JPSC MAINS 2021 Paper-6

Points to Remember: The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, aims to conserve forests and prevent their unauthorized use. Several amendments have been made to the Act over the years, reflecting evolving needs and challenges. The Act’s effectiveness is a subject of ongoing debate, with concerns about its implementation and impact. Introduction: The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 … Read more Describe the salient features of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the amendments made to it.

Points to Remember: Renewable energy sources replenish naturally. Non-renewable energy sources are finite and deplete with use. Renewable energy sources are generally cleaner and more sustainable. Energy generation from renewable sources involves harnessing natural processes. Introduction: The world’s energy needs are predominantly met by two broad categories of sources: renewable and non-renewable. Non-renewable energy sources, … Read more Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable energy. Explain the process of energy generation from any two renewable energy sources.

Keywords: HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, causes, effects, control methods, human body. Required Approach: Factual and analytical. Points to Remember: HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. HIV infection leads to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV transmission occurs through specific bodily fluids. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing HIV. Prevention strategies are … Read more What is HIV? How does it affect the human body? Write the causes, effects, and control methods of HIV infection.

Points to Remember: Different rainwater harvesting methods used by Jharkhand farmers. Benefits of rainwater harvesting for agricultural production in Jharkhand. Challenges and limitations. Policy recommendations for improved implementation. Introduction: Jharkhand, a state in eastern India, is characterized by a monsoon-dependent agricultural system. Water scarcity is a significant challenge, particularly during the dry season, impacting agricultural … Read more What are the different methods of rainwater harvesting generally adopted by the farmers of Jharkhand State? How is it beneficial in improving agricultural production?

Points to Remember: Definition and types of wasteland. Causes of wasteland creation. Reclamation techniques. Agroforestry potential and suitability. Policy and implementation challenges. Introduction: Wasteland, broadly defined, encompasses unproductive or underutilized land unsuitable for its intended purpose, including barren, degraded, or sparsely vegetated areas. It encompasses a wide spectrum, from severely eroded lands to abandoned agricultural … Read more Give your concept on waste land. What measures would you suggest for its reclamation and its potential use in Agroforestry?

Points to Remember: Acid rain causes and consequences. Desertification causes and consequences. Interconnectedness of acid rain and desertification. Mitigation and adaptation strategies. Introduction: Acid rain and desertification are two significant environmental challenges with far-reaching consequences. Acid rain, defined as precipitation with a pH lower than 5.6, results from atmospheric pollution. Desertification, on the other hand, … Read more What are the causes and consequences of acid rains and desertification?

Points to Remember: Vitamins are essential organic compounds needed in small amounts for normal growth and function. Vitamin deficiencies lead to various diseases. Prevention involves a balanced diet and supplementation when necessary. Introduction: Vitamins are a group of organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and development and for the proper functioning of the … Read more What are Vitamins? Describe three diseases caused by Vitamin deficiency.

Keywords: Laws of planetary motion, Earth’s position relative to the Sun, eclipse (solar eclipse), safe solar eclipse viewing. Required Approach: Factual and analytical. The question requires a description of scientific laws and a factual explanation of eclipses, combined with an analytical approach to explain the safe viewing methods. Points to Remember: Kepler’s Laws of Planetary … Read more State and explain the laws that describe the relative position of the Earth with the Sun. What do you understand by an eclipse and how does it take place? Draw a neat diagram of a Solar eclipse and explain the five ways to view a Solar eclipse safely.

Points to Remember: Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the human body. They must be obtained through diet. They are crucial for various bodily functions, including protein synthesis, enzyme production, and hormone regulation. Deficiency can lead to serious health problems. Introduction: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential macromolecules for … Read more What are essential amino acids? Why are they necessary for the maintenance of health?

