SawaalBoxसवाल बॉक्स

UPSC Prelims 1996

147 questions, in the order they were asked.

1996 · Q51Indian EconomyExternal Sector & Balance Of Paymentseasy

Hawala transactions relate to payments

  1. (a)received in rupees against overseas currencies and vice versa without going through the official channels
  2. (b)received for sale/transfer of shares without going through the established stock exchanges
  3. (c)received as commission for services rendered to overseas investors/buyers/sellers in assisting them to get over the red tape and/or in getting preferential treatment
  4. (d)made to political parties or to individuals for meeting election expenses
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Official answer(a) received in rupees against overseas currencies and vice versa without going through the official channels

1996 · Q60Indian PolityLocal Government & Panchayati Rajeasy

What is the system of governance in the Panchayati Raj setup?

  1. (a)Single tier structure of local self-government at the village level
  2. (b)Two-tier system of local self-government at the village and block levels
  3. (c)Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
  4. (d)Four tier system of local self-government at the village, block, district and state levels
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Official answer(c) Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels

1996 · Q63Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationmoderate

Consider the following programmes: I. Afforestation and development of wastelands. II. Reforestation and replantation in existing forests. III. Encouraging the wood substitutes and supplying other types of fuel. IV. Promotion of wide use of insecticides and pesticides to restrict the loss of forest area from degradation caused by pests and insects. The National Forest Policy of 1988 includes

  1. (a)I, II, III and IV
  2. (b)II and IV
  3. (c)I, III and IV
  4. (d)I, II and III
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Official answer(d) I, II and III

1996 · Q64Indian PolityFundamental Rightsmoderate

Consider the following statements: No one can be compelled to sing the National Anthem since I. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of speech and expression. II. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of conscience and practise and propagation of religion. III. There is no legal provision obliging any one to sing the National Anthem. Of these statements

  1. (a)I and II are correct
  2. (b)II and III are correct
  3. (c)I, II and III are correct
  4. (d)None is correct
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Official answer(c) I, II and III are correct

1996 · Q65Indian EconomyAgriculture & Rural Developmentmoderate

In India, rural incomes are generally lower than the urban incomes. Which of the following reasons account for this? I. A large number of farmers are illiterate and know little about scientific agriculture. II. Prices of primary products are lower than those of manufactured products. III. Investment in agriculture has been low when compared to investment in industry.

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

1996 · Q67Ancient HistoryScience & Technologymoderate

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: List I I. Visakhadatta II. Varahamihira III. Charaka IV. Brahmagupta List II A) Medicine B) Drama C) Astronomy D) Mathematics

  1. (a)I – A, II – C, III – D, IV – B
  2. (b)I – B, II – A, III – C, IV – D
  3. (c)I – B, II – C, III – A, IV – D
  4. (d)I – C, II – B, III – A, IV – B
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Official answer(c) I – B, II – C, III – A, IV – D

1996 · Q69Indian PolityUnion & State Executiveeasy

Which one of the following statements is correct? The Prime Minister of India

  1. (a)is free to choose his ministers only from among those who are members of either House of the Parliament
  2. (b)can choose his cabinet colleagues after due counselling by the President of India in this regard
  3. (c)has full discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet
  4. (d)has only limited powers in the choice of his cabinet colleagues because of the discretionary power vested with the President of India
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Official answer(c) has full discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet

1996 · Q70Indian EconomyNational Income & Economic Growthmoderate

Assertion (A): Though India’s national income has gone up several fold since 1947, there has been no marked improvement in the per capita income level. Reason (R): Sizeable proportion of the population of India is still living below the poverty line. In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?

  1. (a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. (b)Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. (c)A is true but R is false
  4. (d)A is false but R is true
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Official answer(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A

1996 · Q74Modern HistorySocial & Religious Reform Movementsmoderate

His ‘principal forte was social and religious reform. He relied upon legislation to do away with social ills and worked unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage, the purdah system …… To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual sessions alongside the Indian National Congress.’ The reference in this passage is to

  1. (a)Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
  2. (b)Behramji Merwanji Malabari
  3. (c)Mahadev Govind Ranade
  4. (d)B. R. Ambedkar
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Official answer(c) Mahadev Govind Ranade