2013

71. The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PES

The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?

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To provide self-governance
To recognize traditional rights
To create autonomous regions in tribal areas
To free tribal people from exploitation
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The correct answer is C) To create autonomous regions in tribal areas.
The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) aims to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas, recognizing and incorporating tribal traditions and customary laws. Its key objectives include enabling tribal self-governance through Gram Sabhas, preserving tribal traditions, recognizing community rights over resources, and protecting tribal populations from exploitation. PESA empowers Gram Sabhas significantly but does not create new, separate “autonomous regions” in the sense of distinct administrative entities with legislative powers akin to those under the Sixth Schedule. It rather integrates enhanced self-governance mechanisms within the existing state framework for Scheduled Areas.
PESA gives powers to the Gram Sabha over aspects like land alienation, management of minor forest produce, control over minor water bodies, approval of development plans, and control over local markets and money lending. These powers are intended to ensure tribal self-rule and protect their rights and resources, but the framework remains within the state’s jurisdiction, unlike areas governed by autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule which have greater administrative and legislative autonomy.

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72. Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

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desert margins, liable to strong wind action
low flat plains, close to stream courses, liable to flooding
scrublands, liable to spread of weed growth
None of the above
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The correct answer is D) None of the above.
Contour bunding is a soil conservation practice applied on gently sloping land. It involves constructing narrow-based bunds (embankments) along the contour lines. The purpose is to intercept and slow down water runoff, reduce soil erosion, and promote infiltration of water into the soil. This method is particularly effective in semi-arid areas for moisture conservation. The conditions described in options A, B, and C do not match the primary application of contour bunding. Option A describes desert margins prone to wind erosion. Option B describes low flat plains prone to flooding, where different flood control measures are used. Option C describes scrublands and weed growth, not directly addressed by contour bunding.
Contour bunding is typically implemented on agricultural fields, pastures, or other land with slopes ranging from around 2% to 10-15%. It is a key technique in watershed management and dryland farming to improve water retention and prevent loss of fertile topsoil due to water erosion.

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73. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in th

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?

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Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
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The correct answer is C) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans.
Primary productivity refers to the rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic organisms into organic substances. Among the given options, mangrove ecosystems, being highly productive coastal environments rich in nutrients and sunlight, generally exhibit the highest net primary productivity. Grasslands have moderate productivity, varying significantly based on rainfall and soil fertility. Lakes vary widely from oligotrophic (low productivity) to eutrophic (high productivity), but generally have lower average productivity than highly productive terrestrial or coastal systems. Open oceans, especially the vast pelagic zones, are often nutrient-limited and have relatively low average productivity, although coastal upwelling zones can be highly productive.
The generalized order of decreasing productivity among major ecosystems is often cited as: Tropical rainforests, Swamps and Marshes (including Mangroves), Estuaries > Temperate forests, Cultivated land > Grasslands, Lakes and Streams > Tundra, Open Ocean > Deserts. Comparing the specific options given, mangroves are known for very high productivity, followed by grasslands (moderate), then lakes (variable but often moderate to low), and finally open oceans (generally low). Thus, the sequence of decreasing productivity is typically Mangroves > Grasslands > Lakes > Oceans.

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74. In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ec

In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of

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insects and fungi
limited sunlight and paucity of nutrients
water limits and fire
None of the above
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The correct answer is C) water limits and fire.
In many grassland ecosystems, the primary environmental factors that prevent the establishment and growth of trees, thus maintaining the dominance of grasses in ecological succession, are limited water availability (seasonal droughts, low rainfall) and frequent fires (natural or human-caused). Grasses are well-adapted to these conditions, with deep root systems that survive drought and ability to quickly regrow after fire, whereas young trees are often killed by lack of water or fire.
Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time. In a typical succession sequence in a region capable of supporting forests, grassland might be a transitional stage before shrubland and then forest. However, specific environmental regimes like drought and fire can create “climax communities” like grasslands where forest does not develop. While other factors like grazing can also influence grasslands, water limits and fire are fundamental abiotic factors that often define this biome.

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75. The Parliament can make any law for whole or any part of India for imp

The Parliament can make any law for whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties

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with the consent of all the States
with the consent of the majority of States
with the consent of the States concerned
without the consent of any State
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The correct answer is D) without the consent of any State.
Article 253 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body. This power is independent of the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States, and Parliament can legislate on State List subjects if necessary to implement international obligations, without requiring the consent of the concerned States.
This provision ensures that India can fulfill its international commitments effectively and speaks to the supremacy of the Union Parliament in matters concerning international relations and their implementation domestically. This article is located in Part XI of the Constitution, which deals with relations between the Union and the States.

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76. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for

The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for

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the reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half of the crop to one-third
the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were the actual cultivators of the land
the uprooting of Zamindari system and the end of serfdom
writing off all peasant debts
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The correct option is A, which correctly states the main demand of the Tebhaga Peasant Movement.
– The Tebhaga movement was a significant peasant agitation that took place in the Bengal province of British India (present-day West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh) during 1946-1947.
– The movement was led by the Kisan Sabha (peasant front of the Communist Party of India).
– The central demand of the Tebhaga movement was the reduction of the share of the harvest taken by the landlords from the traditional one-half (fifty-fifty share) to one-third (tebhaga, meaning “three parts,” where the sharecropper would keep two-thirds).
– The sharecroppers (known as ‘bargadars’ or ‘adhiars’) were tenants who cultivated the land but did not own it, giving a share of the produce to the landlord.
The movement aimed to improve the economic condition of the sharecroppers. While demands for land ownership (B) and the abolition of the Zamindari system (C) were broader goals of the peasant movement in India, the specific and immediate demand of the Tebhaga movement was related to the share of the crop. Writing off peasant debts (D) was also a common peasant demand but not the defining feature of the Tebhaga movement.

