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UPSC Prelims 2010

150 questions, in the order they were asked.

2010 · Q51Modern HistoryConstitutional Developments & British Plans (1909-1947)easy

With reference to Simon Commission’s recommendations, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. (a)It recommended the replacement of diarchy with responsible government in the provinces
  2. (b)It proposed the setting up of inter-provincial council under the Home Department
  3. (c)It suggested the abolition of bicameral legislature at the Centre
  4. (d)It recommended the creation of Indian Police Service, with a provision for increased pay and allowances for British recruits as compared to Indian recruits
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Official answer(a) It recommended the replacement of diarchy with responsible government in the provinces

2010 · Q52Modern HistoryEarly Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885-1915)moderate

Four resolutions were passed at the famous Calcutta session of Indian National Congress in 1906. The question of either retention OR of rejection of these four resolutions became the cause of a split in Congress at the next Congress session held in Surat in 1907. Which one of the following was not one of those resolutions?

  1. (a)Annulment of partition of Bengal
  2. (b)Boycott
  3. (c)National education
  4. (d)Swadeshi
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Official answer(a) Annulment of partition of Bengal

2010 · Q54Modern HistoryConstitutional Developments & British Plans (1909-1947)moderate

After Quit India Movement, C. Rajagopalachari issued a pamphlet entitled "The Way Out". Which one of the following was a proposal in this pamphlet?

  1. (a)The establishment of a “War Advisory Council” composed of representatives of British India and the Indian States
  2. (b)Reconstitution of the Central Executive Council in such a way that all its members, except the Governor General and the Commander-in-Chief should be Indian leaders
  3. (c)Fresh elections to the Central and Provincial Legislatures to be held at the end of 1945 and the Constitution making body to be convened as soon as possible
  4. (d)A solution for the constitutional deadlock
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Official answer(d) A solution for the constitutional deadlock

2010 · Q56Environment & EcologyInternational Environmental Treaties & Summitseasy

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drawn at

  1. (a)United Nations’ Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 1972
  2. (b)UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992
  3. (c)World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002
  4. (d)UN Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen, 2009
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Official answer(b) UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992

2010 · Q58Science & TechnologyBiotechnology & Geneticseasy

Which feature of some species of blue-green algae helps promote them as bio-fertilizers ?

  1. (a)They convert atmospheric methane into ammonia which the crop plants can absorb readily.
  2. (b)They induce the crop plants to produce the enzymes which help convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates.
  3. (c)They have the mechanism to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the crop plants can absorb readily.
  4. (d)They induce the roots of the crop plants to absorb the soil nitrates in larger quantities.
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Official answer(c) They have the mechanism to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the crop plants can absorb readily.

2010 · Q59Environment & EcologyInternational Environmental Treaties & Summitsmoderate

India is a party to the Ramsar Convention and has declared many areas as Ramsar Sites. Which of the following statements best describes how we should maintain these sites in the context of this Convention?

  1. (a)Keep all the sites completely inaccessible to man so that they will not be exploited.
  2. (b)Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and permit tourism and recreation only.
  3. (c)Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach for a period without any exploitation, with specific criteria and specific period for each site, and then allow sustainable use of them by future generations.
  4. (d)Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and allow their simultaneous sustainable use.
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Official answer(d) Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and allow their simultaneous sustainable use.

2010 · Q60Environment & EcologyRenewable Energy & Green Technologiesmoderate

Other than Jatropha curcas, why is Pongamia pinnata also considered a good option for the production of bio-diesel in India? 1. Pongamia pinnata grows naturally in most of the arid regions of India. 2. The seeds of Pongamia pinnata are rich in lipid content of which nearly half is oleic acid. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(c) Both 1 and 2

2010 · Q61Environment & EcologyClimate Change & Greenhouse Gasesmoderate

Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this attributable? 1. The anaerobic conditions associated with rice cultivation cause the emission of methane. 2. When nitrogen based fertilizers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(a) 1 only

2010 · Q62Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationmoderate

Sustainable development is described as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this perspective, inherently the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with which of the following concepts ?

  1. (a)Social justice and empowerment
  2. (b)Inclusive Growth
  3. (c)Globalization
  4. (d)Carrying capacity
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Official answer(d) Carrying capacity

2010 · Q65Environment & EcologyEcosystems & Ecology Conceptseasy

Some species of plants are insectivorous. Why ?

  1. (a)Their growth in shady and dark places does not allow them to undertake sufficient photosynthesis and thus they depend on insects for nutrition.
  2. (b)They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition.
  3. (c)They cannot synthesize certain vitamins themselves and depend on the insects digested by them.
  4. (d)They have remained in that particular stage of evolution as living fossils, a link between autotrophs and heterotrophs.
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Official answer(b) They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition.