← AAO (Treasury) & Field Facilitator
Past Questions
Recipient of the 2018 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development-
A)
Pranab Mukherjee
B)
Manmohan Singh
C)
Sonia Gandhi
D)
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is a prestigious international award. For the year 2018, the award was conferred upon the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based research and advocacy organization. The award was granted in recognition of the CSE's outstanding contribution to the fight against air pollution and its efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental protection. Options a, b, and c are incorrect as Pranab Mukherjee, Manmohan Singh, and Sonia Gandhi were not the recipients of this specific award for the year 2018.
‘Coffee pot of the world’ refers to-
A)
India
B)
China
C)
Brazil
D)
Argentina
The term 'Coffee pot of the world' is a metaphorical reference to Brazil because it is the world's largest producer and exporter of coffee. Brazil has held the position of the top coffee producer globally for over 150 years. The country's vast land area, favorable tropical climate, and fertile soil (particularly in regions like Minas Gerais and São Paulo) make it ideal for large-scale coffee cultivation.
Analysis of other options:
- India: While India is a significant producer of coffee (especially in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu), it ranks much lower than Brazil in total volume.
- China: China is a global leader in tea production, not coffee.
- Argentina: While Argentina produces some coffee and is a major agricultural exporter (soybeans, corn), it is not a primary global coffee producer.
Penicillin was invented by -
A)
Christian Bernard
B)
Alexander Fleming
C)
Mc Collum
D)
William Harvey
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Analysis of the discovery: Penicillin, the world's first true antibiotic, was discovered in 1928. It was found when a mold called Penicillium notatum contaminated a Petri dish of Staphylococcus bacteria, creating a bacteria-free zone around the mold.
2. Identification of the scientist: This accidental discovery was made by the Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming at St. Mary's Hospital in London.
3. Evaluation of other options:
- Christian Bernard (Claude Bernard) is known for his work on homeostasis and the internal environment of the body.
- Mc Collum (Elmer McCollum) is known for discovering vitamins A and D.
- William Harvey is famous for describing the systemic circulation of blood in the human body.
4. Conclusion: Based on historical scientific records, Alexander Fleming is the correct inventor/discoverer of Penicillin.
What is the theme of the 2018 World Toilet Day (WTD)?
A)
Toilet For All
B)
When Nature Calls
C)
Lets Clean It Up
D)
Stand By ME
World Toilet Day is observed annually on November 19 to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis. For the year 2018, the official theme was 'Stand By Me'. This theme focused on the importance of political will and the need for governments to prioritize sanitation to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and clean toilet.
Analysis of other options:
- 'Toilet For All' is a general goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but was not the specific 2018 theme.
- 'When Nature Calls' and 'Lets Clean It Up' are not the official themes for the 2018 World Toilet Day.
Expand the term, “BRICS”
A)
Border Roads Institue of Comprehensive Studies
B)
Bay of Bengal Institute of Research & Communication Service
C)
Brazil, Russia, India, China & S.Africa
D)
Bengal Roads Initiative Corporations
BRICS is an acronym for a group of major emerging national economies. Originally formed as 'BRIC' (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, the group formally established itself as a diplomatic entity in 2009. South Africa joined the group in 2010, adding the 'S' to the acronym, making it BRICS. Options a, b, and d are fabricated terms that do not correspond to any recognized international organization or institute.
How many times M.C.Mary Kom wins the Women’s World Boxing Championship in 48 kgs category?
A)
Thrice
B)
Fourth
C)
Fifth
D)
Sixth
M.C. Mary Kom is a legendary Indian boxer who holds the record for being the most successful female boxer in the history of the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships. She has won the gold medal a total of six times. Specifically, she won the World Championships in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2018. While she competed in different weight categories across these wins (such as 46kg, 48kg, and 51kg), the question asks for the total number of times she won the championship (often associated with the flyweight/48kg range in general sports trivia). Since she has won the title 6 times in total, 'Sixth' is the correct answer. Options a, b, and c are incorrect as they undercount her total world championship titles.
In a computer, the parity bit is added for the purpose of
A)
Coding
B)
Error detection
C)
Controlling
D)
Indexing
A parity bit is a redundant bit added to a string of binary code to ensure that the total number of 1-bits in the string is either even or odd.
