UPSC Prelims 2002 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations

147 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2002 General Studies Paper I, each with the correct answer, a full explanation, why every option is right or wrong, and named sources. The other 3 questions of this paper are in the practice app while their explanations are checked.

Q1 · Science & Technology: A complete cycle of a traffic light takes 60 seconds. During each cycle the light is green for 25 seconds, yellow for 5 seconds and red…
Q2 · Modern History: The last opportunity to avoid the partition of India was lost with the rejection of
Q3 · Geography: With reference to India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q4 · Science & Technology: A solid cube just gets completely immersed in water when a 0.2 kg mass is placed on it. If the mass is removed, the cube is 2 cm above the…
Q5 · Medieval History: The historian Barani refused to consider the state in India under Delhi Sultans as truly Islamic because
Q7 · Science & Technology: With reference to the latest developments in stem - cell research, consider the following statements: 1. The only source of human stem…
Q8 · Science & Technology: In the year 2001, NASA launched a spacecraft to Mars named
Q9 · Geography: Consider the following climatic and geographical phenomena: 1. Condensation 2. High temperature and humidity 3. Orography 4. Vertical wind…
Q10 · Science & Technology: A trader fixed the price of an article in such a way that by giving a rebate of 10 % on the price fixed he made a profit of 15 %. If the…
Q11 · Science & Technology: Among living organisms, which one of the following is the most responsible factor for bringing about the origin of a new species?
Q12 · Geography: For short - term climate prediction, which one of the following events, detected in the last decade, is associated with occasional weak…
Q13 · Geography: In the map given below, four islands of Indian Ocean region, i.e. A) Seychelles, B) Chagos, C) Mauritius and D) Socatra are marked as 1,…
Q14 · Indian Economy: "World Development Report" is an annual publication of
Q15 · Ancient History: Match List I (Ancient site) with List II (Archaeological finding) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:…
Q16 · Art & Culture: Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Q17 · Geography: Open stunted forests with bushes and small trees having long roots and sharp thorns or spines are commonly found in
Q18 · Indian Polity: Match List I (Article of Indian Constitution) with List II (Provisions) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the…
Q19 · Art & Culture: In ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries, a ceremony called Pavarana used to be held. It was the
Q20 · Science & Technology: Consider the volumes of the following: 1. A parallelepiped of length 5 cm, breadth 3 cm and height 4 cm 2. A cube of each side 4 cm 3. A…
Q21 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: The Draft Electricity Bill, 2001 seeks to replace 1. Indian Electricity Act, 1910 2. Electricity…
Q22 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialised agency of United Nations System…
Q23 · Indian Economy: India has the maximum volume of foreign trade with
Q24 · Geography: Which one of the following is NOT a lagoon?
Q25 · Science & Technology: Ticks and mites are actually
Q26 · Science & Technology: With reference to the blood in a normal person, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q27 · Geography: Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system?
Q28 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Q29 · Indian Economy: With reference to Indian agriculture, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q30 · Medieval History: With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements: 1. Shaikh Ahmad Sarhandi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi…
Q31 · Indian Polity: The salaries and allowances of the Judges of the High Court are charged on the
Q32 · Science & Technology: Consider the following plants: 1. Bougainvillea 2. Carnations 3. Cocoa 4. Grapes Which of these plants are propagated by stem cuttings?
