General Knowledge
Int’l Relations & Defence
Consider the following international events:
- 1.Signing of the Simla Agreement
- 2.Agra Summit between India and Pakistan
- 3.Signing of the SAARC Charter at the First SAARC Summit
- 4.India’s first nuclear test
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the above events?
- (a)1, 3, 4, 2
- (b)4, 1, 3, 2
- (c)1, 4, 3, 2
- (d)4, 1, 2, 3
Answer: (c) 1, 4, 3, 2
The Simla Agreement was signed in July 1972. India’s first nuclear test followed in May 1974. The SAARC Charter was signed in December 1985. The Agra Summit came in July 2001.
Related: ModHist0032 — The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the Simla Agreement · View this question →
Polity & Governance
Which one of the following features is correct about the ‘First Past the Post System’ of election?
- (a)A candidate who wins may not get the majority of votes
- (b)More than one representative may be elected from one constituency
- (c)Voters vote for the party, not the candidate
- (d)Every party gets seats in the legislature in proportion to percentage of votes that it gets
Answer: (a)
Under FPTP, the candidate with the most votes wins, even without crossing 50%. The other three statements actually describe proportional representation, not FPTP.
Polity & Governance
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Special provision in the Constitution of India) | List-II (State) |
|---|---|
| A. Article 371 | 1. Nagaland |
| B. Article 371-A | 2. Gujarat |
| C. Article 371-B | 3. Assam |
| D. Article 371-I | 4. Goa |
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| (b) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| (c) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| (d) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Answer: (c) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
Article 371 covers Maharashtra and Gujarat. Article 371-A covers Nagaland. Article 371-B covers Assam. Article 371-I covers Goa.
Polity & Governance
Which of the following statements as per the Constitution of India is/are correct?
- 1.Provision for the reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha has been made vide 106th Amendment of the Constitution.
- 2.There are provisions for the reservation of seats for women in the Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils of the States.
- 3.There are provisions for the reservation of seats for women in Panchayats.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 and 3
- (c)1 only
- (d)3 only
Answer: (d) 3 only
The 106th Amendment reserves seats in the Lok Sabha and STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES only, not the Rajya Sabha and not Legislative Councils. Statements 1 and 2 both misstate the houses covered. Statement 3 is correct: women’s reservation in Panchayats has existed since the 73rd Amendment, 1993.
Related: IndSoc0009 — The Women’s Reservation Bill · View this question →
Polity & Governance
Which one among the following pairs of Subjects and Lists under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India is not correctly matched?
- (a)Forest : Concurrent List
- (b)Taxes on land and building : State List
- (c)Insurance : Union List
- (d)Census : Concurrent List
Answer: (d)
This pairing is wrong. Census is actually in the Union List (Entry 69), not the Concurrent List. The other three pairs are genuinely correct.
Polity & Governance
Which of the following statements with reference to the Preamble to the Constitution of India are correct?
- 1.The word ‘secular’ comes before the word ‘socialist’.
- 2.The word ‘justice’ comes before the word ‘equality’.
- 3.The word ‘fraternity’ comes after the word ‘liberty’.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
The Preamble’s actual order is Sovereign SOCIALIST SECULAR Democratic Republic — socialist comes before secular, not after, so statement 1 is wrong. The order Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity confirms statements 2 and 3.
Related: Polity0004 — Preamble to the Indian Constitution · View this question →
Polity & Governance
Which one of the following statements about ‘Motions’ in the Parliament of India is correct?
- (a)A Motion of No-Confidence can be admissible against an individual minister in the Council of Ministers.
- (b)A No-Confidence Motion must set out grounds on which it is based.
- (c)Rajya Sabha is not empowered to entertain a motion of No-Confidence.
- (d)A Censure Motion need not be based on specific grounds or charges.
Answer: (c)
A no-confidence motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha, since the government answers to that House. It is against the whole Council of Ministers, not one minister, and needs NO stated grounds — the opposite of a censure motion, which MUST state specific grounds.
Polity & Governance
Part IV-A of the Constitution of India deals with which one of the following areas?
- (a)Appointment of Members to Public Service Commissions
- (b)Fundamental Duties
- (c)Functions of Public Service Commissions
- (d)Provisions for the functioning of the State Governments
Answer: (b) Fundamental Duties
Part IV-A, added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, lists eleven duties of every citizen under Article 51A.
Related: Polity0001 — Fundamental Duties of Indian Citizens · View this question →
Geography
The ‘Durand Line’ is a border demarcation that separates which of the following countries?
- (a)Afghanistan and Iran
- (b)Afghanistan and Pakistan
- (c)India and Pakistan
- (d)Afghanistan and China
Answer: (b) Afghanistan and Pakistan
Drawn in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand, it remains a source of dispute since Afghanistan has never formally recognised it.
History & Culture
Consider the following social movements:
- 1.Chipko Movement
- 2.Bardoli Satyagraha
- 3.Satyashodhak Samaj
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order (starting with the earliest) of the launch of the above social movements?
- (a)2, 1, 3
- (b)3, 1, 2
- (c)3, 2, 1
- (d)1, 2, 3
Answer: (c) 3, 2, 1
The Satyashodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotirao Phule in 1873. The Bardoli Satyagraha took place in 1928. The Chipko Movement began in 1973.
Int’l Relations & Defence
Which one of the following statements about the Tashkent Agreement is correct?
- (a)It was an agreement between India and the Soviet Union.
- (b)It was an agreement between India and Pakistan.
- (c)It was an agreement that led to the formation of Bangladesh.
- (d)It was an agreement between India and Mongolia.
Answer: (b) It was an agreement between India and Pakistan
The Tashkent Agreement (January 1966) was between India and Pakistan, signed after the 1965 war to withdraw forces to pre-war positions and restore peace. It was not with the Soviet Union, did not create Bangladesh, and did not involve Mongolia.
Related: ModHist0003 — Nehru’s India: Nation-Building and Non-Alignment · ModHist0013 — Lal Bahadur Shastri: War, Slogan, and Tashkent · IntlRel0040 — India-Pakistan Relations · View this question →
Polity & Governance
Which among the following is not a language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India?
- (a)Manipuri
- (b)Gondi
- (c)Nepali
- (d)Dogri
Answer: (b) Gondi
Manipuri and Nepali were added by the 71st Amendment (1992), and Dogri by the 92nd Amendment (2003). Gondi, despite being spoken by millions, is not in the Eighth Schedule — it is one of roughly 38 languages still on the demand list for inclusion. Source: Eighth Schedule Languages, Dept. of Official Language (MHA). Related: Polity0061 — Official Language of the Union.
History & Culture
Which of the following can be considered a part of the ancient Indian Smriti Literature?
- 1.Puranas
- 2.Ramayana
- 3.Kalpa-Sutra
- 4.Vedas
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1, 2 and 3 only
- (b)3 and 4 only
- (c)1 and 2 only
- (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Puranas, the Ramayana, and Kalpa-Sutras all belong to Smriti (“remembered”) literature. The Vedas are Shruti (“heard”/revealed) literature, a separate, older category.
History & Culture
Who among the following was India’s first Woman Chief Minister?
