UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper

Detailed Explanation:

The Chauri Chaura Incident (1922) led to the arrest of hundreds of people, many of whom were awarded severe punishments, including death sentences.

• Madan Mohan Malaviya and his son Krishna Kant provided legal defence to the accused.

• Their efforts in the Allahabad High Court helped reduce many death sentences and saved numerous people from execution.

• Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

📝 Short Notes: Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)

What Happened?

• On 4 February 1922, protesters clashed with police at Chauri Chaura Incident in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

• An angry mob set a police station on fire, resulting in the death of 22 policemen.

Impact

• The incident convinced Mahatma Gandhi that the movement was turning violent.

• As a result, Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922.

Important Fact

• Initially, 172 persons were sentenced to death by the Sessions Court. After the appeal argued by Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant, the number of death sentences was drastically reduced.

Detailed Explanation:

The Self-Respect Movement was founded by 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker in 1925 in Tamil Nadu.

• Periyar launched the movement to fight caste discrimination, social inequality, and Brahminical dominance.

• The movement promoted self-respect, rationalism, women's rights, and equality.

• Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

📝 Short Notes: Self-Respect Movement

What was the Self-Respect Movement?

• Started in 1925 by E. V. Ramasamy.

• Sought to create a society based on equality, rationalism, and social justice.

Major Objectives

• End caste-based discrimination.

• Oppose untouchability and social hierarchy.

• Promote women's rights and self-respect marriages.

• Encourage scientific thinking and rationalism.

Important Fact

• The movement became the ideological foundation of the Dravidian Movement in South India and influenced later political parties in Tamil Nadu.

Detailed Explanation:

The Portuguese played an important role in introducing several New World crops and fruits to India during the 16th and 17th centuries.

• I. Papaya ✅ – Native to Central America; introduced by the Portuguese.

• II. Pineapple ✅ – Native to South America; brought to India by the Portuguese.

• III. Guava ✅ – Native to Central America; introduced by the Portuguese.

• Therefore, all three fruits were introduced into India by the Portuguese, making Option C the correct answer.\

📝 Short Notes: Portuguese Contributions to Indian Agriculture

Major Crops/Fruits Introduced by the Portuguese

• Papaya

• Pineapple

• Guava

• Cashew

• Tobacco

• Maize

• Tomato

• Potato

• Chilli

Why is it Important?

• These crops originated in the Americas and reached India through the Columbian Exchange.

• Many of them later became an integral part of Indian agriculture and cuisine.

Important Fact

• Among all introduced crops, chilli had the most significant impact on Indian food habits.

Detailed Explanation:

The statement "Sedition has become my religion" is associated with Mahatma Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha (1930) and the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Gandhi believed that when a government becomes unjust and oppressive, non-violent resistance against it becomes a moral duty. The violation of the Salt Law at Dandi symbolized this spirit of peaceful defiance against British rule.

Why other options are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March)

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Mahendravarman I was a famous Pallava ruler known for his contributions to art, architecture, and literature.

He assumed the titles ‘Mattavilasa’, ‘Vichitrachitta’, and ‘Gunabhara’ (Gunabharata), which reflected his creative personality and intellectual interests. He also wrote the Sanskrit play Mattavilasa Prahasana.

Why other options are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: Mahendravarman I

Key Fact:
Mahendravarman I initiated the rock-cut temple architecture tradition in South India, which was later expanded by the Pallavas.

Detailed Explanation:

Among the given countries, Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, and North Macedonia are members of NATO.

• ❌ Austria is not a NATO member and follows a policy of neutrality.

• ❌ Serbia is not a NATO member, though it cooperates with NATO through the Partnership for Peace programme.

• ✅ Bulgaria (2004), ✅ Croatia (2009), ✅ North Macedonia (2020), and ✅ Sweden (2024) are NATO members.

Therefore, 4 countries are members of NATO.

Country-wise Analysis:

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement I is Correct: The AI Action Summit (Paris, February 2025) was co-chaired by India and France. It built upon the discussions held at the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit (2023) in the UK and the Seoul AI Summit (2024) in South Korea.

❌ Statement II is Incorrect: Although 58 countries signed the declaration on Inclusive and Sustainable AI, the United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the declaration due to concerns over regulatory and governance issues.

Therefore, only Statement I is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

All four pairs are correctly matched as per the United Nations declarations for upcoming international years.

✅ Pair I: International Year of the Woman Farmer — 2026
✅ Pair II: International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism — 2027
✅ Pair III: International Year of Peace and Trust — 2025
✅ Pair IV: International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence — 2029

Detailed Explanation:

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organization connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia. It promotes cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, security, energy, and tourism.

✅ Statement I is Correct: BIMSTEC had 7 member countries till January 2025 — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

❌ Statement II is Incorrect: BIMSTEC was established through the Bangkok Declaration (1997), not the Dhaka Declaration.

❌ Statement III is Incorrect: Nepal was not a founding member. The founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar.

