2013

11. Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the

Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the following physical phenomena are responsible for this?

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  • 1. Dispersion
  • 2. Refraction
  • 3. Internal reflection

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC IAS – 2013
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Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain, and the phenomena responsible are dispersion, refraction, and internal reflection.
When sunlight enters a raindrop, it is refracted (bent). As the light enters, it also undergoes dispersion, splitting into its constituent colours because different wavelengths of light are refracted at slightly different angles. The dispersed light then reflects off the back inner surface of the raindrop (internal reflection). Finally, the light is refracted again as it exits the raindrop towards the observer. All three processes are essential for the formation of a rainbow.
Primary rainbows are formed by light undergoing one internal reflection. Secondary rainbows, which are fainter and appear above the primary rainbow with the colours reversed, are formed by light undergoing two internal reflections. In both cases, refraction and dispersion occur at the air-water interfaces.

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12. Consider the following phenomena : 1. Size of the sun at dusk 2. Co

Consider the following phenomena :

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  • 1. Size of the sun at dusk
  • 2. Colour of the sun at dawn
  • 3. Moon being visible at dawn
  • 4. Twinkle of stars in the sky
  • 5. Polestar being visible in the sky

Which of the above are optical illusions?

1, 2 and 3
3, 4 and 5
1, 2 and 4
2, 3 and 5
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The size of the sun at dusk, the colour of the sun at dawn, and the twinkle of stars in the sky are considered optical phenomena or illusions.
1. The apparent increase in the size of the sun (or moon) near the horizon (dusk) is an optical illusion known as the Moon illusion. 2. The reddish/orange colour of the sun at dawn is due to atmospheric scattering (Rayleigh scattering), where shorter wavelengths (blue/green) are scattered away more than longer wavelengths (red/orange) when light travels a longer path through the atmosphere. This phenomenon leads to a perceived colour change. 4. The twinkling of stars is caused by atmospheric refraction due to turbulence in the air, which makes the light from distant stars appear to fluctuate in brightness and position.
Phenomena 3 (Moon being visible at dawn) and 5 (Polestar being visible in the sky) are real astronomical occurrences related to the celestial positions of these bodies and are not optical illusions in the sense of being perceptual distortions or atmospheric effects causing altered appearance. Therefore, 1, 2, and 4 fit the description of optical illusions or related atmospheric optical phenomena causing altered visual perception.

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13. Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because

Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because

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the actual area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is reduced
None of the above statements is correct
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Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because they significantly reduce the effective area of contact between the moving parts (like the wheel and axle), thereby reducing friction.
Ball bearings replace sliding friction with rolling friction. Sliding friction occurs over a larger contact area between the axle and its housing. Ball bearings consist of spherical balls rolling between two races. The contact between the balls and the races is nearly point contact (in theory, or a very small ellipse in practice). This reduces the area experiencing friction and, crucially, replaces high sliding friction with much lower rolling friction.
Rolling friction is generally much less than sliding friction for the same load. By allowing parts to roll over each other via the balls, the overall frictional force opposing motion is greatly reduced, making movement easier and more efficient, and reducing wear and tear.

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14. Consider the following fauna of India : 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback t

Consider the following fauna of India :

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  • 1. Gharial
  • 2. Leatherback turtle
  • 3. Swamp deer

Which of the above is/are endangered?

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1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
None
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All three fauna mentioned – Gharial, Leatherback turtle, and Swamp deer – are considered endangered or critically endangered in the context of India.
The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), while globally Vulnerable, has populations in the Indian Ocean region that are highly threatened, including the Southwest Indian Ocean subpopulation listed as Critically Endangered. The Swamp Deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) species is listed as Vulnerable, but the Sangai (Rucervus eldii), a subspecies of swamp deer found in Manipur, India, is listed as Endangered.
Conservation efforts are underway in India for all three species. The status ‘endangered’ often refers to the species level, but for questions pertaining to ‘fauna of India’, the status of specific populations or subspecies within India is relevant. Given the status of the Gharial, the critically endangered Leatherback population in the region, and the endangered Sangai subspecies of Swamp deer, all three can be considered endangered in the Indian context.

15. Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because

Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because

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exposure to sunlight is prevented
concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is increased
rate of respiration is decreased
there is an increase in humidity
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Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because the low temperature significantly reduces the rate of respiration in the fruits.
Respiration is a metabolic process in fruits that consumes stored sugars and leads to ripening and senescence. By lowering the temperature, this process is slowed down, thereby extending the time before the fruit spoils.
Other factors like preventing sunlight exposure and managing humidity are also important for fruit storage, but reducing the respiration rate through low temperature is the primary mechanism by which cold storage extends shelf life. Controlled atmosphere storage (modifying CO2 and Oxygen levels) is another technique used to further extend storage life by also impacting respiration and other metabolic processes.

