UPSC NDA-2

41. Which one of the following types of cloud is characterized by continuo

Which one of the following types of cloud is characterized by continuous precipitation?

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Cirrocumulus
Cumulus
Nimbostratus
Cumulonimbus
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Nimbostratus clouds are low-to-mid-level clouds that are dark, diffuse, and shapeless, and are characterized by continuous precipitation (rain, snow, or sleet) that is typically light to moderate but widespread and persistent.
Different cloud types are associated with different forms and intensities of precipitation. Cumulonimbus clouds produce heavy, showery precipitation often accompanied by thunderstorms, while nimbostratus clouds are associated with steady, prolonged precipitation. Cirrocumulus are high-altitude clouds producing no precipitation, and Cumulus are fair-weather clouds, though larger cumulus congestus can produce light showers.
The prefix “nimbo-” indicates a cloud that produces precipitation. Thus, Nimbostratus (layered rain cloud) and Cumulonimbus (convective rain cloud) are the primary precipitation-producing cloud types. However, Nimbostratus is specifically linked with *continuous* precipitation.

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42. Which one of the following Indian States has recorded negative growth

Which one of the following Indian States has recorded negative growth of population as per Census 2011?

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Manipur
Mizoram
Tripura
Nagaland
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As per the Census of India 2011, Nagaland recorded a negative population growth rate of -0.58% during the decade 2001-2011. This made it the only state in India to register a decline in population during this period.
The decadal population growth rate for India as a whole was 17.72% during 2001-2011. Most states recorded positive growth, with varying rates. The negative growth in Nagaland was a significant demographic anomaly during this census period.
The reason for the negative growth rate in Nagaland is not definitively established but is speculated to be related to factors like under-enumeration in previous censuses, revisions in enumeration methodology, and potentially socio-economic factors influencing birth and death rates or migration patterns. Other states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu showed relatively low growth rates but were still positive.

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43. ‘Majuli’, the river island, is located in which one of the following

‘Majuli’, the river island, is located in which one of the following rivers?

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Jamuna
Padma
Ganga
Brahmaputra
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Majuli, the river island, is located in the Brahmaputra river.
Majuli is a large river island in the state of Assam, India, formed by the Brahmaputra River in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north.
Majuli is famous for being one of the world’s largest river islands (though its size has decreased due to erosion) and a significant cultural and religious centre in Assam, particularly associated with Vaishnavism. The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers in Asia, flowing through India and Bangladesh. The Jamuna and Padma are names used for the Brahmaputra and Ganga respectively, but primarily in Bangladesh. Majuli is located within India on the Brahmaputra itself.

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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
(Local Wind)		 List-II
(Place)
A. Yamo 1. Sudan
B. Black Roller 2. France
C. Bise 3. Japan
D. Haboob 4. North America

Code :

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A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3 (Repeated option - listing once)
A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
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The correct match is A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1.
This question tests knowledge of various local winds around the world and the regions where they occur.
– Yamo is a local wind associated with Japan. (A-3)
– Black Roller is a severe dust storm that occurs in the Great Plains region of North America. (B-4)
– Bise is a cold, dry northerly or northeasterly wind that blows in the Alpine regions, including parts of France. (C-2)
– Haboob is an intense dust storm or sandstorm common in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly noted in the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Peninsula (e.g., Sudan). (D-1)
Matching these correctly gives the combination A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1, which corresponds to Option C.

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45. 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 :

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List-I
(River Basin)		 List-II
(Town)
A. Bhagirathi 1. Lansdowne
B. Alaknanda 2. Narendra Nagar
C. Nayar 3. Uttarkashi
D. Ganga 4. Pauri

Code :

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A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2 (Repeated option - listing once)
A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
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The correct match is A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2.
This question requires knowledge of the location of prominent towns in Uttarakhand relative to the major river basins or rivers in the region, specifically the Ganga river system and its headstreams/tributaries.
– Bhagirathi is a major headstream of the Ganga, and Uttarkashi is a significant town situated on its banks. (A-3)
– Alaknanda is another major headstream of the Ganga. Pauri is the headquarters of Pauri Garhwal district, which falls within the broader Alaknanda-Ganga basin and is geographically associated with the Alaknanda system. (B-4 is a plausible association in this context).
– Nayar is a tributary of the Alaknanda/Ganga system, flowing through Pauri Garhwal district. Lansdowne is a cantonment town also located in Pauri Garhwal district, in the region associated with the Nayar river system and its tributaries. (C-1 is a plausible association).
– Ganga is formed at Devprayag. Narendra Nagar is a town located near Rishikesh, which is situated on the banks of the Ganga as it descends from the Himalayas into the plains. (D-2 is a plausible association).
Option A aligns these connections: Bhagirathi-Uttarkashi, Alaknanda-Pauri, Nayar-Lansdowne, Ganga-Narendra Nagar.

46. A planet has a mass M₁ and radius R₁. The value of acceleration due to

A planet has a mass M₁ and radius R₁. The value of acceleration due to gravity on its surface is g₁. There is another planet 2, whose mass and radius both are two times that of the first planet. Which one of the following is the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of planet 2?

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g₁
2g₁
g₁/2
g₁/4
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The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of planet 2 is g₁/2.
The acceleration due to gravity (g) on the surface of a planet is given by the formula g = GM/R², where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet, and R is its radius.
For planet 1, the acceleration due to gravity on its surface is g₁ = GM₁/R₁².
For planet 2, the mass M₂ = 2M₁ and the radius R₂ = 2R₁.
We can calculate the acceleration due to gravity on planet 2’s surface (g₂) using the same formula:
g₂ = G * M₂ / R₂²
Substitute the values for M₂ and R₂ in terms of M₁ and R₁:
g₂ = G * (2M₁) / (2R₁)²
g₂ = G * (2M₁) / (4R₁²)
g₂ = (2/4) * (GM₁/R₁²)
g₂ = (1/2) * (GM₁/R₁²)
Since g₁ = GM₁/R₁², we have g₂ = g₁/2.

