‘Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for
(a)providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates
(b)promoting women's Self-Help Groups in backward areas
(c)promoting financial inclusion in the country
(d)providing financial help to the marginalized communities
Answer: (c) promoting financial inclusion in the country
PMJDY launched on 28 August 2014 as India's National Mission for Financial Inclusion. It gives every household access to a bank account, a RuPay debit card, credit, insurance, and pension — it is not a housing-loan scheme, an SHG-promotion scheme, or a targeted cash-transfer scheme.
With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from 32 percent to 42 percent.
2.It has made recommendations concerning sector-specific grants.
Select the correct 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 Fourteenth Finance Commission (FC-XIV) raised the States' share of the central divisible pool from 32% to 42%, the largest jump recommended by any Finance Commission. Statement 1 is correct.
FC-XIV moved away from sector-specific grants. It found they lacked continuity across Commissions and overlapped with centrally sponsored schemes. It recommended only three grant channels instead: post-devolution revenue deficit grants, disaster management grants, and grants to local bodies. Statement 2 is incorrect.
The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’, recently in the news, is related to the affairs of
(a)ASEAN
(b)BRICS
(c)OECD
(d)WTO
Answer: (b) BRICS
The Fortaleza Declaration is the outcome document of the 6th BRICS Summit, held in Fortaleza, Brazil in July 2014. It formally launched the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following?
1.Slowing economic growth rate
2.Less equitable distribution of national income
Select the correct 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
Tax revenue is elastic, so it moves with economic activity. A falling tax-to-GDP ratio usually signals slowing growth, not a change in how equitably income is distributed — that is tracked separately, through the Gini coefficient or income quintiles.
In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?
(a)Sea surface temperatures are low
(b)Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
(c)Coriolis force is too weak
(d)Absence of land in those regions
Answer: (b) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs.
Cyclones need a pre-existing disturbance to grow from, and the ITCZ usually supplies it. The ITCZ stays close to the equator over these regions and rarely shifts far enough south to seed a storm.
Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?
(a)Assam and Rajasthan
(b)Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
(c)Assam and Gujarat
(d)Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat
Answer: (d) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat
Arunachal Pradesh is India’s easternmost state, with Kibithu in Anjaw district marking the country’s first sunrise. Gujarat is the westernmost state, with Kutch district holding India’s westernmost point near Sir Creek.
In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight?
(a)Coal production
(b)Electricity generation
(c)Fertilizer production
(d)Steel production
Answer: (b) Electricity generation
Under the 2004-05 base year in force at the time of this exam, Electricity carried the highest weight (10.32%) among the eight core industries, ahead of Steel (6.68%) and Refinery Products (5.94%). The base year has since been revised twice. Under the 2011-12 base year, Refinery Products briefly became the highest-weighted industry (28.04%), with Electricity second (19.85%). A further revision in July 2026, to base year 2022-23, added a ninth industry (Iron Ore) and made Electricity the highest again, at 30.93%.
Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
(a)Bhitarkanika National Park
(b)Keibul Lamjao National Park
(c)Keoladeo Ghana National Park
(d)Sultanpur National Park
Answer: (b) Keibul Lamjao National Park
Keibul Lamjao National Park, in Manipur, is a swamp built on phumdi, floating mats of vegetation on Loktak Lake, supporting rich biodiversity including the endangered Sangai deer. Related: EnvEco0014 — Wildlife in India.
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation–India (NIF)?
1.NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.
2.NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India's premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
2.IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3.CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is wrong: IUCN is not a UN organ, though CITES itself is indeed an intergovernmental agreement.
The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the
(a)Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(b)Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
(c)Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture
(d)Agricultural Produce Market Committee
Answer: (a) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends the FRP. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, actually approves it each season.
What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
(a)The Earth's rotation on its axis
(b)Convergence of the two equatorial currents
(c)Difference in salinity of water
(d)Occurrence of the belt of calm near the equator
Answer: (b) Convergence of the two equatorial currents
Trade winds push the North and South Equatorial Currents westward, piling up water on the western side of the ocean basin. That water flows back east through the calmer doldrums gap between the two currents.
