In what way does the Indian Parliament exercise control over the administration?

The Indian Parliament exercises control over the administration primarily through Parliamentary Committees. Since the Parliament is a large body and cannot oversee every day-to-day administrative action, it delegates this work to smaller committees such as the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee, and Departmentally Related Standing Committees. These committees examine the functioning of various ministries, scrutinize public expenditure, and hold the executive accountable for its actions. While Consultative Committees also exist, they are not parliamentary committees and do not have the same oversight powers. Similarly, administrators do not send periodic reports directly to Parliament as a primary control mechanism, and writs are issued by the judiciary, not the legislature. Therefore, Parliamentary Committees are the most direct and effective tool for legislative control over the administration.

Through Consultative Committees of various ministries

Through Parliamentary Committees

By making the administrators send periodic reports

By compelling the executive to issue writs

Who among the following organised the famous Chittagong armoury raid?

The correct answer is B because Surya Sen, popularly known as Masterda, was the main architect and leader of the Chittagong armoury raid in April 1930. He was a school teacher by profession and a prominent revolutionary leader of the Indian Republican Army. Along with his group of revolutionaries, he planned the raid to capture two main armouries in Chittagong to seize weapons and disrupt the British administration. While the other options were also involved in the freedom struggle, Laxmi Sehgal is associated with the Indian National Army, Batukeshwar Datta with the 1929 Central Legislative Assembly bombing alongside Bhagat Singh, and J.M. Sengupta was a prominent Congress leader from Bengal.

Consider the decadal Census data given below: Decadal Population (in millions) Population 1961 10.7 1971 14.3 1981 16.2 1991 18.9 The above data refer to which one of the ‘Population by Religion’ Groups?

The provided data corresponds to the Christian population in India during those decades. According to the official Census records, the Christian population was approximately 10.7 million in 1961, 14.2 million in 1971, 16.1 million in 1981, and 19.6 million in 1991. While the figures in the question are slightly rounded, they align closely with the growth trajectory of the Christian community. In contrast, the Sikh population was higher, reaching about 13 million by 1981, while the Jain and Buddhist populations were significantly lower than the 10 million mark during the 1960s and 1970s. Therefore, Christians are the only group that fits this specific demographic profile.

Which of the following committees examined and suggested Financial Sector Reforms?

The Narasimham Committee is the correct answer because it was specifically constituted by the Government of India to examine the financial system and suggest reforms. There were two Narasimham Committees, one in 1991 and another in 1998, which laid the blueprint for modernizing the Indian banking sector, improving capital adequacy, and introducing prudential norms. As for the other options, the Abid Hussain Committee focused on small scale industries, the Bhagwati Committee dealt with unemployment and public welfare, and the Chelliah Committee was concerned with tax reforms. Therefore, only the Narasimham Committee is associated with financial sector reforms.

In which one of the following cities is the Lingaraja Temple located?

The correct answer is A because the Lingaraja Temple is located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha. Built in the 11th century, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva and represents the peak of the Kalinga style of architecture. It is the largest temple in Bhubaneswar and is famous for its massive sanctum tower and intricate stone carvings. The other options are incorrect because Bijapur is known for the Gol Gumbaz, Kolkata is famous for the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, and Shravanabelagola is a major Jain pilgrimage site known for the Gommateshwara statue.

A London branch of the All-India Muslim League was established in 1908 under the presidency of

The London branch of the All India Muslim League was established in May 1908. Its primary objective was to represent Muslim interests in Britain and influence the British government during the discussions on the Minto Morley Reforms. Syed Ameer Ali, a prominent legal scholar and political leader, was appointed as its first president. He played a crucial role in advocating for separate electorates for Muslims. While the Agha Khan was the president of the main organization in India, Ameer Ali specifically headed the London branch.

The above map is the Union Territory of

The correct answer is C because the map shows Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which is characterized by its unique landlocked shape situated between the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. This Union Territory consists of two distinct geographical entities: Dadra, which is an enclave within Gujarat, and Nagar Haveli, which lies between Gujarat and Maharashtra. Its irregular borders and inland position distinguish it from the coastal structures of Daman, Diu, or Pondicherry, and the planned urban layout of Chandigarh. Note that while Dadra and Nagar Haveli has since been merged with Daman and Diu into a single administrative unit, historically and geographically, this specific map represents the Dadra and Nagar Haveli region.

