[DAY 44] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES for UPSC Prelims 2023 – GEOGRAPHY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT TEST SERIES!

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

Environmental Determinism

• Environmental determinism is the belief that the environment, most notably its physical factors such as landforms and climate, determines the patterns of human culture and societal development. Environmental determinists believe that ecological, climatic, and geographical factors alone are responsible for human cultures and individual decisions. Also, social conditions have virtually no impact on cultural development.
• The main argument of environmental determinism states that an area’s physical characteristics like climate have a substantial impact on the psychological outlook of its inhabitants. These different outlooks then spread throughout a population and help define the overall behavior and culture of a society. For instance, it was said that areas in the tropics were less developed than higher latitudes because the continuously warm weather there made it easier to survive and thus, people living there did not work as hard to ensure their survival.
• Another example of environmental determinism would be the theory that island nations have unique cultural traits solely because of their isolation from continental societies.
• Option b is definition of doctrine of Possibilism, option c is the definition of doctrine of neo determinism and option d is the explanation of the term Climate justice.

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

Environmental Determinism

• Environmental determinism is the belief that the environment, most notably its physical factors such as landforms and climate, determines the patterns of human culture and societal development. Environmental determinists believe that ecological, climatic, and geographical factors alone are responsible for human cultures and individual decisions. Also, social conditions have virtually no impact on cultural development.
• The main argument of environmental determinism states that an area’s physical characteristics like climate have a substantial impact on the psychological outlook of its inhabitants. These different outlooks then spread throughout a population and help define the overall behavior and culture of a society. For instance, it was said that areas in the tropics were less developed than higher latitudes because the continuously warm weather there made it easier to survive and thus, people living there did not work as hard to ensure their survival.
• Another example of environmental determinism would be the theory that island nations have unique cultural traits solely because of their isolation from continental societies.
• Option b is definition of doctrine of Possibilism, option c is the definition of doctrine of neo determinism and option d is the explanation of the term Climate justice.

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION

• Demographic transition theory can be used to describe and predict the future population of any area.
• The theory tells us that population of any region changes from high births and high deaths to low births and low deaths as society progresses from rural agrarian and illiterate to urban industrial and literate society.
• These changes occur in stages which are collectively known as the demographic cycle.

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

The annual population growth rates of all the continents of the world according to the United Nations’ World Population Prospects 2021 report:

1. Africa: 2.53%
2. Asia: 0.91%
3. Europe: 0.05%
4. Latin America and the Caribbean: 0.72%
5. Northern America: 0.50%
6. Oceania: 1.24%

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

• Push factors are circumstances or conditions that drive people to leave their homes and seek opportunities elsewhere.
• Factors such as unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, and unpleasant climate are often cited as reasons why people might leave their homes and migrate to other places.
• In contrast, job opportunities, religious freedom, and better infrastructure are more likely to be considered as pull factors that attract individuals to a particular place

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

The number of women in a population does not necessarily indicate that they have a better status in that region. Women may still face gender-based discrimination and inequalities in various areas, such as education, employment, and political representation, despite their numerical advantage in the population. Therefore, it is essential to consider other factors that affect the status of women in a region, such as cultural and social norms, legal frameworks, and access to resources and opportunities.Hence statement 1 is incorrect

Women are biologically more stronger than men and hence tend to outlive their male counterparts, finds a study challenging the per-conceived notion that the female sex is weaker. The findings showed that women do not just outlive men in normal times, but they are also more likely to survive even in the worst of circumstances such as famines and epidemics. Women’s increased life expectancy is because they tend to have a survival advantage in infancy rather than adulthood. In times of adversity, newborn girls are more likely to survive than newborn boys.Hence statement 2 is correct

Solution: (d)

Explanation:

• The Age-Sex Pyramid is a graphical representation of the distribution of a population by age and sex. It shows the number or percentage of males and females in different age groups.Hence statement 1 is correct
• The Age-Sex Pyramid typically shows the percentage or number of males on the left-hand side and the percentage or number of females on the right-hand side.Hence Statement 2 is Incorrect
• Australia’s age-sex pyramid is typically bell-shaped, with a wider base representing a larger proportion of younger people, and a narrower top representing a smaller proportion of older people.Hence statement 3 is correct