Consider the following pairs: (Place of Pilgrimage — Location)
1.Srisailam — Nallamala Hills
2.Omkareshwar — Satmala Hills
3.Pushkar — Mahadeo Hills
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Only Srisailam–Nallamala Hills is correctly matched. Omkareshwar sits on a Narmada river island in the Vindhya range area, not the Satmala Hills. Pushkar sits in Rajasthan’s Aravalli Range, not the Mahadeo Hills.
With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the 'Sedition Committee'.
2.In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilize the Home Rule League.
3.Demonstrations against the arrival of Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
The Rowlatt Act was based on the Rowlatt/Sedition Committee’s recommendations, and Gandhi did use Home Rule League networks to organise the Satyagraha. The Simon Commission arrived in 1928, nearly a decade after the 1919 Rowlatt Satyagraha, so statement 3 is wrong.
Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently?
(a)Syria and Jordan
(b)Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
(c)Philippines and Papua New Guinea
(d)Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
Answer: (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
The 2014 Ebola outbreak was centred in these three West African countries. It became the largest and longest Ebola epidemic in history, with over 28,600 cases and more than 11,300 deaths. WHO declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2014.
With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
2.Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
3.Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3
(d)3 only
Answer: (a) 1 and 2
Fly ash can be used in bricks and as a partial Portland cement replacement. It does contain toxic elements like arsenic and mercury, contrary to statement 3. Related: EnvEco0029 — Fly Ash.
Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?
1.Dadabhai Naoroji
2.G. Subramania Iyer
3.R. C. Dutt
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(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 were genuine economic critics of colonialism. Naoroji’s Drain of Wealth theory, Iyer’s writings on British economic policy, and Dutt’s economic histories each built an independent, data-based case against colonial rule.
When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points, which of the following is likely to happen?
(a)India's GDP growth rate increases drastically
(b)Foreign Institutional Investors may bring more capital into our country
(c)Scheduled Commercial Banks may cut their lending rates
(d)It may drastically reduce the liquidity to the banking system
Answer: (c) Scheduled Commercial Banks may cut their lending rates
A lower SLR frees up funds banks would otherwise hold in approved liquid assets. Banks then have more funds available to lend. With more loanable funds on hand, banks are likely to cut lending rates to stay competitive and encourage borrowing.
In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the
(a)Essential Commodities Act, 1955
(b)Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States
(c)Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
(d)Food Products Order, 1956 and Meat and Food Products Order, 1973
Answer: (b) Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States
Agricultural marketing is a State subject under the Seventh Schedule (Entry 14 — Agriculture, Entry 28 — Markets and fairs, State List). There is no single central APMC law; each state has enacted its own Act, requiring notified produce to be sold through licensed traders inside regulated mandis. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 controls production, supply and distribution of essential goods, not market regulation; the 1937 Grading and Marking Act sets quality/grade standards (AGMARK); the 1956/1973 Orders regulate food-processing hygiene standards — none of these regulate where agricultural produce is traded.
With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements:
1.It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.
2.It wanted to establish the dictatorship of proletariat.
3.It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)None
Answer: (d) None
None of the three statements are correct. The Congress Socialist Party actually advocated land nationalisation, socialisation of key industries, adult franchise, and civil liberties, through Congress’s own democratic channels. It explicitly rejected the Communist Party’s dictatorship-of-the-proletariat line and opposed separate electorates as communalism.
1.The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.
2.The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3.The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
The Rajya Sabha cannot reject/amend a Money Bill and cannot vote on Demands for Grants. But it CAN discuss the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) — it just cannot vote on it. Statement 3 is false.
Which of the following brings out the ‘Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers’?
(a)The Reserve Bank of India
(b)The Department of Economic Affairs
(c)The Labour Bureau
(d)The Department of Personnel and Training
Answer: (c) The Labour Bureau
The Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, compiles and releases the CPI-IW every month. It mainly decides dearness allowance (DA) for government and industrial workers, and feeds into minimum-wage fixation.
In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news:
1.It is the world's largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
2.It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter.
3.It is buried deep in the ice.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the
(a)Food and Agriculture Organization
(b)United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(c)World Trade Organization
(d)United Nations Environment Programme
32.Science & Tech
With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields.
2.NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other.
