UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2011: Paper 1 (GS) - UPSC MCQ

Biodiversity is the basis of human existence, our life support system. Ecosystems regulate climatic processes, breakdown wastes and recycle nutrients, filter and purify water, buffer against flooding, maintain soil fertility, purify air, and provide natural resources such as wood, textiles, and of course food. All agriculture depends fundamentally on Biodiversity, as do marine and freshwater food resources. To allow continued biodiversity loss means loosing the essential services that biodiversity provides, and prevents handing down an invaluable gift to future generations. The below table, adapted from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment outlines the concept of ecosystem services and illustrates the importance of maintaining rich biodiversity and a healthy environment.

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose, or table sugar. Due to this property, even though aspartame produces four kilocalories of energy per gram when metabolized, the quantity of aspartame needed to produce a sweet taste is so small that its caloric contribution is negligible.
No matter how much aspartame a person consumes, after it is eaten, aspartame absorbs into the body, where it breaks down into methanol, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine. Although all three of these metabolites naturally occur in the body, each can cause harm when consumed separately in high doses. Because it is these metabolites that can be harmful and not aspartame itself, studies into the safety of aspartame examine how consuming the sweetener affects the levels of methanol, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine in the body.

He entered Parliament in 1893 as a Liberal member and sought to voice India's grievances in the House. He formed the Indian Parliamentary Committee with which he was associated as Chairman from 1893 to 1900. In 1895, William Wedderburn represented India on the Welby Commission (i.e. Royal Commission) on Indian Expenditure. He also began participating in the activities of the Indian Famine Union, set up in June 1901, for investigation into famines and proposing preventive measures. He came to India in 1904 to attend the 20th session of the Indian National Congress in Bombay, which was presided over by Sir Henry Cotton. He was again invited in 1910 to preside over the 25th session. He remained the Chairman of the British Committee of the Congress from July 1889 until his death.

Until recently, most homes used incandescent light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs emit light by generating heat. Unfortunately 90% of the power required to provide the desired brightness is emitted in heat rather than visible light. For this reason, incandescent bulbs are gradually being phased out, and in the United States will be banned entirely by 2014. CFLs have been touted enthusiastically in the past decade, but LEDs are beginning to surpass them because they require as little as half the power and last 10 times longer than a CFL. The table below contrasts the three technologies.

Oilzapper: eliminate crude oil spills, manage oily sludge Results
In the year 1997, TERI initiated the research on crude oil and oil sludge degrading bacterial consortium. After seven years of research work, TERI developed the Oilzapper (crude oil and oily sludge degrading bacterial consortium). Oilzapper was produced in bulk and immobilized on to a carrier material (organic powder material). Carrier based Oilzapper was used for clean up of crude oil spills and treatment of oily sludge.
More than 40,000 tonnes of oily sludge/oil contaminated soil and drill cuttings have been treated at various locations. More than 30,000 tonnes of oily sludge/oil contaminated soil is under treatment at different locations in India and the Middle East countries. With the application of Oilzapper, crude oil contaminated agricultural lands were cleaned up in the north-eastern and western parts of India.

The correct option is A.
The blood group of the parents are AB and O; the child’s blood group may be A or B and since the boy is adopted it is given in the question that “ the blood group of the three sons are A+, B+, O+”.

It was 150 years ago that the book Unto This Last was published, a groundbreaking work that turned economic thinking on its head and profoundly influenced the views of many including Mahatma Gandhi, the father of Indian independence.
Gandhi first read the subversive masterwork of political economy by John Ruskin in 1904, during a train trip in South Africa where he was living at the time. “The book was impossible to lay aside, once I had begun it,” wrote the progenitor of the nonviolence resistance movement years later in his autobiography. “It gripped me. Johannesburg to Durban was a twenty-four hours’ journey. The train reached there in the evening. I could not get any sleep that night. I determined to change my life in accordance with the ideals of the book,” Gandhi wrote.
“I believe that I discovered some of my deepest convictions in this great book,” he wrote, adding the work “captured me and made me transform my life.” Ruskin was a middle-aged writer and art critic who already had two well-received works — The Seven Lamps of Architecture and The Stones of Venice — when he wrote Unto This Last.
The book, a radical critique of capitalism that up-ended Victorian-era England when it was published in December 1860, appeared first as a series in four issues of Cornhill Magazine. It was bound as a single volume 18 months later.
It caused an uproar by rejecting the classical theories of economists like Adam Smith, David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill.
The book redefined humans as complex beings often driven by emotions and motivations that cannot be explained by the laws of supply and demand.
The title Unto This Last is taken from the Gospel of St Matthew, chapter 20.

