General Concept Archives

1. In fieldcraft, distance is underestimated when 1. the light is brigh

In fieldcraft, distance is underestimated when

1. the light is bright
2. the object is large in relation to its surroundings
3. there is compressed/low-lying ground between the observer and the object
4. looking uphill

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3 only

3 and 4 only

1, 2 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2024

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The correct answer is D because all the conditions listed in the statements contribute to the underestimation of distance in fieldcraft.

– Bright light causes objects to appear closer than they are, leading to underestimation.
– A large object appears closer, especially when there are fewer reference points or its size is disproportionate to typical objects in the environment.
– Compressed or low-lying ground between the observer and the object removes visual references, making the object seem closer.
– Looking uphill makes distances appear shorter due to the foreshortening effect and the effort involved in viewing upwards.

Other factors that can lead to underestimation of distance include looking across water or a valley, looking through clear air, and looking from a height. Factors that lead to overestimation include looking in poor light, looking at a small object, looking across varied ground, and looking downhill.

2. Which one of the following cities has been recognised as the Regional

Which one of the following cities has been recognised as the Regional Tsunami Service Provider (RTSP) for the Indian Ocean region by UNESCO ?

Kolkata

Hyderabad

Chennai

Visakhapatnam

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020

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Hyderabad has been recognized as the Regional Tsunami Service Provider (RTSP) for the Indian Ocean region by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), located in Hyderabad, is responsible for providing tsunami warnings.

INCOIS operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) and serves as an RTSP for 25 Indian Ocean littoral countries, providing tsunami advisories.

Following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, significant efforts were made to establish an effective tsunami early warning system in the region. INCOIS was designated as one of the key centers for this purpose.

3. Which one of the following is the most dominant religion in Thailand i

Which one of the following is the most dominant religion in Thailand in terms of its followers?

Judaism

Jainism

Buddhism

Christianity

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019

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Buddhism is the most dominant religion in Thailand.

The vast majority of the population in Thailand practices Theravada Buddhism. It is deeply integrated into the culture and daily life of the country.

While other religions are practiced in Thailand, including Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, Buddhism accounts for approximately 95% of the population, making it overwhelmingly dominant.

4. Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The temperature cont

Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.
Statement-II : The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2023

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The correct answer is A) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Statement II is correct. Water has a higher specific heat capacity than land surfaces. This means that water requires more energy to raise its temperature by one degree compared to land. Conversely, water also loses heat more slowly than land.
Statement I is correct. Because of the difference in specific heat, land surfaces heat up much faster and to higher temperatures than oceans during the day and summer, and cool down much faster and to lower temperatures during the night and winter. This differential heating and cooling leads to greater temperature variations over land compared to oceans. Consequently, the temperature contrast (difference) between continents and oceans tends to be larger in summer (hot land vs. moderate ocean) and winter (cold land vs. moderate ocean) than in spring or autumn. Generally, the magnitude of the contrast is considered greater in summer.
Statement II explains Statement I. The higher specific heat of water is the fundamental reason why oceans moderate temperatures more effectively than continents, leading to the observed differences in temperature variability and the resulting seasonal contrast.

This principle is also responsible for the difference between continental climates (large temperature ranges) and maritime climates (small temperature ranges). Coastal areas benefit from the moderating effect of the ocean.

5. Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?

Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?

Cameroon

Nigeria

South Sudan

Uganda

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2023

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The Congo Basin is a vast geographical region in Central Africa, primarily defined by the drainage basin of the Congo River. It encompasses parts of several countries. Among the given options:
A) Cameroon: Southern and eastern parts of Cameroon lie within the Congo Basin.
B) Nigeria: Primarily located in the Niger River basin, west of the Congo Basin.
C) South Sudan: Located in the Nile River basin, northeast of the Congo Basin.
D) Uganda: Located primarily in the Nile River basin and around Lake Victoria, east of the Congo Basin.
Therefore, Cameroon is part of the Congo Basin.

– The Congo Basin is the drainage area of the Congo River.
– It covers a large part of Central Africa, known for its dense rainforest.
– Countries within the basin include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.

The Congo Rainforest within the basin is the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, playing a crucial role in global climate regulation and biodiversity.

6. The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which

The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions ?

Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores

Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco

Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa

The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2022

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The term “Levant” refers to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. It includes countries that border the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Levant is a historical geographical term referring to the area corresponding approximately to modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and often includes parts of Turkey and Egypt.

