UPSC Prelims 2022 MCQs

[UPSC Prelims 2022] According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of these statements is/are correct: (1) a person could become a slave as a result of a judicial punishment; (2) if a female slave bore her master a son, she became legally free; (3) a son born to a female slave, fathered by her master, was entitled to the legal status of the master's own son?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Consider these historical-figure pairs: Aryadeva - Jain scholar; Dignaga - Buddhist scholar; Nathamuni - Vaishnava scholar. How many pairs are correctly matched?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] In medieval India, the term 'Fanam' referred to:

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding Mongol incursions into India: (1) the first Mongol invasion occurred under Jalal-ud-din Khalji; (2) under Ala-ud-din Khalji a Mongol force advanced to and besieged Delhi; (3) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq briefly lost north-western territory to the Mongols. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Who were historically referred to as 'Kulah-Daran' (cap-wearers)?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Consider king-dynasty pairs: Nannuka-Chandela; Jayashakti-Paramara; Nagabhata II-Gurjara Pratihara; Bhoja-Rashtrakuta. How many pairs are correctly matched?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] The philosophical work 'Yogavasistha' was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during whose reign?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which teaching is correctly attributed to the philosopher-saint Ramanuja?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Under the Government of India Act 1919, provincial subjects were split into 'Reserved' and 'Transferred' categories. Which of these were treated as 'Reserved': Administration of Justice, Local Self-Government, Land Revenue, Police?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Among these freedom fighters - Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, Rash Behari Bose - who was actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the Cripps Mission's 1942 proposals: (1) the proposed Constituent Assembly would include members nominated by Provincial Assemblies as well as by Princely States; (2) any province unwilling to accept the new constitution could sign a separate agreement with Britain on its future status. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding early European trading posts in India: (1) the Dutch established factories on the east coast on land granted by Gajapati rulers; (2) Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate; (3) the English East India Company set up a factory at Madras on land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding contempt of court in India: (1) the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 followed the recommendations of the H.N. Sanyal Committee; (2) the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court and High Courts to punish contempt of themselves; (3) the Constitution itself defines Civil and Criminal Contempt; (4) Parliament has the power to legislate on contempt of court. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding legal practice in India: (1) government law officers and legal firms are recognised as advocates, while corporate lawyers and patent attorneys are excluded; (2) Bar Councils can frame rules on legal education and recognition of law colleges. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding constitutional amendment bills: (1) a bill amending the Constitution requires prior Presidential recommendation; (2) the President must give assent to any Constitution Amendment Bill presented; (3) such a bill must be passed by both Houses by special majority, with no joint-sitting provision. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the Union Council of Ministers: (1) the Constitution itself classifies ministers into Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State, and Deputy Minister ranks; (2) total ministers including the PM cannot exceed 15% of the Lok Sabha's total membership. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which of these is an exclusive power of the Lok Sabha: ratifying an Emergency declaration; passing a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers; impeaching the President of India?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding India's anti-defection law: (1) it bars a nominated legislator from joining a political party within six months of appointment; (2) it sets no timeframe within which the presiding officer must decide a defection case. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the Attorney General of India: (1) the AG and Solicitor General are the only government officers permitted to participate in Parliament's proceedings; (2) the AG automatically resigns when the government that appointed them resigns. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding writs in India: (1) mandamus will not lie against a private organisation unless it is entrusted with a public duty; (2) mandamus will not lie against a company even if it is a government company; (3) any public-spirited person can petition for a writ of quo warranto. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha: (1) the Rules of Procedure let the Speaker fix the date of the Deputy Speaker's election; (2) there is a mandatory rule that the Deputy Speaker come from either the principal opposition or the ruling party; (3) the Deputy Speaker enjoys the same powers as the Speaker while presiding, with no appeal against rulings; (4) established practice is for the Speaker to move the election motion, seconded by the Prime Minister. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, what is the main consequence?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] 'Rapid Financing Instrument' and 'Rapid Credit Facility' are related to lending provisions of which institution: Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, UNEP Finance Initiative, World Bank?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding exchange rates: (1) a rise in the Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) indicates rupee appreciation; (2) a rise in the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) indicates improved trade competitiveness; (3) rising domestic inflation relative to other countries tends to widen the divergence between NEER and REER. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the RBI's inflation and currency management: (1) if inflation is too high, RBI is likely to buy government securities; (2) if the rupee is depreciating rapidly, RBI is likely to sell dollars in the market; (3) if interest rates in the US/EU were to fall, that would likely induce RBI to buy dollars. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the 'G20 Common Framework': (1) it is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club; (2) it is meant to support Low Income Countries facing unsustainable debt. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] What are the advantages of Inflation-Indexed Bonds (IIBs): (1) the government can lower coupon rates on borrowing via IIBs; (2) they protect investors against inflation uncertainty; (3) interest and capital gains on IIBs are not taxable. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding foreign-owned e-commerce firms operating in India: (1) they can sell their own goods in addition to offering their platforms as marketplaces; (2) the degree to which they can own major sellers on their platforms is limited. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which activities constitute the 'real sector' of the economy: farmers harvesting crops; textile mills converting raw cotton into fabric; a commercial bank lending to a trading company; a corporate body issuing rupee-denominated bonds overseas?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which situation best reflects 'Indirect Transfers' as discussed in Indian tax policy?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding organisational expenditure classification: (1) acquiring new technology counts as capital expenditure; (2) debt financing counts as capital expenditure while equity financing counts as revenue expenditure. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: (1) both private and public hospitals must mandatorily adopt it; (2) it aims for universal citizen coverage eventually; (3) it offers seamless portability across the country. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding US Federal Reserve tightening and External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs): (1) tight US Fed policy could lead to capital flight; (2) capital flight may raise the interest cost of firms with existing ECBs; (3) devaluing the domestic currency decreases the currency risk tied to ECBs. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding credit rating agencies in India: (1) they are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India; (2) ICRA is a public limited company; (3) Brickwork Ratings is an Indian credit rating agency. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding the 'Banks Board Bureau (BBB)': (1) the Governor of RBI is its Chairman; (2) it recommends heads for Public Sector Banks; (3) it helps Public Sector Banks develop strategies and capital-raising plans. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding Convertible Bonds: (1) since holders have the option to convert to equity, such bonds pay a lower interest rate; (2) this conversion option protects the bondholder against rising consumer prices. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] In India, which body is primarily responsible for maintaining price stability by controlling inflation?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): (1) they enable digital representation of physical assets; (2) they are unique cryptographic tokens existing on a blockchain; (3) they can be traded interchangeably at equivalency, so they function as a medium of commercial transactions. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Among these crops, which is the most significant anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Consider these wetland-location pairs as originally listed: Hokera Wetland - Punjab; Renuka Wetland - Himachal Pradesh; Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura; Sasthamkotta - Tamil Nadu. How many pairs are correctly matched?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] 'Climate Action Tracker,' which monitors countries' emission-reduction pledges, is best described as:

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding global energy-efficiency and climate initiatives: (1) The Climate Group is an international non-profit driving climate action through large networks; (2) the International Energy Agency partnered with the Climate Group to launch 'EP100'; (3) EP100 brings together companies committed to energy-efficiency innovation and competitiveness while cutting emissions; (4) some Indian companies are EP100 members; (5) the IEA serves as Secretariat to the 'Under2 Coalition'. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] 'If rainforests are the lungs of the Earth, wetlands are its kidneys' - which function of wetlands best illustrates this analogy?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding WHO Air Quality Guidelines: (1) the 24-hour PM2.5 mean should not exceed 15 micrograms/m3 and the annual mean should not exceed 5 micrograms/m3; (2) ozone pollution peaks during periods of inclement (rainy) weather; (3) PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier into the bloodstream; (4) excess ozone can trigger asthma. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding 'Gucchi' (morel mushroom), sometimes mentioned in the news: (1) it is a fungus; (2) it grows in some Himalayan forest areas; (3) it is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding polyethylene terephthalate (PET), widely used in daily life: (1) its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties; (2) containers made of it can safely store any alcoholic beverage; (3) bottles made of it can be recycled into other products; (4) articles made of it can be incinerated without any greenhouse gas emissions. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which of these is NOT a bird?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which of these are nitrogen-fixing plants: Alfalfa, Amaranth, Chickpea, Clover, Purslane, Spinach?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] 'Biorock technology' is talked about in which situation?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] The 'Miyawaki method' is well known for:

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which of these has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which statement best describes the 'Polar Code'?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Which best describes the term 'greenwashing'?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Regarding Indian wildlife-protection law: (1) wild animals are the sole property of the government; (2) once declared protected, an animal receives equal protection whether found inside or outside a protected area; (3) mere apprehension that a protected animal poses danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. Which is/are correct?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Certain species of which of these organisms are well known for cultivating fungi as a food source?

[UPSC Prelims 2022] Excess of which of these in the environment is a cause of acid rain: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, sulphur dioxide?