UPSC Prelims 1998

147 questions, in the order they were asked.

1998 · Q53 Medieval HistoryMughal Empiremoderate

In the given map, the shaded part represents Akbar’s empire at a certain juncture: ‘A’ stands for an independent country and ‘B’ marks the site of a city. Which one of the following alternatives gives all correct information?

(a)Akbar in 1557: (A) Golkunda (B) Lahore
(b)Akbar in 1557: (A) Khandesh (B) Multan
(c)Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana (B) Multan
(d)Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana (B) Lahore

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Official answer(d) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana (B) Lahore

1998 · Q54 Environment & EcologyWater & Wetland Conservationeasy

Estuaries possess distinct blooms of excessive growth of a pigmented dinoflagellate. These blooms are called

(a)red tides
(b)sea tides
(c)black tides
(d)sea flowers

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Official answer(a) red tides

1998 · Q55 GeographyAtmosphere & Climatologymoderate

July 27.8 14.5 August 27.8 14.0 September 22.3 12.7 October 18.3 7.0 November 12.2 5.0 December 6.7 3.5 These data are most likely to be found in the natural regions of

(a)China type
(b)Equatorial type
(c)Hot desert type
(d)Monsoon type

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Official answer(a) China type

1998 · Q56 Indian EconomyHuman Development, Poverty & Employment Schemesdifficult

The number of economically active women (excluding students and those doing domestic duties in their homes) as a percentage of all women of working age (generally those aged 15-64 years) was the highest in 1996 in

(a)USA
(b)China
(c)Russia
(d)S. Korea

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Official answer(b) China

1998 · Q57 GeographyAstronomy & Earth–Sun Systemeasy

When there is noon at the G.M.T. meridian, people at another place of the Earth are taking their 6 o’clock morning tea. The longitude of the place is

(a)17° 30′ E
(b)7° 30′ W
(c)172° 30′ E
(d)90° W

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Official answer(d) 90° W

1998 · Q58 Ancient HistoryMauryan Empiremoderate

The given map relates to The original map is not available for this question.

(a)Kaniska at the time of his death
(b)Samudragupta after the close of his South Indian campaign
(c)Asoka towards the close of his reign
(d)Empire of Thanesar on the eve of Harsha’s accession

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Official answer(c) Asoka towards the close of his reign

1998 · Q59 Indian PolityElections & Electoral Reformseasy

Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding the Anti-Defection Act?

(a)Second Schedule
(b)Fifth Schedule
(c)Eighth Schedule
(d)Tenth Schedule

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Official answer(d) Tenth Schedule

1998 · Q60 Art & CulturePhilosophy & Religioneasy

Many of the Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because

(a)Buddhism was in the ascendant at that time
(b)They had renounced the policy of war and violence
(c)Caste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them
(d)Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society

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Official answer(d) Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society

1998 · Q61 Science & TechnologySpace Technology & Astronomymoderate

The satellites of which one of the following countries have helped in the preparation of a detailed and complete map of Antarctica?

(a)Canada
(b)France
(c)Russia
(d)USA

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Official answer(a) Canada

1998 · Q62 Indian PolityJudiciarymoderate

The Indian parliamentary system is different from the British parliamentary system in that India has

(a)Both a real and a nominal executive
(b)A system of collective responsibility
(c)Bicameral legislature
(d)The system of judicial review

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Official answer(d) The system of judicial review

1998 · Q63 Medieval HistoryMaratha Empireeasy

The member of Shivaji’s Astha Pradhana who looked after foreign affairs was

(a)Peshwa
(b)Sachiv
(c)Pandit Rao
(d)Sumant

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Official answer(d) Sumant

1998 · Q64 Indian PolityLocal Government & Panchayati Rajeasy

Panchayati Raj was first introduced in India in October 1959 in

(a)Rajasthan
(b)Tamil Nadu
(c)Kerala
(d)Karnataka

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Official answer(a) Rajasthan

1998 · Q65 Environment & EcologyWater & Wetland Conservationeasy

Some people in Manipur live in houses built on floating islands of weeds and decaying vegetation held together by suspended silt. These islands are called

(a)Tipis
(b)Barkhans
(c)Phumdis
(d)Izba

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Official answer(c) Phumdis

1998 · Q66 Ancient HistoryMauryan Empiremoderate

The Asokan major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts

(a)I and X
(b)I and XI
(c)II and XIII
(d)II and XIV

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Official answer(c) II and XIII

1998 · Q67 GeographyIndian Rivers & Water Resourceseasy

Which one of the following east-flowing rivers of India has a rift valley due to down-warping?

