The 2014 Codex
Questions 61 to 70 (Set A)
If the interest rate is decreased in an economy, it will
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) increase the investment expenditure in the economy
This tests the fundamental relationship between interest rates and macroeconomic activity.
When a central bank (like the RBI) decreases interest rates, the cost of borrowing money drops significantly. For businesses and entrepreneurs, cheaper loans mean they can borrow more capital to build factories, buy machinery, and expand operations. This directly increases the investment expenditure in the economy. Simultaneously, low interest rates discourage people from keeping money in savings accounts (because returns are low), decreasing total savings (making D false) and usually increasing consumption (making A false).
Route: [REALM 114: Monetary Policy Transmission]The Borrowing Boom
The Constitutional Seal
Consider the following statements:
1. The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Official Key: (a) 1 only
This tests the precise wording of Article 77 of the Indian Constitution, which dictates the conduct of business of the Government of India.
Statement 1 is True: Under Article 77(3), the President (acting on the advice of the cabinet) shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation of that business among the Ministers.
Statement 2 is False: While the Prime Minister holds the real executive power, Article 77(1) explicitly states that ALL executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the President (not the Prime Minister).
Route: [REALM 76: The President & Conduct of Government Business]Consider the following statements regarding a No-Confidence Motion in India:
1. There is no mention of a No-Confidence Motion in the Constitution of India.
2. A Motion of No-Confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) Both 1 and 2
The No-Confidence Motion is the ultimate weapon of accountability in a parliamentary democracy.
Statement 1 is True: The term "No-Confidence Motion" is nowhere explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. The Constitution only broadly states under Article 75(3) that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. The actual procedure for the No-Confidence Motion is detailed strictly in Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
Statement 2 is True: Because the government's survival depends solely on enjoying the confidence of the directly elected lower house, a No-Confidence Motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has no power to remove the government.
Route: [REALM 137: Parliamentary Motions & Rules]The Ultimate Motion
The Village Pharmacy
With reference to Neem tree, consider the following statements:
1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites.
2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents.
3. Neem oil has applications in pharmaceutical industry.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 1 and 3 only
Neem (Azadirachta indica) is renowned in India for its immense biological utility.
- 1 is True: Neem oil contains azadirachtin, a highly potent natural pesticide/insecticide that disrupts the growth and feeding of hundreds of species of insects and mites.
- 3 is True: Because of its strong antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, neem oil is extensively used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries (soaps, skin ointments).
- 2 is False: While some isolated experimental research might exist anywhere in the world, commercially and conventionally, neem seeds are not the source for biodiesel (Jatropha and Pongamia are the standard biodiesel crops in India) nor are they the standard base for heavy-duty hospital detergents. The UPSC key rejects this statement.
Which one of the following is the process involved in photosynthesis?
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Official Key: (b) Free energy is converted into potential energy and stored
This tests the fundamental thermodynamic definition of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is an anabolic process where plants capture sunlight (which acts as kinetic/free energy) and use it to combine carbon dioxide and water. The result is glucose (food). The sunlight's energy is physically locked into the chemical bonds of the glucose molecule, meaning it is stored as chemical potential energy.
Note: Options (c) and (d) describe cellular respiration (the exact opposite process), where food is broken down using oxygen to release energy, CO2, and water.
Route: [REALM 143: Plant Physiology & Photosynthesis]The Energy Lock
The Unique Markers
In addition to fingerprint scanning, which of the following can be used in the biometric identification of a person?
1. Iris scanning
2. Retinal scanning
3. Voice recognition
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Biometrics relies on identifying individuals based on unique physiological or behavioral characteristics.
- 1. Iris scanning: Scans the unique patterns of the colored ring of the eye (extensively used in Aadhaar).
- 2. Retinal scanning: Scans the unique complex network of blood vessels at the back of the eye (highly secure, used in military/intel).
- 3. Voice recognition: Analyzes the unique acoustic patterns and physical structure of a person's vocal tract (widely used in modern banking and smart assistants).
Thus, all three are scientifically proven and commercially used biometric identifiers.
Route: [REALM 496: IT & Biometric Technologies]Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?
1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 1 and 3 only
Vegetative propagation is a form of asexual reproduction using plant parts (stems, roots, leaves) rather than seeds.
- 1 is True: Because it is asexual (no mixing of genetics via pollen/seeds), the new plants are exact genetic copies (clones) of the parent plant.
- 3 is True: Unlike sexual reproduction which requires waiting for specific flowering and fruiting seasons, vegetative techniques (like grafting or cutting) can be done across most parts of the year in controlled environments.
- 2 is False: This is a major biological trap. Vegetative propagation actually spreads and preserves viruses. If the parent stem is infected with a virus, the clone will also carry the virus. (To eliminate viruses, scientists must use a highly specific lab technique called Apical Meristem Tissue Culture, not standard vegetative propagation).
The Clonal Cut
The Solar Explorers
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft : Purpose
| 1. Cassini-Huygens | Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth |
| 2. Messenger | Mapping and investigating the Mercury |
| 3. Voyager 1 and 2 | Exploring the outer solar system |
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 2 and 3 only
This maps historic NASA/ESA interplanetary missions to their target planets.
- 2. Messenger: True. It was NASA's robotic space probe that orbited and investigated the planet Mercury.
- 3. Voyager 1 and 2: True. Launched in 1977, they were built specifically to explore the outer solar system (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) and have now entered interstellar space.
- 1. Cassini-Huygens: False. This was a legendary flagship mission sent specifically to orbit and study the rings and moons of Saturn. It had absolutely nothing to do with Venus.
Consider the following pairs: Region : Well-known for the production of
| 1. Kinnaur | Areca nut |
| 2. Mewat | Mango |
| 3. Coromandel | Soya bean |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
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Official Key: (d) None
This is a classic "all false" geographic mismatch designed to test common sense regarding crop climates.
- 1. Kinnaur: A freezing, high-altitude district in Himachal Pradesh. It is world-famous for apples and pine nuts (chilgoza). Areca nut (betel nut) is a tropical palm crop requiring heavy coastal rain (Kerala/Karnataka).
- 2. Mewat: A dry, semi-arid region in Haryana. It is not famous for Mangoes. Mangoes thrive in UP (Malihabad) or Maharashtra (Alphonso).
- 3. Coromandel: The eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. Soya bean is a central Indian crop, vastly dominating the black soils of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is not grown on the tropical Coromandel coast.
The Climate Mismatches
The Molecular Alteration
Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change?
1. Crystallization of sodium chloride
2. Melting of ice
3. Souring of milk
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 3 only
A chemical change occurs when bonds are broken and reformed to create a completely new chemical substance. Physical changes only alter the state or appearance of the substance.
- 1. Crystallization of sodium chloride: Salt dissolving and recrystallizing from water is purely a physical state change. It remains NaCl.
- 2. Melting of ice: Ice turning to water is a physical change of state. It remains H2O.
- 3. Souring of milk: This is a chemical change. Bacteria in the milk undergo fermentation, chemically breaking down lactose sugars and converting them into a new substance (lactic acid), which irreversibly curdles the proteins.