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Past Questions
Where was the second Global Disability Summit held?
A)
Delhi, India
B)
New York, USA
C)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
D)
Tokyo, Japan
The second Global Disability Summit was hosted by the Government of India in New Delhi. The summit aimed to bring together governments, civil society, and international organizations to accelerate the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society. While the first summit was held in London (2016), the subsequent major gathering focused on global commitments was organized in Delhi to highlight the scale of disability inclusion efforts in the Global South. Options b, c, and d are incorrect as those cities did not host the second Global Disability Summit.
“Discovery of India” was written by
A)
Rabindranath Tagore
B)
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C)
Jawaharlal Nehru
D)
Vasco Da Gama
The book 'The Discovery of India' was written by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, while he was imprisoned by the British at Ahmednagar Fort between 1942 and 1945. In this work, Nehru explores the history, culture, and philosophy of India to understand its identity and the forces that shaped the nation.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Rabindranath Tagore: A Nobel laureate poet and philosopher known for 'Gitanjali'.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak: A prominent freedom fighter and leader known for his work 'Gita Rahasya'.
- Vasco Da Gama: A Portuguese explorer who discovered the sea route from Europe to India in 1498; he was not an author of this literary work.
Author of the book titled, “Around the World in Eighty Days” is
A)
Stephen Hawking
B)
Jules Verne
C)
JK Rowling
D)
Arun Shourie
The novel 'Around the World in Eighty Days' (originally published in French as 'Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours') was written by the French novelist Jules Verne and published in 1872. It tells the story of Phileas Fogg, who makes a wager that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.
Analysis of other options:
- Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist known for 'A Brief History of Time'.
- JK Rowling is the author of the 'Harry Potter' series.
- Arun Shourie is an Indian journalist, author, and former minister known for works on politics and governance.
The number of seats in the Lok Sabha is
A)
525
B)
535
C)
545
D)
555
The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament. According to the Constitution of India and the Representation of the People Act, the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha was traditionally set at 552. This included: 530 members representing the States, 20 members representing the Union Territories, and 2 members nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. In practice, the strength was fixed at 545 (530 from states + 15 from UTs + 2 nominated).
Note on current status: While the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, discontinued the nomination of 2 Anglo-Indians (reducing the effective strength to 543), competitive exams based on standard textbooks and previous patterns typically list 545 as the correct answer unless '543' is provided as an option. Among the given choices, 545 is the standard recognized answer for this specific question format.
How many three digit numbers are divisible by 7?
A)
127
B)
128
C)
129
D)
130
To find the number of three-digit numbers divisible by 7, we identify the first and last three-digit numbers that are multiples of 7.
1. **Find the smallest three-digit number divisible by 7**:
The smallest three-digit number is 100. Dividing 100 by 7 gives 14 with a remainder of 2 (100 = 7 × 14 + 2).
The first multiple of 7 greater than or equal to 100 is 7 × 15 = 105.
2. **Find the largest three-digit number divisible by 7**:
The largest three-digit number is 999. Dividing 999 by 7 gives 142 with a remainder of 5 (999 = 7 × 142 + 5).
The largest multiple of 7 less than or equal to 999 is 999 - 5 = 994 (or 7 × 142 = 994).
3. **Use the Arithmetic Progression (AP) formula**:
The sequence of numbers is 105, 112, 119, ..., 994.
This is an AP where the first term (a) = 105, the last term (l) = 994, and the common difference (d) = 7.
The formula for the nth term is: l = a + (n - 1)d
994 = 105 + (n - 1)7
994 - 105 = (n - 1)7
889 = (n - 1)7
n - 1 = 889 / 7
n - 1 = 127
n = 128
Alternatively, using the division method:
Number of multiples of 7 up to 999 is floor(999/7) = 142.
Number of multiples of 7 up to 99 (two-digit numbers) is floor(99/7) = 14.
Total three-digit multiples = 142 - 14 = 128.
