UPSC Prelims 2012 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations
100 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2012 General Studies Paper I, each with the correct answer, a full explanation, why every option is right or wrong, and named sources.
- Q1 · Indian Polity: In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha? 1. Gram Sabha…
- Q2 · Indian Polity: In the Parliament of India, the purpose of an adjournment motion is
- Q3 · Environment & Ecology: How does National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting the Indian agriculture? 1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects the…
- Q4 · Environment & Ecology: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India? 1.…
- Q5 · Environment & Ecology: If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, how will it impact the country? 1. Part of the water needs of urban…
- Q6 · Indian Polity: Consider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India : 1. Securing…
- Q7 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha. 2. It is within the purview of the Chief…
- Q8 · Indian Polity: With reference to consumers’ rights/privileges under the provisions of law in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1.…
- Q9 · Indian Polity: Regarding the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker, consider the following statements : 1. He/She holds the office during the pleasure of the…
- Q10 · Indian Polity: Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? 1. A dispute between the Government of India and…
- Q11 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following kinds of organisms : 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Flowering plants Some species of which of the above kinds of organisms…
- Q12 · Environment & Ecology: Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the…
- Q13 · Science & Technology: What is the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the water purification systems? 1. It inactivates/kills the harmful microorganisms in…
- Q14 · Science & Technology: Graphene is frequently in news recently. What is its importance? 1. It is a two - dimensional material and has good electrical…
- Q15 · Environment & Ecology: Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard. After the addition of lead to petrol has been banned, what still are the sources of lead…
- Q16 · Science & Technology: With reference to 'stem cells', frequently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Stem cells can be derived…
- Q17 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone - depleting substances, are used 1. In the production of plastic…
- Q18 · Science & Technology: A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest anti - matter (anti - helium…
- Q19 · Science & Technology: Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of universe? 1. Detection of…
- Q20 · Science & Technology: Electrically charged particles from space travelling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm living beings if they reach the…
- Q21 · Ancient History: With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct? 1. Different kinds of…
- Q22 · Ancient History: With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following was/were common to both Buddhism and Jainism? 1. Avoidance of…
- Q23 · Indian Polity: Which of the following can be said to be essentially the parts of Inclusive Governance? 1. Permitting the Non - Banking Financial…
- Q24 · Art & Culture: The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the
- Q25 · Modern History: The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because
- Q26 · Current Affairs: With reference to National Rural Health Mission, which of the following are the jobs of ‘ASHA’, a trained community health worker? 1.…
- Q27 · Modern History: Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919? 1. Introduction of dyarchy in the executive…
- Q28 · Modern History: During Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
- Q29 · Modern History: Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar? 1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India 2. All India Scheduled…
- Q30 · Indian Polity: Which of the following special powers have been conferred on the Rajya Sabha by the Constitution of India?
- Q31 · Indian Economy: How does the National Rural Livelihood Mission seek to improve livelihood options of rural poor? 1. By setting up a large number of new…
- Q32 · Indian Economy: The Multi - dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support covers which of the…
- Q33 · Indian Economy: Which of the following is/are among the noticeable features of the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission? 1. A design for…
- Q34 · Indian Economy: What is/are the recent policy initiative(s) of Government of India to promote the growth of manufacturing sector? 1. Setting up of…
- Q35 · Indian Polity: Which of the following are the methods of Parliamentary control over public finance in India? 1. Placing Annual Financial Statement before…
- Q36 · Modern History: Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because
- Q37 · Modern History: With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements: 1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government.…
- Q38 · Indian Economy: Consider the following specific stages of demographic transition associated with economic development: 1. Low birthrate with low death…
- Q39 · Indian Economy: In India, in the overall Index of Industrial Production, the Indices of Eight Core Industries have a combined weight of 37·90%. Which of…
- Q40 · Indian Polity: Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education? 1. Directive Principles of State Policy 2.…
- Q41 · Environment & Ecology: Government of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant? 1. It helps in controlling soil…
- Q42 · Geography: Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’?
- Q43 · Geography: A particular State in India has the following characteristics : 1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern…
- Q44 · Geography: Consider the following crops of India : 1. Cowpea 2. Green gram 3. Pigeon pea Which of the above is/are used as pulse, fodder and green…
- Q45 · Geography: Consider the following factors : 1. Rotation of the Earth 2. Air pressure and wind 3. Density of ocean water 4. Revolution of the Earth…
- Q46 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to the wetlands of India, consider the following statements : 1. The country’s total geographical area under the category…
- Q47 · Geography: Consider the following crops of India : 1. Groundnut 2. Sesamum 3. Pearl millet Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?
