UPSC Prelims 2014 Question Paper
Explore the complete solved question paper for UPSC Prelims 2014 featuring 100 solved questions with bilingual (English & Hindi) explanations, official answer key, and subject weightage breakdown.
If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there?
- Oak
- Rhododendron
- Sandalwood
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Oak trees are commonly found in the temperate forests of the Himalayas at mid-altitudes (1500-3000 m), thriving in cool, moist conditions.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Rhododendron is a characteristic flowering shrub of the Himalayas, found abundantly in the alpine and sub-alpine zones with vibrant blooms.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Sandalwood grows in tropical and sub-tropical dry regions of southern and peninsular India, not in the Himalayan climate.
Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms?
- Continental drift
- Glacial cycles
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Continental drift separated landmasses over millions of years, creating geographic barriers that isolated populations and led to allopatric speciation (e.g., unique species in Madagascar and Australia).
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Glacial cycles caused repeated expansion and contraction of ice sheets, altered sea levels and habitats, and drove evolutionary adaptations, migrations, and extinctions (e.g., Ice Age megafauna evolution).
The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of -
Detailed Explanation:
Monsoon climate is characterized by seasonal reversal of winds – in summer, winds blow from ocean to land bringing heavy rainfall, and in winter, winds blow from land to ocean bringing dry conditions.
Equatorial climate has convectional rainfall throughout the year with no seasonal wind reversal, while Mediterranean climate experiences westerlies in winter and subtropical high pressure in summer, not true wind reversal.
🧐 Not Sure What to Study Next?
Get a personalised study plan based on your goals, time and revision needs.
What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north?
- Bangkok
- Hanoi
- Jakarta
- Singapore
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Jakarta (Indonesia) is located at approximately 6°S latitude, making it the southernmost city.
Singapore lies at approximately 1°N latitude, just north of the equator.
Bangkok (Thailand) is situated at approximately 13°N latitude.
Hanoi (Vietnam) is located at approximately 21°N latitude, making it the northernmost city.
Therefore, the correct south-to-north sequence is: Jakarta → Singapore → Bangkok → Hanoi (3-4-1-2).
Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?
- Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
- Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
- Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
- Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Dams and barrages fragment river habitats, restrict migration, isolate dolphin populations, and reduce prey availability.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Crocodile population increase is not a documented cause of dolphin decline; both species coexist in healthy river ecosystems.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Accidental entanglement in fishing nets (gillnets) is a major cause of mortality, leading to drowning of dolphins.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Agricultural chemical runoff pollutes rivers, contaminating prey species and causing bioaccumulation of toxins in dolphins.
Consider the following statements:
- Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
- National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, not the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 for implementation of Project Tiger.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and chaired by the Prime Minister (replaced by National Ganga Council in 2016).
The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2 °C above the pre-industrial level. If the global temperature increases beyond 3°C above the pre-industrial level, what can be its possible impact/impacts on the world?
- Terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net carbon source
- Widespread coral mortality will occur.
- All the global wetlands will permanently disappear.
- Cultivation of cereals will not be possible anywhere in the world.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Beyond 3°C warming, ecosystem tipping points like forest dieback and permafrost thaw cause the terrestrial biosphere to shift from carbon sink to carbon source, releasing more CO₂ than absorbed.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Coral reefs face 99% loss at 2°C warming; at 3°C, widespread coral mortality becomes catastrophic and irreversible globally.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The term "all wetlands" and "permanently disappear" is extreme; many wetlands would be severely degraded or lost, but complete global disappearance is scientifically implausible.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: The term "anywhere in the world" is an overstatement; while cereal cultivation would face severe disruption and crop failures, high-latitude regions might still support limited production.
With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statements:
- ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilizes the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in the electricity generation process.
- Photovoltaics generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
- India has a manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Photovoltaics (PV) directly converts light into electricity using semiconductor materials, while Solar Thermal uses concentrated sunlight to generate heat, which drives turbines for electricity generation.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Photovoltaic systems generate Direct Current (DC), which is converted to AC through inverters. Solar Thermal systems produce AC electricity directly through conventional turbine-generator systems.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: India has a strong manufacturing base for Photovoltaics (companies like Adani Solar, Vikram Solar, Tata Power Solar), while Solar Thermal manufacturing is limited to small-scale applications like water heaters.
Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of
Detailed Explanation:
Lichens are a symbiotic association of algae (or cyanobacteria) and fungi.
The fungal partner (mycobiont) provides shelter, water, and minerals, while the algal partner (phycobiont) performs photosynthesis to produce food. Lichens are pioneer species in ecological succession on bare rocks.
Brominated flame retardants are used in many household products like mattresses and upholstery. Why is there some concern about their use?
- They are highly resistant to degradation in the environment.
- They are able to accumulate in humans and animals.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are highly resistant to environmental degradation, remaining in ecosystems for extended periods.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: BFRs are lipophilic (fat-soluble) and undergo bioaccumulation in fatty tissues of humans and animals, leading to potential endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity.
Which of the following adds/add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on the planet Earth?
- Volcanic action
- Respiration
- Photosynthesis
- The decay of organic matter
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Volcanic eruptions release CO₂ trapped in the Earth's mantle and crust into the atmosphere.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Respiration by living organisms releases CO₂ as a byproduct of cellular metabolism.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Photosynthesis removes CO₂ from the atmosphere; plants use it to produce glucose and oxygen.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Decomposition of dead organic matter by decomposers releases CO₂ back into the atmosphere.
With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) serves as the official financial mechanism for both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing grants and funding for environmental projects in developing countries.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The GEF is a financial organization, not a scientific research body. Scientific research on environmental issues is conducted by organizations like IPCC (climate) and IPBES (biodiversity).
