UKPSC Prelims Paper 1 Mock Test - 8 - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) MCQ

• Statement 1 is correct. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC- UNESCO) was established in 1960. It is a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO. It is the only competent organization for marine science within the UN system.

• Statement 2 is correct. India, along with 23 other Indian Ocean Nations, participated in a major Indian ocean-wide tsunami mock exercise (drill) on 4^th & 5^th September, 2018. The Exercise, known as IOWave18, was organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. IOC coordinated the setting up of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) following the 26th December 2004 tsunami. KB) The purpose of the Commission is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States. In addition, IOC is recognized through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the competent international organization in the fields of Marine Scientific Research and Transfer of Marine Technology.

The correct answer is Uttarkashi.

Key Points

• Kirti Glacier
  • Kirti Glacier lies on the northeast side of the Kirti Stambh, a mountain located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
  • Kirti Glacier joins Gangotri glacier which is the source of the river Ganga.
• Uttarkashi
  • It is a district of Uttarakhand and a part of the Gharwal region constituted in 1960.
  • This district contains the source of both the Yamuna river from Yamunotri and the Ganga river from Gangotri.

Additional Information

• Pithoragarh
  • It is a district of Uttarakhand and the largest organized semi-urbanized town in Kumaon.
  • It is also known by Mini Kashmir of India.
  • It shares international borders with Tibet in the North and Nepal in the east.
• Chamoli
  • It is a district in Uttarakhand and part of the Gharwal Division.
  • Earlier it was part of the Pauri Gharwal district till the 1960s, but on 24 February 1960 Chamoli was upgraded to a new district.
  • Administrative Headquarters: Gopeshwar.
  • The Famous Badrinath Temple, Hemkund Sahib, and Valley of Flowers are located in Chamoli.
  • Chamoli happened to be the birthplace of the Chipko movement, started by Sunderlal Bahuguna.
• ​Tehri Gharwal
  • It is a district of Uttarakhand and a part of the Gharwal region.
  • It is one of the three districts of Uttarkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Region Grant Fund Programme.
  • Tehri Dam, a major hydroelectric project located on the Bhagirathi River is situated in this district.

The correct answer is Mandakini and Alaknanda.
Key Points

• Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayag (five confluences) of the Alaknanda River, the point of confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers.
  • Rudraprayag is situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers.
  • Mandakini is also known as Kali Ganga.
  • The Sharda/Sarayu/Mandakini/Kali Ganga river originates in the Milam Glacier in the Nepal Himalayas where it is known as Goriganga.
  • Along the Indo-Nepal border, it is called Kali or Chowk, where it joins the Ghaghara.
  • The Ghaghra after collecting the waters of its tributaries cuts a deep valley at Sheeshpani, where the Sharda River (Kali or Kali Ganga) joins the plain.​

Additional Information

• Panch Prayag-
  • ​Vishnu Prayag- Alaknanda+Dhauliganga
  • Nand Prayag-Alaknanda+Nandakini
  • Karna Prayag-Alaknanda+Pindar
  • Rudra Prayag- Alaknanda+Mandakini
  • Dev Prayag-Alaknanda+Bhagirathi

The correct answer is Forest fire.

Key Points

• Instances of Forest Fires in 2021:
  • January 2021 saw prolonged fires in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh (Kullu Valley), and the Nagaland-Manipur border (Dzukou Valley). Hence, Option 2 is correct.
  • The Simlipal National Park in Odisha saw a major fire between February-end and early March.
  • Recent fires also include those in Bandhavgarh Forest Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, and in sanctuaries for the Asiatic lion and the great Indian bustard in Gujarat.

Important Points

• Forest Fires:
  • Also called bush or vegetation fire or wildfire, it can be described as any uncontrolled and non-prescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, brushland, or tundra, which consumes the natural fuels and spreads based on environmental conditions (e.g., wind, topography).
  • Forest Fires can be incited by human actions, such as land clearing, extreme drought, or in rare cases lightning.
  • There are three conditions that need to be present in order for a wildfire to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.

Additional Information

• The Total Forest and Tree cover is 24.62% of the geographical area of the country.
• The Total Forest cover is 7,13,789 sq km which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country.
• The Tree cover is 2.91% of the geographical area of the country.

