All Prelims papers

UPSC Prelims 1999

General Studies Paper I

147 questions, 2 hours. Open a question for its answer and why.

Sit it against the clock, marked with UPSC’s key
  1. Question 1 · History and Culture

    One consistent feature found in the history of southern India was the growth of small regional kingdoms rather than large empires because of

    athe absence of minerals like iron
    btoo many divisions in the social structure
    cthe absence of vast areas of fertile land
    dthe scarcity of manpower
  2. Question 2 · Economy and Social Development

    From the balance sheet of a company, it is possible to

    ajudge the extent of profitability of the company
    bassess the profitability and size of the company
    cdetermine the size and composition of the assets and liabilities of the company
    ddetermine the market share, debts and assets of the company
  3. Question 3 · Geography

    If it is 10.00 a.m. I.S.T., then what would be the local time at Shillong on 92°E longitude?

    a9.38 a.m.
    b10.38 a.m.
    c10.22 a.m.
    d9.22 a.m.
  4. Question 4 · Polity and Governance

    The Constitution of India recognises

    aonly religious minorities
    bonly linguistic minorities
    creligious and linguistic minorities
    dreligious, linguistic and ethnic minorities
  5. Question 5 · History and Culture

    “The king was freed from his people and they from their king”. On whose death did Badauni comment thus?

    aBalban
    bAla-ud-din Khalji
    cMuhammad-bin-Tughlaq
    dFeroze Shah Tughlaq
  6. Question 6 · Polity and Governance

    In the new Panchayati Raj Bill enacted in 1993, there are several fresh provisions deviating from the past. Which one of the following is not one such provision?

    aA number of added responsibilities in the area of agriculture, rural development, primary education and social forestry among others.
    bElections being made mandatory for all posts at the time they are due.
    cA statutory representation for women in the panchayats, up to a third of the strength.
    dRegular remuneration to the panchayat members, so as to ensure their punctuality and accountability.
  7. Question 7 · Geography

    A ship sailing from the eastern extremity of the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbour crosses the 180° meridian at 23.30 hrs on January 1, 1999. What time and date will be recorded by the captain of the ship in his diary after one hour journey from the point of crossing of the meridian?

    aJanuary 1, 0030 hrs
    bJanuary 2, 0030 hrs
    cJanuary 3, 0030 hrs
    dJanuary 4, 0030 hrs
  8. Question 8 · Polity and Governance

    Consider the following statements: An amendment of the Constitution of India can be initiated by the I. Lok Sabha. II. Rajya Sabha. III. State Legislatures. IV. President. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    aI alone
    bI, II and III
    cII, III and IV
    dI and II
  9. Question 9 · History and Culture

    The first venture of Gandhi in all-India politics was the

    aNon-cooperation Movement
    bRowlatt Satyagraha
    cChamparan Movement
    dDandi March
  10. Question 10 · Economy and Social Development

    Persons below the poverty line in India are classified as such based on whether

    athey are entitled to a minimum prescribed food basket
    bthey get work for a prescribed minimum number of days in a year
    cthey belong to agricultural labourer household and the scheduled caste/tribe social group
    dtheir daily wages fall below the prescribed minimum wages
  11. Question 11 · History and Culture

    The term ‘Aryan’ denotes

    aan ethnic group
    ba nomadic people
    ca speech group
    da superior race
  12. Question 12 · Economy and Social Development

    Consider the following statements: Regional disparities in India are high and have been rising in recent years because

    1. 1.There is persistent investment over time only in select locales.
    2. 2.Some areas are agro-climatically less conducive to development.
    3. 3.Some areas continue to face little or no agrarian transformation and the consequent lack of social and economic opportunities.
    4. 4.Some areas have faced continuous political instability.

    Which of the above statements are correct?

    a1, 2 and 3
    b1, 3 and 4
    c2, 3 and 4
    d1, 2 and 4
  13. Question 13 · Geography

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Volcanic Mountain) I. Mt. Rainier II. Etna III. Paricutin IV. Taal List II (Country) A. Italy B. Mexico C. Philippines D. USA

    aI-D, II-B, III-A, IV-C
    bI-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
    cI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
    dI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
  14. Question 14 · Polity and Governance

    Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the Election Law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996: I. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six years from the date of conviction. II. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha. III. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliamentary constituency. IV. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI and III
    bI, II and IV
    cI, II and III
    dI, II, III and IV
  15. Question 15 · History and Culture

    Consider the following statements: The striking feature of the Jama Masjid in Kashmir completed by Zain-ul-Abidin include(s) I. Turret. II. Similarity with Buddhist pagodas. III. Persian style. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    aI alone
    bI, II and III
    cII and III
    dI and III
  16. Question 16 · Geography

    The Ravva offshore block, with great potential for oil, is located in

    aKrishna Godavari basin
    bCauvery basin
    cMahanadi basin
    dPalar-Pennar basin
  17. Question 17 · Geography

    In the given map, which one of the following pairs of ocean currents is shown?

    aBenguela and Falkland
    bCanary and Humboldt
    cAgulhas and Guinea
    dBenguela and Guinea
  18. Question 18 · Economy and Social Development

    Which one of the following statements regarding the levying, collecting and distribution of Income Tax is correct?

    aThe Union levies, collects and distributes the proceeds of income tax between itself and the States
    bThe Union levies, collects and keeps all the proceeds of income tax to itself
    cThe Union levies and collects the tax but all the proceeds are distributed among the States
    dOnly the surcharge levied on income tax is shared between the Union and the States
  19. Question 19 · History and Culture

    The Congress policy of pray and petition ultimately came to an end under the guidance of

    aAurobindo Ghosh
    bBal Gangadhar Tilak
    cLala Lajpat Rai
    dMahatma Gandhi
  20. Question 20 · Economy and Social Development

    Consider the following statements: Industrial development in India, to an extent, is constrained by I. Lack of adequate entrepreneurship and leadership in business. II. Lack of savings to invest. III. Lack of technology, skills and infrastructure. IV. Limited purchasing power among the larger masses. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI, II and III
    bI, III and IV
    cII, III and IV
    dI, II and IV
  21. Question 21 · Geography

    At which one of the following positions shown in the diagram will the height of the ocean tide be maximum?

    aM1
    bM2
    cM3
    dM4
  22. Question 22 · Economy and Social Development

    Among which one of the following sets of social/religious groups is the extent of poverty the highest, as per Government statistics for the nineties?

    aMuslims in Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh
    bTribals in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
    cScheduled Castes in Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, northern Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu
    dChristians in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Assam
  23. Question 23 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following ports handled the north Indian trade during the Gupta period?

    aTamralipti
    bBroach
    cKalyan
    dCambray
  24. Question 24 · Economy and Social Development

    Tourism industry in India is quite small compared to many other countries in terms of India’s potential and size. Which one of the following statements is correct in this regard?

    aDistances in India are too far apart and its luxury hotels are too expensive for western tourists
    bFor most of the months India is too hot for western tourists to feel comfortable
    cMost of the picturesque resorts in India such as in the Northeast and Kashmir are, for all practical purposes, out of bounds
    dIn India, the infrastructure required for attracting tourists is inadequate
  25. Question 25 · Geography

    Which one of the areas marked as A, B, C and D in the given figure of the cyclone, witnesses heavy torrential short-duration rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms?

    aA
    bB
    cC
    dD
  26. Question 26 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    Which one of the following statements is correct?

    aKachchativu and Tin Bigha were territories acquired by the Indian Republic from the French
    bKachchativu and Tin Bigha are territories handed over to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi sovereignty respectively by the Government of India
    cKachchativu and Tin Bigha are areas that were annexed by the Chinese in the 1962 Sino Indian War
    dKachchativu and Tin Bigha are enclaves which were transferred to India by lease arrangements with Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively
  27. Question 27 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

    aJahangir : William Hawkins
    bAkbar : Sir Thomas Roe
    cShahjahan : Tavernier
    dAurangzeb : Manucci
  28. Question 28 · Economy and Social Development

    The Employment Assurance Scheme envisages financial assistance to rural areas for guaranteeing employment to at least

    a50 per cent of the men and women seeking jobs in rural areas
    b50 per cent of the men seeking jobs in rural areas
    cone man and one woman in a rural family living below the poverty line
    dNone of the above
  29. Question 29 · Geography

    Consider the following temperature and rainfall data: Month Temperature °C Rainfall cm January 6.7 14.0 February 6.7 13.2 March 7.2 11.4 April 8.9 9.4 May 11.1 8.1 June 13.9 8.1 July 15.0 9.6 August 15.0 12.2 September 13.9 10.4 October 11.1 14.4 November 8.9 14.0 December 7.8 16.8 The climate to which this data pertains is

    aSt. Lawrence type
    bChina type
    cWest European type
    dMediterranean type
  30. Question 30 · History and Culture

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Persons) I. Shyamji Krishna Varma II. Madame Bhikaji Cama III. Annie Besant IV. Aurobindo Ghosh List II (Journals) A. Bande Mataram B. Indian Sociologist C. The Talwar D. Commonweal Codes:

    aI-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
    bI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
    cI-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D
    dI-C, II-B, III-D, IV-A
  31. Question 31 · Polity and Governance

    A British citizen staying in India cannot claim Right to

    aFreedom of trade and profession
    bEquality before the Law
    cProtection of life and personal liberty
    dFreedom of religion
  32. Question 32 · Geography

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Timber) I. Cedar II. Douglas Fir III. Mahogany IV. Teak List II (Country) A. Myanmar B. Canada C. Mexico D. Honduras Codes:

    aI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
    bI-C, II-B, III-D, IV-A
    cI-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
    dI-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D
  33. Question 33 · History and Culture

    The first writer to use Urdu as the medium of poetic expression was

    aAmir Khusru
    bMirza Ghalib
    cBahadur Shah Zafar
    dFaiz
  34. Question 34 · Polity and Governance

    Consider the following statements regarding the National Human Rights Commission of India: I. Its Chairman must be a retired Chief Justice of India. II. It has formations in each state as State Human Rights Commission. III. Its powers are only recommendatory in nature. IV. It is mandatory to appoint a woman as a member of the Commission. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI, II, III and IV
    bII and IV
    cI and III
    dI and II
  35. Question 35 · Geography

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. Cotton II. Flax III. Sugar beet IV. Jute List II A. Rainfall 1000-1500 mm; Temperature 40°-60 °C B. Rainfall 1500-2000 mm; Temperature 25°-35 °C C. Rainfall 600-800 mm; Temperature 5°-18 °C D. Rainfall 500-1000 mm; Temperature 18°-22 °C E. Rainfall 500-600 mm; Temperature 18°-22 °C Codes:

    aI-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
    bI-B, II-C, III-E, IV-D
    cI-D, II-E, III-B, IV-A
    dI-D, II-C, III-E, IV-B
  36. Question 36 · Environment and Ecology

    The minimum land area recommended for forest cover to maintain proper ecological balance in India is

    a25%
    b33%
    c43%
    d53%
  37. Question 37 · History and Culture

    The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore are classified as

    arealistic
    bsocialistic
    crevivalistic
    dimpressionistic
  38. Question 38 · History and Culture

    From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the

    aAfrican trade
    bWest European trade
    cSoutheast Asian trade
    dMiddle Eastern trade
  39. Question 39 · Economy and Social Development

    The planning process in the industrial sector in India has assumed a relatively less important position in the nineties as compared to that in the earlier period. Which one of the following is true in this regard?

    aWith the advent of liberalisation, industrial investments/development have largely been placed within the domain of private and multinational sectors
    bWith markets assuming a central place, the role of central planning in many sectors has been rendered redundant
    cThe focus of planning has shifted to sectors like human resource development, infrastructure, population control and welfare
    dThe nation’s priorities have shifted away from industrial development to rural development
  40. Question 40 · Geography

    Which one of the following port cities in Venezuela has been developed as an oil port?

    aCaracas
    bMaracaibo
    cMaracay
    dCarupano
  41. Question 41 · History and Culture

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. Pandit Vishnu Digamber Paluskar II. Venkatamahi III. Shyama Shastri IV. Amir Khusru List II A. Introduced the scheme of Raga classification of Indian music B. Proponent of Carnatic music C. Proponent of the Khayal form of Hindustani music D. Wrote the music for the song ‘Vande Mataram’ Codes:

    aI-D, II-A, III-C, IV-B
    bI-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
    cI-A, II-D, III-C, IV-B
    dI-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
  42. Question 42 · History and Culture

    There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the

    aabsence of heavy industries
    bscarcity of foreign capital
    cscarcity of natural resources
    dpreference of the rich to invest in land
  43. Question 43 · Economy and Social Development

    Consider the following statements: Small-scale industries are, in most cases, not as efficient and competitive as the large-scale ones. Yet the Government provides preferential treatment and reservations in a range of products to the small firms because small-scale industries I. Provide higher employment on a per unit capital deployment basis. II. Promote a regional dispersion of industries and economic activities. III. Have performed better in export of manufactured products than the large-scale ones. IV. Provide jobs to low skill workers, who otherwise may not find employment avenues elsewhere. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI and IV
    bI and II
    cII and III
    dIII and IV
  44. Question 45 · History and Culture

    The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was

    aHatimtai
    bAlam Ara
    cPundalik
    dRaja Harishchandra
  45. Question 46 · Economy and Social Development

    The economic crisis in the latter half of 1990s most seriously affected Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea. The cause of the crisis was

    amismanagement of the financial resources and financial sector, in general
    bthe prolonged over-valuation of local currencies vis-à-vis the western currencies
    cthe downswing and recession in the western economies which earlier provided export market to these export-oriented countries
    dNone of the above
  46. Question 47 · Geography

    A person of mixed European and Indian blood in Latin America is called a

    aMulatto
    bMestizo
    cMeiji
    dMau Mau
  47. Question 48 · History and Culture

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Libraries) I. Saraswati Mahal Library II. Library of Tibetan Work and Archives III. Raza Library IV. Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library List II (Locations) A. Patna B. Dharamsala C. Thanjavur D. Rampur Codes:

    aI-C, II-B, III-D, IV-A
    bI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
    cI-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D
    dI-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
  48. Question 49 · History and Culture

    The following persons came to India at one time or another: I. Fa-Hien II. I-Tsing III. Megasthenes IV. Hieun-Tsang The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

    aIII, I, II, IV
    bIII, I, IV, II
    cI, III, II, IV
    dI, III, IV, II
  49. Question 50 · Economy and Social Development

    The main sources of credit to the farmers include

    athe Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, commercial banks, RRBs and private moneylenders
    bthe NABARD, RBI, commercial banks and private moneylenders
    cthe District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCB), the lead banks, IRDP and JRY
    dthe Large-scale Multi-purpose Adivasis Programme, DCCB, IFFCO and commercial banks
  50. Question 51 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    Which one of the countries labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the given map was grantee membership of G-15 in its VII Summit at Kuala Lumpur?

    a1
    b2
    c3
    d4
  51. Question 52 · Economy and Social Development

    Trans chart is the

    achartering wing of the Ministry of Surface Transport
    bcontainer service established by Indian Railways
    ctraining institute of maritime studies and research
    dpassenger insurance scheme of Indian Railways
  52. Question 53 · History and Culture

    To which Lodi Sultan does the given map relate and what town does the site marked A on the map represent?

    aBehlol Lodi, Jaunpur
    bSikandar Lodi, Aligarh
    cIbrahim Lodi, Jaunpur
    dIbrahim Lodi, Aligarh
  53. Question 54 · Environment and Ecology