- (a)Sarojini Naidu
- (b)Sucheta Kripalani
- (c)Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
- (d)Hansa Mehta
Answer: (b) Sucheta Kripalani
Sucheta Kripalani became India’s first woman Chief Minister when she led Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967. Sarojini Naidu became a state Governor, not Chief Minister; Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Hansa Mehta held other public roles.
Related: ModHist0026 — Sucheta Kripalani: From Midnight Independence to Chief Minister
History & Culture
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.C. Rajagopalachari was the first recipient of the Bharat Ratna.
- 2.Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya initiated the concept of ‘Integral Humanism’.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
C. Rajagopalachari was genuinely among the first Bharat Ratna recipients, honoured in 1954 alongside Radhakrishnan and C.V. Raman. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya genuinely authored the Integral Humanism philosophy, adopted by the Jana Sangh in 1965.
Related: GK0009 — Bharat Ratna · View this question →
Polity & Governance
Which of the following pairs of Institute and their location is/are correctly matched?
- 1.Indian Institute of Advanced Study : Shimla
- 2.Indian Institute of Public Administration : New Delhi
- 3.Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service : Nainital
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 and 3
- (c)1 only
- (d)2 only
Answer: (a) 1 and 2
Both the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (Shimla) and the Indian Institute of Public Administration (New Delhi) are correctly located. Statement 3 is wrong: the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service is actually in New Delhi, not Nainital.
History & Culture
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Erok Sim is a festival mainly celebrated by the Santhal community.
- 2.Sangken is a Buddhist festival celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh.
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
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Erok Sim is genuinely a Santhal sowing-season festival. Sangken is genuinely a Theravada Buddhist water festival celebrated by the Khamti, Tangsa, and Tai Phake communities of Arunachal Pradesh each April.
Int’l Relations & Defence
‘Maitree’ is a Joint Military Exercise between India and:
- (a)Bangladesh
- (b)Thailand
- (c)Malaysia
- (d)Sri Lanka
Answer: (b) Thailand
Exercise Maitree, instituted in 2006, is an annual army-to-army exercise between India and Thailand, alternating host countries each year.
Polity & Governance
Which of the following criteria are specified for granting Special Category Status to States in India?
- 1.Hilly and difficult terrain
- 2.Economic and infrastructural backwardness
- 3.Strategic coastal zone
- 4.Sizeable share of tribal population
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)3 and 4 only
- (c)1, 2 and 4 only
- (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only
The Gadgil formula’s genuine criteria are hilly terrain, low population density/sizeable tribal population, economic and infrastructural backwardness, strategic location along international BORDERS, and non-viable state finances. Statement 3 misstates the last one as a “coastal zone” instead of a border area.
Related: IndSoc0024 — Special Category Status · View this question →
History & Culture
Who among the following is the founder of the Congress Socialist Party?
- (a)Acharya Narendra Dev
- (b)Jawaharlal Nehru
- (c)Motilal Nehru
- (d)Asoka Mehta
Answer: (a) Acharya Narendra Dev
He became the Congress Socialist Party’s founding president when it formed in 1934, alongside Jayaprakash Narayan as General Secretary. Motilal Nehru had died in 1931, before the party existed, and Jawaharlal Nehru was not among its founders.
Related: ModHist0024 — The Congress Socialist Party’s Founding, 1934 · View this question →
General Science
The rule to determine the direction of a current induced in a coil due to its rotation in a magnetic field is:
- (a)Right-Hand Thumb Rule.
- (b)Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule.
- (c)Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule.
- (d)Hund’s Rule.
Answer: (c) Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule
It gives the direction of induced current in a generator, where motion and a magnetic field cause the current. Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule is for the opposite case, a motor, where current and field cause motion.
General Science
A car travels a total distance L. It travels half the distance with speed v_1 and the other half with speed v_2. The average speed of the car is:
- (a)(v_1 + v_2)/2
- (b)(2 v_1 v_2)/(v_1 + v_2)
- (c)((v_1 + v_2) L)/(2 v_1 v_2)
- (d)0
Answer: (b) (2v₁v₂)/(v₁+v₂)
Average speed is total distance over total time, not a simple average of the two speeds. Working through the time for each half gives this combined formula, which always comes out lower than a plain average of v₁ and v₂.
Related: GenSci0012 — Kinematics: Distance, Speed, Velocity and Acceleration
General Science
The linear momentum of a particle is conserved if:
- (a)the net force on it is maximum.
- (b)the net force on it is zero.
- (c)the net torque on it is zero.
- (d)the net work done on it is maximum.
Answer: (b) the net force on it is zero.
Momentum is conserved exactly when no net external force acts on the system. This is Newton’s laws applied directly: with zero net force, there’s nothing to change the momentum.
General Science
When a stone tied to a string is whirled in a circle, the work done on it by the string:
- (a)is positive.
- (b)is negative.
- (c)is zero.
- (d)depends on the mass of the stone.
Answer: (c) is zero.
The string’s tension always points toward the centre, perpendicular to the stone’s velocity at every instant. Since work equals force times displacement times the cosine of the angle between them, and that angle is always 90°, the string does zero work.
Related: GenSci0015 — Work, Energy and Power
(Source: The Physics Classroom, Definition and Mathematics of Work)
General Science
Assume ‘A’ does 500 J of work in ‘x’ minutes and ‘B’ does 1000 J of work in 20 minutes. If the power delivered by ‘A’ is P_1 and ‘B’ is P_2 and P_1 = 2P_2, then ‘x’, in minutes is:
- (a)10
- (b)5
- (c)20
- (d)25
Answer: (b) 5
B’s power is 1000/20 = 50 W. A’s power must be 100 W (double). So 500/x = 100, giving x = 5 minutes.
General Science
A sound wave travelling at a speed of 330 m/s produces 20 crests and 20 troughs in 0.1 second. The wavelength of the sound wave is:
- (a)1.1 m
- (b)3.3 m
- (c)1.65 m
- (d)2.2 m
Answer: (c) 1.65 m
20 crest-trough pairs in 0.1 s means a frequency of 200 Hz. Wavelength = speed / frequency = 330/200 = 1.65 m.
General Science
An X-ray can be deflected:
- (a)by a magnetic field.
- (b)by an electric field.
- (c)by both electric and magnetic field.
- (d)neither by electric field nor by magnetic field.
Answer: (d)
X-rays are electromagnetic radiation made of uncharged photons, so neither an electric nor a magnetic field can bend their path.
General Science
In a simple astronomical telescope, the objective and the eyepiece used respectively, are:
- (a)a convergent lens and a divergent lens.
- (b)a divergent lens and a divergent lens.
- (c)a divergent lens and a convergent lens.
- (d)a convergent lens and a convergent lens.
Answer: (d)
A simple astronomical telescope uses two convex/convergent lenses: a long-focal-length convergent objective and a short-focal-length convergent eyepiece.
General Science
Twinkling of a star is due to:
- (a)Interference of light
- (b)Refraction of light
- (c)Polarization of light
- (d)Diffraction of light
Answer: (b) Refraction of light
Starlight bends unpredictably as it passes through the atmosphere’s constantly shifting layers of different density and temperature, causing the apparent twinkle.
