UPSC 2020 Answer Key (Paper 1 GS): Check UPSC 2020 Answer Key of GS (Paper 1) along with questions paper of UPSC (IAS) Prelims. UPSC Prelims 2020 Paper 1 was conducted today between 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. UPSC (IAS) Prelims General Studies Paper 1 contains 100 questions on subjects Indian Economy, Indian Polity, History, Geography, Art and Culture, Current Affairs and Science & Technology etc.
Hope you did your best to clear Prelims this time. Wish you all the best!
UPSC IAS (CSE) Prelims 2020 GS Paper 1 Question Paper (Solved) With Answer Key
In this article, we are giving the answer key of the GS paper 1 of UPSC/IAS (CSE) Prelims 2020along with the explanations. Link to download UPSC 2020 Prelims Question Paper Details solutions of each and every question will be available in a while till then you can check the answer Key of UPSC Prelims 2020.
UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper 1 Answer Key:
Question 1: What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture ?
1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2 Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible. 4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical
nutrients is possible.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 1,3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: c
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: The Benefits of Fertigation
Question 2. Consider the following minerals:
1. Bentonite
2. Chromite
3. Kyanite
4. Sillimanite
In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: b
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Major Minerals of India
Question 3. With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January – March
2. OMT collected during January – March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: d
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: OCEAN MEAN TEMPERATURE
Question 4. With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements :
1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas. 3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: b
Question 5: With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct?
1. It is spread over two districts.
2. There is no human habitation inside the Park
3. It is one of the natural habitats of Great Indian Bustard.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: c
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: India’s Desert National Park
Question: 6. Siachen Glacier is situated to the
(a) East of Aksai Chin
(b) East of Leh
(c) North of Gilgit
(d) North of Nubra Valley
Answer: d
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Siachen Glacier , Source – 2
Question 7: With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :
Famous Place Present State
1. Bhilsa – Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra – Maharashtra
3. Girinagar – Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara – Uttar Pradesh
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 4 only
Answer: a
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Famous Places in India
Question 8: Consider the following statements :
1. 36% of India 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: b
Question 9: Consider the following statements :
1. Jetstreams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: c
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Jet Streams and its effect on weather system
Question 10: Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat” ?
(a) Corbett
(b) Ranthambore
(c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
(d) Sunderbans
Answer: c
Manas, Assam – 840 sq km Pakke, Arunachal Pradesh – 683 sq km Nagarjunsagar, Andhra Pradesh – 2595 sq km Periyar, Kerala – 881 sq km
Question 11: If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication ?
(a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.
(b) Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.
(c) It is a Genetically Modified crop plant.
(d) Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem
Answer: b
Schedule VI contains the plants, which are prohibited from cultivation and planting. These plants are as follows: Beddomes’ cycad (Cycas beddomei),Blue Vanda (Vanda eoerulea), Kuth (Saussurea costus), Ladies slipper orchids (Paphiopedilium spp.), Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana), Red Vanda (Rananthera imschootiana).
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: plant species
Question 12: With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as
(a) ports handling foreign trade
(b) capitals of powerful kingdoms
(c) places of exquisite stone art and architecture
(d) important Buddhist pilgrimage centres
Answer: a
In the Gupta period , there was flourishing trade both internal and external.
•The wealth of the Roman Empire reached India through the ports of Kalyan, Chaul, Broach and cambay in western India.
•In the Andhra region the ports were Kadura and Ghantashala.
•Kaveripattanam and Tondai were ports of Pandya region.
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Ancient trade
Question 13: What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture ?
1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of previous crop.
2. Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Zero Tillage/Conservation Agriculture
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167880910002094
Question 14: According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels ?
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5.Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Answer: a
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: National Policy on Biofuels
Question 15: Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’ ? It is a measure, in monetary value of the
(a) long-term damage done by a tonne of CO2 emissions in a given year.
(b)requirement of fossil fuels for a country to provide goods and services to its citizens, based on the burning of those fuels.
(c)efforts put in by a climate refugee to adapt to live in a new place.
(d)contribution of an individual person to the carbon footprint on the planet Earth.
Answer: a
The “social cost of carbon” (SCC) is the present value of the future damages from one additional unit of carbon emissions in a particular year. The Social Cost of Carbon is usually estimated as the net present value of climate change impacts over the next 100 years (or longer) of one additional tonne of carbon emitted to the atmosphere today. It is the marginal global damage costs of carbon emissions.
• The model includes the essential ingredients for calculating the SCC at the global scale, and is designed to be transparent and easy to use by decision-makers and non-specialists.
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: The social cost of carbon
Question 16. With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements :
1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: a
Statement 1 is correct: Black Gram can be cultivated as both kharif and Rabi crop. During kharif, it is cultivated throughout the country. It is best suited to rice fallows during rabi in southern and south-eastern parts of India.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Gram is the most dominant pulse having a share of around 40 per cent in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20 per cent and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at around 8-10 per cent each.
Source: UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Pulse Production in India
Source:
https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/pulses/pulses-in-india
https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/pulses/blackgram-and-greengram
Question 17. “The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop ?
(a) Cotton
(b) Jute
(c) Sugarcane
(d) Tea
Answer: a
Question 18. With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements :
1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible pumps.
2. Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with piston Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(e) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: b
Question 19. With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements :
1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settlings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: c
Question 20. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture ?
1. Crop diversification
2. Legume intensification
3. Tensiometer use
4. Vertical farming
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: d
Question 21.
With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs :
1. Parivrajaka – Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana – Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka- Lay follower of Buddhism
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: b
Question 22. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements :
1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: a
Question 23. Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin ?
1. Nagarhole National Park
2. Papikonda National Park
3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1,3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: c
UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Cauvery basin
Question 24. With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are
(a) Birds
(b) Primates
(c) Reptiles
(d) Amphibians
Answer: A
UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: bird species
Question 25. Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous ?
(a) Kanha National Park
(b) Manas National Park
(c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
(d) Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
Answer: a
UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: Hard ground swamp deer
Question 26. Steel slag can be the material for which of the following ?
1. Construction of base road
2. Improvement of agricultural soil
3. Production of cement
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d
Question 27. Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?
1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 4 only
Answer: a
Question 28. In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint ?
1. Copper slag
2. Cold mix asphalt technology
3. Geotextiles
4. Hot mix asphalt technology
5. Portland cement
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 4 and 5 only
(d) 1 and 5 only
Answer: a
Question 29: Consider the following statements :
1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury.
2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the
environment.
3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer:
Question 30. What is the use of biochar in farming ?
1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming.
2. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms.
3. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it enables the growing medium to retain water for longer time.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d
UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: What is Biochar?
Question 31. In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture ?
1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
Answer
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system Setting up of cold storage facilities by
the governments Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 2, 3 and 6 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Answer: d
Question 32. What is the importance of the term “Interest Coverage Ratio” of a firm in India ?
1. It helps in understanding the present risk of a firm that a bank is going to give loan to.
2. It helps in evaluating the emerging risk of a firm that a bank is going to give loan to.
3. The higher a borrowing firm’s level of Interest Coverage Ratio, the worse is its ability to service its debt.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer
Question 33. Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past?
1. Minimum Support Price
2. Government’s trading
3. Government’s stockpiling
4. Consumer subsidies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: b
Question 34. Consider the following statements:
1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in
South Asia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer
Question 35. In which one of the following groups are all the four countries members of G20 ?
(a) Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey
(b) Australia, Canada, Malaysia New Zealand and
(c) Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam
(d) Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea
Answer: a
UPSC Prelims 2020 Important topics: G20 SUMMIT
Question 36. Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes ?
1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets harvesters,
2. Purchase of combine tractors and mini trucks requirements of farm
3. Consumption households
Post-harvest expenses
Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2,3,4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: b
Question 37. Consider the following statements :
1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that in Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does.
3. Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to decide on changing the key policy rates.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: a
Question 38. Consider the following pairs :
River – Flows into
1. Mekong- Andaman Sea
2. Thames – Irish Sea
3. Volga – Caspian Sea
4. Zambezi – Indian Ocean
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only
Answer: c
Question 39. Consider the following statements :
1. In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is unlimited in any State/UT of India.
2. In the case of cereals and pulses, the MSP is fixed in any State/UT at a level to which the market price will never rise. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: d
Question 40. With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements :
Commercial Paper is a short-term unsecured promissory note. ‘Certificate of Deposit is a long-term of India to a corporation. ‘Call Money’ is a short-term finance used for interbank transactions. “Zero-Coupon Bonds’ are the interest bearing short-term bonds issued by the Scheduled Commercial Banks to corporations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(a) 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: c
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