UPSC (Prelims) 2020 Previous Year Questions

With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as:
(a) ports handling foreign trade
(b) capitals of powerful kingdoms
(c) places of exquisite stone art and architecture
(d) important Buddhist pilgrimage centres

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
Famous Place Present State

1. Bhilsa — Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra — Maharashtra
3. Girinagar — Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara — Uttar Pradesh
   Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
   (a) 1 and 2 only
   (b) 1 and 3 only
   (c) 2 and 4 only
   (d) 3 and 4 only

According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?

1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   (a) 1, 2 and 5 only
   (b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
   (c) 2, 3, 4 and 6 only
   (d) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

Consider the following statements:

1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit.
2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions.
3. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

'Gold Tranche' (Reserve Tranche) refers to:
(a) a loan system of the World Bank
(b) one of the operations of a Central Bank
(c) a credit system granted by WTO to its members
(d) a credit system granted by IMF to its members

Consider the following pairs:
International agreement/set-up — Subject

1. Alma-Ata Declaration — Welfare of children
2. Hague Convention — Biological and chemical weapons
3. Talanoa Dialogue — Global climate change
4. Under2 Coalition — Child rights
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in:
(a) the matter of creating new All India Services
(b) amending the Constitution
(c) the removal of the government
(d) seeking cut motions

With reference to the provisions mentioned in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. They shall be enforceable by courts.
2. They shall not be enforceable by any court.
3. The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?

1. Persons with an annual income of less than ₹1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than ₹2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than ₹3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which:
(a) all political parties in the Parliament are represented in the Government
(b) the Government is responsible to the Parliament and can be removed by it
(c) the Government is elected by the people and can be removed by them
(d) the Government cannot be removed before completion of a fixed term

Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of Welfare State?

The Preamble to the Constitution of India is:
(a) a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect either
(b) not a part of the Constitution and has no legal effect either
(c) a part of the Constitution and has the same effect as any other part
(d) a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect independently of other parts

Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?

1. Preamble
2. Directive Principles of State Policy
3. Fundamental Duties
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements:

1. According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a specified offence and sentenced to imprisonment for two years is prevented from contesting an election even after his release from prison.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?

Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include 'The Macro Economic Framework Statement'. The aforesaid document is presented to Parliament as it is mandated by:
(a) Long standing parliamentary convention
(b) Article 112 and Article 110(1) of the Constitution of India
(c) Article 113 of the Constitution of India
(d) Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003

Which part of the Constitution of India is appropriate for the following description?
'An agency for widening the scope of parliamentary democracy'

One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is:
(a) the final goal of a stateless society
(b) class struggle
(c) abolition of private property
(d) economic determinism

Consider the following statements:

1. The Constitution of India defines its 'basic structure' in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.
2. The Constitution of India provides for 'judicial review' to safeguard the citizens' liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months.
2. State cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing of Aadhaar data.
3. Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products.
4. Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?