Test Booklet — General Knowledge
Which one of the following is the first and the oldest Government-owned coal mining company in India ?
- (a)Neyveli Lignite Corporation
- (b)Singareni Collieries Company Limited
- (c)Coal India Limited
- (d)Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
Answer: (b) Singareni Collieries Company Limited
Singareni Collieries was founded in 1920 and came under government management in 1945, decades before Coal India Limited existed. That makes it India’s oldest government-owned coal mining company, not CIL.
Related: IndEco0123 — Coal Sector in India
Which one of the following is a tributary of Barak River in Manipur ?
- (a)Dhaleswari
- (b)Subansiri
- (c)Dhansiri
- (d)Manas
Answer: (a) Dhaleswari
Dhaleswari is a tributary of the Barak River in Manipur. Subansiri, Dhansiri, and Manas belong to the Brahmaputra system instead.
Which types of vegetation will you find on the way as you travel from Bikaner to Konark by road by shortest distance ?
- (a)Tropical thorny, Desert, Moist deciduous, Mangrove
- (b)Desert, Tropical thorny, Moist deciduous, Mangrove
- (c)Moist deciduous, Tropical thorny, Mangrove, Desert
- (d)Desert, Tropical thorny, Mangrove, Moist deciduous
Answer: (b)
Starting in Bikaner’s desert, the route moves through tropical thorn scrub, then moist deciduous forest, and finally coastal mangrove vegetation near Konark.
Consider the following statements about Karewas: 1. These are the lacustrine deposits of Pleistocene period. 2. These are found along the lower slopes of Pir Panjal. 3. Karewas are well known for the cultivation of saffron, almond and walnut. How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
- 1.These are the lacustrine deposits of Pleistocene period.
- 2.These are found along the lower slopes of Pir Panjal.
- 3.Karewas are well known for the cultivation of saffron, almond and walnut.
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)None
Answer: (c) 3
All three statements are correct. Karewas are Pleistocene lacustrine deposits, found along the lower slopes of the Pir Panjal range, and are well known for saffron, almond, and walnut cultivation. Related: IndGeo0005 — Karewas of Kashmir. Source: Down To Earth.
Consider the following statements about an Indian State: 1. It is well known globally for its variety of rocks and minerals. 2. It has the largest deposits of Chrysotile Asbestos in the country. 3. The Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Sagar Hydel Project is located in this State. Identify the State from the following:
- 1.It is well known globally for its variety of rocks and minerals.
- 2.It has the largest deposits of Chrysotile Asbestos in the country.
- 3.The Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Sagar Hydel Project is located in this State.
- (a)Jharkhand
- (b)Rajasthan
- (c)Andhra Pradesh
- (d)Chhattisgarh
Answer: (c) Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is known for its variety of rocks and minerals, holds India’s largest chrysotile asbestos deposits, and is home to the Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Sagar Hydel Project.
During 2020-21, when India was passing through the adverse effects of COVID-19, which one of the following sectors witnessed positive growth ?
- (a)Mining and quarrying
- (b)Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services
- (c)Financial, real estate and professional services
- (d)Public administration, defence and other services
Answer: (d) Public administration, defence and other services
During the COVID year 2020-21, public administration, defence and other services recorded positive growth, while many private services and mining contracted.
Which one of the following statements about a borrower from a Microfinance Company is not correct ?
- (a)The borrower should not have annual income beyond a limit.
- (b)The borrower should not seek loan amount beyond a limit.
- (c)The borrower should not refuse to offer a collateral.
- (d)The borrower should not refuse to pay any rate of interest offered.
Answer: (c)
Microfinance loans are actually collateral-free by regulation, so a borrower is never required to offer collateral.
Which one of the following statements about Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) is not correct ?
- (a)NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits.
- (b)NBFCs cannot give loans.
- (c)NBFCs cannot issue cheques drawn on themselves.
- (d)NBFCs cannot offer deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation.
Answer: (b)
Giving loans and advances is actually a core function of NBFCs, so claiming they cannot give loans is the incorrect statement.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has revised the base year index of Eight Core Industries having a combined weight of about 40.27 percent in the Index of Industrial Production. Which one of the following is not one of the Eight Core Industries ?
- (a)Coal
- (b)Refinery products
- (c)Rubber products
- (d)Cement
Answer: (c) Rubber products
The Eight Core Industries are Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity. Rubber products is not among them.
Consider the following statements about the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): 1. The MSMEs comprise a dynamic sector of the Indian economy providing large employment opportunities. 2. MSMEs require low capital cost and help industrialization of backward regions. 3. MSMEs contribute enormously to socio-economic development. How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
- 1.The MSMEs comprise a dynamic sector of the Indian economy providing large employment opportunities.
- 2.MSMEs require low capital cost and help industrialization of backward regions.
- 3.MSMEs contribute enormously to socio-economic development.
- (a)None
- (b)1
- (c)2
- (d)3
Answer: (d) 3
All three statements are genuinely true descriptions of the MSME sector’s role in the Indian economy.
Stinging hair of nettle leaves inject fluid in the human body causing burning pain. The fluid is
- (a)Methanoic acid
- (b)Tartaric acid
- (c)Hydrochloric acid
- (d)Sulphuric acid
Answer: (a) Methanoic acid
Nettle stings inject methanoic acid (formic acid), which causes the burning, itchy sensation.
Milk of Magnesia is used when people suffer from indigestion of food. It is a
- (a)Strong base
- (b)Mild base
- (c)Strong acid
- (d)Mild acid
Answer: (b) Mild base
Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) is a mild base, used to neutralize excess stomach acid.
Which one of the following pairs of metals are very good conductors of heat ?
- (a)Silver and Copper
- (b)Silver and Lead
- (c)Copper and Mercury
- (d)Lead and Mercury
Answer: (a) Silver and Copper
Silver and copper are among the best thermal (and electrical) conductors of all metals.
School bells are made of metals because metals are
- (a)Malleable
- (b)Sonorous
- (c)Ductile
- (d)Lustrous
Answer: (b) Sonorous
Metals are sonorous, meaning they produce a ringing sound when struck, which is why bells are made of metal.
Consider the following statements about Tincture of Iodine: 1. It is an antiseptic solution. 2. Iodine is kept in alcohol-water mixture. 3. Concentration of iodine is very low. How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
- 1.It is an antiseptic solution.