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47. Consider the following statements about a microscope and a telescope :

Consider the following statements about a microscope and a telescope :

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  • Both the eyepiece and the objective of a microscope are convex lenses.
  • The focal length of the objective of a telescope is larger than the focal length of its eyepiece.
  • The magnification of a telescope increases with the increase in focal length of its objective.
  • The magnification of a microscope increases with the increase in focal length of its objective.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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1 and 3 only
1 and 4
2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 3
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Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
Microscopes and telescopes are optical instruments that use lenses (or mirrors) to produce magnified images. A compound microscope typically uses two convex lenses (objective and eyepiece). A refracting telescope uses an objective lens (usually convex) and an eyepiece lens (convex or concave). The magnification properties depend on the focal lengths and arrangement of the lenses.
1. Both the eyepiece and the objective of a microscope are convex lenses: Correct for a standard compound microscope.
2. The focal length of the objective of a telescope is larger than the focal length of its eyepiece: Correct for a refracting telescope, this arrangement helps achieve significant angular magnification.
3. The magnification of a telescope increases with the increase in focal length of its objective: Correct. For a refracting telescope, angular magnification is approximately the ratio of the objective’s focal length to the eyepiece’s focal length (M ≈ f_objective / f_eyepiece). Increasing f_objective increases magnification.
4. The magnification of a microscope increases with the increase in focal length of its objective: Incorrect. For a compound microscope, the magnification produced by the objective is inversely proportional to its focal length (Magnification_objective ≈ L/f_objective, where L is the distance between lenses). Therefore, increasing the focal length of the objective decreases the magnification.

48. The graphs between current (I) and voltage (V) for three linear resist

The graphs between current (I) and voltage (V) for three linear resistors 1, 2 and 3 are given below :

If R₁, R₂, and R₃ are the resistances of these resistors, then which one of the following is correct?

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”R₁
”R₃
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The correct relationship between the resistances is R₃ > R₂ > R₁.
For a linear resistor obeying Ohm’s Law (V=IR), the relationship between current (I) and voltage (V) is linear. On a graph with Current (I) on the Y-axis and Voltage (V) on the X-axis, the slope of the line represents I/V. According to Ohm’s Law, V/I = R, so I/V = 1/R. Therefore, the slope of the I-V graph is inversely proportional to the resistance (Slope = 1/R).
A steeper slope on this I-V graph indicates a higher value of I for a given V, meaning a higher I/V ratio. Since Slope = 1/R, a higher slope corresponds to a lower resistance.
From the graph, line 1 has the steepest slope, followed by line 2, and line 3 has the shallowest slope.
Slope₁ > Slope₂ > Slope₃
Since Slope = 1/R, this implies:
1/R₁ > 1/R₂ > 1/R₃
Taking the reciprocal reverses the inequality signs:
R₁ < R₂ < R₃ Therefore, the order of resistances from largest to smallest is R₃ > R₂ > R₁.

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49. The connecting cable of electrical appliances like electric iron, wate

The connecting cable of electrical appliances like electric iron, water heater or room heater contains three insulated copper wires of three different colours-red, green and black. Which one of the following is the correct colour code?

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Red-live wire, Green-neutral wire, Black-ground wire
Red-live wire, Green-ground wire, Black-neutral wire
Red-live wire, Green-neutral wire, Black-live wire
Red-ground wire, Green-live wire, Black-neutral wire
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The correct colour code among the given options is Red-live wire, Green-ground wire, Black-neutral wire.
Standard colour codes for electrical wiring are used for safety and proper connection. While modern standards in many places use Brown for live, Blue for neutral, and Green/Yellow for earth/ground, older or alternative standards often used Red for live, Black for neutral, and Green for earth/ground. The question uses Red, Green, and Black, indicating reference to such a standard.
In older wiring standards (and sometimes still used in specific applications or regions), the colour coding is typically:
– Live wire: Red (transmits voltage)
– Neutral wire: Black (completes the circuit)
– Earth/Ground wire: Green or Green and Yellow (safety connection to ground)
Based on this established convention using the colours provided, the live wire is Red, the neutral wire is Black, and the ground wire is Green. Option B correctly matches these.

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50. The time period of oscillation of a simple pendulum having length L an

The time period of oscillation of a simple pendulum having length L and mass of the bob m is given as T. If the length of the pendulum is increased to 4L and the mass of the bob is increased to 2m, then which one of the following is the new time period of oscillation?

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T
2T
4T
T/2
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The new time period of oscillation is 2T.
The time period (T) of a simple pendulum is given by the formula T = 2π√(L/g), where L is the length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The mass of the bob (m) does not affect the time period of a simple pendulum.
Let the initial time period be T₁ = T, with length L₁ = L and mass m₁ = m. The formula is T₁ = 2π√(L/g).
When the length is increased to L₂ = 4L and the mass is increased to m₂ = 2m, the new time period T₂ is calculated using the formula, considering only the change in length:
T₂ = 2π√(L₂/g) = 2π√((4L)/g) = 2π * √4 * √(L/g) = 2π * 2 * √(L/g) = 2 * (2π√(L/g)).
Since T₁ = 2π√(L/g), the new time period T₂ = 2 * T₁. Thus, the new time period is 2T.

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