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PYQ Drill 4
A set of UPSC Prelims PYQs from Environment, Science & Tech, and Biology focused on core concepts, application-based understanding, and elimination skills.
1 / 5
Category: History
[UPSC CSE 2020]
With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
1. Aurang → In-charge of treasury of the State
2. Banian → Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mirasidar → Designated revenue payer to the State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Correct Answer: 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Aurang – In-charge of treasury ❌
Aurang refers to a warehouse/place for storage of goods, not a treasury official.
Banian – Indian agent of East India Company ✅
Banian were Indian agents, brokers, and intermediaries working with the East India Company.
Mirasidar – Designated revenue payer ✅
Mirasidars were landholders with hereditary rights, responsible for paying land revenue under systems like Ryotwari.
Core Insight: Banian (EIC agent) and Mirasidar (revenue-paying landholder) are correct; Aurang means warehouse, not treasury official.
2 / 5
Category: Misc
Consider the following pairs:
International agreement/set up — Subject
1. Alma-Ata Declaration — Healthcare of the people
2. Hague Convention — Biological and chemical weapons
3. Talanoa Dialogue — Global climate change
4. Under2 Coalition — Child rights
Correct Answer: Option (c) 1 and 3 only
Alma-Ata Declaration – Healthcare ✅
Focuses on primary healthcare and universal access (1978).
Hague Convention – Biological & chemical weapons ❌
Deals with laws of war and humanitarian issues, not specifically bio/chemical weapons.
Talanoa Dialogue – Climate change ✅
Initiative under the Paris Agreement for global climate action dialogue.
Under2 Coalition – Child rights ❌
A global initiative for climate action by states/regions, not child rights.
Core Insight: Alma-Ata (healthcare) and Talanoa Dialogue (climate) are correct; Hague and Under2 are often confused with unrelated themes.
3 / 5
Category: Science & Tech
With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:
1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body.
3. They can be used in biochemical sensors.
4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: Option (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
Statement 1 ✅
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be functionalized to carry drugs, DNA, and antigens, making them useful in targeted drug delivery.
Statement 2 ❌
CNTs are not suitable for artificial blood capillaries due to risks like toxicity and blood clotting.
Statement 3 ✅
Used in biochemical sensors due to high electrical conductivity and sensitivity.
Statement 4 ✅
Functionalized CNTs can be biodegraded by enzymes and some microorganisms.
Core Insight: CNTs are useful in drug delivery and sensors, and can be biodegradable, but are unsafe for artificial blood vessels.
4 / 5
Consider the following statements:
1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: Option (d) 1, 2 and 3
Germline gene therapy allows genetic changes in reproductive cells (egg/sperm), which can be inherited.
Statement 2 ✅
Genome editing (e.g., CRISPR) can be done at the early embryonic stage to correct genetic defects.
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be introduced into animal embryos (e.g., pig) for research in regenerative medicine.
Core Insight: Modern biotechnology enables gene editing at germline and embryonic levels, and even cross-species stem cell experiments.
5 / 5
In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of
Correct Answer: Option (a) Digital security infrastructure
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) refers to a system used for secure digital communication and authentication.
It uses cryptographic keys (public & private) to ensure data encryption, integrity, and identity verification.
Key components include:
→ Digital Certificates (electronic identity)
→ Certificate Authority (CA) (issues/authenticates certificates)
Widely used in:
→ Digital signatures
→ Secure websites (SSL)
→ Online transactions
Core Insight: PKI forms the backbone of digital security by enabling encryption and authentication in online communication.
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