UPSC Prelims
Solved Papers

What is the difference between asteroids and comets?

1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Why is the Government of India disinvesting its equity in the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)?

1. The government intends to use the revenue earned from the disinvestment mainly to pay back the external debt.
2. The government no longer intends to retain the management control of the CPSEs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following can aid in furthering the government’s objective of inclusive growth?

1. Promoting self-help groups
2. Promoting micro, small and medium enterprises
3. Implementing the Right to Education Act

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In India, which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities?

In the context of the Indian economy, consider the following statements:

1. The growth rate of GDP has steadily increased in the last five years.
2. The growth rate in per capita income has steadily increased in the last five years.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

An artificial satellite orbiting around the Earth does not fall down. This is so because the attraction of the Earth:

Why is the offering of “teaser loans” by commercial banks a cause of economic concern?

1. The teaser loans are considered to be an aspect of sub-prime lending and banks may be exposed to the risk of defaulters in future.
2. In India, the teaser loans are mostly given to inexperienced entrepreneurs to set up manufacturing or export units.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The “Red Books” published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of?

1. Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
2. Threatened plant and animal species.
3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.

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Salinization occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the irrigated land?

The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by?

The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge?

What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda?

1. The administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought.
2. The administration proposed to introduce permanent settlement in Gujarat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, “Home Charges” formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted “Home Charges”?

1. Funds used to support the India Office in London.
2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.
3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.

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With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced.
2. It is the only means of irrigation in dry land farming.
3. In some areas of farming, receding of groundwater table can be checked.

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What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices?

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of early maritime history of the Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/explanations?

Which amongst the following provided a common factor for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century?

Which one of the following observations is not true about the Quit India Movement of 1942?

The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?

La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino?

1. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2. El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no predators in that area but its existence is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat. Which one of the following could be that animal?

The surface of a lake is frozen in severe winter, but the water at its bottom is still liquid. What is the reason?

Recently, the USA decided to support India’s membership in multi-lateral export control regimes called the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”. What is the difference between them?

1. The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.
2. The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and North American countries, whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American continents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following:

1. Photosynthesis
2. Respiration
3. Decay of organic matter
4. Volcanic action

Which of the above add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on Earth?

There is a concern over the increase in harmful algal blooms in the seawater of India. What could be the causative factors for this phenomenon?

1. Discharge of nutrients from the estuaries
2. Run-off from the land during the monsoon
3. Upwelling in the seas

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