UPSC CSE · General Studies Paper I
UPSC Prelims 2013 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations – Page 2
99 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2013 General Studies Paper I paper, in paper order, each with its answer and a full explanation. Difficulty split: 37% easy, 39% medium and 23% hard. Subjects covered: Polity, Art and Culture, Environment and Ecology, Geography, Indian Economy and more.
Consider the following statements:
1. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only.
2. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Q62 · Polity · Attorney General Rights
Consider the following statements: Attorney General of India can
1. take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha.
2. be a member of a committee of the Lok Sabha.
3. speak in the Lok Sabha.
4. vote in the Lok Sabha.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the usefulness of the by-products of sugar industry, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Bagasse can be used as biomass fuel for the generation of energy.
2. Molasses can be used as one of the feedstocks for the production of synthetic chemical fertilizers.
3. Molasses can be used for the production of ethanol.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- Q64 · Geography · Day Night Length Variation
Variations in the length of daytime and night time from season to season are due to:
- Q65 · Geography · Narmada Westward Flow
The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?
1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
3. The land slopes to the west from Central India.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
On the planet Earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion:
- Q67 · Geography · Nokrek Loktak Namdapha
Consider the following pairs:
1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve — Garo Hills
2. Loktak (Loktak) Lake — Barail Range
3. Namdapha National Park — Dafla HillsWhich of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following:
1. Electromagnetic radiation
2. Geothermal energy
3. Gravitational force
4. Plate movements
5. Rotation of the Earth
6. Revolution of the EarthWhich of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the Earth?
- Q69 · Polity · Extra Constitutional Bodies
Which of the following bodies does/do not find mention in the Constitution?
1. National Development Council
2. Planning Commission
3. Zonal CouncilsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:
- Q70 · Modern History · Tebhaga Movement
The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for:
Show answer
Answer: A. The reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half of the crop to one-third
The Parliament can make any law for whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties:
In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of:
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?
- Q74 · Geography · Contour Bunding
Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in:
The Government enacted the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) in 1996.
Which one of the following is not identified as its objective?Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins known as aflatoxins which are not generally destroyed by normal cooking process. Aflatoxins are produced by:
- Q78 · Polity · Economic Justice Constitution
Economic Justice' as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has been provided in:
Show answer
Answer: B. The Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy
Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste?
1. Beryllium
2. Cadmium
3. Chromium
4. Heptachlor
5. Mercury
6. Lead
7. PlutoniumSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:
Acid rain is caused by the pollution of environment by:
With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements:
1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other.
2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species.
3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Q82 · Geography · National Parks and Rivers
Consider the following pairs:
National Park — River flowing through the Park
1. Corbett National Park — Ganga
2. Kaziranga National Park — Manas
3. Silent Valley National Park — KaveriWhich of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following organisms:
1. Agaricus
2. Nostoc
3. SpirogyraWhich of the above is/are used as biofertilizer/biofertilizers?
Which of the following adds/add nitrogen to the soil?
1. Excretion of urea by animals
2. Burning of coal by man
3. Death of vegetationSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:
In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat?
1. Tamil Nadu
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:
- Q86 · Art and Culture · Chaityas vs Viharas
Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?
Show answer
Answer: B. Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks
- Q87 · Art and Culture · Nirvana in Buddhism
Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?
According to the Constitution of India, which of the following are fundamental for the governance of the country?
The people of India agitated against the arrival of Simon Commission because:
Quit India Movement was launched in response to:
- Q91 · Indian Economy · Balance of Payments
The balance of payments of a country is a systematic record of:
Show answer
Answer: A. All import and export transactions of a country during a given period of time, normally a year
The Reserve Bank of India regulates the commercial banks in matters of:
1. Liquidity of assets
2. Branch expansion
3. Merger of banks
4. Winding-up of banksSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:
- Q93 · Indian Economy · Bank Rate Tight Money
An increase in the Bank Rate generally indicates that the:
- Q94 · Indian Economy · Deficit Financing Uses
In India, deficit financing is used for raising resources for:
Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus Civilization?
1. They possessed great palaces and temples.
2. They worshipped both male and female deities.
3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below:
Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?
1. Chikungunya
2. Hepatitis B
3. HIV-AIDSSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:
Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?
1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul.
3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
Photochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among
Show answer
Answer: A. NO2, O3 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight
Consider the following minerals:
1. Calcium
2. Iron
3. SodiumWhich of the minerals given above is/are required by human body for the contraction of muscles?