Q33 · Indian Polity: The members of the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution of India were
Q34 · Science & Technology: A train of length 150 metres, moving at a speed of 90 km/hr can cross a 200 - metre bridge in
Q35 · Ancient History: The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on
Q36 · Indian Economy: India's external debt increased from US $98,158 million as at the end of March 2000 to US $100,225 million as at the end of March 2001 due…
Q37 · Indian Economy: With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following activities: 1. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 2. Manufacturing 3. Trade,…
Q38 · Current Affairs: Who among the following set a new national record in the women's Pole vault event in the 7th edition of Senior Federation Cup held in…
Q39 · Current Affairs: The main reason for unrest and violence in Zimbabwe in recent years is due to
Q40 · Art & Culture: Match List I (Artist) with List II (Art) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Artist) List II…
Q41 · Science & Technology: Consider the following natural phenomena: 1. Terrestrial heating 2. Reflection of light 3. Refraction of light 4. Diffraction of light Due…
Q42 · Geography: HINDALCO, an aluminium factory located at Renukoot owes its site basically to
Q43 · Science & Technology: In the context of the organic evolution, the loss of limbs of snakes is explained by the phenomenon of
Q44 · Indian Polity: The purpose of the inclusion of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution is to establish:
Q45 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: The objectives of the National Renewal Fund set up in February 1992 were 1. To give training and…
Q46 · Indian Economy: Which one of the following committees recommended the abolition of reservation of items for the small - scale sector in industry?
Q47 · Geography: India's population growth during the 20th century can be classified into four distinct phases. Match List I (Period) with List II (Phase)…
Q48 · Art & Culture: Who was the first Indian actress to receive the Padma Shri Award?
Q49 · Medieval History: With reference to medieval Indian rulers, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q50 · Indian Economy: Despite being a high saving economy, capital formation may not result in significant increase in output due to
Q51 · Medieval History: The motive behind Shahjahan’s Balkh campaign was to
Q52 · Indian Economy: Consider the following high yielding varieties of crops in India: 1. Arjun 2. Jaya 3. Padma 4. Sonalika Which of these are wheat?
Q53 · Modern History: Which one of the following submitted in 1875 a petition to the House of Commons demanding India’s direct representation in the British…
Q54 · Modern History: The real intention of the British to include the princely states in the Federal Union proposed by the India Act of 1935 was to
Q55 · Science & Technology: When one gene controls two or more different characters simultaneously, the phenomenon is called
Q56 · Geography: Sun’s halo is produced by the refraction of light in
Q57 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following Articles of the Directive Principles of State Policy deals with the promotion of international peace and…
Q58 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following rights was described by Dr B. R. Ambedkar as the heart and soul of the Constitution?
Q59 · Indian Economy: With reference to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), consider the following statements: 1. The new WPI series with base 1993 - 94 = 100…
Q60 · Modern History: Match List I (Acts of Colonial Government of India) with List II (Provisions) and select the correct answer using the codes given below…
Q61 · Geography: Match List I (Mangrove) with List II (State) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Mangrove) A.…
Q62 · Modern History: Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy’s authority over his executive council by substituting the…
Q63 · Science & Technology: The age of a man is three times the sum of the ages of his two sons. Five years hence, his age will be double the sum of the ages of his…
Q64 · Science & Technology: The length of the longest pole that can be placed in a room 12 m long and 9 m wide and 8 m high is
Q65 · Science & Technology: With reference to the human body, consider the following statements: 1. The production of somatotropin goes up when a person exercises. 2.…
Q66 · Current Affairs: In the year 2001, the Prime Minister announced a five - year excise - duty holiday for industries in
Q67 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements with reference to India: 1. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal…
Q68 · Science & Technology: In a company 60 % of the employees are men. Of these, 40 % are drawing more than Rs 50,000 per year. If 36 % of the total employees of the…
Q69 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. Light of longer wavelength is scattered much more than light of shorter wavelength. 2. The speed of…
Q70 · Indian Economy: Global capital flows to developing countries increased significantly during the nineties. In view of the East Asian financial crisis and…
Q71 · Indian Economy: In terms of value, which one of the following commodities accounted for the largest agricultural exports by India during the three - year…
Q72 · Current Affairs: In the year 2001, in which one of the following Women’s Singles events did Venus Williams defeat Serena Williams to win the title?
Q73 · Indian Polity: The Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament for Railway Zones is constituted by the
Q74 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following animals is monogamous?
Q75 · Indian Economy: A Five Year Plan in India is finally approved by the
Q76 · Geography: Consider the following countries of South Asia: 1. Bangladesh 2. India 3. Pakistan 4. Sri Lanka The descending order of literacy among…
Q77 · Indian Economy: Among the following major stock exchanges of India, which one recorded the highest turnover during the year 2001 - 02?
