UPSC Prelims 2020 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations

With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:

1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.

2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.

3. They can be used in biochemical sensors.

4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following activities:

1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field

2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes

3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis.

At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometers long, with lasers shining between the craft. The experiment in question refers to

Consider the following statements:

1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.

2. A person's genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.

3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?

1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.

2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug resistant bacteria can be reduced.

3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

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In India, the term 'Public Key Infrastructure' is used in the context of

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells?

1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not.

2. Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do.

3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles.

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Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution?

1. Automobile exhaust

2. Tobacco smoke

3. Wood burning

4. Using varnished wooden furniture

5. Using products made of polyurethane

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If another global financial crisis happens in the near future, which of the following action/policies are most likely to give some immunity to India?

1. Not depending on short-term foreign borrowings

2. Opening up to more foreign banks

3. Maintaining full capital account convertibility

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If you withdraw Rs. 1,00,000 in cash from your Demand Deposit Account at your bank, the immediate effect on aggregate money supply in the economy will be

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term paramitas?

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around

1. women's right to gain education

2. age of consent

3. restitution of conjugal rights

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Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

With reference to the history of India, 'Ulgulan' or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:

1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.

2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana.

3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, 'Pronuclear Transfer' is used for

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units

2. Create meaningful short stories and songs

3. Disease diagnosis

4. Text-to-Speech Conversion

5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

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With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?

1. VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm

2. VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication.

3. VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth

4. VLC has no electromagnetic interference

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With reference to 'Blockchain Technology', consider the following statements:

1. It is a public ledger that everyone we inspect, but which no single user controls

2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about crypto currency only.

3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody's permission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which

Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of Welfare State?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Constitution of India defines its structure in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.

2. The Constitution of India provides for 'Judicial review' to safeguard the citizens' liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is

In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?

The Preamble to the Constitution of India, is

Gold Tranche' (Reserve Tranche) refers to

With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. They shall be enforceable by courts.

2. They shall not be enforceable by any court

3. The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State.

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Consider the following statements:

1. According to the Constitution of India a person who is eligible to vote in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State

2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks it.

2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions.

3. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months.

2. State cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing of Aadhaar data.

3. Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products.

4. Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in

With reference to the funds under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are correct?

1. MPLADS funds must be used to create durable sets like physical infrastructure for health, education, etc.

2. A specified portion of each MP fund must benefit SC/ST populations.

3. MPLADS funds are sanctioned on yearly basis and the unused funds cannot be carried forward to the next year.

4. The district authority must inspect at least 10% of all work under implementation every year.

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Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporate protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?

In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by

Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include "The Macro Economic Framework Statement". The aforesaid document is presented because this is mandated by

A constitutional government by definition is a

Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?

1. Preamble

2. Directive Principles of State Policy

3. Fundamental Duties

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In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?

1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000

2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000

3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000

4. All Senior Citizens

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Consider the following pairs:

International agreement/set-up — Subject

1. Alma-Ata Declaration — Healthcare of the people

2. Hague Convention — Biological and chemical weapons

3. Talanoa Dialogue — Global climate change

4. Under2 Coalition — Child rights

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

1. Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the State

2. Banian — Indian agent of the East India Company

3. Mirasidar — Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.

2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.

3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following statements correctly explain the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?

Consider the following events in the history of India:

1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja

2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I

3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka

4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala

What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the 'Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?

With reference to the book 'Desher Kather' written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statement:

1. It warned against the Colonial States hypnotic conquest of the mind.

2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.

3. The use of 'desh' by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?

1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference

2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement

3. Acceptance of Gandhiji's suggestion for enquiry into police excesses.

4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence

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The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

With reference to the history of India, the terms 'kulyavapa' and 'dronavapa' denote

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?

'Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.'

What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?

1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.

2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.

3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.

4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

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Consider the following minerals:

1. Bentonite

2. Chromite

3. Kyanite

4. Sillimanite

In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January–March.

2. OMT collected during January–March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.

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With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:

1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.

2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.

3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct?

1. It is spread over two districts.

2. There is no human habitation inside the Park.

3. It is one of the natural habitats of Great Indian Bustard.

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Siachen Glacier is situated to the

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Famous Place — Present State

1. Bilhsa : Madhya Pradesh

2. Dwarasamudra : Maharashtra

3. Girinagar : Gujarat

4. Sthanesvara : Uttar Pradesh

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Consider the following statements:

1. 36% of India's districts are classified as 'overexploited' or 'critical' by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.

3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.

2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.

3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under 'Critical Tiger Habitat'?