Usha Mehta (March 25, 1920 – August 11, 2000) was a renowned Gandhian and freedom fighter of India. She is also remembered for organizing the Congress Radio, also called the Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, which functioned for few months during the Quit India Movement of 1942. In 1998, the Government of India conferred on her Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of Republic of India.

Blu-ray Disc (official abbreviation BD) is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The disc diameter is 120 mm and disc thickness 1.2 mm plastic optical disc, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB (23.31 GiB) per layer, with dual layer discs (50 GB) being the norm for feature-length video discs.
Blu-ray (not Blue-ray) also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a new optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of highdefinition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience. While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit.

The Nehru Report
The constitution outlined by the Nehru report was for Indian enjoying dominion status within the British Commonwealth. Some of the important elements of the report– Unlike the eventual Government of India Act 1935 it contained a Bill of Rights All power of government and all authority - legislative, executive and judicial - are derived from the people and the same shall be exercised through organizations established by, or under, and in accord with, this Constitution There shall be no state religion; men and women shall have equal rights as citizens.
There should be federal form of government with residuary powers vested in the center.(Some scholars, such as in in Moore 1988] considered the Nehru Report proposal as essentially unitary rather than federal.); It included a description of the machinery of government including a proposal for the creation of a Supreme Court and a suggestion that the provinces should be linguistically determined; It did not provide for separate electorates for any community or weightage for minorities. Both of these were liberally provided in the eventual Government of India Act 1935. However, it did allow for the reservation of minority seats in provinces having a minorities of at least ten percent, but this was to be in strict proportion to the size of the community.
The language of the Commonwealth shall be Indian, which may be written either in Devanagari in Hindi,Telugu, Kannada,Marathi,Gujarati,Bengali, Tamil or in Urdu character. The use of the English language shall be permitted.
The Nehru Report, along with that of the Simon Commission was available to participants in the three Indian Round Table Conferences 1931-1933. However, the Government of India Act 1935 owes much to the Simon Commission report and little, if anything to the Nehru Report.

Orchids from 9% of our flora and are the largest botanical family of higher plants in India. It is estimated that about 1,300 species (140 genera) of orchids are found in our country with Himalayas as their main home and others scattered in Eastern and western Ghats. The following is the distribution of orchids species in different regions of India.
North-Western Himalayas ca 200 species North-Eastern India ca 800 species Western Ghats ca 300 species North-Eastern India owing to its peculiar gradient and varied climatic conditions contains largest group of temperate, sub-tropical orchids.

"In-situ" means at the same place. Except Botanical Garden all the three are preserved at the places of their exixtence. Botanical Garden is developed by bringing and preserving different plant species from various places.

The correct option is B.
‘A “vote-on-account’’ only deals with the expenditure in government are budget, while an “interim budget’’ includes both expenditure and receipts.’

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an intergovernmental organization that promotes international economic cooperation, focusing in particular on policies that have an impact on the exchange rate and the balance of payments. The organization's stated objectives are to promote international economic cooperation, international trade, employment, and exchange rate stability, including by making resources available to member countries to meet balance of payments needs. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. The IMF’s relatively high influence in world affairs and development has drawn heavy criticism from some sources.

Bioasphalt is an asphalt alternative made from non-petroleum based renewable resources.
These sources includes sugar, molasses and rice, corn and potato starches, natural tree and gum resins, natural latex rubber and vegetable oils, lignin, cellulose, palm oil waste, coconut waste, peanut oil waste, canola oil waste, potato starch, dried sewerage effluent and so on. Bitumen can also be made from waste vacuum tower bottoms produced in the process of cleaning used motor oils, which are normally burned or dumped into land fills.
Non-petroleum based bitumen binders can be colored, which can reduce the temperatures of road surfaces and reduce the Urban heat islands.

