UPSC Prelims 2020

With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements : 1. It warned against the Colonial State’s hypnotic conquest of the mind. 2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs. 3. The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal. Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following ? 1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference 2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement 3. Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses 4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

No answer is recorded for this question: cancelled by UPSC — marks awarded to all candidates

The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

1. (a)Gopal Baba Walangkar
2. (b)Jyotiba Phule
3. (c)Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
4. (d)Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

1. (a)measurement of land
2. (b)coins of different monetary value
3. (c)classification of urban land
4. (d)religious rituals

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription ? “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

1. (a)Ashoka
2. (b)Samudragupta
3. (c)Harshavardhana
4. (d)Krishnadeva Raya

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’ ?

1. (a)The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style
2. (b)Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas
3. (c)Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path
4. (d)Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around 1. women’s right to gain education 2. age of consent 3. restitution of conjugal rights Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

1. (a)peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters
2. (b)its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions
3. (c)national leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo
4. (d)Government control over the planters

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

1. (a)he was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so
2. (b)he wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India
3. (c)he wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment
4. (d)he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India

With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events ?

1. (a)The Revolt of 1857
2. (b)The Mappila Rebellion of 1921
3. (c)The Indigo Revolt of 1859 – 60
4. (d)Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899 – 1900

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements : 1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. 2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana. 3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta – II. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for

1. (a)fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm
2. (b)genetic modification of sperm producing cells
3. (c)development of stem cells into functional embryos
4. (d)prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following ? 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct ? 1. VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm. 2. VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication. 3. VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth. 4. VLC has no electromagnetic interference. 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

With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements : 1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls. 2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only. 3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements : 1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body. 2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body. 3. They can be used in biochemical sensors. 4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable. Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

Consider the following activities : 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes 3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones ?

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

“The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to

1. (a)Voyager-2
2. (b)New Horizons
3. (c)LISA Pathfinder
4. (d)Evolved LISA

Consider the following statements : 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent. 2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage. 3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig. 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

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India ? 1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis. 2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced. 3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of

1. (a)Digital security infrastructure
2. (b)Food security infrastructure
3. (c)Health care and education infrastructure
4. (d)Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells ? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do. 3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution ? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning 4. Using varnished wooden furniture 5. Using products made of polyurethane Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

If another global financial crisis happens in the near future, which of the following actions/policies are most likely to give some immunity to India ? 1. Not depending on short-term foreign borrowings 2. Opening up to more foreign banks 3. Maintaining full capital account convertibility Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

If you withdraw ₹ 1,00,000 in cash from your Demand Deposit Account at your bank, the immediate effect on aggregate money supply in the economy will be

1. (a)to reduce it by ₹ 1,00,000
2. (b)to increase it by ₹ 1,00,000
3. (c)to increase it by more than ₹ 1,00,000
4. (d)to leave it unchanged