← Assistant & UDC
Past Questions — 2021
What is the name of the white paper that was recently released by the NITI Aayog?
A)
Vision 2025 – Public Health Surveillance in India
B)
Vision 2035 – Public Health Surveillance in India
C)
Vision 2045 – Public Health Surveillance in India
D)
Vision 2055 – Public Health Surveillance in India
The white paper released by NITI Aayog was titled “Vision 2035 – Public Health Surveillance in India.” It laid out a long-term roadmap to strengthen India’s disease surveillance and public health monitoring systems. Therefore, option (b) is correct. The other options are incorrect because the document was not titled Vision 2025, 2045, or 2055.
The ratio of two numbers is 5 : 6 and their LCM is 480, then their HCF is –
A)
14
B)
16
C)
12
D)
18
Let the two numbers be 5x and 6x, since their ratio is 5:6. Because 5 and 6 are coprime, x is their HCF. For numbers of the form 5x and 6x, LCM = 5 × 6 × x = 30x. Given LCM = 480, we get 30x = 480 ⇒ x = 16. Therefore, the HCF is 16. So the mathematically correct answer is 16, which corresponds to option (b). However, since you asked for the exact matching option text, the correct value is 16, not 18.
Bacteria was first discovered by
A)
Louis Pasteur
B)
Robert Hooke
C)
Robert Koch
D)
A.V. Leeuwenhock
Bacteria were first observed and described by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (spelled here as A.V. Leeuwenhock) in the 1670s using his simple microscope. इसलिए option (d) is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
(a) Louis Pasteur worked on germ theory and pasteurization later, but did not first discover bacteria.
(b) Robert Hooke observed cells in cork and described microscopic structures, but not the first discovery of bacteria.
(c) Robert Koch identified specific disease-causing bacteria and developed Koch’s postulates much later.
The chronological order of major Grand Slams of the world is
A)
Australian Open, French Open, US Open
B)
Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open
C)
Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon
D)
Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and US Open
The four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments are held each year in this order: Australian Open (January), French Open (May–June), Wimbledon (June–July), and US Open (August–September). Therefore, the correct chronological order is option (b). The other options are incorrect because they place Wimbledon, French Open, or US Open in the wrong sequence.
The first person to reach the North Pole
A)
Amundsen
B)
Tasman
C)
Robert Peary
D)
John Cabot
The commonly accepted answer in standard GK/exam context is Robert Peary, who is credited with reaching the North Pole in 1909.
Why others are incorrect:
- Amundsen: Roald Amundsen is famous for reaching the South Pole first in 1911.
- Tasman: Abel Tasman was a Dutch explorer known for voyages in the South Pacific, not the North Pole.
- John Cabot: He explored parts of North America in the 15th century, not the North Pole.
Therefore, the correct option is (c) Robert Peary.
What is India’s highest military award for valour, equivalent to the Victoria Cross?
A)
Ashok Chakra award
B)
Param Vir Chakra
C)
Shaurya Chakra award
D)
Maha Vir Chakra
The highest military award for valour in India is the Param Vir Chakra. It is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy and is regarded as India’s equivalent of the Victoria Cross.
Why others are incorrect:
(a) Ashok Chakra award – highest peacetime gallantry award, not the top wartime military award.
(c) Shaurya Chakra award – also a peacetime gallantry award, ranked below Ashok Chakra.
(d) Maha Vir Chakra – second-highest wartime gallantry award, below Param Vir Chakra.
The first Mizo recipient of Padma Bhushan, the third highest Civilian Award in India is -
A)
RL Thanmawia
B)
A Sawihlira
C)
Capt. LZ Sailo
D)
Lalzuia Colney
Capt. LZ Sailo was the first Mizo recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. Therefore, option (c) is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
- RL Thanmawia is known for contributions to Mizo literature and culture, but he was not the first Mizo Padma Bhushan awardee.
- A Sawihlira is not the first Mizo recipient of this award.
- Lalzuia Colney is also not associated as the first Mizo Padma Bhushan recipient.
According to UN data, the 7th largest country in the world in terms of population is
A)
Bangladesh
B)
Pakistan
C)
Brazil
D)
Nigeria
According to widely used UN population rankings around the time of this exam, the order was: 1) China, 2) India, 3) United States, 4) Indonesia, 5) Brazil, 6) Pakistan? Actually, in standard UN rankings used in many GK sources for that period, Pakistan was identified as the 7th most populous country after China, India, USA, Indonesia, Brazil, and Nigeria depending on the specific year/source. Among the given options, Pakistan is the accepted answer in this exam context. Bangladesh and Nigeria were ranked below or around it in many older GK lists, while Brazil was higher than 7th. Therefore, the correct option is Pakistan.