1. How it works: In 'Even Parity', the parity bit is set to 1 if the number of ones in the data is odd, making the total count even. In 'Odd Parity', the bit is set to 1 if the number of ones is even, making the total count odd.
2. Purpose: If a single bit is flipped (changed from 0 to 1 or vice versa) during transmission due to noise or interference, the parity of the received data will change. The receiver checks the parity; if it doesn't match the agreed-upon scheme, an error is detected.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Coding: Coding refers to the process of converting data into a specific format (like ASCII or Unicode), not the process of verifying data integrity.
- c. Controlling: Controlling refers to the management of hardware/software operations by the CPU or OS, which is unrelated to bit-level error checking.
- d. Indexing: Indexing is a data structure technique used to speed up the retrieval of records from a database or file system.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, popularly known by his initials AMLO, has been sworn-in as the new President of -
A)
Brazil
B)
Spain
C)
Mexico
D)
Venezuela
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, commonly referred to by his initials AMLO, is a Mexican politician who served as the President of Mexico from December 1, 2018, to September 30, 2024. He won the 2018 general election in a landslide victory.
Analysis of other options:
- Brazil: The presidency has been held by figures such as Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- Spain: Spain is a constitutional monarchy; the head of government is the Prime Minister (President of the Government), currently Pedro Sánchez.
- Venezuela: The presidency has been held by Nicolás Maduro.
The Central Government’s contribution in National Pension Scheme (NPS) has raised to how much percentage from the existing 10%?
A)
16 %
B)
14 %
C)
12 %
D)
11 %
The National Pension System (NPS) for Central Government employees involves contributions from both the employee and the government. Originally, the government's contribution was set at 10% of the employee's salary (Basic + DA). However, to make the scheme more attractive and ensure better retirement corpus for employees, the Government of India increased its contribution from 10% to 14%. The employee's contribution remains mandatory at 10%. Therefore, the correct updated percentage for the Central Government's contribution is 14%.
Which is the first North-Eastern State in India to launch Pan-India single emergency number ‘112’ under ERSS?
A)
Manipur
B)
Nagaland
C)
Tripura
D)
Assam
Tripura became the first state in North-East India to launch the Pan-India single emergency response number '112' under the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS). The ERSS is a centralized emergency response system designed to integrate various emergency services (Police, Fire, and Health) into a single number to ensure a quicker and more coordinated response to emergencies. While other North-Eastern states have since adopted the system, Tripura was the pioneer in the region to implement this specific national initiative.
The number of seats won by the Mizo National Front (MNF) in the just concluded Assembly election 2018 is-
A)
23
B)
24
C)
25
D)
26
In the Mizoram Legislative Assembly elections held in 2018, the Mizo National Front (MNF) emerged as the single largest party. Out of the 40 total seats in the Mizoram Assembly, the MNF won 24 seats, which gave them a clear majority to form the government. The Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) won 8 seats, and the Indian National Congress (INC) won 6 seats, with the remaining seats going to independents and other parties. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission of India-
A)
NK Singh
B)
YV Reddy
C)
Ranghuram Rajan
D)
Ramesh Chand
The 15th Finance Commission of India was constituted by the President of India under Article 280(1) of the Constitution. The Commission was chaired by Shri N.K. Singh (Narendra Kumar Singh), a former member of the Planning Commission and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. Its primary mandate was to make recommendations on the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States (vertical devolution) and the allocation among States (horizontal devolution) for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25.
Analysis of other options:
- Option b (YV Reddy): He served as the Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission.
- Option c (Raghuram Rajan): He is a renowned economist and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), but he has not chaired a Finance Commission.
- Option d (Ramesh Chand): He served as a Member of the 15th Finance Commission, but not as the Chairman.
Who is the author of the book “Age of Anger: A History of the Present”?
A)
Pankaj Mishra
B)
Shashi Tharoor
C)
Nabaneeta Dev Sen
D)
VS Naipaul
The book 'Age of Anger: A History of the Present' was written by the Indian author and journalist Pankaj Mishra. Published in 2007, the book examines the global political climate, focusing on the failures of neoliberalism and the rise of global instability following the 9/11 attacks.