Q78 · Science & Technology: A bus is moving at 30 km/h, and a car is coming from behind at 50 km/h. How far apart are they if it takes 15 minutes for the car to catch…
Q79 · Modern History: The President of the Indian National Congress at the time of the partition of India was
Q80 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following authorities recommends the principles governing grants - in - aid of the revenues to the states out of the…
Q81 · Modern History: With reference to the colonial period of Indian history, match List I (Person) with List II (Event) and select the correct answer using…
Q82 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. Ocean currents are the slow surface movement of water in the ocean. 2. Ocean currents assist in…
Q83 · Current Affairs: Which country among the following has been involved in two tied Test cricket matches?
Q84 · Current Affairs: Match List I (Organisation) with List II (Headquarters) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I…
Q85 · Indian Economy: With reference to the public Sector Undertaking in India, consider the following statements: 1. Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of…
Q86 · Art & Culture: Match List I (Book) with List II (Author) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Book) List II…
Q87 · Indian Economy: With reference to the Indian Public Finance consider the following statements: 1. External liabilities reported in Union Budget are based…
Q88 · Indian Polity: With reference to Indian Polity, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q89 · Geography: The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to south is
Q90 · Science & Technology: The world's highest ground - based telescopic observatory is located in
Q91 · Science & Technology: Two ladies simultaneously leave cities A and B connected by a straight road and travel towards each other. The first lady travels 2 km/hr…
Q92 · Current Affairs: Consider the following names: 1. Archbishop Desmond Tutu 2. Lech Walesa 3. Shimon Peres 4. Yasser Arafat Who among these won the Nobel…
Q93 · Modern History: With which one of the following mountain tribes did the British first come into contact with after the grant of Diwani in the year 1765?
Q94 · Geography: With reference to Indian transport systems, consider the following statements: 1. Indian railways system is the largest in the world. 2.…
Q95 · Current Affairs: Match List I (Name of the Lady) with List II (Achievement) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I…
Q96 · Indian Economy: Which reference to the government’s welfare schemes, consider the following statements: 1. Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, the food…
Q97 · Geography: Consider the following countries: 1. Brazil 2. Indonesia 3. Japan 4. Russia What is the descending order of the size of the following…
Q98 · Current Affairs: Consider the following countries: 1. Angola 2. Colombia 3. Congo 4. Sudan Which of these countries has/have been suffering from civil war?
Q99 · Medieval History: Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?
Q100 · Science & Technology: In a bisexual flower, if androecium and gynaecium mature at different times, the phenomenon is known as
Q101 · Geography: The average annual temperature of a meteorological station is 26 °C, its average annual rainfall is 63 cm and the annual range of…
Q102 · Modern History: With reference to the period of extremist nationalist movement in India with its spirit of Swadeshi, which one of the following statements…
Q103 · Indian Polity: In the Indian Constitution, the Right to Equality is granted by Five Articles. They are
Q104 · Science & Technology: Amit started a business by investing Rs 30,000. Rahul joined the business after some time and invested Rs 20,000. At the end of the year,…
Q105 · Science & Technology: The time in the wall clock is 3.25; the acute angle between the hours hand and the minutes hand is
Q106 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following amendments to the Indian Constitution empowers the President to send back any matter for reconsideration by the…
Q107 · Current Affairs: Recently, several hundred South Africa soldiers were sent to Burundi
Q108 · Art & Culture: Chapchar Kut is a festival celebrated in the state of
Q109 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. NTPC is the largest power utility in India. 2. ONGC accounts for half of the LPG production in…
Q110 · Science & Technology: Match List I (Oxidation number) with List II (The element) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I…
Q111 · Modern History: With reference to the Indian freedom struggle, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Q112 · Current Affairs: The Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum was held in the year 2001 in
Q113 · Geography: Match List I (Ethnic Community) with List II (Country) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Ethnic…
Q114 · Indian Polity: The term of the Lok Sabha
Q116 · Indian Economy: Consider the following: 1. Currency with the public 2. Demand deposits with banks 3. Time deposits with banks Which of these are included…
Q117 · Current Affairs: Who among the following won six gold medals in the 9th FINA - World Swimming Championship held in Fukuoka, Japan in the year 2001?
