UPSC Prelims 2022 — solved PYQs

Question 1

Consider the following statements:
DNA Barcoding can be a tool to:
1. Assess the age of a plant or animal.
2. Distinguish among species that look alike.
3. Identify undesirable animal or plant materials in processed foods.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 3 only (C) 1 and 2 (D) 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 2 and 3 — Correct. DNA barcoding uses short standardised gene regions to distinguish morphologically similar species and to detect adulteration in processed foods.

Question 2

If inflation is rising and the rupee is under depreciation pressure, which one of the following combinations is most likely to be consistent with monetary tightening by the RBI? (A) Lower policy rates and lower reserve requirements (B) Higher policy rates and tighter liquidity conditions (C) Higher policy rates and larger monetization of deficit (D) Higher fiscal deficit and lower repo rate

Accepted Answer

(B) Higher policy rates and tighter liquidity conditions — Correct. Monetary tightening typically involves higher policy rates and tighter liquidity to contain inflation and support the currency.

Question 3

With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. Government law officers and legal firms are recognized as advocates, but corporate lawyers and patent attorneys are excluded from recognition as advocates.
2. Bar Councils have the power to lay down rules relating to legal education and recognition of law colleges.
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

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. Statement 2 is correct because the Bar Council of India regulates standards of legal education and recognition of law colleges under the Advocates Act, 1961.

Question 4

Consider the following statements:
1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues.
2. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.
3. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. Biofilms form on implants, food surfaces, and exhibit antibiotic resistance due to their protective extracellular polymeric substance matrix.

Question 5

Consider the following statements:
1. A bill amending the Constitution requires a prior recommendation of the President of India.
2. When a Constitution Amendment Bill is presented to the President, it is obligatory for the President to give assent.
3. A Constitution Amendment Bill must be passed by both Houses by a special majority and there is no provision for joint sitting.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 and 3 only — Correct. Under Article 368, once a Constitution Amendment Bill is duly passed and presented, the President shall give assent — there is no discretion to withhold it (Statement 2). There is no provision for a joint sitting in case of disagreement between the two Houses on such a bill (Statement 3).

Question 6

Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from the South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from the civil war in Somalia live in the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 only (C) 2 and 3 (D) 3 only

Accepted Answer

(C) 2 and 3 — Correct. Bidibidi is in Uganda (not Kenya) and hosts South Sudanese refugees, while Dadaab in Kenya hosts Somali refugees.

Question 7

With reference to the anti-defection law in India, consider the following statements:
Statement 1: The law specifies that a nominated legislator cannot join any political party within six months of being appointed to the House.
Statement 2: The law does not provide any time frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.
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

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. Statement 1 is wrong because the Tenth Schedule allows a nominated member to join a party within six months. Statement 2 is correct because the Schedule prescribes no rigid time limit for the presiding officer to decide disqualification petitions.

Question 8

With reference to the Tea Board of India, consider the following statements:
1. It is a statutory body.
2. It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
3. It is headquartered in Kolkata.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. All three statements are accurate for the Tea Board of India.

Question 9

With reference to "Software as a Service (SaaS)", consider the following statements:
1. SaaS buyers can customise the user interface and can change data fields.
2. SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices.
3. Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. SaaS allows interface customisation, is accessible via mobile devices, and web-based email services are standard SaaS examples.

Question 10

'Yogavasistha' was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of: (A) Akbar (B) Humayun (C) Shah Jahan (D) Aurangzeb

Accepted Answer

(A) Akbar — Correct. Akbar's court sponsored large-scale translation of Sanskrit works into Persian. The Yogavasistha, a philosophical text attributed to Valmiki, was rendered into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati under Akbar's patronage as part of his broader project of cultural synthesis.

Question 11

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:
1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 and 3 only — Correct. Sputnik V uses a human adenoviral vector platform, and COVAXIN (by Bharat Biotech) uses a whole inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Question 12

With reference to 'Gucchi' sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a fungus.
2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.
3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 3 only (C) 1 and 2 (D) 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(C) 1 and 2 — Correct. Gucchi is a wild morel mushroom (fungus) that grows in Himalayan forest areas. It has not been commercially cultivated due to its complex symbiotic relationship with forest soil and trees.

Question 13

Consider the following statements about NEER and REER:
1. An increase in NEER indicates that the rupee has appreciated against a trade-weighted basket of currencies.
2. An increase in REER indicates improvement in trade competitiveness.
3. Increasing domestic inflation relative to trading partners causes REER to diverge from NEER.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(C) 1 and 3 only — Correct. NEER appreciation shows nominal strengthening. Higher domestic inflation causes REER to rise faster than NEER, reflecting real appreciation and reduced competitiveness.