The term comes from the French word ‘levant’, meaning ‘rising’, referring to the direction of the rising sun (the East) from the perspective of someone in the West (Europe).

7. The Wallace’s Line distinguishes or separates the flora and fauna

The Wallace’s Line distinguishes or separates the flora and fauna between

Canada and USA

Taiga region and Tundra region

Mexico and Central America

South-East Asia and Australasia

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2013

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The correct answer is D. Wallace’s Line is a faunal boundary line that separates the ecozones of Asia and Wallacea, a transitional zone between Asia and Australia. It effectively distinguishes or separates the flora and fauna between South-East Asia and Australasia.

– Wallace’s Line was proposed by Alfred Russel Wallace based on his observations of dramatic differences in animal distribution across the Malay Archipelago.
– West of the line, species are largely of Asian origin (e.g., tigers, rhinos, monkeys).
– East of the line, species are largely of Australian origin (e.g., marsupials, cockatoos).
– The line runs through Indonesia, between Borneo and Sulawesi, and between Bali and Lombok.

Wallace’s Line is thought to reflect a deep ocean trench that acted as a barrier to migration even during lower sea levels in glacial periods. This prevented many species from crossing between the Asian and Australian continental shelves.

8. Consider the following statements on computation of density: 1. Phys

Consider the following statements on computation of density:

1. Physiological density can be computed by dividing the total population by the net cultivable area.
2. Agricultural density can be computed by dividing the total agricultural population by the net cultivable area.
3. Population density can be computed by dividing the total population by the total area.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

None

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2022

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All three statements correctly define different types of population density computations.
1. Physiological density is indeed calculated by dividing the total population by the net cultivable area. This gives an idea of the pressure on arable land for food production.
2. Agricultural density is calculated by dividing the total agricultural population (farmers, farm workers, and their dependents) by the net cultivable area. This measures the number of people engaged in agriculture per unit area of arable land.
3. Population density (or Arithmetic density) is the most basic measure, computed by dividing the total population by the total land area. This indicates the average number of people per unit area.

Different measures of density provide varying insights into the relationship between population and land, highlighting aspects like resource pressure, agricultural efficiency, or simple spatial distribution.

While population density gives a general sense of crowding, physiological and agricultural densities are more specific measures related to agricultural capacity and rural population dynamics. Other density measures exist, such as urban density, which considers only urban areas.

9. Which of the following is/are coastal erosional feature(s) ? 1. Notc

Which of the following is/are coastal erosional feature(s) ?

1. Notch
2. Sea Arch
3. Cliff
4. Hook

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3

2, 3 and 4

2 and 3 only

1 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2018

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The correct answer is (A) 1, 2 and 3.
1. Notch: An undercut base of a cliff formed by wave erosion is an erosional feature.
2. Sea Arch: An archway formed in a headland by wave erosion is an erosional feature.
3. Cliff: A steep rock face often formed by the erosive action of waves on a coastline is an erosional feature.
4. Hook: A hook is a type of spit where the end is curved inwards due to wave refraction or opposing currents. A spit is a depositional feature made of accumulated sediment. Thus, a hook is fundamentally depositional.
Therefore, 1, 2, and 3 are coastal erosional features.

Coastal erosional features are shaped by the destructive forces of waves, currents, and tides on the coastline, while depositional features are built up by the accumulation of sediment.

Processes like hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, and solution contribute to coastal erosion, leading to the formation of landforms like notches, caves, arches, stacks, stumps, cliffs, and wave-cut platforms. Depositional processes create landforms like beaches, spits, bars, tombolos, and dunes.

10. Which one of the following is NOT a coastal depositional feature ?

Which one of the following is NOT a coastal depositional feature ?

Tombolo

Sand bar

Stack

Spit

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2018

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The correct answer is (C) Stack. A stack is a vertical column of rock near the coast, formed by coastal erosion. It is typically created when a sea arch collapses. Tombolos, sand bars, and spits are all landforms created by the deposition of sand, gravel, or sediment along the coast.

Coastal landforms are shaped by either erosional or depositional processes of waves and currents. Stacks are features of coastal erosion.

Examples of coastal erosional features include cliffs, wave-cut platforms, sea caves, sea arches, and stacks. Examples of coastal depositional features include beaches, spits, bars, tombolos, and barrier islands.