UPSC NDA-2 Archives

31. Which of the following was/were among the decisions taken by the First

Which of the following was/were among the decisions taken by the First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia in September 1774 ?

1. It rejected a plan for a colonial union under the British authority.
2. It drew up a statement of grievances.
3. It agreed upon a scheme to stop trade between the Colonies and England.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 3 only

2 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

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The First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia in September 1774, was a pivotal event leading up to the American Revolution. The delegates took several key actions in response to the British Intolerable Acts. Statement 1 is correct because they rejected Joseph Galloway’s Plan of Union, which proposed a colonial union under British authority. Statement 2 is correct as they drafted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances outlining their complaints against British policies. Statement 3 is correct because they established the Continental Association, which called for a boycott of British goods (non-importation, non-consumption) and a cessation of exports to Britain (non-exportation) as a means of economic protest.

– Rejected Galloway Plan (colonial union under British authority).
– Issued Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
– Formed the Continental Association to enforce a trade boycott.

The Congress did not advocate for independence at this stage but sought to pressure the British government into repealing the Intolerable Acts and respecting colonial rights. The failure of these measures led to escalating tensions and ultimately the outbreak of armed conflict in 1775, leading to the Second Continental Congress and eventual Declaration of Independence.

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32. Consider the following statements concerning the Russian Revolution:

Consider the following statements concerning the Russian Revolution:

1. The Bolsheviks believed that in a repressive society like Tsarist Russia, the party should be disciplined and should control the number of its members.
2. The Mensheviks believed that the party should be opened to all (as in Germany).

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

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1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Both statements accurately describe the differing organizational philosophies of the Bolshevik and Menshevik factions of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP). The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, advocated for a tightly controlled, disciplined party of professional revolutionaries, particularly suited for underground work in the autocratic Tsarist regime. The Mensheviks, led by Martov, favoured a broader, more inclusive party membership, similar to the mass social democratic parties in Western Europe, like the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

– Bolsheviks: Disciplined, exclusive party of revolutionaries, favoured in repressive environments.
– Mensheviks: Broad, inclusive party, open to wider membership, inspired by Western European models.
– These differences contributed significantly to the split within the RSDLP in 1903.

The split between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks occurred at the Second Congress of the RSDLP in 1903. While the initial disagreements were seemingly minor points of party organization (specifically, Article 1 of the party rules regarding membership), they reflected deeper philosophical differences about the nature of the revolutionary party and its role in bringing about socialism in Russia. These differences had profound implications for the course of the Russian Revolution.

33. Consider the following statements related to Wellesley’s administratio

Consider the following statements related to Wellesley’s administration:

1. In the six years of Wellesley’s administration, the army accounted for 42.5 percent of the Company’s total expenditure.
2. Wellesley’s administrative measures were restricted to the affairs of the Company and had nothing to do with the commercial and military affairs of the Indian ruling families.

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

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1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Answer is Wrong!

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Statement 1 is likely correct. Lord Wellesley’s period (1798-1805) was marked by aggressive expansion through the Subsidiary Alliance system and direct military action, leading to frequent wars (like the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the Second Anglo-Maratha War). This period saw a massive increase in the East India Company’s military expenditure and debt. Historical accounts confirm that military costs constituted a very significant portion of the Company’s total expenditure during this time. Statement 2 is incorrect. Wellesley’s policies, especially the Subsidiary Alliance, directly involved and profoundly impacted the commercial, military, and political affairs of Indian ruling families, bringing them under British control and undermining their sovereignty. His administration was far from being restricted only to Company affairs; it aimed at establishing British paramountcy in India.

Wellesley’s administration was characterized by imperial expansionism through the Subsidiary Alliance and wars, leading to increased British dominance and substantial military expenditure.

The Subsidiary Alliance system required Indian rulers to disband their own armies, accept a British force stationed in their territory (paid for by the ruler), and accept a British Resident at their court. This effectively brought the Indian states under British control and prevented them from forming alliances with each other or other foreign powers. This policy significantly increased the military burden on the Company and the states but secured British political and military supremacy.

34. Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition

Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition in Karnataka :

The Virashaiva movement was led by a Brahmana named Basavanna, a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler in the twelfth century.
The Virashaivas encouraged practices, approved by the Dharmashastras, like post-puberty marriages and remarriage of widows.

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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Answer is Wrong!

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Statement 1 is correct. The Virashaiva (Lingayat) movement in Karnataka in the 12th century was indeed led by Basavanna, who was a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler Bijjala II. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Virashaivas were reformers who challenged many orthodox Brahminical practices and the authority of the Dharmashastras. They strongly advocated against caste distinctions, rejected Brahminical rituals, and promoted practices like delayed marriages (post-puberty) and widow remarriage, which were generally *not* approved by the orthodox Dharmashastras for upper castes.

The Virashaiva tradition was a reformist movement that emerged in Karnataka during the 12th century, advocating for social equality and challenging traditional Hindu hierarchies and rituals under the leadership of figures like Basavanna.

Virashaivas worshipped Shiva in the form of a लिंग (linga), which they wear on their body. They buried their dead instead of cremating them, another departure from orthodox Hindu practice. The movement’s teachings were recorded in vachanas, a form of rhythmic prose.

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35. Which among the following struggles, based on Gandhi’s philosophy of S

Which among the following struggles, based on Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha, involved the industrial working class ?

