UPSC Prelims 2024 — GS Paper I

Four Delimitation Commissions have been constituted — in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002.

The 71st Amendment Act, 1992 added Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali to the Eighth Schedule. Maithili was added later by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003.

Bhartiya Jana Sangh was founded by Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Congress for Democracy was founded by Jagjivan Ram. C. Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party (not Socialist Party), and Acharya Narendra Dev was associated with the Congress Socialist Party (not Swatantra Party).

All three are correct. Part IX-A deals with Municipalities (Articles 243P–243ZG), Part XVIII deals with Emergency Provisions (Articles 352–360), and Part XX deals with Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368).

Inter-State quarantine is Entry 81 of the Union List. Inter-State trade and commerce is under Article 301–307 (Union matter). Corporation tax is a Union subject (Entry 85, Union List).

In the landmark K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) case, the Supreme Court declared Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).

The CDS is the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on tri-service matters. However, the CDS does not exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs.

Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) is a unique humane initiative undertaken by the Indian Army in Jammu & Kashmir and Northeast India to address basic needs and aspirations of the local population in remote areas.

The Canada-USA border is the longest international border in the world at approximately 8,891 km (including the Great Lakes boundary).

The Ethics Committee was initially an ad-hoc committee before being made a standing committee. It cannot take up matters which are sub-judice. However, complaints can also be made by the public, not only by Lok Sabha members.

Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly when it first met on December 9, 1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was later elected as the permanent President on December 11, 1946.

The Government of India Act, 1935 did provide for an All India Federation based on the union of British Indian Provinces and Princely States. However, Defence and Foreign Affairs were reserved subjects under the control of the Governor-General, not the federal legislature.

Madhyama-vyayoga is attributed to Bhasa, one of the earliest known Indian playwrights. Kavyalankara is by Bhamaha, Natyashastra by Bharata Muni, and Mahabhashya by Patanjali.

Sanghabhuti authored a commentary on the Sarvastivada Vinaya. He was an Indian Buddhist monk who travelled to China and contributed to the translation and commentary of Buddhist texts.

In 2023, Shantiniketan and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Rani-ki-Vav was inscribed in 2014 and the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in 2002.

Article 368(1) states that Parliament may amend any provision of the Constitution by way of addition, variation or repeal.

Italy, Japan and South Korea are well-known for their low birth rates and ageing populations. Nigeria and South Africa have relatively high birth rates and younger populations.

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Article 109 deals with special procedure for Money Bills. Money Bills can only be introduced in Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha can suggest amendments within 14 days but cannot reject it. However, Lok Sabha is not bound to accept Rajya Sabha suggestions (Statement 4 is incorrect).

Only Major — Squadron Leader — Lieutenant Commander is correctly matched. Brigadier equates to Commodore (not Commander) in Navy. Major General equates to Rear Admiral (not Vice Admiral). Lieutenant Colonel equates to Wing Commander (not Group Captain).

After the 2002 amendment to the North Eastern Council Act, the NEC comprises the Governor and Chief Minister of constituent states, and three members nominated by the President. The Home Minister is not a statutory member of the NEC.

The Act will be in force for 15 years and provides for sub-reservation for SC/ST women within the SC/ST quota. However, the provisions will come into effect only after a delimitation exercise based on the first Census conducted after the Act, not necessarily from the 18th Lok Sabha.

Exercise Mitra Shakti is a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka (not Bangladesh). The 2023 edition commenced in Aundh (Pune), included counter-terrorism operations as a goal, and the Indian Air Force participated.

A Writ of Prohibition is issued by a higher court (Supreme Court or High Court) to a lower court or tribunal, prohibiting it from continuing proceedings in a case where it has no jurisdiction.

Under Article 342, it is the President who specifies Scheduled Tribes, and Parliament can modify the list — not the State Government. However, the ST list is State/UT-specific, so a community declared ST in one State need not be so in another.

Statement 2 is correct — under Article 113, no demand for a grant shall be made except on the recommendation of the President. Statement 1 is incorrect — the Finance Minister presents the Budget on behalf of the President (not the Prime Minister), as per Article 112.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, authored both 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020) and 'Why Bharat Matters' (2024).

Argentina faced a severe economic crisis and Sudan experienced a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in 2023. However, Turkey has not rescinded its NATO membership — it remains a NATO member.

Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I. The SUMED (Suez-Mediterranean) pipeline runs from Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea to Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean, providing an alternative to the Suez Canal for transporting oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe.

The Red Sea receives very little precipitation (less than 100mm per year), making it one of the most saline water bodies. However, it does receive some water from seasonal wadis (dry riverbeds that flow during rains), so Statement 2 is not entirely correct.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the largest source of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants, particularly coal-fired power plants.

