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UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2019 - General Studies Paper I — question paper

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UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2019 - General Studies Paper I

Paper #3246 · 2019 · General Studies Paper I · 100 reviewed questions · Showing 1–40 of 100

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2019 General Studies Paper I, Series A: 100 questions with 100 final-key answers and concise KSLC explanations. Original questions and applicable copyright belong to UPSC and the respective rights holders. KSLC explanations are independent educational commentary; KSLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by UPSC. Official source: https://www.upsc.gov.in/examinations/previous-question-papers/archives

  1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference / differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection. 2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
  2. With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?
    1. The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.
    2. The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.
    3. It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.
    4. Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.
  3. The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the
    1. International Monetary Fund
    2. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
    3. World Economic Forum
    4. World Bank
  4. Consider the following statements about the Charter Act of 1813: 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China. 2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company. 3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament. Which of the statements given above are correct?
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  5. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements: 1. It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries. 2. The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
  6. Consider the following pairs:
    Movement/Organization — Leader
    1. All India Anti-Untouchability League — Mahatma Gandhi
    2. All India Kisan Sabha — Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
    3. Self-Respect Movement — E. V. Ramaswami Naicker
    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  7. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
    1. Chanhudaro
    2. Kot Diji
    3. Sohgaura
    4. Desalpur
  8. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
    1. Kanganahalli
    2. Sanchi
    3. Shahbazgarhi
    4. Sohgaura
  9. Consider the following: 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  10. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
    1. It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
    2. It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
    3. The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
    4. The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.
  11. Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of
    1. Chalukya
    2. Chandela
    3. Rashtrakuta
    4. Vijayanagara
  12. Consider the following statements: 1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil’. 2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution. 3. The office of ‘Mir Bakshi’ came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  13. Consider the following statements: 1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar. 2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
  14. With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements: 1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’. 2. In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War. 3. Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers. Which of the statements given above are correct?
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 1 and 3 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  15. Consider the following pairs:
    Person — Position held
    1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru — President, All India Liberal Federation
    2. K. C. Neogy — Member, The Constituent Assembly
    3. P. C. Joshi — General Secretary, Communist Party of India
    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  16. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?
    1. Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.
    2. Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses.
    3. Tansen composed songs on his patrons.
    4. Tansen invented many Ragas.
  17. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
    1. Humayun
    2. Akbar
    3. Jahangir
    4. Shah Jahan
  18. Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?
    1. Manas National Park
    2. Namdapha National Park
    3. Neora Valley National Park
    4. Valley of Flowers National Park
  19. Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the
    1. Department of Science and Technology
    2. Ministry of Labour and Employment
    3. NITI Aayog
    4. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  20. On 21st June, the Sun
    1. does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle
    2. does not set below the horizon at Antarctic Circle
    3. shines vertically overhead at noon on the Equator
    4. shines vertically overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn
  21. Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’?
    1. Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
    2. Tobacco, cotton and rubber
    3. Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
    4. Rubber, coffee and wheat
  22. Consider the following statements: 1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only. 2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only. 3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  23. Consider the following pairs:
    Famous place — River
    1. Pandharpur — Chandrabhaga
    2. Tiruchirappalli — Cauvery
    3. Hampi — Malaprabha
    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  24. In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because
    1. poverty rates vary from State to State
    2. price levels vary from State to State
    3. Gross State Product varies from State to State
    4. quality of public distribution varies from State to State
  25. In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?
    1. Creating the artificial rains in some regions
    2. Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones
    3. Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth
    4. Reducing the global warming
  26. In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis and plasma gasification’ mentioned?
    1. Extraction of rare earth elements
    2. Natural gas extraction technologies
    3. Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles
    4. Waste-to-energy technologies
  27. Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?
    1. Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
    2. Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park
    3. Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park
    4. Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
  28. Consider the following statements: 1. Some species of turtles are herbivores. 2. Some species of fish are herbivores. 3. Some species of marine mammals are herbivores. 4. Some species of snakes are viviparous. Which of the statements given above are correct?
    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 2, 3 and 4 only
    3. 2 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  29. Consider the following pairs:
    Wildlife — Naturally found in
    1. Blue-finned Mahseer — Cauvery River
    2. Irrawaddy Dolphin — Chambal River
    3. Rusty-spotted Cat — Eastern Ghats
    Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  30. Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into environment?
    1. They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.
    2. They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.
    3. They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.
    4. They are often found to be used as food adulterants.
  31. Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of
    1. anti-malarial drug
    2. biodiesel
    3. pulp for paper industry
    4. textile fibre
  32. For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used? 1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location 2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location 3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  33. Consider the following States: 1. Chhattisgarh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
    1. 2–3–1–4
    2. 2–3–4–1
    3. 3–2–4–1
    4. 3–2–1–4
  34. Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? 1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits. 2. Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor. 3. Methane in atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  35. Consider the following: 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Methane 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2, 3 and 4 only
    3. 1 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  36. Consider the following pairs:
    Sea — Bordering country
    1. Adriatic Sea — Albania
    2. Black Sea — Croatia
    3. Caspian Sea — Kazakhstan
    4. Mediterranean Sea — Morocco
    5. Red Sea — Syria
    Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    1. 1, 2 and 4 only
    2. 1, 3 and 4 only
    3. 2 and 5 only
    4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
  37. Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?
    1. China
    2. India
    3. Myanmar
    4. Vietnam
  38. Consider the following pairs:
    Glacier — River
    1. Bandarpunch — Yamuna
    2. Bara Shigri — Chenab
    3. Milam — Mandakini
    4. Siachen — Nubra
    5. Zemu — Manas
    Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    1. 1, 2 and 4
    2. 1, 3 and 4
    3. 2 and 5
    4. 3 and 5
  39. In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as
    1. pesticides in agriculture
    2. preservatives in processed foods
    3. fruit-ripening agents
    4. moisturising agents in cosmetics
  40. Consider the following statements: 1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India. 2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention. 3. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3

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