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

RURAL URBAN COMPOSITION

• The division of population into rural and urban is based on the residence. This division is necessary because rural and urban life styles differ from each other in terms of their Livelihood and social conditions. The age-sex-occupational structure, density of population and level of development vary between rural and urban areas.
• The criteria for differentiating rural and urban population varies from country to country. In general terms rural areas are those where people are engaged in primary activities and urban areas are those when majority of the working population is engaged-in non-primary activities.
• The rural and urban differences in sex ratio in Canada and West European countries like Finland are just the opposite of those in African and Asian countries like Zimbabwe and Nepal respectively.
• In Western countries, males outnumber females in rural areas and females outnumber the males in urban areas. In countrieslike Nepal, Pakistan and India the case is reverse.
• The excess of females in urban areas of U.S.A., Canada and Europe is the result of influx of females from rural areas to avail of the vast job opportunities. Farming in these developed countries is also highly mechanised and remains largely a male occupation. By contrast the sex ratio in Asian urban areas remains male dominated due to the predominance of male migration. It is also worth noting that in countries like India, female participation in farming activity in rural area is fairly high. Shortage of housing, high cost of living, paucity of job opportunities and lack of security in cities, discourage women to migrate from rural to urban areas.

Solution: (d)

Explanation:

Growth and Development

• Both growth and development refer to changes over a period of time.
• The difference is that growth is quantitative and value neutral. It may have a positive or a negative sign. This means that the change may be either positive (showing an increase) or negative (indicating a decrease).
• Development means a qualitative change which is always value positive. This means that development cannot take place unless there is an increment or addition to the existing conditions. Development occurs when positive growth takes place. Yet, positive growth does not always lead to development. Development occurs when there is a positive change in quality.
• For example, if the population of a city grows from one lakh to two lakhs over a period of time, we say the city has grown. However, if a facilities like housing, provision of basic services and other characteristics remain the same, then this growth has not been accompanied by development.

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

The origins of the HDI are found in the annual Human Development Reports produced by the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These were devised and launched by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq in 1990, and had the explicit purpose “to shift the focus of development economics from national income accounting to people-centered policies”. Haq believed that a simple composite measure of human development was needed to convince the public, academics, and politicians that they can and should evaluate development not only by economic advances but also improvements in human well-being.

Solution: (d)

Explanation:

(a) Income Approach: This is one of the oldest approaches to human development. Human development is seen as being linked to income. The idea is that the level of income reflects the level of freedom an individual enjoys. Higher the level of income, the higher is the level of human development.

(b) Welfare Approach: This approach looks at human beings as beneficiaries or targets of all development activities. The approach argues for higher government expenditure on education, health, social secondary and amenities. People are not participants in development but only passive recipients. The government is responsible for increasing levels of human development by maximising expenditure on welfare.

(c) Basic Needs Approach: This approach was initial ly proposed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Six basic needs i.e.: health, education, food, water supply, sanitation, and housing were identified. The question of human choices is ignored and the emphasis is on the provision of basic needs of defined sections.

(d) Capability Approach: This approach is associated with Prof. Amartya Sen. Building human capabilities in the areas of health, education and access to resources is the key to increasing human development.

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

Characteristics of Intensive subsistence agriculture:

(a) Dominated by rice crop,

(b) Land holdings are very small

(c) Family labor is used

(d) Less use of machine

(e) Manual labor is used

(f) Farm yard manure is used 

(g) Yield per unit is high but per labor is low 

Capital intensive and scientific method of cultivation are characteristics of Extensive agriculture

Solution: (d)

Explanation:

Suburbanisation

• It is a new trend of people moving away from congested urban areas to cleaner areas outside the city in search of a better quality of living.
• Important suburbs develop around major cities and everyday thousands of people commute from their homes in the sub urbs to their work places in the city.
• Sub-urbanization is inversely related to urbanization (urbanisation), which denotes a population shift from rural areas into urban centers.
• As a consequence of the movement of households and businesses out of the city centers, low-density, peripheral urban areas grow.
• Many residents of metropolitan regions work within the central urban area, but live outside of it, in satellite communities called suburbs, and commute to work by car or mass transit.
• Others have the opportunity to work from home, due to technological advances. Suburbanization often occurs in more economically developed countries.
• The United States is believed to be the first country in which the majority of the population lived in suburbs rather than cities or rural areas.
• Proponents of containing the urban sprawl argue that the sprawl leads to urban decay and a concentration of lower-income residents in the inner city,in addition to environmental harm.

Solution: (d)

Explanation:

Types of Settlements

Settlements may also be classified by their shape, patterns types. The major types classified by shape are:

• Compact or Nucleated settlements: These settlements are those in which large number of houses are built very close to each other. Such settlements develop along river valleys and in fertile plains. Communities are closely knit and share common occupations.
• Dispersed Settlements: In these settlements, houses are spaced far apart and often interspersed with fields. A cultural feature such as a place of worship or a market, binds the settlement together.

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

Towns and cities are classified into the following categories.