Points to Remember: GSAT-6A’s primary function. ISRO’s role in satellite technology. Applications of geostationary satellites. Introduction: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the geostationary satellite GSAT-6A on March 29, 2018. Geostationary satellites are positioned at a fixed point above the Earth’s equator, providing continuous coverage of a specific region. This makes them particularly useful … Read more Geostationary satellite GSAT-6A launched by ISRO on 29th March 2018 is mainly used for (A) Communication (B) Agriculture mapping (C) Remote sensing (D) Surveillance

Points to Remember: The question tests knowledge of the causative agent of COVID-19. The answer requires factual recall. Accuracy is paramount. Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, caused unprecedented global disruption. Understanding the origin and causative agent of this pandemic is crucial for … Read more The main cause of the pandemic named Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is (A) SARS-CoV-1 virus (B) SARS-CoV-2 virus (C) SARS-CoV-3 virus (D) All of the above

Points to Remember: Definition of a unit and its importance in measurement. Explanation of MKS, CGS, and SI systems of units. Characteristics of a standard unit. Advantages of the SI system. Introduction: A unit is a standard of measurement used to quantify a physical quantity. Without standardized units, communication of measurements would be chaotic and … Read more What do you mean by a unit? Define MKS, CGS, and SI system of units. What are the characteristics of a Standard Unit? Write the advantages of the SI system.

Points to Remember: Permanent hardness in water is caused by dissolved minerals that are not easily removed by boiling. The main culprits are salts of calcium and magnesium. Bicarbonates are associated with temporary hardness. Introduction: Water hardness is a measure of the mineral content, primarily calcium and magnesium ions, dissolved in water. Hardness is categorized … Read more Which of the following salts is the main cause of permanent hardness of water? (A) Magnesium bicarbonate (B) Magnesium sulfate (C) Magnesium carbonate (D) None of the above

Keywords: Biotechnology, successful applications, Dolly sheep, Human Growth Hormone, Graphene sheet, Bt cotton. Required Approach: Factual and Analytical Points to Remember: Define biotechnology and its applications. Analyze each option provided to determine if it represents a successful application of biotechnology. Identify the option that is NOT a successful application of biotechnology. Introduction: Biotechnology involves the … Read more Which of the following is not an example of successful applications of biotechnology? (A) Dolly sheep (B) Human Growth Hormone (C) Graphene sheet (D) Bt cotton

Points to Remember: Vitamin deficiencies can cause severe health problems. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in vision. Blindness is a serious consequence of vitamin A deficiency. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. Introduction: Nutritional deficiencies, especially those related to micronutrients, can have devastating consequences for child development. Among these, vitamin deficiencies are particularly concerning, … Read more Deficiency of which vitamin is related to blindness in young children? (A) Vitamin K (B) Vitamin A (C) Vitamin E (D) Vitamin D

Points to Remember: The question tests knowledge of atmospheric composition. We need to identify which gas is not naturally occurring in the Earth’s atmosphere. Introduction: The Earth’s atmosphere is a complex mixture of gases that are essential for life. The major components are nitrogen (approximately 78%), oxygen (approximately 21%), and argon (approximately 1%). Trace gases, … Read more Which one of the following gases is not a natural element of the atmosphere? (A) Chlorofluorocarbon (B) Argon (C) Krypton (D) Water vapor

Points to Remember: The Kyoto Protocol’s main focus is on climate change. It targets specific greenhouse gases. It employs a mechanism of emissions reduction commitments. It involves international cooperation. Introduction: The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 and entering into force in 2005, is an international treaty extending the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate … Read more What is the primary agenda of the Kyoto Protocol? (A) Control anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases (B) Regulate the production of nuclear energy (C) Regulation of hazardous wastes (D) None of the above

Points to Remember: Renewable energy sources offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, they face challenges related to reliability, cost, and environmental impact. A balanced assessment is crucial to understand their viability. Introduction: The global shift towards renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal is driven by the urgent need to mitigate … Read more Which of the following is a disadvantage of most of the renewable energy sources? (A) High running cost (B) High waste disposal cost (C) Unreliable supply (D) Highly polluting

Points to Remember: Classification of regions based on annual rainfall. Understanding the different climatic zones. Defining arid, semi-arid, humid, and temperate climates. Introduction: The classification of regions based on annual rainfall is crucial for understanding their climate and potential for agriculture and human settlement. Different rainfall amounts support different ecosystems and types of land use. … Read more Region receiving 500-1000 mm annual rainfall is called (A) Humid (B) Arid (C) Semi-arid (D) Temperate

Points to Remember: The question requires identifying the minimum rainfall amount that constitutes a “rainy day.” The answer is factual, requiring a specific value based on established meteorological standards. Introduction: Defining a “rainy day” is crucial for meteorological data collection and analysis. Consistent criteria are necessary for accurate weather reporting, climate studies, and hydrological modeling. … Read more Minimum rainfall amount considered as rainy days is (A) 1.5mm (B) 2.5mm (C) 1.0mm (D) 2.0mm

