2011 UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper
10. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer
using the codes given below the lists: [1998]
List-I List-II
(Agricultural products) (Foremost producer)
A. Cotton 1. Madhya Pradesh
B. Gram 2. Gujarat
C. Black pepper 3. West Bengal
D. Pineapple 4. Kerala
Codes:
(a) A-2; B-1; C- 4; D-3 (b) A-2; B-1; C- 3; D-4
(c) A-1; B-2; C- 4; D-3 (d) A-1; B-2; C- 3; D-4
11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer
using the codes given below the lists: [1999]
List-I List-II
A. Cotton 1. Rainfall 1000–1500 mm;
Temperature 40°–60°C
B. Flax 2. Rainfall 1500–2000 mm;
Temperature 25°–35°C
C. Sugar beet 3. Rainfall 600–800 mm;
Temperature 5°–18º C
D. Jute 4. Rainfall 500–1000 mm;
Temperature 18°–22°C
5. Rainfall 500–600 mm;
Temperature 18°–22°C
Codes:
(a) A-1; B-3; C-4; D-2 (b) A-2; B-3; C-5; D-4
(c) A-4; B-5; C-2; D-1 (d) A-4; B-3; C-5; D-2
12. Which one of the following agricultural practices is
eco-friendly? [1999]
(a) Organic farming
(b) Shifting cultivation
(c) Cultivation of high yielding varieties
(d) Growing plants in glass-houses
13. Assertion (A) : Insect resistant transgenic cotton has
been produced by inserting Bt gene. [1999]
Reason (R) : The Bt gene is derived from a bacterium.
(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 a correct
explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
14. Assertion (A) : Chile continues to be an important
producer of copper in the world.
Reason (R) : Chile is endowed with the world’s largest
deposit of porphyry copper. [1999]
(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 a correct
explanation, of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
15. Assertion (A) : In Australia, cattle rearing is done more
for meat than for milk.
Reason (R) : Australians are traditionally
nonvegetarians [2000]
(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 a correct
explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
16. The high density of population in Nile valley and
Islands of Java is primarily due to : [2001]
(a) intensive agriculture
(b) industrialization
(c) urbanization
(d) topographic limitations
17. With reference to Indian agriculture, which one of the
following statements is correct? [2002]
(a) About 90 percent of the area under pulses in India
is rainfed
(b) Share of pulses in the gross cropped are at the
national level has doubled in the last two decades.
(c) India accounts for about 15 percent of the total
area under rice in the world
(d) Rice occupies about 34 percent of the gross
cropped are in India
18. Consider the following high yielding varieties of crops
in India: [2002]
1. Arjun 2. Jaya
3. Padma 4. Sonalika
Which of these are of wheat?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4 (d) 3 and 4
19. Assertion (A) : Eastern coast of India produces more rice than the western coast.
Reason (R) : Eastern coast receives more rainfall than
the western coast. [2003]
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the
correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually 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
20. Consider the following statements: [2003] 1. India is the original home of the cotton plant 2. India is the first country in the world to develop hybrid cotton variety leading to increased production Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
21. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, whose permission is required for cultivation of any genetically modified crop such as Bt Cotton in India, is under the Union Ministry of : [2003]
(a) Agriculture
(b) Environment and Forests
(c) Commerce and Industry
(d) Rural-Development
22. Consider the following statements: [2003] 1. India ranks first in the world in fruit production 2. India ranks second in the world in export of tobacco Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither I nor 2
23. Consider the following crops: [2004] 1. Cotton 2. Groundnut 3. Maize 4. Mustard Which of the above are kharif crops?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 , 3 and 4
24. Consider the following statements: [2005] 1. India is the only country in the world producing all the five known commercial varieties of silk. 2. India is the largest producer of sugar in the world. Which of the statements given above less is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
25. Assertion (A): The percentage of net sown area in the total area of Andhra Pradesh is less as compared to that of West Bengal. Reason (R) : The soil of most of Andhra Pradesh is laterite. [2006]
(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 a correct
explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
26. Which one of the following is the correct sequence in the decreasing order of production (in million tones) of the given foodgrains in India? [2007]
(a) Wheat – Rice – Pulses – Coarse Cereals
(b) Rice – Wheat – Pulses – Coarse Cereals
(c) Wheat – Rice – Coarse Cereals – Pulses
(d) Rice – Wheat – Coarse Cereals – Pulses
27. Assertion (A) : There are no tea plantations in any African country. [2007] Reason (R) : Tea plants need fertile soil with high humus.
(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 a correct
explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
28. Dalbergia species is associated with which one of the following? [2007]
(a) Cashewnut (b) Coffee
(c) Tea (d) Rosewood
29. Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivation. In this context, consider the following statements: [2010] 1. Coffee plant requires a hot and humid climate of tropical areas whereas tea can be cultivated in both tropical and subtropical areas. 2. Coffee is propagated by seeds but tea is propagated by stem cuttings only. 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
30. An objective of the National Food Security Mission is to increase the production of certain crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country. What are those crops? [2010]
(a) Rice and wheat only
(b) Rice, wheat and pulses only
(c) Rice, wheat, pulses and oil seeds only
(d) Rice, wheat, pulses, oil seeds and vegetables
31. Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this is attributable?[2010]
1. The anaerobic conditions associated with rice
cultivation cause the emission of methane.
