2014

Hibernation is a state of decreased physiological activity and lowered body temperature that certain animals, such as bats and bears, undergo during the winter months to conserve energy and survive periods of limited food availability.

Statement 1 is correct: Bats, especially those living in temperate regions, often enter a state of hibernation during the colder months when their food sources (insects) are scarce.

Statement 2 is correct: Bears, including the brown bear, black bear, and polar bear, are well-known hibernators.

Statement 3 is correct: Many rodent species, including groundhogs and chipmunks, are true hibernators.

Thus, all three statements are correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones are not under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972. They are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. While they often surround protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries and national parks established under the Wildlife Act, they are a separate mechanism.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones do not prohibit all human activities. The purpose is to regulate and manage specific activities to minimize their impact on the sensitive ecosystem. Some sustainable activities like agriculture, local communities' traditional practices, and eco-tourism may be permitted with regulations.

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Ajanta Caves, located in Maharashtra, are famous for their Buddhist rock-cut sculptures and paintings, including the grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana in Cave 26.

Pair 2 is not correctly matched: The huge image of Varaha Avatar of Vishnu is sculpted on the rock at Udayagiri Caves, near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, not at Mount Abu.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is famous for its rock-cut sculptures, including the iconic "Arjuna's Penance" or "Descent of Ganga" carved on two massive boulders.

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Tabo Monastery is located in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, northern India.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Nako is a village in the Himalayas of northern India, located near the Indo-China border in the Trans-Himalayan region of Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. Nako Lake is a prominent feature here, where it borders the village. Nako Monastery, dated to 1025, is located in the village, as well as several other Buddhist chortens.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex (chos-'khor) of temples in Alchi village in the Leh District, of the Indian state under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Partition of Bengal implemented by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until King George V abrogated Curzon's Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911.

The widespread protests and nationalist movements against the partition led to its reversal in 1911.

The terms 'Marginal Standing Facility Rate' and 'Net Demand and Time Liabilities' are used in relation to banking operations, specifically related to short-term liquidity management by banks with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): This is a facility offered by the RBI to banks as a last resort to borrow short-term overnight funds. It allows banks to meet their temporary liquidity shortfalls.

Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL): This refers to the total amount of a bank's deposits that are repayable on demand (current and savings accounts) or after a specific period (fixed deposits).

The aim of the 12th Five Year plan is to achieve 'faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth'. For this purpose, it seeks to achieve: - 4% growth in the agriculture sector - 10% in the manufacturing sector

The total budget of the 12th Five Year plan has been estimated at Rs.47.7 lakh crore which is 135 percent more than that for the 11th Five year Plan (2007-12).

* The guar or cluster bean, with the botanical name Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, is an annual legume and the source of guar gum.

* It is also known as Gavar, guar, or guvar bean.

* The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas . The seeds of the guar bean contain a large endosperm. This endosperm consists of a large polysaccharide of galactose and mannose. This polymer is water-soluble and exhibits a viscosifying effect in water.

* Guar gum has a multitude of different applications in food products, industrial products, and the extractive industry.

* The Ghadr (or Ghadar) movement was a revolutionary movement that aimed to overthrow British colonial rule in India during the early 20th century. * It was launched by Indian immigrants, mainly Sikhs and Hindus, residing in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada.

* The Ghadr Party was formed in 1913 in San Francisco, California, to liberate India from British rule through an armed revolution.

* Prominent leaders of the Ghadr movement included Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Kartar Singh Sarabha, and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle.

Panchayatan (from Sanskrit: pañcha = five + āyatana = dwelling or shrine) refers to a style of temple architecture in which the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the four corners of the temple platform. This layout symbolizes the worship of five deities (Panchadevata), typically: - Shiva - Vishnu - Shakti (Devi) - Surya (Sun) - Ganesha or Skanda It was popularized during the Gupta period and became a hallmark of Nagara-style temple architecture in North India.

Statement 1 is incorrect: India has a National Seeds Policy (2002), which provides a framework for quality assurance, seed certification, and private sector participation.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The private sector plays a significant role in the production and distribution of seeds, particularly for hybrid and vegetable crops (e.g., Mahyco, Syngenta, Nunhems, etc.).

Statement 3 is correct: For crops like pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds, which are low-value but high-volume, there is indeed a shortage of certified seeds due to lower profitability and investment.

Thus, only statement three is correct.

There are concerns about the use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) for two main reasons:

Statement 1 is correct: They are highly resistant to degradation. BFRs break down very slowly in the environment, meaning they can persist for a long time. This can lead to them accumulating in the environment over time.

