2013 Archives

81. The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular

The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?

It occupies a linear rift valley.
It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
The land slopes to the west from Central India.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 and 3″ option3=”1 and 3″ option4=”None” correct=”option3″]

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The correct option is C, indicating that statements 1 and 3 explain why the Narmada river flows to the west.

– Statement 1 is correct. The Narmada river flows through a rift valley (a graben), which is a linear depression formed by faulting. This valley was created due to the subsidence of the landmass between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges. Rivers flowing through rift valleys often follow the slope of the valley floor.
– Statement 2 is correct that it flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, but this describes its location relative to mountain ranges which border the rift valley, rather than being the primary *reason* for its westward flow. The reason it flows *between* them is because that’s where the rift valley formed.
– Statement 3 is correct. The floor of the Narmada rift valley slopes towards the west. This westward slope dictates the direction of the river flow.
– The general slope of the Deccan Plateau is towards the east, which is why most major peninsular rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. However, the Narmada and Tapti rivers are exceptions because they flow through these distinct westward-sloping rift valleys.

Rift valleys are typically characterized by normal faulting and down-dropped blocks of land. The Narmada rift valley is a significant geological feature of peninsular India.

82. Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to seaso

Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season are due to

[amp_mcq option1=”the earth’s rotation on its axis” option2=”the earth’s revolution round the sun in an elliptical manner” option3=”latitudinal position of the place” option4=”revolution of the earth on a tilted axis” correct=”option4″]

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The correct option is D, stating that the variation in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season is due to the revolution of the earth on a tilted axis.

– The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun.
– As the Earth revolves around the sun, this tilt causes different parts of the Earth to be inclined towards or away from the sun at different times of the year.
– When a hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences longer days and shorter nights (summer). When it is tilted away from the sun, it receives less direct sunlight and experiences shorter days and longer nights (winter).
– The Earth’s rotation on its axis causes the daily cycle of day and night, but not the seasonal variation in their lengths.
– The elliptical orbit affects the Earth’s distance from the sun, influencing the intensity of sunlight and subtly affecting orbital speed, but the seasonal variation in day length is primarily due to the axial tilt.
– Latitudinal position influences the *magnitude* of the variation; the variation is minimal at the equator and maximal at the poles, but the underlying cause is the axial tilt and revolution.

This tilt is responsible for the occurrence of seasons and the varying angle of the sun in the sky throughout the year, in addition to the variation in day length.

83. With reference to the usefulness of the by-products of sugar industry,

With reference to the usefulness of the by-products of sugar industry, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Bagasse can be used as biomass fuel for the generation of energy.
2. Molasses can be used as one of the feedstocks for the production of synthetic fertilizers.
3. Molasses can be used for the production of ethanol.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option3″]

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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The correct option is C, as statements 1 and 3 are correct regarding the uses of sugar industry by-products.

– Statement 1 is correct. Bagasse, the fibrous residue left after crushing sugarcane, is widely used as a biomass fuel to generate steam and electricity in sugar mills. Excess bagasse can also be used for paper production or other industrial purposes.
– Statement 2 is incorrect. Molasses is a viscous by-product obtained from refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar. It is primarily used in animal feed, for the production of ethanol, rum, yeast, citric acid, and other fermentation products. It is not a common or significant feedstock for the production of synthetic fertilizers, which are typically produced from natural gas (for nitrogen fertilizers like urea), rock phosphate (for phosphorus fertilizers), and potassium salts (for potassium fertilizers).
– Statement 3 is correct. Molasses is a readily fermentable sugar source and is a major feedstock for the production of ethanol, which can be used as a biofuel.

The sugar industry generates significant amounts of by-products which, when utilized efficiently, can contribute to the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the industry. Bagasse and Molasses are the two main by-products.

84. Consider the following statements : 1. An amendment to the Constitut

Consider the following statements :

1. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only.
2. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option4″]

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The correct option is D, as neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is correct.

– Statement 1 is incorrect. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by the introduction of a bill in *either* House of Parliament (Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha), not just the Lok Sabha. (Article 368)
– Statement 2 is incorrect. If an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution (e.g., matters relating to the distribution of legislative powers, representation of states in Parliament), it requires ratification by the legislatures of *not less than one-half* of the States, not all the States. (Proviso to Article 368(2))

Article 368 outlines the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and the procedure thereof. Amendments requiring special majority in Parliament + ratification by half of the states include those affecting Article 54 (Election of President), Article 55 (Manner of election of President), Article 73 (Extent of executive power of Union), Article 162 (Extent of executive power of State), Chapter IV of Part V (The Union Judiciary), Chapter V of Part VI (The High Courts in the States), Chapter I of Part XI (Legislative relations between Union and States), any of the Lists in the Seventh Schedule, the representation of States in Parliament, and the provisions of Article 368 itself.

85. Consider the following animals: 1. Sea cow 2. Sea horse 3. Sea lio

Consider the following animals:

1. Sea cow
2. Sea horse
3. Sea lion

Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 3 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

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The correct option is B, meaning that Sea cow and Sea lion are mammals, while Sea horse is not.

– Sea cows (which include manatees and dugongs) are aquatic mammals belonging to the order Sirenia.
– Sea horses are small marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus. They are a type of fish, not a mammal.
– Sea lions are marine mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all four flippers on land, and short, thick hair. They belong to the family Otariidae.

