PRELIMS 2021 QUESTION PAPER – A SERIES

Question Paper 31 Pages

Union Public Service Commission (Prelims)

Miscellaneous

Contributed by

Mohit Dasgupta

PRELIMS 2021 QUESTION PAPER – A SERIES

1. Consider
the
following statements:

1. The
Governor
of the
Reserve Bank
of India
(RBI)
is
appointed
by
the
Central Government.

2.
Certain provisions
in
the Constitution
of India give
the Central Government
the right
to
issue
directions
to the RBI in
public interest.

3. The
Governor
of the RBI
draws his power
from the RBI
Act.

Which
of the
above statements are correct?
(a)

1 and 2
only
(b) 2 and 3
only
(c)

1 and 3
only
(d) 1, 2 and
3

2. With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the
following statements:
1. All casual workersare entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime
payment
3. The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or
industry shall pay wages only through its bank account
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a)

1 and 2 only
(b)

2 and 3 only
(c)

1 and 3 only
(d)

1,2 and 3

3. Which among the following steps is mostly likely to be taken at the time
of an economic recession?
(a) cut in tax rates accompanied by increase in interest rate
(b) Increase in expenditure on public projects
(c) Increase in tax rates accompanied by reduction of interest rate
(d) Reduction of expenditure on public projects
Page 1
4. Consider the following statements:
Other things remaining unchanged, market demand for a good might increase
if
1.

Price of its substitute increases
2.

Price of its complement increases
3.

The good is an inferior good and income of the onsumers increases
4.

Its price falls
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a)

1 and 4 only
(b)

2,3 and 4
(c)

1,3 and 4
(d)

1,2 and 3

5.

With reference to ‘Urban Cooperative Banks’ in India , consider the
following statements
1.

They are supervised and regulated by local boards set up the state
Governments
2.

They can issue equity shares and Preference shares.
3.

They were brought under the purview of the Banking Regulation ACT, 1949
through an Amendmnet in 1966.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)

1 only
(b)

2 and only
(c)

1 and 3 only
(d)

1,2 and 3

6.

Indian Government Bond Yields are influenced by Which of the following?
1.

Actions of the United States Federal Reserve
2.

Actions of the Reserve Bank of India
3.

Inflation and short – term interest rates
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Page 2
(a)

1 and 2 only
(b)

2 only
(c)

3 only
(d)

1,2 and 3

7.

Consider the following:
1.

Foreign Currency convertible bonds
2.

Foreign institutional investment
3.

Global depository receipts
4.

Non- resident external deposits
Which of the above can be included in Foreign Direct Investments?
(a)

1, 2 and 3
(b)

3 only
(c)

2 and 4 only
(d)

1 and 4

8.

Consider the following statements:
The effects of devaluation of a currency is that it necessarily
1.

Improves the competitiveness of the domestics exports in the foreign markets
2.

Increases the foreign value of domestic currency
3.

improves the trade balance
Which of the above statements is /are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3

9.

Which one of the following effects of creation of black money in India has
been the main cause of worry to the Government of India?
(a)

Diversion of resources to the purchase of real estate and investment in luxury
housing
Page 3
(b)

Investment in unproductive activities and purchase of precious stones,
jewellery, gold, etc.
(c)

Large donations to political parties and growth of regionalism
(d)

Loss of revenue to the state Exchequer due to tax evasion

10.

Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effects?
(a)

Repayment of public debt
(b)

Borrowing from the public to finance a budget deficit
(c)

Borrowing from the banks to finance a budget deficit
(d)

Creation of new money to finance a budget deficit

11.

The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the
following?
(a)

Increase in Cash Reserve Ratio in the banks
(b)

Increase in the Statutory Liquidity Ratio in the banks
(c)

Increase in the banking habit of the people
(d)

Increase in the population of the country

12.

With reference to Indian economy, demand – pull inflation can be caused/
increased by which of the following?
1.

Expansionary policies
2.

Fiscal stimulus
3.

Inflation – indexing wages
4.

Higher purchasing power
5.

Rising interest rates
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a)

1, 2 and 4 only
(b)

3,4 and 5 only
(c)

1,2,3 and 5 only
(d)

1,2,3,4 and 5

Page 4
13.

With reference to India, consider the following Statements;
1.

Retail investors through demand account can invest in ‘Treasury Bills’ and
Government of India Debat Bonds’ in primary market
2.

