General Knowledge Mixed Practice — MCQs with Answers (Set 5)

The correct answer is (d) Arjun Erigaisi. He is a chess grandmaster, not a squash player. India’s winning squash squad was Joshna Chinnappa, Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh, and Velavan Senthilkumar, who beat Hong Kong China 3-0 in the final.

The correct answer is (b) an early human species.

Denisovans were an early human group. They are named after Denisova Cave in southern Siberia, where their DNA was first read from a finger bone. They are not dinosaurs, not a cave system in North-East India, and not a geological period.

This question was asked in UPSC CSP 2019, GS Paper I.

Classical-language status brings two annual international awards for scholars, a Centre of Excellence for research, and UGC-sponsored professorial chairs — not automatic Eighth Schedule inclusion or mandatory nationwide teaching.

Classical-language status depends on antiquity, a valued body of ancient literature, and an original (non-borrowed) literary tradition — not on how many states use it as an official language.

Tamil was declared India’s first classical language on 12 October 2004. The criteria then included high antiquity of early texts and an ancient literary tradition, among others.

The conventional answer in non-official keys is Chandipur. The official paper lists the question and options but does not mark an answer. Bhavnagar also has a comparable wide tidal flat, so the general clue is not scientifically exclusive.

Chandipur has a very gentle coastal slope. A small fall in water level therefore uncovers a wide horizontal strip. Evaporation, a dam, or permanent wind does not explain the repeating tide.

An intertidal zone lies between low-tide and high-tide water levels. It alternates between air exposure and seawater. The other options describe different environments.

The tide follows the lunar day, which lasts about 24 hours and 50 minutes. Therefore, tide times shift across solar days. Beach movement, closing seas, and tourists cannot create this cycle.

Spring tides occur near new and full moons. The Sun, Moon, and Earth are then nearly aligned. First-quarter moons produce neap tides, while season and noon are irrelevant.

The Wildlife Institute of India repository reports abundant red crabs on Chandipur’s intertidal mudflat. Odisha Tourism also describes red ghost crabs there. The other animals do not fit this local tidal-flat observation.

DRDO operates its Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Balasore. The site is on Odisha’s Bay of Bengal coast. This facility is separate from the natural tide process.

Kho Kho was demonstrated at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, showing the sport’s long-standing international ambitions well before its first World Cup in 2025.

Each Kho Kho team has 12 players, of whom 9 take the field at a time during a match.

The modern, on-foot version of Kho Kho was formalised in 1914 at Pune’s Deccan Gymkhana club, giving the game its first standardised rules.

The UGC has ruled that such franchisee arrangements are not permissible, and carry no UGC recognition, even when a partner university is genuinely recognised.

The UGC’s Anti-Malpractice Cell (AMPC), established on 30 May 1996, handles fake and unrecognised university cases.

Unauthorised use of the word “University,” and awarding degrees with no legal recognition, violates the UGC Act, 1956.

Delhi tops the list with 12 fake institutions, the most of any state or UT.

The February 2026 list contained 32 fake universities across India. Delhi accounted for 12 entries; 12 was not the national total. The question asks about that dated list, rather than an undated current count. The alternatives 20 and 45 do not match the February total.

Review what the fake-university list means.

An Act of Parliament can specially empower a body to confer degrees. Section 22 also covers universities formed under relevant Acts and bodies deemed to be universities under Section 3. A web listing, signboard or ad tie-up does not create this legal power. Check the body that will issue the degree.

Review the lesson section.

The government asked Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories to take action. The requests included closure and FIRs for breaches of the UGC Act. UGC also issues notices and public warnings. Students, websites and print firms do not replace the state authorities named in the reply. A request is not proof of completed closure.

Review the lesson section.

Past approval does not automatically cover a later session. UGC-DEB asks students to check the exact course, study mode and session when they join. An old ad, a friend’s view or an unchanged fee does not prove current approval. A valid college name alone does not settle every course-level check.

Review the lesson section.

UGC’s rules allow recognised ODL and online awards to match corresponding classroom awards when the set terms are met. This does not cover all advertised courses. Students must check the body, course and session. UGC also bars the private franchise arrangements described in its rules. Neither a college’s name nor an ad removes these checks.

Review the lesson section.

That Act, which received assent on 8 July 1994, only formally came into force later, on 4 February 1995.