UPSC Prelims 2011 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations – Page 2

The authorization for the withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India must come from

All revenues received by the Union Government by way of taxes and other receipts for the conduct of Government business are credited to the

Microfinance is the provision of financial services to people of low-income groups. This includes both the consumers and the self-employed. The service/services rendered under micro-finance is/are:

1. Credit facilities

2. Savings facilities

3. Insurance facilities

4. Fund Transfer facilities

Select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

Southeast Asia has captivated the attention of global community over space and time as a geostrategically significant region. Which among the following is the most convincing explanation for this global perspective?

A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans-fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers?

1. The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils.

2. The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils.

3. The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act”?

With reference to “Look East Policy” of India, consider the following statements:

1. India wants to establish itself as an important regional player in the East Asian affairs.

2. India wants to plug the vacuum created by the termination of Cold War.

3. India wants to restore the historical and cultural ties with its neighbours in Southeast and East Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

When the annual Union Budget is not passed by the Lok Sabha,

Under the constitution of India, which one of the following is not a fundamental duty?

With reference to the Finance Commission of India, which of the following statements is correct?

Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the following ways:

1. Soil formation

2. Prevention of soil erosion

3. Recycling of waste

4. Pollination of crops

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What is the basis of this use?

What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?

What is the difference between a CFL and an LED lamp?

1. To produce light, a CFL uses mercury vapour and phosphor while an LED lamp uses semi-conductor material.

2. The average life span of a CFL is much longer than that of an LED lamp

3. A CFL is less energy-efficient as compared to an LED lamp.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Recently, “oilzapper” was in the news. What is it?

A married couple adopted a male child. A few years later, twin boys were born to them. The blood group of the couple is AB positive and O negative. The blood group of the three sons is A positive, B positive, and O positive. The blood group of the adopted son is

Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled, “Unto this Last” and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that transformed Mahatma Gandhi?

With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for

A new optical disc format known as the Blu-ray Disc (BD) is becoming popular. In what way is it different from the traditional DVD?

1. DVD supports standard Definition video while BD supports High definition Video.

2. Compared to a DVD, the BD format has several times more storage capacity.

3. Thickness of BD is 2.4 mm while that of DVD is 1.2 mm.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report?

1. Complete Independence for India.

2. Joint electorates for reservation of seats for minorities.

3. Provision of fundamental right for the people of India in the constitution.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Among the following States, which one has the most suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of a large variety of orchids with minimum cost of production, and can develop an export oriented industry in this field?

Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?

Consider the following statements:

In India, a Metropolitan Planning Committee

1. Is constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India.

2. Prepares the draft development plans for metropolitan area.

3. Has the sole responsibility for implementing Government sponsored schemes in the metropolitan area.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is the difference between “vote-on-account” and “interim budget”?

1. The provision of a “vote-on-account” is used by a regular Government, while an “interim budget” is a provision used by a caretaker Government.

2. A “vote-on-account” only deals with the expenditure in Government’s budget, while an “interim budget” includes both expenditure and receipts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Regarding the International Monetary Fund, which one of the following statements is correct?

Which one of the following is not a feature of “Value Added Tax”?

A “closed economy” is an economy in which

When the bark of a tree is removed in a circular fashion all around near its base, it gradually dries up and dies because

The “New START” treaty was in the news. What is this treaty?

Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity:

1. Species richness

2. Vegetation density

3. Endemism

4. Ethno-botanical importance

5. Threat perception

6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions

Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?

Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of

1. Its escape into the outer stratosphere.

2. The photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans.

3. The trapping of air in the polar ice caps.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In the context of ecosystem productivity, marine upwelling zones are important as they increase the marine productivity by bringing the

1. Decomposer microorganisms to the surface.

2. Nutrients to the surface.

3. Bottom-dwelling organisms to the surface.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

If a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest. This is because

The Himalayan Range is very rich in species diversity. Which one among the following is the most appropriate reason for this phenomenon?

With reference to India, consider the following Central Acts:

1. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947

2. Mining and Mineral development (Regulation) Act, 1957

3. Customs Act, 1962

4. Indian Forest Act, 1927

Which of the above Acts have relevance to/bearing on the biodiversity conservation in the country?

Karl Marx explained the process of class struggle with the help of which one of the following theories?

A layer in the Earth’s atmosphere called ionosphere facilitates radio communication. Why?

1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to Earth.

2. Radio waves have a very long wavelength.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) are related to investment in a country. Which one of the following statements best represents an important difference between the two?

A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is

With reference to “Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana”, consider the following statements:

1. The member insured under the scheme must be the head of the family or an earning member of the family in a rural landless household.

2. The member insured must be in the age group of 30 to 65 years.

3. There is a provision for free scholarship for up to two children of the insured who are studying between classes 9 and 12.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?