UPSC Civil Services 2022 Prelims (General Studies) Question Paper With Answer Key

1 .

"Climate Action Tracker" which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a :

A)

Database created by coalition of research organisations

B)

Wing of "International Panel of Climate Change"

C)

Committee under "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"

D)

Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Correct Answer : Database created by coalition of research organisations

Note :

The Climate Action Tracker is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of "holding warming well below 2°C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C." A collaboration of two organisations, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, the CAT has been providing this independent analysis to policymakers since 2009.

CAT quantifies and evaluates climate change mitigation targets, policies and action. It also aggregates country action to the global level, determining likely temperature increases during the 21st century using the MAGICC climate model. CAT further develops sectoral analysis to illustrate required pathways for meeting the global temperature goals.

Source : Climateactiontracker

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

2 .

Consider the following statements :

1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.

2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative "EP100".

3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emmission reduction goals.

4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.

5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the "Under2 Coalition".

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A)

1, 2, 4 and 5

B)

1, 3 and 4 only

C)

2, 3 and 5 only

D)

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 1, 3 and 4 only

Note :

* CLIMATE GROUP IS an international non-profit founded in 2003, with offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Amsterdam and Beijing. Their mission is to drive climate action. Fast. This group builds and run networks. Statement 1 is correct.

* EP100 is a global initiative led by the international non-profit Climate Group, bringing together over 120 energy smart businesses committed to measuring and reporting on energy efficiency improvements. Statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is correct.

* Mahindra and Mahindra became the first Indian company to join the EP100 initiative. Statement 4 is correct.

* Climate Group is the Secretariat to the Under2 Coalition and works with governments to accelerate climate action through four work streams:

Pathways

* Policy action

* Transparency

* Diplomacy

Statement 5 is incorrect.

Source : Theclimategroup, Theclimategroup, Theclimategroup

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

3 .

"If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys." Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statements?

A)

The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff, subsoil percolation and evaporation.

B)

Algae from the nutrient base upon which fish, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, reptiles and mammals thrive.

C)

Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining sedimentation balance and soil stabilization.

D)

Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.

Correct Answer : Correct Option: (A/D)

Note :

The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff, subsoil percolation and evaporation.

Explanation : Your kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. Your kidneys also remove acid that is produced by the cells of your body and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals. In the same manner As sediment, excess nutrients and chemicals flow off of the land, wetlands filter the run off before it reaches open water. Nutrients are stored and absorbed by plants or microorganisms. Sediment settles at the bottom after reaching an area with slow water flow.

Source : Basix

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

4 .

In the context of In WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:

1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m3 and annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.

2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A)

1, 3 and 4

B)

1 and 4 only

C)

2, 3 and 4

D)

1 and 2 only

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 1 and 4 only

Note :

* The updated guidelines state that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3, while 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 15 µg/m3

* The highest levels of ozone pollution occur during periods of sunny weather.

* PM10 are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs but PM2.5 can even enter the bloodstream

* Long-term exposure to ozone is linked to aggravation of asthma, and is likely to be one of many causes of asthma development. Studies in locations with elevated concentrations also report associations of ozone with deaths from respiratory causes.

Source : c40knowledgehub, WHO, WHO, Epa

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

5 .

With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:

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 of the statements given above is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

3 only

C)

1 and 2

D)

2 and 3

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 1 and 2

Note :

* Guchhi mushroom is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae of the Ascomycota.

* Grows in himalayan foothills

* The mushrooms cannot be cultivated commercially and grow in conifer forests across temperature regions, and the foothills in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Source : Indianexpress

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

6 .

With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements :

1. Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties.

2. Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.

3. Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.

4. Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emmisions.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

A)

1 and 3

B)

2 and 4

C)

1 and 4

D)

2 and 3

Correct Answer : Option (A) - 1 and 3

Note :

* They are often used in durable-press blends with other fibres such as rayon, wool, and cotton, reinforcing the inherent properties of those fibres while contributing to the ability

* PET is completely recyclable, and is the most recycled plastic in the U.S and worldwide. More than 1.5 billion pounds of used PET bottles and containers are recovered in the United States each year for recycling.

* The burning of plastics releases toxic gases like dioxins, furans, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (better known as BCPs) into the atmosphere, and poses a threat to vegetation, and human and animal health.

* Liquor becomes carcinogenic when stored in plastic bottles.

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

7 .

Which of the following is not a bird?

A)

Golden Mahseer

B)

Indian Nightjar

C)

Spoonbill

D)

White Ibis

Correct Answer : Golden Mahseer

Note :

Golden Mahseer—a large freshwater fish also called the tiger of the water and found only in the Cauvery river basin

The Indian nightjar species are nocturnal birds with long pointed wings and short legs

The Spoonbill is a unique aquatic bird with an odd-shaped, flattened beak

White Ibises are large wading birds with football-shaped bodies

Source : Thehindu, Indianbirds, Animals, Allaboutbirds

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

8 .

Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants ?

1. Alfalfa

2. Amaranth

3. Chickpea

4. Clover

5. Purslane (Kulfa)

6. Spinach

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

A)

1, 3 and 4 only

B)

1, 3, 5 and 6 only

C)

2, 4, 5 and 6 only

D)

1, 2, 4,5 and 6

Correct Answer : Option (A) - 1, 3 and 4 only

Note : Amaranth, spinach, purslane are not nitrogen fixing plants and we have to provide nitrogen through fertilizers for their proper growth and development.

Source : EOS, Thehindu

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

9 .

"Biorock technology" is talked about in which one of the following situations?

A)

Restoration of damaged coral reefs

B)

Development of building materials using plant residues

C)

Identification of areas for exploration/extraction of shale gas

D)

Providing salt licks for wild animals in forests/protected areas.

Correct Answer : Restoration of damaged coral reefs

Note :

BIOROCK OR Mineral Accretion Technology is a coral reef restoration technology that utilizes low voltage electricity to improve the health and growth rates of corals and other marine organisms.

The technology works by passing a small amount of electrical current through electrodes in the water.

When a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode are placed on the seafloor, with an electric current flowing between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and adhere to the structure (cathode).

This results in calcium carbonate formation. Coral larvae adhere to the CaCO3 and grow quickly.

Fragments of broken corals are tied to the biorock structure, where they are able to grow at least four to six times faster than their actual growth as they need not spend their energy in building their own calcium carbonate skeletons.

Source : Thehindu

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies

10 .

The "Miyawaki method" is well known for the:

A)

Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas

B)

Development of gardens using genetically modified flora

C)

Creation of mini forests in urban areas

D)

Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces

Correct Answer : Creation of mini forests in urban areas

Note : The method involves planting two to four trees per square metre. Miyawaki forests grow in two to three years and are self-sustaining.

Source : Urban-forests

Year : 2022

Category : General Studies