    "India has the largest population of the Asian X. Today, there are just about 20,000 to 25,000 X in their natural habitat spreading across the evergreen forests, dry thorn forests, swamps and grasslands. Their prime habitats are, however, the moist deciduous forests. The X population in India ranges from Northwest India where they are found in the forest divisions of Dehradun, Bijnor and Nainital districts of UP to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka and Kerala and in Tamil Nadu. In Central India, their population is distributed in southern Bihar and Orissa. In the East, they are seen in North Bengal, Assam and a few other states." The animal 'X' referred to in this quotation is

    aLion
    bElephant
    cTiger
    dOne horned rhinoceros
  54. Question 55 · Geography

    Which one of the following statements is not true of the Konkan Railway?

    aThe total length is about 760 km
    bIt runs through the states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala
    cIt is the only rail route that cuts across the Western Ghats
    dThe Konkan Railway Construction Company which came into being raised money through Public Issues
  55. Question 56 · Economy and Social Development

    The product life cycle from inception to demise is shown in the graph. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Stage) I. Product Development II. Maturity III. Growth IV. Introduction List II (Zone) (1, 2, 3, 4 as marked in the graph)

    aI-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
    bI-A, II-D, III-C, IV-B
    cI-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
    dI-D, II-A, III-C, IV-B
  56. Question 57 · Geography

    The physical regions marked as 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the given map are respectively

    aAndes, Brazilian Shield, Guyana Highlands and Amazon Basin
    bAndes, Guyana Highlands, Brazilian Shield and Amazon Basin
    cAmazon Basin, Guyana Highlands, Brazilian Shield and Andes
    dGuyana Highlands, Brazilian Shield, Andes and Amazon Basin
  57. Question 58 · Geography

    The given figure shows a portion of Southern India. The proposed site (Koodankulam) for the construction of two 1000 MW nuclear power plants has been labelled in the map as

    aA
    bB
    cC
    dD
  58. Question 59 · History and Culture

    'Abhinav Bharat' a secret society of revolutionaries was organised by

    aKhudiram Bose
    bV. D. Savarkar
    cPrafulla Chaki
    dBhagat Singh
  59. Question 60 · Economy and Social Development

    Which one of the following is the objective of National Renewal Fund?

    aTo safeguard the interests of workers who may be affected by technological upgradation of industry or closure of sick units
    bTo develop the core sector of the economy
    cFor the development of infrastructure such as energy, transport, communications and irrigation
    dFor human resource development such as full literacy, employment, population control, housing and drinking water
  60. Question 61 · Geography

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Resorts) I. Chakrata II. Haflong III. Kalimpong IV. Kufri List II (States) A) Assam B) West Bengal C) Uttar Pradesh D) Himachal Pradesh

    aI-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
    bI-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
    cI-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
    dI-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
  61. Question 62 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    Consider the following statements about the European Union: I. The European Union was known earlier as the European Community. II. The Single European Act (1986) and the Maastricht Treaty were milestones in its formation. III. Citizens of European Union countries enjoy dual citizenship. IV. Switzerland is a member of the European Union. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI and IV
    bI and III
    cIII and IV
    dI, II and III
  62. Question 63 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6th century B.C.?

    aGandhar
    bKamboj
    cKashi
    dMagadh
  63. Question 64 · Geography

    In the given figure, the site of the Tehri dam has been labelled as

    aA
    bB
    cC
    dD
  64. Question 65 · Geography

    In which one of the following areas in the given map was there a recent discovery of copper deposits by the Atomic Minerals Division of Department of Atomic Energy?

    a1
    b2
    c3
    d4
  65. Question 66 · Geography

    Which one of the following statements is not correct? Dinar/New dinar is the currency of

    aSudan
    bYugoslavia
    cUAE
    dTunisia
  66. Question 67 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

    aJim Laker: Highest number of wickets in a Cricket Test match
    bBrian Lara: Highest score in an innings in Test Cricket
    cSanath Jayasurya & Roshan Mahanama: Highest partnership in an innings in Test Cricket
    dSunil M. Gavaskar: Highest aggregate of runs in Test Cricket
  67. Question 68 · History and Culture

    The most short-lived of all of Britain’s constitutional experiments in India was the

    aIndian Councils Act of 1861
    bIndian Councils Act of 1892
    cIndian Councils Act of 1909
    dGovernment of India Act of 1919
  68. Question 69 · Geography

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Industries) I. Pearl fishing II. Automobiles III. Ship-building IV. Engineering goods List II (Industrial Centres) A) Pune B) Tuticorin C) Pinjore D) Marmagao

    aI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
    bI-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
    cI-A, II-B, III-D, IV-C
    dI-A, II-B, III-C, IV-D
  69. Question 70 · Geography

    The language spoken by the largest number of people in the world is

    aHindi
    bEnglish
    cMandarin
    dSpanish
  70. Question 71 · History and Culture

    'Federal Union composed of British provinces.' The above quotation is related to

    aSimon Commission
    bGandhi Irwin Pact
    cCripps Mission
    dCabinet Mission
  71. Question 72 · History and Culture

    The Governor General who followed a spirited "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan was

    aMinto
    bDufferin
    cElgin
    dLytton
  72. Question 73 · Environment and Ecology

    The first marine sanctuary in India, having within its bounds coral reefs, Mollusca, dolphins, tortoises and various kinds of sea birds, has been established in

    aSundarbans
    bChilka Lake
    cGulf of Kachchh
    dLakshadweep
  73. Question 74 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following pairs of folk-dance forms and states is not correctly matched?

