UPSC Preparation

Farming has lost its ability to be the source of subsistence for majority of farmers.         The rise in farmer suicides has once again brought back the focus on agricultural distress in India. When farmers desire that their pedigree should take up any other vocation but not farming it is a clear indication of the sorry state of affairs in the sector. Farming has become synonymous with poverty and subsistence. Farming distress has been aggravated due to economic, ecological and global challenges. However, it is not too late to take remedial measures and rejuvenate the ailing sector.         Indians have been cultivating since the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Farming and agriculture has not only been a vocation but a tradition in India. Numerous seasonal festivals such as Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, etc are celebrated across India as a tribute to the bountiful harvest . However, in the past decade the agricultural sec...

24) Consider the following statements: The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions. N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India. Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution: only 2 The 1881 Act aimed to improve working condtions of labour. It prohibited the employment of children under the age of seven. It reduced the number of working hours for children below the age of twelve and strictly ordered that dangerous machinery should be fenced properly. Lokhande was a pioneer of the labour movement in India. He is remembered not only for ameliorating the working conditions of textile mill-workers in the 19th century but also for his courageous initiatives on caste and communal issues.

23) Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’? To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 3 and 4 only Solution: (a) 1 and 2 only Explanation: Promotion of Millets, coarse cereals, unpolished rice, eggs are not mentioned. National  Nutrition Mission has  two components Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign against malnutrition Multi-sectoral Nutrition Programme The key objectives of the programmes under the Mission are : To create awareness on malnutrition among pregnant women, lactating mothers and to promote healthy lactating practices.  It portraits the importan...

25) In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, which of the following can be the potential sites for carbon sequestration? Abandoned and uneconomic coal seams Depleted oil and gas reservoirs Subterranean deep saline formations Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: (d) 1, 2 and 3 Geo-sequestration is a method that involves the capture of green house gases directly from the power stations and pumping them into underground geological formations. Unmineable coal seams can be used to store CO2 because the CO2 molecules attach to the surface of coal. CO2 is sometimes injected into declining oil fields thus increasing oil recovery. Gas fields, saline formations unmineable coal seams, and saline-filled basalt formations are other potential storage sites.

3) Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra? Dibang Kameng Lohit Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 ANSWER : Dibang , Kameng &  Lohit https://www.google.co.com/search?q=Burmaputra+tributaries&oq=Burmaputra+tributaries

GENERAL STUDIES I HISTORY INDIAN ART AND CULTURE    BY NITIN SINGHANIA HISTORY OF MORDERN INDIA  BY BIPAN CHANDRA INDIA'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE   BY BIPAN CHANDRA INDIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE   BY BIPIN CHANDRA INDIA AFTER GANDHI   BY RAMACHANDRA GUHA HISTORY OF THE WORLD   BY ARJUN DEV AND INDIRA ARJUN DEV  CONTEMPORARY WORLD  (OLD NCERT) SOCIAL ISSUES NCERT SOCIOLOGY CLASS IX SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN INDIA   BY RAM AHUJA GEOGRAPHY PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL GEOGRAPHY CLASS IX NCERT ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD CLASS XI  NCERT PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA CLASS XII  NCERT ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY CLASS IX NCERT CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA CLASS XII NCERT ORIENT BLACKSWAN   ATLAS GEOGRAPHY AND YOU  MONTHLY MAGAZINE GENERAL STUDIES II INDIAN POLITY INDIAN POLITY   BY LAXMIKANT  or INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA   BY DD BASU OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM  BY SUBHASH KASHYAP MAJOR POLI...

UPSC PREPARATION BOOK LIST: THE HINDU NCERT YOJANA A BRIEFHISTORY OF MODERN INDIA BY RAJIV AHIR  or HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA BY BIPANCHANDRA INDIAN POLITY BY M LAXMIKANTH INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA CERTIFICATE PHYSICAL AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY BY GOH CHENG LEONG ENVIRONMENT BY SHANKAR IAS ORIENT BLACKSWAN  or  OXFORD ATLAS SRIRAM ECONOMY NOTES THE INDIAN ECONOMY BY SANJIV VERMA  or INDIAN ECONOMY BY RAMESH SINGH   INDIAN ART AND CULTURE BY NITIN SINGHANIA   INDIA'S ANCIENT PAST BY RS SHARMA DETAILED BOOKS LIST FOR UPSC PRELIMS BOOK LIST COMPLETE UPSC SYLLABUS

1) With reference to ‘stand up India scheme’, which of the following statement is/are correct? Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. It provides for refinance through SIDBI. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution: Both 1 & 2 Stand Up India scheme scheme promotes entrepreneurship among SC/ST and Women entrepreneurs. The Scheme provides for refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

22) It is possible to produce algae based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry? Production of algae based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents. Setting up and engineering the algae based biofuel production requires high level of expertise/technology until the construction is completed. Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large scale facilities which may raise ecological and social concerns. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: (b)  2 and 3 Explanation: Statement 1: Algaculture (farming algae) can be initiated on land unsuitable for agriculture or saline water or wastewater. So, 1 is wrong. Statement 2: Producing algae for bio-fuels (excluding simple seaweed production) requires significant capital investments, which is a significant barrier in developing countries which are alre...

21) Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences? Pollination of some plants could be adversely affected. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal infections of some cultivated plants. It could lead to a fall in the population of some species of wasps, spiders and birds. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: C Statement 1: Bees and butterflies are the most productive pollinators. These insects move from one flower to another and carry out pollination as they go. They play the most important role in the production of crops for both human beings and animals.  Statement 2: This is an illogical and absurd statement.  Statement 3: Wasps, ants, parasitic flies, birds, snakes, toads, rats etc are some of the common predators of butterfly. The decline in butterfly population would therefore...

20) With reference to the ‘Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act)’, consider the following statements: A property transaction is not treated as a benami transaction if the owner of the property is not aware of the transaction. Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government. The Act provides for three authorities for investigations but does not provide for any appellate mechanism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only Solution: (b) 2 only Explanation : “Ignorance of law can never be an excuse for the violation of law” is a basic principle in Indian legal framework. If  someone is unaware of the legality he cannot claim immunity on that ground, therefore statement 1 is wrong. Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government without payment of compensation. Wealth acquired by illegal means and corrupt methods can be confiscated by government. An app...

At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shore line a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the sea floor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at (a) Bhavnagar (b) Bheemunipatnam (c) Chandipur (d) Nagapattinam Solution: (c) Chandipur Explanation : Chandipur-on-sea (Odisha) beach is unique place for a visit in which the water recedes up to 5 kilometers during the ebb tide. You can actually walk into the beach as the sea water recedes away from the shore line during the ebb tide.  Ebb tide is the time period between the high tide and the low tide.