Subscribe print version with complimentary e-version @Rs.530 per annum; Subscribe only e-version @Rs.400 per annum. || !! ATTENTION ADVERTISERS !! Advertisers are requested to give full details of job Vacancies/ Minimum size will now be 200 sq.cm for shorter advertisements || Click here to become an e-resource aggregator of Publications Division || New Advertisement Policy || ||

Special Content


volume-8, 25 - 31, 2019

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

Q26.       India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to

(a)          ILO                         (b) IMF

(c)           UNCTAD               (d) WTO

Q27.       Consider the following statements:

  1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.
  2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.
  3. Rajasthan has iron ore mines.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 and 2 (b) 2 only

(c)           1 and 3 (d) 3 only

Q28.       With reference to digital payments, consider the following statements:

  1. BHIM app allows the user to transfer money to anyone with a UPI-enabled bank account.
  2. While a chip-pin debit card has four factors of authentication, BHIM app has only two factors of authentication.

                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

Q29.       Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi?

(a)          Bengaluru

(b)          Hyderabad

(c)           Nagpur                (d) Pune

Q30.       International Labour Organization's Conven-tions 138 and 182 are related to

(a)          Child labour

(b)          Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change

(c)           Regulation of food prices and food security

(d)          Gender parity at the workplace

Q31.       Regarding Money Bill, which of the following statements is not correct?

(a)          A bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions relating to imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax.

(b)          A Money Bill has provisions for the custody of the Consolidated Fund of India or the Contingency Fund of India.

(c)           A Money Bill is concerned with the appropriation of moneys out of the Contingency Fund of India.

(d)          A Money Bill deals with the regulation of borrowing of money or giving of any guarantee by the Government of India.

Q32.       With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements:

  1. The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State.
  2. The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the Rajya Sabha.

                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

Q33.       In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?

(a)          The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.

(b)          The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.

(c)           The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

(d)          The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.

Q34.       Consider the following countries:

  1. Australia 2. Canada
  2. China 4. India
  3. Japan 6. USA

                Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN?

(a)          1, 2, 4 and 5

(b)          3, 4, 5 and 6

(c)           1, 3, 4 and 5

(d)          2, 3, 4 and 6

Q35.       With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agric-ulture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
  2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
  3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1 and 3 only       

(b)          2 only

(c)           2 and 3 only

(d)          1, 2 and 3

Q36.       Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India?

  1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did.
  2. Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big Data to build their large data centres within our national geographical boundaries.
  3. Connect many of our villages to the Internet and bring Wi-Fi to many of our schools, public places and major tourist centres.

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1 and 2 only

(b)          3 only

(c)           2 and 3 only

(d)          1, 2 and 3

Q37.       Consider the following pairs:

                Towns some-     Country

                times menti-

                oned in news

  1. Aleppo -              Syria
  2. Kirkuk                 -              Yemen
  3. Mosul                 -              Palestine
  4. Mazar-i- -              Afghani-

                sharif                                    stan

                Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a)          1 and 2  (b) 1 and 4

(c)           2 and 3  (d) 3 and 4

Q38.       In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the

(a)          Federal Legislature

(b)          Governor General

(c)           Provincial Legislature

(d)          Provincial Governors

Q39.       Consider the following statements:

  1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall vacate his/her office if he/she ceases to be a member of the Assembly.
  2. Whenever the Legislative Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall vacate his/her office immediately.

                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

Q40.       Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty?

(a)          If there are more laws, there is less liberty.

(b)          If there are no laws, there is no liberty.

(c)           If there is liberty, laws have to be made by the people.

(d)          If laws are changed too often, liberty is in danger.

Q41.       Consider the following statements:

  1. No criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the Governor of a State in any court during his term of office.
  2. The emoluments and allowances of the Governor of a State shall not be diminished during his term of office.

                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

Q42.       The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

(a)          Bundi school

(b)          Jaipur school

(c)           Kangra school

(d)          Kishangarh school

Q43.       What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news?

(a)          An Israeli radar system

(b)          India's indigenous anti-missile programme

(c)           An American anti-missile  system

(d)          A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

Q44.       With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

  1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
  2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
  3. Annamacharya and Tyaga-raja are contemporaries.
  4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkate-shwara.

                Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)          1 and 3 only

(b)          2 and 4 only

(c)           1, 2 and 3

(d)          2, 3 and 4

Q45.       Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"?

  1. Limitation of powers
  2. Equality before law
  3. People's responsibility to the Government
  4. Liberty and civil rights

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1 and 3 only

(b)          2 and 4 only

(c)           1, 2 and 4 only

(d)          1, 2, 3 and 4

Q46.       Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money?

(a)          The money which is tendered in courts of law to defray the fee of legal cases

(b)          The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims

(c)           The bank money in the form of cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, etc.

(d)          The metallic money in circulation in a country

Q47.       If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then

(a)          the opportunity cost is zero.

(b)          the opportunity cost is ignored.

(c)           the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public.

(d)          the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the Government.

Q48.       Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if

(a)          industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural output.

(b)          agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial output.

(c)           poverty and unemployment increase.

(d)          imports grow faster than exports.

