Solution of the UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012 – GS Paper 1
Dear Readers,
Thanks for your continued support and faith in GKToday.
Every year, we try our best to provide the reliable solution of the General Studies Paper of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. I take this opportunity to congratulate my students Mudit Rai, Vipul Goel, Vivekanand Singh, Prabhakar Prakash Ranjan, Anshul Gupta and Ullas Kumar for a success in last year’s examination. GKToday wishes them all the best for their future.
Solution:
Here is our solution of your paper.
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1. The endeavour of ‘Janani Suraksha Yojana’ Programme is
1. to promote institutional deliveries
2. to provide monetary assistance to the mother to meet the cost of delivery
3. to provide for wage loss due to pregnancy and confinement
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A]1 & 2 Only
[B] 2 Only
[C]3 Only
[D]1, 2, & 3
1 & 2 Only
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is an ambitious scheme launched under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the Government of India’s flagship health programme. The scheme is intervention for safe motherhood and seeks to reduce maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery, i.e. by providing a cash incentive to mothers who deliver their babies in a health facility. There is also provision for cost reimbursement for transport and incentives to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) for encouraging mothers to go for institutional delivery. The scheme is fully sponsored by the Central Government and is implemented in all states and Union Territories (UTs), with special focus on low performing states. There is provision for roping in the private sector by giving accreditation to willing private hospitals/nursing homes for providing delivery services. The wage loss scheme is IGMSY. The correct answer of this question is 1 & 2. The two schemes, we have compared many times. There was a question in GKToday’s Mock Tests also which you can access on this page Question number 9
2. The Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment:
[A]need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member of one of the Houses within six months
[B] need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member of the Lok Sabha within six months
[C]must be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament
[D]must be a member of the Lok Sabha
Correct Answer is A
3. With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements:
1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A]Only 1
[B]Only 2
[C]Both 1 & 2
[D]Neither 1 nor 2
Both 1 & 2
The Commission is a powerful body whose orders cannot be challenged in a court of law. The orders are laid before the Lok Sabha and the respective
State Legislative Assemblies. However, modifications are not permitted.
4. Consider the following:
1. Hotels and restaurants
2. Motor transport undertakings
3. Newspaper establishments
4. Private medical institutions
The employees of which of the above can have the ‘Social Security’ coverage under “Employees’ State Insurance Scheme’?
[A]Only 1, 2 & 3
[B]4 Only
[C]1, 3 & 4 Only
[D]1, 2, 3 & 4
1, 2, 3 & 4
Employees’ State Insurance Scheme of India is an integrated social security scheme tailored to provide social protection to workers and their dependants, in the organised sector, in contingencies, such as, sickness, maternity and death or disablement due to an employment injury or occupational hazard.
The ESI Act applies to any premises/precincts, where 10 or more persons are employed. A factory or an establishment located in a geographical area notified for implementation of the Scheme, falls under the purview of the Act. Employees of the aforesaid categories of factories and establishments, drawing wages upto Rs.15,000/- (w.e.f. 01.05.2010) a month, are entitled to social security cover under the ESI Act. The wage ceiling for purpose of coverage of employees is revised from time to time, to keep pace with rising cost of living and consequent wage hikes.
The “appropriate Government” State or Central is empowered to extend the provisions of the ESI Act to various classes of establishments, industrial, commercial or agricultural or otherwise. Under these enabling provisions most of the State Govts have extended the ESI Act to certain specific class of establishments, such as, shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, preview theatres, motors transport undertakings and newspaper establishments etc., employing 20 or more persons. Further under section 1(5) of the Act, the Scheme has been extended to Private Medical and Educational institutions employing 20* or more persons in certain States/UTs. The correct answer of this question is 1, 2, 3 & 4.