Question 14

'Climate Action Tracker' which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a: (A) Database created by a coalition of research organisations (B) Wing of the 'Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change' (C) Committee under the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' (D) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Accepted Answer

(A) Database created by a coalition of research organisations — Correct. The Climate Action Tracker is an independent scientific analysis tool produced by Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute — a coalition of research organisations — that tracks government climate action against Paris Agreement goals.

Question 15

With reference to Indian history, which of the following were known as 'Kulah-Daran'? (A) Arab merchants (B) Qalandars (C) Persian calligraphists (D) Sayyids

Accepted Answer

(D) Sayyids — Correct. Kulah-Daran referred to Sayyids — those claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad — who were identified in part through their distinctive headgear (kulah) and high social status in medieval Indian Muslim society.

Question 16

Household financial savings can help the government finance its deficit when households invest in: (A) Treasury bills and dated government securities (B) Only corporate equity shares (C) Only commercial paper issued by firms (D) Gold held at home

Accepted Answer

(A) Treasury bills and dated government securities — Correct. Government borrowings are financed partly by household savings channelled into sovereign instruments like treasury bills and dated securities.

Question 17

The term 'Levant' often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions? (A) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores (B) Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco (C) Region along the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa (D) The entire coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea

Accepted Answer

(A) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores — Correct. The Levant refers to the eastern Mediterranean littoral encompassing Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and nearby areas.

Question 18

In India, official data on industrial disputes are compiled by the: (A) Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (B) NITI Aayog (C) Labour Bureau (D) Competition Commission of India

Accepted Answer

(C) Labour Bureau — Correct. The Labour Bureau is the recognized agency for such labour and industrial relations statistics.

Question 19

Consider the following pairs:
Wetland/Lake - Location
1. Hokera Wetland - Punjab
2. Renuka Wetland - Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake - Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched? (A) Only one pair (B) Only two pairs (C) Only three pairs (D) All four pairs

Accepted Answer

(B) Only two pairs — Correct. Renuka Wetland is in Himachal Pradesh and Rudrasagar Lake is in Tripura. Hokera Wetland is in Jammu and Kashmir (not Punjab), and Sasthamkotta Lake is in Kerala (not Tamil Nadu).

Question 20

Consider the following statements about Vietnam:
1. It is a member of ASEAN.
2. It has a multi-party political system.
3. Vietnam's economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports.
4. For a long time Vietnam's low labour costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers.
5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 2 and 4 (B) 3 and 5 (C) 1, 3 and 4 (D) 1 and 2

Accepted Answer

(C) 1, 3 and 4 — Correct. Vietnam is an ASEAN member, has achieved rapid export-oriented growth via global supply-chain integration, and has attracted manufacturers through low labour costs — but it is a one-party state, and the e-service claim is unsubstantiated.

Question 21

If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?
1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (A) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only (B) 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only (C) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only (D) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Accepted Answer

(C) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only — Correct. Solar storms can disrupt GPS, damage power grids via geomagnetically induced currents, trigger intense auroras, alter satellite orbits through atmospheric drag, and interrupt polar shortwave radio. They do not cause tsunamis or forest fires.

Question 22

Consider the following:
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts? (A) 1, 2 and 3 (B) 2 and 4 only (C) 1, 3 and 4 (D) 2, 3 and 4

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 and 4 only — Correct. Parishishtaparvan (by Hemachandra) is a Jain biographical work on Jain teachers, and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana (by Jinasena and Gunabhadra) is a major Digambara Jain text narrating the lives of the 63 Shalakapurushas.

Question 23

With reference to the Self-Help Group (SHG) programme in India, consider the following statements:
1. It was originally initiated by the State Bank of India.
2. In an SHG, all members of the group take joint responsibility for a loan that any individual member takes.
3. Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled Commercial Banks support SHGs.
How many of the above statements are correct? (A) Only one (B) Only two (C) All three (D) None

Accepted Answer

(B) Only two — Correct. Statement 1 is incorrect because the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme was pioneered by NABARD, not SBI. Statements 2 (joint liability) and 3 (RRBs and scheduled commercial banks support SHGs) are correct.

Question 24

Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert? (A) Lake Victoria (B) Lake Faguibine (C) Lake Oguta (D) Lake Volta

Accepted Answer

(B) Lake Faguibine — Correct. Lake Faguibine in northern Mali was once fed by overflow from the Niger River but has largely dried up due to decreased river flow and desertification, turning into arid terrain.

Question 25

Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India classifies ministers into four ranks, namely Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State, and Deputy Minister.
2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members of the Lok 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

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. Statement 1 is wrong because the Constitution does not prescribe ministerial ranks; they are conventional. Statement 2 is correct as Article 75(1A), inserted by the 91st Amendment, caps Union ministers at 15% of Lok Sabha's total strength.

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