General Science
Van de Graaff generator generates:
- (a)electrostatic charge
- (b)magnetic field
- (c)high voltage low alternating current
- (d)high voltage low direct current
Answer: (d) high voltage low direct current
A Van de Graaff generator builds up very high voltage using a moving belt, but the current it can deliver stays low and direct (DC).
General Science
Which one of the following metals is widely extracted by the electrolysis of its molten compound?
- (a)Cu
- (b)Au
- (c)Sn
- (d)Na
Answer: (d) Na
Sodium is a highly reactive metal, so it is extracted by electrolysis of molten sodium chloride (the Downs process). Cu, Au, and Sn are extracted by other methods.
General Science
Which one of the following is not a property of ‘graphene’?
- (a)It is the thinnest material known so far.
- (b)It is almost completely transparent.
- (c)It is highly conducting.
- (d)It is a wide band-gap semiconductor.
Answer: (d) It is a wide band-gap semiconductor.
Graphene is actually a zero band-gap semimetal, not a wide band-gap semiconductor. It really is the thinnest known material, nearly transparent, and highly conducting.
General Science
Why do plastics not degrade easily?
- (a)They have strong ionic bonds.
- (b)They have strong covalent bonds.
- (c)They have strong metallic bonds.
- (d)They have very high melting points (> 500°C).
Answer: (b) They have strong covalent bonds.
Plastics are made of long polymer chains held together by strong covalent carbon-carbon bonds. This is why they resist natural degradation for so long.
General Science
Which one of the following is the correct chemical formula of carboxylic acid?
- (a)C_3H_7OH
- (b)C_3H_8
- (c)C_2H_5COOH
- (d)CH_3COCH_3
Answer: (c) C2H5COOH
C2H5COOH is propanoic acid, a carboxylic acid. The others are an alcohol, an alkane, and a ketone.
General Science
Which one of the following statements is not correct for benzene?
- (a)Each carbon atom forms sigma bonds with two other carbon atoms with a bond angle of 120°.
- (b)Delocalized electrons create a symmetrical ‘cloud’ of electrons above and below the plane.
- (c)The length of C-C bonds is intermediate between single and double bonds.
- (d)It has six isomers.
Answer: (d) It has six isomers.
Benzene does not have six isomers, so this is the false statement. The other statements about its bonding and structure are all true.
General Science
Which one of the following is not a nitrogen fertilizer?
- (a)(NH_4)_2SO_4
- (b)NH_4NO_3
- (c)N_2
- (d)(NH_2)_2CO
Answer: (c) N2
N2 is elemental nitrogen gas, not a fertilizer compound. The others are all real nitrogen fertilizers.
General Science
Which one of the following general electronic configurations correctly represent a transition metal element?
- (a)(n-2) d^(1-10) ns^2
- (b)(n-2) f^(1-14) (n-1) d^(0-1) ns^2
- (c)ns^2 np^6 nd^(1-10)
- (d)(n-1) d^(1-10) ns^(0-2)
Answer: (d) (n-1) d(1-10) ns(0-2)
Transition metals fill the d-subshell one shell below the outermost, while the outer s-subshell holds 0-2 electrons.
General Science
Variable oxidation numbers are possible for:
- (a)Sodium
- (b)Calcium
- (c)Iron
- (d)Lithium
Answer: (c) Iron
Iron is a transition metal and commonly shows more than one oxidation state, such as +2 and +3. Sodium, Calcium, and Lithium are fixed-valency metals.
General Science
Which one of the following gas smells like a rotten egg?
- (a)Ammonia
- (b)Hydrogen sulphide
- (c)Acetylene
- (d)Sulphur dioxide
Answer: (b) Hydrogen sulphide
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has a characteristic rotten-egg smell, unlike ammonia, acetylene, or sulphur dioxide.
General Science
The chemical reaction K2SO4(aq.) + BaCl2(aq.) → 2KCl(aq.) + BaSO4↓(solid) is an example of:
- (a)Addition reaction
- (b)Displacement reaction
- (c)Decomposition reaction
- (d)Double displacement reaction
Answer: (d) Double displacement reaction
Both compounds swap ionic partners: potassium pairs with chloride and barium pairs with sulphate. Exchanging ions between two compounds is a double displacement reaction.
General Science
Which one among the following is the correct scheme followed for classification of animals?
- (a)Class → Phylum → Order → Genus → Family → Species
- (b)Phylum → Class → Family → Genus → Order → Species
- (c)Order → Class → Phylum → Family → Species → Genus
- (d)Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
Answer: (d) Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
This is the standard taxonomic hierarchy, going from the broadest group down to the most specific.
General Science
Which one of the following is an example of airborne disease?
- (a)Tuberculosis
- (b)Malaria
- (c)Dengue
- (d)Cholera
Answer: (a) Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis spreads through air droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Malaria and dengue spread via mosquito bites, and cholera spreads through contaminated water.
General Science
What are the four human blood types in ABO blood group typing?
- (a)AO, BO, A and B
- (b)A, B, AB and O
- (c)A, AB, BO and O
- (d)AB, AO, B and O
Answer: (b) A, B, AB and O
ABO typing sorts blood into four groups, based on which antigens sit on red blood cells: type A, type B, type AB (both), and type O (neither).
Related: GenSci0003 — Biology Fundamentals for Competitive Exams
General Science
Which one of the following is not a part of the male reproductive system in human beings?
- (a)Prostate gland
- (b)Testis
- (c)Cervix
- (d)Scrotum
Answer: (c) Cervix
The cervix is part of the female reproductive system, not the male one. Testis, scrotum, and the prostate gland are all genuine parts of the male reproductive system.
General Science
Which of the following are the different parts of a human brain?
- (a)Forefront brain, Standard brain and Hind brain
- (b)Fore brain, Median brain and Rear brain
- (c)Fore brain, Mid brain and Hind brain
- (d)Precursor brain, Mean brain and Hind brain
Answer: (c) Fore brain, Mid brain and Hind brain
The human brain is divided into the fore brain, mid brain, and hind brain. The other option sets use made-up, non-standard names.
General Science
Tooth enamel of humans is made up of:
- (a)Calcium phosphate
- (b)Sodium hydrogen carbonate
- (c)Sodium hydroxide
- (d)Lactic acid
Answer: (a) Calcium phosphate
Tooth enamel is made mainly of calcium phosphate, in the crystal form called hydroxyapatite. This makes enamel the hardest substance in the human body.
General Science
The inner lining of the human small intestine has numerous finger-like projections called:
- (a)Sphincter
- (b)Villi
- (c)Enzymes
- (d)Plaques
Answer: (b) Villi
Villi are tiny finger-like projections lining the small intestine. They increase surface area, helping the body absorb digested nutrients more efficiently.
General Science
Which of the following represent disaccharides?
- (a)Starch and glycogen
- (b)Glucose and galactose
- (c)Maltose and lactose
- (d)Ribose and xylose
Answer: (c) Maltose and lactose
Maltose and lactose are disaccharides, made of two linked sugar units. Starch and glycogen are polysaccharides, while glucose, galactose, ribose, and xylose are monosaccharides.