Statement 2 is correct: BFRs can accumulate in the bodies of humans and animals (Bioaccumulation). This happens because they are fat-soluble, meaning they are stored in fatty tissues.

Statement 1 is correct: Neem oil is a well-known natural pesticide and has been shown to be effective in controlling some insect and mite populations.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While there might be some research into using neem seeds for biofuels, it's not a widespread application in 2014 when the question was asked by the UPSC. Hospital detergents typically use stronger and more regulated chemicals.

Statement 3 is correct: Neem oil does have applications in the pharmaceutical industry. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and some of its properties are being explored in modern medicine for their anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and other potential benefits.

A transgenic crop is a genetically modified organism (GMO).

Transgenic indicates that a transfer of genes has occurred using recombinant DNA technology. Generally, a transgenic crop contains one or more genes that have been inserted artificially either from an unrelated plant or from different species altogether.

Technique 1 is incorrect: Budding and grafting in fruit plants does not include genetic editing or modification. Thus, option 1 is eliminated.

Technique 2 is correct: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a condition where plants cannot produce viable pollen. It is typically controlled by genes in the cytoplasm. While CMS can occur naturally, it can also be introduced or manipulated using genetic engineering techniques to create transgenic lines for more efficient hybrid seed production.

Technique 3 is correct: Gene silencing technique uses engineered genetic material to specifically suppress the expression of certain genes in a plant. This allows scientists to modify the plant's characteristics at the genetic level, which is the hallmark of transgenic crops.

Thus, the right answer is option 'B'.

Statement 1 is correct: This is a major threat. Dams fragment the river habitat, hinder migration patterns, and can disrupt prey availability for the dolphins.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While competition might exist, it's not a cause of decline. A healthy river ecosystem can support both dolphins and crocodiles.

Statement 3 is correct: This is a significant threat, as dolphins can get caught in fishing gear and drown.

Statement 4 is correct: Runoff from agricultural lands can pollute rivers with pesticides and fertilizers. These pollutants can harm the dolphins' health and prey species.

Thus 1,3, and 4 are the causes of the decline in the Ganga River Dolphins.

Crystallization of sodium chloride: This is a physical change. The sodium chloride (table salt) is changing its form from a dissolved state in water to a solid crystal structure, but the chemical composition remains NaCl.

Melting of ice: Similar to crystallization, melting of ice is a physical change. Water (H2O) molecules are rearranging from a rigid solid structure to a more fluid liquid state, but the chemical makeup stays the same.

Souring of milk: This is a chemical change. Milk sugar (lactose) is broken down by bacteria into lactic acid. This process involves the formation of new substances and alters the chemical composition of the milk.

Therefore, only statement 3 is an example of a chemical change.

Balance of Trade: This refers to the net difference between a country's exports and imports of goods. It's a key component of the current account.

Foreign Assets: This refers to assets held by a country's residents outside the country. It's not part of the current account but might be included in the capital account.

Balance of Invisibles: This captures the net income from services, such as tourism, transportation, and royalties, as well as net current transfers (e.g., foreign aid). It's another crucial component of the current account.

Special Drawing Right (SDR): This is an international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It's not directly part of the current account but might be included in the reserve assets.

Therefore, only options 1 (Balance of Trade) and 3 (Balance of Invisibles) are constituents of the Current Account in the Balance of Payments.

The Manganiyars are professional Muslim folk musicians belonging to Jaisalmer, Barmer, parts of Jalore, Bikaner and Jodhpur districts in Western Rajasthan. Like other hereditary caste musicians, they cultivate a close relationship with their patrons.

For generations, they provide musical service to their patrons to receive cattle, camels, goats or cash as a gift. On the other side, they function as record keepers and keep the different family histories alive through their songs, based on pure oral tradition.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Although King Pradyota of Avanti was a contemporary of the Buddha and invited him to visit, the Buddha never traveled to Avanti personally; he sent his disciple Mahakaccana to preach there instead. Statement 2 is Incorrect: Gandhara was located in the far northwest of the Indian subcontinent (modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan); the Buddha's travels and teachings were confined to the middle Gangetic plain, and he never visited Gandhara during his lifetime. Statement 3 is Correct: The Buddha spent a significant portion of his life in the Kingdom of Kosala, particularly in its capital Shravasti, where he delivered many discourses at the Jetavana monastery. His birthplace, Lumbini, was also associated with the Kosalan sphere of influence. Statement 4 is Correct: Magadha was central to the Buddha's life as he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and frequently preached at Rajgir, the capital of Magadha, under the patronage of Kings Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.

There are two components of expenditure - plan and non-plan. Of these, plan expenditures are estimated after discussions between each of the ministries concerned and the Planning Commission.