3.NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to
(a)Central Asia
(b)Middle East
(c)South-East Asia
(d)Central Africa
Answer: (b) Middle East
Golan Heights is a strategic plateau on the Israel-Syria border. Israel captured it from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, and a UN force, UNDOF, has monitored the ceasefire line there since 1974.
(b)allowing the value of rupee to be fixed by market forces
(c)freely permitting the conversion of rupee to other currencies and vice versa
(d)developing an international market for currencies in India
Answer: (c) freely permitting the conversion of rupee to other currencies and vice versa
Convertibility means letting a currency be freely exchanged for other currencies, without government restriction. India has had full current-account convertibility since August 1994, but only partial capital-account convertibility, under the unimplemented Tarapore Committee roadmaps of 1997 and 2006.
Consider the following pairs: (Medieval Indian State — Present Region)
1.Champaka — Central India
2.Durgara — Jammu
3.Kuluta — Malabar
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3
(d)3 only
Answer: (b) 2 only
Durgara is genuinely the ancient name for Jammu. Champaka is actually Chamba, in Himachal Pradesh, not Central India. Kuluta is actually Kullu, also in Himachal Pradesh, not Malabar.
Indravati and Pranahita are real Godavari tributaries. Vamsadhara and Pennar are separate, independent rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal on their own, without joining the Godavari.
When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by
(a)a simple majority of members present and voting
(b)three-fourths majority of members present and voting
(c)two-thirds majority of the Houses
(d)absolute majority of the Houses
Answer: (a) a simple majority of members present and voting
Article 108 governs joint sittings. A bill at a joint sitting needs only a simple majority of members present and voting from both Houses combined — no special majority is required.
Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
(a)North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
(b)South-West Bengal
(c)Southern Saurashtra
(d)Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Answer: (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands carry mangrove, evergreen, and deciduous forest together, in distinct zones across the island chain. No other Indian region combines all three this way.
Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?
1.Avanti
2.Gandhara
3.Kosala
4.Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1, 3 and 4
(d)3 and 4 only
Answer: (d) 3 and 4 only
Kosala and Magadha are genuinely associated with the Buddha’s life. Avanti was not really part of his activity, and Gandhara’s Buddhist connection developed centuries later, under the Kushans.
Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
(a)Bretton Woods Conference
(b)Montreal Protocol
(c)Kyoto Protocol
(d)Nagoya Protocol
Answer: (b) Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, is the treaty controlling and phasing out ozone-depleting substances. Related: EnvEco0017 — Ozone Layer Protection.
Consider the following: The arrival of Babur into India led to the
1.introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent
2.introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture
3.establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 3 only
Gunpowder had already reached India before Babur, and the Delhi Sultanate had already introduced the true arch and dome. Only the establishment of Timurid rule was genuinely new with Babur’s arrival.
What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
(a)It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(b)It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
(c)It is a Conference of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(d)It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Answer: (a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Rio+20 was held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, twenty years after the original 1992 Earth Summit in the same city. Its outcome document, “The Future We Want,” placed the Sustainable Development Goals on the UN’s agenda.
1.The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2.The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.
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
Article 53(1) vests executive power in the President, not the Prime Minister — Statement 1 is false. The Cabinet Secretary, not the PM, chairs the Civil Services Board — Statement 2 is false.
Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?
(a)Amoghavarsha I
(b)Ballala II
(c)Harihara I
(d)Prataparudra II
Answer: (c) Harihara I
Harihara I founded Vijayanagara on the south bank of the Tungabhadra, a tributary of the Krishna, and ruled it as an agent of Virupaksha, the deity to whom all land south of the Krishna was said to belong.
1.The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2.The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
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
Annie Besant, not Sarojini Naidu, was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress, in 1917; Naidu was the first Indian woman, in 1925. Badruddin Tyabji genuinely was the first Muslim President, in 1887.
Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?
1.It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
2.It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
Select the correct 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 Green Climate Fund does assist developing countries with adaptation and mitigation, so statement 1 is correct. But it was not founded by UNEP, OECD, the Asian Development Bank, or the World Bank — it was established by UNFCCC’s own member states, at COP16 in 2010. So statement 2 is wrong.
With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It recommended a federal government.
