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UPSC MCQs & Practice Questions
Enhance your Prelims preparation with high-quality MCQs covering all UPSC subjects and topics.
AM
Which one of the following factors was the most decisive geographic and material advantage in the early rise of Magadha among the sixteen Mahajanapadas?
AM
Which one of the following sites has yielded unique evidence of a series of rock-cut water reservoirs integrated into its sophisticated urban water harvesting system?
AM
Consider the following pairs: List I: Prehistoric / Protohistoric Site 1. Burzahom 2. Bhimbetka 3. Lothal List II: Characteristic Archaeological Feature A. Tidal dockyard and bead-making factory B. Subterranean pit dwellings and dog burials C. Mesolithic rock paintings depicting hunting scenes Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
AM
Assertion (A): The Bronze 'Dancing Girl' discovered at Mohenjo-daro reflects advanced metallurgical knowledge among Harappan artisans. Reason (R): It was manufactured using the lost-wax technique (cire perdue), which allowed precise casting of intricate human figures.
AM
With reference to the archaeological discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following pairs: List I: 1. Lothal 2. Kalibangan 3. Mohenjodaro List II: A. 'Pashupati' steatite seal B. Tidal dockyard connected to the Bhogavo river C. Furrowed agricultural field and fire altars Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
AM
With reference to the socio-political institutions of the Vedic period, consider the following statements: 1. The Sabha was a broad-based folk assembly of the entire community, whereas the Samiti was a smaller council of elders. 2. Women attended the Sabha during the Early Vedic period, but were excluded from it in the Later Vedic period. 3. In the Later Vedic period, the election of the king by popular tribal assemblies became the predominant mode of succession. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AM
Consider the following statements regarding Harappan religious practices and symbolic artifacts: 1. Terracotta figurines interpreted as 'Mother Goddess' are prevalent across all major Harappan sites, including Kalibangan and Lothal. 2. The 'Pashupati Seal' from Mohenjo-daro depicts a three-horned seated figure surrounded by an elephant, a tiger, a rhinoceros, and a buffalo. 3. Harappan fire altars have been archaeologically identified at Kalibangan and Lothal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AM
Regarding religious artifacts and material culture of the Harappan Civilization, consider the following statements: 1. The Bronze Dancing Girl found at Mohenjodaro was manufactured using the lost-wax (cire perdue) casting technique. 2. Terracotta figurines widely interpreted as the 'Mother Goddess' have been recovered abundantly from all major mature Harappan sites, including Lothal and Kalibangan. 3. The seated figure on the 'Pashupati seal' is depicted wearing a horned headgear and surrounded by four wild animals: an elephant, a tiger, a rhinoceros, and a buffalo. How many of the above statements are correct?
ST
A municipal corporation deploying an automated traffic control system discovers that relaying live surveillance video streams to a distant central cloud creates communication delays that hamper rapid collision response. Which of the following technological interventions would be the most appropriate action?
ST
With reference to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), consider the following statements: 1. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock feed is a key driver of resistance spread. 2. Horizontal gene transfer enables bacteria to share resistance mechanisms across different species. 3. Antimicrobial resistance can occur naturally through spontaneous genetic mutations over time. How many of the above statements are correct?
ST
Consider the following statements regarding the 'Genome India Project' (GIP): 1. It aims to develop a reference genome representing India's unique and diverse population groups. 2. The project was completely funded and executed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) independently. 3. The genomic data generated is stored in the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) at Faridabad. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
ST
Which among the following technologies forms the primary radio access foundation enabling the ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) standard in 5G standalone networks?
ST
Consider the following pairs: List I: 1. Quantum Key Distribution 2. Edge Computing 3. Narrowband IoT List II: A. Low-power wide-area cellular standard for mass sensor connectivity B. Physics-based secure cryptographic exchange using photon polarization C. Decentralized data processing near the network periphery Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
ST
With reference to the 'Genome India Project', consider the following statements: 1. It aims to develop a reference genome grid representing India's immense genetic diversity by sequencing thousands of individual genomes. 2. The initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Biotechnology. 3. All biological sample data generated under this project is hosted exclusively on public cloud servers outside India to comply with open-access international standards. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
ST
Consider the following statements regarding mRNA vaccines: 1. They introduce a weakened or inactivated antigen directly into host cells to trigger an immune response. 2. The introduced synthetic mRNA integrates into the host cell's nuclear DNA to ensure long-term immunity. 3. The mRNA sequence is typically encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles to prevent premature enzymatic degradation. How many of the above statements are correct?
ST
A municipal authority observes severe bacterial contamination in community drinking water showing widespread resistance to third-generation cephalosporins due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. To monitor environmental spread and trace resistant bacterial reservoirs without culturing live pathogens from individual households, which of the following would be the most appropriate action?
ENV
Assertion (A): The pyramid of biomass in an open sea ecosystem is typically inverted. Reason (R): The biomass of primary producers (phytoplankton) at any given instant is far lower than that of primary consumers (zooplankton) due to the high turnover rate and short lifespan of phytoplankton.
ENV
Consider the following statements regarding ecological succession: 1. Secondary succession is generally faster than primary succession because soil or sediment is already present. 2. In hydrarch succession, the pioneer species are usually small phytoplankton. 3. The species composition of a climax community changes rapidly in response to seasonal weather variations. How many of the above statements are correct?
ENV
An agricultural watershed adjacent to a designated Ramsar wetland is experiencing heavy nutrient runoff, leading to rampant proliferation of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and severe oxygen depletion. To restore the aquatic balance, which of the following interventions would be the most appropriate action?
ENV