Non-plan revenue expenditure is accounted for by - interest payments, - subsidies (mainly on food and fertilisers), - wage and salary payments to government employees, - grants to States and Union Territories governments, - pensions, - police, - economic services in various sectors, - other general services such as tax collection, - social services, and - grants to foreign governments.

Non-plan capital expenditure mainly includes defence , loans to public enterprises,and loans to States, Union Territories and foreign governments.

The Plan and Non-Plan classification was done away with from fiscal 2017-18. Now emphasis is on Revenue and Capital expenditure.

Venture capital is financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential. Venture capital generally comes from well-off investors, investment banks, and other financial institutions.

Statement 1 is Correct: Iris scanning uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on images of the iris, which contains complex and unique patterns that remain stable throughout a person's life. Statement 2 is Correct: Retinal scanning identifies individuals by mapping the unique patterns of blood vessels on the retina at the back of the eye, which is a highly accurate physiological biometric. Statement 3 is Correct: Voice recognition identifies individuals based on unique vocal characteristics, including physical traits of the vocal tract and behavioral patterns like pitch and cadence.

Mites, scorpions, and spiders are all classified within the class Arachnida.

Crabs, although arthropods like the others belong to the class Crustacea.

Therefore, the crab is the odd one out due to its different taxonomic classification.

In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for village headmen.

Mahattara: The superior headman of the village, responsible for administration and revenue collection.

Pattakila: The subordinate headman of the village, assisting the Mahattara in his duties.

Pair 1 is not correct: The drought prone area programme comes under Ministry of Rural Development. This programme aims to mitigate the impacts of droughts on crop production, livestock, land and water resources.

Pair 2 is not correct: The Desert Development Programme comes under Ministry of Rural Development. The basic objective of the Desert Development Programme is to minimise negative effect of drought and control desertification.

Pair 3 is not correct: The national watershed project for rainfed areas implemented by Ministry of Agriculture is an umbrella scheme under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana.

The 1929 Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, is a landmark in the Indian Freedom Struggle for the following reasons:

1. Purna Swaraj Resolution: The Congress passed the historic 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) resolution, officially shifting its goal from 'Dominion Status' to total independence from British rule. 2. Symbolic Act: On the midnight of December 31, 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour flag on the banks of the River Ravi amidst slogans of 'Inquilab Zindabad'. 3. Independence Day: The Congress fixed January 26, 1930, as the first Independence Day, to be celebrated by the people across the country.

Why other options are incorrect: - Option A: While 'Swaraj' was discussed earlier (e.g., 1906), the 1929 session specifically defined it as 'Purna Swaraj' or complete independence. - Option C: The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched much earlier, in 1920. - Option D: The Congress decided to boycott the First Round Table Conference during this session. The decision to participate in the Second Round Table Conference was only taken later, following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931.

Biosphere reserves are the primary strategy for conserving biodiversity alongside traditional human life. Established under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, they are designed to integrate conservation with sustainable development. This is achieved through a zonation system: the Core Zone is strictly protected for biodiversity; the Buffer Zone surrounds the core and allows for limited research and education; and the Transition Zone (or Area of Cooperation) is where traditional human settlements, cropping, and other economic activities are permitted and managed in harmony with conservation goals.

* Botanical gardens are for ex-situ conservation and do not involve human habitation. * National parks are strictly protected areas where human activities and settlements are generally prohibited. * Wildlife sanctuaries may allow certain limited rights like grazing or collection of minor forest produce, but they are not specifically designed to integrate and preserve 'traditional human life' as a core strategic objective in the way biosphere reserves are.

Boundary Commission, the consultative committee created in July 1947 to recommend how the Punjab and Bengal regions of the Indian subcontinent were to be divided between India and Pakistan shortly before each was to become independent from Britain.

The commission appointed by Lord Mountbatten, the final viceroy of British India, consisted of: - Four members from the Indian National Congress. - Four from the Muslim League. - It was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe.

Statement 1 is incorrect: This is a collection of the teachings of Kabir, a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and philosopher. It is not associated with Saint Dadu Dayal.

Statement 2 is incorrect: This philosophy was propounded by Vallabhacharya, not Madhvacharya. Madhvacharya is known for his Dvaita philosophy, which emphasizes the duality of existence.

Therefore, both statements are incorrect.

Statement 1 is correct: Garba is a traditional folk dance from Gujarat, performed especially during the Navratri festival in honour of Goddess Durga.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form of Kerala, not Odisha. It is known for its graceful, feminine movements and is performed solo by women.

Statement 3 is correct: Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form from Karnataka, combining dance, music, dialogue, and elaborate costumes to depict mythological stories.