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Home » UPSC Prelims Quiz » UPSC Prelims Quiz: March 25, 2026

UPSC Prelims Quiz: March 25, 2026

Q1. With reference to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), consider the following statements:

1. LPG is obtained both as a by-product of crude oil refining and from natural gas processing.

2. LNG is mainly transported in liquid form through pipelines directly to end-users.

3. LNG requires significantly lower temperatures than LPG for liquefaction.

4. Both LPG and LNG expand to nearly the same volume when converted back to gaseous state.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 and 3 only

(b)

2 and 4 only

(c)

1, 3 and 4 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: LPG is derived both from crude oil refining and from natural gas processing.

Statement 2 – Incorrect: LNG is transported via cryogenic ships and is regasified before being supplied through pipelines to end-users.

Statement 3 – Correct: LNG requires temperatures of about −160°C for liquefaction, whereas LPG liquefies under moderate pressure; hence LNG needs much lower temperatures.

Statement 4 – Incorrect: LPG expands roughly 260 times and LNG about 600 times when converted back to gas, so their expansion ratios are not the same.

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Q2. Assertion (A): LPG is more suitable than PNG for rural energy access in India.
Reason (R): LPG does not depend on pipeline infrastructure and can be transported in cylinders.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)

Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A

(b)

Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A

(c)

A is correct but R is incorrect

(d)

A is incorrect but R is correct

Explanation

Assertion – Correct: LPG is preferred in rural and remote areas due to the absence or limited reach of pipeline networks.

Reason – Correct: LPG is supplied through cylinders and transported via road networks, making it highly portable and accessible.

Linkage – Correct: This portability directly explains why LPG is more suitable for rural energy access compared to PNG.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
Q3. With reference to the ‘Jal Seva Aankalan’ framework under the Jal Jeevan Mission, consider the following statements:

1. It is a community-based monitoring framework for assessing rural tap water service delivery.

2. The Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) is involved in the assessment process.

3. The findings are subject to validation in the Gram Sabha.

4. The framework integrates digital reporting through a centralised monitoring system.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

2 and 4 only

(c)

1, 2, 3 and 4

(d)

1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Jal Seva Aankalan is designed as a community-based monitoring framework under the Jal Jeevan Mission to assess rural tap water service delivery at the village level.

Statement 2 – Correct: The Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) conducts the ground-level assessment, ensuring local participation and accountability.

Statement 3 – Correct: The findings are presented before the Gram Sabha for validation, introducing social audit and enhancing transparency in decentralised governance.

Statement 4 – Correct: The framework integrates digital reporting through the JJM-IMIS platform, enabling real-time monitoring and data-driven planning.

Answer: (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. With reference to Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) in India, consider the following statements:

1. They are stored in underground rock caverns.

2. They are managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Oil Industry Development Board.

3. They are primarily used to stabilise domestic fuel prices during normal conditions.

4. They currently cover less than 15 days of India’s crude oil requirement.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

1, 2 and 4 only

(c)

2 and 3 only

(d)

1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Strategic Petroleum Reserves in India are stored in underground rock caverns, ensuring safety and long-term storage stability.

Statement 2 – Correct: They are managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Oil Industry Development Board.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: SPRs are not meant for routine price stabilisation; they are strategic buffers used during supply disruptions, geopolitical crises, or emergencies.

Statement 4 – Correct: India’s SPR capacity currently covers roughly 9.5 days of crude oil requirement, which is less than 15 days.

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. Chokramudi Hills are located in the Western Ghats.

2. They are characterised by shola–grassland ecosystem.

3. They form part of the Nilgiri Hills range.

4. They are associated with the mass flowering of Neelakurinji.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

Only one

(b)

Only two

(c)

Only three

(d)

All four

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Chokramudi Hills are located near Munnar in Idukki district, Kerala, forming part of the southern Western Ghats.

Statement 2 – Correct: The region is characterised by the shola–grassland ecosystem, where stunted evergreen forests occur in valleys and grasslands dominate slopes.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: Chokramudi Hills are not part of the Nilgiri Hills; they lie further south in the Munnar–Anamalai region, making this a typical location-based trap.

Statement 4 – Correct: The area is associated with the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), which flowers once every 12 years and is characteristic of Western Ghats montane grasslands.

Answer: (c) Only three
Q6. With reference to Nilgiri Tahr, consider the following statements:

1. It is endemic to the Western Ghats.

2. It inhabits tropical rainforests.

3. Both males and females possess curved horns.

4. It is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 3 only

(b)

1, 2 and 4 only

(c)

2 and 3 only

(d)

1 and 4 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Nilgiri Tahr is endemic to the Western Ghats, with distribution restricted from the Nilgiris to the southern hills near Kanyakumari.

Statement 2 – Incorrect: It does not inhabit dense tropical rainforests; instead, it prefers montane grasslands with rocky cliffs that provide grazing areas and escape terrain.

Statement 3 – Correct: Both males and females possess backward-curving horns, though males have larger and thicker horns.

Statement 4 – Incorrect: Its conservation status is Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, not Vulnerable.

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Q7. Consider the following pairs:
FeatureAssociated with
1. Neelakurinji floweringWestern Ghats montane grasslands
2. Hydrostatic containmentUnderground oil storage caverns
3. Shola forestsTropical montane ecosystems
4. Saddleback markingFemale Nilgiri Tahr

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a)

Only one

(b)

Only two

(c)

Only three

(d)

All four

Explanation

Pair 1 – Correct: Neelakurinji is endemic to Western Ghats montane grasslands, and its periodic mass flowering is a key ecological feature of this ecosystem.

Pair 2 – Correct: Hydrostatic containment is used in underground oil storage caverns, where surrounding groundwater pressure prevents leakage.

Pair 3 – Correct: Shola forests represent tropical montane ecosystems, occurring at higher altitudes in the Western Ghats with high endemism.

Pair 4 – Incorrect: The “saddleback” marking is a characteristic feature of adult male Nilgiri Tahr, not females.

Answer: (c) Only three