General Science
Which one of the following organelles can be seen in a prokaryotic cell?
- (a)Mitochondria
- (b)Definitive nucleus
- (c)Ribosomes
- (d)Golgi bodies
Answer: (c) Ribosomes
Prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria, a true nucleus, and Golgi bodies. Ribosomes, however, are present in prokaryotic cells too.
General Science
A solution with a pH value less than 7 is a/an:
- (a)Neutral solution
- (b)Basic solution
- (c)Acidic solution
- (d)Hypotonic solution
Answer: (c) Acidic solution
The pH scale runs 0 to 14. A value below 7 means acidic, above 7 means basic, and exactly 7 means neutral.
Related: GenSci0002 — Chemistry Fundamentals for Competitive Exams
History & Culture
Consider the following statements about the Bengal countryside at the time of the Permanent Settlement:
- 1.The zamindars’ troops were disbanded.
- 2.Within the villages, the power of jotedars was more effective than that of zamindars.
- 3.The East India Company made a rule that the property of women would not be taken over.
- 4.Adhiyars were sharecroppers on the land owned by bargadars.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct: zamindars’ troops were disbanded, jotedars were more powerful in the villages, and the Company protected women’s property. Statement 4 is wrong – it is the bargadars who are sharecroppers, not the adhiyars owning the land.
Related: ModHist0354 — Lord Cornwallis: The Permanent Settlement and the Cornwallis Code · View this question →
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1, 2 and 4
- (b)1, 2 and 3
- (c)2, 3 and 4
- (d)1 and 3 only
History & Culture
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Journal/Newspaper/Pamphlet) | List-II (Founder/Editor/Author) |
|---|---|
| A. Kudi Arasu | 1. Aurobindo Ghosh |
| B. Kisan Bulletin | 2. Pherozeshah Mehta |
| C. Bombay Chronicle | 3. Indulal Yagnik |
| D. Bhawani Mandir | 4. E.V. Ramaswami Naicker |
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| (b) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| (c) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| (d) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Answer: (a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
Kudi Arasu was E.V. Ramaswami Naicker’s journal, Kisan Bulletin was Indulal Yagnik’s, Bombay Chronicle was founded by Pherozeshah Mehta, and Bhawani Mandir was Aurobindo Ghosh’s pamphlet.
History & Culture
Which of the following statements about the Ghadar Movement is/are correct?
- 1.The Ghadar Movement began in 1913 in San Francisco.
- 2.The movement was founded by Sohan Singh Bhakna.
- 3.The Ghadar Movement took its name from the weekly Ghadar brought out in several Indian languages.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. Sohan Singh Bhakna was the movement’s first president, and its weekly newspaper Ghadar, launched in San Francisco in November 1913, gave the movement its name.
History & Culture
Chronologically arrange the formation of the following political associations, beginning from the earliest:
- 1.Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
- 2.Indian Association
- 3.Madras Mahajan Sabha
- 4.Bombay Presidency Association
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1, 2, 3, 4
- (b)4, 3, 2, 1
- (c)1, 2, 4, 3
- (d)3, 4, 1, 2
Answer: (a) 1, 2, 3, 4
Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was formed in 1870, Indian Association in 1876, Madras Mahajan Sabha in 1884, and Bombay Presidency Association in 1885.
History & Culture
Which one of the following periods has provided the evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan in Rajasthan?
- (a)Early Harappan
- (b)Mature Harappan
- (c)Late Harappan
- (d)Chalcolithic
Answer: (a) Early Harappan
The evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan in Rajasthan comes from the Early Harappan period. It is one of the few places where ancient Harappan farming furrows have been preserved.
Related: GK0040 – Rajasthan, AncHist0097 — Kalibangan
History & Culture
Consider the following events:
- 1.Muslim League Resolution for Pakistan
- 2.Gandhi-Irwin Pact
- 3.Dandi March
- 4.Second Round Table Conference
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the given events (earliest to latest)?
- (a)2, 3, 1, 4
- (b)3, 2, 4, 1
- (c)3, 4, 2, 1
- (d)2, 3, 4, 1
Answer: (b) 3, 2, 4, 1
The Dandi March came first (March 1930), then the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 1931), then the Second Round Table Conference (late 1931), and finally the Muslim League’s Pakistan Resolution (March 1940).
History & Culture
Consider the following pairs: (Historical Place) (Well-known for)
- I.Girnar : Sudarshana Lake
- II.Cholistan : Terracotta model of Plough
- III.Mant (near Mathura) : Headless standing figure of Kanishka
- IV.Sannati : Asokan Pillar Edict in Odisha
How many pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)4
Answer: (c) 3
Girnar’s Sudarshana Lake, Cholistan’s terracotta plough model, and Mant’s headless Kanishka statue are correctly matched. Sannati’s Ashokan edicts are actually in Karnataka, not Odisha.
History & Culture
With reference to the “Amara-Nayaka system”, which one of the following statements is not correct?
- (a)It was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
- (b)They were military commanders, who were given territories to govern and collect taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons and traders in the area.
- (c)They retained part of the revenue for personal use and to maintain a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants.
- (d)They were not allowed to use their share of revenue for the maintenance of temples.
Answer: (d)
Amara-Nayakas actually did use part of their revenue for temple maintenance and irrigation works, alongside their military duties. So statement (d) is the incorrect one.
Related: MedHist0007 — Vijayanagara Empire: Founding to Krishnadeva Raya
History & Culture
The popular poem “Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali rani thi” (Like a man she fought, she was the Rani of Jhansi) was written by:
- (a)Mahadevi Varma
- (b)Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
- (c)Amrita Pritam
- (d)Balamani Amma
Answer: (b) Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
Subhadra Kumari Chauhan wrote “Jhansi Ki Rani,” the Hindi poem whose refrain made this line famous. Rani Lakshmibai herself died fighting British forces at Kotah-ki-Serai, just outside Gwalior, on 18 June 1858, during the final weeks of the 1857 revolt. Related: MedHist0055 — Gwalior Fort.
History & Culture
Consider the following statements about Ellora:
- 1.This art-historical site is associated exclusively with Buddhism.
- 2.The Kailasa temple at Ellora has been built of dressed stone and kiln fired bricks.
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
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ellora has over 100 caves, and 34 are open to the public. They are Buddhist, Hindu and Jain, so the site is not Buddhist alone. The Kailasa temple at Ellora is monolithic, carved top-down from a single rock outcrop, not built up from dressed stone and kiln-fired bricks.
Source: Kailasa Temple, Ancient Origins. Related: AncHist0099 — Buddhist Rock-Cut Architecture: Chaityas and Viharas.
History & Culture
In which one of the following states are the Guntupalle Buddhist Caves located?
- (a)Andhra Pradesh
- (b)Karnataka
- (c)Tamil Nadu
- (d)Kerala
Answer: (a) Andhra Pradesh
The Guntupalle Buddhist Caves are in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. The site has rock-cut caves, a chaitya hall, and stupas dating to around 200-0 BCE.
History & Culture
Consider the following statements about Ajanta Cave paintings:
- 1.The paintings depict yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras.
