UPSC Prelims 2022 Analysis

Explanation

The term "Levant" refers to the geographical region located along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This region typically includes the countries of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey (the southern/southeastern region).

The Levant connects Anatolia, the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. It encompasses the eastern Mediterranean coastline and the hinterlands that stretch inland from that coast.

The Levant has faced prolonged unrest, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian Civil War, and ethnic and religious tensions.

Explanation

The longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, also known as the summer solstice, typically occurs in the second half of the month of June.

This is when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or more specifically right over 23.5-degree north latitude.

The exact date can vary slightly from year to year, but it is usually on June 20th or 21st.

Explanation

Afghanistan is completely landlockedthe nearest coast lies along the Arabian Sea, about 300 miles (480 km) to the southand, because of both its isolation and its volatile political history, it remains one of the most poorly surveyed areas of the world.

It is bounded to the east and south by Pakistan to the west by Iran to the north by the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. It also has a short border with Xinjiang, China, at the end of the long, narrow (Wakhan Corridor), in the extreme northeast.

Explanation

1. Namcha Barwa - Garhwal Himalaya - Incorrect. Namcha Barwa is located in the eastern Himalayas, in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

2. Nanda Devi - Kumaon Himalaya - Correct. Nanda Devi is the highest peak in the Kumaon Himalayas, located in Uttarakhand, India.

3. Nokrek - Sikkim Himalaya - Incorrect. Nokrek is a hill located in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, India, not part of the Sikkim Himalayas.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. High clouds are often thin and do not reflect very much. They let lots of the Sun's warmth in. They primarily transmit incoming solar radiation. At the same time, they trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and radiate it back downward, thereby warming the surface of the Earth.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Low clouds are often quite thick and reflect lots of sunlight back to space. Low clouds are excellent reflectors. But, they don't stop the longwave energy from escaping to space. Therefore, low clouds help to cool the Earth.

Explanation

Anatolia is the peninsula of land that today constitutes the Asian portion of Turkey. Because of its location at the point where the continents of Asia and Europe meet, Anatolia was, from the beginnings of civilization, a crossroads for numerous peoples migrating or conquering from either continent. Hence pair 1 is correctly matched.

The Amhara Region is located in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of Amharapeople. Amhara is the site of the largest inland body of water in Ethiopia, Lake Tana. Amhara region is often mentioned in the news due to historical conflicts among Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayan groups of Ethiopia. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.

Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique. It was in news because Mozambique's Al-Shabab extremist group has been carrying out attacks in the country's most northern province, Cabo Delgado, since 2017. Hence pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Catalonia occupies a triangular area in the northeastern corner of Spain. It is bordered by France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the autonomous community of Valencia to the south, and the autonomous community of Aragon to the west. Recently, mass protests broke out across Spain's Catalonia region after its former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested. Hence pair 4 is not correctly matched.

So, only two pairs (Anatolia Turkey and Amhara Ethiopia) are correctly matched.

Explanation

Ghataprabha Reservoir Located in Karnataka, not Telangana. Hence pair 1 is not correctly matched.

Gandhi Sagar Reservoir Located in Madhya Pradesh (correctly matched). Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.

Indira Sagar Reservoir Located in Madhya Pradesh, not Andhra Pradesh. Hence pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Maithon Reservoir Located in Jharkhand, not Chhattisgarh. Hence pair 4 is not correctly matched.

Explanation

The states commonly recognized as tea-producing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Kerala and Karnataka, not Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, option D is correct.

Explanation

Monazite is a brown crystalline mineral consisting of cerium, lanthanum, other rare earth elements, and thorium. Monazite usually occurs in small, isolated crystals or grains that are resistant to weathering and become concentrated in soils.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Monazite is a major source of rare earths and thorium.

It yields several rare-earth elements, such as neodymium and praseodymium. Both of these are in demand internationally for making high-performance rare-earth magnets (components of power wind turbines, electric vehicles and robotics)

Statement 3 is incorrect. Though monazite is found in most coastal areas of India. It is questionable to be found along the entire coast. The main mines are found along the coasts of southern India in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and in Orissa.

Statement 4 is correct. Export of monazite without a license from AERB is a violation of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004. Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a wholly owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India (GOI) under DAE, is the only entity that has been permitted to produce and process monazite and handle it for domestic use as well as for export.

Explanation

Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. The village is majorly known for housing the spectacular gorge which is famously adjudged as the “Grand Canyon of India”.

The canyon is a gorge carved out over millions of years by the Pennar River that streams from the Erramala hills.

It's known for its red-hued, layered, and jagged rock formations.