2021

Statement 1 is incorrect. The 32nd Summer Olympics was held in Tokyo in 2021. The Tokyo 2020 official Games motto was United by Emotion. The Rio Olympics 2016 official slogan was A New World.

Statement 2 is correct. New IOC rules for the Tokyo Olympics allowed host cities to choose popular sports for inclusion in the Games. Tokyo Olympics added six new sports, including baseball, softball, surfing, skateboarding, karate, and sports climbing. Additionally, there were new forms of basketball and cycling and mixed-team events in traditional sports.

* The term 'ACE2' is talked about in the context of the spread of viral diseases, particularly COVID-19.

* ACE2 stands for Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2. It's a protein found on the surface of many cell types in the human body, including those in the lungs, heart, kidneys, and intestines.

* Here's why ACE2 is significant:

* Receptor for SARS-CoV-2: The spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19, binds to the ACE2 receptor in human cells. This binding is a critical step in the process of how the virus infects cells. * Multiple organ infection: Since ACE2 is expressed in various organs, it provides the virus with multiple potential entry points. This can contribute to the multi-organ complications sometimes associated with COVID-19. * Focus of research: Understanding the interaction between the virus and ACE2 is a major area of research for scientists developing vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Nizamat of Arcot was established by Aurangzeb and was the legal dependency of the Nizam of Hyderabad, it did not emerge from the Hyderabad state.

Statement 2 is correct: The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire. After Vijayanagar fell in 1565, the ruling dynasty of Wodeyars of Mysore asserted their independence.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The state of Rohilakhand was felled out of the Afghan migration into India which took place in the mid-18th century. Ali Muhammad Khan took advantage of the collapse of authority in north India following Nadir Shah's invasion, to set up a petty kingdom, Rohilakhand.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Government had launched a scheme viz Casual Labourers (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme of Government of India, 1993. As per the scheme, Temporary status would be conferred on all casual labourers who were in employment and who have rendered a continuous service of at least one year, which means that they must have been engaged for at least 240 days (206 days in case of offices observing 5 days week).

Statement 2 is Correct: The Supreme Court has decreed that casual workers are also entitled to social security benefits as stipulated in the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The Court's ruling stemmed from its interpretation of Section 2(f) of the EPF Act, wherein the definition of an "employee" encompasses a broad scope, including any individual engaged directly or indirectly in connection with an establishment's work and receiving wages. A bench of the Supreme Court affirmed this viewpoint.

Statement 3 is Correct: The government has the authority to specify through a notification that an establishment or industry is obligated to disburse wages exclusively via its bank account.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Moringa oleifera (drumstick tree) is a deciduous tree, not an evergreen one. Furthermore, it belongs to the family Moringaceae and is not a leguminous plant; it does not possess root nodules for nitrogen fixation.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Tamarind tree (*Tamarindus indica*) is native to tropical Africa. While it is widely grown and naturalized in India, it is not endemic to South Asia.

Statement 3 is Correct: In India, tamarind is categorized and collected as Minor Forest Produce (MFP). It serves as a vital source of income for many tribal and forest-dwelling communities.

Statement 4 is Correct: India is a major exporter of tamarind. Similarly, moringa seeds are exported for their high oil content and medicinal properties.

Statement 5 is Correct: Seeds of both plants have biofuel potential. Moringa seeds have a high oil content (about 30-40%) that can be processed into biodiesel, and tamarind seed oil is also researched for similar applications in the energy sector.

Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were senior officers of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj. They are famously remembered for the Red Fort Trials (INA Trials) of 1945, where they were court-martialed by the British for 'waging war against the King-Emperor'. The trials triggered widespread nationalist demonstrations, and the Indian National Congress organized an INA Defence Committee comprising legal luminaries like Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Jawaharlal Nehru to defend them.

Interim Government (1946) Portfolios: * Jawaharlal Nehru: Vice-President of the Executive Council, External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations * Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Home, Information and Broadcasting * Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Food and Agriculture * Dr. John Mathai: Industries and Supplies * Jagjivan Ram: Labour * Sardar Baldev Singh: Defence * Liaquat Ali Khan (Muslim League): Finance * C. Rajagopalachari: Education and Arts * Asaf Ali: Railways and Transport * Jogendra Nath Mandal (Muslim League): Law

Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly: It consisted of seven members: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman), N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Dr. K.M. Munshi, Syed Mohammad Saadullah, N. Madhava Rau, and T.T. Krishnamachari.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Laureus World Sports Awards were first presented in the year 2000 in Monte Carlo. American golfer Tiger Woods was the inaugural winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The award has been dominated by tennis players rather than Formula One players. By the time of the 2021 UPSC examination, tennis players had won the Sportsman of the Year award 11 times (Roger Federer-5, Rafael Nadal-2, and Novak Djokovic-4), while Formula One drivers had won it only 4 times (Michael Schumacher-2, Sebastian Vettel-1, and Lewis Hamilton-1).

