UPSC Practice Question Papers

1. Which of the following statements with regards Rakhigarhi is/ are correct?
i) Recent excavations carried out suggest that Rakhigarhi is the biggest Harrapan site.
ii) Rakhigarhi is situated in the state of Gujarat.
a) Only i is correct
b) Only ii is correct
c) Both are correct
d) None is correct
Answer :   A

2. Consider the following statements about Gayatri mantra
i) It was composed by Vashishtha.
ii) It is part of the third 'mandala' of Rigveda.
iii) It is devoted to god 'Savitra'
Which of the above is/ are correct?
a) Only i & ii
b) Only ii & iii
c) Only i
d) Only iii
Answer :   B

3. Which Bodhisattva Mudra symbolizes Shakyamunis Victory over Mara?
a) Bhumisparsha mudra
b) Vitarka mudra
c) Shramana mudra
d) Tarjana mudra
Answer :   A

4. Consider the following statements about Vaishnava Panthean & mark the correct statement(s).
i) History of Viashnavism involved gradual coming together of many cults which were independent earlier.
ii) First detailed account of Krishna's life story occurs in 'Harivamsha', an appendix to the Mahabharata.
a) Only i is correct
b) Only ii is correct
c) Both are correct
d) None is correct
Answer :   C

5. Consider the following statements about 'Yoga':
i) The author of Yogasutra is unknown, though this text came to be attributed to Patanjali.
ii) Yoga sutras describe 5 stages of yoga.
iii) Yoga sutras state that their aim is to achieve physical fitness & freedom from illness.
Which of the above is/ are correct?
a) Both i & ii
b) Both ii & iii
c) Only iii
d) Only i
Answer :   D

6. Consider the following statements about Cave architecture between 300-600 CE.
i) The Cave architecture of this period in North India is almost entirely Buddhist.
ii) Elephanta caves are the exception where the largest cave is dedicated to Vishnu.
iii) Majority of caves found at Ajanta belong to Vakataka period.
Mark the correct answer from the given options:
a) Only i & ii are correct
b) Only ii & iii
c) Only i & iii
d) All of the above
Answer :   C

7. Consider the following statements about the text named Panchatantra:
i) The text is said to be composed in Gupta Empire.
ii) It is an example of a 'nidarshana' composition.
Which of the above is/ are correct?
a) Only i is correct
b) Only ii is correct
c) Both are correct
d) None is correct
Answer :   B

8. Which of the following is the correct term for the 'uttered conversation of Sufi Saints'?
a) Malfuzat
b) Maktubat
c) Tazkiras
d) None of these
Answer :   A

9. Consider the following statements about Lingayats.
i) Their tradition began in 12th century & was led by a person named 'Basavanna' who was initially a Jaina.
ii) Lingayats believe that on death, the devotee will be united with Shiva.
iii) Instead of practicing funerary rites prescribed
in Dharmashastras, they bury their dead.
Which of the above is/ are correct?
a) Only i & ii
b) Only ii & iii
c) Only i & iii
d) All of the above
Answer :   D

10. Which of the following elements became part of temple architecture during Vijayanagar period?
i) Gopurams
ii) Kalyanmandapa
iii) Separate shrine for the Goddesses
a) Only i
b) Only i & ii
c) Only ii & iii
d) All of the above
Answer :   C

11. Which one of the following is not a land form which results due to rejuvenation of a river?
a) Incised meander
b) Knick point
c) Oxbow lake
d) River terrace
Answer :   C

12. Niagara Falls is located between which of the following pairs of lakes?
a) Lake Superior and Lake Huron
b) Lake Huron and Lake Erie
c) Lake Erie and Lake Ontario
d) Lake Ontario and Lake Huron
Answer :   C

13. The boundary zone between the North American plate and the Eurasian plate exhibits conditions of:
a) convergence
b) divergence
c) sinking
d) sliding
Answer :   B

14. Assertion (A): Hurricanes do not originate in South Atlantic Ocean and South-Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Reason (R): In South Atlantic and South Eastern Pacific Oceans, the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
Answer :   A

15. Consider the following statements:
1. Most rainfall and snowfall in the midlatitudes are formed by the ice-crystal process.
2. The base of cirrus clouds invariably occurs at altitude below 5000 m.
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
Answer :   A

16. Northern part of Australia is typified by which one of the following?
a) Equatorial climate
b) Mediterranean climate
c) Temperate climate
d) Monsoon climate
Answer :   D

17. Consider the following statements:
1. A hurricane acquires its spin from the Coriolis effect.
2. The diameter of the hurricane decreases as it moves away from low latitudes.
3. The diameter of a hurricane is never below 150 km.
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
Answer :   C

18. World Investment Report is published by:
a) World Bank
b) World Economic Forum
c) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
d) World Trade Organization
Answer :   C

19. Consider the following statements:
1. Equatorial counter current is more strongly developed in Pacific Ocean than in Atlantic Ocean.
2. Equatorial counter current flows in westward direction.
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
Answer :   A

20. Which of the following determine the amount of phytoplanktons in the ocean waters?
1. The ocean currents
2. The temperature and salinity
3. The depth of ocean waters
4. Length of day and night
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer :   D

21. Assertion (A): Vertisols are most extensive in Australia, India and Sudan.
Reason (R): The clay-producing materials are available in mesothermal or tropical climates with periodic dry and wet seasons.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
Answer :   A

22. Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
a) Ecotone
b) Ecological niche
c) Habitat
d) Home range
Answer :   B

23. The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History (SACON) was established with the objective of establishing and developing a Centre of Excellence to assist, institute, conduct and promote scientific research in ornithology, and of species, habitats and ecosystems with and within which avifauna coexist. Which of the following statement is correct with regard to SACON?
I. It's a public - NGO partnership between the MoEF, and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
II. It's situated at Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
a) I only
b) II only
c) Both I and II
d) None
Answer :   C

24. Consider the following statements with regard to wetland and mark the correct answer.
1. World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February, to mark the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands and was celebrated for the first time in 1997, on the 16th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention.
2. Ramsar, the Iranian city is on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
3. Ramsar convention does not talk about Promoting international cooperation especially with regard to trans boundary wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species.
4. One of the obligations of countries which are party to the Ramsar Convention is to Create wetland reserves.
a) 1 and 4 only
b) 1, 2 and 3 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2 and 4 only
Answer :   D

25. Among the followings identify the flavour enhancer.
a) polychlorinated biphenyls
b) Vitamin E
c) monosodium glutamate
d) coaltar
Answer :   C