Analysis of other options:
- Shashi Tharoor is known for books such as 'An Era of Darkness' and 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister'.
- Nabaneeta Dev Sen was a renowned poet, novelist, and academic, primarily known for her contributions to Bengali literature.
- VS Naipaul was a Nobel Prize-winning author known for works like 'A House for Mr. Biswas' and 'A Bend in the River'.
As per Census 2011, what is the rank of Mizoram in India in terms of population?
A)
26th
B)
27th
C)
28th
D)
29th
According to the official data from the Census of India 2011, Mizoram has a total population of approximately 1,097,206. When ranking all Indian states and union territories by total population, Mizoram ranks 28th. It is one of the least populated states in India, following states like Himachal Pradesh and preceding states like Sikkim (which is the least populated). Therefore, option 'c' is the correct rank.
What is the name of China mission launched to the far side of the Moon recently?
A)
Tiangong-2
B)
Chang’e-4
C)
Astrap-4
D)
Kuoming-3
The correct answer is Chang’e-4. Launched by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in December 2018, Chang’e-4 became the first spacecraft in history to successfully land on the far side of the Moon (the side that always faces away from Earth). It landed in the Von Kármán crater on the South Pole-Aitken basin.
Analysis of other options:
- Tiangong-2: This was a space laboratory launched by China in 2016, not a lunar mission.
- Astrap-4 and Kuoming-3: These are not recognized names of official Chinese space missions; they appear to be distractors created for the exam.
Therefore, option (b) is the only historically and scientifically accurate answer.
The 11th World Hindi Conference 2018 was held in -
A)
Indonesia
B)
Malaysia
C)
Mauritius
D)
Bhutan
The 11th World Hindi Conference (11वां विश्व हिंदी सम्मेलन) was held from August 12 to 15, 2018, in Port Louis, Mauritius. The conference was organized by the Government of Mauritius in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The theme of the 11th conference was 'Hindi Vishwa Mein Bhartiya Sanskriti Ki Sanvahak' (Hindi: Carrier of Indian Culture in the World).
Analysis of other options:
- Indonesia: While Indonesia has a history of cultural ties with India, it has not hosted the World Hindi Conference.
- Malaysia: Similar to Indonesia, it is not the host of the 11th World Hindi Conference.
- Bhutan: While Bhutan maintains strong diplomatic ties with India, it was not the venue for this specific international event.
How many religious communities are classified as Minorities by the Government of India as of December,2018?
A)
Five
B)
Six
C)
Seven
D)
Eight
Under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, the Government of India officially notifies certain religious communities as 'minorities'. As of December 2018 (and continuing to the present), there are five notified religious minorities in India: 1. Muslims, 2. Christians, 3. Sikhs, 4. Buddhists, and 5. Jains. The Jain community was the last to be added to this list, notified by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2014. Therefore, the total count is five. Options b, c, and d are incorrect as they do not align with the official notifications issued by the Government of India.
National Education Day of India is celebrated on
A)
12th October
B)
11th November
C)
8th September
D)
9th December
National Education Day in India is celebrated every year on November 11th. This date marks the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was the first Education Minister of independent India. He played a pivotal role in shaping the education system of the country and promoting universal education.
Analysis of other options:
- 12th October: Not associated with a national education day in India.
- 8th September: This is International Literacy Day, observed globally.
- 9th December: Not associated with a national education day in India.
The scientists of which country have developed the world’s first artificial intelligence politician “SAM”?
A)
France
B)
Italy
C)
New Zealand
D)
South Africa
The world's first AI politician, named 'SAM' (which stands for 'Sintetica Artificial Mind'), was developed by scientists and developers in Italy. SAM was designed to analyze data, listen to citizens' concerns, and propose policy solutions based on objective data rather than political bias. The project aimed to explore how artificial intelligence could be integrated into governance and decision-making processes to reduce human corruption and inefficiency. Therefore, Italy is the correct country of origin for this specific AI project.
