Superman

UPSC Prelims 2014 CSAT Paper 1 Answer Key

This key is based on the paper given here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9WywJBMvmgWRnNhWHlUR09zQ2s&usp=sharing … Have been told this is SET A

Friends, each year, after the exam, there is a substantial confusion regarding answer keys – various answer keys don’t match and students are left in confusion. So this year, me and Prem Ranjan ji (IAS rank 62, cse 2013) (https://www.facebook.com/Prem.Ranjan.Singh.1985 )have tried to come up with the following key after doing as much internet research as we could. Still there might be some grey areas and we are open for discussing these.

My personal opinion on the paper, I found it substantially tougher than last year.

 

Disclaimer: There is no guarantee for accuracy.

 

Q 1.     Sustainabe Sugarcane Initiative     (b) http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/expert_system/sugar/ssi.html

Note: 3 is incorrect because the article says in SSI, use of chemical fertilizers is optimized whereas the option says there is no use at all.

 

Q 2.    Montreux Record            (a) http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-montreux/main/ramsar/1-31-118_4000_0__

 

Q 3.     10 degree channel            (a) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Degree_Channel

 

Q 4.     Programmes & ministries        (d) http://www.gktoday.in/drought-prone-area-programme/
Watershed management programme is by Ministry of Agriculture

 

Q 5.     BNHS                    (c) http://www.bnhs.org/about-bnhs.html

 

Q 6.     Global Environment Facility        (not fully sure) (d) http://www.thegef.org/gef/whatisgef

Note: GEF also has a Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) which undertakes scientific research on GEF’s programmes and gives scientific and technical advice to it. But not sure if this can be taken as GEF undertaking scientific research.

 

Q 7.     Photovoltaic                 (a) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell

The Wikipedia article clearly says 2 is wrong as photovoltaic produces DC. 1 is correct, and since there is no option like 1 and 3, so only 1 would be correct. Hence (a).

 

Q 8.     Classical Language            (c) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India#.22Classical.22_languages

Note: Gujarati is not a classical language

 

Q 9.     Dampa, Saramati and Gumti        (c) Saramati is in Nagaland, so 3 is correct. Gumti is in Tripura, so 2 is incorrect. Since only option having 3 and not having 2 is (c), so our answer is c.

Saramati Peak: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Saramati

Gumti: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumti_Wildlife_Sanctuary

 

Q 10.     Wetlands International            (b) It is not an intergovernmental organization.

It is not an intergovernmental organization since many NGOs are also a part of it. Look at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_organization to see definition of Intergovernmental organizations.

Look at this link to see the work of this organization includes field work and recommending policies. http://www.wetlands.org/Aboutus/Howwework/tabid/2728/Default.aspx

 

Q 11.     BRICS                    (b) 1 is wrong as the summit was not held in Rio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS

 

Q 12. Diphtheria, Chickenpox, smallpox        (b) Smallpox has been eradicated, Chickenpox still happens. So we need an option which has 3 but not 2. The only such option is (b).

http://nmji.in/archives/Volume_19_1_january_february2006/SPECIAL_SERIES/Special_Series.htm

 

Q 13.     Continental drift and glacial cycles    (c) Both affect environment and hence evolution.

 

Q 14.     Gangetic dolphin            (c) Crocodiles don’t threaten these dolphins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_river_dolphin#Conservation

 

Q 15.     Radcliffe Committee            (c) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radcliffe_Line

 

Q 16.     Brominated retardants            (c) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brominated_flame_retardant#Environmental_and_safety_issues

 

Q 17.     Hibernation                (c)

Bats hibernate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation

Bears hibernate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation#Bears

Rodents hibernate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation

 

Q 18.     Committee strength            (b) http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/intro/p21.htm

 

PAC 22 members

Committee on estimates 30 members

CoPU: 22 members

Petitions: 15 members

 

Q 19.     Adding carbon dioxide            (c) Photosynthesis absorbs CO2, rest all emit.

