Indian Panorama (UPSC) Part-IV

Total Questions: 23

11. Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as 'State Butterfly'? [2016-I]

Correct Answer: (d) Maharashtra
Solution:In June 2015, Maharashtra government has declared the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as the State butterfly.
Seven Indian States have declared State Butterflies in India.
• Maharashtra: Blue Mormon (First State to declare a State butterfly)
• Uttarakhand: Common Peacock
• Karnataka: Southern Birdwings (Largest Butterfly in India)
• Kerala: Malabar banded Peacock.
• Tamil Nadu: Tamil Yeoman
• Arunachal Pradesh: Kaisar-i-Hind
• Goa: Malabar Tree Nymph (Black & White Wing pattern)

12. In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the 'Great Indian Hornbill' in its natural habitat? [2016-I]

Correct Answer: (d) Western Ghats
Solution:Great Hornbill in the Indian Subcontinent are found in a few forest areas in the Western Ghats and in the forests along the Himalayas.
About Great Hornbill
• The great Indian Hornbill is one of the larger members of the Hornbill family.
• Habitat: It occurs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, typically found in the evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
• India is home to nine species of hornbills of which:
• Great Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill and Indian Grey Hornbill are found in the Western Ghats.
• Great Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, and White-throated Brown Hornbill are found in North East India.
• Narcondam Hornbill (rare and endemic: IUCN- Endangered) is found only on Narcondam Island in Andaman Sea.
• Hornbills have also been sighted in Northern Himalayas (Uttarakhand).

13. Consider the following pairs: [2017- I]

TraditionCommunity
(1) Chaliha Sahib FestivalSindhis
(2) Nanda Raj Jaat YatraGonds
(3) Wari-WarkariSanthals
Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:1. Chaliha Sahib: Sindhi festival regarding Jhulelal. So first pair is right.

2. Nanda Raj JaatYatra: Nanda Devi related festival in Uttarakhand. Gonds are not native to this state, so 2 is wrong.

3. Wari-Warkari: Wari is a pilgrimage for the Warkari sect related to Pandharpur god Vithobain Maharashtra, and it's part of Bhakti movement rather than festival of a particular tribal group. Besides, Santhals are not native to this state, So #3 is wrong. Accordingly, answer "a": 1 only.

14. With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements: [2017-I]

1. It is a song and dance performance.

2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.

3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Solution:In Manipuri Sankirtana, two drummers and ten singer dancers are usually present. Meaning either cymbals are not the only instrument OR they're using drums instead of cymbals. In either interpretation- statement 2 is wrong. Hence answer "B" 1 and 3 only.

15. As per the NSSO 70th Round "Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households", consider the following statements [2018-II]

1. Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agricultural households among its rural households.

2. Out of the total agricultural households in the country, a little over 60 percent belong to OBCs.

3. In Kerala, a little over 60 percent of agricultural households reported to have received maximum income from sources other than agricultural activities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Solution:According to the web report on the said website, 45% households belong to OBC so #2 wrong, by elimination. we've correct answer (c).
Objective of the Survey
The integrated survey on Land and Livestock holdings of Households and Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households, conducted in the rural areas of the country, had an objective of generating different indicators like:
• ownership and operational holdings of rural households
• ownership of livestock
• income, productive assets and indebtedness of agricultural households
• farming practices of agricultural households
• awareness and access to various technological developments in the field of agriculture
• receipts and expenditure of the agricultural households’ farm and non-farm businesses and receipts from all other economic activities pursued by the members of the agricultural households

16. In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the 'International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'? [2018-II]

Correct Answer: (a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
Solution:Under the old IAEA safeguards, all NPT signatories would specify their nuclear sites and IAEA would carry out inspections in the specified sites. Thus, IAEA, under the old safeguards, could only carry out inspection for unauthorised activities only at designated or specified sites declared by a country. This basically left an option open for states to carry out covert nuclear programmes as it happened in case of Iraq. Thus, in 1993, the IAEA designed Additional Protocols (AP) to tighten the existing safeguarding regime. . However, India specific Additional Protocols (AP) do not give IAEA the right to hinder or interfere with activities which are outside the scope of India's safeguard agreements, thus recognizing that India reserves a right to a military nuclear program outside IAEA agreement. From this description, C and D are irrelevant, and B is wrong. Thus we are left with answer (A).

17. Consider the following Pairs: [2019-II]

GlacierRiver
(1) BandarpunchYamuna
(2) Bara ShigriChenab
(3) MilamMandakini
(4) SiachenNubra
(5) ZemuManas

Which of the following pairs given above are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4
Solution:Siachen Glacier, one of the world's longest mountain glaciers, lying in the Karakoram Range system of Kashmir. It is the source for Nubra River. River Mandakini actually originates from the springs fed by melting snow of Charabari glacier about one km above Kedarnath temple. Bara Shigri is the largest glacier located in Lahaul Spiti region in Chandra Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It is a 30-km long glacier, the second longest glacier in the Himalayas after Gangotri. It flows northwards and feeds the Chenab river. Thus, by elimination, answer is (a).

18. Consider the following statements about particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: [2019-I]

1. PVTGs reside in 18 states and one union Territory.

2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.

3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.

4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4
Solution:75 tribal groups have been categorized categorized by Ministry of Home Affairs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s. PVTGs reside in 18 States and UT of A&N Islands. Says. So, #1 is right but #3 is wrong. This eliminates all options except (c).

19. Siachen Glacier is situated to the [2020-I]

Correct Answer: (d) North of Nubra Valley
Solution:The Defence Minister announced the Siachen area will be opened for tourists. It is situated to north of Nubra Valley so correct answer is (d).
About Siachen Glacier:
• It is a piedmont glacier located in the Karakoram Range.
• It lies in the nearly glaciated Himalayan region known as the “Third Pole,” because mountain glaciers in this region contain more freshwater than is found anywhere else on Earth except for the polar ice caps.
• It lies between the Saltoro Ridge, a subrange of the Karakorams, to the west and the main Karakoram Range to the east.
• It is the second longest nonpolar glacier in the world, after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.
• It originates at the base of the Indira Col West, a col (low point) on the Indira Ridge.
• It is located so strategically that while it dominates Shaksam Valley (ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963) in the north, controls the routes coming from Gilgit Baltistan to Leh from the west, and at the same time, it dominates the ancient Karakoram Pass in the eastern side too.
• It is the major source of the 80km long Nubra River, a major tributary of the Shyok River.
• It is considered the world’s highest battleground and in 1984 India took its control from Pakistan under Operation Meghdoot.

20. With reference to India, the terms 'halbi, Ho and Kui" pertain [2021-I]

Correct Answer: (d) tribal languages
Solution:Ho revolt took place it was a tribal revolt- it can be inferred by that Ho is tribal language Can be inferred from the tribal reactions against the British Rule  Also covered in Nitin Singhania's book