Emissions from coal usage:
The main emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants are Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Sulfur oxides (SOx), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbonaceous material (soot), and air-borne inorganic particles such as fly ash, also known as suspended particulate matter (SPM) and other trace gas species. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons are greenhouse gases. Evidence accumulated by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that emissions of these greenhouse gases might be responsible for climate change, a global concern. Possible consequences projected by IPCC include:
- a rise in sea levels
- a more vigorous hydrological cycle that may increase the severity of floods and droughts and may cause more extreme climatic events; and
- ecological change that could threaten agricultural productivity

A geostationary orbit (or Geostationary Earth Orbit - GEO) is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator (0° latitude), with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers. Communications satellites and weather satellites are often given geostationary orbits, so that the satellite antennas that communicate with them do not have to move to track them, but can be pointed permanently at the position in the sky where they stay. Due to the constant 0° latitude and circularity of geostationary orbits, satellites in GEO differ in location by longitude only.
A geostationary orbit can only be achieved at an altitude very close to 35,786 km (22,236 mi), and directly above the equator.

Agriculture Sector – Decadal Performance The growth rates in the production of key foodgrains in India have declined with each passing decade. Average growth in foodgrain production was highest in 1950s and declined in subsequent decades. It briefly improved in the 1990s and reached its lowest in the subsequent decade, (Figure 1), when the growth rate in incomes was at its highest pace. Within foodgrains, rice and wheat both recorded average growth rates lower than 1%. Growth rate in pulses was higher in the 2000s decade but has not been enough to keep pace with the changing demand pattern of the Indian population. Another significant feature is the volatility in growth rates which has increased in 1990s and 2000s.
The trend is no different when we look at growth rates in key commercial crops (Figure 2) with sugarcane and coffee hardly registering any growth in the last decade. However the growth rate of oilseeds and cotton was higher in the 2000s which is a positive sign.
As average growth rates may not provide the right picture given the volatility, we also need to look at overall production levels (Figure 3). If we see the production numbers from 1990 onwards, we can see the sharp volatility as explained above. Barring a rise in last few years, overall production has stagnated and remains at production levels seen in 1990s. Consequently, with a growing economy and population, supply of foodgrains emerged as a constraint.

Gene Targeting: Gene targeting strategies have been expanded to all kinds of modifications, including point mutations, isoform deletions, mutant allele correction, large pieces of chromosomal DNA insertion and deletion, tissue specific disruption combined with spatial and temporal regulation and so on. It is predicted that the ability to generate mouse models with predictable phenotypes will have a major impact on studies of all phases of development, immunology, neurobiology, oncology, physiology, metabolism, and human diseases. Gene targeting is also in theory applicable to species from which totipotent embryonic stem cells can be established, and therefore may offer a potential to the improvement of domestic animals and plants.

The itmes purchased or consumed by the foreign nationals can be related to sale/export of such materials out of the country.

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) - a novel source of energy for new millennium: Continued use of petroleum fuels is now widely recognized as unsustainable because of their depleting supplies and the contribution of these fuels to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the environment. Renewable, carbon neutral, transport fuels are necessary for environmental and economic sustainability. A microbial fuel cell (MFC), a novel form of microbial respiration has recently been discovered, it is a bioreactor that converts chemical energy present in the organic compounds (in the form of chemical bonds) to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. These organisms, termed electricigens, Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide new opportunities for the sustainable production of energy from biodegradable compounds. MFCs function on different carbohydrates and also on complex substrates present in wastewaters and renewable biomass. Biomass, especially organic waste, is being considered as a valuable candidate. The use of biomass, in the case of waste organics, is environment friendly and regarded as a renewable energy source.

Fiscal stimulus: Government measures, normally involving increased public spending and lower taxation, aimed at giving a positive jolt to economic activity.