The correct answer is 53,483 km².

Key Points

• The area of Uttarakhand is 53,483 km².
  • Uttarakhand was carved out of UP on 9th November 2000.
  • The terrain and topography of the state are largely hilly with large areas under snow cover and steep slopes.
  • It shares the border with Tibet to the north; Nepal to the east; Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and northwest.

Additional Information

• About Uttarakhand -
  • ​​Capital: Dehradun
  • CM: Pushkar Singh Dhami
  • Governor: Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh
  • Famous National Parks: Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park
  • Famous Wildlife Sanctuary: Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Benog Wildlife Sanctuary

The correct answer is Backwardness, poverty, inconvenience and migration.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand came into existence after being separated from Uttar Pradesh. On November 9, 2000, the state of Uttaranchal—the 27th state of India—was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, and in January 2007 the new state changed its name to Uttarakhand, meaning “northern region,” which was the traditional name for the area.
• Lack of development in the geographically unique area( 93% of the area in the state is hill region and 64% of the total area of the forest) area rising unemployment gave impetus to the age - old demand for separate state.
• Three things which actually became reasons for strong resentment among the masses was poor development of the hill, increasing unemployment and time taking distance from hills to Lucknow in case one has to approach officials in the state capital.

Additional Information

• Capital: Dehradun
• State Animal: Alpine musk deer

The correct answer is Tibet-Nepal.
Key Points

• Uttarakhand was formed on 9th November 2000 as the 27th State of India, when it was carved out of northern Uttar Pradesh.
• Located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain ranges, it is largely a hilly State, having international boundaries with Tibet in the north and Nepal in the east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh, while on the south is Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Information

Article 44 of the Indian Constitution calls for the state to endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens throughout the territory of India. This article is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which guide the state in making laws and policies aimed at achieving social justice and equality. The idea behind Article 44 is to strengthen the secular and democratic framework of the nation.

World Elephant Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the status of both Asian and African elephants in the wild. It emphasizes the threats they face, including habitat loss and poaching, and promotes conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.

The tourism sector contributes approximately 15% to Uttarakhand's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This highlights the importance of tourism as a vital economic driver for the state, especially in areas known for their natural beauty and pilgrimage sites.

Doon Silk is a brand under the Uttarakhand Cooperative Resham Federation, committed to revitalizing ancient silk-weaving traditions. It emphasizes the use of natural fibers and handloom techniques, supporting local artisans and providing sustainable job opportunities.

The supreme peak of the Kailash range stands at a height of 6,675 meters. This peak is not only a geographical landmark but also holds immense spiritual significance in Hinduism and Buddhism, symbolizing the center of the universe and attracting many pilgrims.

After merging with Naugaon Nagar Panchayat, the residents of Muradi reported increased taxes and the loss of benefits from schemes like MGNREGA. They experienced more challenges, including higher costs for services without corresponding improvements, highlighting the negative impacts of urban incorporation on rural communities.

The action plan aims to develop Champawat district into a model district, focusing on sustainable development while preserving its heritage. This initiative emphasizes the importance of balancing development with ecological and environmental considerations.

The Uttarakhand government has introduced a pioneering initiative by providing dual-language science books to students in state-run schools. This approach allows students to learn scientific concepts in both Hindi and English simultaneously, fostering bilingual education and enhancing understanding. This initiative not only supports language skills but also aims to improve accessibility to quality education, reflecting a commitment to inclusive learning practices.

The earthquake that struck Uttarkashi district was measured at a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale. Earthquake magnitudes are logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. This particular earthquake, while relatively minor, highlights the seismic activity in the region, which is monitored by the National Centre for Seismology.

The Supreme Court criticized the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for its inaction regarding complaints about misleading advertisements by Patanjali, which had persisted for over two years. The SLA's justification for not taking action was rejected by the court, highlighting the importance of regulatory bodies to actively monitor and respond to public complaints, especially concerning health-related advertisements.