Statement 3 is Correct: Roger Federer holds the record for the most wins in the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year category, having won it five times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2018). When including his 'Comeback of the Year' award in 2018, he has a total of six Laureus statuettes, making him the most decorated individual in the history of the awards at that time.

The correct statements about the New York Declaration on Forests are: 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. 2. It does endorse a global timeline to end the loss of forests, aiming for significant reduction by 2020 and ending deforestation by 2030. 4. It is endorsed by a multi-stakeholder group, including governments, companies (big and small), and indigenous communities.

Incorrect statements: 3. The New York Declaration on Forests is not a legally binding international declaration. It's a voluntary political declaration. 5. The Declaration is currently endorsed by over 190 entities but it is not endorsed by India.

Therefore, the correct answer is A. 1, 2, and 4.

Statement 1 is correct: In 1221, during the reign of Iltutmish, the Mongol leader Genghis Khan reached the banks of the Indus while pursuing Jalal-ad-Din Mangubarni, the crown prince of the Khwarazmian Empire. Iltutmish diplomatically refused to grant asylum to the prince, thereby saving the Delhi Sultanate from a direct Mongol invasion.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Taimur (Timur) invaded India in 1398, which was during the reign of Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughlaq (the last ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty). Muhammad bin Tughluq had died much earlier, in 1351. Furthermore, while Taimur led the overall campaign, it was his grandson, Pir Muhammad, who occupied Multan before Taimur crossed the Indus to join the main force.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Calicut (Kerala) in 1498. At this time, the Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by Immadi Narasimha Raya of the Saluva Dynasty. Deva Raya II, of the Sangama Dynasty, ruled earlier from 1422 to 1446 and had been dead for over 50 years by the time the Portuguese arrived.

The correct sequence in ascending order of size for administrative divisions in medieval India is

1. Pargana 2. Sarkar 3. Suba

Pargana: The smallest unit was the Pargana, which typically comprised a group of villages. It was the most basic level of administration. Sarkar: A group of Parganas formed a Sarkar, which can be understood as a district or province. Suba: The largest administrative division was the Suba, which encompassed several Sarkars. It was equivalent to a modern-day state or province.

"Blue Carbon" designates carbon that is fixed via coastal ocean ecosystems , rather than traditional land ecosystems, like forests .

Although the ocean's vegetated habitats cover less than 0.5% of the seabed, they are responsible for more than 50%, and potentially up to 70%, of all carbon storage in ocean sediments.

The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept in check by one or more or a combination of some conditions. These conditions include fire, grazing herbivores, and seasonal rainfall.

2. Fire is a common occurrence in savannahs and it helps to maintain the grassland by burning out tree saplings.

3. Grazing herbivores also help to maintain the grassland by eating young tree saplings before they can grow into mature trees.

4. Seasonal rainfall also plays a role as it affects the growth of trees and grasses.

1. Burrowing animals and termites, while they do have an impact on the ecosystem, are not the primary factors controlling forest development.

5. Similarly, soil properties can affect the types of vegetation that can grow, but they are not the primary factors controlling forest development in savannahs.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c) 2, 3 and 4.

Savannah Climate: - It is a transitional climate between equatorial rainforests and hot deserts. - It has wet and dry seasons like the monsoon climate but with much less rainfall. Unlike the monsoon climate, it lacks a distinct rainy season. - It has only two seasons—winter and summer, with rain occurring in summer. The savanna landscape features tall grasses and scattered short trees. - The savanna is called the 'big game country' because thousands of animals are hunted or trapped annually by people worldwide.


* Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key component in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics.

* Polycarbonate plastics are a type of synthetic plastic material that is known to contain Bisphenol A (BPA) as a structural component.

* BPA is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, which are commonly used in various consumer products such as Water bottles, Food storage containers, Household electronics, Eyeglass lenses, Compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs)

* BPA has raised health concerns due to its potential to act as an endocrine disruptor, which can interfere with the body's hormonal system.

Statement 1 is correct. Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) is a reproductive technique used to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases from mother to child. It involves replacing defective mitochondria in an egg or embryo with healthy mitochondria from a donor. MRT can be performed either before or after in vitro fertilization to ensure that the resulting embryo does not inherit mitochondrial diseases.

Statement 2 is correct. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is responsible for encoding genes essential for mitochondrial function, is inherited exclusively from the mother. Therefore, mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations in mtDNA are passed down maternally, and a child cannot inherit mitochondrial diseases from the father.

Therefore, both statements are correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 did not recommend granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21. While the reforms introduced some limited electoral reforms, including the extension of the franchise to a larger section of the Indian population, they did not grant universal suffrage to women.