❌ Statement IV is Incorrect: In BIMSTEC, the Tourism sector is led by Nepal, not India.

Therefore, only Statement I is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

Statement I is Incorrect: The 45th Chess Olympiad (2024) is a team-based tournament played in a Swiss-system format, not an individual knockout competition with a "final" match. While India won the gold medal and Gukesh Dommaraju won individual gold on Board 1, he did not defeat Ian Nepomniachtchi in a final; Russian teams were suspended from the 2024 Olympiad by FIDE.

Statement II is Correct: Abhimanyu Mishra, an American chess player, became the world's youngest Grandmaster in June 2021 at the age of 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, breaking the previous record held by Sergey Karjakin.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement I: Correct The inaugural Kho Kho World Cup was held in New Delhi, India, from January 13-19, 2025.

❌ Statement II: Incorrect India defeated Nepal 54-36 (not 78-40) to win the men’s final.

❌ Statement III: Incorrect India beat Nepal 78-40 (not 54-36) in the women’s final.

Additional Context: 24 countries participated, and the event was organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India with the International Kho Kho Federation.

Therefore, only Statement I is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

Statement I is Correct: The 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24, 2024. Russia held the rotating chairship for the year 2024.

Statement II is Correct: Indonesia officially announced its intention to join BRICS and has been integrated into the bloc as a full member following the 16th Summit in Kazan, as part of the group's ongoing expansion to include key emerging economies from the Global South.

Statement III is Incorrect: The official theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." The statement incorrectly uses the word "Multiculturalism," which changes the diplomatic meaning of the theme.

Detailed Explanation:

INSTC connects India → Iran → Central Asia/Russia → Europe, using a mix of sea, rail, and road.

The route looks like this: Mumbai (India) → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan/Russia → Europe, with branches reaching Central Asia too.

Why other options are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: INSTC (for Revision)

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Row 1 is Incorrect: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) enforces the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, but it works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Home Affairs.

✅ Row 2 is Correct: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) enforces provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

❌ Row 3 is Incorrect: The Directorate General of Systems and Data Management (DGSDM) mainly manages and maintains IT systems of CBIC. Big data analytics and risk assessment to detect tax evasion are performed by DGARM (Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management).

Therefore, only one row is correctly matched.

Why other rows are incorrect:

Detailed Explanation:

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha continues in office even after the House is dissolved and remains in position until just before the first meeting of the newly elected Lok Sabha. Also, the Speaker can be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of the House after giving 14 days' notice.

However, the Constitution does not require a Speaker to resign from his/her political party upon election. Political neutrality is expected as a convention, not a constitutional requirement.

Why other statements are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: Speaker of Lok Sabha

Key Fact:
The Speaker is expected to act impartially, but unlike in some countries, the Indian Constitution does not require the Speaker to give up party membership.

Detailed Explanation:

Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), State Governments have the power to make rules regarding the grant of quarry leases, mining leases, and other concessions for minor minerals.

However, the Central Government has the authority to notify which minerals will be classified as minor minerals under the Act.

Why the statements are correct/incorrect:

📝 Short Notes: Minor Minerals under MMDR Act

Key Fact:
Minor minerals are regulated mainly by State Governments, but their classification as "minor minerals" is decided by the Central Government.

Detailed Explanation:

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for an anti-corruption ombudsman at the national level. The Lokpal can investigate corruption allegations against public servants, including certain cases involving the Prime Minister.

Only Statement III is correct because a person must be at least 45 years old to become the Chairperson or a Member of the Lokpal.

Why other statements are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: Lokpal

Key Fact:
The Lokpal consists of a Chairperson and up to eight Members, with at least 50% of the Members being from SC, ST, OBC, minorities, or women.

Detailed Explanation:

Both statements are incorrect. Under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law), the decision on disqualification of MPs is made by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (or Chairman in the case of Rajya Sabha), not by the President.

Also, the term "political party" is explicitly mentioned in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with defection and party membership.

Why the statements are wrong:

📝 Short Notes: Anti-Defection Law

Key Fact:
The Anti-Defection Law was introduced to curb political instability caused by frequent party switching by elected representatives.

Detailed Explanation:

The President's pardoning power (Article 72) is not absolute. The Supreme Court can review its exercise in limited situations such as mala fide intent, arbitrariness, or consideration of irrelevant facts.

However, the President cannot exercise this power independently. Under Article 74, the President acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

Why the statements are correct/incorrect:

📝 Short Notes: Pardoning Power of the President

Key Fact:
The President can grant pardon in cases involving court-martial, Union laws, and death sentences.

Detailed Explanation:

All three statements are incorrect.

• Intermediate-level Panchayats are not mandatory in states with a population below 20 lakh.

• Minimum age to become a Panchayat member is 21 years, not 30 years.

• The Governor, not the Chief Minister, constitutes the State Finance Commission.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayats. It provides for a three-tier Panchayati Raj system, regular elections, reservation, and State Finance Commissions for financial review.