- 2.The artists have used the technique of providing “multiple perspectives”.
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
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Ajanta’s narrative panels depict yakshas, gandharvas, and apsaras alongside Jataka-tale scenes, so statement 1 is correct. Ajanta’s artists also painted figures from more than one viewpoint within a single panel, using foreshortening and dynamic outline to suggest depth and movement rather than fixed single-point perspective, so statement 2 is correct too.
Related: ArtnCulture0001 — Paintings in Early India: A Complete Guide, AncHist0099 — Buddhist Rock-Cut Architecture: Chaityas and Viharas
History & Culture
“Neel Darpan”, a play that depicted the atrocities on the indigo planters, was translated into English by:
- (a)Dinabandhu Mitra
- (b)Michael Madhusudan Dutta
- (c)James Long
- (d)James C. Scott
Answer: (b) Michael Madhusudan Dutta
Dinabandhu Mitra wrote the play in Bengali. Michael Madhusudan Dutta translated it into English, and Reverend James Long published it and was tried for sedition as a result.
History & Culture
With reference to the Revolt of 1857, consider the following statements:
- 1.Shah Mal mobilised the people of Baraut region of Uttar Pradesh and captured the bungalow of an Englishman and converted it into a “hall of justice”.
- 2.Gonoo was a Kol leader of the Singhbhum region of Chotanagpur.
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
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Shah Mal really did set up a hall of justice in a captured Englishman’s bungalow near Baraut. Gonoo really did lead the Kol tribals of Singhbhum, Chotanagpur, during the 1857 revolt.
Related: ModHist0058 — 1857: Causes, Course and Consequences
History & Culture
Which of the following books portrays three images of the Mother Goddess: “Mother as she was”, “Mother as she is” and “Mother as she will be”?
- (a)Durgeshnandini
- (b)Kapalkundala
- (c)Anandamath
- (d)Devi Chaudhurani
Answer: (c) Anandamath
Anandamath, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, shows the Mother Goddess as she was (Jagaddhatri), as she is (Kali), and as she will be (Durga). The novel also contains Vande Mataram.
Related: ModHist0112 — Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay: The Man Who Wrote Vande Mataram
History & Culture
With reference to the women achievers in modern India, consider the following statements:
- 1.Pandita Ramabai published a book “A Comparison Between Women and Men” where she protested against the colonial view that men enjoyed all the rights, opportunities and benefits of change.
- 2.Tarabai Shinde worked in the field of medicine to reduce child mortality in rural India.
- 3.Sarojini Naidu led a delegation to London to demand for female franchise.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)None
Answer: (a) 1
Only statement 3 is correct. The book comparing men’s and women’s rights was actually written by Tarabai Shinde, not Pandita Ramabai, and Tarabai Shinde’s real work was a social critique pamphlet, not medicine. Sarojini Naidu did lead a delegation to London demanding female franchise.
Related: ModHist0069 — Sarojini Naidu and Women in the Freedom Struggle
History & Culture
The Sanikatta Salt Works, known for Salt Satyagraha, is located in:
- (a)Gujarat
- (b)Tamil Nadu
- (c)Kerala
- (d)Karnataka
Answer: (d) Karnataka
Sanikatta, in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, is one of the oldest salt-manufacturing sites in the state. It became a major Salt Satyagraha site during the 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement.
History & Culture
The Kalaram temple, known for temple entry movements in the early twentieth century, is located in which state of India?
- (a)Maharashtra
- (b)Kerala
- (c)Tamil Nadu
- (d)Gujarat
Answer: (a) Maharashtra
The Kalaram temple is at Nashik in Maharashtra. In March 1930 B.R. Ambedkar led a Satyagraha there for temple entry – a landmark of the temple-entry movement that runs from Narayana Guru’s Aruvippuram consecration (1888) and the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) to the constitutional promise of Article 17.
Related: ModHist0094 — Caste Consciousness Movements, 19th Century · View this question → · ModHist0256 — Mannathu Padmanabhan: Kerala’s ‘Bharat Kesari’
History & Culture
Matangini Hazra and Lakshman Naik sacrificed their lives in:
- (a)Bardoli Satyagraha
- (b)Non-Cooperation Movement
- (c)Civil Disobedience Movement
- (d)Quit India Movement
Answer: Quit India Movement
Matangini Hazra was shot dead on 29 September 1942 while leading a Quit India procession in Tamluk, Bengal. Lakshman Naik was hanged in 1943 for his role in the same movement, in Odisha.
Source: Laxman Nayak, Wikipedia. Related: ModHist0028 — Matangini Hazra: A Quit India Martyr’s Final March
History & Culture
With reference to the history of India, the word “kopeki” is associated with:
- (a)Clothes
- (b)Coins
- (c)Land measurement
- (d)A type of sport in South India
Answer: (b) Coins
Kopeki (also called Pratapa) was a coin equal to half a Varaha, mentioned in the accounts of the Persian traveller Abdur Razzaq during his visit to Vijayanagara.
Economy
Which one among the following pairs of type of firm and feature is not correctly matched?
- (a)Oligopoly firm : Interdependence in decision-making
- (b)Monopolistic firm : Firm is a price setter
- (c)Monopoly firm : Produces an efficient level of output
- (d)Perfectly competitive firm : Produces socially optimum output
Answer: (c)
A monopoly firm actually produces below the socially efficient level of output, since it restricts supply to keep prices high. Pairing it with “produces an efficient level of output” is the wrong match.
Economy
Union Budget 2025 increased the Sectoral cap of FDI to 100 per cent from 74 per cent for:
- (a)Telecom Sector
- (b)Power Sector
- (c)Defence Sector
- (d)Insurance Sector
Answer: (d) Insurance Sector
On 1 February 2025, the Finance Minister raised the FDI cap for insurance from 74% to 100%, for companies that invest the full premium in India.
Economy
The practice of reducing the size of a product while maintaining its sticker price is called:
- (a)Shrinkflation
- (b)Reflation
- (c)Disinflation
- (d)Deflation
Answer: (a) Shrinkflation
Shrinkflation is when a product gets smaller while its price stays the same, effectively raising the price per unit without changing the sticker price.
Economy
Consider the following statements about innovation and research and development in India:
- 1.India’s rank in Global Innovation Index reported by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has improved significantly between 2015 and 2024.
- 2.Funding of research and development is sourced primarily from private sector entities and is sectorally concentrated in pharmaceuticals and information technology.
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
Answer: (a) 1 only
India’s Global Innovation Index rank genuinely improved sharply, from 81st in 2015 to 39th in 2024. But R&D funding in India is actually dominated by the government, not private industry, so statement 2 is wrong.
Economy
Consider the following statements about the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE):
- 1.The IIE was established in 1999 in Guwahati.
- 2.The main aim of the institute is to provide training, research and consulting activities for small and micro enterprises.
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
Answer: (b) 2 only
The IIE was actually established in 1993, not 1999, so statement 1 is wrong. Its real mandate does cover training, research, and consulting for small and micro enterprises, so statement 2 is correct.