The Bambi Bucket operation employs helicopters to drop water on wildfires. This specialized bucket is suspended below a helicopter, allowing it to scoop water from a nearby source and then release it over the fire. This method is particularly effective for inaccessible areas where ground firefighting efforts are challenging. An interesting fact about the Bambi Bucket is that it was initially developed for firefighting in the 1980s and is now widely used across the globe for wildfire management.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) emphasizes strengthening tiger conservation efforts as a critical component of wildlife protection in India. Established in 2005, the NTCA works to safeguard tiger populations and their habitats, focusing on effective management and conservation strategies rather than prioritizing tourism-centric activities.

The correct answer is Hudka.
Key Points
Traditional Musical Instruments of Uttarakhand reflects the values of Uttarakhand people.

• The famous musical instruments are, Damama, Hudka, Turturi or Turhi, Binaee, Mushak Been or Bagpipe, and Flute these are the most famous in Uttarakhand.
• Uttarakhand’s traditional musical instruments are quite simple but unique in the emotions they evoke.

Additional Information
About Uttarakhand (as of Octoer 2021)

• Uttarakhand was carved out from Uttarpradesh on 9 November 2000 as the 27th State of India.
• It is bordered to the northwest by Himachal Pradesh, to the northeast by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, to the southeast by Nepal, and to the south and southwest by the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
• Its capital is the northwestern city of Dehra Dun.
• Governor: Gurmit Singh (As of April 2022).
• CM: Pushkar Singh Dhami (As of April 2022).
• State flower: Saussurea obvallata
• State Bird: Himalayan Monal
• National parks: Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO sites), Rajaji National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Gangotri National Park, Jim Corbett (1st National park in India).

The correct answer is Rung tribe.

Key Points

Kangdali Festival

• ​Kangdali Festival is one of the important festivals of the Kumaon Region and is celebrated in the Pithoragarh District.
• The women of the Rung Tribals of Chaundas Valley begin the procession where they uproot the plants with rills followed by the men and children carrying their swords.
• This festival falls between the months of August and October and is celebrated in the Chaundas Valley every 12 years along with the blooming of the Kangdali plant.
• The uprooted plants are taken back as the mars of the war.

Additional Information

Rung tribe

• ​The Rang community (sometimes called the Rung community) is an indigenous group who live in the higher reaches of India's Johar and Darma valleys, as well as Nepal's Mahakali valley. Some of these can be found in Nepal's Chameylia valley. They are also known as the Shauka in Nepal.
• Transhumance is a traditional practice among the Rang/Shauka people. In India and Nepal, the community is classified as an indigenous tribe.
• The Rungs were previously active in Indo-Tibet border trade, but this ceased after the 1962 conflict between India and China, forcing community members to seek work in cities.

The correct answer is Dehradun.

Key Points

• The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing is a premier institute for research, training in the field of Remote Sensing, and higher education, Geoinformatics and GPS Technology for Natural Resources, Environmental and Disaster Management under the Indian Department of Space.
• It was established in 1966.
• The Institute is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Important Points

• The Institute was formerly known as the Indian Photo interpretation Institute.
• The Institute was founded under the aegis of the Survey of India.
• IIRS has also collaborated with many reputed international organizations for capacity building, faculty exchange, and research.

The correct answer is 27th

Key Points

• The State Uttarakhand came into existence on 09th November 2000 under the Reorganization of Uttar Pradesh Act 2000.
• It became the 27th state of India.

Important Points

• The State of Uttarakhand was earlier a part of the United Province of Agra and Awadh, which came into existence in 1902.
• In 1935, the name of the State was shortened to the United Province.
• In January 1950, the United Province was renamed Uttar Pradesh.
• Uttaranchal remained a part of Uttar Pradesh before it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 09 November 2000.
• It is often called the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places.

Additional Information

Uttarakhand -

• Chief Minister - Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Governor - Gurmit Singh
• State animal - musk deer
• Lok Sabha seats - 5
• Rajya Sabha seats - 3

The correct answer is Karnprayag.
Key Points
Karnprayag

• Karnprayag is the place where Alkanda joins the Pindar river.
• It is said that Karna did the penance and thus, the name is derived from the name of Karna.
• Further, Karnaprayag is the place where Lord Krishna did the cremation of Karna.
• Karnaprayag has a huge religious significance and according to the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, Karna practised penance here.
• Also, this is the same place where his father, the Sun God, blessed him with indestructible gear, namely kavacha (armour) and kundala (earrings).

The correct answer is ​Somchand.