Statement I is incorrect — even in a default scenario, bondholders retain their legal claims and can pursue them. Statement II is correct — US government debt is backed by the 'full faith and credit' of the US government, not by hard assets.

Statement I is correct — syndicated lending involves multiple lenders sharing the loan, thereby spreading the default risk. Statement II is incorrect — syndicated loans can take the form of both fixed-amount term loans and revolving credit lines.

The digital rupee (e-Rupee/CBDC) is a sovereign digital currency issued by RBI, appears as a liability on the RBI balance sheet (like physical currency), and is freely convertible against commercial bank money and cash. However, it is not insured against inflation by design — it is subject to the same inflationary pressures as physical currency.

Shakyamuni (Sage of the Shakya clan) and Tathagata (One who has thus come/gone) are well-known epithets of Gautama Buddha. Nayaputta (Nataputta) is an epithet of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.

Inamgaon is a Chalcolithic site in Maharashtra and Mangadu is a Megalithic site in Kerala — both correctly matched. Chandraketugarh is in West Bengal (not Odisha), and Salihundam in Andhra Pradesh is a Buddhist stupa site (not rock-cut cave shrines).

Krishnadevaraya, the famous ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal as part of diplomatic and trade relations.

Under the Permanent Settlement (1793) introduced by Cornwallis in Bengal, if a Zamindar failed to pay the fixed revenue on time, his zamindari would be auctioned off. The Ryotwari system did not exempt peasants from revenue in bad harvests — it was the direct collection from individual cultivators.

Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas — Upanishads date to approximately 800-200 BCE while the Puranas were composed later. However, Statement 1 is incorrect as the Upanishads do contain parables (e.g., the parable of the chariot in the Katha Upanishad).

India is a member of the International Grains Council (IGC). However, membership is not required for exporting or importing rice and wheat — non-member countries can freely trade in grains.

Garba dance of Gujarat was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023. Chhau dance was inscribed in 2010, Kumbh Mela in 2017, and Durga Puja in 2021.

Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I. The Sahel region has experienced multiple military coups (Mali 2020/2021, Burkina Faso 2022, Niger 2023, Gabon 2023), which have contributed to instability and worsening security conditions.

Statement I is incorrect — India does import apples from the USA, though tariffs have varied. Statement II is correct — under the Food Safety and Standards Act and Environment Protection Act, import of GM food requires approval from competent authorities (FSSAI/GEAC).

Under Article 96, while a resolution for the removal of the Speaker is under consideration, the Speaker shall not preside but retains the right to speak and participate in proceedings. The Speaker also retains the right to vote in the first instance on such resolution.

A bill pending in Lok Sabha lapses on dissolution (Statement 1 correct). A bill passed by Lok Sabha and pending in Rajya Sabha also lapses on dissolution of Lok Sabha (Statement 2 correct). However, a bill regarding which the President has notified intention to summon a joint sitting does not lapse (Statement 3 incorrect) — it can be taken up in the joint sitting.

Statement 2 is correct — prorogation is generally done after adjournment sine die but a House can be prorogued while in session. Statement 3 is correct — dissolution of Lok Sabha is done by the President on advice of Council of Ministers except in exceptional circumstances. Statement 1 is incorrect — prorogation is done by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Statement I is correct — the European Parliament did approve the Net-Zero Industry Act. Statement II is incorrect — the EU aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 (not 2040), and the Act does not aim to develop all clean technology domestically.

Statement I is incorrect — Venezuela has not achieved rapid economic recovery and has seen massive emigration (over 7 million Venezuelans have fled). Statement II is correct — Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves (approximately 303 billion barrels).

All three statements are correct. DILRMP is a 100% centrally funded programme that digitizes cadastral maps and includes transliteration of Records of Rights from local languages to any language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Both statements are correct. PMSMA provides assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care to pregnant women on the 9th of every month, with private sector specialists volunteering their services at government health facilities.

PM-SYM (Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan) provides a minimum pension of Rs. 3000 per month after age 60 (Statement 3), with age-specific monthly contributions (Statement 2). The entry age is 18-40 years (not 21-40), and family pension is 50% to spouse only (not to unmarried daughters).

Statement I is incorrect — the atmosphere is heated more by terrestrial (longwave) radiation than by incoming solar radiation. The atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming shortwave solar radiation but absorbs outgoing longwave terrestrial radiation. Statement II is correct — CO2 and other greenhouse gases are good absorbers of longwave radiation.

Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I. The troposphere is about 16-18 km thick at the equator compared to 8-10 km at the poles. This is because strong convectional currents at the equator transport heat to greater heights, pushing the tropopause higher.

All four are products of volcanic eruptions. Volcanoes emit pyroclastic debris (rocks, lava fragments), ash and dust, nitrogen compounds (like nitrogen oxides), and sulphur compounds (like sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide).

