UPPSC PYQ 1 (2020) — Geography
Which of the following ocean currents is associated with Indian Ocean?
- Florida current
- Canary current
- Agulhas current
- Kurile current
Answer: C. Agulhas current
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Indian astronomers, working with international collaborators and announced through the Ministry of Science and Technology, reported the rare observation of a Blue Straggler Star (BSS) actively forming in the binary system catalogued as TIC 327546480. The finding, described as an X-ray active binary in an Algol-type mass-transferring configuration, provides direct evidence that Blue Stragglers form when an ageing star pulls mass from a companion, making it appear hotter, brighter, and more massive than stars of its true age. For aspirants preparing for UPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, and other state PSC exams, this topic is directly relevant for GS Paper 3 (Science and Technology, Space and Astrophysics) and reflects India's growing visibility in observational astrophysics research.
Blue Stragglers have long puzzled astronomers because they appear younger than the stellar population around them in a cluster, defying standard stellar-ageing expectations. While mass transfer and stellar mergers were theorised as the formation channels, actually catching a system in the process of forming a Blue Straggler is rare, making this observation scientifically significant beyond routine catalogue additions.
Blue Stragglers were first identified in globular clusters in the 1950s as stars that sit above and to the blue side of the expected "turn-off point" on a cluster's colour-magnitude diagram — meaning they look too hot and massive for stars that should have aged alongside their neighbours. Two dominant formation theories have been proposed: mass transfer from a binary companion, and direct stellar mergers or collisions in dense cluster environments.
India has built a growing observational astrophysics capability over the past decade, including space and ground-based facilities used for multi-wavelength stellar studies, which has enabled Indian researchers to contribute increasingly to internationally collaborative discoveries of this kind. The TIC 327546480 study, published through a peer-reviewed astrophysics journal, adds India-linked research to the still-thin global catalogue of Blue Stragglers observed during their active formation phase, rather than only after formation is complete.
The Discovery
Why It Matters Scientifically
Formation Theories
India's Research Context
Syllabus relevance: UPSC GS Paper 3 — Science and Technology, Space and Astrophysics; state PSC prelims under Science and Technology current affairs.
Political and Constitutional Dimensions While astrophysical discoveries do not raise direct constitutional questions, India's investment in scientific research aligns with the Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(h), which obliges citizens (and by extension the state's promotional role) "to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry." Research governance falls under the Department of Science and Technology within the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Economic and Financial Dimensions Sustained investment in fundamental research — astrophysics included — builds long-term scientific and technical capacity (instrumentation, data analysis, spectroscopy) with downstream applications well beyond astronomy, and strengthens India's standing in competitive international research funding and collaboration networks.
Social Dimensions High-visibility scientific discoveries like this one support science communication and STEM inspiration, reinforcing public engagement with research careers and reinforcing the constitutional value placed on scientific temper as a civic virtue.
Governance and Administrative Dimensions The discovery reflects the functioning of India's science-funding ecosystem, where government departments such as the DST and agencies like the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) support researchers to participate in large international collaborations, requiring sustained administrative and financial continuity for multi-year observational projects.
International Perspective The study's publication through international collaboration situates India within the broader global astrophysics community, alongside major international observatories and missions, and mirrors India's growing pattern of participation in large international science projects such as LIGO-India and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), reinforcing India's push toward "big science" diplomacy.
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Which of the following ocean currents is associated with Indian Ocean?
Answer: C. Agulhas current
Without green house effect, the average temperature of earth surface would be
Answer: B. –18°C
1. In Ease of Doing Business Report 2020, India's rank is 63. 2. India ranking for Ease of Doing Business in the year 2019 was 77.
With reference to the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Report, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Answer: B. 2 only
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Geography · 2020Which of the following ocean currents is associated with Indian Ocean?
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