Key Points

Chand dynasty

• ​Somchand, the founder of the Chand dynasty is considered. The initial capital of the Chandas was Champawat.
• The present areas of Nainital, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Almora etc. were under them.
• In 1563, King Balo Kalyan Chand shifted his capital to Almora. The most powerful king of the Chand dynasty was Garuda Gyan Chand.
• It was under the rule of the Chand kings that the tradition of appointing the head of the village (Mukhiya) started with the determination of land in Kumaon.
• In 1790 AD, the Gurkhas of Nepal defeated the then Chand King Mahendra Chand in a simple battle at Hawalbagh and captured Almora, Thus the Chand dynasty came to an end.

Additional Information

• Kanak Pal and Ajay Pal was the ruler of the Parmar Dynasty.
• Ashokchall was the ruler of the Katyuri Dynasty.

The correct answer is Guasthal.

Key Points

• Kedarkhanda
  • It is one of the three sections of Mahesvara Khanda of Skand Purana.
  • It has 35 chapters about Kedarnath Tirtha.
  • The Garhwal region is also called the Kedar-Khanda after Kedar- the local name for Lord Shiva.
• Gopeshwar
  • Gopeshwar is a town in Garhwal hills and a municipal board within the Chamoli district.
  • It is the administrative headquarters of the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
  • Gopeshwar is surrounded by four famous temples- Tungnath, Anusuya Devi Temple, Rudranath, and Badrinath.

The correct answer is Kedarnath-Nanda Devi-Binsar-Askot.

• Kedarnath-Nanda Devi-Binsar-Askot sanctuaries are located from West to East in Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of Uttarakhand.
  • Established in 1972.
  • The sanctuary lies in the upper catchment of the Alaknanda and Mandakini Rivers.
  • It is home to the endangered Himalayan musk deer and to the sub-alpine forest and extensive alpine meadows
• The Nanda Devi National Park is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
  • Established in 1982.
  • World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
  • Fauna: Himalayan Musk Deer, Snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, Mainland serow and Himalayan tahr etc.
• Binsar Sanctuary is located in Almora in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
  • Flora: Oak, rhododendron and pine forests.
  • Fauna: leopards, mountain goats, barking deer, wild boars, porcupines.
• Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary is located near Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
  • Established in 1986.
  • The most commonly found trees in the sanctuary are teak and eucalyptus.
  • It is home to leopards, jungle cats, brown bears, barking dears and serows

The correct answer is In 2006 A.D.

• In the year 2006, FRI completed its centenary year and a book named 100 years of FRI was published which shows dedicated contribution of this renowned institute since its inception.

Key Points

• Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun made a humble beginning as Forest School established in 1878.
• Initially named as Imperial Forest Research Institute, FRI came into being in 1906. Hence,
• Forest Research Institute, one of the institutes under ICFRE, was conferred the status of Deemed University in December 1991 on the recommendations of the UGC, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Hence, Statement D is correct.
• Chancellor: Sh. Arun Singh Rawat, IFS.

Additional Information

• There are six divisions in the museum, these are segregated as:
• Pathology Museum.
• Social Forestry Museum.
• Silviculture Museum.
• Timber Museum.
• Non-Wood Forest Products Museum.
• Entomology Museum.

The correct answer is 10.
Key Points
Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand

• 10 people have served as the state's chief minister since its formation on 9 November 2000 till 2022.
• Seven of them, including the inaugural officeholder Nityanand Swami and the incumbent Pushkar Singh Dhami, represented the (BJP) while the rest three represented the Indian National Congress.

Additional Information

• 5 seat of Lok Sabha Seat does Uttarakhand have.
• 3 seat Rajya Sabha Seats does Uttarkhand have.
• 70 MLAs are in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.
• Uttarakhand’s Legislative Assembly was Founded on 14 February 2002.

The correct answer is 03
Key Points

• The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is 250, of which 238 are to be the representatives of the state, and the union territory and 12 are nominated by the president.
• Five members are elected in Lok Sabha from Uttrakhand directly by the state electorates of Uttarakhand and Three members represent Rajya Sabha in the parliament from Uttrakhand.
• The representatives in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the elected members of the state legislative assemblies with the system of proportional representation by, means of the single transferable vote.

Additional Information