UPSC (Prelims) 2023 Hard Questions

'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of
(a) Collecting DNA samples from air
(b) Forensic identification of individuals
(c) Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples
(d) Converting crop residues

Actual Q70 from paper: 'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of forensic identification — but per the actual page_029 image content:
Consider the following activities:

1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively.
2. Capturing carbon dioxide released from the air by adding chemicals.
3. Capturing carbon dioxide released from the air by buildings and converting it into fuels.
   How many of the above activities are considered as being related to carbon capture and utilisation?

Actual Q70 from page_029: Consider the following statements:

1. All bank loans to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector are automatically classified as priority sector loans.
2. MSMEs borrowing up to ₹25 crore and with a turnover up to ₹125 crore are eligible for restructuring of their loans under the priority sector.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Supreme Court of India has held that the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats in Scheduled Areas is limited by Article 335 for maintenance of efficiency of administration.
Statement-II: India defines the term 'efficiency of administration' in its Administration Service.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Which of the following activities of the Reserve Bank of India are considered to be part of 'Open Market Operations'?

1. Conducting 'Repo' and 'Reverse Repo' Operations
2. Conducting 'Marginal Standing Facility' Operations
3. Debt and cash management for the Central Government
4. Regulating of Non-banking Financial Institutions
   How many of the above are considered as part of OMO?

Who among the following rulers of medieval Rajputana surrendered Diu to the Portuguese?
(a) Ahmad Shah
(b) Mahmud Begada
(c) Virpaksha
(d) Mahmud Shah

Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirai' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
(a) Kings using young men as bodyguards
(b) Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters
(c) Young kings getting watch over religious and philosophical matters
(d) Kings defining the type of hunting watch over birds and animals

Consider the following statements:
Once the Central Government notifies an area as a 'Community Reserve':

1. The Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority for such reserve.
2. Hunting is not allowed in such area.
3. People of such area are allowed to carry out traditional agricultural practices.
4. People of such area are allowed to collect and use the biomass found in such area.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

With reference to Central Bank Digital Currency, consider the following statements:

1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without going through the internet.
2. A digital currency can be converted into any amount into currency notes.
3. It can be used for making payments only in a fixed time frame for spending it.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Amarkanth Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.
3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

In which one of the following regions was Dhamyanapha, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasan gahas, located?
(a) Avadh
(b) Gandhara
(c) Kalinga
(d) Magadha

Consider the following:

1. Demographic performance
2. Forest and ecology
3. Governance reforms
4. Stable government
5. Tax and fiscal efforts
   For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria?

Consider the following statements regarding the rulers of Vijayanagara:

1. They built canals and a canal-cum-aqueduct several hundred km long from the river to the capital.
2. They made water from a canal available to all castes in Hampi.
   Which of the following rulers of Vijayanagara are associated with the above?
   (a) Devaraya I
   (b) Mallikarjuna
   (c) Virupaksha
   (d) Krishnadeva Raya

Consider the following dynasties:

1. Nayakas
2. Mahikantas
3. Kakatiyas
4. Yadavas
   How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

With reference to Finance Bill and Money Bill in the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements:

1. When the Lok Sabha transmits Finance Bill to the Rajya Sabha, it cannot amend or reject the Bill.
2. When the Lok Sabha transmits Money Bill to the Rajya Sabha, it cannot amend or reject the Bill.
3. In the case of disagreement between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, there is no provision of joint sitting for a Finance Bill but a joint sitting is necessary for Finance Bill.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Interest income from the deposits in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) distributed to their investors is exempted from tax in India.
Statement-II: InvITs are recognized as borrowers under the 'Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002'.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements:

1. The notification of an area as Scheduled Area, within a State, takes place through an Order of the President.
2. The Supreme Court of India has held that the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats in Scheduled Areas is limited by Article 335 for maintenance of efficiency of administration.
3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry in respect of the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

Which one of the following is the best example of repeated hills in sea-coastal marshlands?
(a) Marakkaanam Mangroves
(b) Raupada Swamp
(c) Coringa
(d) Bhitarkanika

With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:

1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements:

1. Within a State, the notification of an area as 'Scheduled Area' takes place through an Order of the President.
2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Panchayat.
3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry in respect of the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:
Literary work — Author

1. Devichandragupta — Bhasa
2. Hammira-Mahakavya — Nayachandra Suri
3. Milinda-panho — Nagarjuna
4. Mudrarakshasa — Vishakhadatta
   How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?