 

Q 20.     Birds feeding on insects        (b)

Painted stork is not such a bird. “They feed mainly on small fish” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_stork#Behaviour_and_ecology

Common myna is one such bird for sure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_myna#Food_and_feeding

Black necked crane is not such a bird for sure: “The cranes winter in lower elevation agricultural valleys where they feed mainly on waste grains.” https://www.savingcranes.org/black-necked-crane.html

 

Q 21.     Mahattara and Pattakila        (b) village head

 

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=GW5Gx0HSXKUC&pg=PA488&lpg=PA488&dq=mahattara+in+medieval+india&source=bl&ots=QgKeKsPXFd&sig=ZltgNPatun9HD5V3mC8YskHHAIM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=N7r5U934BY62uASt_4CABw&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=mahattara%20in%20medieval%20india&f=false

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=T0BSgf_4L74C&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=pattakila+in+medieval+india&source=bl&ots=7J1BcjPVQe&sig=-gZKYln7UbeLsK_vHcutMT9UyXM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=R7r5U7HREMSgugTaxICwBw&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=pattakila%20in%20medieval%20india&f=false

 

Q 22.     Lichens                    (b) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

 

Q 23.     Plants in Himalayas            (d)

Oak is found.

For rhododendron: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron#Distribution_and_habitat

 

Q 24.     Steel industry pollution         (d) all 4 are emitted

https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130128080300AAZsC8A

 

Q 25.     Buddha and mahajanapadas        (c)

Avanti and Gandhara were not associated with Buddha. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

 

Q 26.     Month long plantation festival        (b)

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/their-own-green-revolution/article3823031.ece

 

Q 27.     Sales tax                (d)

 

Q 28.     Venture capital                (b)

 

Q 29.    12th FYP objective            (d)

 

Q 30.     Current Account            (c)

Foreign assets will come in capital account. SDRs are foreign assets only. Only 1 and 3 are correct.

 

Q 31.     MSF and NDTL                (a) Used in context of RBI lending to banks.

Q 32.     Bank saathi / BC            (c)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabhimaan_(campaign)

 

Q 33.     Purpose of statutory reserve requirements    (b)

These reserve requirements are CRR and SLR. 1 and 2 are correct. 3 is incorrect. 4 is incorrect since the CRR amount is kept with RBI and banks can’t access it. Hence use of it as vault cash is not possible.

 

Q 34.     Arab Spring                (d)

 

Q 35.     Arctic Council                (d)

 

Q 36.     Chechnya, Darfur, Swat        (a)

Darfur is in Sudan.

Swat valley is in Pakistan.

 

Q 37.     Agni missile                (a)

It is propelled by solid fuel also and range is sub 4000 km.

 

Q 38.     Coalbed methane and shale gas    (d)

Shale gas is primarily methane, so 1 is wrong. Also it is found in India, so 2 is wrong

 

Q 39.     Changpa                (b)                

They live in J&K

Changpa and Pashmina: http://www.swisscashmere.org/ladakh-and-the-changpa.html

ST status: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changpa#Changpa_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir

Q 40.     Guar                    (b)

 

Q 41.     Coral Reefs                (a)

Not found in sunderban: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5627e/x5627e06.htm

 

Q 42.     Soil erosion                (b)

Terrace farming reduces soil erosion. There is no (2) and (3) option.

 

Q 43.     Seasonal wind reversal            (c) Monsoon

 

Q 44.     Panchyatan                (c)

 

Q 45.     Rivers in Arunachal            (b)

Barak river is not in AP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak_River

Subansiri river: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subansiri_River

Lohit river: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohit_River

 

Q 46.     Wetlands and confluence        (a)

Harike (correct): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harike_Wetland

Keoladeo (incorrect): http://www.birdersinn.com/keoladeo-ghana-national-park.html (Gambhiri and Banganga river)

Kolleru lake: Musi river is in Hyderabad, Kolleru lake far away

 

Q 47.     Philosophy systems            (c)

 

Q 48.     Hills and location            (c)

Coromandal coast: Is in east Tamil Nadu

Kaimur hills is in Vindhyas

Mahadeo and Mikir hills are correct

 

Q 49.     Anti defection law            (d)

 

Q 50.     Biodiversity and humans        (a)

 

Q 51.    Turkey location                (b)

 

Q 52.    SE Asia cities                (c)

 

Q 53.    3 degree rise in temperature        

2 is for sure, not sure about rest.