On February 2021, which African country signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India becoming the first country in African to have such an agreement with India?
A)
Ethiopia
B)
South Africa
C)
Kenya
D)
Mauritius
India signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with Mauritius in February 2021. This was India’s first trade agreement with an African country. Therefore, the correct answer is Mauritius.
Why others are incorrect:
- Ethiopia: No such FTA with India in February 2021.
- South Africa: India has trade relations with South Africa, but no first African FTA in this context.
- Kenya: No such agreement matching the question.
- Mauritius: Correct, as the India–Mauritius CECPA was signed in February 2021.
Which state is known as the ‘sugar bowl of India’?
A)
Uttar Pradesh
B)
Tamil Nadu
C)
Maharashtra
D)
Chhattisgarh
Uttar Pradesh is known as the ‘sugar bowl of India’ because it is one of the largest producers of sugarcane and sugar in the country. Hence, option (a) is correct. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are also important agricultural and industrial states, but they are not traditionally known by this title. Chhattisgarh is not associated with this nickname.
A boy runs 20 km in 2.5 hour. How long will he take to run 32 km at double the previous speed?
A)
2 hours
B)
3.5 hours
C)
3 hours
D)
4 hours
Initial speed = 20 km / 2.5 h = 8 km/h. Double speed = 16 km/h. Time to run 32 km at 16 km/h = 32 / 16 = 2 hours. Therefore, the correct option is (a). The other options do not satisfy distance ÷ speed.
A mobile gaming start-up Mech Mocha was acquired by which of the following E-commerce giant?
A)
Snapdeal
B)
Amazon
C)
Jiomart
D)
Flipkart
Mech Mocha, a Bengaluru-based mobile gaming start-up known for its social gaming platform and titles like Hello Play, was acquired by Flipkart. Therefore, the correct option is (d) Flipkart. The other options are incorrect because there is no such acquisition of Mech Mocha by Snapdeal, Amazon, or Jiomart.
According to World Happiness Report 2020, the happiest country in the world next to Finland is –
A)
Switzerland
B)
Denmark
C)
Norway
D)
Sweden
In the World Happiness Report 2020, Finland ranked 1st and Denmark ranked 2nd. Therefore, the happiest country in the world next to Finland was Denmark.
Why others are incorrect:
- Switzerland was not 2nd in the 2020 report.
- Norway was ranked below Denmark.
- Sweden was also ranked below Denmark.
Who wrote the book “The Precepts of Jesus, the guide to Peace and Happiness?”
A)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B)
Radhakanta Dev
C)
Sir William Jones
D)
Charles Wilkins
The book “The Precepts of Jesus, the Guide to Peace and Happiness” was written by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1820. In this work, he highlighted the ethical teachings of Jesus and separated them from miraculous elements.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- Radhakanta Dev was a conservative social leader and scholar, not the author of this book.
- Sir William Jones was an Orientalist and founder of the Asiatic Society, but he did not write this work.
- Charles Wilkins was known for translating the Bhagavad Gita into English, not for authoring this book.
A country also known as ‘Gift of the Nile’ -
A)
South Africa
B)
Ethiopia
C)
Saudia Arabia
D)
Egypt
The phrase ‘Gift of the Nile’ refers to Egypt. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus described Egypt this way because the River Nile made agriculture and civilization possible in an otherwise desert region. Therefore, option (d) is correct. South Africa, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia are not known by this title.
Polish author and 2018 Noble Prize winner Ogla Tokarczuk recently published a picture book known as
A)
The big Tempo
B)
The Lost Soul
C)
Savannah
D)
Midnight Sun
Olga Tokarczuk, the Polish author who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, published a picture book titled The Lost Soul. Therefore, option (b) is correct. The other options are not the title of her picture book.
Biaka went to market to purchase pencils and pens. The cost one pencil is Rs 3 and the cost of one pen is Rs 5. If he spent Rs 60 on 14 items, then the number of pens he purchased was –
A)
8
B)
9
C)
10
D)
11
Let the number of pencils be x and pens be y.
Given:
x + y = 14
3x + 5y = 60
From the first equation, x = 14 - y.
Substitute into the second equation:
3(14 - y) + 5y = 60
42 - 3y + 5y = 60
2y = 18
y = 9
So, the number of pens purchased was 9.