5. According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following?
1. The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission
2. The Report of the Public Accounts Committee
3. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
4. The Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
[A]1 Only
[B]2 & 4 Only
[C]1, 3 & 4 Only
[D]1, 2, 3 & 4
1, 3 & 4 Only
Finance Commission is obviously correct. CAG report is placed as per article 151. (1). NCSC is as per article 338. Public Account Committee is not
there. So correct answer is 1, 3 & 4
6. A deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of
1. Ordinary Legislation
2. Money Bill
3. Constitution Amendment Bill
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A]Only 1
[B]2 & 3 Only
[C]1 & 3 Only
[D]1, 2 & 3
Only 1
The article 368 says that the constitution amendment bills have to be passed by both houses individually. In case of any disagreement between the two Houses of Parliament on a Constitution Amendment Bill, there CANNOT be a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament. Then how to move forward?
You can not move forward in fact :) The fate of such bills is decided in this way only, no alternatives.
The makers of the constitution did not want that every now and then the MPS sit together and make changes in it. The idea is to make the “constitution amendment difficult” so that its value can be retained.
This means that the amending power of the parliament is subject to procedural check via the amending power itself. The procedure laid down in article 368 has basically imposed restriction on the parliament itself. You can imagine, how difficult is it to gain two third majority of members present and voting and then absolute majority of the total members of each house of the parliament. Please note that in past a CPI member Bhupesh Gupta had once brought forward a bill, which sought to amend the article 368 and provide for a joint sitting. It was not passed, because it itself was a Constitution amendment bill :) Then, a deadlock on Money Bill does not arises. Correct answer Only 1
7. How do District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) help in the reduction of rural poverty in India?
1. DRDAs act as Panchayati Raj Institutions in certain specified backward regions of the country.
2 .DRDAs undertake area-specific scientific study of the causes of poverty and malnutrition and prepare detailed remedial measures .
3. DRDAs secure inter-sectoral and inter-departmental coordination and cooperation for effective implementation of anti-poverty programmes.
4. DRDAs watch over and ensure effective utilization of the funds intended for anti-poverty programmes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A]1, 2 & 3 Only
[B]3 & 4 Only
[C]4 Only
[D]1, 2, 3 & 4
3 & 4 Only
DRDA watch over and ensure effective utilization of the funds intended for anti-poverty programmes. Statement 4 is correct. Then, the endeavour and objective of the DRDAs is to secure inter-sectoral and inter-departmental coordination and cooperation for reducing poverty in the district. Statement 3 is correct. Only these two statements are correct in this question. So Correct Answer is 3 & 4 ONLY.
8. Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties, laid down in the Indian Constitution?
1. To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
2. To protect the weaker sections from social injustice
3. To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry
4. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity
Select the correct answer, using the codes below:
[A]1 & 2 Only
[B]2 Only
[C]1, 3, & 4 Only
[D]1, 2, 3 & 4
1, 3, & 4 Only
Fundamental Duties: Article 51 A
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional
diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and
achievement;
(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.
9. What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India?
1. While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India .
2. The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only.
3. The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote.
4. All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme court the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A]1 & 3 Only
[B]3 & 4 Only
[C]4 Only
[D]1, 2, 3 & 4
1 & 3 Only
Let me analyse the statements one by one:
Fist statement:
While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India
We should note that that the mechanism for the appointment of judges to the high courts and the Supreme Court has changed after the 1993 and 1998 verdicts of the Supreme Court. Today, the Executive and Legislative organs of the State have no real role in the appointment of judges. According to Article 124 (2) of the Constitution, every judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President after consultations with such judges as the President may deem necessary. But in the case of the appointment of a judge other than the chief justice, Chief Justice of India shall always be consulted. The statement is correct and to a great extent, safeguards the autonomy of honourable Supreme Court of India.
Second Statement:
The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only.
This is a wrong statement.
As per Article 124 (4) the Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. Please also note that the provision for the removal of judges of the Supreme Court or high courts under Article 124 (4) for proven misbehaviour has become inoperative in practice, as has been proved in the Justice Ramaswamy impeachment case. There are no provisions to deal with deviant behaviour as distinct from “proven misbehaviour”. In other words, under the present dispensation, a judge is appointed solely on the recommendation of the judiciary and, for all practical purposes, no judge can ever be removed. To correct this absurd situation a national judicial commission with a decisive say in the appointment and removal of judges has been proposed.