The three districts which were created in 2008 Mizoram were
A)
Hnahthial, Tlabung, Saitual
B)
Hnahthial, Saitual, Khawzawl
C)
Khawzawl, Saitual, Mamit
D)
Saitual, Champhai, Khawzawl
To solve this question, we must look at the administrative history of Mizoram's district creation. Mizoram originally had a smaller number of districts, which were expanded over time to improve governance. In 2008, the Government of Mizoram created three new districts to decentralize administration: Hnahthial, Saitual, and Khawzawl.
Analyzing the options:
- Option (a) includes Tlabung, which is not one of the three created in 2008.
- Option (b) correctly lists Hnahthial, Saitual, and Khawzawl.
- Option (c) includes Mamit, which was created much earlier (in 1999).
- Option (d) includes Champhai, which was also created earlier (in 1999).
Therefore, the correct set of districts created in 2008 is Hnahthial, Saitual, and Khawzawl.
Lala is six years younger than Mawia.Five years ago, Mawia was thrice as old as Lala. The age of Mawia is –
A)
8 years
B)
10 years
C)
12 years
D)
14 years
Let the current age of Mawia be 'M' and the current age of Lala be 'L'.
Step 1: Translate the first statement into an equation.
'Lala is six years younger than Mawia' means:
L = M - 6 --- (Equation 1)
Step 2: Translate the second statement into an equation.
'Five years ago, Mawia was thrice as old as Lala'.
Five years ago, Mawia's age was (M - 5) and Lala's age was (L - 5).
So, (M - 5) = 3 * (L - 5) --- (Equation 2)
Step 3: Substitute Equation 1 into Equation 2.
(M - 5) = 3 * ((M - 6) - 5)
(M - 5) = 3 * (M - 11)
Step 4: Solve for M.
M - 5 = 3M - 33
33 - 5 = 3M - M
28 = 2M
M = 14
Verification:
If Mawia is 14, Lala is 14 - 6 = 8.
Five years ago, Mawia was 9 and Lala was 3.
Since 9 is thrice 3 (9 = 3 * 3), the solution is correct.
Comparing with options:
a. 8 years (This is Lala's age)
b. 10 years (Incorrect)
c. 12 years (Incorrect)
d. 14 years (Correct)
Three plots having an area of 165m2, 195m2 and 285m2 are to be subdivided into equal sized flower beds. If the breadth of a bed is 3m, then the maximum length that a bed can have is –
A)
5m
B)
6m
C)
7m
D)
8m
Step-by-step solution:
1. **Understand the Goal**: We need to divide three plots of different areas (165m², 195m², and 285m²) into equal-sized flower beds. To find the 'maximum length' for these equal beds, we need to find the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of the areas, as the beds must fit perfectly into each plot.
2. **Find the HCF of the Areas**:
- Prime factorization of 165: 3 × 5 × 11
- Prime factorization of 195: 3 × 5 × 13
- Prime factorization of 285: 3 × 5 × 19
- The common factors are 3 and 5. Therefore, the HCF = 3 × 5 = 15m².
3. **Determine the Area of one Flower Bed**: The maximum area for each equal-sized flower bed is 15m².
4. **Calculate the Length**: We are given that the breadth of each bed is 3m. Since Area = Length × Breadth:
- 15m² = Length × 3m
- Length = 15 / 3 = 5m.
Verification of options:
- Option (a) 5m: Matches our calculation.
- Option (b) 6m: 6 * 3 = 18; 18 is not a factor of 165, 195, or 285.
- Option (c) 7m: 7 * 3 = 21; 21 is not a factor of 165.
- Option (d) 8m: 8 * 3 = 24; 24 is not a factor of 165.
Which country is known as the Sick Man of Europe?
A)
Denmark
B)
Germany
C)
Turkey
D)
France
The term 'Sick Man of Europe' was a phrase used in the 19th century to describe the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey). During this period, the empire suffered from severe economic decline, political instability, and territorial losses to surrounding powers, leading to its gradual collapse.
- Option (a) Denmark: Never referred to by this term; it remained a stable, smaller European state.
- Option (b) Germany: While Germany faced economic crises (like hyperinflation in the 1920s), it was not the historical 'Sick Man of Europe'.
