UPSC Prelims
Solved Papers

Consider the following:

1. Right to education
2. Right to equal access to public service
3. Right to food

Which of the above is/are human right/human rights under the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”?

Regarding “carbon credits”, which one of the following statements is not correct?

India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend”. This is due to:

A rapid increase in the rate of inflation is sometimes attributed to the “base effect”. What is “base effect”?

Two important rivers—one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha—merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area. Which one of the following could this be?

The Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, 1992, which aims at promoting the Panchayati Raj institutions in the country, provides for which of the following?

1. Constitution of district planning committees
2. State election commissions to conduct all panchayat elections
3. Establishment of state finance commission

State the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following actions which the government can take:

1. Devaluing the domestic currency
2. Reduction in the export subsidy
3. Adopting suitable policies which attract greater FDI and more funds from FIIs

Which of the above action/actions can help in reducing the current account deficit?

The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?

Which one of the following statements appropriately describes the “fiscal stimulus”?

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why?

1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.
2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates.
3. They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In terms of economy, the visit by foreign nationals to witness the XIX Commonwealth Games in India amounted to?

At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us?

1. It is possible to know the pedigree of livestock.
2. It is possible to understand the causes of all human diseases.
3. It is possible to develop disease-resistant animal breeds.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past. What could be the reasons?

1. Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%.
2. As a consequence of increasing incomes, the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change.
3. The food supply chain has structural constraints.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when:

1. The orbit is geosynchronous.
2. The orbit is circular.
3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.
4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236.

Which is the correct answer using the codes given below?

Consider the following:

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Oxides of nitrogen
3. Oxides of sulphur

Which of the above is/are the emission/emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?

In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (Biosphalt). What is the importance of this material?

1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels.
2. Biosphalt can be made from non-renewable resources.
3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials.
4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads.

Which of the correct answers using the codes given below?

Regarding the International Monetary Fund, which one of the following statements is correct?

What is the difference between “vote-on-account” and interim budget?

1. The provision of a “vote-on-account” is used by a regular government, while an “interim budget” is a provision used by a caretaker government.
2. A “vote-on-account” only deals with the expenditure in government budget, while an “interim budget” includes both expenditure and receipts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

In India, a metropolitan planning committee:

1. Is constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India.
2. Prepares the draft development plans for metropolitan area.
3. Has the sole responsibility for implementing government sponsored schemes in the metropolitan area.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?

Among the following states, which one has the most suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of a large variety of orchids with minimum cost of production, and can develop an export oriented industry in this field?