In January (Northern Hemisphere winter), isotherms deviate to the north over oceans (which are warmer) and to the south over continents (which are colder). Statement 2 is incorrect — the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm currents that make the North Atlantic warmer (not colder), causing isotherms to bend northward.

Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana are the two largest cocoa producers in the world, together accounting for over 60% of global cocoa production.

Downstream of Prayagraj, the Himalayan rivers join the Ganga from west to east in this order: Gomati (at Ghazipur), Ghaghara (at Chapra/Revelganj), Gandak (at Hajipur/Patna), and Kosi (at Kursela).

Both Statements II and III are correct and both explain why rainfall causes weathering. CO2 dissolved in rainwater forms carbonic acid which causes chemical weathering. Atmospheric oxygen dissolved in rainwater causes oxidation, another form of chemical weathering.

Germany and Norway border the North Sea. Finland borders the Baltic Sea and Arctic Ocean, and Russia borders the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Arctic Ocean and Pacific Ocean but not the North Sea.

Dhuandhar Falls is on the Narmada river in the Malwa region (correct). Hundru Falls is on the Subarnarekha river in Chota Nagpur Plateau (correct). However, Gersoppa (Jog) Falls is on the Sharavathi river (not Netravati) in the Western Ghats.

Appalachians (fold mountain in North America) and Andes (fold mountain in South America) are correctly matched. Vosges is in Europe (not Central Asia) and is a block mountain (not fold mountain). Alps are fold mountains (not block mountains).

Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater are all insects. Cicadas belong to order Hemiptera, Froghoppers are also Hemipterans (family Cercopidae), and Pond skaters (water striders) belong to family Gerridae.

Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I. Many conventional chewing gums use polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate (plastics) as their gum base, which makes them non-biodegradable and a source of environmental pollution.

None are correctly matched. Indri is native to Madagascar (not Brazil). Elk are found in North America and East Asia (not Indonesia). Bonobos are native to the Democratic Republic of Congo (not Madagascar).

Only Statement 2 is correct — World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are initiatives of the World Toilet Organization. The WTO is not a UN agency — it is a non-profit organization founded by Jack Sim in 2001. Its main focus is advocacy and awareness, not granting funds.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Lions can breed year-round with no particular breeding season. Cheetahs cannot roar — they chirp, purr and yelp instead. Statement 3 is incorrect — male leopards do proclaim territory by scent marking (urine spraying, claw marks).

100 Million Farmers is a platform initiative by the World Economic Forum aimed at building net-zero food and water systems while increasing farmer resilience to climate change.

All four are Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). DERs are small-scale energy resources connected to the distribution grid, including battery storage, biomass generators, fuel cells, and rooftop solar PV units.

Fig trees have a unique mutualistic relationship with fig wasps (family Agaonidae). Each fig species has its own specific fig wasp species that has co-evolved with it for pollination — one of nature's most specialized plant-pollinator relationships.

All three groups have poisonous species. Monarch butterflies are toxic due to milkweed consumption. Pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin. Poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) are among the most poisonous animals on Earth.

Only Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is native to India — specifically endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Cashew is native to Brazil and was introduced to India by the Portuguese. Papaya is native to Central America and southern Mexico.

Donyi Polo Airport (Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh) and Kushinagar International Airport (Uttar Pradesh) are greenfield airports. Vijayawada International Airport (Gannavaram) is a brownfield airport that was expanded and upgraded.

Statement 1 is correct — water vapour concentration decreases with altitude as temperature decreases. Statement 2 is incorrect — water vapour percentage is maximum in warm tropical regions near the equator (where evaporation is highest) and minimum at the poles.

Marine West Coast climate (Cfb/Cfc in Koppen classification) is characterized by low annual and daily temperature ranges due to oceanic influence, precipitation distributed throughout the year, and moderate precipitation (50-250 cm). Found in Western Europe, Pacific Northwest, New Zealand, etc.

Both statements are correct. The Coriolis force is proportional to the speed of the moving object — it increases with wind velocity. It is also proportional to the sine of latitude — maximum at the poles (sin 90 = 1) and zero at the equator (sin 0 = 0).

On June 21 (Summer Solstice), the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. The Tropic of Cancer experiences more than 12 hours of daylight, and the Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of daylight. The Equator has exactly 12 hours, and the Tropic of Capricorn has less than 12 hours.

The Congo Basin contains the world's largest tropical peatland, discovered in the Cuvette Centrale region. It stores approximately 30 billion tonnes of carbon — equivalent to about three years of global fossil fuel emissions.

All three statements are correct. PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as 'forever chemicals', are found in drinking water, food, and food packaging. They are extremely persistent in the environment and do not break down easily. They bioaccumulate in living organisms through persistent exposure.