Administrative Towns

National capitals, which house the administrative offices of central governments, such as New Delhi, Canberra, Beijing, Addis Ababa, Washington D.C., and London etc. are called administrative towns. Provincial (sub-national) towns can also have administrative functions, for example, Victoria (British Columbia), Albany (New York), Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

Trading and Commercial Towns

Agricultural market towns, such as, Winnipeg and Kansas city; banking and financial centres like Frankfurt and Amsterdam; large inland centres like Manchester and St Louis; and transport nodes such as, Lahore, Baghdad and Agra have been important trading centres.

Cultural Towns

Places of pilgrimage, such as Jerusalem, Mecca, Jagannath Puri and Varanasi etc. are considered cultural towns. These urban centres are of great religious importance.

Additional functions which the cities perform are health and recreation (Miami and Panaji ),  industrial (Pittsburgh and Jamshedpur), mining and quarrying (Broken Hill and Dhanbad) and transport (Singapore and Mughal Sarai).

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

Urban Settlements

 Rapid urban growth is a recent phenomenon. Until recent times, few settlements reached the population size of more than a few thousand inhabitants. The first urban settlement to reach a population of one million was the city of London by around. A.D. 1810 By 1982 approximately 175 cities in the world had crossed the one million population mark. Presently 54 per cent of the world’s population lives in urban settlements compared to only 3 per cent in the year 1800

Solution: (b)

Explanation:

Types of Urban Settlements

Depending on the size and the services available and functions rendered, urban centres are designated as town, city, million city, conurbation, megalopolis.

Town

The concept of ‘town’ can best be understood with reference to‘village’. Population size is not the only criterion. Functional contrasts between towns and villages may not always be clear- cut, but specific functions such as, manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, and professional services exist in towns.

City

A city may be regarded as a leading town, which has outstripped its local or regional rivals. In the words of Lewis Mumford, “ the city is in fact the physical form of the highest and most complex type of associative life”. Cities are much larger than towns and have a greater number of economic functions. They tend to have transport terminals, major financial institutions and regional administrative offices. When the population crosses the one million mark it is designated as a million city.

Conurbation

The term conurbation was coined by Patrick Geddes in 1915 and applied to a large area of urban development that resulted from the merging of originally separate towns or cities. Greater London, Manchester, Chicago and Tokyo are examples.

Megalopolis

This Greek word meaning “great city”, was popularised by Jean Gottman (1957) and signifies ‘super- metropolitan’ region extending, as  union of conurbations. The urban landscape stretching from Boston in the north to south of Washington in U.S.A. is the best known example of a megalopolis.

Solution: (c)

Explanation:

The growth rate of population in India over the last one century has been caused by annual birth rate and death rate and rate of migration and thereby shows different trends. There are four distinct phases of growth identified within this period:

Phase I : The period from 1901-1921 is referred to as a period of stagnant or stationary phase of growth of India’s population, since in this period growth rate was very low, even recording a negative growth rate during 1911-1921. Both the birth rate and death rate were high keeping the rate of increase low. Poor health and medical services, illiteracy of people at large and inefficient distribution system of food and other basic necessities were largely responsible for a high birth and death rates in this period.

Phase II : The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of steady population growth. An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate. At

the same time better transport and communication system improved distribution system. The crude birth rate remained high in this period leading to higher growth rate than the previous phase. This is impressive at the backdrop of Great Economic Depression, 1920s and World War II.

Phase III : The decades 1951-1981 are referred to as the period of population explosion in India, which was caused by a rapid fall in the mortality rate but a high fertility rate of population in the country. The average annual growth rate was as high as 2.2 per cent. It is in this period, after the Independence, that developmental activities were introduced through a centralised planning process and economy started showing up ensuring the improvement of living condition of people at large. Consequently, there was a high natural increase and higher growth rate. Besides, increased international migration bringing in Tibetans, Bangladeshis, Nepalis and even people from Pakistan contributed to the high growth rate.

Phase IV : In the post 1981 till present, the growth rate of country’s population though remained high, has started slowing down gradually . A downward trend of crude birth rate is held responsible for such a population growth. This was, in turn, affected by an increase in the mean age at marriage, improved quality of life particularly education of females in the country.

