130. Which statement is correct:
(1) India does not import apples from the USA;
(2) importing GM food without competent approval is prohibited?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, GS Paper I — 2024]
(A) Both statements correct and 2 explains 1
(B) Both correct, but 2 does not explain 1
(C) Statement 1 alone correct
(D) Statement 2 alone correct
Answer: (D) Statement 2 alone correct
Explanation: India has imported apples from the United States, making the first statement false. Importing genetically modified food requires appropriate regulatory approval, making the second true. This separates agricultural trade practice from the rules governing genetically modified foods.
129. Which is correct about Venezuela:
(1) it rapidly recovered and stopped emigration;
(2) it has the world’s largest proven oil reserves?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, GS Paper I — 2024]
(A) Both correct, and 2 explains 1
(B) Both correct, but 2 does not explain 1
(C) Only 1 correct
(D) Only 2 correct
Answer: (D) Only 2 correct
Explanation: Venezuela has exceptionally large proved oil reserves, but prolonged economic distress contributed to mass emigration. Resource abundance does not guarantee macroeconomic stability. Oil dependence, institutional performance, sanctions and inflation all help explain the contrasting statements.
128. Which set of Union Territories had the highest population densities in Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (24 September, Shift 1) — 2024]
(A) Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Puducherry
(B) Delhi, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu
(C) Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry
(D) Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh
Answer: (C) Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry
Explanation: Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry ranked among the densest Union Territories in 2011. High density can arise from intensive urban settlement and small territorial area. Historical UT boundaries must be used when interpreting Census 2011 data.
127. What was India’s annual exponential population-growth rate according to Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (24 September, Shift 3) — 2024]
(A) 1.10%
(B) 1.64%
(C) 4.34%
(D) 3.54%
Answer: (B) 1.64%
Explanation: The cited 2011 Census statistic was an annual exponential growth rate of 1.64 percent. Exponential rates summarise growth across time and differ from decadal percentage increases. Population change reflects births, deaths and net international migration.
126. What were the gains in male and female literacy rates from Census 2001 to 2011, respectively?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (23 September, Shift 3) — 2024]
(A) 3.88 and 13.79 percentage points
(B) 5.88 and 12.79 percentage points
(C) 6.88 and 11.79 percentage points
(D) 4.88 and 10.79 percentage points
Answer: (C) 6.88 and 11.79 percentage points
Explanation: The census comparison shows male literacy rising by 6.88 percentage points and female literacy by 11.79. Faster improvement among women narrowed the literacy gap, although women’s literacy level remained below men’s in the 2011 data.
125. What share of India’s total population was aged 10–19 in Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (12 September, Shift 3) — 2024]
(A) 22.9%
(B) 21.9%
(C) 20.9%
(D) 19.9%
Answer: (C) 20.9%
Explanation: The question’s cited adolescent age group accounted for about 20.9 percent of India’s population in Census 2011. The large cohort has important implications for school provision, skill development, public health and eventual entry into the workforce.
124. Which group of Union Territories had the highest female-to-male sex ratios in Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (13 September, Shift 1) — 2024]
(A) Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar
(B) Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar
(C) Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep
(D) Chandigarh, Puducherry, Delhi
Answer: (B) Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar
Explanation: Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands were among the highest-sex-ratio Union Territories in 2011. Sex ratio is expressed as females per thousand males. Comparisons should use the territorial divisions employed by the historical census.
123. What was the difference between male and female literacy rates in Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (12 September, Shift 2) — 2024]
(A) 21.59 percentage points
(B) 18.30 percentage points
(C) 24.84 percentage points
(D) 16.68 percentage points
Answer: (D) 16.68 percentage points
Explanation: Male literacy was about 82.14 percent and female literacy about 65.46 percent according to Census 2011. Subtracting these rates gives a gender literacy gap of 16.68 percentage points, a useful measure of educational inequality.
122. Which district had the largest population according to Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (18 September, Shift 3) — 2024]
(A) Kollam
(B) Ajmer
(C) Thane
(D) Pune
Answer: (C) Thane
Explanation: Thane in Maharashtra was the most populous district at the time of the 2011 Census. High urbanisation in the Mumbai metropolitan region contributed to this figure. Subsequent district reorganisations do not change the historically reported 2011 ranking.
121. How many people were listed in the Census 2011 Other Religions and Persuasions category?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (17 September, Shift 3) — 2024]
(A) 3.9 million
(B) 7.9 million
(C) 5.9 million
(D) 9.9 million
Answer: (B) 7.9 million
Explanation: The 2011 Census classified approximately 7.9 million people under Other Religions and Persuasions. This residual grouping includes several indigenous and smaller religious traditions. It should not be confused with nonresponse or with any one major religious community.
