According to the economist Coulborn, "too much money chasing too few goods" is
AGlobalization
BInflation
CLiberalization
DEconomic growth
Correct Answer: Option B
This famous quote by the economist Norman Coulborn is one of the most classic definitions of Demand-Pull Inflation. It describes a situation where the demand for goods and services exceeds the available supply, leading to a general increase in prices.
Why this happens:
When people have more disposable income (too much money) but the production of goods remains stagnant (too few goods), buyers compete for what is available. Sellers respond by raising prices, which reduces the purchasing power of the currency.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Disaster Management
Which International non-profit NGO is registered in Belgium under Disaster Management?
ATIEMS
BIEAM
CBDM
DITDM
Correct Answer: Option A
TIEMS stands for The International Emergency Management Society. While it was originally founded in Washington, D.C. in 1993, it is currently registered as an international non-profit NGO in Brussels, Belgium.
Key Details about TIEMS:
Mission: It serves as a global forum for education, training, certification, and policy in the field of emergency and disaster management.
Focus: It aims to improve society's ability to avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from both natural and technological disasters by facilitating the exchange of information and innovative technologies.
India Chapter: TIEMS has an active India Chapter (TIEMS-IC) which works toward making India disaster-resilient through participatory governance and professional development.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Polity
In which part of the constitution is the state enjoined to establish Panchayat Raj institutions?
APreamble
BDirective Principles
CFundamental Rights
DFundamental Duties
Correct Answer: Option B
Specifically, Article 40 of the Indian Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), states: "The State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government."
Key Historical Context:
While the "enjoining" or instruction to the State was originally placed in the Directive Principles (which are non-justiciable), the Panchayati Raj system was later given constitutional status through the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992.
Part IV: Contains Article 40 (The original mandate).
Part IX: Was added by the 73rd Amendment to provide a detailed framework for Panchayats (Articles 243 to 243O).
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Polity
When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?
ADecember 10, 1948
BDecember 1, 1958
CDecember 10, 1946
DDecember 1, 1952
Correct Answer: Option A
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. It was a direct response to the atrocities of World War II and represents the first global expression of what many believe are the rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.
Key Facts about the UDHR:
Drafting Committee: It was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the former First Lady of the United States, who was a driving force behind its creation.
Structure: It consists of a preamble and 30 articles detailing specific rights, including the right to life, freedom from torture, and the right to education.
Human Rights Day: Because of this historic event, December 10th is celebrated annually around the world as Human Rights Day.
Global Impact: While not a legally binding treaty itself, it served as the foundation for two binding UN covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Economy
The economic reform, popularly known as, Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization was aimed at making the Indian economy as fastest growing economy and globally competitive. This process started in the:
AEarly 1990s
BEarly 1980s
CEarly 2000s
DLate 1980s
Correct Answer: Option A
The LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization) reforms were officially launched in July 1991 by the government of P.V. Narasimha Rao, with Dr. Manmohan Singh as the Finance Minister. These reforms were a response to a severe Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis that left India with barely enough foreign exchange reserves to pay for two weeks of imports.
Key Components of the Reform:
Liberalization: Reducing government control and "License Raj" to allow private businesses to grow and operate more freely.
Privatization: Reducing the role of the public sector by selling government shares in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to private players.
Globalization: Opening up the Indian economy to the world by reducing import duties and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Polity
Where is the headquarter of the National Human Rights Commission?
ANew Delhi
BMumbai
CAhmedabad
DKolkata
Correct Answer: Option A
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is headquartered at Manav Adhikar Bhawan, located in the GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi. While the Commission has the power to establish offices in other places across India, its primary seat remains in the capital.
Key Facts about the NHRC:
Establishment: It was formed on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA).
Purpose: It serves as the "watchdog" of human rights in India, ensuring the protection of rights related to life, liberty, equality, and dignity.
Composition: It is a multi-member body consisting of a Chairperson (who must be a retired Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court) and other members.