    aKorku : Maharashtra
    bJhummar : Haryana
    cThali : Himachal Pradesh
    dMukna : Manipur
  74. Question 75 · Economy and Social Development

    The population growth rate in Kerala is the lowest among major Indian states. Which one of the following is the most widely accepted reason for this?

    aKerala has made the highest investment in family planning
    bKerala has the highest literacy rate in India
    cKerala has invested heavily in promoting literacy and public health and placed high priority on social policies
    dThe population pyramid in Kerala has relatively fewer women in the reproductive age group
  75. Question 76 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    In order to win the Grand Slam in Tennis, a player must win which one of the following groups of tournaments?

    aAustralian Open, Wimbledon, French Open, US Open
    bWimbledon, French Open, US Open
    cWimbledon, French Open, Paegas Czech Open, US Open
    dDavis Cup, Wimbledon, French Open
  76. Question 77 · Environment and Ecology

    Which one of the following legislations does not deal with the protection of environment?

    aThe Water (Cess) Act, 1977
    bThe Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
    cThe Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
    dThe Port Laws Amendment Act, 1997
  77. Question 78 · History and Culture

    The Indo-Greek kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century BC was

    aBactria
    bScythia
    cZedrasia
    dAria
  78. Question 79 · Economy and Social Development

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. WTO II. IDA III. IMF IV. IBRD List II A) Provides loans to address short-term balance of payment problems B) Multi-lateral trade negotiation body C) Sanction of soft loans D) Facilitating lending and borrowings for reconstruction and development

    aI-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
    bI-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D
    cI-C, II-B, III-D, IV-A
    dI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
  79. Question 80 · History and Culture

    At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon which one of the following Governors-General kept the British flag flying high in India?

    aWarren Hastings
    bLord Cornwallis
    cLord Wellesley
    dLord Hastings
  80. Question 81 · Geography

    Match the areas shown as A, B, C and D on the given map showing the largest religious minorities. Select the correct answer using the codes given below the list of minorities. Largest Religious Minorities 1. Buddhists 2. Christians 3. Jains 4. Muslims 5. Sikhs

    aA-5, B-1, C-3, D-2
    bA-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
    cA-5, B-3, C-1, D-2
    dA-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
  81. Question 82 · Geography

    Which one of the following pairs of states and tribes is not correctly matched?

    aAssam : Miri
    bNagaland : Konyak
    cArunachal Pradesh : Apatani
    dMadhya Pradesh : Lambada
  82. Question 83 · History and Culture

    Which Indian nationalist leader looked upon a war between Germany and Britain as a god-sent opportunity which would enable Indians to exploit the situation to their advantage?

    aC. Rajagopalachari
    bM. A. Jinnah
    cSubhas Chandra Bose
    dJawaharlal Nehru
  83. Question 84 · Economy and Social Development

    As per 1991 Census, which one of the following groups of Union Territories had the highest literacy rate?

    aChandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
    bDelhi and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    cAndaman & Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry
    dPondicherry and Delhi
  84. Question 86 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following leaders of the Congress was totally in favour of Cabinet Mission Plan?

    aMahatma Gandhi
    bJawaharlal Nehru
    cSardar Patel
    dMaulana Abul Kalam Azad
  85. Question 87 · International Relations and Current Affairs

    In the November 1998 Composite Dialogue Process between India and Pakistan, three contentious issues listed below as 1, 2 and 3 were discussed. Contentious Issues 1. Disengagement of troops 2. Settlement of boundary dispute 3. Sharing River water Match the issues with the areas marked in the map as A, B and C and select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    aA-2, B-1, C-3
    bA-2, B-3, C-1
    cA-1, B-3, C-2
    dA-3, B-2, C-1
  86. Question 88 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following statements is correct?

    a‘Neel Darpan’ was a play based on the exploitation of the indigo farmers
    bThe author of the play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ is Vijay Tendulkar
    cThe play ‘Navanna’ by Nabin Chandra Das was based on the famine of Bengal
    dUrdu theatre used to depend heavily on Parsi theatre
  87. Question 89 · History and Culture

    Which one of the following Indian leaders was dismissed by the British from the Indian Civil Service?

    aSatyendranath Tagore
    bSurendranath Banerji
    cR. C. Dutt
    dSubhash Chandra Bose
  88. Question 90 · History and Culture

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Writers) I. Sashi Tharoor II. Amitav Ghosh III. Anita Desai IV. Vikram Chandra List II (Books) A) Clear Light of Day B) Circle of Reason C) Love and Longing in Bombay D) Show Business

    aI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
    bI-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
    cI-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
    dI-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A
  89. Question 91 · Geography

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Rivers) I. Cauvery II. Krishna III. Narmada IV. Chambal List II (Dams) A) Alamatti B) Mettur C) Gandhi Sagar D) Sardar Sarovar

    aI-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
    bI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
    cI-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
    dI-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
  90. Question 92 · History and Culture

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Books) I. The First Indian War of Independence II. Anand Math III. Life Divine IV. Sadhana List II (Authors) A) Rabindranath Tagore B) Sri Aurobindo C) Bankim Chandra Chatterji D) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

    aI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
    bI-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
    cI-D, II-A, III-C, IV-B
    dI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
  91. Question 93 · History and Culture