- 2.Iodine is kept in alcohol-water mixture.
- 3.Concentration of iodine is very low.
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)None
Answer: (c) 3
All three statements are correct: tincture of iodine is a low-concentration antiseptic solution of iodine dissolved in an alcohol-water mixture.
Cl⁻ is not isoelectronic with
- (a)K⁺
- (b)Mg²⁺
- (c)S²⁻
- (d)P³⁻
Answer: (b) Mg2+
Cl- has 18 electrons, matching K+, S2-, and P3-. Mg2+ has only 10 electrons.
In plant cells
- (a)Nucleus does not need a membrane but chloroplasts are surrounded by their own membrane.
- (b)Nucleus and chloroplasts are surrounded separately by their own membrane.
- (c)Nucleus is surrounded by membrane but chloroplasts do not need membrane.
- (d)Both nucleus and chloroplasts are not surrounded by any membrane.
Answer: (b)
Both the nucleus and chloroplasts are membrane-bound organelles, each enclosed by its own double membrane.
Which one of the following statements about starch and glycogen is correct ?
- (a)Both starch and glycogen are found in plant cells.
- (b)Both starch and glycogen are found in animal cells.
- (c)Starch is present in plant cells and glycogen is present in animal cells.
- (d)Both starch and glycogen are present in plant cells as well as animal cells.
Answer: (c)
Plants store carbohydrate energy as starch, while animals store it as glycogen.
Which one of the following statements about the process of photosynthesis is correct ?
- (a)Light energy is directly converted to kinetic energy which oxidizes carbon dioxide.
- (b)Light energy is directly converted to chemical energy which causes reduction of water.
- (c)Chlorophyll absorbs the chemical energy of light which causes oxidation of carbon dioxide.
- (d)Chlorophyll absorbs light energy which causes splitting of water molecules and reduction of carbon dioxide.
Answer: (d)
Chlorophyll absorbs light energy, which splits water molecules and drives the reduction of carbon dioxide into glucose.
Kwashiorkor, a form of malnutrition, is caused by the deficiency of
- (a)Minerals
- (b)Vitamins
- (c)Fats
- (d)Proteins
Answer: (d) Proteins
Kwashiorkor results from severe protein deficiency, despite often adequate calorie intake.
Which one of the following pairs of enzymes do not work at acidic pH ?
- (a)Trypsin and Pepsin
- (b)Chymotrypsin and Pepsin
- (c)Trypsin and Amylase
- (d)Pepsin and Amylase
Answer: (c)
Trypsin (intestinal) and Amylase (salivary) both need neutral-to-alkaline conditions. Pepsin actually works best in the stomach’s acidic environment.
Urea is produced by metabolism of
- (a)Proteins
- (b)Carbohydrates
- (c)Lipids
- (d)Both Proteins and Carbohydrates
Answer: (a) Proteins
Urea forms from the breakdown of amino acids, as excess nitrogen is converted into urea for excretion.
Deficiency of iron causes
- (a)Anaemia
- (b)Scurvy
- (c)Rickets
- (d)Cholera
Answer: (a) Anaemia
Iron deficiency reduces haemoglobin production, causing anaemia.
If an object of mass 10 kg is moving with a uniform speed of 10 m/s, then the linear momentum and the kinetic energy of the object, respectively, are
- (a)100 N.s and 500 J
- (b)100 N.s and 1000 J
- (c)200 N.s and 500 J
- (d)200 N.s and 1000 J
Answer: (a) 100 N.s and 500 J
Momentum is mass × velocity: 10 × 10 = 100 kg·m/s (equivalent to 100 N·s). Kinetic energy is ½mv²: ½ × 10 × 10² = 500 J.
An electrical circuit having combinations of resistances and capacitance is given below: a 10Ω resistor in series with a 5μF capacitor, this branch in parallel with a 10Ω resistor, the combination in series with a further 10Ω resistor, powered by a 10 V source. The current, flowing through the circuit will be
- (a)1 A
- (b)2 A
- (c)1.5 A
- (d)0.5 A
Answer: (d) 0.5 A
In steady state, the capacitor blocks DC current, so all current flows through the parallel 10 ohm resistor plus the series 10 ohm resistor, giving 20 ohm total. I = 10V/20 ohm = 0.5 A.
The pitch of a sound wave depends upon which one of its following characteristics ?
- (a)Speed
- (b)Loudness
- (c)Amplitude
- (d)Frequency
Answer: (d) Frequency
Pitch is determined by frequency; loudness depends on amplitude instead.
The device used for measuring electric current in a circuit is called
- (a)Ammeter
- (b)Motor
- (c)Voltmeter
- (d)Generator
Answer: (a) Ammeter
An ammeter measures electric current, connected in series in a circuit.
A metal wire of length l and diameter d has a resistance R. What would be the resistance of another wire of the same metal and of same length but having double the diameter ?
- (a)R
- (b)R/4
- (c)R/2
- (d)2R
Answer: (b) R/4
Resistance is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area, which scales with diameter squared. Doubling the diameter quadruples the area, so resistance drops to R/4.
In India, which one of the following is responsible for the implementation of the Government of India’s policy in all matters concerning telecommunications ?
- (a)Digital Communications Commission
- (b)Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
- (c)Telecom Advisory Committee
- (d)Telecommunications Consultants India Limited
Answer: (a) Digital Communications Commission
The Digital Communications Commission (formerly the Telecom Commission) formulates and implements the government’s telecom policy within the Department of Telecommunications.
Consider the following statements about James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): 1. It is the largest observatory ever launched into space. 2. It has been developed by NASA in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- 1.It is the largest observatory ever launched into space.
- 2.It has been developed by NASA in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
- (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: JWST is the largest space observatory ever launched, and it is a joint project of NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency.
India has achieved the 10 percent Ethanol blending much ahead of the targeted date. Which one among the following greatly benefits from this ?
- (a)Cassava plantations
- (b)Maize farming
- (c)Sugar industry
- (d)Wine industry
Answer: (c) Sugar industry
Most of India’s ethanol comes from sugarcane molasses, so the sugar industry benefits greatly from higher ethanol blending targets.
Consider the following statements regarding e-RUPI prepaid digital vouchers: 1. The maximum amount of e-RUPI is rupees one lakh. 2. Beneficiaries can receive e-RUPI without having a bank account. 3. To receive e-RUPI on mobile phones, beneficiaries need a smart phone with Internet connection. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- 1.The maximum amount of e-RUPI is rupees one lakh.
- 2.Beneficiaries can receive e-RUPI without having a bank account.
- 3.To receive e-RUPI on mobile phones, beneficiaries need a smart phone with Internet connection.
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)3 only
- (c)1 and 3
- (d)2 only
Answer: (a) 1 and 2
e-RUPI vouchers for government schemes are capped at Rs 1 lakh, and beneficiaries genuinely don’t need a bank account. It works over SMS/QR code even on basic feature phones, so a smartphone with internet is not actually required.
Recently, India’s first green hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) was launched. It has no tailpipe emissions other than
- (a)Hydrogen peroxide
- (b)Nitrogen
- (c)Oxygen
- (d)Water
Answer: (d) Water
A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle combines hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity, emitting only water vapour from its tailpipe.
Which one of the following languages was added to the Eighth Schedule by a Constitutional Amendment in 1967 ?
- (a)Khasi
- (b)Kashmiri
- (c)Sindhi
- (d)Urdu
Answer: (c) Sindhi
The 21st Amendment (1967) added Sindhi to the Eighth Schedule, the first language added after the original 1950 list of 14. Kashmiri and Urdu were already on that original list. Source: Eighth Schedule Languages, Dept. of Official Language (MHA). Related: Polity0061 — Official Language of the Union.
What were Manigramam and Nanadesi in early medieval India ?
- (a)Cluster of non-revenue paying villages
- (b)Village-level community groups
- (c)Guilds of Indian merchants
- (d)Literary societies in the capital towns
Answer: (c)
Manigramam and Nanadesi were prominent South Indian merchant guilds that organised long-distance and overseas trade in early medieval India.
The Dutch were defeated by Marthanda Varma of Travancore Kingdom in the battle of
- (a)Wandiwash
- (b)Rakshasi – Tangadi
- (c)Pullalur
- (d)Colachel
Answer: (d) Colachel
Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch East India Company at the Battle of Colachel in 1741.
To which one of the following schools of philosophy did Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara belong ?
- (a)Lokayata
- (b)Madhyamika
- (c)Purva-Mimamsa
- (d)Uttara-Mimamsa
Answer: (c) Purva-Mimamsa
Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara were leading exponents of the Purva-Mimamsa school, centred on Vedic ritual and duty.
Related: ArtnCulture0046 — Four Orthodox Schools: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, and Mimamsa
The Tolkappiyam is
- (a)A work of grammar.
- (b)A Tamil poem in praise of Rajendra Chola.
- (c)An ancient didactic work in Tamil.
- (d)A drama composed by a Chera King.
Answer: (a) A work of grammar.
The Tolkappiyam is the oldest surviving Sangam-era text, a foundational treatise on Tamil grammar and poetics.
Related: AncHist0025 — The Sangam Age: Literature and Society
On the banks of which one of the following rivers was the ancient Mahishmati located ?
- (a)Sarayu
- (b)Son
- (c)Narmada
- (d)Godavari
Answer: (c) Narmada
Mahishmati, identified with modern Maheshwar, sat on the river Narmada. It served as Avanti’s early, southern capital before the seat of power shifted north to Ujjaini.
Related: AncHist0046 — Avanti (Mahajanapada)
Which one of the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament is not correct ?
- (a)It examines the Finance Accounts of the Government of India.
- (b)Fifteen members of the Committee are elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members.
- (c)The Chairperson of the Committee is elected by its members.
- (d)In case a member of any other Committee constituted by the Government is elected to the PAC, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether he should continue to be a member of the former Committee.
Answer: (c) The Chairperson of the Committee is elected by its members.
This is the false statement. The PAC Chairperson is actually appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, not elected by the committee’s own members — and by a firm convention since 1967, the Speaker picks that Chairperson from the Opposition benches. The other three statements are correct. Source: Public Accounts Committee (India), Wikipedia. Related: Polity0058 — The CAG and Finance Commission.
Consider the following: 1. M.A. Ayyangar 2. G.S. Dhillon 3. Balram Jakhar 4. P.A. Sangma. How many of them were the Speaker of the Lok Sabha ?
- 1.M.A. Ayyangar
- 2.G.S. Dhillon
- 3.Balram Jakhar
- 4.P.A. Sangma
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)4
Answer: (d) 4
All four were genuine Lok Sabha Speakers: M.A. Ayyangar, G.S. Dhillon, Balram Jakhar, and P.A. Sangma.
Consider the following pairs of Schedule and Content of the Constitution of India: 1. First Schedule : Forms of Oaths or Affirmations 2. Third Schedule : Allocation of seats in the Council of States 3. Fifth Schedule : Provisions related to the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes 4. Ninth Schedule : Provisions related to the administration of tribal areas in certain States. How many of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?
- 1.First Schedule : Forms of Oaths or Affirmations
- 2.Third Schedule : Allocation of seats in the Council of States
- 3.Fifth Schedule : Provisions related to the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes
- 4.Ninth Schedule : Provisions related to the administration of tribal areas in certain States
- (a)1
- (b)2
- (c)3
- (d)4
Answer: (a) 1
Only pair 3 is correct. The First Schedule actually lists States/UTs, the Third Schedule (not Fourth) covers oaths, the Fourth Schedule (not Third) covers Rajya Sabha seats, and the Ninth Schedule protects land-reform laws, not tribal-area administration (that’s the Sixth Schedule).
Which one of the following statements is correct ?
- (a)Under Article 21A of the Constitution of India, the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of eleven years.
- (b)Every religious denomination has got absolute power under Article 26 of the Constitution of India to manage its own affairs in matters of religion.
- (c)Only religious and linguistic minorities find mention in Article 30 of the Constitution of India in reference to the right to establish educational institutions of their choice.
- (d)Parliament cannot empower, even by law, any court other than the Supreme Court of India the power to issue writs within local limits of its jurisdiction.
Answer: (c)
Article 30 genuinely covers only religious and linguistic minorities. Article 21A actually covers ages 6-14, not eleven; Article 26’s rights are subject to public order, morality and health, not absolute; and Article 32(3) does let Parliament empower other courts with writ powers.
Which one of the following do not influence the ocean currents ?
- (a)Heating by solar energy
- (b)Wind
- (c)Gravitational pull by Sun and Moon
- (d)Coriolis force
Answer: (c)
The gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon causes tides, not ocean currents. Solar heating, wind, and the Coriolis force actually drive ocean currents.
Which one of the following sedimentary rocks has not been formed mechanically ?
- (a)Sandstone
- (b)Conglomerate
- (c)Loess
- (d)Geyserites
Answer: (d) Geyserites
Geyserites form through chemical/organic precipitation from hot springs, unlike sandstone, conglomerate, and loess, which are all mechanically deposited.
Which of the following statements about inversion of temperature is/are correct ? 1. Temperature increases with increasing altitude. 2. A long winter night with clear skies is an ideal situation. 3. It is a short term phenomenon and is common all over the globe except at the poles.
- 1.Temperature increases with increasing altitude.
- 2.A long winter night with clear skies is an ideal situation.
- 3.It is a short term phenomenon and is common all over the globe except at the poles.
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Temperature inversion genuinely forms best on long, clear winter nights. It is actually especially pronounced in polar and continental interior regions, not something that avoids the poles.
In which one of the following States/UT, is the Lake Tsomgo located ?
- (a)Ladakh
- (b)Himachal Pradesh
- (c)Sikkim
- (d)Uttarakhand
Answer: (c) Sikkim
Tsomgo, also called Changu Lake, sits in Sikkim. It’s often confused with Ladakh’s own high-altitude lakes, Pangong Tso, Tso Kar, and Tso Moriri. · IndGeo0049 — The Cold Desert of Ladakh and Spiti
Which of the following statements about the coasts of India is/are correct ? 1. The West Coast of India is a high rocky, retreating coast. 2. The West Coast of India is dominated by erosional landforms. 3. The East Coast of India, however, is a low sedimentary coast exhibiting depositional forms.
- 1.The West Coast of India is a high rocky, retreating coast.
- 2.The West Coast of India is dominated by erosional landforms.
- 3.The East Coast of India, however, is a low sedimentary coast exhibiting depositional forms.
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements accurately describe India’s coasts: the West Coast is rugged and erosional, while the East Coast is low, sedimentary, and depositional.
Which one of the following States/UTs has the largest area under Coral Reefs in India ?
- (a)Gujarat
- (b)Tamil Nadu
- (c)Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- (d)Lakshadweep
Answer: (c) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold India’s largest coral reef area, well ahead of the Gulf of Kachchh, the Gulf of Mannar, and Lakshadweep. Related: EnvEco0025 — Coral Reefs and Marine Biodiversity Conservation in India.
Which one of the following is considered as an agency function of commercial banks in India ?
- (a)Acceptance of deposits
- (b)Investment of surplus funds
- (c)Acceptance of income tax payments
- (d)Providing overdraft facilities
Answer: (c)
Agency functions are services banks perform on a customer’s behalf, like collecting tax payments, bills, or dividends. Deposits, investments, and overdrafts are core banking functions, not agency ones.
Which one of the following forms of money supply is considered as the most widely used in the Indian monetary system ?
- (a)M1
- (b)M2
- (c)M3
- (d)M4
Answer: (c) M3
M3 is India’s most widely used broad-money measure. It adds bank time deposits to M1. M4 is broader because it also counts post-office deposits, excluding National Savings Certificates.
Which one of the following is the first State in India to have 100 percent households with tap water connection ?
- (a)Gujarat
- (b)Goa
- (c)Delhi
- (d)Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (b) Goa
Goa became India’s first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state, achieving 100% rural household tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission in October 2020.
Which one of the following Labour Codes notified by the Government of India incorporated various provisions of the Central Labour Acts such as the Factories Act, 1948 and Plantations Labour Act, 1951 ?
- (a)The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
- (b)The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- (c)The Code on Wages, 2019
- (d)The Code on Social Security, 2020
Answer: (a)
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 consolidates 13 labour laws, including the Factories Act, 1948 and the Plantations Labour Act, 1951.
If you were to browse a table of a recent period showing life expectancy at birth for all categories of rural-urban and male-female divisions for all States of India, you are not likely to observe that: 1. Urban life expectancy is higher than the rural one. 2. Male life expectancy is higher than the female one.
- 1.Urban life expectancy is higher than the rural one.
- 2.Male life expectancy is higher than the female one.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Urban life expectancy exceeding rural is commonly observed. Female life expectancy typically exceeds male in India, so a table showing men living longer would be the unlikely observation.
Consider the following statements: The Government is promoting the ‘Kisan Drone’ for 1. Spraying weedicides. 2. Digitisation of land records. 3. Crop assessment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- 1.Spraying weedicides.
- 2.Digitisation of land records.
- 3.Crop assessment.
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 and 3
- (c)1 only
- (d)3 only
Answer: (b) 2 and 3
Budget 2022-23 promoted Kisan Drones for crop assessment, digitisation of land records, and spraying of insecticides and nutrients, not weedicides specifically. Related: SciTech0110 — Drone Ecosystem and Policy in India
Recently launched ‘Jan Samarth’ portal
- (a)provides single point access for authenticated health information to citizens.
- (b)assists farmers to access links to useful farming-specific information.
- (c)provides access to Pan India e-Government services.
- (d)provides link to Government credit schemes.
Answer: (d)
Jan Samarth is a one-stop digital portal connecting citizens to credit-linked Government loan schemes across sectors like education, agriculture, and business.
Recently India commissioned its first liquid mirror telescope at
- (a)Himachal Pradesh
- (b)Uttarakhand
- (c)Ladakh
- (d)Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: (b) Uttarakhand
The International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT), a 4-metre instrument using a rotating pool of liquid mercury instead of a solid mirror, saw first light in April 2022 at Devasthal, Nainital district, Uttarakhand. Related: SciTech0126 — Devasthal Optical Telescope
National Tribal Research Institute is situated at
- (a)Bilaspur
- (b)Raipur
- (c)Ranchi
- (d)New Delhi
Answer: (d) New Delhi
The National Tribal Research Institute is located at the IIPA Campus in New Delhi, inaugurated in June 2022 under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Avani Lekhara excels in which one of the following sports ?
- (a)Table Tennis
- (b)Cycling
- (c)Shooting
- (d)Boxing
Answer: (c) Shooting
Avani Lekhara is a Paralympic shooter, and India’s first woman to win a Paralympic gold medal.