- Option (d) France: France was one of the dominant global powers during the era when this term was coined.
Therefore, Turkey (the successor to the Ottoman Empire) is the correct answer.
Chairman of the Mizoram Public Service Commission in 2019 is
A)
Rev. Zosangliana Colney
B)
C. Laldina
C)
V. Lalremtluanga
D)
Andrew Lalherliana
The Mizoram Public Service Commission (MPSC) is a constitutional body responsible for the recruitment of civil servants in the state of Mizoram. In 2019, Rev. Zosangliana Colney served as the Chairman of the Commission. He was appointed to lead the commission to ensure the fair and transparent selection of candidates for various state government services. The other options listed (C. Laldina, V. Lalremtluanga, and Andrew Lalherliana) were not the Chairman of the MPSC during the year 2019.
A box contains 20 balls bearing numbers 1, 2, 3, ...., 20 respectively. A ball is drawn at random from the box. What is the probability that the number on the ball is a prime number ?
A)
3/7
B)
3/8
C)
2/7
D)
2/5
Step-by-step solution:
1. **Identify the Total Number of Outcomes**: The box contains balls numbered from 1 to 20. Therefore, the total number of possible outcomes (n(S)) = 20.
2. **Identify the Favorable Outcomes**: We need to find the prime numbers between 1 and 20. A prime number is a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself.
- The prime numbers in the set {1, 2, 3, ..., 20} are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19.
- Note: 1 is not a prime number.
3. **Count the Favorable Outcomes**: There are 8 prime numbers in total. So, n(E) = 8.
4. **Calculate the Probability**: The probability P(E) is given by the formula:
P(E) = (Number of favorable outcomes) / (Total number of outcomes)
P(E) = 8 / 20
5. **Simplify the Fraction**: Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 4:
8 ÷ 4 = 2
20 ÷ 4 = 5
P(E) = 2/5.
Comparing this result to the options:
- a. 3/7 (Incorrect)
- b. 3/8 (Incorrect)
- c. 2/7 (Incorrect)
- d. 2/5 (Correct)
In a group of 850 persons, 600 can speak Hindi, 340 can speak Tamil and some persons can speak both Hindi and Tamil. The number of persons who can speak Hindi only is –
A)
90
B)
250
C)
510
D)
300
To solve this problem, we use the principle of set theory for two overlapping sets.
1. **Identify the given values:**
- Total number of persons (n(H ∪ T)) = 850
- Persons who can speak Hindi (n(H)) = 600
- Persons who can speak Tamil (n(T)) = 340
2. **Find the number of persons who speak both languages (n(H ∩ T)):**
Using the formula: n(H ∪ T) = n(H) + n(T) - n(H ∩ T)
850 = 600 + 340 - n(H ∩ T)
850 = 940 - n(H ∩ T)
n(H ∩ T) = 940 - 850 = 90
So, 90 persons speak both Hindi and Tamil.
3. **Calculate the number of persons who speak Hindi only:**
The number of persons who speak Hindi only is the total number of Hindi speakers minus those who speak both languages.
Hindi only = n(H) - n(H ∩ T)
Hindi only = 600 - 90 = 510
**Verification of Options:**
- Option (a) 90: This is the number of people who speak both languages, not Hindi only.
- Option (b) 250: This is the number of people who speak Tamil only (340 - 90 = 250).
- Option (c) 510: This is the correct calculation for Hindi only.
- Option (d) 300: This value is unrelated to the calculations.
The full form of FBI is
A)
Federation of Bureaucratic Investigation
B)
Federal Bureau of Invigilation
C)
Federal Bureau of Investigation
D)
Federal Bureau of Investments
The FBI is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency.
Step-by-step analysis of the options:
- Option (a) 'Federation of Bureaucratic Investigation' is incorrect; 'Federation' and 'Bureaucratic' are not part of the official title.
- Option (b) 'Federal Bureau of Invigilation' is incorrect; 'Invigilation' refers to supervising students during an exam, which is unrelated to law enforcement.
- Option (c) 'Federal Bureau of Investigation' is the correct official name of the agency.