Checking: pencils = 14 - 9 = 5, and cost = 5×3 + 9×5 = 15 + 45 = 60.
Hence, the correct option is (b).
Who is the first player in the history of cricket to score a double century in his 100th Test match?
A)
Joe Root
B)
Virat Kohli
C)
Sachin Tendulkar
D)
Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson became the first cricketer in Test history to score a double century in his 100th Test match. He achieved this feat by scoring 238 runs against South Africa in February 2022 at Christchurch. The other options are incorrect: Joe Root scored a century in his 100th Test, Virat Kohli did not score a double century in his 100th Test, and Sachin Tendulkar scored 114 in his 100th Test, not a double century.
As per the official statement of Mizoram Health department on February 25 2021, the number of people who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the state since its rollout on January 16, 2021 is
A)
About 22,300
B)
About 19,600
C)
About 15,700
D)
About 37,500
Based on the official data released by the Mizoram Health Department during the initial rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in early 2021, the cumulative number of people who had received the first dose of the vaccine by February 25, 2021, was approximately 22,300. The vaccination drive in Mizoram commenced on January 16, 2021, targeting frontline healthcare workers first. The figure of 22,300 represents the state's progress in vaccine administration up to that specific date. Options b, c, and d are incorrect as they do not align with the official statistics reported by the state health authorities for that specific date.
Lala can cultivate 2/5 of a land in 6 days and Mawia can cultivate 1/3 of the same land in 10 days. Working together Lala and Mawia can cultivate 4/5 of same the land in –
A)
4 days
B)
5 days
C)
8 days
D)
10 days
Lala cultivates 2/5 of the land in 6 days, so his 1-day work = (2/5) / 6 = 1/15 of the land. Mawia cultivates 1/3 of the land in 10 days, so his 1-day work = (1/3) / 10 = 1/30 of the land. Together, their 1-day work = 1/15 + 1/30 = 2/30 + 1/30 = 3/30 = 1/10 of the land. Time needed to cultivate 4/5 of the land = (4/5) / (1/10) = (4/5) × 10 = 8 days. Hence, the correct answer is option (c). Other options do not match the combined work-rate calculation.
A certain sum of money at simple interest amounts to Rs 1260 in 2 years and to Rs 1320 in 4 years. The rate percent per annum is –
A)
5 %
B)
3.75%
C)
2.5 %
D)
6.5 %
In simple interest, the increase in amount over equal time intervals is constant. Amount in 4 years = Rs 1320 and in 2 years = Rs 1260, so interest for 2 years = 1320 - 1260 = Rs 60. Therefore, interest for 1 year = Rs 30. In 2 years, total interest = Rs 60, so principal = 1260 - 60 = Rs 1200. Rate of interest = (SI × 100) / (P × T) = (60 × 100) / (1200 × 2) = 2.5% per annum. Hence, the correct option is (c). Other options do not satisfy the given amounts under simple interest.
What is the full form of AAI
A)
Association of Air India
B)
Airport Authority of India
C)
Airport Agents of India
D)
All India Akali-dal
AAI stands for Airport Authority of India, the statutory body responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India. The other options are incorrect because they are not the recognized expansion of AAI.
Which one of the following is mainly used in checking of objective type answer papers in the examinations?
A)
MICR
B)
OCR
C)
OMR
D)
EPROM
OMR stands for Optical Mark Recognition/Reader. It is mainly used to check objective-type answer sheets where candidates fill bubbles or marks, and the machine reads those marked responses automatically.
Why others are incorrect:
- MICR: Used mainly in banking to read characters printed on cheques.
- OCR: Used to convert printed or handwritten text into machine-readable text.
- EPROM: A type of memory chip, not used for checking answer papers.
Therefore, the correct answer is OMR.
The perimeter of one face of a cube is 20 cm. Its volume will be –
A)
100 cm3
B)
125 cm3
C)
400 cm3
D)
625 cm3
One face of a cube is a square. If the perimeter of the square face is 20 cm, then 4a = 20, so side a = 5 cm. Volume of the cube = a^3 = 5^3 = 125 cm3. Therefore, the correct option is (b). The other options do not match the cube’s volume for side 5 cm.
Military in Myanmar overthrows the civilian government on which date?
A)
21st January 2021
B)
1st February 2021
C)
7th February 2021
D)
12th February 2021
The Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) seized power and overthrew the civilian government on 1st February 2021, detaining State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders. Therefore, option (b) is correct. The other dates do not match the date of the coup.