Parasitoid species are found among carabid beetles (some species are parasitoids of other insects), flies (family Tachinidae are well-known parasitoids), and wasps (parasitoid wasps are the most diverse group of parasitoids). Centipedes and termites are not known to have parasitoid species.

All three — groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), horse-gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), and soybean (Glycine max) — belong to the pea family Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

Statement I is correct — the Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius) has been listed under the vermin category. Statement II is incorrect — the Indian Flying Fox is a fruit bat (megabat) that feeds on fruits, nectar and flowers, not blood. Vampire bats (found only in the Americas) feed on blood.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is defined as the average number of children (live births) that a woman would have by the end of her childbearing years (ages 15-49) if she experienced the current age-specific fertility rates throughout her life.

All three statements are correct. Select NBFCs (like NABARD, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NHB) can access the LAF window. FIIs (now FPIs) can hold government securities. Stock exchanges like BSE and NSE offer separate debt trading platforms.

All three can trade in corporate bonds in India. Insurance companies, pension funds and retail investors are all permitted to invest in and trade corporate bonds, though the market has traditionally been dominated by institutional investors.

All three are Money Market instruments. Treasury Bills are short-term government securities, Bankers Acceptance is a time draft guaranteed by a bank, and Commercial Papers are unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by companies. All are short-term (up to one year) and traded in the money market.

Only one pair is correctly matched — Tertiary sector includes Banking services. Iron and steel industry belongs to the Secondary sector (not Primary — which includes agriculture, mining, fishing). Transport services belong to the Tertiary sector (not Secondary — which includes manufacturing and construction).

Used cooking oil, agricultural residues and municipal solid waste are approved feedstocks for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Petroleum refinery waste is a fossil fuel byproduct and using it would not make the fuel 'sustainable' — SAF must come from non-petroleum renewable sources.

Physical capital includes tangible assets used in production — tools and machines, and raw materials ready for use. Buildings are part of physical capital in some classifications but 'money and other financial assets' are financial capital, not physical capital. The question tests the distinction between physical and financial capital.

The Metaverse refers to 3D virtual worlds where users can interact with each other and digital environments using avatars. The concept gained prominence after Facebook rebranded to Meta in 2021.

Neither statement is correct. RBI encourages but does not mandate foreign banks to convert to wholly-owned subsidiaries — it remains voluntary. There is no specific cap of 20 branches per year — RBI considers branch expansion requests on a case-by-case basis.

Neither statement is fully correct. Under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, CSR is applicable to companies with net worth of Rs. 500 crore OR turnover of Rs. 1000 crore OR net profit of Rs. 5 crore or more (not just net worth alone). The CSR spending requirement is at least 2% of average net profits (not 5%).

Statements 2 and 3 are correct. RTGs use the heat from natural radioactive decay (not nuclear fission) of isotopes, and Plutonium-238 is the most commonly used fuel. Statement 1 is incorrect — RTGs use thermoelectric effect (Seebeck effect) to convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity, not nuclear fission.

Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I. Giant stars have much higher masses than dwarf stars, which leads to higher core temperatures and greater luminosity, making them hotter and brighter.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that dilates blood vessels (vasodilation) and is used in the treatment of heart disease. The discovery of nitric oxide's role as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998.

Three are radar applications: measuring speed of vehicles (speed guns use Doppler radar), tracking weather patterns (weather radar/Doppler radar), and guiding aircraft to land in poor visibility (ILS uses radar). Detecting composition of minerals in soil is not a standard radar application — it typically requires spectroscopy or geochemical analysis.

All three statements are correct. Genome sequencing determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism, helping understand its genetic makeup. It can detect genetic disorders by identifying mutations and variations. It is also fundamental to personalized/precision medicine, enabling treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Dark matter does not emit or absorb electromagnetic radiation (light) and interacts with ordinary matter primarily through gravity. Statement 3 is incorrect — dark matter constitutes approximately 27% of the universe (ordinary matter is about 5%, and dark energy is about 68%).

All three are correctly matched. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) deals with greenhouse gas emission reduction including CO2. The Montreal Protocol (1987) addresses ozone-depleting substances. The Nagoya Protocol (2010) governs access to genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.

All three statements are correct. Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5mm. Studies have detected microplastics in human blood, lungs, and other organs. They enter the food chain when marine organisms ingest them, and these are consumed by larger predators including humans.

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Chandrayaan-3 made India the first country to successfully land near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023, and the rover was named Pragyan. Statement 2 is incorrect — Chandrayaan-3 consisted of a lander (Vikram), rover (Pragyan), and a propulsion module (not an orbiter). Chandrayaan-2 had the orbiter.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Machine learning is indeed a subset of AI, and deep learning is a subset of machine learning. Statement 3 is incorrect — modern AI systems, particularly deep learning models, can work with both structured data (databases, spreadsheets) and unstructured data (images, text, audio, video).