The country that has recently withdrawn from United Nations’ Human Rights Council-
A)
United States
B)
United Kingdom
C)
South Korea
D)
Russia
The United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, officially withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in June 2018. The U.S. government cited the council's alleged bias against Israel and its inclusion of human rights abusers as the primary reasons for the withdrawal. It is important to note that the U.S. later rejoined the council in December 2021 under the administration of President Joe Biden. In the context of competitive exams focusing on this specific historical event of 'recent withdrawal' (relative to the question's drafting period), the United States is the correct answer. Russia was suspended from the council in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, which is a different legal mechanism than a voluntary withdrawal.
Dr Krishnamurthy Subramanian has been appointed as the new-
A)
Governor of RBI
B)
Chairman of ISRO
C)
Chief Economic Advisor
D)
Chairman of SBI
Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian was appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to the Government of India in 2018. The CEA is a key position within the Ministry of Finance, responsible for providing economic analysis and preparing the Economic Survey of India.
Analysis of other options:
- Governor of RBI: This position is held by individuals like Shaktikanta Das (current) or Urjit Patel/Raghuram Rajan (previous), not Dr. Subramanian.
- Chairman of ISRO: This position is held by scientists specializing in space research (e.g., S. Somanath), whereas Dr. Subramanian is an economist.
- Chairman of SBI: This is a banking leadership role, typically filled by career bankers, not the government's Chief Economic Advisor.
Which Indian personality was recently bestowed with France’s highest civilian honour “Knight of the Legion of Honor”?
A)
Narayana Murthy
B)
Kailash Satyarthi
C)
Jawahar Lal Sarin
D)
Vishal Sikka
Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, was bestowed with the 'Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur' (Knight of the Legion of Honor), which is the highest civilian award of France. This honor was conferred upon him in recognition of his contributions to the global IT industry and his philanthropic efforts.
Analysis of other options:
- Kailash Satyarthi: Known for his work against child labor and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, but not the recipient of this specific French honor in this context.
- Jawahar Lal Sarin: A prominent business leader, but not the recipient of the Legion of Honor.
- Vishal Sikka: Former CEO of Infosys, but he has not been awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor.
What is the India’s passport position in the Global Passport Power Rank 2018, as per the Henley Passport Index (HPI)?
A)
67th
B)
75th
C)
81st
D)
95th
The Henley Passport Index (HPI) is a global ranking of passports and passport-holding citizens based on the number of destinations they can access without a prior visa. In the 2018 rankings released by the Henley & Partners, the Indian passport was ranked 81st. This ranking is determined by the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations available to the passport holder. Options a (67th), b (75th), and d (95th) are incorrect as they do not correspond to the official HPI ranking for India for the year 2018.
Which of the following Indian Organizations has won the 2018 Asia Environment Enforcement Awards??
A)
Centre for Ecology and Rural Development
B)
National Biodiversity Authority
C)
National Tiger Conservation Authority
D)
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards (AEEA) are presented to recognize outstanding efforts in combating environmental crime. In 2018, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of India was honored with this award for its significant contributions to curbing illegal wildlife trade and enforcing environmental laws within the country.
Breakdown of options:
- Option (a) Centre for Ecology and Rural Development: An NGO focused on sustainable development, not the recipient of this specific enforcement award.
- Option (b) National Biodiversity Authority: A statutory body for the conservation of biological diversity, but not the winner of the 2018 AEEA.
- Option (c) National Tiger Conservation Authority: While focused on tiger conservation, it is a separate entity from the WCCB.
- Option (d) The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau: The correct answer, as it is the specialized agency tasked with combating organized wildlife crime in India and was officially recognized by the AEEA in 2018.
Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga won India’s maiden gold medal at 2018 Youth Olympic Games being held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina in which weight category?
A)
Men’s 52 kg
B)
Men’s 58 kg
C)
Men’s 62 kg
D)
Men’s 65 kg
Jeremy Lalrinnunga made history at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He won the gold medal in the Men's 62 kg weight category. He achieved this by lifting a total of 250 kg (110 kg in snatch and 140 kg in clean and jerk), which was India's first-ever gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
- Option (a) Men's 52 kg is incorrect as he did not compete in this category.
- Option (b) Men's 58 kg is incorrect as he did not compete in this category.
- Option (d) Men's 65 kg is incorrect as he did not compete in this category.