Third Statement:
The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote.This is a correct statement and most of you know about this.
Fourth Statement:
All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme court the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.This is an incorrect statement. The Supreme Court Officers and Servants (Conditions of Service and Conduct) make different rulings, where the role of Government is actually nothing. The clause 6 says that all appointments of the Court Servants shall be made by Chief Justice in his absolute discretion.
10. To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on Thorium as the future fuel of nuclear energy. In this
context, what advantage does Thorium hold over uranium?
1. Thorium is far more abundant in nature than uranium.
2. On the basis of per unit mass of mined mineral, thorium can generate more energy compared to natural uranium.
3. Thorium produces less harmful waste in comparison to uranium.
Which of the statements given above is/are Correct?
[A]1 Only
[B]2 & 3 Only
[C]1 & 3 Only
[D]1,2 & 3
1,2 & 3
Thorium fuel generates no new bomb-usable material in the waste profile; the waste consists of the radioisotope Uranium-233, or U233, which is virtually impossible to weaponize/ Thorium fuel will generate more energy per unit of mass than uranium fuel by a factor of approximately 30. Thorium is four times more abundant in nature than uranium, and is widely distributed throughout the Earth’s crust. All statements in this question are correct.
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jace
May 21, 2012 at 9:45 pmsir, cut off- is it is combined or for Paper I only?
GKToday
May 21, 2012 at 9:46 pm@ jace,
Cut off is combined, there is no individual cut off.
prash
May 21, 2012 at 10:03 pmsir, i am a great fan of gktoday.. thank u very much for ur efforts to make information transparent, free and authentic..
i had a doubt regarding cut off.. 168-170 is a combined cut-off of paper I and II or GS alone..
it cant b so less for combined or so much for GS alone.. ppl , including me, think that it might go somewhere between 200-210..
plz clarify the same..
thank u sir..
ravi
May 21, 2012 at 10:22 pmfor qn 6.in case of cnstinal amendmt bill both houses have equal authority
Sai Akhilesh
May 21, 2012 at 10:40 pmQ.No. 64
Single window policy is introduced prior to this policy. It is not anew initiative.
http://india.gov.in/allimpfrms/alldocs/16395.pdf
Avishek
May 21, 2012 at 11:25 pmFor Q13 – BT Brinjal one ..statement 1 is incorrect as the gene used is not that of soil fungus but of soil bacteria :) ….as there is no option containing 2 3 4 ….so ans has to be 3 and 4 only.
ravikvarma
May 21, 2012 at 11:28 pmscore ranging from 215 to 230…according to gktoday key..it is 217…is it in a comfortable margin?
Avishek
May 21, 2012 at 11:39 pmFor Q71 – Seabuckthorn — its also used as biodiesel..though its use as of now is limited, but then it has great potential. Searching in google for Seabuckthorn as biodiesel……reveals many websites that says about it …so correct option should be D – all 1,2,3,4 . Seabuckthorn timber also has great value . Source : google :)
thiyam surjakumar singh
May 21, 2012 at 11:51 pmim greatly delighted with your work sir
thank you for your great work
thanks………..
Vikas
May 21, 2012 at 11:57 pmThank you Sir..most accurate
Kamal
May 21, 2012 at 11:57 pmHi,
Thanks a ton for the keys.!!
The cutoff 168-170 you are expecting is the combined marks of paper 1 & 2 right?
sukumaran
May 22, 2012 at 12:00 amin q 13 bt brinjal gene from bacterium
Tigin kalistus
May 22, 2012 at 12:08 amIs the ‘cutoff marks’as predicted here is for ‘Paper-1’ or combined? I presume it is for combined but then cannot fathom out the criteria adopted in arriving at such a low cuttoff, if it is so.
anwer
May 22, 2012 at 12:58 amthe cutoff is for 1st paper only and for both paper combined.please clarify
Gayathri
May 22, 2012 at 1:20 amSir,
I would like to know if the cut off mentioned above(165-170) is the sum of both the papers. And also is there any separate cut off marks for each paper?
