Consider the following actions which the Government can take: 1. Devaluing the domestic currency. 2. Reduction in the export subsidy. 3. Adopting suitable policies which attract greater FDI and more funds from FIIs. Which of the above action/actions can help in reducing the current account deficit?

Devaluing the domestic currency (1) makes exports cheaper and imports dearer, and attracting FDI/FII inflows (3) finances the external gap, both helping the current account. Reducing export subsidy (2) would discourage exports and worsen it. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

In terms of economy, the visit by foreign nationals to witness the XIX Common Wealth Games in India amounted to

Foreign visitors spending in India to watch the Games is a consumption of Indian services by non-residents, which counts as an export (of services) in national-accounting terms. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past. What could be the reasons? 1. Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%. 2. As a consequence of increasing incomes, the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change. 3. The food supply chain has structural constraints. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Rising incomes changing consumption patterns (2) and structural constraints in the supply chain (3) are genuine drivers of food inflation. Statement 1 is factually false: food-grain area did not fall by ~30% in five years. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

Which one of the following statements appropriately describes the "fiscal stimulus"?

A fiscal stimulus is deliberate government action, through higher spending or tax cuts, to boost economic activity, best captured by option B. The other options misdescribe it as manufacturing investment or directed lending. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?

The Antarctic ozone hole forms due to the strong polar vortex/front and polar stratospheric clouds that provide surfaces for CFC-derived chlorine to destroy ozone in spring. Option B correctly combines the polar front, stratospheric clouds and CFC inflow. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

Consider the following: 1. Carbon dioxide 2. Oxides of Nitrogen 3. Oxides of Sulphur Which of the above is/are the emission/emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?

Combustion of coal at thermal power stations releases carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and oxides of sulphur (SOx), since coal contains carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Hence all three emissions occur. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates. 2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates. 3. They can be installed in waste water treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Microbial fuel cells use living micro-organisms as catalysts to generate electricity (1) and can be coupled with wastewater treatment to clean water and produce power (3). Statement 2 is wrong: they use organic, not a variety of inorganic, substrates. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material? 1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels. 2. Bioasphalt can be made from non-renewable resources. 3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials. 4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Bio-asphalt is a renewable alternative to fossil-fuel-based asphalt, can be produced from organic/waste materials, and is eco-friendly for road surfacing, so statements 1, 3 and 4 hold. Statement 2 is wrong because bioasphalt is made from renewable, not non-renewable, resources. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: 1. The orbit is geosynchronous. 2. The orbit is circular. 3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth's equator. 4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

A geostationary satellite is geosynchronous, in a circular orbit lying in the equatorial plane, at the characteristic geostationary altitude, so all four conditions describe it. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification; note the altitude figure as printed.)

At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us? 1. It is possible to know the pedigree of livestock. 2. It is possible to understand the causes of all human diseases. 3. It is possible to develop disease-resistant animal breeds. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Gene/DNA mapping helps trace livestock pedigree (1) and develop disease-resistant breeds (3). Statement 2 overreaches by claiming it lets us understand the causes of ALL human diseases, which is false. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

UPSC 2011 Previous-Year Questions

10 solved questions from 2011 (OTHER), organised by subject with explanations.

Economy · 4Science & Technology · 4Environment & Ecology · 2

Economy

1. Consider the following actions which the Government can take: 1. Devaluing the domestic currency. 2. Reduction in the export subsidy. 3. Adopting suitable policies which attract greater FDI and more funds from FIIs. Which of the above action/actions can help in reducing the current account deficit?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
Devaluing the domestic currency (1) makes exports cheaper and imports dearer, and attracting FDI/FII inflows (3) finances the external gap, both helping the current account. Reducing export subsidy (2) would discourage exports and worsen it. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)
2. In terms of economy, the visit by foreign nationals to witness the XIX Common Wealth Games in India amounted to
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
Foreign visitors spending in India to watch the Games is a consumption of Indian services by non-residents, which counts as an export (of services) in national-accounting terms. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)
3. India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past. What could be the reasons? 1. Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%. 2. As a consequence of increasing incomes, the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change. 3. The food supply chain has structural constraints. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
Rising incomes changing consumption patterns (2) and structural constraints in the supply chain (3) are genuine drivers of food inflation. Statement 1 is factually false: food-grain area did not fall by ~30% in five years. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)
4. Which one of the following statements appropriately describes the "fiscal stimulus"?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A fiscal stimulus is deliberate government action, through higher spending or tax cuts, to boost economic activity, best captured by option B. The other options misdescribe it as manufacturing investment or directed lending. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

Environment & Ecology

1. The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
The Antarctic ozone hole forms due to the strong polar vortex/front and polar stratospheric clouds that provide surfaces for CFC-derived chlorine to destroy ozone in spring. Option B correctly combines the polar front, stratospheric clouds and CFC inflow. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)
2. Consider the following: 1. Carbon dioxide 2. Oxides of Nitrogen 3. Oxides of Sulphur Which of the above is/are the emission/emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
Combustion of coal at thermal power stations releases carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and oxides of sulphur (SOx), since coal contains carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Hence all three emissions occur. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

Science & Technology

1. Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates. 2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates. 3. They can be installed in waste water treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
Microbial fuel cells use living micro-organisms as catalysts to generate electricity (1) and can be coupled with wastewater treatment to clean water and produce power (3). Statement 2 is wrong: they use organic, not a variety of inorganic, substrates. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)
2. In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material? 1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels. 2. Bioasphalt can be made from non-renewable resources. 3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials. 4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
Bio-asphalt is a renewable alternative to fossil-fuel-based asphalt, can be produced from organic/waste materials, and is eco-friendly for road surfacing, so statements 1, 3 and 4 hold. Statement 2 is wrong because bioasphalt is made from renewable, not non-renewable, resources. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)
3. Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: 1. The orbit is geosynchronous. 2. The orbit is circular. 3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth's equator. 4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
A geostationary satellite is geosynchronous, in a circular orbit lying in the equatorial plane, at the characteristic geostationary altitude, so all four conditions describe it. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification; note the altitude figure as printed.)
4. At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us? 1. It is possible to know the pedigree of livestock. 2. It is possible to understand the causes of all human diseases. 3. It is possible to develop disease-resistant animal breeds. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A. [object Object]
- B. [object Object]
- C. [object Object]
- D. [object Object]
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
Gene/DNA mapping helps trace livestock pedigree (1) and develop disease-resistant breeds (3). Statement 2 overreaches by claiming it lets us understand the causes of ALL human diseases, which is false. (AI-derived, unverified — pending official-key verification.)

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