Champaran

Kheda

Ahmedabad

Bardoli

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The Ahmedabad Mill Strike of 1918 was a movement led by Gandhi involving textile mill workers in Ahmedabad who were demanding a wage increase. Gandhi used the method of hunger strike for the first time during this protest, appealing to the conscience of the mill owners. This struggle directly involved the industrial working class. The Champaran, Kheda, and Bardoli Satyagrahas primarily involved peasants or farmers.

Gandhi’s early Satyagraha movements in India targeted different groups and issues: Champaran (peasants against indigo planters), Kheda (peasants against revenue collection), and Ahmedabad (industrial workers against mill owners).

The Ahmedabad Mill Strike was a significant event as it marked Gandhi’s engagement with the industrial working class and demonstrated the applicability of Satyagraha principles to labour disputes. Anusuya Sarabhai and Ambalal Sarabhai (one of the mill owners) were key figures involved in this dispute.

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36. Which one of the following hypothesis/theory explains the origin of th

Which one of the following hypothesis/theory explains the origin of the universe ?

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Nebular hypothesis

Binary theory

Big Bang theory

Planetesimal hypothesis

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The Big Bang theory is the most widely accepted cosmological model explaining the origin and evolution of the universe. It postulates that the universe originated from a singular point of extremely high density and temperature approximately 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since. The other hypotheses listed explain the formation of stars, planets, or solar systems, not the entire universe.

Cosmology studies the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe. The Big Bang theory is the standard model in cosmology.

Evidence supporting the Big Bang theory includes the cosmic microwave background radiation, the observed expansion of the universe (Hubble’s Law), and the abundance of light elements (hydrogen, helium, lithium). The nebular hypothesis and planetesimal hypothesis are related to the formation of stars and planetary systems within the universe, not the universe itself.

37. Paradeep Port is located on the delta of river

Paradeep Port is located on the delta of river

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Rihand

Ganga

Mahanadi

Baitarani

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Paradeep Port is located on the coast of Odisha, India, at the confluence of the Mahanadi river and the Bay of Bengal. The port is situated near the delta formed by the Mahanadi river system.

Major ports in India are often located at strategic points on the coastline, often near river mouths or in natural harbours, facilitating trade and connectivity.

The Mahanadi is a major river in East-Central India, flowing through Chhattisgarh and Odisha before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Its delta is a fertile region along the Odisha coast. Paradeep is one of the major ports on the eastern coast of India.

38. Which one of the following ocean currents is a cold current ?

Which one of the following ocean currents is a cold current ?

South Atlantic Drift

Mozambique Current

East Australian Current

Caribbean Current

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Ocean currents are classified as warm or cold based on whether they flow from warmer to colder regions (warm currents) or from colder to warmer regions (cold currents), relative to the surrounding water. The Mozambique Current, East Australian Current, and Caribbean Current are warm currents flowing from equatorial regions towards higher latitudes. The South Atlantic Drift is part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system and is influenced by the West Wind Drift; it carries relatively cold water eastwards across the South Atlantic.

Warm ocean currents typically flow along the eastern coasts of continents in lower and middle latitudes, and western coasts in higher latitudes. Cold ocean currents typically flow along the western coasts of continents in lower and middle latitudes, and eastern coasts in higher latitudes.

Major cold currents include the Labrador Current, Canary Current, California Current, Benguela Current, Peru Current, and the West Wind Drift (part of which is the South Atlantic Drift). Warm currents include the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift, Kuroshio Current, Brazil Current, Agulhas Current, and East Australian Current.

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39. The rivers of North-West Europe are good examples of

The rivers of North-West Europe are good examples of

parallel pattern of drainage.

radial pattern of drainage.

barbed pattern of drainage.

trellis pattern of drainage.

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The trellis pattern of drainage is characteristic of regions with folded topography and alternating layers of resistant and less resistant rocks. Rivers flow along the strike of the less resistant rocks, and tributaries join at right angles, cutting across the resistant ridges. While North-West Europe has varied terrain, folded structures are present in some areas (e.g., parts of the Paris Basin, the Ardennes, parts of Germany bordering NW Europe), leading to the development of trellis drainage patterns in those regions.

Different drainage patterns (dendritic, trellis, radial, parallel, rectangular, barbed, etc.) develop depending on the underlying geological structure, topography, and rock type. Trellis drainage is strongly controlled by geological structure, specifically folded rocks.

Dendritic pattern is the most common pattern and develops on uniform rock strata. Radial pattern develops around a central elevated point (like a volcano or dome). Parallel pattern occurs on uniformly sloping surfaces. Rectangular pattern is found in areas with jointed or faulted bedrock. Barbed pattern occurs when a tributary joins a main river in the opposite direction of the main river’s flow, often indicating river capture.

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40. Which one of the following is a Rabi crop in the Northern States of In

Which one of the following is a Rabi crop in the Northern States of India ?

Rice

Bajra

Barley

Ragi

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Rabi crops are winter crops sown in October-December and harvested in April-June. Kharif crops are monsoon crops sown in June-July and harvested in September-October. Rice, Bajra, and Ragi are primarily Kharif crops in Northern India. Barley is a significant Rabi crop grown in the winter season in Northern India.

Major Rabi crops in India include wheat, barley, gram, peas, mustard, and rapeseed. Major Kharif crops include rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, and soyabean.

The timing of sowing and harvesting for Rabi and Kharif crops is primarily determined by the monsoon season and the availability of water, as well as temperature requirements for the crops. Some crops are grown in a shorter season between Rabi and Kharif, known as Zaid crops (e.g., watermelon, cucumber).

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