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16. Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand

Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand for money, there will be

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a fall in the level of prices
an increase in the rate of interest
a decrease in the rate of interest
an increase in the level of income and employment
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When the supply of money remains the same and there is an increase in the demand for money, it leads to an increase in the rate of interest.
In the money market, the demand for money (Md) is inversely related to the interest rate, while the supply of money (Ms) is typically considered fixed by the central bank. If the demand for money increases (shifts right) while the supply is fixed, the equilibrium in the money market shifts to a higher interest rate, as people are willing to pay more to hold money or borrow funds.
This concept is explained by theories of money demand, such as the Keynesian liquidity preference theory, which posits that individuals hold money for transactional, precautionary, and speculative motives. A higher demand for money, for whatever reason (e.g., increased economic activity, higher expected inflation), ceteris paribus, drives up the cost of holding or borrowing money, which is reflected in the interest rate.

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17. Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in it

Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effect?

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Repayment of public debt
Borrowing from the public to finance a budget deficit
Borrowing from banks to finance a budget deficit
Creating new money to finance a budget deficit
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Creating new money to finance a budget deficit is likely to be the most inflationary among the given options.
Financing a budget deficit by creating new money (also known as seigniorage or printing money) directly increases the money supply in the economy without a corresponding increase in output. This is a direct monetary expansion that can lead to significant demand-pull inflation, especially if the deficit is large.
Borrowing from the public (B) involves transferring existing money from the public to the government. Borrowing from banks (C) involves credit creation by banks, which also increases money supply but often through a multiplier effect rather than directly creating base money like option D. Repayment of public debt (A), unless financed by printing money, generally doesn’t cause inflation and can even reduce demand if financed through taxation or borrowing from other sources. Direct money creation (D) is considered the most inflationary because it directly increases the monetary base.

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18. Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s fore

Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s foreign-exchange reserves?

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Foreign-currency assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and loans from foreign countries
Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and SDRs
Foreign-currency assets, loans from the World Bank and SDRs
Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and loans the World Bank
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India’s foreign-exchange reserves, maintained by the RBI, include Foreign-currency assets (FCAs), Gold holdings of the RBI, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
Foreign exchange reserves are assets held by a central bank in foreign currencies, used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy. The major components of India’s foreign exchange reserves are FCAs (investments in foreign government securities, deposits in foreign central banks/BIS), Gold, SDRs (an international reserve asset created by the IMF), and the Reserve Position in the IMF (India’s share in the IMF quota).
Loans from foreign countries or from the World Bank are typically part of external debt, which is a liability, not an asset component of foreign exchange reserves. Maintaining adequate foreign exchange reserves helps in managing exchange rate volatility, meeting external debt obligations, and providing confidence to international investors.

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19. A rise in general level of prices may be caused by 1. an increase in

A rise in general level of prices may be caused by

  • 1. an increase in the money supply
  • 2. a decrease in the aggregate level of output
  • 3. an increase in the effective demand

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three factors listed can cause a rise in the general level of prices (inflation).
1. An increase in the money supply, if not matched by a proportional increase in output, leads to too much money chasing too few goods, causing demand-pull inflation.
2. A decrease in the aggregate level of output, with demand remaining constant or increasing, creates scarcity relative to demand, leading to cost-push or supply-side inflation.
3. An increase in effective demand (aggregate demand) that exceeds the available supply leads to demand-pull inflation.
Inflation is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors. These three points represent fundamental drivers: monetary factors (money supply), supply-side factors (output level), and demand-side factors (aggregate demand). Often, inflation is a result of a combination of these factors.

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20. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the

The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the

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imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians
imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages
removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth
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The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the proposal to remove the disqualification imposed on Indian magistrates and judges regarding the trial of European British subjects in India.
The Ilbert Bill, introduced in 1883 during the tenure of Viceroy Lord Ripon, aimed to bring Indian and European judges to the same level of judicial authority. Prior to this, a European could not be tried by an Indian judge. The bill sparked widespread protest from the British community in India, leading to its amendment which significantly diluted its original intent and highlighted the racial tensions of the time.
The controversy, often termed the ‘White Mutiny’, exposed the racial prejudices prevalent among the British in India and contributed to the growth of Indian nationalism by demonstrating the discriminatory nature of the colonial administration and fostering a sense of unity among Indians against the common adversary.

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