    Consider the following events: I. Indigo Revolt II. Santhal Rebellion III. Deccan Riot IV. Mutiny of the Sepoys The correct chronological sequence of these events is:

    aIV, II, I, III
    bIV, II, III, I
    cII, IV, III, I
    dII, IV, I, III
  92. Question 94 · History and Culture

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Year) I. 1775 II. 1780 III. 1824 IV. 1838 List II (Event) A) First Anglo-Burmese War B) First Anglo-Afghan War C) First Anglo-Maratha War D) Second Anglo-Mysore War

    aI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
    bI-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
    cI-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
    dI-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A
  93. Question 95 · Economy and Social Development

    Since 1980, the share of the tertiary sector in the total GDP of India has

    ashown an increasing trend
    bshown a decreasing trend
    cremained constant
    dbeen fluctuating
  94. Question 96 · History and Culture

    The term "imperial preference" was applied to the

    aspecial privileges on British imports in India
    bracial discrimination by the Britishers
    csubordination of Indian interest to that of the British
    dpreference given to British political agents over Indian Princes
  95. Question 97 · History and Culture

    Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses. Reason (R): Horses had to be rested while on march and replacements were necessary in times of war.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  96. Question 98 · History and Culture

    Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the August Movement of 1942 as the most serious rebellion since Sepoy Mutiny. Reason (R): There was massive upsurge of the peasantry in certain areas.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  97. Question 99 · Economy and Social Development

    Assertion (A): Devaluation of a currency may promote export. Reason (R): Price of the country's products in the international market may fall due to devaluation.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  98. Question 100 · Economy and Social Development

    Assertion (A): Fiscal deficit is greater than budgetary deficit. Reason (R): Fiscal deficit is the borrowings from the Reserve Bank of India plus other liabilities of the Government to meet its expenditure.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  99. Question 101 · Economy and Social Development

    Assertion (A): According to statistics, more female children are born each year than male children in India. Reason (R): In India, the death rate of a male child is higher than that of the female child.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  100. Question 102 · Science and Technology

    Assertion (A): Information technology is fast becoming a very important field of activity in India. Reason (R): Software is one of the major exports of the country and India has a very strong base in hardware.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  101. Question 103 · Geography

    Assertion (A): Chile continues to be an important producer of copper in the world. Reason (R): Chile is endowed with the world’s largest deposit of porphyry copper.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  102. Question 104 · Science and Technology

    In eye donation, which one of the following parts of donor’s eye is utilised?

    aIris
    bLens
    cCornea
    dRetina
  103. Question 105 · Science and Technology

    Consider the following statement: An ordinary light bulb has a rather short life because the I. Filament wire is not uniform. II. Bulb cannot be evacuated completely. III. Wires supporting the filament melt at high temperatures. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI and III
    bII and III
    cI and II
    dI, II and III
  104. Question 106 · Science and Technology

    Match the hormones in List I with items in List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. Adrenaline II. Estrogen III. Insulin IV. Pheromones List II A) Anger, fear, danger B) Attracting partners through sense of smell C) Females D) Glucose Codes:

    aI-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
    bI-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
    cI-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
    dI-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
  105. Question 107 · Science and Technology

    Neem tree has acquired industrial importance as a source of

    abiopesticide and anti-fertility compound
    banti-fertility compound, biofertilizer and anti-cancer drug
    cbiofertilizer, biopesticide and anti-fertility compound
    danti-cancer drug, biopesticide and biofertilizer
  106. Question 108 · Science and Technology

    Match List I (Drugs / Chemicals) with List II (Their uses) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. Atropine II. Ether III. Nitro-glycerine IV. Pyrethrin List II A) Local anaesthesia B) Heart trouble C) Dilation of pupil D) Mosquito control Codes:

    aI-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
    bI-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
    cI-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
    dI-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
  107. Question 109 · Science and Technology

    Match List I (Naturally occurring substances) with List II (Elements) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. Diamond II. Marble III. Sand IV. Ruby List II A) Calcium B) Silicon C) Aluminium D) Carbon Codes:

    aI-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
    bI-D, II-B, III-A, IV-C
    cI-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
    dI-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
  108. Question 110 · Geography

    Which one of the following scholars suggests the earth’s origin from gases and dust particles?

    aJames Jeans
    bH. Alfven
    cF. Hoyle
    dO. Schmidt
  109. Question 111 · Science and Technology

    Indian farmers are unhappy over the introduction of “Terminator Seed Technology” because the seeds produced by this technology are expected to

    ashow poor germination
    bform low yielding plants despite the high quality
    cgive rise to sexually sterile plants
    dgive rise to plants incapable of forming viable seeds
  110. Question 112 · Science and Technology

    Consider the following statements regarding a motor car battery: I. The voltage is usually 12 V. II. Electrolyte used is hydrochloric acid. III. Electrodes are lead and copper. IV. Capacity is expressed in ampere-hour. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI and II
    bII and III
    cIII and IV
    dI and IV
  111. Question 113 · Science and Technology

    Match List I (Quantity) with List II (Units) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I I. High speed II. Wavelength III. Pressure IV. Energy List II A) Mach B) Angstrom C) Pascal D) Joule Codes:

    aI-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
    bI-A, II-B, III-D, IV-C
    cI-A, II-B, III-C, IV-D
    dI-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
  112. Question 114 · Science and Technology