Economy
Consider the following statements about Union Government’s Expenditure on revenue account and effective capital expenditure:
- 1.Effective capital expenditure as percentage of GDP has increased from 2020-21 to 2023-24.
- 2.Expenditure on revenue account as percentage of GDP has increased from 2020-21 to 2023-24.
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
Answer: (a) 1 only
Capital expenditure’s share of GDP genuinely rose over this period, from about 1.2% to 3.3%. Revenue expenditure’s share of GDP actually fell as total spending normalised after the pandemic, so statement 2 is wrong.
Economy
Which one among the following statements about the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) in India is not correct?
- (a)DEH was launched in August 2019.
- (b)The aim of DEH is to boost exports of only selected districts of the country.
- (c)India’s Foreign Trade Policy 2023 reiterated the role of DEH.
- (d)DEH aims to promote exports by providing financial inclusion and facilitating logistical and infrastructural support.
Answer: (b) The aim of DEH is to boost exports of only selected districts of the country
DEH (launched August 2019) aims to develop ALL districts as export hubs for balanced regional growth, not just a few selected ones. So the claim that it covers only selected districts is the one that is not correct.
Polity & Governance
Which of the following statements about Tim Tim Tare (TTT) is/are correct?
- 1.TTT is a pioneering initiative that aims at imparting essential life skills to adolescent students across India.
- 2.TTT is a pioneering initiative that aims at imparting vocational and technical skills to students across India.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Tim Tim Tare is a life-skills programme, built around the WHO’s ten core life skills, for adolescents. It deliberately focuses on life skills rather than vocational or technical training, so statement 2 is wrong.
Economy
Consider the following statements regarding Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report 2023-24 by the National Statistical Organization (NSO):
- 1.The agriculture sector remains dominant in employment, with its share rising from about 44 per cent in 2017-18 to about 46 per cent in 2023-24.
- 2.The share of female workers in agriculture has increased during the period 2017-18 to 2023-24.
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
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Agriculture’s overall employment share genuinely rose over this period, and women’s participation in agriculture rose even more sharply, from around 57% to over 64%.
Science & Tech
Which one of the following platforms marks a transformative step in India’s immunization efforts by digitizing vaccination records for pregnant women and children up to 16 years?
- (a)U-WIN
- (b)PM-ABHIM
- (c)eSanjeevani
- (d)FDSI
Answer: (a) U-WIN
U-WIN digitizes vaccination records for pregnant women and children, extending the earlier Co-WIN platform’s approach to routine immunization.
Science & Tech
Which language uses the symbolic representation of machine codes needed to program a particular processor or processor family?
- (a)Machine Language
- (b)Assembly Language
- (c)High-Level Language
- (d)All of the above
Answer: (b) Assembly Language
Assembly language uses mnemonics, symbolic stand-ins for a processor’s actual machine-code instructions, making the code easier for humans to read and write.
Science & Tech
What are the uses of software ports?
- 1.Connect client computer to server
- 2.Connect external devices to computer
- 3.Identify different services like email, file transfer
- 4.Connecting peripherals like cameras, scanners
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)1 and 3
- (c)2 and 3
- (d)2 and 4
Answer: (b) 1 and 3
Software (network) ports let a client computer connect to a server and identify which service, like email or file transfer, a connection is for. Connecting physical peripherals is a hardware-port function, not a software-port one.
Science & Tech
Assuming the computer is a 4-bit computer, what result is produced after subtraction of 3 from 5 using the 2’s complement representation?
- (a)0101
- (b)10010
- (c)1101
- (d)11001
Answer: (b) 10010
5 is 0101, and the 2’s complement of 3 is 1101. Adding them gives 0101 + 1101 = 10010, the 5-bit sum before the leading carry bit is discarded.
Science & Tech
Which one of the following is not a logical operator?
- (a)NOT
- (b)OR
- (c)AND
- (d)Division
Answer: (d) Division
NOT, OR, and AND are all logical operators used in Boolean logic. Division is an arithmetic operator, not a logical one.
Science & Tech
Which among the following are the purposes of deploying a Firewall?
- 1.Examine each packet arriving from Internet
- 2.Prevent unauthorised access
- 3.Block suspicious activity
- 4.Interconnect telephones
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)1, 3 and 4
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
A firewall examines each packet arriving from the internet, prevents unauthorised access, and blocks suspicious activity. Interconnecting telephones is a telephone-exchange function, unrelated to firewalls.
Source: Cisco — What Is a Firewall?.
Related: SciTech0006 — Information Technology: Concepts and Impact
Geography
Amsterdam-St. Paul Plateau is located in which one of the following oceanic regions?
- (a)Arctic Ocean
- (b)North Atlantic Ocean
- (c)Southern Indian Ocean
- (d)South Pacific Ocean
Answer: (c) Southern Indian Ocean
This oceanic plateau sits in the southeastern Southern Indian Ocean, formed where a hotspot interacts with the Southeast Indian Ridge.
Geography
Which one of the following pairs of City and Lake is not correctly matched?
- (a)Buffalo : Erie
- (b)Detroit : Superior
- (c)Milwaukee : Michigan
- (d)Toronto : Ontario
Answer: (b) Detroit : Superior
Detroit sits on the Detroit River, between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, not on Lake Superior. Buffalo, Milwaukee, and Toronto are all correctly matched.
Geography
Which of the following statements with reference to lines of latitudes is/are correct?
- 1.The distance between two successive latitudes changes slightly from the equator to the poles.
- 2.If parallels of latitude are drawn at an interval of one degree, the total number of parallels thus drawn, including the equator, will be 179.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
The distance between successive latitudes does change slightly toward the poles, due to Earth’s slightly flattened shape. Drawing parallels at one-degree intervals actually produces 181, not 179, parallels.
Geography
Arrange the following major elements present in the Earth’s crust, in ascending order, in weight percentage:
- 1.Aluminium
- 2.Calcium
- 3.Silicon
- 4.Oxygen
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)3, 4, 1, 2
- (b)4, 3, 1, 2
- (c)2, 1, 3, 4
- (d)1, 2, 3, 4
Answer: (c) 2, 1, 3, 4
By weight, the crust is roughly 46.6% oxygen, 27.7% silicon, 8.1% aluminium, and 3.6% calcium. Ascending order is calcium, aluminium, silicon, oxygen.
Geography
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Island/Nation) | List-II (Tectonic Plate) |
|---|---|
| A. Comoros | 1. North American Plate |
| B. Baffin Island | 2. African Plate |
| C. Sri Lanka | 3. Eurasian Plate |
| D. Andaman Islands | 4. Indo-Australian Plate |
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| (b) | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| (c) | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| (d) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Answer: (d) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
Comoros sits on the African Plate, Baffin Island on the North American Plate, Sri Lanka on the Indo-Australian Plate, and the Andaman Islands on the Eurasian Plate’s Burma microplate.
Geography
Which of the following statements with reference to Richter scale is/are correct?
- 1.It is the intensity scale of an earthquake.