Points to Remember: Greenhouse gases and their contribution to global warming. Relative global warming potentials of different gases. The role of human activities in greenhouse gas emissions. Introduction: Global warming, the ongoing increase in Earth’s average temperature, is primarily driven by the enhanced greenhouse effect. This effect is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases … Read more The gas contributing a major role in global warming (A) Carbon dioxide (B) Ozone (C) Nitrous oxide (D) Methane

Points to Remember: IMD’s weather forecasting capabilities. Different types of weather forecasts and their timeframes. The distinction between short-range, medium-range, and long-range forecasts. Introduction: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national meteorological agency of India. It provides a range of weather forecasting services to the public and various sectors, including agriculture, aviation, and disaster … Read more Medium-range weather forecast issued by IMD is for (A) 1-2 days (B) 2-7 days (C) 10-15 days (D) None of these

Points to Remember: Thyroxin is a crucial hormone regulating metabolism. Several glands in the endocrine system produce hormones. Correct identification of the thyroxin-producing gland is key. Introduction: Thyroxin (T4), also known as tetraiodothyronine, is a vital hormone produced by the endocrine system. The endocrine system comprises various glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, … Read more Thyroxin is secreted by: (A) Thyroid gland (B) Thymus gland (C) Hypothalamus (D) Pituitary gland

Points to Remember: Miller-Urey experiment aimed to simulate early Earth conditions to test the hypothesis of abiogenesis. The experiment produced several organic molecules, but not all building blocks of life. Identifying the molecules not produced is crucial to understanding the experiment’s limitations. Introduction: The Miller-Urey experiment, conducted in 1952 by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey, … Read more In the experiment of Stanley Miller, the left-out products were: (A) Amino acids (B) Nucleotides (C) Acetic acids (D) Oxalo acetic acids

Points to Remember: Gregor Mendel’s contributions to the understanding of heredity. The field of genetics and its foundational principles. Distinguishing genetics from related fields like taxonomy and palaeobotany. Introduction: This question requires a factual approach to identify the field of science in which Gregor Mendel made his groundbreaking contributions. Mendel, an Austrian monk, conducted experiments … Read more Mendel is called the father of: (A) Taxonomy (B) Genetics (C) Palaeobotany (D) None of the above

Points to Remember: The ultimate source of energy is the origin of all energy on Earth. Energy can be transformed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed (Law of Conservation of Energy). Renewable vs. Non-renewable sources of energy. Introduction: The question asks to identify the ultimate source of energy from … Read more Which of the given is the ultimate source of energy? (A) Fossil fuel (B) Water (C) Uranium (D) Sun

Points to Remember: The question tests knowledge of the chemical formula of urea. Understanding the structure and bonding in urea is crucial. Correct identification of the formula is essential. Introduction: Urea, officially known as carbamide, is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO(NHâ??)â??. It is a white, crystalline, and highly soluble compound widely used … Read more Formula of urea is – (A) HN-COâ??-NH (B) KCNO (C) Hâ??N-CO-NHâ?? (D) Hâ??N-CO-NHâ??

Keywords: Golgi Body, functions, excretion, storage, secretion, translation, transcription. Required Approach: Factual Points to Remember: The Golgi body’s primary function is processing and packaging proteins and lipids. It plays a crucial role in secretion. It’s distinct from the processes of translation and transcription. Introduction: The Golgi apparatus, also known as the Golgi body or Golgi … Read more Golgi Body helps in: (A) Excretion of steroids (B) Storage and secretion of substances (C) Translation (D) Transcription

Points to Remember: The Earth’s atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet. Several forces influence the atmosphere, but one is primarily responsible for holding it in place. Understanding the forces acting on the atmosphere is crucial for comprehending weather patterns and climate. Introduction: The question asks which force primarily holds the Earth’s atmosphere … Read more The Atmosphere is held to the Earth by (A) Wind (B) Gravity (C) Clouds (D) Earth’s Magnetic field

Points to Remember: Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Potential energy is stored energy due to position or configuration. Gravitational potential energy is a specific type of potential energy related to an object’s position in a gravitational field. Introduction: This question tests understanding of fundamental concepts in physics, specifically concerning energy. Energy exists in … Read more A stone resting on the table has (A) Kinetic Energy (B) Gravitational Energy (C) Potential Energy (D) None of these