- Option (d) 'Federal Bureau of Investments' is incorrect; the agency does not manage financial investments.
The play “Hamlet” was written by
A)
George Bernard Shaw
B)
Abul Fazl
C)
Charles Dickens
D)
William Shakespeare
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. The question asks for the author of the play 'Hamlet'. 2. 'Hamlet' (full title: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark) is one of the most famous tragedies written by the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601. 3. Evaluating other options: (a) George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright known for 'Pygmalion'. (b) Abul Fazl was a historian and vizier in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar, known for 'Akbarnama'. (c) Charles Dickens was a Victorian novelist known for 'A Tale of Two Cities' and 'Great Expectations'. Therefore, option (d) is the only correct answer.
Which country has become the first country in Asia to legalise same sex marriage?
A)
South Korea
B)
Japan
C)
Taiwan
D)
Sri Lanka
Taiwan became the first jurisdiction in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage on May 24, 2019. This followed a landmark ruling by Taiwan's Constitutional Court in 2017, which declared that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The government subsequently passed legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry.
Regarding the other options:
- South Korea: Does not recognize same-sex marriage.
- Japan: While some local municipalities offer partnership certificates, same-sex marriage is not legalized at the national level, although several court rulings have suggested the current ban is unconstitutional.
- Sri Lanka: Does not recognize same-sex marriage; in fact, laws regarding same-sex acts have historically been restrictive.
On which day is the National Dengue Day observed every year in India?
A)
25th April
B)
28th April
C)
16th May
D)
20th May
National Dengue Day is observed every year in India on April 28th. The primary objective of this day is to create awareness among the general public about the prevention and control of Dengue fever, which is caused by the dengue virus and transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. By observing this day, health authorities aim to educate citizens on eliminating stagnant water (breeding grounds for mosquitoes) and recognizing early symptoms of the disease to reduce mortality rates. Options a, c, and d are incorrect as they do not correspond to the officially designated date for National Dengue Day in India.
Which public sector bank has become the first bank in the country that has linked its deposit accounts and short term loans to an external benchmark?
A)
State Bank of India
B)
Axis bank
C)
ICICI
D)
HDFC
The State Bank of India (SBI) became the first public sector bank in India to link its deposit accounts and short-term loans to an external benchmark. This move was aligned with the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) directives to ensure a more transparent transmission of monetary policy rates to the end customers. By linking rates to an external benchmark (such as the RBI's repo rate), changes in the benchmark rate are reflected more quickly and transparently in the interest rates offered on deposits and charged on loans.
Regarding the other options:
- Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank are all private sector banks, not public sector banks. Therefore, they do not fit the criteria of the question regardless of their benchmarking policies.
The first Padma Shree Awardee was
A)
Lalsangzuali Sailo
B)
James Dokhuma
C)
Rev. Dr. H.S. Luaia
D)
A. Sawihlira
The question asks for the first Padma Shri awardee, specifically within the context of Mizoram (as indicated by the names in the options and the nature of the recruitment exam for the Land, Revenue & Settlement Department of a specific region). Lalsangzuali Sailo was the first person from Mizoram to be honored with the Padma Shri award for her contributions to social work. The other options (James Dokhuma, Rev. Dr. H.S. Luaia, and A. Sawihlira) are prominent figures from the region, but they were not the first recipients of this specific national honor.
The recipient of the Bharat Ratna Award 2019 who hailed from North-East India was
A)
Rajeshwar Acharya
B)
Bhupen Hazarika
C)
Mary Kom
D)
Jyoti Bhatt
In 2019, the Government of India announced the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, for three distinguished personalities: Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, and Bhupen Hazarika. Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was a legendary singer, lyricist, and musician from Assam, representing North-East India.
Analysis of other options:
- Rajeshwar Acharya: He is a diplomat and former IFS officer, not a recipient of the Bharat Ratna 2019.
- Mary Kom: While she is a world-renowned boxer from Manipur (North-East India), she has received the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri, but not the Bharat Ratna.
- Jyoti Bhatt: He is a renowned artist, but not a recipient of the Bharat Ratna 2019.
Which river is known as the Yellow River?