- 2.Richter indicates the amount of energy released during the earthquake.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Richter is a magnitude scale (energy released at the source), not an intensity scale — intensity is measured separately by the Modified Mercalli scale. Richter magnitude does correlate with energy released, roughly 31.6x more energy per whole-number increase. Related: EnvEco0006 — Nuclear and Biological Disasters: India\’s Major Case Studies · IndGeo0050 — Seismic Zoning of India.
Geography
Which of the following statements with reference to Glacial trough is/are correct?
- 1.Alpine glaciers strip valleys of their soil, regolith and sediment to form glacial troughs.
- 2.When the sea level is below the floor of a glacial trough, the seawater enters as the ice front recedes, creating a fiord.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements describe how glacial troughs form and how they turn into fiords once the ice retreats and seawater floods in.
Geography
Consider the following statements with reference to Mid-latitude deciduous forests:
- 1.Mid-latitude deciduous forests consist largely of trees that drop their leaves during the summer season.
- 2.Mid-latitude deciduous forests are native to eastern North America and Western Europe.
- 3.In Asia, the Mid-latitude deciduous forests occur as a belt between the boreal forest to the north and steppe lands to the south.
- 4.Beech, Hickory and Walnut are common examples of trees found in Mid-latitude deciduous forests.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1, 2 and 3
- (b)1, 2 and 4
- (c)1, 3 and 4
- (d)2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 2, 3 and 4
Mid-latitude deciduous trees actually drop their leaves in winter, not summer, so statement 1 is wrong. The other three statements are correct.
Geography
Arrange the following permanent gases present in the atmosphere in ascending order:
- 1.Helium
- 2.Hydrogen
- 3.Neon
- 4.Xenon
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)3, 1, 2, 4
- (b)3, 1, 4, 2
- (c)2, 4, 1, 3
- (d)2, 4, 3, 1
Answer: (a) 3, 1, 2, 4
By actual atmospheric concentration, the ascending order is Xenon, Hydrogen, Helium, Neon (Xenon and Hydrogen are the rarest, Neon the most abundant of these four trace gases) — this option lists them in the reverse, most-to-least abundant order: Neon, Helium, Hydrogen, Xenon.
Geography
The pattern of planetary winds largely depends upon which of the following factors?
- 1.Latitudinal variation of atmospheric heating
- 2.The distribution of continents and oceans
- 3.The rotation of earth
Which of the above is/are correct?
- (a)1 only
- (b)1 and 2 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three factors genuinely shape planetary wind patterns: uneven heating by latitude, the layout of land and sea, and the Earth’s rotation, which produces the Coriolis effect.
Geography
Which of the following statements with reference to Water Vapour in the atmosphere is/are correct?
- 1.It has a role to play in the stability and instability in the air.
- 2.It acts like a blanket allowing the earth to neither become too cold nor too hot.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Water vapour affects air stability and also traps outgoing heat, moderating the Earth’s temperature range.
Related: WorldGeo0002 — Climatology: Atmosphere, Weather and Climate
Geography
Consider the following pairs with reference to world climate types and their characteristics: (Climate) (Characteristic)
- I.Tropical wet and dry : Winter dry season
- II.Mid-latitude steppe : Mid-latitude semi-arid or dry
- III.Humid sub-tropical : No dry season, warm summer
- IV.Marine west coast : No dry season, severely cold summer
How many of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)4
Answer: (c) 3
Tropical wet-and-dry, mid-latitude steppe, and humid sub-tropical are all correctly described. Marine west coast climate actually has mild, cool summers, not severely cold ones.
Geography
Identify the climate type based on the given below characteristics:
- 1.The annual precipitation is low and is around 15 cm.
- 2.The development of pronounced winter anticyclones and their weakening in summer sets in monsoon-like reversal of wind in this region.
- 3.Polewards, summer temperatures are low.
Select the answer from the options given below:
- (a)Subtropical steppe
- (b)Humid sub-tropical climate
- (c)Cold climate with dry winters
- (d)Tundra climate
Answer: (c) Cold climate with dry winters
This describes the cold climate with dry winters found in interior East Asia, dominated by a strong winter anticyclone (like the Siberian High) that weakens sharply in summer.
Geography
Consider the following statements with reference to the Cotton textile industry in India:
- 1.Cotton textile industry has, over time, spread to other parts of the country, beyond Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- 2.Raw cotton is not a weight-losing raw material.
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
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
The cotton textile industry has genuinely spread well beyond Gujarat and Maharashtra, and cotton, unlike sugarcane, doesn’t lose much weight during processing, so it isn’t tied down to growing areas.
Geography
Indore city in Madhya Pradesh is situated in which one of the following regions?
- (a)Bundelkhand
- (b)Mahakoshal
- (c)Malwa Plateau
- (d)Nimar Region
Answer: (c) Malwa Plateau
Indore lies on the Malwa Plateau in western Madhya Pradesh, a region known for its black cotton soil and moderate elevation.
Geography
Which among the following Classes of Towns in India holds the highest percentage of Urban Population as per the Census 2011?
- (a)Class II
- (b)Class III
- (c)Class IV
- (d)Class VI
Answer: (b) Class III
Class III towns (population 20,000-49,999) hold about 15.4% of India’s urban population, higher than Class II, IV, or VI.
Related: IndSoc0038 — Census 2011: India’s Population Data and the Population Pyramid
Geography
The Golden Quadrilateral Highway does not pass through which of the following cities?
- 1.Bhubaneshwar
- 2.Jaipur
- 3.Lucknow
- 4.Indore
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)1 and 3
- (c)2 and 3
- (d)3 and 4
Answer: (d) 3 and 4
The Golden Quadrilateral passes through Bhubaneshwar and Jaipur along its route, but Lucknow and Indore both sit off its direct alignment and are not on the highway.
Related: IndEco0041 — Infrastructure: Services, Connectivity and Investment · IndGeo0011 — India’s Transport and Communication Network
Geography
Consider the following statements with reference to location of Major Ports in India:
- 1.Deendayal Port is situated at the head of Gulf of Khambhat.
- 2.Cochin Port is situated at the head of Vembanad Kayal.
- 3.Mormugao Port is situated at the entrance of the Zuari estuary.
- 4.Paradip Port is situated in the Godavari delta.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)1 and 3
- (c)2 and 3
- (d)3 and 4
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Deendayal Port sits at the head of the Gulf of Kutch, not the Gulf of Khambhat, and Paradip Port sits in the Mahanadi delta, not the Godavari delta. Cochin and Mormugao are both correctly located.
Related: IndGeo0011 — India’s Transport and Communication Network
Environment & Ecology
Which one among the following is not an atmospheric natural disaster?
- (a)Drought
- (b)Hailstorm
- (c)Frost
- (d)Avalanche
Answer: (d) Avalanche
Avalanche is a gravity-driven snow/terrain disaster, not an atmospheric one. Drought, hailstorm, and frost are all atmospheric hazards.
Environment & Ecology
Which of the following statements with reference to National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) is/are correct?
- 1.It was constituted in the year 2006.
- 2.Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Institute has been entrusted to assist in national level policy formulation with reference to Disaster Management.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
NIDM was constituted in 2006 (the Disaster Management Act, 2005 received assent on 9 January 2006), and Section 42(9) of the Act does entrust NIDM with assisting national-level policy formulation. Related: EnvEco0004 — Disaster Management: Concepts and India\’s Legal Framework.