The atmosphere of Planet Venus is made up of thick and yellowish clouds of
- (a)Chlorine
- (b)Sulphuric acid
- (c)Nitric acid
- (d)Bromine
Answer: (b) Sulphuric acid
Venus’s dense atmosphere is topped with thick clouds of sulphuric acid, giving it its characteristic yellowish haze.
A patient’s abdomen (alimentary canal) can be examined by X-ray after administering which one of the following metal salts in the patient’s meal ?
- (a)Barium sulphate
- (b)Barium chloride
- (c)Strontium sulphate
- (d)Magnesium chloride
Answer: (a) Barium sulphate
Barium sulphate is used as a ‘barium meal’, since it is opaque to X-rays and insoluble, letting doctors image the digestive tract.
Storage of biological tissues such as blood, organs, semen requires low temperature which is achieved upon the usage of
- (a)Liquid nitrogen
- (b)Solid carbon dioxide
- (c)Liquid air
- (d)Helium
Answer: (a) Liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen, at about -196 degrees Celsius, is the standard cryopreservation medium for biological tissues.
In the joining of railway tracks, iron oxide is made to react with
- (a)Aluminium
- (b)Zinc
- (c)Copper
- (d)Tin
Answer: (a) Aluminium
The thermite reaction between iron oxide and aluminium powder produces molten iron used to weld railway tracks together.
What was a munjaniq in medieval period ?
- (a)Cannon
- (b)Catapult
- (c)Gun carriage
- (d)Portable armoury
Answer: (b) Catapult
A munjaniq (or manjaniq) was a type of catapult or trebuchet, a siege engine used to hurl stones at enemy fortifications.
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists (List I: Literary Work — A. Duta Ghatotkacha, B. Mrichchhakatikam, C. Kiratarjuniyam, D. Ravanavadha; List II: Author — 1. Bhatti, 2. Bhasa, 3. Shudraka, 4. Bharavi):
| List I | Literary Work |
|---|---|
| A | Duta Ghatotkacha |
| B | Mrichchhakatikam |
| C | Kiratarjuniyam |
| D | Ravanavadha |
- (a)A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
- (b)A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
- (c)A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
- (d)A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Answer: (c) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
Duta Ghatotkacha is one of the thirteen rediscovered plays of Bhasa. Mrichchhakatikam (“The Little Clay Cart”) was written by Shudraka.
Kiratarjuniyam, on Arjuna’s combat with Shiva, is by Bharavi. Ravanavadha (Bhattikavya) is by Bhatti, composed partly to illustrate Sanskrit grammar.
Related: ArtnCulture0056 — Kalidasa
At the banks of which of the following rivers was the Battle of Ten Kings fought in the Early Vedic Period ?
- (a)Sarasvati
- (b)Drishadvati
- (c)Parushni
- (d)Shutudri
Answer: (c) Parushni
The Rigveda describes King Sudas of the Bharatas defeating a confederacy of ten rival tribes on the banks of the Parushni river, today’s Ravi. The victory established Bharata dominance and paved the way for the later Kuru kingdom.
Related: AncHist0002 — Vedic and Puranic Literature as Historical Sources
The Bengal Famine of 1769-70 was worsened by
- (a)Locust attacks
- (b)Rat infestation
- (c)High levels of taxation
- (d)Smallpox epidemic
Answer: (d)
A smallpox epidemic struck alongside the famine, compounding the death toll of the Bengal Famine of 1769-70.
Which one of the following is not the work of Ashvaghosha ?
- (a)Sariputraprakarana
- (b)Buddhacharita
- (c)Saundarananda
- (d)Manjushrimulakalpa
Answer: (d)
Buddhacharita, Saundarananda, and Sariputraprakarana are genuine works of Ashvaghosha. Manjushrimulakalpa is a later Buddhist tantric text, not his.
Related: ArtnCulture0065 — Ashvaghosha
Fat in human body is stored in
- (a)Adipose tissue
- (b)Red blood cells
- (c)Muscle tissue
- (d)Epithelial tissue
Answer: (a) Adipose tissue
Adipose tissue is specialised connective tissue that stores fat in the body.
Which one of the following is a feature of Membrane ?
- (a)Bilayer of phospholipid molecule in which proteins and cholesterol are embedded
- (b)Bilayer of proteins molecule in which lipid and cholesterol are embedded
- (c)Bilayer of neutral lipid in which proteins and cholesterol are embedded
- (d)Bilayer of neutral lipid lacking cholesterol and proteins
Answer: (a)
The fluid mosaic model describes the cell membrane as a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins and cholesterol.
Which one of the following parts of human alimentary canal can be of maximum length ?
- (a)Stomach
- (b)Small intestine
- (c)Large intestine
- (d)Rectum
Answer: (b) Small intestine
The small intestine is by far the longest part of the human alimentary canal, at several metres.
While forming the ‘Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity’, the member countries launched collective discussions towards future negotiations on four pillars. Which one of the following is not one of those pillars ?
- (a)Clean energy, decarbonisation and infrastructure
- (b)Defence cooperation and intelligence sharing
- (c)Supply chain
- (d)Tax and anti-corruption
Answer: (b)
IPEF’s four pillars are Trade, Supply Chains, Clean Economy, and Fair Economy (tax and anti-corruption). Defence cooperation and intelligence sharing is not one of them.
The regions known as Donetsk and Luhansk are sometimes mentioned in the news. They are the separatist regions of
- (a)Ethiopia
- (b)Sudan
- (c)Ukraine
- (d)Yemen
Answer: (c) Ukraine
Donetsk and Luhansk are separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, central to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Recently which of the following countries were placed in the ‘Grey List’ of Financial Action Task Force ?
- (a)Bolivia and Mozambique
- (b)Colombia and Ecuador
- (c)Iraq and Qatar
- (d)Turkey and UAE
Answer: (d) Turkey and UAE
The UAE was grey-listed on 4 March 2022 over strategic deficiencies in its anti-money-laundering regime. Turkey had been added slightly earlier, in October 2021, and both remained on the list at the time of this exam. The UAE was eventually removed in February 2024.
Which one of the following assists a country through ‘Extended Fund Facility’, often talked about in news ?
- (a)International Fund for Agricultural Development
- (b)International Monetary Fund
- (c)International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- (d)United Nations Development Programme
Answer: (b) International Monetary Fund
The Extended Fund Facility is an IMF lending instrument, assisting countries facing serious balance-of-payments problems.