Statement 2 is correct. The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced reserved seats for women in the legislatures at both the central and provincial levels. These reserved seats were aimed at ensuring representation for women in the political process.

Government of India, Act 1919 - Introduced limited self-government and increased Indian participation - Introduced Dyarchy (Dual Government) in provinces: 1. Transferred subjects → Administered by Indian ministers 2. Reserved subjects → Administered by British officials - Bicameral Legislature at the Central Level - Separate Electorates Continued - High Commissioner for India in London was created to represent Indian affairs in Britain. - Subjects divided into Central and Provincial lists - Voting rights were restricted based on property, income, and education. 

Government of India, Act 1935 - Created an All-India Federation consisting of British Indian Provinces and Princely States. (Never Implemented) - Bicameralism extended to six provinces (Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam, and United Provinces) - Abolished Dyarchy at the provincial level, Introduced Provincial Autonomy → Governors had to act on ministers' advice (except in special cases) - Three lists introduced: 1. Federal List (Centre) 2. Provincial List (Provinces) 3. Concurrent List (Both Centre & Provinces) - Ministers had full control over provincial subjects (except during emergencies) - Established the Federal Court of India (precursor to the Supreme Court) - Communal and separate electorates were retained and extended to groups such as Anglo-Indians and Indo-Christians. - Women were given reservations in Provincial and central legislature. 

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The finalists for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (2019-2021) were decided based on the Percentage of Points (PCT) earned from the total points contested, rather than the absolute number of matches won. This system was introduced by the ICC to account for the disparity in the number of matches played by different teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because they had a higher PCT (70.0%) compared to England (64.1%). In terms of match wins, England actually won more matches (11) than New Zealand (7) during the tournament cycle, directly contradicting the statement.

Hedgehogs: Hedgehogs are small mammals have a unique defense mechanism where they roll up into a tight ball, using their sharp spines as a form of protection against predators. 

Marmots: Marmots do not roll up to protect themselves. Instead, they typically rely on burrows and their ability to give warning calls to avoid predators. 

Pangolins: Similar to hedgehogs, pangolins also roll up into a ball when threatened. They use their tough keratin scales as armor to protect their vulnerable parts. 

Statement 1 is incorrect: International Mother Language Day is observed on 21 February every year. It is declared by UNESCO and not UNICEF.

Statement 2 is correct: The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

The Common Carbon Metric (CCM) is a protocol developed by the United Nations Environment Program's Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative (UNEP-SBCI) for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from building operations.

Its purpose is to support GHG emissions reductions through accurate measurement of energy efficiency. It is a universal method of measuring a building's carbon footprint and allows emissions from buildings around the world to be consistently assessed and compared.

Therefore, it is used for assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world.

Statement 1 is correct: St. Francis Xavier was a Spanish Jesuit who lived as a Roman Catholic missionary in the 1500s. He was one of the first seven members of the Jesuit order.

Statement 2 is incorrect: He did not die in Goa but at Sachian, an island off the coast of China. A church in memory of St. Xavier called the Church of Bom Jesus, is located in Goa with his mortal remains.

Statement 3 is correct: A feast in honor of St. Xavier is celebrated annually in Goa.

* Filter feeders are a subgroup of suspension-feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialised filtering structure.

* Some animals that use this method of feeding are clams, krill, sponges, baleen whales, and many fish (including some sharks). Some birds, such as flamingos and certain species of duck, are also filter feeders. Filter feeders can play an important role in clarifying water, and are therefore considered ecosystem engineers. They are also important in bioaccumulation and, as a result, as indicator organisms. * Oyster is one of the filter feeders.

Pearl Farming - Pearls are the only gemstones in the world that come from a living creature. Mollusks such as oysters and mussels produce these precious jewels. - Pearl culture practices are present in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Goa, and Tripura.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Both Dayabhaga and Mitakshara are the basic to the upper castes alone. Mitakshara school is followed in most of India while Dayabhaga is followed in Bengal and Assam.

Statement 2 is correct. In the Dayabhaga system, sons obtain rights to property only at the death of the father, and in the Mitakshara school, the sons and grandsons have rights over his property even while he is alive.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Both Dayabhaga and Mitakshara schools of Hindu law dealt with women's property (stridhana). However, while the Mitakshara school imposed significant restrictions on women's control and excluded them from coparcenary, the Dayabhaga school was relatively liberal, recognizing widows as heirs and granting greater powers over property.

* Option (A) is incorrect: Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag, but he presented it to Mahatma Gandhi at the INC session in Bezwada (now Vijayawada), not Madanapalle.

* Option (B) is incorrect: Pattabhi Sitaramaiah played an important political role in Andhra but did not lead the Quit India Movement of the Andhra region from Madanapalle.