Please do reply.
Thanks.
Johnny Prince
May 22, 2012 at 1:24 amHaving doubt in the 86th Qn.. The Snow Leopard does exist naturally in the mountain ranges of Kashmir, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.. Kindly correct me if I’m wrong.
mynk.ngm
May 22, 2012 at 1:42 amsirji this cut off is for GS1 and 2 combined right.. else im afraid only the paper setters and few others will make it..
saurabh
May 22, 2012 at 9:11 amIn question 13, gene from soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is used and not soil fungus. Option A seems to be incorrect.
viswanadhas
May 22, 2012 at 10:04 amHi , is 170 an individual cutoff or combined ? If combined is there are min cut off on each paper. Plz advice. Thx
killer
May 22, 2012 at 10:08 amin gram sabha question they substituted ‘minor minerals ‘ with ‘any minerals’….itna specific …
amit13226
May 22, 2012 at 10:31 amSir,
As per ministry report,
Coastal wetland area is smaller than inland.please confirm which data is to be followed.
saurabh
May 22, 2012 at 11:24 amIn Q.57, NBFCs provide microfinance which promotes inclusive growth. Statement 1 seems to be correct too.
saurabh
May 22, 2012 at 11:54 amQ. 28, 1 & 3 both are correct. Since air is more dense close to the earh it can hold more heat than upper altitudes where air is thinner.
Amit kumar
May 22, 2012 at 11:57 amqn:-95….I think DPSP also contain
art 44:-uniform civil code for the citizens
then what should be the answer of qn. 95.
Avishek
May 22, 2012 at 12:44 pmThere r many articles which have written about possible effects on biodiversity of Bt brinjal…and the langauge of statement 4 – there is SOME concern that bt brinjal MAY have adverse—– ….so statement 4 cannot be rules out . About the report of expert committee, yes they have said it, but there r numerous other reports, most recently buy greenpeace which says about adverse effects on biodiversity. Statement 2 ..about TERMINATOR SEEDS ..is not fully correct ..check this link please – http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/article317940.ece
hemant
May 22, 2012 at 2:54 pmcan u plz tell me, wht would be the cutt of list for ias pre and csat
Jitendra Gupta
May 22, 2012 at 3:47 pmHi Sir,
Thanks for your excellent support to the aspirants.
One favor I would like to ask. In the view of this year’s pattern of GS Paper-I, It needs a very good understanding of the topics for the best guess. If you could provide section-wise quiz like dividing Modern History in periods, or dividing Geography of India in Physical Geo, Human Geo, Climatology & atmospheric variations etc., it will help us in concentrating on the very topic and a better assessment of the preparation.
Regards,
Jitendra
Adnan
May 22, 2012 at 8:58 pmthank you very much sir. please make pdf available within a single link instead of 10
Nanda
May 22, 2012 at 10:20 pmKudoos gktoday for answering all then questions with explanations . & waiting for the pdf to d/w ..
dharmesh
May 23, 2012 at 7:31 amhow can someone read so many standard UPSC csat exam questions at one go directly from internet, it can only be worth yo read if there be a pdf version provided of question with answer to read them later nor from internet directly and can be print if required. providing so many questions to read from net is not yet worthy when exams are still offline and internet not have that much reach you must provide pdf version of questions with answers
sundaravathanan
May 23, 2012 at 10:54 amchecking your key was like discussing question paper with a friend :) thanks a lot!!