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77. Which of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Cons

Which of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution?

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  1. National Development Council
  2. Planning Commission
  3. Zonal Councils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct option is D, as none of the listed bodies find mention in the Constitution of India.
– The National Development Council (NDC) was an advisory body to the Planning Commission. It was established by an executive resolution in 1952. It was neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body.
– The Planning Commission was responsible for formulating India’s Five-Year Plans. It was established by an executive resolution in 1950. Like the NDC, it was neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body. The Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog in 2015, which is also an extra-constitutional body established by executive resolution.
– Zonal Councils are advisory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. They are statutory bodies (created by an Act of Parliament), but not constitutional bodies (created by the Constitution itself).
Constitutional bodies derive their powers directly from the Constitution (e.g., Election Commission, Union Public Service Commission, Finance Commission). Statutory bodies are created by specific laws passed by Parliament or State Legislatures (e.g., National Human Rights Commission, National Green Tribunal, Zonal Councils). Extra-constitutional bodies are created by executive decision or resolution without a specific law or constitutional provision (e.g., Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, previously NDC).

78. Consider the following: Electromagnetic radiation Geothermal energy

Consider the following:

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  1. Electromagnetic radiation
  2. Geothermal energy
  3. Gravitational force
  4. Plate movements
  5. Rotation of the earth
  6. Revolution of the earth

Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?

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1, 2, 3 and 4 only
1, 3, 5 and 6 only
2, 4, 5 and 6 only
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
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The correct option is D, as all the listed factors are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth.
– Electromagnetic radiation (primarily from the Sun): Drives climate, weather systems, erosion (through wind, water, ice), photosynthesis (biological weathering), and thermal expansion/contraction (physical weathering).
– Geothermal energy: Drives plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes, formation of mountains and ocean basins, and heat flow influencing subsurface processes.
– Gravitational force: Causes mass movements (landslides, rockfalls), erosion by rivers (pulling water downhill), formation of tides (along with moon), and influences atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.
– Plate movements: Directly responsible for earthquakes, volcanism, mountain building (orogeny), creation of rift valleys, and continental drift, constantly reshaping the Earth’s crust.
– Rotation of the earth: Causes Coriolis effect (influencing weather patterns, currents), contributes to tides (along with gravity), and diurnal temperature variations causing weathering.
– Revolution of the earth: Along with axial tilt, causes seasons, influencing weather patterns, rates of weathering and erosion, formation and melting of ice/snow, and biological activity.
The Earth’s surface is constantly being altered by both internal (endogenic) and external (exogenic) processes. Geothermal energy and Plate movements are primarily endogenic forces. Electromagnetic radiation, Gravitational force, Rotation, and Revolution of the earth drive exogenic processes like weathering, erosion, and mass wasting, and also influence weather and climate which shape the surface. All these factors interact in complex ways to create the dynamic surface we see.

79. Consider the following pairs: 1. Nokrek Bio-sphere Reserve : Garo

Consider the following pairs:

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1. Nokrek Bio-sphere Reserve: Garo Hills
2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake: Barail Range
3. Namdapha National Park: Dafla Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
None
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The correct option is A, meaning that only pair 1 is correctly matched.
– Pair 1: Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, India. This pair is correctly matched.
– Pair 2: Loktak Lake is a large freshwater lake located in Manipur, India. The Barail Range lies to the south of the Manipur Valley, forming a border region primarily with Assam and Nagaland. While geographically near, stating Loktak Lake is in the “Barail Range” is not accurate; it’s in the Manipur Valley, surrounded by hills which include spurs of various ranges, but not specifically *in* the Barail Range itself.
– Pair 3: Namdapha National Park is located in Arunachal Pradesh, in the Changlang district, near the border with Myanmar. It is situated between the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai Range. The Dafla Hills (also known as Nishi Hills) are located much further to the west in Arunachal Pradesh, north of the Brahmaputra plains, inhabited by the Nishi people. Namdapha is not in the Dafla Hills.
Geographical features like mountain ranges, lakes, and national parks have specific locations. Accuracy is key in matching them. Nokrek is intrinsically linked to the Garo Hills. Loktak Lake is a valley feature in Manipur, not a range feature. Namdapha is located in the Eastern Himalayas, geographically distinct from the Dafla Hills area.

80. On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and gla

On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion

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is found in atmosphere as moisture and clouds
is found in freshwater lakes and rivers
exists as groundwater
exists as soil moisture
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The correct option is C, stating that out of the remaining freshwater (after ice caps and glaciers), the largest proportion exists as groundwater.
– Approximately 68.7% of the Earth’s freshwater is stored in ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snow.
– The remaining freshwater (about 31.3%) is primarily found underground as groundwater (about 30.1%).
– A much smaller amount of freshwater exists on the surface (lakes, rivers, swamps, about 1.2%) and in the atmosphere (moisture and clouds, a very small percentage) and as soil moisture (also a small percentage, part of the surface/other category).
– Specifically, groundwater accounts for the vast majority of available liquid freshwater on Earth.
Although surface water in lakes and rivers is the most visible form of freshwater and the easiest to access, it constitutes only a tiny fraction of the total freshwater resources. Groundwater is a crucial source for drinking water and irrigation globally.

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