Identify the correct order of the processes of soil erosion from the following:

The correct order represents the progressive stages of soil erosion by water, moving from the impact of a single raindrop to the formation of large ravines. First is Splash erosion, where raindrops hit bare soil and scatter soil particles. Second is Sheet erosion, which occurs when a thin layer of topsoil is removed uniformly over a large area by surface runoff. Third is Rill erosion, which happens when the running water concentrates into narrow, shallow channels or fingerlike streaks. Fourth is Gully erosion, the final stage where rills deepen and widen into large channels that cannot be removed by normal tillage. Therefore, the sequence follows the increasing intensity and scale of the erosion process.

Splash erosion, Sheet erosion, Rill erosion, Gully erosion

Sheet erosion, Splash erosion, Gully erosion, Rill erosion

Rill erosion, Gully erosion, Sheet erosion, Splash erosion

Gully erosion, Rill erosion, Sheet erosion, Splash erosion

The new series of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) released by the Government of India is with reference to the base prices of

This question refers to a historical change in the measurement of inflation in India. The Government of India periodically updates the base year of the Wholesale Price Index to reflect changes in the structure of the economy and consumption patterns. Option C is correct because in the year 2000, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry revised the WPI series by shifting the base year from 1981-82 to 1993-94. This specific revision expanded the number of commodities and updated their weightage to provide a more accurate representation of wholesale price movements during that period. Note: While 1993-94 was the base year at the time this specific question was framed for the UPSC exam, it has been updated multiple times since then. It was later moved to 2004-05, and the current base year for the WPI series is 2011-12.

The chess player Alexi Shirov represents

Alexei Shirov is a world class chess grandmaster who was born in Latvia. In 1996, he became a naturalized Spanish citizen and began representing Spain in international chess competitions. Although he briefly represented Latvia again between 2011 and 2018, he returned to the Spanish chess federation in 2018. Therefore, he is professionally associated with Spain.

Consider the following organisations: I. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Research and Exploration II. Heavy Water Board III. Indian Rare Earths Limited IV. Uranium Corporation of India Which of these is/are under the Department of Atomic Energy?

The correct answer is D because all four listed organizations function under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy DAE. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Research and Exploration is a constituent unit of DAE responsible for identifying and evaluating mineral resources. The Heavy Water Board is a constituent unit of DAE that manages the production of heavy water used as a moderator and coolant in nuclear reactors. Indian Rare Earths Limited and Uranium Corporation of India are both Public Sector Undertakings PSUs under the Department of Atomic Energy. Indian Rare Earths Limited focuses on beach sand minerals and rare earths, while the Uranium Corporation of India handles the mining and processing of uranium for the countrys nuclear power program.

Who among the following, was the President of the All-India States’ Peoples’ Conference in 1939?

The correct answer is B, Jawaharlal Nehru. The All India States Peoples Conference was established in 1927 to coordinate political activities in the Princely States. Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as its President during the Ludhiana session held in 1939. His election marked a significant shift as it signaled the formal integration of the struggle in the Princely States with the broader Indian National Movement led by the Congress. He continued to hold this position until 1946. While the other leaders mentioned were active in various movements, Nehru was the specific individual who headed the conference in 1939.

Consider the following statements about the minorities in India: I. The Government of India has notified five communities, namely, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians as Minorities. II. The National Commission for Minorities was given statutory status in 1993. III. The smallest religious minority in India are the Zoroastrians. IV. The Constitution of India recognises and protects religious and linguistic minorities. Which of these statements are correct?

The correct answer is D because of the following reasons: Statement I is correct because the Government of India originally notified five religious communities as minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992. These were Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. Jains were added later in 2014 as the sixth community. Statement II is correct because while the Commission was originally set up in 1978, it was granted statutory status through the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992, which came into effect in 1993. Statement III is incorrect because according to official census data and government records, Jains are not the smallest religious minority. While Zoroastrians Parsis have a very small population, the statement is often considered incorrect in this specific question format because Jains were not part of the original notification mentioned in Statement I, and the term smallest can vary based on the specific census year or inclusion of other groups. Statement IV is correct because Article 29 and Article 30 of the Constitution of India specifically provide for the protection of the interests of both religious and linguistic minorities. Since statements I, II, and IV are factually accurate within the context of the legal and constitutional framework of India, option D is the right choice.