Int’l Relations & Defence
Which one of the following statements about ‘Nilgiri’, ‘Surat’ and ‘Vaghsheer’ is correct?
- (a)These are Tiger Reserves in the state of Gujarat.
- (b)These are combatants commissioned by the Indian Navy.
- (c)These are Biodiversity parks maintained by the Indian Army.
- (d)These are Tiger Reserves maintained by the Indian Navy.
Answer: (b)
Nilgiri (a frigate), Surat (a destroyer), and Vaghsheer (a submarine) were all commissioned together into the Indian Navy in January 2025.
Economy
Which of the following surveys are being conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India?
- 1.Survey on Social Consumption – Health
- 2.Comprehensive Modular Survey – Telecom and ICT skills
- 3.Periodic Labour Force Survey
- 4.Annual Survey on Unincorporated Enterprises
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1, 2, 3 and 4
- (b)1, 2 and 3 only
- (c)3 and 4 only
- (d)1 and 2 only
Answer: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
All four are genuine MoSPI/NSSO surveys: on social consumption in health, on telecom and ICT skills, the labour force survey, and the survey on unincorporated enterprises.
Economy
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.The Government of India has discontinued the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
- 2.The Government of India has approved the continuation of Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
PMFBY has not been discontinued; it is still running. The continuation of the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme genuinely was approved.
Related: IndEco0291 — Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Int’l Relations & Defence
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Organization) | List-II (Year of Formation) |
|---|---|
| A. European Union | 1. 1994 |
| B. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) | 2. 1967 |
| C. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) | 3. 1989 |
| D. Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) | 4. 1993 |
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| (b) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| (c) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| (d) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Answer: (c) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
The EU formally came into being in 1993, APEC in 1989, ASEAN in 1967, and the FTAA process launched in 1994.
History & Culture
The book ‘The Art of War’ was written by:
- (a)Niccolo Machiavelli
- (b)Thucydides
- (c)Thomas Hobbes
- (d)J.S. Mill
Answer: (a) Niccolo Machiavelli
Machiavelli wrote his own treatise called The Art of War (Dell’arte della guerra) in 1519-1520, distinct from the more famous ancient Chinese text of the same name.
Int’l Relations & Defence
Which one of the following military operations was not undertaken by India?
- (a)Operation Ablaze
- (b)Operation Spider’s Web
- (c)Operation Trident
- (d)Operation Bandar
Answer: (b) Operation Spider’s Web
Operation Spider’s Web was a 2025 Ukrainian drone attack on Russian air bases, not an Indian operation. Ablaze (1965), Trident (1971), and Bandar (2019 Balakot strike) were all Indian military operations.
Int’l Relations & Defence
Which of the following statements are correct about ‘Arnala’, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft?
- 1.It is indigeneouly designed in India.
- 2.It is named after the historic Arnala fort located in Maharashtra.
- 3.It has been built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of GRSE with M/s L&T Shipyard.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct: Arnala is indigenously designed, named after the Arnala fort near Vasai, Maharashtra, and built under a GRSE-L&T Shipyard partnership.
Sports & Current Affairs
Robert Prevost became the Catholic Pope after the death of Pope Francis. Which of the following statements is/are correct about him?
- 1.He will now be known as Leo XV.
- 2.He became the 271st Catholic Pope.
- 3.He is a dual citizen of the United States of America and Peru.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 and 3
- (c)1 only
- (d)3 only
Answer: (d) 3 only
He took the name Leo XIV, not Leo XV, and became the 267th pope, not the 271st. He genuinely is a dual citizen of the US and Peru, having taken Peruvian citizenship in 2015.
Geography
Which of the statements about the dams on the Chenab river is/are correct?
- 1.Salal dam, Aalal dam and Baglihar dams are on the Chenab river.
- 2.Baglihar dam has a greater height than Salal dam.
- 3.Salal dam is operated by Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation and Baglihar dam is operated by NHPC Limited.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 and 3
- (c)2 only
- (d)3 only
Answer: (c) 2 only
‘Aalal dam’ does not exist, so statement 1 is wrong. Baglihar (143m) is genuinely taller than Salal (113m). The operators are actually reversed from statement 3: Salal is run by NHPC, and Baglihar by JKPDC.
Sports & Current Affairs
Which of the following statements about ‘Alcatraz’, which was recently in news, is/are correct?
- 1.It was once a defence fort on Alcatraz island of America.
- 2.It was once a prison on Alcatraz island of America.
- 3.It was once occupied by a group of native American students, known as ‘Indians of all tribes’.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1, 2 and 3
- (d)1 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
Alcatraz Island genuinely served as a US military fort, then a federal prison, and was later occupied (1969-71) by Native American activists calling themselves ‘Indians of All Tribes’.
Int’l Relations & Defence
Which of the following statements about India’s military arsenal is/are correct?
- 1.HAMMER is a weapon system built for the Rafale fighter aircraft.
- 2.SCALP cruise missile is also known as Storm Shadow.
- 3.BrahMos missiles are built under a joint venture between India and Russia.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1, 2 and 3
- (d)3 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct: HAMMER is a French precision munition used on the Rafale, SCALP and Storm Shadow are the same missile under different names, and BrahMos is an India-Russia joint venture.
Science & Tech
Recently, ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) has developed the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties. Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to the developed products?
- 1.The genome-edited varieties – DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice 1 have been developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi.
- 2.DRR Rice 100 (Kamla), based on Samba Mahsuri, has a shorter duration of maturity.
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
DRR Rice 100 (Kamala) was actually developed by ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad, while Pusa DST Rice 1 was developed by ICAR-IARI — different institutes, not both IARI. DRR Rice 100 does mature faster than its parent variety, Samba Mahsuri.
Economy
Which one of the following is a good statistic to evaluate where an economy stands in the financial cycle?
- (a)Tax/GDP Ratio
- (b)Fiscal Deficit/GDP Ratio
- (c)Household Consumption/GDP Ratio
- (d)Credit/GDP Ratio
Answer: (d) Credit/GDP Ratio
The credit-to-GDP ratio (and its gap from trend) is the standard indicator economists use to judge where an economy sits in the financial cycle.
Economy
Which of the following pairs of initiatives of the Government of India and their objectives is/are correctly matched?
- 1.Global Capability Centre (GCC) : Reshaping corporate landscape
- 2.U-WIN Portal : Ease of doing business across states
Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Global Capability Centres genuinely are reshaping India’s corporate landscape. The U-WIN Portal is actually about digitizing vaccination records, not ease of doing business.
Polity & Governance
Social Mobilisation and Institution Development (SM&ID) is one of the major components of:
- (a)Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
- (b)National Urban Digital Mission
- (c)Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
- (d)Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan
Answer: (a) Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
SM&ID is a core component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana umbrella, covering both its rural (DAY-NRLM) and urban (DAY-NULM) livelihood missions.
Related: IndGov0060 — DAY-NRLM
English-language questions transcribed from the official Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2025 question booklet (ANFB-S-GKL), General Knowledge paper. Answer key not included.
Leave a Reply