2.It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3.It provided for more Indians in the ICS.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)None
Answer: (a) 1 only
Only the recommendation of a federal government is correct. The Mission proposed a loose federal Union of Provinces and Groups, handling only Defence, Communications, and Foreign Affairs. It did not address Indian courts’ powers or ICS recruitment.
Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?
(a)Khangchendzonga National Park
(b)Nandadevi National Park
(c)Neora Valley National Park
(d)Namdapha National Park
Answer: (a) Khangchendzonga National Park
Khangchendzonga National Park spans an elevation range of about 1,829 to 8,586 metres, giving it climate zones from tropical/subtropical to alpine/arctic. Related: IndGeo0111 — Khangchendzonga National Park.
(a)an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars
(b)a global Human Rights Movement
(c)a non-governmental voluntary organization to help very poor people
(d)an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war-ravaged regions
Answer: (b) a global Human Rights Movement
Amnesty International is an international NGO, founded in London in 1961, not a UN agency or an inter-governmental body. It works to publicise human-rights violations and campaigns for the release of political prisoners. It won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
(a)Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
(b)Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
(c)Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
(d)Varaha Image at Udayagiri
Answer: (b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
The Dhauli elephant, carved during Ashoka’s reign around the 3rd century BCE, predates the Udayagiri Varaha (5th c. CE), the Mahabalipuram monuments (7th c. CE), and the Lingaraja Temple (11th c. CE).
With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system?
1.A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
2.Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land
3.Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Feudalism means a weak central authority, not a strong one, so statement 1 is false. Land-based administrative control and lord-vassal relationships were genuine essential elements, so statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)India is a member of none of them
Answer: (b) 3 only
India is not a member of APEC — it applied but was not admitted. India is also not a member of ASEAN — it holds dialogue-partner and strategic-partner status instead. India is a founding member of the East Asia Summit, alongside the 10 ASEAN states plus Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the US.
In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
(a)saltpetre
(b)rock phosphate
(c)coking coal
(d)All of the above
Answer: (c) coking coal
India has abundant high-grade iron ore and non-coking coal, but domestic coking coal is limited in quantity and quality. Steel plants using the blast furnace route import roughly 85% of their coking coal need, and the National Steel Policy 2017 aims to cut that import dependence to 50% by 2030-31.
The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to
(a)protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
(b)determine the boundaries between States
(c)determine the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats
(d)protect the interests of all the border States
Answer: (a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
The Fifth Schedule governs the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in most States, and the Sixth Schedule provides for autonomous tribal administration in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Both exist specifically to protect Scheduled Tribes’ interests.
With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1.The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.
2.No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India.
3.All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 2 only
The Union Budget is prepared by the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, not the Department of Revenue — Statement 1 is false. Withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund genuinely need Parliament’s authorization (Article 266) — Statement 2 is true. Disbursements from the Public Account do NOT need parliamentary authorization, since that money doesn’t belong to the government in the same way — Statement 3 is false.
1.The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
2.The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.
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
Statement 1 is wrong: the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme gives loan assistance to States for completing irrigation projects, not to poor farmers.
Statement 2 is wrong: the Command Area Development Programme, started in 1974-75, aims at the integrated development of command areas to utilise created irrigation potential.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?
1.Bangladesh
2.Cambodia
3.China
4.Myanmar
5.Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2, 3 and 4
(c)1 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 5
Answer: (c) 1 and 3
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation has six members: India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand are all members, so statements 2 and 4 don’t belong in the answer. Bangladesh and China are not members, making 1 and 3 the correct pair of non-participants.
‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’, often seen in the news, seeks to
(a)develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
(b)improve banking sector's ability to deal with financial and economic stress and improve risk management
(c)reduce the greenhouse gas emissions but places a heavier burden on developed countries
(d)transfer technology from developed countries to poor countries to enable them to replace the use of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration with harmless chemicals
Answer: (b) improve banking sector's ability to deal with financial and economic stress and improve risk management
The BIS states Basel III's purpose directly: it strengthens banks' capacity to absorb financial and economic shocks, and it improves risk management and governance. Basel III has nothing to do with biodiversity, emissions targets, or chlorofluorocarbons — it is purely a bank-capital and risk-management framework.