The ‘Negotiated Dealing System- Order Matching’ is a government securities
trading platform of the Reserve Bank of India.
3.

The ‘Central Depository Services Ltd.’ Is jointly promoted by the Reserve Bank
of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)

1 only
(b)

1 and 2
(c)

3 only
(d)

2 and 3

14.

With reference to ‘WaterCredit’, consider the following statements:
1.

It puts microfinance tools to work in the water and sanitation sector.
2.

It is a global initative launched under the agies of the World Health
Organization and the World Bank.
3.

It aims to enable the poor people to meet their water needs without depending
on subsidies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a)

1 and 2 only
(b)

2 and 3 only
(c)

1 and 3 only
(d)

1,2 and 3

15.

In India, the central bank’s function as the ‘lender of last resort’ usually refers
to which of the following?
1.

Lending to trade and industry bodies when they fail to borrow from other
sources
2.

Providing liquidity to the banks having a temporary crisis
3.

Lending to governments to finance budgetary deficits
Page 5
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)

1 and 2
(b)

2 only
(c)

2 and 3
(d)

3 only

16.

R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of
(a)

Environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry
(b)

Ecological management of ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under
the Ramsar Convention
(c)

Sustainable practices in the cultivation of agricultural crops in degraded
lands
(d)

‘Environment Impact Assessment’ in the exploration of natural
resources

17.

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?
1.

They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.
2.

The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.
3.

They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a)

1 and 2 only
(b)

2 and 3 only
(c)

1 and 3 only
(d)

1,2 and 3

18.

With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements:
1.

It is a product of oil refineries
2.

Some industries use it to generate power.
3.

Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a)

1 and 2 only
(b)

2 and 3 only
Page 6
(c)

1 and 3 only
(d)

1,2 and 3
19.

What is blue carbon?
(a)

Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
(b)

Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agriculture soils
(c)

Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas
(d)

Carbon present in atmosphere

20.

In the nature , which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving
on a surface without soil?
1.

Fern
2.

Lichen
3.

Moss
4.

Mushroom
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a)

1 and 4 only
(b)

2 only
(c)

2 and 3
(d)

1,3 and 4

21.

Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
(a)

Congress grass
(b)

Elephant grass
(c)

Lemongress
(d)

Nut grass

22.

Consider the following kinds of organisms:
1.

Copepodes
2.

Cyanobacteria
3.

Diatoms
4.

Foraminifera
Which of the above are primary producers in the food chains of oceans?
Page 7
(a)

1 and 2
(b)

2 and 3
(c)

3 and 4
(d)

1 and 4

23.

Consider the following animals:
1.

Hedgehog
2.

Marmot
3.

Pangolin
To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above
organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protects its/ their vulnerable parts?
(a)

1 and 2
(b)

2 only
(c)

3 only
(d)

1 and 3

24.

With reference to the ‘New York Declaration on Forests’, Which of the
following statements are correct?
1.

It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2.

It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3.

It is a legally binding international declaration.
4.

It is endored by governments, big companies and indigenous communities
5.

India was one of the signatories at its inception
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a)

1,2 and 4
(b)

1,3 and 5
(c)

3 and 4
(d)

2 and 5

25.

Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are
generated as environmental pollutants from which of the following ?
Page 8
1.

Brakes of motors vehicles
2.

Engines of motor vehicles
3.

Microwave stoves within homes
4.

Power plants
5.

Telephone lines
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a)

1,2,3 and 5 only
(b)

1,2 and 4 only
(c)

3,4 and 5 only
(d)

1,2,3,4 and 5

26. Which one of the following is a filter feeder?
(a) Catfish
(b) Octopus
(c) Oyster
(d) Pelican

27. In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks
is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?
(a) Carbon cycle
(b) Nitrogen cycle
(c) Phosphorus cycle
(d) Sulphur cycle

28. Which of the following are detritivores?
1. Earthworms
2. Jellyfish
3. Millipedes
4. Seahorses
5. Woodlice
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
Page 9
(c) 1, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
29. The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for
(a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world
(b) enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission
trading
(c) enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries
(d) assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in
a unit time.

30. Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with
other organisms?
1. Cnidarians
2. Fungi
3. Protozoa
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

31. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the
following statements:
1. It is a circular temple built during the region of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian
Parliament building.
Which one of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Page 10

PRELIMS 2021 QUESTION PAPER – A SERIES

PRELIMS 2021 QUESTION PAPER – A SERIES

Download this file to view remaining 21 pages