The terms ‘Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot and Tether’, sometimes mentioned in the news, refer to
- (a)Cryptocurrencies
- (b)Earth Observation Satellites
- (c)Hypersonic Cruise Missiles
- (d)Virtual Private Network service providers
Answer: (a) Cryptocurrencies
Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and Tether are all well-known cryptocurrencies/blockchain platforms.
In which one of the following States has the President’s Rule been imposed most number of times ?
- (a)Bihar
- (b)Karnataka
- (c)Manipur
- (d)Punjab
Answer: (c) Manipur
Manipur has had President’s Rule imposed more times than any other Indian state, closely followed by Uttar Pradesh.
The use of ‘Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC)’ by the Election Commission of India was started in which one of the following years ?
- (a)1992
- (b)1993
- (c)1995
- (d)2001
Answer: (b) 1993
The Election Commission of India introduced the Electors Photo Identity Card scheme in 1993.
Which one of the following best describes the electoral system to elect the President of India ?
- (a)Proportional Representation
- (b)Proportional Representation and Single Transferable Vote System
- (c)First-Past-the-Post System
- (d)List System
Answer: (b)
The President of India is elected through proportional representation using the single transferable vote system, by an electoral college of elected MPs and MLAs.
Which one of the following statements about Money Bill is not correct ?
- (a)Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Council of States.
- (b)The Council of States has no power to reject or amend the Money Bill.
- (c)The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the sole and final power in deciding whether a Bill is a Money Bill or otherwise.
- (d)The Council of States has no power to discuss the Money Bill.
Answer: (d)
The Rajya Sabha can actually discuss a Money Bill and make recommendations within 14 days, even though it cannot reject or amend it.
Which of the following States has/have bicameral legislature ? 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Telangana 3. Bihar 4. Uttar Pradesh
- 1.Andhra Pradesh
- 2.Telangana
- 3.Bihar
- 4.Uttar Pradesh
- (a)1 only
- (b)1, 2 and 3 only
- (c)3 and 4 only
- (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
All four states — Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh — have bicameral legislatures, among the six Indian states that do.
By which one of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts, was the Article 21A (Right to Education) inserted into the Constitution of India ?
- (a)83rd Amendment Act
- (b)84th Amendment Act
- (c)85th Amendment Act
- (d)86th Amendment Act
Answer: (d) 86th Amendment Act
The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, inserted Article 21A, making free and compulsory education a fundamental right.
An object is dropped from a height onto the floor. Which one of the following remains uniform as it falls ?
- (a)Its acceleration
- (b)Its momentum
- (c)Its kinetic energy
- (d)Its potential energy
Answer: (a)
Ignoring air resistance, a falling object accelerates uniformly under gravity, while its momentum and kinetic energy increase and its potential energy decreases.
If an object is placed at the focus of a convex lens, its image is
- (a)at the focus on the same side.
- (b)at the focus on the opposite side.
- (c)coincident with the lens.
- (d)at infinity.
Answer: (d) At infinity
Rays from an object at a convex lens’s focus emerge parallel to each other, forming an image at infinity.
Which one of the following statements about the aperture of a convex lens is correct ?
- (a)It is equal to its radius of curvature.
- (b)It is equal to its focal length.
- (c)It is independent of its radius of curvature.
- (d)It is equal to half of its focal length.
Answer: (c)
Aperture refers to the effective diameter of the lens through which light passes, a separate physical parameter from its radius of curvature.
When water is heated from 0°C to 4°C, its density
- (a)remains constant.
- (b)increases.
- (c)decreases.
- (d)first increases then decreases to its original value.
Answer: (b) increases
Water shows anomalous expansion: its density actually increases from 0 to 4 degrees C, reaching maximum density at 4 degrees C.
The acceleration due to gravity at the Earth’s surface depends on
- (a)its mass only.
- (b)its radius only.
- (c)both its mass and radius.
- (d)either its mass or its radius.
Answer: (c) both its mass and radius.
g equals GM/R², where M is the planet’s mass and R its radius. A bigger mass increases g, while a bigger radius (pushing you farther from the centre) decreases it — both matter together.
Related: GenSci0016 — Gravitation Basics
In which one of the following highlands of India can you find temperate forests called ‘Sholas’ ?
- (a)Nilgiris
- (b)Vindhyas
- (c)Satpuras
- (d)Himalayas
Answer: (a) Nilgiris
Sholas are stunted, evergreen montane forests found in sheltered valleys of the Nilgiri hills.
‘Pingos’ are associated with which one of the following process ?
- (a)Glacial
- (b)Peri-glacial
- (c)Aeolian
- (d)Fluvial
Answer: (b) Peri-glacial
Pingos are ice-cored mounds formed in periglacial (permafrost) environments.
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists (List I: Drainage Pattern of River — A. Insequent, B. Consequent, C. Subsequent, D. Resequent; List II: Feature — 1. Whose direction of flow is controlled by the rock structure, 2. No apparent reason why it follows the path it takes, 3. Flow in the same direction as the consequent stream but at a lower level, 4. Whose course is determined by the original slope of the land):
| List I | Drainage Pattern |
|---|---|
| A | Insequent |
| B | Consequent |
| C | Subsequent |
| D | Resequent |
- (a)A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
- (b)A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- (c)A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- (d)A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Answer: (b) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Insequent streams follow no clear structural logic, consequent streams follow the original slope, subsequent streams are controlled by rock structure, and resequent streams flow like the consequent but at a lower level.
Which one of the following processes leads to expansion of certain minerals as they take up water, causing additional stress in the rock ?
- (a)Hydrolysis
- (b)Hydration
- (c)Oxidation
- (d)Carbonation
Answer: (b) Hydration
Hydration is when minerals absorb water and expand, creating internal stress that helps break down rock.
The Indian desert also known as Marusthali is believed to be under the sea during which one of the following eras ?
- (a)Cenozoic era
- (b)Palaeozoic era
- (c)Mesozoic era
- (d)Archaean and Pre-Cambrian era
Answer: (c) Mesozoic era
Marine fossils found in the region suggest Marusthali was submerged under the sea during the Mesozoic era.