    Which one of the following genetic diseases is sex-linked?

    aRoyal haemophilia
    bTay Sachs disease
    cCystic fibrosis
    dHypertension
  113. Question 115 · Science and Technology

    For which one of the following is capillarity not the only reason?

    aBlotting of ink
    bRising of underground water
    cSpread of water drop on a cotton cloth
    dRising of water from the roots of a plant to its foliage
  114. Question 116 · Science and Technology

    Consider the following statements: I. If a person looks at a coin which is in a bucket of water, the coin will appear to be closer than it really is. II. If a person under water looks at a coin above the water surface, the coin will appear to be at a higher level than it really is. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    aI and II
    bI alone
    cII alone
    dNeither I nor II
  115. Question 117 · Science and Technology

    Lathyrism is caused by excessive consumption of

    aKesari dal
    bMustard oil
    cPolished rice
    dMushrooms
  116. Question 118 · Science and Technology

    Barium in a suitable form is administered to patients before an X-ray examination of the stomach, because

    abarium allows X-rays to pass through the stomach on account of its transparency to X-rays
    bbarium compound, like magnesium sulphate helps in cleaning the stomach before X-ray examination
    cbarium is a good absorber of X-rays and this helps the stomach to appear clearly in contrast with the other regions in the picture
    dbarium salts are white in colour and this helps the stomach to appear clearly in contrast with other regions in the picture
  117. Question 119 · Science and Technology

    Endoscopy, a technique used to explore the stomach or other inner parts of the body is based on the phenomenon of

    atotal internal reflection
    binterference
    cdiffraction
    dpolarisation
  118. Question 120 · Science and Technology

    Strips of two metals A and B are firmly joined together as shown in the figure. On heating, A expands more than B does. If this joined strip is heated, then it will appear as:

    aAs shown in figure (a)
    bAs shown in figure (b)
    cAs shown in figure (c)
    dAs shown in figure (d)
  119. Question 121 · Environment and Ecology

    Which one of the following agricultural practices is eco-friendly?

    aOrganic farming
    bShifting cultivation
    cCultivation of high yielding varieties
    dGrowing plants in glass-houses
  120. Question 122 · Science and Technology

    When ants bite, they inject

    aglacial acetic acid
    bmethanol
    cformic acid
    dstearic acid
  121. Question 123 · Science and Technology

    Which one of the following is a useful functional association between fungi and the roots of higher plants?

    aBiofertilizer
    bCoralloid root
    cLichen
    dMycorrhiza
  122. Question 124 · Geography

    Which one of the following types of coal contains a higher percentage of carbon than the rest?

    aBituminous coal
    bLignite
    cPeat
    dAnthracite
  123. Question 125 · Science and Technology

    Cobalt-60 is commonly used in radiation therapy because it emits

    aalpha rays
    bbeta rays
    cgamma rays
    dX-rays
  124. Question 126 · Science and Technology

    Low temperatures (Cryogenics) find application in

    aspace travel, surgery and magnetic levitation
    bsurgery, magnetic levitation and telemetry
    cspace travel, surgery and telemetry
    dspace travel, magnetic levitation and telemetry
  125. Question 127 · Science and Technology

    Consider the following statements: I. Glass can be etched or scratched by diamond. II. Glass can be etched or scratched by hydrofluoric acid. III. Glass can be etched or scratched by aqua regia. IV. Glass can be etched or scratched by concentrated sulphuric acid. Which of these statements are correct?

    aI and IV
    bII and III
    cI and II
    dII and IV
  126. Question 128 · Science and Technology

    Assertion (A): To dilute sulphuric acid, acid is added to water and not water to acid. Reason (R): Specific heat of water is quite large.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  127. Question 129 · Science and Technology

    Assertion (A): Insect-resistant transgenic cotton has been produced by inserting Bt gene. Reason (R): The Bt gene is derived from a bacterium.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  128. Question 130 · Science and Technology

    Assertion (A): Dolly was the first cloned mammal. Reason (R): Dolly was produced by in-vitro fertilization.

    aBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    bBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    cA is true, but R is false
    dA is false, but R is true
  129. Question 131 · Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability

    In the sequence of numbers 5, 8, 13, X, 34, 55, 89, ……… the value of ‘X’ is

    a20
    b21
    c23
    d29
  130. Question 132 · Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability

    On another planet, the local terminology for earth, water, light, air and sky are ‘sky’, ‘light’, ‘air’, ‘water’ and ‘earth’ respectively. If someone is thirsty there, what would he drink?

    aSky
    bWater
    cAir
    dLight
  131. Question 133 · Data Interpretation

    In a business concern, there are four functions, namely, Production (PR), Finance (FN), Personnel (PS) and Marketing (MK). The Customer (C) may also play a role in the prosperity of the concern. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I – Pie Diagram I. II. III. IV. List II – Statement A) Customer is the controlling factor B) Marketing is an integrating factor while customer is the controlling factor C) Marketing is the controlling factor D) Marketing is more important than others E) Marketing is as equal a function as the others Codes: a) I-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B b) I-E, II-D, III-A, IV-B c) I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-E d) I-E, II-D, III-B, IV-A

    aI-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
    bI-E, II-D, III-A, IV-B
    cI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-E
    dI-E, II-D, III-B, IV-A
  132. Question 134 · Basic Numeracy