Paris Principles: The NHRC’s structure and functions are in line with the Paris Principles, the international benchmark for national human rights institutions.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Current Affairs
The World AIDS Day is observed to raise awareness among people towards the problem of AIDS and HIV. It is observed every year all over the world on
A1st December
B1st May
C1st October
D1st August
Correct Answer: Option A
World AIDS Day was first conceived in 1987 and officially designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations General Assembly in 1988. It was the first-ever global health day and remains one of the most recognized international health awareness occasions.
Why 1st December?
The date was chosen to maximize media coverage and public engagement. It falls after the U.S. elections but before the Christmas holidays, providing a clear window for international news cycles to focus on the global response to the epidemic.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Polity
Who is the Indian member of the International court of Justice who was re-elected for 2nd term?
ADalveer Bhandari
BMarkandey Katju
CRaghunandan Swarup
DMohd. Hidayatullah
Correct Answer: Option A
Justice Dalveer Bhandari was first elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2012. He was re-elected for a second nine-year term on November 20, 2017, after the United Kingdom withdrew its candidate, Christopher Greenwood. This election was historic as it marked the first time since the ICJ’s establishment in 1946 that no judge from the UK sat on the bench.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Geography
The Mascarene Islands, located in the east of Madagascar is a group of Islands consisting of Reunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues. In which ocean are those islands located?
APacific
BAtlantic
CIndian
DArctic
Correct Answer: Option C
The Mascarene Islands are a volcanic archipelago located in the southwestern Indian Ocean. They sit on the Mascarene Plateau, roughly 700 to 1,500 kilometers east of Madagascar.
Key Details of the Archipelago:
The group is named after the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, who visited them in the early 16th century. It primarily consists of:
Réunion: An overseas department of France.
Mauritius: An independent island nation.
Rodrigues: An autonomous outer island belonging to Mauritius.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Geography Current Affairs
Oil spills are a major marine ecosystem threat. Which Indian city faced this issue in January 2017?
AKolkata
BMumbai
CVisakhapatnam
DChennai
Correct Answer: Option D
On January 28, 2017, two ships—the MT Dawn Kanchipuram and the BW Maple—collided near the Ennore Port in Chennai. The collision resulted in a massive spill of "Heavy Fuel Oil," which spread along the coast, severely affecting marine life and local fishing communities.
Key Facts about the 2017 Chennai Oil Spill:
The Cause: A collision between an outbound empty merchant ship and an inbound vessel carrying petroleum lubricants.
The Cleanup: Thousands of volunteers, Coast Guard personnel, and sanitation workers had to manually scoop out the sludge because the oil was too thick for most mechanical pumps.
Environmental Impact: It caused significant damage to the Olive Ridley turtle nesting grounds and local coral reefs.
Bioremediation: This event was notable for the use of "Oil-zapping" bacteria (developed by TERI) to help decompose the oil naturally in certain areas.
2018
Prelims General Studies (Paper 1) Environment & Ecology
The energy that is harnessed from the volcanic regions under the earth’s surface and is used to generate power and heat is known as
AWave Energy
BWindmill Energy
CSpring Energy
DGeo-thermal Energy
Correct Answer: Option D
The term comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). This energy is generated by tapping into the natural heat stored beneath the Earth's crust—often near tectonic plate boundaries or volcanic "hotspots"—where magma heats underground water into steam that can spin turbines.
Why the other options don't fit:
Wave Energy: Harnesses the kinetic energy of ocean surface waves.
Windmill Energy: Uses the flow of air (wind) to mechanicaly turn blades.
Spring Energy: Generally refers to elastic potential energy in physics (like a coiled metal spring) or, occasionally, the natural flow of groundwater, but it is not a primary source of volcanic power generation.
About UPSC CSE Prelims 2018 Previous Year Questions
Practicing previous year questions is one of the most effective strategies for UPSC CSE exam preparation. This page contains 11 authentic questions from the UPSC CSE Prelims 2018 examination, complete with answers and detailed explanations.
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