 

Q 54.    Satyamev Jayate            (d)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyameva_Jayate

 

Q 55.    Promotion of international peace    (b)

Art 51

 

Q 56.    Integrated watershed Program        (c)

http://dolr.nic.in/iwmp_main.htm

 

Q 57.    Planning in India            (c)

2 is definitely correct, 1 is definitely incorrect. Only option left is 2 and 5.

 

Q 58.    Cabinet Secretariat            (c)

3 is the job of finance ministry

 

Q 59.    Constitutional government        (c)

India has constitutional government and both 1 and 2 are found in India

 

Q 60.    Discretionary powers of governor    (b)

2 and 4 are on recommendation of CM

 

Q 61.    Decrease in interest rate        (c)

This leads to increased investments as borrowings are cheaper.

 

Q 62.    Allocation of business rules        (a) 1 is correct, source given below. 2 is incorrect as all actions taken in the name of the president.

http://lawyersupdate.co.in/LU/4/702.asp

 

Q 63.    No confidence motion            (c)

 

Q 64.    Neem seeds and oil            (d)

1 and 3 are correct: http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil.html

 

Q 65.     Photosynthesis                (b)

 

Q 66.    Biometric identification            (d)

All 3 are correct. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometrics

 

Q 67.    Vegetative propagation        (c)

2 is incorrect as if the parent has the virus, child will get too as it is merely a clone.

3 should be correct as It can be done without seeds and flowers etc. so no need to wait for any particular season.

 

Q 68.    Cassini Hyugen, Messenger        (b)

Cassini-Hyugen is Saturn

 

Q 69.    Areca nut, mango, soyabean        (d)

Soya in MP, mango in Maharashtra, Areca nut in Karnataka

 

Q 70. Which one is a chemical reaction        (b)

Souring of milk is a chemical change. Sugar becomes lactic acid. http://www.answers.com/Q/Is_milk_souring_a_chemical_change

 

Q 71.    Centre State dispute            (c)

This is original and exclusive jurisdiction

 

Q 72.    Transgenic crops            (

 

Q 73.    Maize                    (d)

 

Q 74.    Crab, Mite, Scorpion, Spider        (a)

Class of remaining 3 is Arachida

 

Q 75.     Increasing number of judges in SC    (b)

 

Q 76.    Saris and ancient towns        (b)

 

2 is for sure, 1 is not. Only left is 2 and 3.

 

77    National Highway            D

 

78    International Agreement on Biodiversity    C

 

79    Earth Hour                 C

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour

 

80    Food chain sequence             A

 

81    Partition of Bengal             B

 

82    1929 session of INC             B

 

83    Sattriya dance                 B

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattriya#History

 

84    Saka era vs Gregorian calendar         A

 

Q 85.    Buddha’s image, Varah avatar, Arjun        (c)

 

86    Gadar movement             A

 

87    Kalaripiyattu marshal art         D

 

88    Garba, Mohiniyattam, Yakshagana     C

 

89    Buddhist famous shrines         C

 

90    Beejak and Pushti marg         D

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=4TA_WbrHHDsC&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=madhvacharya+pushtimarg&source=bl&ots=HEkI6YZyJG&sig=yZqV8hkACZo7HkojqDdL9ekmts&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8NL5U_fBNdehugTh7YDQBw&ved=0CF0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=madhvacharya20pushtimarg&f=false

 

91    Manganyar                 B

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manganiar

http://www.amarrass.com/the-manganiyar-seduction/artists/the-manganiyars

 

92    1858 Proclaimation             A

 

93    Ibadatkhana                 C

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibadat_Khana

 

94.    Seed replacement rate            (b)

1 and 2 are clearly wrong. There is a seeds policy and private sector is also present. Demand supply gap for quality seeds is likely to be true.

 

95    Ecosensitive zone             D

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=100286

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/moef-extends-deadline-states-declare-eco-sensitive-zones-around-wildlife-parks-and-sanctuari

 

96    Animal welfare board             b

 

97     Vitamin and deficiency             A

 

98    Nanoparticles                 D

http://nano.foe.org.au/nanoparticles-tattoo-ink-could-cause-cancer

 

99    World Economic Outlook         A

 

100    Non Plan expenditure             c

 

274 comments

  3. Gaurav Sir, In the Soil erosion question they have just used word “associated”, so it may include causes as well as preventive methods of soil erosion. So ans should include Terrace farming as it prevents erosion.

    I think ans should be all or 1 and 2. Whats your opinion ?

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  10. Gen cat, 213-220 in total according to various sources (CL, thesupermanreturns, jagranjosh, TIME, ). Already in full swing for mains. A very good work by gaurav and Prem, and his first step towards being a compassionate civil servant begins here! I hope he succeeds in turning the bureaucracy into a people friendly machinery. Angrez chale gaye, “Sir” culture chodd gaye.

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  12. I have a doubt on the question on sarees –
    Place famous for Sarees – kancheepuram, Chanderi yes we all know
    Karnal is not
    But, Bhadarchalam is famous for its sarees though not on a very large scale like the above 2 (I marked the answer for bhadarchalam, kancheepuram and Chanderi) However, all the answer keys are excluding Bharda and karnal. :( Please clarify.
    Please have a look at the link it says –

    The most famous offering of Bhadrachalam is the silk saree. These are traditional Indian garments worn by Indian women. The sarees are sold in a variety of silks and are embellished with handcrafted patterns. The most expensive and sought-after are the Rajmundri silk sarees that are supposed to have a royal heritage.

    p.s –
    here’s the link
    http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/andhrapradesh/bhadrachalam/shopping

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  16. cn u plz throw some light ovr tentative cut off(gen).
    as i m getting 229 from cl and jo jo methews blog and 225 from sankar ias and around 230 from ur answer keys,,,
    very cnfused,,,,

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    • I too had this doubt.
      The question is which of the following is associated with not which of the following is the cause
      Terrace farming is associated with soul erosion
      So I chose ask the above as there is no option of 1 and 2

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  18. Q67 Answer should be d as in case of rose we have bud grafting and bud is free from Virus. Moreover in many plants like Pomegranate, lime etc we can develop clone as well. Branches can be propagated directly in these plants and rooting can be induced using Auxin

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    • India has constitutional government but they didn’t ask constitutional government in India but in general. USA,France,UK also has constitutional government where constitution does not restrict individual liberties. So answer should be constitutional government put restrictions on state for individual liberty only.

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  26. Just thought of mentioning one thing regarding reserves of banks. Reserves include BOTH deposits with rbi and vault cash. and statutory requirements technically could be considered to be a preventive measure with regards to commercial banks making excess profits. if banks had their own way they would minimize reserves to lend out as much as they could to garner larger profits, but having a statutory requirement prevents them to do so.

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  27. Statuatory requirement is not to prevent excessive profits but to keep some money in liquid manner aside to meet any emergency time. RBI don’t bar bank to make profits,as all banks having equal SLR,anyone can make profit with remaining money.

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    • Anwer is d for satuatory reserve question….consider the case of pb. N sind bank crisis 2002…. more in ques there is talk abt satuatory reserves .. so combind slr n crr cn b used to break commercial bnks to make excess profit…. cz excess profit means exces mny in market …which increses inflation….

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  28. Regarding decreasing interest rate question

    what about the situation of liquidity trap or lacking trust in economy ( may be due to hyperinflation or declining currency value or simply adverse govt policies),as in you can make investment rate as low as possible , but the investment and hence investment expenditure will also depend upon the nature of economy whether positive growth is possible or not. US and Japan in recent years are the possible exception to C option. I have marked B as option, because in any possible scenario,if interest rates are down ,it will eventually lead to more money in hand of banks or households, so it will affect positively to their income level or amount of liquidity so someone will pay either directly or indirectly more tax than before. So in nutshell,one can say for sure,if you invest, you are free to do the same in any country or in any form available ( not restricted to domestic economy,amy be the intrest rates getting lowered by 25 basis points is not that attractive as comparison to some booming economy where my returns can double or tripple in stipulated time period) ,but you are liable to TAXES,and your investments and hence investment expenditure in same economy may rise or not so ( considering the liquidity trap situations or where people lost the trust because of adverse business cycle). And secondly,if there are more investors investing in economy in particular sectors, thery will benefit from economy of scale, so investment EXPENDITURE may come down. I dont know about NCERTs but please elaborate where I am going wrong

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    • Shibi,
      For a better understanding i would suggest looking up Keynsian framework. May be a little more work if one does not have economics background but you mention liquidity trap, so i guess you are familiar with the subject. That should help you answer the question. Also I would suggest to clearly understand the concept so that you are also comfortable with various shocks to the complete model (4-5 simultaneous graphs). Also do refer the AS-AD model and money supply and demand model to be clear of the liquidity trap concept.
      But anyways for this particular question, if you refer the savings investment graph (with ROI on ordinate axis and S and I in abscissa), the investment graph is a downward sloping graph implying higher investments at lower ROI. With lower interest rates it is much cheaper for businesses to take loans for their businesses and hence an increased investment. Yes investment increase would mean greater income (according to keynes) and hopefully increased income would translate to more taxes, but it is a derivative effect with a time lag. So out of the four options the most obvious and immediate event is increased investment.

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  29. well with regards to the answer. i do not think that the question is as confusing as many are considering it to be. 1, 2 and 4 are correct which leaves you with option d, and furthermore 3 is not wrong. if you are not sure just refer 12th macroeconomics to start with (i believe there is a chapter on money and banking) so that one is clear of what reserves are technically meant. For further details refer mankiw or any other macro or monetary economics book. also a clear understanding of liquidity and reserves should help. (i see many are confused about basic understanding of the concepts). Such confusions should be an incentive to clear the basic concepts and would definitely help in further occasions.

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    • Bittu,
      I have explained my thought process in very layman or simple terms and generally asked whats wrong with the same. And For which you have replied with so called models and frameworks and I dont know why you are glorifying AS AD model and blah blah,without negating my arguments. Do you know about the condition of Cetris Paribus ( English- keep other things same), which all of your graphs and models are subjected to. Now in an ideal world, the situation where there is low interest rates can end up in more investment,but it may not be so ( please refer to above comment). Knowingly or unknowingly, with more money in hand in form of credit or whatsoever,you pay taxes either for your savings,investment or consumption. N what time lag for tax collection, everything is not your income tax sir ( every commercial activities do attract taxes,until and unless exempted. if I borrow from bank on low interest rates, why would that money or credit will be tax free for further investment or consumption.
      See most of coaching has come up with same answer of C option, I did not mark it because term INVESTMENT ‘EXPENDITURE’ doesn’t sound to me same as investments. And now literally I do not care much about it ( getting sufficient marks for even writing IFoS mains) . what I have asked for is where I am getting wrong ( from Gaurav not any xyz) and what you have commented is simply not coherent. So at least pay heed to what is being asked for, it will definitely help you in mains. And btw I have read enough literature including the above mentioned. But anyways thanks I will definitely pay more attention to the subject. Best of luck for future.

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  30. Somewhere, I have studied that, Balance of Trade deals with only visible things which is the current account, whereas, Balance of Payment deals with both visible & invisible things which is the current account & capital account respectively. I mean, current account should not include balance of invisibles.

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  31. 1. If sandalwood is found in Western Ghats, then it must have some presence in Himalayas too, since the climate of Western Ghats is similar to eastern part of the Himalayas.
    2. Option 3 of the ‘Shastriya Dance’ is common to all classical dance forms. Then, how this option can be eliminated?

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    • ans for… vegetation doesnt mean only function of rain fall and temerature… soil and its formation also play role in it… Sandalwood grow naturally in KA/KR/AP/TN only….

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  36. solve this equation..
    …… + ………….+ ……= 30

    Fill the Boxes using
    (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15)

    You can using also repeat the numbers.

    Like

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  37. solve this equation..
    …… + ………….+ ……= 30

    Fill the Boxes using
    (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15)

    You can using also repeat the numbers.

    Like

    Reply

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