As mid-May brings on the onset of winter, the Antarctic stratosphere cools and descends closer to the surface. The Coriolis effect (caused by the earths rotation) sets up a strong westerly circulation around the south pole, forming an oblong vortex which varies in size from year to year.
As temperatures in the lower stratosphere cools below -80'C, Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC's) start to form.
In the area over Antarctica, there are stratospheric cloud ice particles that are not present at warmer latitudes. Reactions occur on the surface of the ice particles that accelerate the ozone destruction caused by stratospheric chlorine.

Current account deficit is excess of imports over exports. Policies favouring FDI and FII will reduce the deficit. Also if the domestic currency is devalued, export would become cheaper which will create additional demand for countries products in the world markets. Any reduction in export subsidy is dangerous as the countries goods will become costlier and exports would fall.

The salient features of the act are : 

• Gram Sabha - It is a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level.
• Three-Tier System - The act provides for a three-tier system of Panchayati raj in every state, that is, panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels.
• State Election Commission to hold Election of Members and Chairpersons at every level. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Reservation of Seats
• Duration of Panchayats - The act provides for a five-year term of office to the panchayat at every level.
• State Election Commission - The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to the panchayats shall be vested in the state election commission. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Finance Commission - The governor of a state shall, after every five years, constitute a finance committee to review the financial position of the panchayats.

Every state shall constitute at the District level, a District planning committee to consolidate the plans prepared by panchayats and municipalities in the District and to prepare a draft development plan for District as a whole. This provision is mandated by the 74th constitutional amendment act, 1992. This provision deals with the Urban Local bodies, Article 243-ZD. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The Bhitarkanika Mangroves are a mangrove wetland in India's Orissa state. The Bhitarkanika Mangroves cover an area of 650 km² in the river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers.
The Brahmani is formed by the confluence of the rivers South Koel and Sankh near the major industrial town of Raurkela at 22 15'N and 84 47' E. The Sankh has its origins near the Jharkhand-Chhatisgarh border, not far from the Netarhat Plateau. Together with the rivers Mahanadi and Baitarani, it forms a large delta before entering into the Bay of Bengal at Dhamra.
The Baitarani River or River Vaitarani is one of six major rivers of Orissa.

The base effect relates to inflation in the corresponding period of the previous year: if the inflation rate was two low in the corresponding period of the previous year, even a smaller rise in the Price Index will arithmatically give a high rate of inflation now; On the other hand if the price index had risen at a high rate in the corresponding period of the previous year and recorded high inflation rate, a similar absolute increase in the Price index now will show a lower inflation rate now.

The demographic dividend is a rise in the rate of economic growth due to a rising share of working age people in a population. This usually occurs late in the demographic transition when the fertility rate falls and the youth dependency rate declines. During this demographic window of opportunity, output per capita rises. It has been argued that the demographic dividend played a role in the "economic miracles" of the East Asian Tigers Much has been said recently about India's demographic dividend: that its working-age (15-59 years) population, as of now, largely consists of youth (15-34 years), and as a result its economy has the potential to grow more quickly than that of many other countries, including China.

Carbon credits are a tradable permit scheme. It is a simple, non-compulsory way to counteract the greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change and global warming. Carbon credits create a market for reducing greenhouse emissions by giving a monetary value to the cost of polluting the air. The Carbon Credit is this new currency and each carbon credit represents one tonne of carbon dioxide either removed from the atmosphere or saved from being emitted. Carbon credits are also called emission permit. Carbon credit is in the Environment and Pollution Control subject. Carbon credits are certificates awarded to countries that are successful in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Carbon credits are generated as the result of an additional carbon project. Carbon credits can be created in many ways but there are two broad types:
1. Sequestration (capturing or retaining carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) such as afforestation and reforestation activities.
2. Carbon Dioxide Saving Projects such as use of renewable energies These credits need to be authentic, scientifically based and Verification is essential. Carbon credit trading is an innovative method of controlling emissions using the free market. Existence of carbon credits: The concept of carbon credits came into existence as a result of increasing awareness of the need for pollution control.
Carbon credits were one of the outcomes of the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement between 169 countries. The Kyoto Protocol created legally binding emission targets for developing nations. To meet these targets, nations must limit C02 emissions. It was enforced from Feb’05.