UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2014: Paper 1 (GS) - UPSC MCQ

Mahattaras or Mahattam & Pattakila or Patel were the village headmen.

Lichens represent an intimate mutualistic relationship between a fungus and photosynthesising algae or cyanobacteria.

In steel furnace, coke reacts with iron ore, releasing iron and generating CO and CO₂ gases. Due to use of coal, pollutants such as SO_x and NO_x are released, thus all are correct options.

Avanti was not directly related to life of Buddha, so this needs to be opted out. We have read that Pasenadi (Prasenajit), king of Kosala, was the Buddha’s contemporary and is frequently mentioned in Pali texts. Kosala and Magadha were linked through matrimonial ties. Buddha wandered through the towns and villages in the kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha teaching his philosophy. Gandhara is not directly associated with the life of Buddha. It was expansion of Maurya empire that Gandhara received much Buddhist influence, notably during the reign of Asoka.

This question is based upon recent trends in Gond and Korku tribes in Madhya Pradesh of planting fruit tree saplings coinciding with
Hari jiroti festival.

The power to impose taxes on 'sale of purchase of goods other than newspaper' belongs to State (Entry list 54, State II) 

⇒ Venture capital is financing that investors provide to startupcompanies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth

Venture capital generally comes from well-off investors, investment banks and any other financial institutions. However, it does not always take just a monetary form; it can be provided in the form of technical or managerial expertise.

12th Five Year Plan 2012-17 as per the draft document released by the Planning Commission aims at a growth rate of 8%. This is the revised rate when compared to the initial approach paper. Other targets of the Twelfth Five Year Plan in different sectors are listed below.

Vision of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17)

Twelfth Five Year Plan focuses on Growth – Growth which is

1. Faster
2. Inclusive
3. Sustainable

Current account includes balance of trade (exports-imports), net remittances, Trade in services. SDRs count as foreign assets 

MSF came into effect from 9th May 2011. MSF scheme is provided by RBI by which the banks can borrow overnight upto 1 per cent of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) i.e. 1 per cent of the aggregate deposits and other liabilities of the banks. 

BCs are being used under the Swabhimaan scheme for both the purposes 

The correct option is Option A.

Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) are maintained by the banks in 'non-cash' form which are used by then to raise cash against it (from the money market) in times of cash mismatch (and 'vault cash' means liquid cash). Profit management is not the aim behind SLR.

Arab Spring began with the overthrow of ruler Tunisia, Ben Ali who fled to Saudi Arabia

The members of Arctic Council are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.

All regions are affected by some conflict, DARFUR is in Sudan, Swat Valley is in Pakistan

AGNI IV has a range of about 4000 km with 1 tonne nuclear head. Has two stages of Solid Propulsion 

Shale gas deposits in India have been in news. Shale gas is a mixture of Methane, Propane and many other gases 

Changpa Tribe belong to Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir

Guargum is used in the "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing process used for the extraction of the shale oil gas. The fracking process involves injecting a fracturing fluid, almost always water, at high pressure, to create channels in rock formations, which allow the oil or gas to move into larger pools, from which they can be extracted.

The Lahore session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1929 under the Presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru. It was in this session that the Congress for the first time raised the demand for complete independence. Such demand was not raised from the Congress platform earlier.

The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha Sankaradeva as a powerful medium for propagation of the Vaishnava faith. Sankaradeva introduced this dance form by incorporating different elements from various treatises,then prevalent dance forms and local folk dances combined with his own rare outlook. Sattriya dance is a clear indication of the influence of the former on the latter. Other visible influences on Sattriya dance are those from Assamese folk dances namely Bihu, Bodos etc Many hand gestures and rhythmic syllables are strikingly similar in these dance forms.

The Saka Calender is based on luni-solar reckoning of time. The calendar consists of 365 days and 12 months like the normal Gregorian calendar. Chaitra is the first month of the year beginning on March 22 which is the day after the Spring Equinox. During leap years, the starting day of Chaitra corresponds with March 21.

In Cave 26, Ajanta of 5th century AD there is a grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below.
Mamallapuram hosts India’s largest and most dramatic relief-sculpture. It represents the celebrated myth of the descent of the river Ganga from heaven to earth. The Great Penance, is carved on a giant granite rock wall 27 meters wide and 9 meters tall, and was believed to be initiated during the reign of the Pallava King Mahendra Varman, ca 7th century ce.
The most famous carving at Udayagiri ( near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) is a five-foot (or so) tall statue of Vishnu's Boar Avatar (here show rescuing the Earth, who is hanging on his tusk), with the worshipful masses standing in homage by the sides.  This image was in the personal temple of King Chandra Gupta II (ruled 376-415 C.E.).

The Ghadar- a Punjabi word for revolution was a revolutionary movement organised by Punjabi immigrant workers in California with its headquarters at 5 Wood Street, San Francisco.

Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art from Kerala. It is one of the most ancient fighting systems that are even practiced today. It was
originally practised in Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Today it is practiced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu as well as Karnataka and some
parts of Shri Lanka.

The second pair is incorrect. Mohiniattam:
1. is based on the legend of the Hindu mythological seductress Mohini, who tempted Shiva.
2. is patterned on bharatanatyam with elements of kathakali.
3. uses Malayalam songs with Carnatak music
4. It is not a common dance in Odisha.

Lhotsava Lakhang, or the temple of the great translator Rinchen Zangpo. Enclosed between the Greater Himalaya and the Zaskar, Nako is located at the east end of Kinnaur Valley.

Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex(chos-'khor) of temples in Alchi village in the Leh District, Ladakh

Tabo Monastery is located in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh.

Vallabhacharya’s philosophy came to be known as Pushtimarga (the path of grace). Kabir’s ideas were later collected and preserved in Bijak.