Related: IndGeo0001 — The Thar Desert: Extent, Landforms and Human Adaptation
Which among the following are Charvaka Schools of Philosophy ? 1. Dhurtta 2. Nyaya 3. Sushikshita 4. Vaisheshika
- 1.Dhurtta
- 2.Nyaya
- 3.Sushikshita
- 4.Vaisheshika
- (a)1, 2 and 3
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)2 and 4 only
- (d)1 and 3 only
Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only
Dhurtta and Sushikshita are Charvaka’s own two internal sub-schools. Dhurtta rejected the soul entirely; Sushikshita accepted a soul that simply perishes with the body. Nyaya and Vaisheshika are separate orthodox schools, not part of Charvaka.
Source: Prepp, Charvaka School or Lokayata Philosophy. Related: ArtnCulture0046 — Four Orthodox Schools · AncHist0012 — Other Religious Sects and the Bhakti Roots · AncHist0116 — Charvaka (Lokayata).
During the 8th – 14th centuries, in the Sanskrit texts and inscriptions, which of the following terms were used to denote Muslims ? 1. Turushka 2. Tajika 3. Parashika 4. Kardamaka
- 1.Turushka
- 2.Tajika
- 3.Parashika
- 4.Kardamaka
- (a)1, 2 and 3
- (b)1, 2 and 4
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 3 and 4
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3
Turushka, Tajika, and Parashika were genuinely used as terms for Muslims in Sanskrit sources. Kardamaka instead refers to an earlier Western Kshatrapa Saka dynasty, unrelated to Muslims.
In the citadel and lower-town areas of which one of the following Harappan cities, have several large cisterns and reservoirs been found ?
- (a)Banawali
- (b)Mohenjodaro
- (c)Dholavira
- (d)Rakhigarhi
Answer: (c) Dholavira
Dholavira is famous for its sophisticated water conservation system, with large cisterns and reservoirs in both its citadel and lower town.
Related: ArtnCulture0053 — Beyond Mohenjodaro: Dholavira and Rakhigarhi
Consider the following statements about cavalry warfare in India: 1. The iron stirrup made it possible for the armoured warrior to sit firmly on a horse without falling off. 2. The iron stirrup also allowed a cavalry charge with lances held tightly to the body, without the rider being thrown off by the shock of impact. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- 1.The iron stirrup made it possible for the armoured warrior to sit firmly on a horse without falling off.
- 2.The iron stirrup also allowed a cavalry charge with lances held tightly to the body, without the rider being thrown off by the shock of impact.
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements accurately describe the historical significance of the iron stirrup, which stabilized mounted warriors and enabled effective lance charges.
The British policy towards Afghanistan in the first half of the 19th century aimed at
- (a)Strengthening Afghanistan as a buffer against Russia.
- (b)Weakening Russian influence in Afghanistan but not promoting a strong Afghanistan either.
- (c)Promoting Russian influence in Afghanistan to control insurgent tribal leaders.
- (d)Annexing Afghanistan as a directly-controlled British Territory.
Answer: (b)
In the first half of the 19th century, British policy focused on countering Russian influence without investing in a genuinely strong, independent Afghan state — that shift came only after 1864.
Recently, the United Nations agreed to change the name of which one of the following countries ?
- (a)Algeria
- (b)Jordan
- (c)Morocco
- (d)Turkey
Answer: (d) Turkey
In 2022, the United Nations formally recognised Turkey’s request to be known internationally as ‘Turkiye’.
The SWIFT (The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) frequently mentioned in news, is essentially a
- (a)Global financial intelligence agency
- (b)Global terror finance detection system
- (c)Global money transfer system
- (d)Global stock-market information sharing system
Answer: (c)
SWIFT is a global messaging network banks use to securely transmit instructions for financial transactions, forming the backbone of international money transfers.
P-75 I (or P-75 India) project refers to manufacture of
- (a)Diesel-electric submarines.
- (b)Nuclear-powered submarines.
- (c)Aircraft carrier warships.
- (d)Field guns.
Answer: (a)
Project 75 India involves building advanced diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy, with air-independent propulsion.
The term ‘Thermal High Altitude Area Defense’, sometimes mentioned in news, refers to
- (a)Anti-Missile system.
- (b)Air-launched cruise missile.
- (c)Aircraft navigation system.
- (d)Surface-to-air guided weapon.
Answer: (a)
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a US anti-ballistic-missile defense system.
Related: IntlRel0131 — Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
With reference to BrahMos missile, consider the following statements: 1. It has a flight range of up to 290 km. 2. It is capable of attaining a speed of 2.8 Mach. 3. Its cruising altitude could be up to 30 km. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- 1.It has a flight range of up to 290 km.
- 2.It is capable of attaining a speed of 2.8 Mach.
- 3.Its cruising altitude could be up to 30 km.
- (a)1 and 2
- (b)2 only
- (c)1 and 3
- (d)3 only
Answer: (a) 1 and 2
BrahMos’s export version has a 290 km range and can reach 2.8 Mach, so statements 1 and 2 are correct. Its cruising altitude ceiling is 15 km, not 30 km, so statement 3 is false.
Source: BrahMos Aerospace — official missile specifications.
Related: SciTech0002 — Science and Technology in Energy, Defence and Infrastructure
Which one of the following is not a category under which the President of India nominates Members of Parliament ?
- (a)Literature
- (b)Science
- (c)Art
- (d)State Service
Answer: (d)
The President nominates 12 Rajya Sabha members from Literature, Science, Art, and Social Service — not ‘State Service’.
India is still a young country as the median age of its population is
- (a)Less than 25 years
- (b)Between 25 to 30 years
- (c)Between 30 to 35 years
- (d)Between 35 to 40 years
Answer: (b)
India’s median age was around 28.7 years in 2022, falling within the 25-30 year range.
Blue Helmets are
- (a)United Nations Peacekeepers
- (b)Violent Non-State Actors
- (c)Civil Society Organisations
- (d)Environmental Organisations
Answer: (a)
‘Blue Helmets’ refers to United Nations Peacekeepers, named for their distinctive light-blue helmets.
Related: IntlRel0146 — UN Peacekeeping Missions: India’s Role and Notable Deployments
Which one of the following central features is not associated with Capitalist Economy ?
- (a)There is generalised commodity production — it has market value.
- (b)Productive wealth is held predominantly in private hands.
- (c)Economic life is organised according to market principles.
- (d)Economic organisation is based on planning, a supposedly rational process of resource allocation.