2. When nitrogen based fertilizers are used, nitrous
oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil.
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
32. Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol ? [2010]
(a) Jatropha (b) Maize
(c) Pongamia (d) Sunflower
33. Salinization occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the irrigated land ? [2011 - I]
(a) It greatly increases the crop production
(b) It makes some soils impermeable
(c) It raises the water table
(d) It fills the air spaces in the soil with water
34. Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’? [2012 - I]
(a) Cultivation of both cash crops and food crops
(b) Cultivation of two or more crops in the same field
(c) Rearing of animals and cultivation of crops
together
(d) None of the above
35. Consider the following crops of India : [2012 - I]
1. Cowpea 2. Green gram
3. Pigeon pea
Which of the above is/are used as pulse, fodder and green
manure?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
36. Consider the following crops of India : [2012 - I] 1. Groundnut 2. Sesamum 3. Pearl millet Which of the above is/are predominantly rained crop/ crops?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
37. Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used
in [2013 – I]
(a) desert margins, liable to strong wind action
(b) low flat plains, close to stream courses, liable to
flooding
(c) scrublands, liable to spread of weed growth
(d) None of the above
38. Consider the following crops: [2013 – I]
1. Cotton 2. Groundnut
3. Rice 4. Wheat
Which of these are Kharif crops?
(a) 1 and 4 (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4
39. With reference to Neem tree, consider the following
statements : [2014 – I]
1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the
proliferation of some species of insects and mites.
2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of
biofuels and hospital detergents.
3. Neem oil has applications in pharmaceutical
industry.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
40. Consider the following pairs : [2014 – I]
Region Well-known for the
production of
1. Kinnaur : Areca nut
2. Mewat : Mango
3. Coromandel : Soya bean
Which of the above pairs is/ are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None
41. Consider the following techniques phenomena :
[2014 – I]
1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants
2. Cytoplasmic male sterility
3. Gene silencing
Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic
crops?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) None
42. Consider the following statements : [2014 – I]
1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.
2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for
biodiesel.
3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using
maize.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
43. What are the significances of a practical approach
to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable
Sugarcane Initiative’? [2014 – I]
1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the
conventional method of cultivation.
2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively
in this.
3. There is no application of chemical/inorganic
fertilizers at all in this.
4. The scope for intercropping is more in this
compared to the conventional method of
cultivation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
44. Consider the following pairs : [2014 – I]
Programme/Project Ministry
1 . Drought-Prone Area : Ministry of Agriculture
Programme
2. Desert Development : Ministry of Environment
Programme and Forests
3. National Watershed : Ministry of Rural
Development Project Development
for Rainfed Areas
Which of the above pairs is/ are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None
45. What are the benefits of implementing the ‘Integrated
Watershed Development Programme’? [2014 – I]
1. Prevention of soil runoff
2. Linking the country’s perennial rivers with seasonal
rivers
3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of
groundwater table
4. Regeneration of natural vegetation
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
46. In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as
a vegetable or animal feed, but recently the cultivation
of this has assumed significance. Which one of the
following statements is correct in this context?
[2014 – I]
(a) The oil extracted from seeds is used in the
manufacture of biodegradable plastics
(b) The gum made from its seeds is used in the
extraction of shale gas
(c) The leaf extract of this plant has the properties
of antihistamines
(d) It is a source of high quality biodiesel
47. Which of the following statements is/are correct
regarding vegetative propagation of plants? [2014 – I]
1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal
population.
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the
virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of
the year.
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
48. The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in
agricultural production is an example of [2015-I]
(a) labour-augmenting technological progress
(b) capital-augmenting technological progress
(c) capital-reducing technological progress
(d) None of the above
49. Which one of the following best describes the main
objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’? [2015-I]
(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm
seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds
from others
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed
production and thereby to make available quality
seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable
cost
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the
production of certified seeds
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in village and
providing them technology and finance to set up
seed companies
50. Which of the following has/have been accorded
‘Geographical Indication’ status? [2015-I]
1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
51. What can be the impact of excessive / inappropriate
use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture? [2015-I]
1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms
in soil can occur.
2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place.
3. Leaching of nitrate to the ground-water can occur.
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
52. In India, markets in agricultural products are
regulated under the [2015-I]
(a) Essential Commodities Act, 1955
(b) Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act
enacted by States
(c) Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act,
1937
(d) Food Products Order, 1956 and Meat and Food
Products Order, 1973
53. The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on
the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news
frequently in the context of the affairs of the [2015-I]
(a) Food and Agriculture Organization
(b) United Nations Framework Conference on
Climate Change
(c) World Trade Organisation
(d) United Nations Environment Programme
47. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants? [2014 – I]
1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.
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
48. The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in
agricultural production is an example of [2015-I]
(a) labour-augmenting technological progress
(b) capital-augmenting technological progress
(c) capital-reducing technological progress
(d) None of the above
49. Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’? [2015-I]
(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in village and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies