Indian Panorama (UPSC) Part-II

Total Questions: 50

31. Which one of the following airports in India is the first to be owned by a public limited company? [2005]

Correct Answer: (b) Cochin airport
Solution:Cochin International Airport is an international airport in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala. It is the first airport in India developed under a public-private partnership.

32. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [2005]

Correct Answer: (b) Phalcon: Cruise missile supplied by Russia to India.
Solution:Phalcon is radar system provided by Israel to India.

Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System):

  • It is an Israeli radar system used for air defence.
  • The radar uses an active electronically scanned array (AESA) to electronically steer a beam, which allows it to provide 360-degree coverage without the need for a rotodome.
  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) has three Israeli EL/M-2090 Phalcon AWACS.
  • It’s mounted on Russian-origin Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft and is sometimes called an “eye in the sky” because of its surveillance capabilities.
  • Detection: Can detect, track, and identify low-flying aircraft at distances of up to 370 kilometres.

33. Who among the following is not recipient of the Bharat Ratna Award? [2005]

Correct Answer: (d) Raj Kapoor
Solution:Lata Mangeshkar 2001, Bismillah Khan 2001, and Satyajit Ray 1992.
Eligibility
• Initially, it was only awarded for achievements in literature, science, arts, and public services.
• The Government of India expanded the criteria in 2011 to include “any field of human endeavor”.
• There is no written rule stating that the Award can only be awarded to Indian citizens.

34. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [2006]

MonasteryState
(a) Dhankar MonasteryHimachal Pradesh
(b) Rumtek MonasterySikkim
(c) Tabo MonasteryHimachal Pradesh
(d) Kye MonasteryArunachal Pradesh
Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:Dhankar Monastery is present at 12,774 feet above sea level of Lahaul and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. Rumtek monastery is importand and largest monastery of Sikkim, 24 km away from Gangtok. Tabo monastery is situated at a distance of about 50 kilometres from Kaza in Lahual district of Himachal Pradesh. Kye Monastery is situated 12 kms north of Kaza of Himachal Pradesh, not in Arunachal Pradesh.

35. Which one of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched? [2006]

Railway ZoneHeadquarters
(a) North-Eastern RailwayGorakhpur
(b) South-Eastern RailwayBhubaneshwar
(c) Eastern RailwayKolkata
(d) South-East Central RailwayBilaspur
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:The head office of South-Eastern Railway is Kolkata, not Bhubaneshwar.

Key Facts about Indian Railways

  1. Extensive Network: With over 68,000 km of track, Indian Railways is the 4th largest railway network globally, after the US, Russia, and China, making it a crucial backbone for national transport.
  2. Massive Passenger Traffic: Serving approximately 23 million passengers daily, Indian Railways is vital in connecting remote regions and urban centers, contributing to economic and social mobility.
  3. Efficient Freight Movement: So far in this financial year (FY25), freight volumes reached 906.9 MT, marking a 2.2% increase, with significant growth in container (7.7%) and miscellaneous goods and clinker traffic (7%).
  4. High Electrification: 97% of broad-gauge lines are electrified, reflecting Indian Railways’ commitment to sustainability and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
  5. Targeted Freight Share: The government aims to increase the freight share from 35% to 45% by 2030, in line with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
  6. Rail Safety: Consequential rail accidents have dropped by 80% from 2016-21, a testament to ongoing safety measures. However, over 95% of accidents are still attributed to driver errors, indicating the need for more focused driver training  and technological interventions.

36. Which one of the following companies is associated with the exploration and commercial production of oil in Barmer-Sanchor basin of Rajasthan? [2006]

Correct Answer: (a) Cairn Energy
Solution:Cairn Energy PLC is one of Europe's leading independent oil and gas exploration and development companies and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is associated with the exploration and commercial production of oil in Barmer-Sanchore basin of Rajasthan. The 25-year contract for exploration and production of oil and gas from Cairn India's Barmer oil block in Rajasthan, in which ONGC holds a 30% stake, was due for renewal in 2020.

37. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [2006]

Correct Answer: (d) Year 1966: Gujarat becomes a State
Solution:Agitation by both Gujarati and Marathi nationalists for their own linguistic states led to the split of Bombay state on linguistic lines and on 1 May 1960, it became the new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

38. Match List-I (Indian Scientist/Scholar) with List-II (Area of Work) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

List-I (Indian Scientist/Scholar)List-II (Area of Work)
A. C. N. R. Rao1. Telecommunications
B. Jagdish Bhagwati2. Physics
C. G. N. Ramachandran3. Economics
D. Ashok Jhunjhunwala4. Solid State Chemistry and Material Science
OptionABCD
(a)4321
(b)2143
(c)4123
(d)2341
Correct Answer: (a)
Solution:
NameArea of Work
C. N. R. RaoSolid State Chemistry
Jagdish Natwarlal BhagwatiEconomist
G. N. RamachandranPhysics
Ashok JhunjhunwalaTelecommunications

39. In which country is the committee which selects winners for Nobel Peace Prize located? [2006]

Correct Answer: (a) Norway
Solution:The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in a solemn ceremony in the Oslo City Hall, Norway on December 10.
  • Prizes may be given only to individuals, except the Peace Prize, which may also be conferred upon an institution. However, 3 individuals at max, can share a prize.
  • All the Nobel Prizes are given in Stockholm, Sweden except for the Nobel Peace Prize which is awarded in Oslo, Norway.
  • Each Nobel Prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma bearing a citation, and a sum of money.
  • The first woman to win the Nobel Prize was Marie Curie, and she won the award twice.
  • Nobel Prize and India
  • Poet and writer Rabindranath Tagore was the first non-European and Indian to get a Nobel Prize in 1913 in literature.
  • India received its first Nobel Prize in physics in 1930 when scientist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was awarded "for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him". This phenomenon is now known as Raman Effect.

40. Match List-I (Person) with List-II (Area of Distinction) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [2006]

List-I (Person)List-II (Area of Distinction)
A. E. C. G. Sudarshan1. Theatre
B. V. Shanta2. Violin
C. T. N. Krishnan3. Research in Physics
D. Mahesh Dattani4. Cancer treatment
OptionABCD
(a)3124
(b)2451
(c)3421
(d)2154
Correct Answer: (c)
Solution:
PersonArea of Distinction
A. E. C. G. SudarshanResearch in Physics
B. V. ShantaCancer treatment
C. T. N. KrishnanViolin
D. Mahesh DattaniTheatre