Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) Previous Years Questions and Answers

1 .

With reference to India, consider the following statements:

(1) Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in police station, not in jail.

(2) During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

2 only

C)

Both 1 and 2

D)

Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 only

Note :

Judicial Custody is the custody of court. It is mentioned in section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Remand order is issued by the Judicial Magistrate and on the basis of remand order the accused is lodged to Judicial Custody. To release the accused from custody, a warrant of release is necessary.

Police Custody is different from Judicial custody, where the Police can seek for 15 Day, for the purpose of interrogation and investigation, where the accused is in police custody/lockup.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

2 .

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

(1) When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner because it becomes a matter of his/her right.

(2) State Governments have their own Prisoners Release on Parole Rules.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

2 only

C)

Both 1 and 2

D)

Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 only

Note :

Parole cannot be demanded as a right by the convict. It is given by the court in recognition of good behavior of a convict. After the first appeal after conviction, which when dismissed, allows for a convict to apply for parole under the prevalent rules. Every state has its own parole rules. Emergency parole was given to convicts, undergoing sentence upto 7 years, due to Covid- 19 pandemic to decongest prisons in 2020.

Parole is under the Jail Rules which are covered under the state list and can be granted to Indian Citizens.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

3 .

At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?

A)

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

B)

Ministry of Panchayati Raj

C)

Ministry of Rural Development

D)

Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Correct Answer : Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Note : The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources, on which these communities were dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

4 .

A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?

A)

Article 14

B)

Article 28

C)

Article 32

D)

Article 44

Correct Answer : Article 14

Note :

Administrative discretion is against equality and it becomes the cause of arbitrariness, discrimination and unjust action. In Jayantilal Kalidas Mehta vs The State of Maharashtra 1970 case, some sections were contended that gave unguided, uncontrolled and arbitrary powers to the collector, which were violating Article 14 of the constitution.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

5 .

Which one of the following in Indian policy is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?

A)

The independence of judiciary is safeguarded.

B)

The union Legislature has elected representatives from constituent units.

C)

The Union Cabinet can have elected representatives from regional parties.

D)

The Fundamental rights are enforceable by Courts of Law.

Correct Answer : The independence of judiciary is safeguarded.

Note :

Features/characteristics of Indian Federalism

* Clear division of powers between the Centre and the states,

* Independent Judiciary

* Bicameral Legislature,

* Dual government polity,

* Supremacy of constitution

Response (b) is vague as it doesn’t make it clear whether it refers to upper house or lower house of the parliament.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

6 .

Which of the following best defines the term 'State'?

A)

A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory independent of external control and possessing an organized government.

B)

A politically organized people of a definite territory and possessing an authority to govern them, maintain law and order, protect their natural rights and safeguard their means of sustenance.

C)

A number of persons who have been living in a definite territory for a very long time with their own culture, tradition and government.

D)

A society permanently living in a definite territory with a central authority, an executive responsible to the central authority and an independent judiciary.

Correct Answer : A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory independent of external control and possessing an organized government.

Note :

As used in political science, the word state means a community or society politically organized under one independent government within a definite territory and subject to no outside control.

The essential attributes of a state are :

1. Defined territory

2. Population

3. Organized government

4. Sovereignty and independence

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

7 .

With reference to Indian judiciary, consider the following statements :

(1) Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with prior permission of the President of India.

(2) A High Court in India has the power to review its own judgement as the Supreme Court does.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

2 only

C)

Both 1 and 2

D)

Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Both 1 and 2

Note :

Under Article 128 of the Constitution, the Chief Justice of India may, at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court. So, statement 1 is correct.

The Kerala High court recently (May 2021) comprising of a bench of Chief Justice Mr.S.Manikumar & Justice Shaji P.Chaly remarked that being A Court Of Record, High Court Can Review Its Own Judgments Under Article 226 Of the Constitution. (Pottakalathil Ramakrishnan v. Thahsildar, Tirur and Others ).

Order 47 Rule 1 read with 114 CPC, high court has the power to review its own judgement as the Supreme Court does. So, statement 2 is correct.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

8 .

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

(1) There is only one citizenship and one domicile.

(2) A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State.

(3) A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

2 only

C)

1 and 3

D)

2 and 3

Correct Answer : Option (A) - 1 only

Note :

A single citizenship means that all Indians irrespective of their State of Domicile are the Citizens of India. In India, A person born in Punjab or kerala can only be a citizen of India and not a citizen of the State of their domicile like in the USA. So, statement 1 is correct.

In India a citizen whether by birth, registration, naturalization or descent can become President. In USA only natural-born citizen of the United States can become President. So, statement 2 is not correct.

The person who obtains Indian citizenship by birth, by domicile and by incorporation of territory can never be deprived of their citizenship. Only person who have got the citizenship by naturalisation and registration can be deprived of it under following circumstances:

1) obtained the citizenship by fraud

2) shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India

3) unlawfully traded or communicated with the enemy during a war

4) within five years after registration or naturalisation, been imprisoned in any country for two years and

5) has been ordinarily resident out of India for seven years continuously. So, statement 3 is not correct.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

9 .

Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?

A)

A committed judiciary

B)

Centralisation of powers

C)

Elected government

D)

Separation of powers

Correct Answer : Separation of powers

Note :

Separation of Power between legislative, executive and judiciary maintains checks and balances in the system. It establishes limited government. Thus it is the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

10 .

How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?

(1) Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant.

(2) Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.

(3) Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

A)

1 and 3

B)

1, 2 and 4

C)

4 only

D)

2 and 3

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 1, 2 and 4

Note :

Permaculture tries to look at a piece of land in a holistic manner, integrating every animal and plant living on it, and combining that with social structures designed to foster long-lasting agriculture as well. Each element of a food cycle is broken down into what it requires and what it contributes, and then each element is pieced together to form a dynamically self-supporting whole. So, statement (3) is not correct.

• High-density crops and the use of single crops over large expanses of lands strips away necessary nutrients as generations pass, eventually leaving the land barren. So Permaculture discourages monoculture. So, statement (1) is correct.

• At the same time, artificial fertilizers can build up salts over time, making the soil inhospitable to plants. So, statement (2) is correct.

• Mulching is an important practice in permaculture. So, statement (4) is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (b).

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies