Priority Sector Lending by banks in India constitutes the lending to
- (a)agriculture
- (b)micro and small enterprises
- (c)weaker sections
- (d)All of the above
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Official answer(d) All of the above
UPSC Prelims 2013
100 questions, in the order they were asked.
Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?
- (a)Engineering
- (b)Paper and pulp
- (c)Textiles
- (d)Thermal power
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Official answer(d) Thermal power
To obtain full benefits of demographic dividend, what should India do?
- (a)Promoting skill development
- (b)Introducing more social-security schemes
- (c)Reducing infant mortality rate
- (d)Privatization of higher education
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Official answer(a) Promoting skill development
In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
- (a)One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck
- (b)Facial expressions, hand gestures and make-up are combined to symbolize certain epic or historic characters
- (c)Movements of body, face and hands are used to express oneself or to tell a story
- (d)A little smile, slightly curved waist and certain hand gestures are emphasized to express the feelings of love or eroticism
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Official answer(a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck
Annie Besant was 1. Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement 2. The founder of the Theosophical Society 3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(c) 1 and 3 only
The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the
- (a)imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians
- (b)imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages
- (c)removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
- (d)removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth
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Official answer(c) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
A rise in general level of prices may be caused by 1. An increase in the money supply 2. A decrease in the aggregate level of output 3. An increase in the effective demand Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)1 only
- (b)1 and 2 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s foreign-exchange reserves?
- (a)Foreign-currency assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and loans from foreign countries
- (b)Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and SDRs
- (c)Foreign-currency assets, loans from the World Bank and SDRs
- (d)Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and loans from the World Bank
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Official answer(b) Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and SDRs
Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effect?
- (a)Repayment of public debt
- (b)Borrowing from the public to finance a budget deficit
- (c)Borrowing from banks to finance a budget deficit
- (d)Creating new money to finance a budget deficit
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Official answer(d) Creating new money to finance a budget deficit
Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand for money, there will be
- (a)a fall in the level of prices
- (b)an increase in the rate of interest
- (c)a decrease in the rate of interest
- (d)an increase in the level of income and employment
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Official answer(b) an increase in the rate of interest
Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because
- (a)exposure to sunlight is prevented
- (b)concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is increased
- (c)rate of respiration is decreased
- (d)there is an increase in humidity
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Official answer(c) rate of respiration is decreased
Consider the following fauna of India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)3 only
- (c)1, 2 and 3
- (d)None
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Official answer(c) 1, 2 and 3
Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because
- (a)the actual area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
- (b)the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is increased
- (c)the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is reduced
- (d)None of the above statements is correct
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Official answer(c) the effective area of contact between the wheel and axle is reduced
Consider the following phenomena: 1. Size of the sun at dusk 2. Colour of the sun at dawn 3. Moon being visible at dawn 4. Twinkle of stars in the sky 5. Polestar being visible in the sky Which of the above are optical illusions?
- (a)1, 2 and 3
- (b)3, 4 and 5
- (c)1, 2 and 4
- (d)2, 3 and 5
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Official answer(c) 1, 2 and 4
Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the following physical phenomena are responsible for this? 1. Dispersion 2. Refraction 3. Internal reflection Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because
- (a)the new soil does not contain favourable minerals
- (b)most of the root hairs grip the new soil too hard
- (c)most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation
- (d)leaves get damaged during transplantation
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Official answer(c) most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation
Economic growth in country X will necessarily have to occur if
- (a)there is technical progress in the world economy
- (b)there is population growth in X
- (c)there is capital formation in X
- (d)the volume of trade grows in the world economy
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Official answer(c) there is capital formation in X
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of energy. 2. Viruses can be cultured in any synthetic medium. 3. Viruses are transmitted from one organism to another by biological vectors only. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(a) 1 only
Which of the following leaf modifications occurs/occur in desert areas to inhibit water loss? 1. Hard and waxy leaves 2. Tiny leaves or no leaves 3. Thorns instead of leaves Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz., gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the following statements is not correct?
- (a)Gravity is the strongest of the four
- (b)Electromagnetism acts only on particles with an electric charge
- (c)Weak nuclear force causes radioactivity
- (d)Strong nuclear force holds protons and neutrons inside the nucleus of an atom
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Official answer(a) Gravity is the strongest of the four
The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/ importances of discovering this particle? 1. It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass. 2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. 3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(a) 1 only
Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to 1. Resist drought and increase absorptive area 2. Tolerate extremes of pH 3. Resist disease infestation Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3
Who among the following constitute the National Development Council? 1. The Prime Minister 2. The Chairman, Finance Commission 3. Ministers of the Union Cabinet 4. Chief Ministers of the States Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- (a)1, 2 and 3 only
- (b)1, 3 and 4 only
- (c)2 and 4 only
- (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
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Official answer(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
The national income of a country for a given period is equal to the
- (a)total value of goods and services produced by the nationals
- (b)sum of total consumption and investment expenditure
- (c)sum of personal income of all individuals
- (d)money value of final goods and services produced
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Official answer(d) money value of final goods and services produced
Which of the following grants/grant direct credit assistance to rural households? 1. Regional Rural Banks 2. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 3. Land Development Banks Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(c) 1 and 3 only