1.The winds which blow between 30° N and 60° S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2.The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.
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
Statement 1 misdescribes the westerlies belt — it exists as separate roughly 35-60 degree bands in each hemisphere, not one continuous belt from 30N to 60S. Statement 2 is correct: Western Disturbances that bring winter rain to North-West India are genuinely carried within the westerlies.
With reference to Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), consider the following statements:
1.It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
2.It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.
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
IORA was established in March 1997, not very recently, and its founding wasn’t a direct response to piracy or oil-spill incidents. It also isn’t a maritime-security-only alliance — it covers trade, fisheries, tourism, and academic and cultural exchange too.
Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?
(a)Swadeshi Movement
(b)Quit India Movement
(c)Non-Cooperation Movement
(d)Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer: (a) Swadeshi Movement
The Swadeshi Movement contributed to the split. The 1905 Partition of Bengal and its Swadeshi/Boycott response sharpened the divide that broke out at the 1907 Surat session.
In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique 'living root bridges' are found in
(a)Meghalaya
(b)Himachal Pradesh
(c)Jharkhand
(d)Tamil Nadu
Answer: (a) Meghalaya
The Khasi and Jaintia peoples train the roots of rubber fig trees into living bridges across streams, mainly in East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts.
Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following?
1.Gravitational force of the Sun
2.Gravitational force of the Moon
3.Centrifugal force of the Earth
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Tides result from a combination of the Moon’s and Sun’s gravitational pull and the centrifugal force from Earth’s rotation around the Earth-Moon and Earth-Sun barycenters.
In which of the above States do 'Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests' occur?
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests occur in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, not Himachal Pradesh, which is too temperate for this forest type. Related: IndGeo0069 — Types of Forest in India.
73.Science & Tech
The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of
(a)an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
(b)India's satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
(c)a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region
(d)India's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region
With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples.
2.It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management.
3.It assists the countries in their 'REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)' efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
FCPF is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples, and it assists countries in their REDD+ efforts with financial and technical assistance. It does not fund individual scientific research. Related: EnvEco0059 — Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project.
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
(a)Odia
(b)Konkani
(c)Bhojpuri
(d)Assamese
Answer: (a) Odia
Odia was granted Classical Language status on 20 February 2014, the most recent of the four options at the time of this exam. Konkani and Bhojpuri hold no Classical status. Assamese only received it in October 2024, well after this question was asked.
With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2.The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' originated from this organization.
3.It identifies the sites known/referred to as 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
BirdLife International is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations and identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. But the biodiversity hotspots concept originated with Norman Myers and Conservation International, not BirdLife. Related: EnvEco0083 — BirdLife International and EnvEco0073 — IUCN.
‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’, often seen in the news, is
(a)a strategy to tackle the regional terrorism, an outcome of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(b)a plan of action for sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region, an outcome of the deliberations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum
(c)an agenda for women's empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations
(d)a strategy to combat wildlife trafficking, a declaration of the East Asia Summit
Answer: (c) an agenda for women’s empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing in September 1995. 189 countries adopted it.
“Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over.”
Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
(a)Savannah
(b)Equatorial
(c)Monsoon
(d)Mediterranean
Answer: (c) Monsoon
This matches the classic monsoon diurnal cycle: dry mornings, daytime heating builds convection, quick afternoon thunderstorms that clear fast — distinct from equatorial climate’s steadier all-day rain or Mediterranean’s dry summers.
1.The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State.
2.The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of Legislative Council of that particular State.
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
Article 171 caps a Legislative Council’s size at one-third of the Legislative Assembly’s membership, not half or more — Statement 1 is false. The Council elects its own Chairman from among its members; the Governor does not nominate the Chairman — Statement 2 is false.
The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following?
1.People's participation in development
2.Political accountability
3.Democratic decentralization
4.Financial mobilization
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1, 2 and 3 only
(b)2 and 4 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
The Panchayati Raj system’s core purpose is people’s participation in development and democratic decentralization of power to the grassroots. Political accountability and financial mobilization, while relevant outcomes, are not considered the system’s fundamental objects.
With reference to Indian economy, consider the following:
1.Bank rate
2.Open market operations
3.Public debt
4.Public revenue
Which of the above is/are component/components of Monetary Policy?