* Option (C) is correct: Rabindranath Tagore stayed at Theosophical College, Madanapalle, in 1919. During this visit, he translated *Jana Gana Mana* from Bengali into English as "The Morning Song of India." This is the historically significant connection between Madanapalle and the National Anthem.

* Option (D) is incorrect: The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 and later moved its headquarters to Adyar, Chennai in 1882. It was not set up in Madanapalle.

Detritivores: These are organisms that feed on dead and decaying organic matter (detritus).

Earthworms: They are classic detritivores, breaking down organic matter in soil and aiding in decomposition.

Millipedes: They feed on decaying leaves and other organic debris on the forest floor.

Woodlice: These small crustaceans are also detritivores, consuming decaying plant and animal matter.

Jellyfish: While they might incidentally ingest some detritus while filtering water for food, they are primarily carnivores, feeding on plankton and small fish.

Seahorses: These are also not detritivores. They are carnivores, feeding on small shrimp, plankton, and other invertebrates.

Therefore, 1,3 and 5 are detritivores.

The description provided is characteristic of the Tropical Rain Forest (Tropical Evergreen Forest).

- Rapid Decomposition: Tropical rain forests are characterized by high temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. These conditions facilitate intense microbial activity, causing leaf litter to decompose much faster than in any other biome. As a result, nutrients are quickly reabsorbed by plants, leaving the soil surface almost bare of organic matter. - Vegetation and Epiphytes: Due to the dense, multi-layered canopy, very little sunlight reaches the forest floor. To survive, many plant forms have adapted by climbing trees (lianas) or growing as epiphytes (plants that grow on the branches of trees to access sunlight without being parasitic). - Key Species: Common trees include Mahogany, Rosewood, Aini, and Ebony. - Distribution in India: According to NCERT, these forests are found in regions with heavy rainfall (over 200 cm), specifically the Western Ghats, the Northeastern states, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In contrast, coniferous forests have slow decomposition due to cold climates; dry deciduous forests have seasonal leaf fall and less dense canopies; and mangrove forests are specialized for saline coastal environments with distinct stilt roots.

- Black soil in India is formed by the weathering of fissure volcanic rock. - Climatic conditions along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil. - Black soils are spread mostly across interior Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock.


Brown Forest Soil: - Develops in temperate forest regions with moderate rainfall. - It is rich in organic matter, fertile, and well-drained.

Granite and Schist: - Granite is a hard, igneous rock rich in quartz and feldspar, used in construction. - Schist is a metamorphic rock with flaky layers, formed under heat and pressure.

Shale and Limestone - Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock, often a source of oil and natural gas. - Limestone is a sedimentary rock rich in calcium carbonate, used in cement production.

Statement 1 is incorrect. When we consider the distribution of water on Earth, we find that the amount of water in rivers and lakes is actually less than the amount of groundwater. This is because groundwater is stored in the Earth's crust, in the pores and spaces between rocks and soil, and it accounts for a significant portion of the Earth's fresh water. On the other hand, rivers and lakes, while visible and important for many ecosystems, actually hold a relatively small amount of the Earth's total water.


Statement 2 is correct. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is indeed more than the amount of groundwater. This is because these ice caps and glaciers, particularly those in Antarctica and Greenland, hold the majority of the Earth's fresh water.

Water efficiency of a crop refers to the amount of water required for its growth and development.

Among the options provided, Sugarcane requires the highest amount of water for its growth, making it the least water-efficient crop. It needs around 1800-2200 mm of water per season. On the other hand, Sunflower requires about 672.4 mm/season, Pearl Millet being a drought-tolerant crop requires around 350 mm/season, and Red gram uses about 250-400 mm/season of water.

Therefore, Sugarcane is the least water-efficient crop among the given options.

Statement 1 is correct. The Climate-Smart Village (CSV) approach is an initiative under the CCAFS program, which focuses on improving climate resilience in agriculture through research and innovation. CCAFS operates in multiple countries, including India, and works on sustainable farming practices, resource efficiency, and climate adaptation strategies in rural areas.

Statement 2 is correct. CCAFS is a global research initiative under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which is a network of international agricultural research organizations. However, CGIAR's global headquarters is in Montpellier, France, making the statement factually accurate.

Statement 3 is correct. ICRISAT, based in Hyderabad, India, is a major research institute focusing on improving dryland agriculture. It is indeed one of the CGIAR's 15 global research centers, working on climate resilience, crop improvement, and food security in semi-arid regions.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Parole is not an absolute right in India. There's a consideration process involved. While a prisoner can present their case for parole, the authorities have the discretion to grant or deny it.

Statement 2 is correct. State governments do have their own set of rules governing parole within the broad framework provided by the Prison Act, of 1894 and the Prisoner Act, of 1900.