Question Paper of General Studies Paper-I, UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination-2018

Q1.         Consider the following statements:

1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party.
2. In the Lok Sabha, a "Leader of the Opposition" was recognised for the first time in 1969.
3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 and 3 only (b) 2 only

(c)           2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q2.         Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss?

1. Hard and waxy leaves
2. Tiny leaves
3. Thorns instead of leaves

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          2 and 3 only (b) 2 only

(c)           3 only     (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q3.         As per the NSSO 70th Round "Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural House-holds", consider the following statements :

1. Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agricultural households among its rural households.
2. Out of the total agricultural households in the country, a little over 60 percent belong to OBCs.
3. In Kerala, a little over 60 percent of agricultural households reported to have received maximum income from sources other than agricultural activities.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          2 and 3 only (b) 2 only

(c)           1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q4.         How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q5.         Consider the following statements:

1. The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
2. The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on it.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b)  2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q6.         Which one of the following best describes the term "Merchant Discount Rate" some-times seen in news?

(a)          The incentive given by a bank to a merchant for accepting payments through debit cards pertaining to that bank.

(b)          The amount paid back by banks to their customers when they use debit cards for financial transactions for purchasing goods or services.

(c)           The charge to a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from his customers through the bank's debit cards.

(d)          The incentive given by the Government to merchants for promoting digital payments by their customers through Point of Sale (POS) machines and debit cards.

Q7.         What is/are the consequence/consequences of a country becoming the member of the 'Nuclear Suppliers Group'?

1. It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies.
2. It automatically becomes a member of "The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)". Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q8.         With reference to India's decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non-resident entities, which of the following state-ments is/are correct?

1. It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act.
2. Non-resident entities that offer advertisement servi-ces in India can claim a tax credit in their home country under the "Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements".

                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

Q9.         Consider the following statements:

1. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt to GDP ratio of 60% for the general (combined) government by 2023, comprising 40% for the Central Government and 20% for the State Governments.
2. The Central Government has domestic liabilities of 21% of GDP as compared to that of 49% of GDP of the State Governments.
3. As per the Constitution of India, it is mandatory for a State to take the Central Government's consent for raising any loan if the former owes any outstanding liabilities to the latter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only      (b) 2 and 3 only

(c)           1 and 3 only

(d)          1, 2 and 3

Q10.       Consider the following statements:

1. The quantity of imported edible oils is more than the domestic production of edible oils in the last five years.
2. The Government does not impose any customs duty on all the imported edible oils as a special case. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q11. He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was

(a)          Aurobindo Ghosh

(b)          Bipin Chandra Pal

(c)           Lala Lajpat Rai

(d)          Motilal Nehru

Q12.       Consider the following statements:

1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile.
2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q13.       Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities?

1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea
2. Lake Baikal

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 and 3

(c)           2 only    (d) 1 and 3

Q14.       “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following ?

(a)          Amnesty International

(b)          International Court of Justice

(c)           The Office of UN Commissioner for Human Rights

(d)          World Justice Project

Q15.       Which one of the following links all the ATMs in India?

(a)          Indian Banks' Association

(b)          National Securities Depository Limited

(c)           National Payments Corporation of India

(d)          Reserve Bank of India

Q16.       Consider the following statements

1. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues.
2. CAR is decided by each individual bank.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q17.       The identity platform 'Aadhaar' provides open "Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)" What does it imply?

1. It can be integrated into any electronic device.
2. Online authentication using iris is possible.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q18.       Very recently, in which of the following countries have lakhs of people either suffered from severe famine/acute malnutrition or died due to starvation caused by war/ethnic conflicts?

(a)          Angola and Zambia

(b)          Morocco and Tunisia

(c)           Venezuela and Colombia

(d)          Yemen and South Sudan

Q19.       Regarding Wood's Dispatch, which of the following statements are true?

1. Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
2. Establishment of universities was recommended.
3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1 and 2 only

(b)          2 and 3 only

(c)           1 and 3 only

(d)          1, 2 and 3

Q20.       With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation?

(a)          Committee on Government Assurances

(b)          Committee on Subordinate Legislation

(c)           Rules Committee

(d)          Business Advisory Committee

Q21.       Consider the following statements:

1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education.
2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 and 2 (b) 2 only

(c)           1 and 3 (d) 3 only

Q22.       Consider the following pairs:

                Tradition              State

1. Chapchar Kut    - Mizoram

                festival

2. Khongjom Parba - Manipur

                ballad

3. Thang-Ta dance - Sikkim

                Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 1 and 2

(c)           3 only    (d) 2 and 3

Q23.       Consider the following statements:

1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 2 only

(c)           Both 1 and 2

(d)          Neither 1 nor 2

Q24.       The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

(a)          China     (b) Israel

(c)           Iraq        (d) Yemen

Q25.       With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements:

1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a 'take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 and 2  (b) 2 only

(c)           1 and 3  (d) 3 only