    The average speed of a train in the onward journey is 25% more than that of the return journey. The train halts for one hour on reaching the destination. The total time taken for the complete to-and-fro journey is 17 hours covering a distance of 800 km. The speed of the train in the onward journey is

    a45 km per hour
    b47.06 km per hour
    c50.00 km per hour
    d56.25 km per hour
  133. Question 135 · Basic Numeracy

    In a town 25% families own a phone and 15% own a car. 65% families own neither a phone nor a car. 2000 families own both a car and a phone. Consider the following statements in this regard: I. 10% families own both a car and a phone. II. 35% families own either a car or a phone. III. 40,000 families live in the town. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI and II
    bI and III
    cII and III
    dI, II and III
  134. Question 136 · Data Interpretation

    The yield versus fertilizer input is shown in the graph. Consider the following statements based on this graph: I. Yield rate is zero at B and C. II. There is no yield with no fertilizer input. III. The yield is minimum at D. IV. The yield is neither minimum nor maximum at C. Which of the above statements are correct?

    aI, II and IV
    bIII and IV
    cII and III
    dI, III and IV
  135. Question 137 · Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability

    In a code language, ‘SOLID’ is written as “WPSLIMFHA’. What does the code word ‘ATEXXQIBVO’ refer to?

    aEAGER
    bWAFER
    cWAGER
    dWATER
  136. Question 138 · Data Interpretation

    A company manufacturing air-conditioners has set a monthly target. The target and realised values are shown in the bar chart. Consider the following statements based on the chart: I. The targeted sales on a monthly basis have been achieved. II. The overall target value has been exceeded by 7.5%. III. The Sales Department deserves a pat on the back. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    aI alone
    bII alone
    cI and II
    dII and III
  137. Question 139 · Logical Reasoning and Mental Ability

    In a group of five people—K, L and M are ambitious; M, N and R are honest; L, M and N are intelligent and K, N and R are industrious. Among these, neither industrious nor ambitious person(s) would include

    aK alone
    bL and R
    cM and N
    dNone in the group
  138. Question 140 · Basic Numeracy

    A man is standing on the 8 m long shadow of a 6 m long pole. If the length of his shadow is 2.4 m, what is the height of the man?

    a1.4 m
    b1.6 m
    c1.8 m
    d2.0 m
  139. Question 141 · Basic Numeracy

    If the angles of a triangle are in the ratio of 4 : 3 : 2, then the triangle

    ais obtuse
    bhas one angle greater than 80°
    cis a right triangle
    dis acute
  140. Question 142 · Basic Numeracy

    The surface area of a spherical dome-shaped roof of a cylindrical water tank shown in the figure is

    a60 π m²
    b109 π m²
    c120 π m²
    d300 π m²
  141. Question 143 · Basic Numeracy

    If X + 2Y = 2X + Y, then X² / Y² is equal to

    a0
    b1
    c2
    d4
  142. Question 144 · Basic Numeracy

    A hemispherical bowl is filled to the brim with a beverage. The contents of the bowl are transferred into a cylindrical vessel whose radius is 50% more than its height. If the diameter is the same for both bowl and cylinder, then the volume of the beverage in the cylindrical vessel will be

    a66 (2⁄3) %
    b78 ¾ %
    c100 %
    dmore than 100 % (some liquid will still be left in the bowl)
  143. Question 145 · Science and Technology

    A hunter aims his gun at a point between the eyebrows of a monkey sitting on a branch of a tree. Just as he fires, the monkey jumps down. The bullet will

    ahit the monkey at the point aimed
    bhit the monkey below the point aimed
    chit the monkey above the point aimed
    dmiss the monkey altogether
  144. Question 146 · Data Interpretation

    In an office, the distribution of work hours is as shown in the following table: No. of Staff Members | No. of hours worked 5 | 0 – 19 12 | 20 – 24 25 | 25 – 29 40 | 30 – 34 15 | 35 – 39 8 | 40 – 45 Consider the following inferences drawn from the table: I. The average number of hours worked by a staff member is about 30. II. The percentage of those who worked 35 or more hours is less than 25. III. At least 5 staff members worked more than 44 hours. Which of these inferences is/are valid?

    aI alone
    bII alone
    cI and II
    dI, II and III
  145. Question 148 · Basic Numeracy

    At a given time, two players are standing on a play-field. The cartesian coordinates of their locations are (20, 60) and (-40, -20) units. What is the distance between the players?

    a60 units
    b80 units
    c100 units
    d140 units
  146. Question 149 · Basic Numeracy

    The area of an ellipse is twice that of a circle. The major diameter of the ellipse is twice that of the minor diameter. The radius of the circle is

    a50% of minor diameter of the ellipse
    b50% of major diameter of the ellipse
    cminor diameter of the ellipse
    dmajor diameter of the ellipse
  147. Question 150 · Basic Numeracy

    Amar, Akbar and Anthony are friends, being looked after by a matron Farah. Amar weighs 50% more than Akbar and Anthony weigh 25% less than Amar. Farah weighs a third of the combined weight of the three boys. All four together weigh 232 kg. The correct arrangement of the persons in the ascending order of their weights is

    aAnthony, Akbar, Farah, Amar
    bAnthony, Akbar, Amar, Farah
    cAkbar, Anthony, Amar, Farah
    dAkbar, Anthony, Farah, Amar

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.