Debatable

Questions
UPSC CSE 2019
1. Who among the following Mughal emperor shifted emphasis from illustrated
manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
a) Humayun
b) Akbar
c) Jahangir
d) Shah Jahan
Explanation – b

Prior to Akbar’s reign only narrative paintings were made. Akbar ordered making of portrait
album of all his grandees/royal servants.
Akbar's purpose in having the portraits made is thus described by Abul Fazl in the following
words: “An immense album was thus formed”.
It was during Akbar’s reign that emphasis was shifted from illustrated manuscripts to album and
individual portrait

Drishti – c
Exp: During Akbar's reign many manuscripts were illustrated, the prominent being Razmnamah,
the Persian translation of Mahabharata. It was during Jahangir's reign that manuscripts
became less important and individual portraits became more prominent.

Official answer – c
 Consider the following
1. Carbon Monoxide
2. Methane
3. Ozone
4. Sulphur Dioxide

Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2, 3 and 4 only
c) 1 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Biomass burning is a source of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide. In addition, biomass burning is a source of
chemically active gases, including carbon monoxide, non-methane
hydrocarbons, and nitric oxide. These gases, along with methane, lead to
the chemical production of tropospheric ozone.
• So, answer should be D: 1, 2,3 and 4.
• But the answer can also be C – As per a article in Indian Express One
tonne of straw when burnt releases 3 kg of particulate matter, 60 kg of
carbon monoxide, 1,460 kg of carbon dioxide, 199 kg of ash and 2 kg
of sulphur dioxide. So, C: 1 and 4 only.

• Official answer – D
• Biomass burning is a source of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide. In addition, biomass burning is a source of
chemically active gases, including carbon monoxide, non-methane
hydrocarbons, and nitric oxide. These gases, along with methane, lead to
the chemical production of tropospheric ozone.
• So, answer should be D: 1, 2,3 and 4.
• But the answer can also be C – As per a article in Indian Express One
tonne of straw when burnt releases 3 kg of particulate matter, 60 kg of
carbon monoxide, 1,460 kg of carbon dioxide, 199 kg of ash and 2 kg
of sulphur dioxide. So, C: 1 and 4 only.

• Official answer – D
Consider the following statements :
The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of
India to
1. State the requirement of public participation in the process of
environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is
sought.
2. Lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental
pollutants from various sources.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
• Section 3 of the Act states that Central Government shall have the power
to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the
purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and
preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution. So, 1 is
implied correct but the problem is that In the Original Act , statement 1
or even the words like ‘public’ or ‘public participation’ are not
mentioned. So, 1 can be wrong, answer should be B

• Section 3-2(iv) Central Government may lay down standards for

emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources
whatsoever. So 2 is correct.

• Official Answer - B
Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one’s right to marry
the person of one’s choice?
(a) Article 19
(b) Article 21
(c) Article 25
(d) Article 29
ANS:
• 2018-April: “The right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article
21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution”. SC Judgement on Hadiya
Case. Then answer is “B”. But the answer could also be A because “When
two adults consensually choose each other as life partners, it is a
manifestation of their choice which is recognized under Article 19” Says 
SC judgement on Khap Panchayat and honor killing, then answer could be
either A or B.

• Official answer – B
In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the
most appropriate definition of liberty?
(a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers
(b) Absence of restraint
(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes
(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully.
ANS: the term liberty was initially defined as absence of all restraints on an
individual. This is known as the negative concept of liberty. So according to
this explanation the correct option should be B.

• According to DD Basu’s Constitution book, Liberty should be coupled with

social restrain and subordinated to liberty of the greatest number of common
happiness.
So, accordingly, ‘B’ is wrong, and ‘D’ seems most appropriate.

Official answer - D
With reference to the Mian Tansen, which one of the following statement is
not correct
(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar
(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu god and goddesses
(c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons
(d) Tansen invented many Ragas
ANS: 
He invented the night raga Darbari Kanhra, morning raga Mian Ki Todi, mid-day
raga, Mian ki Sarang, seasonal raga Mian ki Malhar. So D is right, therefore
eliminated, because we’ve to find wrong statement.
• He composed many dhrupads on Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati and Rama. He also
composed songs on his patrons. So B and C also eliminated.
• Tansen was the title given to him by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. So, A is
wrong, and therefore it’s the answer but ‘Tansen’ is madeup of two words:
‘Taan’, a succession of notes; ‘Sena’, army. So, ‘Tansen’ would mean roughly
“He who  commands an Army of notes. It is said that Akbar himself bestowed
this title upon his favourite musician.” So A is right but Question requires us
to find the wrong statement. But rest of the statements are correct as per
Hindu article so entire question is invalid.

• Official answer - A