- Q48 · Geography: When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following : 1. Deep gorges 2. U - turn river courses 3. Parallel mountain ranges 4. Steep…
- Q49 · Geography: Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth's surface, because 1. The atmosphere can be heated upwards…
- Q50 · Environment & Ecology: The acidification of oceans is increasing. Why is this phenomenon a cause of concern? 1. The growth and survival of calcareous…
- Q51 · Indian Polity: In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the…
- Q52 · Indian Economy: The endeavour of 'Janani Suraksha Yojana' Programme is 1. To promote institutional deliveries 2. To provide monetary assistance to the…
- Q53 · Indian Polity: The Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment
- Q54 · Indian Polity: With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements: 1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be…
- Q55 · Indian Economy: Consider the following: 1. Hotels and restaurants 2. Motor transport undertakings 3. Newspaper establishments 4. Private medical…
- Q56 · Indian Polity: According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the…
- Q57 · Indian Polity: A deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of 1. Ordinary…
- Q58 · Indian Economy: How do District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) help in the reduction of rural poverty in India? 1. DRDAs act as Panchayati Raj…
- Q59 · Indian Polity: Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution? 1. To preserve the rich…
- Q60 · Indian Polity: What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India? 1. While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President…
- Q61 · Science & Technology: To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on thorium as the future fuel of…
- Q62 · Environment & Ecology: The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, because it absorbs
- Q63 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following sets of elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth?
- Q64 · Science & Technology: What are the reasons for the people's resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India? 1. Bt brinjal has been created by inserting a…
- Q65 · Science & Technology: Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? 1. To enable them to…
- Q66 · Modern History: Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was…
- Q67 · Art & Culture: With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, which of the following statements…
- Q68 · Art & Culture: How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances? 1. Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance…
- Q69 · Medieval History: With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? 1.…
- Q70 · Modern History: The Rowlatt Act aimed at
- Q71 · Modern History: The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because 1. The Congress passed a resolution…
- Q72 · Art & Culture: Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with the hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes
- Q73 · Ancient History: The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of
- Q74 · Modern History: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj? 1. It opposed idolatry. 2. It denied the need for a priestly…
- Q75 · Indian Economy: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) acts as a bankers' bank. This would imply which of the following? 1. Other banks retain their deposits…
- Q76 · Indian Economy: Under which of the following circumstances may ‘capital gains’ arise? 1. When there is an increase in the sales of a product 2. When there…
- Q77 · Indian Economy: Which of the following measures would result in an increase in the money supply in the economy? 1. Purchase of government securities from…
- Q78 · Indian Economy: Which of the following would include Foreign Direct Investment in India? 1. Subsidiaries of foreign companies in India 2. Majority foreign…
- Q79 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements : The price of any currency in international market is decided by the 1. World Bank 2. Demand for…
- Q80 · Indian Economy: The basic aim of Lead Bank Scheme is that
- Q81 · Modern History: Consider the following : 1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops 2. Use of mobile…
- Q82 · Ancient History: With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country's economy, which of the following…
- Q83 · Indian Polity: The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the:
- Q84 · Indian Economy: Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tonnes of coal? 1. It is the policy of India to save its own coal…
- Q85 · Geography: A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village which was situated 5 km east of the point where he was…
- Q86 · Science & Technology: Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’. Why? 1. China, which is the…
- Q87 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following protected areas: 1. Bandipur 2. Bhitarkanika 3. Manas 4. Sunderbans Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?
- Q88 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India. 2. The amount of annual…
- Q89 · Geography: Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?
- Q90 · Environment & Ecology: In which one among the following categories of protected areas in India are local people NOT allowed to collect and use the biomass?
- Q91 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bat 2. Bee 3. Bird Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?
- Q92 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
- Q93 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: If there were no phenomenon of capillarity 1. It would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp 2. One would…
- Q94 · Environment & Ecology: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment describes the following major categories of ecosystem services - provisioning, supporting, regulating,…
- Q95 · Environment & Ecology: What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?
- Q96 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? 1. Global warming 2. Fragmentation of habitat 3.…
- Q97 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following : 1. Black - necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard Which of the above are naturally found in…
- Q98 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate…
- Q99 · Environment & Ecology: What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason? 1. The ocean as a carbon sink would be adversely…
- Q100 · Environment & Ecology: Vultures, which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago, are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to
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