UPSC CSE (Preliminary) Exam 2024 Paper I (GS) - 16 June 2024 (Answer Key)

UPSC CSE (Preliminary) Exam 2024 Paper I (GS) – 16 June 2024 (Answer Key)

11. Consider the following airports:
1. Donyi Polo Airport
2. Kushinagar International Airport
3. Vijayawada International Airport
In the recent past, which of the above have been constructed as Greenfield projects?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (A)

Explanation –   

  • Under the GFA policy, Government of India has accorded ‘In-Principle’ approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports namely, Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Dabra (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Orvakal (Kurnool) in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh across the country.
  • Out of these, 11 Greenfield airports viz. Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar (Donyi Polo Airport), Mopa and Shivamogga have been operationalised.
  • Government of India has also granted the first stage clearance i.e. site clearance for construction of three Greenfield airports namely Alwar in Rajasthan, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.

12. With reference to “water vapour”, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (A)

Explanation –

  • Statement 1 is correct: Water vapour is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Its percentage is maximum at tropics.

13. Consider the following description:
1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low.
2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm – 250 cm.
What is this type of climate?
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) China type climate
(c) Humid subtropical climate
(d) Marine West coast climate

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (D)

Explanation – 

Marine West coast climate:

  • Annual temperature ranges are rather small (10–15 °C or [50–59 °F]), about half those encountered farther to the east in the continental interior at the same latitude. Mean annual temperatures are usually 7–13 °C (45–55 °F) in lowland areas, the winters are mild, and the summers are relatively moderate, rarely having monthly temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F).
  • Precipitation totals vary somewhat throughout the year in response to the changing location and intensity of these storm systems, but annual accumulations generally range from 50 to 250 cm (20 to 98 inches), with local totals exceeding 500 cm (197 inches) where onshore winds encounter mountain ranges.

14. With reference to “Coriolis force”, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It increases with increase in wind velocity.
2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (C)

Explanation –

  • Statement 1 is correct: It increases with increase in wind velocity
  • Statement 2 is correct: It is maximum at poles and is absent at the equator.

15. On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours?
1. Equator
2. Tropic of Cancer
3. Tropic of Capricorn
4. Arctic Circle
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (D)

Explanation –

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: Equator
  • Statement 2 is correct: Tropic of Cancer
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Tropic of Capricorn
  • Statement 4 is correct: Arctic Circle

16. One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?
(a) Amazon Basin
(b) Congo Basin
(c) Kikori Basin
(d) Rio de la Plata Basin

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (B)

Explanation –

  • The Congo Basin is one of the world’s last regions that absorbs more carbon than it emits, the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Head of Biodiversity and Land.
  • The peat swamp forest of the Congo Basin stores around 29 billion tons of carbon – approximately equivalent to three years’ worth of global greenhouse gas emissions – while the Basin as a whole absorbs nearly 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year .

17. With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements:
1. PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials.
2. PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
3. Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.
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

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (D)

Explanation –

  • Statement 1 is correct: PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and packaging materials.
  • Statement 2 is correct: PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
  • Statement 3 is correct: Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.

18. Consider the following:
1. Carabid beetles
2. Centipedes
3. Flies
4. Termites
5. Wasps
Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All five

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (B)

Explanation –

  • Option 1 is correct: Carabid beetles : Coleoptera (Parasitoid)
  • Option 2 is incorrect: Centipedes : Arthropodes
  • Option 3 is correct: Flies : Parasitoid
  • Option 4 is incorrect: Termites: Detritophagous
  • Option 5 is correct: Wasps: Parasitoid

19. Consider the following plants:
1. Groundnut
2. Horse-gram
3. Soybean
How many of the above belong to the pea family?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three

(d) None

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (C)

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) belongs to the Fabaceae family.
  • Statement 2 is correct: Horse-gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) belongs to the Fabaceae family.
  • Statement 3 is correct: Soybean (Glycine max) also belongs to the Fabaceae family.

20. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I –  The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the “vermin” category in the Wild Live (Protection) Act, 1972.
Statement-II – The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Show Answer/Hide

Answer – (C)

Explanation –

  • Statement I is correct: The Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) was listed under the vermin category in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • Statement II is incorrect: The Indian Flying Fox is a frugivore, meaning it primarily feeds on fruits, nectar, and flowers, not on the blood of other animals.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

error: Content is protected !!