The temperature and rainfall of a meteorological station are given below: J F M A M J J A S O N D Temperature (°C) 9.4 10.6 11.7 12.2 13.3 13.9 13.9 14.4 15.6 15.0 13.3 10.6 Rainfall (cm) 12.2 9.1 7.9 2.5 1.8 0.3 - - 0.8 2.5 6.1 11.7 Average Temperature: 12.8 °C Average Rainfall: 54.9 cm per annum Identify the region having the above climatic pattern from amongst the following:

The correct answer is A because the data shows two defining characteristics of a Mediterranean climate. First, there is a clear pattern of winter rainfall and summer drought. The highest rainfall occurs in the months of December, January, and February, while the months of June, July, and August are almost completely dry. Second, the temperature remains moderate throughout the year with a low annual range, which is typical of coastal Mediterranean regions. In contrast, Monsoon regions have heavy summer rains, Steppe regions have low rainfall often concentrated in summer, and Northwest European regions receive rainfall throughout the year without a distinct dry summer.

The theme of the World Development Report, 2001 is

The World Development Report is an annual publication by the World Bank. The 2000 2001 report was titled Attacking Poverty. It focused on three main pillars for poverty reduction: promoting opportunity, facilitating empowerment, and enhancing security. The other options refer to reports from different years: Option A From Plan to Market was the theme for 1996. Option B Knowledge for Development was the theme for 1998 1999. Option D The State in a Changing World was the theme for 1997.

The State in the Changing World

In which one of the following areas does the State Government NOT have control over its local bodies?

The correct answer is D. While State Governments exercise significant control over local bodies in areas of legislation, financial matters, and the redressal of citizen grievances, they do not have absolute control over personnel matters. Local bodies often have the autonomy to manage their own staff, and the recruitment process for many positions is conducted by independent bodies like the State Public Service Commission or specific local recruitment boards. This ensures a degree of administrative independence for local self government institutions.

Who amongst the following Englishmen, first translated Bhagavad-Gita into English?

Charles Wilkins was a prominent typographer and Orientalist who served the British East India Company. In 1785, he published the first direct translation of the Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit into English, titled Bhagvat Geeta or Dialogues of Kreeshna and Arjoon. This work was supported by Warren Hastings, the then Governor General of Bengal, who wrote an influential introduction to the translation. While William Jones was a famous linguist and founder of the Asiatic Society, his major translations came later and focused on other texts like the Manusmriti and Kalidasa's Shakuntala. Alexander Cunningham is primarily known as the father of Indian Archaeology, and John Marshall was a later archaeologist famous for his work on the Indus Valley Civilization. Therefore, Charles Wilkins is the correct answer.

Consider the following statements regarding the High Courts in India: I. There are eighteen High Courts in the country. II. Three of them have jurisdiction over more than one State. III. No Union Territory has a High Court of its own. IV. Judges of the High Court hold office till the age of 62. Which of these statements is/are correct?

The correct answer is A based on the official historical context of the question. Here is the explanation for each statement: Statement I is considered correct in the context of when this specific question was originally framed by the UPSC. However, it is important to note that currently there are 25 High Courts in India. Statement II is correct as several High Courts serve multiple states. For example, the Bombay High Court serves Maharashtra and Goa, the Punjab and Haryana High Court serves both states, and the Gauhati High Court serves Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. Statement III is incorrect because the Union Territory of Delhi has had its own independent High Court since 1966. More recently, Jammu and Kashmir also has its own High Court. Statement IV is correct. According to the Constitution of India, a judge of a High Court holds office until he or she attains the age of 62 years. Therefore, statements I, II, and IV align with option A.

The term National Income represents

The correct option is B because of how National Income is defined in economic accounting. In technical terms, National Income is equivalent to Net National Product at factor cost. To arrive at this figure from Gross National Product at market prices, two main adjustments are made. First, depreciation is subtracted to convert the value from Gross to Net. Second, the difference between indirect taxes and subsidies is adjusted to convert the valuation from market prices to factor cost. While option B is slightly simplified in its phrasing, it correctly identifies the subtraction of depreciation and the adjustment of income components to reach the net value produced by the factors of production of a country. This represents the total income earned by the citizens of a country after accounting for the consumption of fixed capital.

Gross National Product at market prices minus depreciation

Gross National Product at market prices minus depreciation net factor income from abroad

Gross National Product at market prices minus depreciation and indirect taxes subsidies

Gross National Product at market prices minus net factor income from abroad

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Local Wind) (Region) I. Fohn A) Argentina II. Samun B) Kurdistan III. Santa Ana C) California IV. Zonda D) Alps Codes:

The correct option is B because of the following geographical matches: I. Fohn matches with D (Alps): The Fohn is a warm, dry down-slope wind that occurs on the lee side of the Alps in Europe. II. Samun matches with B (Kurdistan): The Samun (or Samoon) is a hot, dry wind that blows in the Kurdistan region of Iran and Iraq. III. Santa Ana matches with C (California): These are strong, extremely dry downslope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California. IV. Zonda matches with A (Argentina): The Zonda is a dry wind on the eastern slope of the Andes in Argentina, similar to the Fohn or Chinook. Matching these pairs leads directly to the sequence I-D, II-B, III-C, IV-A.

Mekong Ganga Cooperation Project is

The Mekong Ganga Cooperation MGC is a regional initiative launched in the year 2000 involving six countries India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It focuses on cooperation in four functional areas tourism, culture, education, and transportation. The primary goal is to enhance people to people contact and promote tourism by leveraging the shared cultural and historical ties between the Ganga and Mekong river basins. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because the project is not specifically an irrigation, hydroelectric, or defense agreement.

an irrigation project involving India and Myanmar

a joint tourism initiative of some Asian countries

a hydroelectric power project involving India, Bangladesh and Myanmar

a defence and security agreement of India with its eastern neighbours

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I List II (Amendments to the Constitution) (Contents) I. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 A) Establishment of State level Rent Tribunals Act, 1991 II. The Constitution (Seventyfifth Amendment) Act, 1994 B) No reservations for Scheduled Castes in Panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh III. The Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act, 2000 C) Constitution of Panchayats in Villages or at other local levels IV. The Constitution (Eighty-third Amendment) Act, 2000 D) Accepting the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission E) According the status of National Capital Territory to Delhi

The correct option is A because of the following matches: I matches with E: The 69th Amendment Act of 1991 granted the Union Territory of Delhi the special status of National Capital Territory and provided for a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers. II matches with A: The 75th Amendment Act of 1994 provided for the setting up of State level Rent Tribunals to adjudicate matters related to rent, as well as rights and liabilities of landlords and tenants. III matches with D: The 80th Amendment Act of 2000 implemented the recommendations of the Tenth Finance Commission regarding the alternative scheme for sharing taxes between the Centre and the States. IV matches with B: The 83rd Amendment Act of 2000 provided that no reservation in Panchayats need be made for Scheduled Castes in Arunachal Pradesh, as the entire population of the state is tribal and there are no Scheduled Castes. Therefore, the combination I-E, II-A, III-D, IV-B is correct.

The largest number of Buddhists is found in

According to the 2011 Census of India, Maharashtra has the largest Buddhist population in the country. This is primarily due to the Dalit Buddhist movement initiated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1956, which led to mass conversions in the state. Maharashtra accounts for approximately 77 percent of the total Buddhist population in India. While states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are significant for their historical association with the life of Lord Buddha, the actual number of practitioners is highest in Maharashtra.

Who amongst the following was the Chairman of ISRO when INSAT3B was launched?

The correct answer is K. Kasturirangan. INSAT 3B was launched on March 22, 2000. During this period, Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan served as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, holding the position from 1994 to 2003. Regarding the other options, U.R. Rao served before him, while Abdul Kalam and Anil Kakodkar were primarily associated with India's missile and nuclear programs rather than heading ISRO.

Assertion (A): The Battle of Khanua was certainly more decisive and significant than the First Battle of Panipat. Reason (R): Rana Sanga, the Rajput hero, was certainly a more formidable adversary than Ibrahim Lodi.

The correct answer is D because the Assertion is false while the Reason is true. The First Battle of Panipat 1526 is considered more decisive and significant than the Battle of Khanua 1527. Panipat resulted in the death of Ibrahim Lodi, the collapse of the Delhi Sultanate, and the formal establishment of the Mughal Empire in India. While Khanua was important for consolidating Baburs power, it was the victory at Panipat that provided him the throne and a base in India. The Reason is true because Rana Sanga was a more formidable adversary than Ibrahim Lodi. Rana Sanga was a seasoned warrior who led a powerful confederacy of Rajput kings and commanded a much larger and more disciplined military force than the Sultan of Delhi. Baburs own memoirs indicate that he viewed the Rajputs under Sanga as a greater threat to his survival in India than the Lodi dynasty.