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UPSC Prelims 2020

100 questions, in the order they were asked.

2020 · Q78Environment & EcologyRenewable Energy & Green Technologiesmoderate

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint ? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles 4. Hot mix asphalt technology 5. Portland cement Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1, 2 and 3 only
  2. (b)2, 3 and 4 only
  3. (c)4 and 5 only
  4. (d)1 and 5 only
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Official answer(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

2020 · Q80Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

What is the use of biochar in farming ? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming. 2. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. 3. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it enables the growing medium to retain water for longer time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3

2020 · Q83Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture ? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of previous crop. 2. Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible. 3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3

2020 · Q84Environment & EcologyRenewable Energy & Green Technologiesdifficult

According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels ? 1. Cassava 2. Damaged wheat grains 3. Groundnut seeds 4. Horse gram 5. Rotten potatoes 6. Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1, 2, 5 and 6 only
  2. (b)1, 3, 4 and 6 only
  3. (c)2, 3, 4 and 5 only
  4. (d)1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
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Official answer(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

2020 · Q85Environment & EcologyClimate Change & Greenhouse Gasesmoderate

Which one of the following statements best describes the term 'Social Cost of Carbon' ? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the

  1. (a)long-term damage done by a tonne of CO₂ emissions in a given year.
  2. (b)requirement of fossil fuels for a country to provide goods and services to its citizens, based on the burning of those fuels.
  3. (c)efforts put in by a climate refugee to adapt to live in a new place.
  4. (d)contribution of an individual person to the carbon footprint on the planet Earth.
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Official answer(a) long-term damage done by a tonne of CO₂ emissions in a given year.

2020 · Q86GeographyIndian Agriculture & Land Usemoderate

With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements : 1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop. 2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production. 3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)2 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(a) 1 only

2020 · Q89GeographyIndian Agriculture & Land Usedifficult

With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements : 1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when 'bud chip settlings' are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field. 2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds. 3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts. 4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)3 only
  3. (c)1 and 4 only
  4. (d)2, 3 and 4 only
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Official answer(c) 1 and 4 only

2020 · Q91Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

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. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1, 2 and 3 only
  2. (b)1, 2 and 4 only
  3. (c)1, 3 and 4 only
  4. (d)2, 3 and 4 only
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Official answer(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

2020 · Q93GeographyOceanographydifficult

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. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  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(b) 2 only

2020 · Q94Indian EconomyAgriculture & Rural Developmentmoderate

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 ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)2 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 2 and 3 only

2020 · Q98Environment & EcologyWater & Wetland Conservationmoderate

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 ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)2 only
  4. (d)1 and 3 only
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Official answer(b) 2 and 3 only