Sidharth
May 23, 2012 at 11:28 amWill there be individual cur-off for each paper? If yes, what will be the cut-off for paper 1 and also for Paper 2
neeraj
May 24, 2012 at 12:13 pmsir i think i will get 149 marks in aptitude but in gk i think it is not more than 35
what should i do
pls help me
Anurag
May 24, 2012 at 2:20 pmWill GKtoday upload the solutions for CSAT too…… Please do it as your answers are the most authentic ones…..Anxiously waiting fr the CSAT solutions, do post soon ….and many many thanks for the informative solutions of GS Section. Thank You..
nishant
May 26, 2012 at 2:24 amDear Admin
I am very much thankful for giving such a beautiful insights to clear our confusion..As for me now I see that I get 60 marks in paper-1 and I think I will get 150 in 2nd paper.which makes it 210..Do I have chance and should I start preparing? Is it true that UPSC has separate cut-off for both papers..PLZ let me know if any …
Mukesh kumar ray
May 26, 2012 at 9:19 pmSir, my series is (c) prelims 2012 plz send me solved question..
viptip
May 27, 2012 at 9:38 amBT seads are terminator
http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article3427.html
samm
May 27, 2012 at 10:41 amhey bro
i think u will be selected
as ur total is approx 184
and i knew a person who got same marks in previous year and got selected
and this would be happen same in this year
so start prepare for mains
wish u all the best
shobhit777
May 29, 2012 at 11:24 amThanks for the great job…..are sure of the answers you provided for Sufi, Lead Poisoning and RBI question. Most of the other keys are showing different answers. Pls Reply….
Hgiue_980
May 30, 2012 at 9:57 amQuestion 57: Could you please clarify why permitting NBFC to do banking is not an Inclusive Governance? Thanks
Hgiue_980
May 30, 2012 at 10:01 amQuestion 65: The option 2 states, withdrawal of money ONLY after the Appropriation Bill is passed. What about the VOTE ON ACCOUNT, which allows to withdraw even before the Appropriation Bill is passed? Please clarify. Thanks
Hgiue_980
May 30, 2012 at 10:12 amQuestion 95: Why Article 44 is not included in the answer? Thanks
dileep
May 31, 2012 at 1:05 amSir,
(Reg: Question No: 28)
Could you please elaborate why you rejected 3rd statement? Many articles on internet have given that 3rd statement is also correct. Would be grateful if you could provide further support to your answer.
sandy123
June 7, 2012 at 10:43 pmA piece of info….. this year more than 5.50 lacs candidates registered for CSP….dunno how many actually appeared….talked to UPSC today…..last year this was 4.7 lacs….so wats the take on cutoff ?
vats
June 16, 2012 at 10:51 pmSir,
why is banking by nbfc not included in inclusive governance?isnt the recent recommendations by the Y.H Malegam committee, a reference in this regard, as the NBFC -MFI is thought to provide financial inclusion?
kesari.meena00
July 12, 2012 at 5:45 pmSIR
I AM A ST GUY AND I AM GETTING 171 MARKS IN IAS PRE.
PAPER-1 46
PAPER-2 125
WHAT ARE MY CHANCE FOR MAINS AND WHAT WAS THE CUTOFF OF LAST YEAR.
THANKS
samm
August 18, 2012 at 9:13 amhow can we find our marks in this paper
can we send rti for it…..
DEBOJYOTI ROY
January 6, 2013 at 12:36 amSir,i would like to get prelis 2nd paper questions.Is there any seat conservation for s/c?
aman
January 26, 2013 at 9:55 pmwhy pdf download is not available?
pls provide
sushma Pandey
March 20, 2013 at 7:11 pmsir, i am preparing for panchayat secretary ,which will
be held within next week.Kindly send some very
important & detailed article under our constitution for
panchayat & Rural development.Kindly send and guide me
soon .
with regards,
rashi
April 26, 2013 at 8:50 amsir did u provide notes for entire gs pre and mains both if yes how can i get it i am preparing for upsc 2014 give me ur num so tht if any query i can talk to u
sk
August 13, 2014 at 11:10 amIts very helpful to go through specially for me where I can continue even in my work free time. Thanks a lot.