(a)Damodar
(b)Mahanadi
(c)Sone
(d)Yamuna

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Official answer(a) Damodar

1998 · Q68 Indian EconomyInternational Institutions & Reportsmoderate

According to the World Development Report, low-income economies are those for which the per capita GNP in 1994 was

(a)US $ 925 or less
(b)US $ 825 or less
(c)US $ 725 or less
(d)US $ 525 or less

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Official answer(c) US $ 725 or less

1998 · Q69 Modern HistoryEarly Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885-1915)moderate

What is the correct sequence of the following events? I. Tilak’s Home Rule League II. Kamagatamaru Incident III. Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival in India Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a)I, II, III
(b)III, II, I
(c)II, I, III
(d)II, III, I

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Official answer(d) II, III, I

1998 · Q70 Medieval HistoryMughal Empiremoderate

The loss of Qandahar was a big blow to the Mughal empire from the viewpoint of

(a)Natural resources
(b)Buffer territory
(c)Communication
(d)Strategic stronghold

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Official answer(d) Strategic stronghold

1998 · Q71 Art & CultureLiterature & Languagesmoderate

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? I. Mrichchhakatikam — Shudraka II. Buddhacharita — Vasuvandhu III. Mudrarakshasha — Vishakhadatta IV. Harshacharita — Banabhatta Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a)I, II, III and IV
(b)I, III and IV
(c)I and IV
(d)II and III

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Official answer(b) I, III and IV

1998 · Q72 Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

Forest areas have been labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the rough outline map given. Among these, those which were threatened in 1997 by a serious epidemic include

(a)Teak forests of 3 and 4
(b)Oak forests of 1 and sal forests of 2
(c)Sal forests of 3
(d)Sandalwood forests of 4

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Official answer(c) Sal forests of 3

1998 · Q73 Modern HistoryConstitutional Developments & British Plans (1909-1947)easy

Simon Commission of 1927 was boycotted because

(a)There was no Indian member in the Commission
(b)It supported the Muslim League
(c)Congress felt that the people of India are entitled to Swaraj
(d)There were differences among the members

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Official answer(a) There was no Indian member in the Commission

1998 · Q74 Modern HistoryEarly Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885-1915)moderate

The Indian Muslims, in general, were not attracted to the Extremist movement because of the

(a)Influence of Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan
(b)Anti-Muslim attitude of extremist leaders
(c)Indifference shown to Muslim aspirations
(d)Extremists’ policy of harping on Hindu past

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Official answer(d) Extremists’ policy of harping on Hindu past

1998 · Q75 GeographyEconomic & Mineral Geographymoderate

Commercial production of mineral oil has started recently in which one of the areas of India, labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the rough map given below:

(a)1
(b)2
(c)3
(d)4

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Official answer(c) 3

1998 · Q76 Indian EconomyMonetary Policy & Money Supplyeasy

The banks are required to maintain a certain ratio between their cash in hand and total assets. This is called

(a)SBR (Statutory Bank Ratio)
(b)SLR (Statutory Liquid Ratio)
(c)CBR (Central Bank Reserve)
(d)CLR (Central Liquid Reserve)

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Official answer(b) SLR (Statutory Liquid Ratio)

1998 · Q77 Ancient HistoryArchaeology & Epigraphymoderate

What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India? I. Gold coins II. Punch-marked silver coins III. Iron plough IV. Urban culture Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a)III, IV, I, II
(b)III, IV, II, I
(c)IV, III, I, II
(d)IV, III, II, I

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Official answer(d) IV, III, II, I