyst for the revolution. American merchants and colonists frequently organized boycotts of British goods, such as in response to the Stamp Act (1765) and the Townshend Acts (1767). These boycotts were a powerful tool of economic resistance against British policies.

The American War of Independence (1775-1783) was a conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America. Other factors contributing to the war included restrictive trade policies, lack of political freedom, and growing sense of a distinct American identity. The war resulted in the independence of the United States of America.

8. Consider the following statements related to Dayanand’s idea of social

Consider the following statements related to Dayanand’s idea of social reform:

Dayanand’s reform envisaged a social order, where different castes performed functions suitable to their status determined by merit.
Dayanand’s ‘robust Vedic counterpart’ challenged the masculine West that had enslaved the Aryavarta.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, advocated for social reform based on his interpretation of the Vedas. Statement 1 is correct: he strongly criticized the caste system based on birth and proposed a social order where varna (class) was determined by merit and actions (karma), not lineage. Statement 2 is also correct in spirit: Dayanand’s movement was a significant response to colonial critiques of Indian society and religion. By advocating a return to the ‘pure’ Vedas and promoting the superiority of Vedic civilization, he sought to create a strong, indigenous identity and intellectual framework that could counter Western cultural and intellectual dominance, which can be interpreted as providing a ‘robust Vedic counterpart’ against the perceived ‘masculine West’ that had significant influence over India (‘Aryavarta’). His assertive reformism aimed to strengthen Hindu society against external challenges.

Dayanand Saraswati wrote ‘Satyarth Prakash’ and gave the call ‘Back to the Vedas’. He advocated for monotheism, condemned idolatry, child marriage, and untouchability, and promoted women’s education. Arya Samaj played a crucial role in social and educational reform movements in North India.

9. The provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India shal

The provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India shall not apply to the administration and control of the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in

1. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha
2. Assam and Tripura
3. Meghalaya and Mizoram

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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The provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India apply to the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. These four North-Eastern states are covered by the Sixth Schedule, which provides for autonomous administrative divisions (Autonomous District Councils) in certain tribal areas. Therefore, the Fifth Schedule shall not apply to the states listed in codes 2 (Assam and Tripura) and 3 (Meghalaya and Mizoram). Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha (code 1) are among the states where the Fifth Schedule provisions apply.

Currently, ten states have areas notified as Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. The Sixth Schedule applies to autonomous tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The key difference lies in the nature of administration; the Fifth Schedule involves the application of general laws with modifications and the role of the Tribes Advisory Council, while the Sixth Schedule grants greater legislative and administrative autonomy to the Autonomous District Councils.

10. The principal component(s) of Nehru-Mahalanobis strategy of economic d

The principal component(s) of Nehru-Mahalanobis strategy of economic development was/were

1. Restructuring economic dependency on metropolitan capitalism into independent economic development.
2. Transition from semi-feudal agriculture to capitalist farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2019

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The Nehru-Mahalanobis strategy, primarily associated with the Second Five Year Plan (1956-61), focused heavily on rapid industrialization with an emphasis on basic and heavy industries within a mixed economy framework, dominated by the public sector. Statement 1, “Restructuring economic dependency on metropolitan capitalism into independent economic development,” accurately reflects a core objective of this strategy: to build a self-reliant industrial base to reduce dependence on developed Western economies for manufactured goods and technology through import substitution. Statement 2, “Transition from semi-feudal agriculture to capitalist farming,” describes a process of agricultural transformation, which was a separate, albeit related, goal often pursued through land reforms during this period. However, the *principal component* of the Nehru-Mahalanobis *strategy of economic development* specifically refers to the industrial planning model focused on heavy industries for self-reliance, making statement 1 the correct principal component related to the strategy itself.

P.C. Mahalanobis was a statistician and a close advisor to Jawaharlal Nehru. His model provided the theoretical basis for the Second Five Year Plan. Key features included: emphasis on heavy industries, public sector dominance, rapid growth, import substitution, and a closed economy model to achieve self-sufficiency. While agricultural development was also important, the defining characteristic of this strategy was the focus on industrial structure.