Q118 · Science & Technology: Foot - and - mouth disease in animals, a current epidemic in some parts of the world, is caused by
Q120 · Geography: Consider the following countries: 1. Albania 2. Bosnia Herzegovina 3. Croatia 4. Macedonia Which of these countries has/have Adriatic Sea…
Q121 · Science & Technology: A hollow sphere of radius R, a hollow cube of side R and a thin circular plate of radius R, made up of the same material, are all heated…
Q122 · Indian Economy: Consider the following financial institutions of India: 1. Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) 2. Industrial Credit and…
Q123 · Modern History: During the Indian freedom struggle, the Khudai Khidmatgars, also known as Red Shirts, called for
Q124 · Indian Polity: Match List I (Commission) with List II (Matter of Enquiry) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I…
Q125 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. In equatorial regions, the year is divided into four main seasons 2. In Mediterranean region, summer…
Q126 · Environment & Ecology: A World Summit with representation from all the countries will be held in Johannesburg in September 2002 on the subject of
Q127 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Q128 · Science & Technology: Assume that the moon takes exactly 30 days to complete the cycle and also assume that it rises in the East exactly at 6.48 p.m. on the…
Q129 · Science & Technology: Match List I (Scientists) with List II (Achievement) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I…
Q130 · Geography: Berber speaking community, frequently in the news, lives in
Q131 · Indian Polity: In the case of election to the Lok Sabha, the amount of security deposited for general category candidates and SC/ST category candidates…
Q132 · Indian Economy: With reference to power sector in India consider the following statements: 1. Rural electrification has been treated as a Basic Minimum…
Q133 · Indian Economy: A country is said to be in debt trap if
Q134 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q135 · Current Affairs: Match List I (Country) with List II (President) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Country) A.…
Q136 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following ecosystems: 1. Taiga 2. Tropical evergreen 3. Tropical deciduous 4. Tundra The correct sequence in decreasing order…
Q137 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: Full convertibility of the rupee may mean 1. Its free float with other international currencies. 2. Its…
Q138 · Environment & Ecology: The sea coast of which one of the following states has become famous as a nesting place for the giant Olive Ridley turtles from South…
Q139 · Science & Technology: With reference to Indian satellites and their launchers, consider the following statements: 1. All the INSAT - series of satellites were…
Q140 · Indian Polity: The 93rd Constitutional Amendment Bill deals with the
Q141 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): Drinking of whisky increases the frequency of urination. Reason (R): Alcohol intake speeds up the secretion of vasopressin…
Q142 · Medieval History: Assertion (A): Muhammad bin Tughlaq left Delhi, and, for two years lived in a camp called Swarga - dwari. Reason (R): At that time, Delhi…
Q143 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): With the increase of temperature, the viscosity of glycerine increases. Reason (R): Rise of temperature increases kinetic…
Q144 · Modern History: Assertion (A): The effect of labour participation in the Indian nationalist upsurge of the early 1930s was weak. Reason (R): The labour…
Q145 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): Synthetic detergents can lather well in hard water. Reason (R): Synthetic detergents form soluble calcium and magnesium…
Q146 · Geography: Assertion (A): 60° - 65° latitudes in both the hemispheres have a low - pressure belt instead of high pressure. Reason (R): The low -…
Q147 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): Artificial satellites are always launched from the earth in the eastward direction. Reason (R): The earth rotates from west…
Q148 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): Human diet should compulsorily contain Glycerine, Serine and Tyrosine. Reason (R): Essential amino acids cannot be…
Q149 · Geography: Assertion (A): The surface winds spiral inwards upon the centre of the cyclone. Reason (R): Air descends in the centre of the cyclone.
Q150 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): An iron ball floats on mercury but gets immersed in water. Reason (R): The specific gravity of iron is more than that of…

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