Answer: (d)
Central planning for resource allocation is a feature of a socialist/planned economy, not a capitalist one, which relies on market mechanisms and private ownership.
Which among the following is not the strength or chief benefit of Bicameralism ?
- (a)Second chambers check the first chambers and prevent majoritarian rule.
- (b)It checks the powers of the executive.
- (c)The second chambers can act as a constitutional safeguard.
- (d)It often acts as a check on democratic rule, particularly when their members are non-elected or indirectly elected.
Answer: (d)
A non-elected or indirectly elected second chamber acting as a check on democratic rule is actually a criticism of bicameralism, not one of its strengths.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) was established in the year
- (a)2014
- (b)2015
- (c)2016
- (d)2017
Answer: (c) 2016
IBBI was established in 2016, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
Related: IndEco0230 — IBBI: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
Which one of the following is the other term used for ‘Focus’ in relation with an earthquake ?
- (a)Hypocentre
- (b)Epicentre
- (c)Isocentre
- (d)Principal Point
Answer: (a) Hypocentre
The earthquake’s focus is also called the hypocentre, the point underground where rupture begins. The epicentre is the surface point above it, a different concept.
Which one of the following is not a mountain peak of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ?
- (a)Saddle Peak
- (b)Mount Thuillier
- (c)Lhotse Peak
- (d)Mount Diavolo
Answer: (c) Lhotse Peak
Lhotse is a Himalayan peak on the Nepal-Tibet border, nowhere near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Saddle Peak (North Andaman), Mount Thuillier (Great Nicobar), and Mount Diavolo (Middle Andaman) are all real peaks in the island chain. Related: IndGeo0031 — Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Physical Geography).
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists (List I: Cloud Form — A. Cirrus, B. Cumulus, C. Nimbostratus, D. Stratus; List II: Characteristic — 1. Storm clouds, 2. High fog “Low Ceiling”, 3. Fair-weather clouds, 4. Entirely of ice particles):
| List I | Cloud Form |
|---|---|
| A | Cirrus |
| B | Cumulus |
| C | Nimbostratus |
| D | Stratus |
- (a)A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
- (b)A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
- (c)A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
- (d)A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
Answer: (c) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
Cirrus clouds are made entirely of ice particles, cumulus are fair-weather clouds, nimbostratus are storm clouds, and stratus form low-lying ‘high fog’.
Which one among the following planets has the largest number of known satellites ?
- (a)Mars
- (b)Neptune
- (c)Jupiter
- (d)Saturn
Answer: (d) Saturn
Saturn reclaimed the “moon king” title in 2022, after a batch of 62 newly confirmed moons pushed its total past Jupiter’s count. Rankings shift as astronomers confirm more small moons, so this answer reflects the count at the time of the exam.
Who among the following usurped power in Kanyakubja after the death of Harshavardhana ?
- (a)Adityasena
- (b)Arunashva
- (c)Shashanka
- (d)Lalitaditya
Answer: (b) Arunashva
Arunashva (Arunasva), a minister and governor of Tirabhukti, seized the throne at Kannauj (Kanyakubja) in the chaos after Harsha died heirless. He was later defeated and captured by a Tibetan-Nepalese force under the Chinese envoy Wang Xuance.
Related: AncHist0020 — Harshavardhana and the Post-Gupta Age
The legend of Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashyap was first set out in the
- (a)Bhagwat Purana
- (b)Vishnu Purana
- (c)Vamana Purana
- (d)Agni Purana
Answer: (b) Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana, one of the oldest Puranas, is recognised as the original source of the Prahlad-Hiranyakashyap legend, later expanded in the Bhagavata Purana.
Which one of the following statements on the issue of ownership according to Smriti literature is not correct ?
- (a)The paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons.
- (b)Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on the occasion of their marriage.
- (c)The gifts to women on the occasion of their marriage were known as Stridhana.
- (d)Stridhana was not inherited by the children without the permission of the husband.
Answer: (d)
Under Smriti tradition, Stridhana belonged solely to the woman, who had full rights over it without needing her husband’s permission.
Who among the following was not a woman labour leader who organised workers in the strikes in the 1920s ?
- (a)Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
- (b)Ushabai Dange
- (c)Prabhabati Devi
- (d)Anasuya Behn
Answer: (a) Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was a Bengali writer, educationist and political worker (founder of the Bharat Stree Mahamandal), not a labour organiser. Anasuya Behn led the Ahmedabad textile workers, Ushabai Dange organised Bombay mill workers with the communists, and Prabhabati Devi worked among jute workers in the 1920s.
Related: ModHist0351 — The Founding of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha · View this question →
Among the following countries, where did the idea of ‘Social Market Economy’ emerge in 1950s ?
- (a)Germany
- (b)France
- (c)United States of America
- (d)United Kingdom
Answer: (a) Germany
The Social Market Economy concept originated in post-war West Germany in the 1950s, associated with Ludwig Erhard’s economic policies.
Who among the following Indian thinkers first spoke of food-for-work programmes to counteract the effects of famines ?
- (a)Kautilya
- (b)Aryabhatta
- (c)Chandragomin
- (d)Prabhakara
Answer: (a) Kautilya
Kautilya, in the Arthashastra, first spoke of state-run food-for-work programmes – putting people to work on public works and paying them in grain to counteract famine, the ancestor of the Famine Code’s relief works.
Related: ModHist0008 — Grievance and Reform: Deccan Riots, Famine Commission, Arms Act · View this question →
The ‘Ramsar Convention’ relates to which one of the following areas ?
- (a)Wetland preservation
- (b)Promote afforestation
- (c)Action plan on climate change
- (d)Combat desertification
Answer: (a) Wetland preservation
The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty specifically focused on wetland conservation and wise use, not forests, climate, or desertification. · IndGeo0053 — Ramsar Wetlands of India
Which one among the following reports defines Sustainable Development as development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ?
- (a)Brundtland Report
- (b)United Nations Human Development Report
- (c)Agenda-21 of the Rio Earth Summit
- (d)OECD Policy Brief (2006)
Answer: (a) Brundtland Report
This is the classic definition from the Brundtland Report, ‘Our Common Future,’ published in 1987.
Related: EnvEco0013 — Sustainable Development
English-language questions transcribed from the official Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2022 question booklet (FDGT-S-GKL), General Knowledge paper. Hindi text omitted. Answer key not included.
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