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

Solution: (a)

Explanation:

Total Population in 2011 is 121.09 crores.(Census Data)

1. Hindu 96.63 crores (79.8%)
2. Muslim 17.22 crores (14.2%)
3. Christian 2.78 crores (2.3%)
4. Sikh 2.08 crores (1.7%)
5. Buddhist 0.84 crores (0.7%)
6. Jain 0.45 crores (0.4%)
7. Other Religions & Persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crores (0.7%)
8. Religion Not Stated 0.29 crores (0.2%)

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Seagrasses are the only flowering plants which grow in marine environments. Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons. Seagrasses have roots, stems, and leaves and produce flowers and seeds. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific hold the highest diversity of seagrasses in the world, supporting 14 different species. This is probably because seagrasses evolved first in this part of the world. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• Like all autotrophic plants, seagrasses photosynthesize, in the submerged photic zone, and most occur in shallow and sheltered coastal waters anchored in sand or mud bottoms. Like all autotrophic plants, seagrasses photosynthesize, in the submerged photic zone, and most occur in shallow and sheltered coastal waters anchored in sand or mud bottoms. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The Financial Stability Board (FSB) is an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system. The FSB was established to: promote coordination and information exchange among authorities responsible for financial stability, monitor and advise on market developments and their implications for regulatory policy, Monitor and advise on best practice in meeting regulatory standards among other objectives. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The FSB has 71 member institutions, comprising ministries of finance, central banks, and supervisory and regulatory authorities from 25 jurisdictions as well as 13 international organizations and standard-setting bodies, and 6 Regional Consultative Groups reaching out to 65 other jurisdictions around the world. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The FSB is a member-driven organisation and decisions are taken by consensus. The Plenary is the sole decision-making body of the FSB. It consists of representatives of all Members. The Steering Committee provides operational guidance between Plenary meetings to carry forward the directions of the FSB and prepare the Plenary meetings in order to allow the Plenary to efficiently fulfil its mandate. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• It is a sea-to-ground and ground-to-ground system which comprises a long-range ballistic missile, a unique launcher, a command and control system, and a ground/marine support system. It provides ballistic assault capabilities for multiple ranges with a precision level of 10 meters CEP (circular error probable). The LORA uses a shaped trajectory flight mode. LORA is stored in a sealed canister, enabling very low maintenance costs. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Its guidance system is based on both the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Inertial Navigation System (INS), with possible in-flight maneuvering capability. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Section 109 of Chapter XVIII Chapter of Central Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 Act empowers the Central Government to constitute an Appellate Tribunal known as the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing on the recommendation of Council, by notification, with effect from such date as may be specified therein on the recommendation of GST Council. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the form of the second appeal in GST laws and the first common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and States. The appeals against the orders in first appeals issued by the Appellate Authorities under the Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST) Acts lie before the GST Appellate Tribunal. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanii, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are proven biofilm-forming bacteria. Researchers from ARCI, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a nanocomposite coating ((named at ARCI as ATL)) by combining water repellence and biocidal property (combinatorial approach), which exhibits both hydrophobic and biocidal behaviour. ATL was deposited on different surgical sutures made of silk, nylon, and polyglactin 910 (vicryl) in addition to surgical instrument grade stainless steel 420 coupons and tested for biofilm inhibition against American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and clinical isolate strains of proven biofilm-forming bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanii, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (c)

Explanation:

There are two series in the given series alternatively

1st one 14,12,9,4,…

2nd one 15,16,18,21..

The next number will belong to the 1st series.

The rule of the 1st series is 14, 14−2, 12−3, 9−5, 4−7

Next number is 4−7 = −3

Solution (a)

Explanation:

The sequence follows the rule: Term 2 = Term 1 × 1 + 8, Term 3 = Term 2 × 2 + 7, Term 4 = Term 3 × 3 + 6, Term 5 = Term 4 × 4 + 5, Term 6 = Term 5 × 5 + 4,

So, the new series is 3, 11, 29, 93, 337, and 1889

Solution (b)

Explanation:

Given sequence consists of two series.

1, 7, 13, i.e., difference between consecutive numbers is 6.

2, 7, 12, i.e., difference between consecutive numbers is 5.

So, next number in the first series is 19.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

The series follows pattern as,

(D + 1)(J + 2)(Q + 3)(C + 4) = ELTG

(E + 1)(L +2)(T + 3)(G + 4) = FNWK

(F + 1)(N +2)(W + 3)(K + 4) = GPZO

(G + 1)(P +2)(Z + 3)(O + 4) = HRCS

The correct answer is option a.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

The main idea of the paragraph is that challenging the dominant hypothesis that language evolved in order to facilitate exchange of factual information; an alternative view holds that language evolved in order to facilitate social bonding and improve chances of survival. Option b captures all key ideas.

Option a incorrectly uses the word “invented”. Option c talks about language “continuously evolving to higher forms”. The paragraph does not state this.

Option d states “experts” are challenging the “narrow” view of origin of language. The paragraph only talks about “an alternative view”.