Q49.       Consider the following statements:

                Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables

  1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.
  2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.
  3. accumulation of tangible wealth.
  4. accumulation of intangible wealth.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a)          1 and 2 (b) 2 only

(c)           2 and 4 (d) 1, 3 and 4

Q50.       Despite being a high saving economy, capital formation may not result in significant increase in output due to

(a)          weak administrative machinery

(b)          illiteracy

(c)           high population density

(d)          high capital-output ratio

Q51.       After the Santhal Upri-sing subsided, what was/ were the measure/ measures taken by the colonial government?

  1. The territories called `Santhal Paraganas' were created.
  2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal.

                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

Q52.       Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the

(a)          increase in the export of Indian handicrafts

(b)          growth in the number of Indian owned factories

(c)           commercialization of Indian agriculture

(d)          rapid increase in the urban population

Q53.       If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then

(a)          the Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved.

(b)          the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.

(c)           Article 19 is suspended in that State.

(d)          the President can make laws relating to that State.

Q54.       Consider the following pairs:

                Craft                                      Heritage of

  1. Puthukkuli -              Tamil Nadu

                shawls

  1. Sujni emb- -              Maharashtra

                roidery

  1. Uppada -              Karnataka

                Jamdani

                saris

                Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only    (b) 1 and 2

(c)           3 only    (d) 2 and 3

Q55.       In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used?

  1. Mobile phone operations
  2. Banking operations
  3. Controlling the power grids

                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

Q56.       Consider the following statements:

  1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities.
  2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments.
  3. Treasury bills offer are issued at a discount from the par value.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 and 2 only  (b) 3 only

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

Q57.       Consider the following statements:

  1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years.
  2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide.
  3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth.

                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

Q58.       The terms 'WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue' sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to

(a)          Exoplanets

(b)          Cryptocurrency

(c)           Cyber attacks

(d)          Mini satellites

Q59.       With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of "Conservation Agri-culture" assumes signi-ficance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agricul-ture?

  1. Avoiding the monoculture practices
  2. Adopting minimum tillage
  3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops
  4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface
  5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1, 3 and 4

(b)          2, 3, 4 and 5

(c)           2, 4 and 5

(d)          1, 2, 3 and 5

Q60.       The term "sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction" is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of

(a)          Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.

(b)          Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs.

(c)           Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.

(d)          Mankind's over-exploit-ation/ misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/ loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.

Q61.       With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements :

  1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
  2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
  3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.

                Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)          1 only

(b)          1 and 2 only

(c)           2 and 3 only  (d) None

Q62.       Consider the following phenomena:

  1. Light is affected by gravity.
  2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
  3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.

                Which of the above is/are the prediction/ predictions of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?

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

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

Q63.       With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:

  1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
  2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
  3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.

                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

Q64.       Consider the following pairs

                Terms some-                     Context/

                times seen                         Topic

                in news

  1. Belle II                 -              Artificial

                experiment                        Intelligence

  1. Blockchain -              Digital/

                technology                         Cryptocu-

                                                                rrency

  1. CRISPR -              Particle

                Cas9                                       Physics

                Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a)          1 and 3 only

(b)          2 only

(c)           2 and 3 only

(d)          1, 2 and 3

Q65.       Which of the following statements best describes "carbon fertilization"?

(a)          Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

(b)          Increased temperature of Earth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (c) Increased acidity of oceans as a result of increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

(d)          Adaptation of all living beings on Earth to the climate change brought about by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Q66.       When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day's weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly.

                In the context of emerging communic-ation technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario?

(a)          Border Gateway Protocol

(b)          Internet of Things

(c)           Internet Protocol

(d)          Virtual Private Network

Q67.       With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements:

  1. India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units.
  2. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

                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

Q68. The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were

(a)          Raw cotton, oil-seeds and opium

(b)          Sugar, salt, zinc and lead

(c)           Copper, silver, gold, spices and tea

(d)          Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium

Q69.       Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of the Champaran Satyagraha?

(a)          Active all-India particip-ation of lawyers, students and women in the National Movement

(b)          Active involvement of Dalit and Tribal communities of India in the National Movement

(c)           Joining of peasant unrest to India's National Movement

(d)          Drastic decrease in the cultivation of plantation crops and commercial crops

Q70.       Who among the following were the founders of the "Hind Mazdoor Sabha" established in 1948?

(a)          B. Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad and K.C. George

(b)          Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and M.N. Roy

(c)           C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, K. Kamaraj and Veeresalingam Pantulu

(d)          Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta

Q71.       With reference to the religious practices in India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to

(a)          Buddhism

(b)          Jainism

(c)           Vaishnavism

(d)          Shaivism

Q72.       With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

  1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
  2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

                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

Q73.       Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discu-ssed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?

(a)          Francois Bernier

(b)          Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

(c)           Jean de Thevenot

(d)          Abbe Barthelemy Carre

Q74. With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?

(a)          Avalokiteshvara

(b)          Lokesvara

(c)           Maitreya

(d)          Padmapani

Q75.       Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?

(a)          To maintain a large standing army at other's expense

(b)          To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger

(c)           To secure a fixed income for the Company

(d)          To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

Q76.       Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?

  1. Charter Act of 1813
  2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
  3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy

                Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)          1 and 2 only

(b)          2 only

(c)           1 and 3 only

(d)          1, 2 and 3

Q77.       Which one of the following is an artificial lake?

(a)          Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)

(b)          Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)

(c)           Nainital (Uttarakhand)

(d)          Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)