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The GEF is an independent financial organization established in 1991, not an agency under the OECD. It operates as a partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
If you walk through the countryside, you are likely to see some birds stalking alongside the cattle to seize the insects, disturbed by their movement through grasses, Which of the following is/are such bird/birds?
- Painted Stork
- Common Myna
- Black-necked Crane
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Painted Storks are wading birds that feed on fish, frogs, and aquatic insects in shallow water bodies; they do not follow cattle through grasslands.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Common Mynas are insectivorous birds commonly seen following cattle and grazing animals to catch insects disturbed by their movement through grasses.
✅ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Black-necked Cranes are primarily herbivorous, feeding on grains, tubers, and aquatic plants; they are not known for insect-hunting behavior alongside cattle.
What is the significance of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative’?
- Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
- Drip irrigation can be practised very effectively in this.
- There is no application of chemical/ inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
- The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: SSI uses single-bud chip setts raised in nurseries instead of traditional multi-budded setts, reducing seed requirement from ~3 tonnes/acre to just 75 kg, significantly lowering seed cost.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Wide spacing (4-5 feet between rows) in SSI enables highly effective use of drip irrigation, maintaining optimal moisture levels and reducing water consumption compared to flood irrigation.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: SSI promotes judicious use of fertilizers and encourages organic inputs/bio-fertilizers but does not mandate complete exclusion of chemical/inorganic fertilizers; it focuses on efficient application.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Wider row spacing in SSI provides ample space and sunlight for intercropping with pulses, vegetables, or oilseeds, offering greater scope than conventional dense planting methods.
There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in the manufacture of various products. Why?
- They can accumulate in the environment, and contaminate water and soil.
- They can enter food chains.
- They can trigger the production of free radicals.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Nanoparticles are extremely small (1-100 nm) and resistant to degradation, allowing them to persist and accumulate in soil and water bodies, contaminating the environment.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Due to their microscopic size, nanoparticles can be absorbed by plants and microorganisms, entering the food chain and undergoing biomagnification at higher trophic levels.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Certain nanoparticles can induce oxidative stress in cells by triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals, which damage DNA, proteins, and cell membranes, potentially causing inflammation and cancer.
With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities, in those zones except agriculture.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are declared under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the MoEFCC, not under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. ESZs are created around Protected Areas (national parks/sanctuaries) as buffer zones.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: ESZs do not prohibit all human activities. They aim to regulate activities through zoning—allowing permitted activities (agriculture, ongoing agriculture, existing rights), regulated activities (tourism, construction), and prohibited activities (mining, polluting industries). The purpose is sustainable development, not complete prohibition.
If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?
Detailed Explanation:
The Montreux Record is a register under the Ramsar Convention that lists wetlands of international importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to human interference (pollution, development, etc.).
It serves as an early warning system and triggers priority conservation attention, but does not impose any legal prohibitions on human activities or grant World Heritage status.
Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?
Detailed Explanation:
The Gond and Korku tribes of Madhya Pradesh (particularly Betul and Harda districts) celebrate the Hari Jiroti festival during the monsoon season.
This month-long ecological campaign involves planting saplings of fruit-bearing trees, reflecting traditional practices of biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management by these indigenous communities.
Consider the following pairs
| Wetlands | Confluence of rivers |
|---|---|
| 1. Harike Wetlands | Beas and Satluj/Sutlej |
| 2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park | Banas and Chambal |
| 3. Kolleru Lake | Confluence of Musi and Krishna |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Harike Wetlands is a Ramsar site in Punjab, formed at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan) is located at the confluence of Gambhir and Banganga rivers, not Banas and Chambal.
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh) lies between the Krishna and Godavari river deltas and is fed by seasonal streams, not at the confluence of Musi and Krishna rivers.
Which of the following have coral reefs?
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Gulf of Kutch
- Gulf of Mannar
- Sunderbans
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Andaman and Nicobar Islands have extensive fringing coral reefs along their coasts, forming one of India's richest marine biodiversity zones.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Gulf of Kutch contains coral reefs in the northern Arabian Sea, declared as India's first Marine National Park in 1982.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka hosts 21 islands with fringing coral reefs, recognized as a Marine Biosphere Reserve.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Sundarbans is a mangrove delta ecosystem with brackish water and muddy substrate, unsuitable for coral reef formation which requires clear saline water.
UPSC Prelims 2014 Questions Paper - Subject-wise Question Distribution
Environment & Ecology
28 Qs (28%)Indian Art & Culture
14 Qs (14%)Indian Economy
14 Qs (14%)Indian Polity
10 Qs (10%)Science & Technology
9 Qs (9%)Indian Geography
7 Qs (7%)Modern History
5 Qs (5%)World Geography
5 Qs (5%)International Relations
4 Qs (4%)Medieval History
2 Qs (2%)Ancient History
1 Qs (1%)Current Affairs
1 Qs (1%)UPSC Prelims 2014 Question Paper - FAQs & Analysis
Q1 How many total questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2014?
Q2 What is the subject-wise question breakdown for UPSC Prelims 2014?
- Environment & Ecology: 28 questions (28%)
- Indian Art & Culture: 14 questions (14%)
- Indian Economy: 14 questions (14%)
- Indian Polity: 10 questions (10%)
- Science & Technology: 9 questions (9%)
- Indian Geography: 7 questions (7%)
- Modern History: 5 questions (5%)
- World Geography: 5 questions (5%)
- International Relations: 4 questions (4%)
- Medieval History: 2 questions (2%)
- Ancient History: 1 questions (1%)
- Current Affairs: 1 questions (1%)