(a)1 only
(b)2, 3 and 4
(c)1 and 2
(d)1, 3 and 4
Answer: (c) 1 and 2
Bank rate and open market operations (OMOs) are tools the RBI uses to run monetary policy. Bank rate is the rate at which the RBI lends to banks without collateral. OMOs are RBI purchases or sales of government securities to manage liquidity.
Public debt and public revenue are fiscal policy items, not monetary policy tools. The government, not the RBI, manages both.
With reference to inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct?
(a)Controlling the inflation in India is the responsibility of the Government of India only
(b)The Reserve Bank of India has no role in controlling the inflation
(c)Decreased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation
(d)Increased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation
Answer: (c) Decreased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation
Decreased money circulation helps control inflation, since less money chasing the same goods eases upward price pressure. The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee brings this about mainly by raising the repo rate, which makes borrowing costlier and cools demand. The RBI shares responsibility for controlling inflation with the Government, so statements (a) and (b) are wrong. Statement (d) reverses the real relationship, since increased money circulation raises inflation rather than controlling it.
Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)1, 3, 4 and 5 only
(c)2, 4 and 5 only
(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The NPT recognises exactly five Nuclear Weapons States, those that tested a weapon before 1 January 1967: the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China. India, Israel, and Pakistan built weapons after that cutoff, so none of them qualify as NPT-recognised nuclear states.
The ideal of ‘Welfare State’ in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its
(a)Preamble
(b)Directive Principles of State Policy
(c)Fundamental Rights
(d)Seventh Schedule
Answer: (b) Directive Principles of State Policy
The DPSPs, in Part IV, are where the Constitution declares India’s ideal of a Welfare State — not the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, or the Seventh Schedule.
There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the
(a)Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people
(b)Parliament can amend the Constitution
(c)Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved
(d)Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha
Answer: (d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha
The defining feature of a parliamentary (as opposed to presidential) system is that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to, and can be removed by, the directly-elected Lok Sabha — not the other listed facts, which are true but don’t define the system as parliamentary.
The problem of international liquidity is related to the non-availability of
(a)goods and services
(b)gold and silver
(c)dollars and other hard currencies
(d)exportable surplus
Answer: (c) dollars and other hard currencies
International liquidity is the stock of internationally-acceptable reserve assets a country can use to settle balance of payments deficits — historically gold, then increasingly the US dollar and other hard currencies. By the late 1960s this stock wasn't growing fast enough to meet rising global demand, so the IMF created Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in 1969 as a supplementary reserve asset.
(b)a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India
(c)a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India
(d)a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India
Answer: (a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India
Kalamkari refers to a hand-painted (or block-printed) cotton textile art from Andhra Pradesh, with two distinct styles: Srikalahasti’s freehand painting and Machilipatnam’s block-printing.
Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’?
(a)Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
(b)Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
(c)Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
(d)Identifying the entrepreneurs in villages and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies
Answer: (b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
This is the Beej Gram Yojana’s stated objective — the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has run it since 2014-15 to train farmers in quality seed production, so trained farmers can supply other farmers with quality seed at the right time and an affordable cost.
There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit?
1.Reducing revenue expenditure
2.Introducing new welfare schemes
3.Rationalizing subsidies
4.Expanding industries
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 3 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Reducing revenue expenditure cuts non-asset-creating government spending. This directly lowers the deficit. Rationalizing subsidies trims a major recurring expenditure item, which also lowers the deficit.
New welfare schemes add fresh spending, so they widen the deficit rather than shrink it. Expanding industries needs upfront government spending too, and does not immediately raise tax revenue.
Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?
1.Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2.Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3.Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Banaras Brocades and Sarees and the Tirupathi Laddu both carry GI status, both registered in 2009. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma has never been accorded GI status.
With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2.It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.
Select the correct 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
IREDA, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, is a Public Limited Government Company under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
It is also registered with the Reserve Bank of India as a Non-Banking Financial Company financing renewable energy projects, so both statements are correct.
English-language questions transcribed from the official Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2015 question booklet (B-AQN-O-JUA/63A), General Studies Paper I. Hindi text omitted. Answer key not included.
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