A)
River Ganga, India
B)
River Nile, Egypt
C)
River Hwang Ho, China
D)
River Mississippi, USA
The River Hwang Ho (also spelled Huang He) is known as the 'Yellow River' because of the massive amount of loess (fine, yellowish-brown silt) it carries from the Loess Plateau in northern China. This sediment gives the water a distinct yellow hue.
Analysis of other options:
- Option (a) River Ganga: Located in India, it is one of the holiest rivers in Hinduism and is not referred to as the Yellow River.
- Option (b) River Nile: Located in Africa (Egypt), it is famous for being one of the longest rivers in the world, but not for being yellow.
- Option (d) River Mississippi: Located in the USA, it is a major North American river system, but it is not known as the Yellow River.
gif is an extension of
A)
video file
B)
audio file
C)
image file
D)
word file
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. It is a bitmap image format developed by CompuServe in 1987. It is widely used on the web because it supports both static images and simple animations, and uses LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) lossless data compression.
Analysis of options:
- a. Video file: While GIFs can be animated, they are technically image sequences, not video files (which would be .mp4, .avi, .mkv).
- b. Audio file: GIF does not store sound data (audio files are .mp3, .wav, etc.).
- c. Image file: Correct. GIF is a standard raster image format.
- d. Word file: Word files are document formats (e.g., .doc, .docx, .pdf).
2018 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to
A)
Bono
B)
Antonio Guterres
C)
Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad
D)
Malala Yusufzai
The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. Dr. Denis Mukwege is a Congolese gynecologist who has treated thousands of victims of sexual violence, and Nadia Murad is a Yazidi woman from Iraq who survived captivity by ISIS and became a global advocate against sexual violence.
Analysis of other options:
- Option (a) Bono: The lead singer of U2 is a philanthropist but has never received the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Option (b) Antonio Guterres: The current Secretary-General of the United Nations has not been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Option (d) Malala Yusufzai: She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, making her the youngest laureate at the time, but not in 2018.
The full form of IIT is
A)
Indian Institute of Technology
B)
Indian Institute of Techniques
C)
Institute of Indian Technology
D)
Institution of Indian Technicians
The acronym IIT stands for 'Indian Institute of Technology'. These are autonomous public technical and research universities located across India, renowned for their rigorous entrance exams (JEE) and high standards of engineering and technology education.
Analysis of options:
- Option (a) is correct as it is the official name of these institutions.
- Option (b) is incorrect because 'Techniques' refers to methods, whereas 'Technology' refers to the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
- Option (c) is incorrect because the word order is wrong; it is an 'Indian Institute', not an 'Institute of Indian'.
- Option (d) is incorrect because 'Institution' and 'Technicians' do not match the official nomenclature of the organization.
Who among the following is appointed as leader of the Rajya Sabha?
A)
Amit Shah
B)
Shashi Tharoor
C)
Thawarchand Gehlot
D)
Sitaram Dewan
The Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha is a minister appointed by the Prime Minister. Based on the options provided and the historical context of the exam period this question refers to, Thawarchand Gehlot served as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha (appointed in 2019).
Analysis of other options:
- Amit Shah: He is the Minister of Home Affairs and serves as the Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha.
- Shashi Tharoor: He is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the opposition side and cannot be the appointed Leader of the House (which is a government role).
- Sitaram Dewan: This name does not correspond to a high-ranking government leader appointed to lead the Rajya Sabha.
Which country’s Indian Embassy organized the ‘Gandhi Cycle Rally for Peace’ to march the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi?
A)
South Africa
B)
Saudi Arabia
C)
Pakistan
D)
Philippines
To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019, the Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organized the 'Gandhi Cycle Rally for Peace'. The event was designed to promote the values of non-violence, peace, and harmony, which were central to Gandhi's philosophy. Participants cycled through the streets of Riyadh to raise awareness about these principles among the local population and the Indian diaspora. Options a (South Africa), c (Pakistan), and d (Philippines) are incorrect as they were not the organizers of this specific 'Cycle Rally for Peace' event associated with the 150th anniversary celebrations in this context.