Mammals are characterized by features such as having mammary glands (producing milk for young), being warm-blooded, having hair or fur, and typically giving birth to live young. Fish are aquatic vertebrates characterized by gills, fins, and usually scales, and they are cold-blooded.

86. With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assem

With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were

[amp_mcq option1=”directly elected by the people of those Provinces” option2=”nominated by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League” option3=”elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies” option4=”selected by the Government for their expertise in constitutional matters” correct=”option3″]

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The members of the Constituent Assembly from the British Indian Provinces were indirectly elected by the members of the respective Provincial Legislative Assemblies.

The composition of the Constituent Assembly was based on the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946. This scheme stipulated that representatives from the provinces would be elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies on the basis of proportional representation with single transferable vote. The seats were allocated roughly in proportion to the population of each province and princely state.

Option A is incorrect as it was an indirect election. Option B is incorrect; while the major parties played a significant role, the members were elected by assemblies, not nominated by the parties themselves. Option D is incorrect; selection was through election by existing assemblies, not direct nomination by the government based on expertise, although expertise was certainly a factor in who was elected.

87. Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking wate

Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India?

1. Arsenic
2. Sorbitol
3. Fluoride
4. Formaldehyde
5. Uranium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 3 only” option2=”2, 4 and 5 only” option3=”1, 3 and 5 only” option4=”1, 2, 3, 4 and 5″ correct=”option3″]

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Arsenic, Fluoride, and Uranium are well-documented as pollutants found in drinking water sources in various parts of India, often occurring naturally at harmful concentrations.

1. Arsenic: Widespread arsenic contamination of groundwater is a major public health issue in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Assam.
2. Fluoride: Excess fluoride in groundwater is prevalent in many states, leading to fluorosis (dental and skeletal) in affected populations.
3. Uranium: Elevated levels of naturally occurring uranium in groundwater have been detected in multiple states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, posing radiological and chemical risks.

Sorbitol (2) is a sugar alcohol generally not considered a primary widespread pollutant in this context. Formaldehyde (4) is a chemical that can contaminate water, but it’s less commonly cited as a widespread contaminant across *parts of India* due to natural or broad anthropogenic causes compared to arsenic, fluoride, and uranium, which are often geogenic (naturally occurring in rocks and soil).

88. Consider the following : 1. Star tortoise 2. Monitor lizard 3. Pyg

Consider the following :

1. Star tortoise
2. Monitor lizard
3. Pygmy hog
4. Spider monkey

Which of the above are naturally found in India?

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option1″]

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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The Indian Star Tortoise, various species of Monitor Lizards, and the Pygmy Hog are naturally found in India. Spider Monkeys are native to the Americas and are not found in the wild in India.

1. The Indian Star Tortoise (*Geochelone elegans*) is native to dry areas of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
2. Several species of Monitor Lizards (*Varanus* spp.) inhabit India, such as the Bengal Monitor, Yellow Monitor, and Desert Monitor.
3. The Pygmy Hog (*Porcula salvania*) is endemic to the grasslands of the southern foothills of the Himalayas, currently found only in Assam, India.
4. Spider Monkeys belong to the genus *Ateles* and are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Identifying species naturally found in a region requires knowledge of biogeography. While some non-native species might be present in zoos or as escaped pets, the question asks which are *naturally* found in India, referring to their native range.

89. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India reco

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

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Statements 2 and 3 are correct descriptions based on Yuan Chwang’s account of India during the reign of Harshavardhana. Statement 1 is incorrect as he himself reported being robbed.

Yuan Chwang’s “Si-Yu-Ki” (Records of the Western Regions) is a valuable historical source. He noted the judicial system sometimes employed ordeals by fire, water, poison, or weighing metal to determine guilt or innocence. He also documented that tradesmen were required to pay duties at various checkpoints, including ferries and barrier stations, which constituted a source of state revenue.

Regarding statement 1, Yuan Chwang explicitly details instances where he and his party were attacked and robbed, indicating that the roads and river routes were by no means completely safe or “immune” from robbery, although law and order were generally maintained in many areas under Harsha’s rule.

90. Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be tr

Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferred

1. across different species of plants
2. from animals to plants
3. from microorganisms to higher organisms

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

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UPSC IAS – 2013

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Recombinant DNA technology allows genes to be transferred across different species and even kingdoms. All three statements describe possible applications of this technology.

1. Transfer across different species of plants: Yes, this is common in developing Genetically Modified (GM) crops, for example, transferring herbicide resistance genes between plant species or varieties.
2. From animals to plants: Yes, while perhaps not as common as plant-to-plant or microorganism-to-plant transfers for agricultural purposes, it is technically possible to transfer genes from animals to plants using genetic engineering techniques. This has been explored in research for various purposes.
3. From microorganisms to higher organisms: Yes, this is a very common application. For instance, transferring genes from bacteria (like the Bt gene) to plants for pest resistance (e.g., Bt cotton), or inserting genes from humans into bacteria or yeast for the production of therapeutic proteins like insulin.

Recombinant DNA technology involves techniques like gene cloning and transformation, allowing scientists to isolate a gene from one organism and introduce it into another organism, often unrelated, to express a desired trait or produce a specific product. This technology has vast applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry.