← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Air India Flight 171 which crashed in Ahmedabad on 12th June 2025 was which kind of aircraft?
A)
Boing 747-8
B)
Boeing 777-8
C)
Boeing 787-8
D)
Airbus A380-8
Air India Flight 171 (AI 171) is a scheduled international passenger flight operating from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Heathrow (LHR). Air India operates this route using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. The other options are incorrect because: Boeing 777-8 (Option B) is a next-generation widebody aircraft not operated on this route; Airbus A380-8 (Option D) is a double-deck aircraft not present in Air India's fleet; and Boeing 747-8 (Option A) is not used by Air India for these operations as they have phased out their 747 passenger fleet.
Who is known as the ‘Grand Old Man of India’?
A)
Surendranath Banerjee
B)
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
C)
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D)
Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji is widely known as the 'Grand Old Man of India'. He was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, serving as its President thrice. He is also famous for formulating the 'Drain of Wealth' theory, which exposed how Britain was draining India's wealth.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Surendranath Banerjee: He is known as 'Rashtraguru' and was one of the earliest political leaders during the British Raj.
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale: He was a moderate leader and is famously known as the political mentor of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak: He is known as 'Lokmanya' and was a prominent leader of the extremist faction of the Indian National Congress, famous for his slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it'.
Where was Azad Hind Fauj established in 1943?
A)
Japan
B)
Burma
C)
Bangladesh
D)
Singapore
The Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) was officially revived and established under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore on October 21, 1943.
- **Why Option 'd' is correct:** Singapore was the location where Subhas Chandra Bose assumed leadership of the army and proclaimed the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) in October 1943.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Japan (Option 'a'):** While Japan provided crucial military and political support to the INA, the actual establishment in 1943 took place in Singapore.
- **Burma (Option 'b'):** Burma served as the headquarters and a major launchpad for the INA's military campaigns into India later in 1944, but it was not the place of establishment in 1943.
- **Bangladesh (Option 'c'):** Bangladesh (then part of Bengal in British India) was not involved in the establishment of the INA.
Which Indian leader was conferred with Mauritius’ highest civilian honour, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star?
A)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B)
President Droupadi Murmu
C)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
D)
Home Minister Amit Shah
President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the 'Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' (GCSK), the highest civilian honour of Mauritius, on March 12, 2024, during her state visit as the Chief Guest for Mauritius' National Day celebrations. This honour reflects the deep-rooted bilateral ties between India and Mauritius. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Option a), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (Option c), and Home Minister Amit Shah (Option d) have not been conferred with this specific Mauritian honour.
Who influenced Gandhiji by his philosophy of civil disobedience?
A)
Martin Luther King, Jr
B)
Henry David Thoreau
C)
Leo Tolstoy
D)
Abraham Lincoln
Henry David Thoreau's famous 1849 essay 'Civil Disobedience' was a major influence on Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance and Satyagraha. Gandhi read Thoreau's work while in South Africa and adopted his ideas on refusing to cooperate with an unjust government. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Option a) was influenced by Gandhi, not the other way around. Leo Tolstoy (Option c) influenced Gandhi's ideas on non-violence (Ahimsa) and Christian anarchism, but not the specific concept of civil disobedience. Abraham Lincoln (Option d) had no direct influence on Gandhi's civil disobedience philosophy.
Which movie won a leading five Awards at the Oscar, 2025?
A)
Anora
B)
The Brutalist
C)
A Complete Unknown
D)
Conclave
At the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025), 'The Brutalist' emerged as the most successful film of the night, winning a leading five awards: Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design. 'Anora' won three major awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Mikey Madison), and Best Original Screenplay. 'A Complete Unknown' and 'Conclave' did not lead the wins, making 'The Brutalist' the correct answer.
Who is widely known as the ‘Father of Indian Renaissance’?
A)
Vivekananda
B)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C)
Rabindranath Tagore
D)
Dayanand Saraswati
Raja Ram Mohan Roy is widely known as the 'Father of Indian Renaissance' because of his pioneering efforts in social, educational, and political reforms in India during the early 19th century. He founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 and played a crucial role in the abolition of the practice of Sati.
- Option 'a' (Vivekananda) is incorrect as he was a key spiritual leader who introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and founded the Ramakrishna Mission.
- Option 'c' (Rabindranath Tagore) is incorrect as he was a legendary poet, writer, and philosopher who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
- Option 'd' (Dayanand Saraswati) is incorrect as he was the founder of the Arya Samaj and is known for his call to 'Go back to the Vedas'.
The two newest members of the Schengen Area, who became full members in January 2025 are
A)
Romania and Bulgaria
B)
Ukraine and Serbia
C)
Turkey and Hungary
D)
Finland and Denmark
Romania and Bulgaria are the two newest full members of the Schengen Area. After partially joining via air and sea routes in March 2024, the land border controls were officially lifted on January 1, 2025, making them full members. Other options are incorrect because: Ukraine, Serbia, and Turkey are not Schengen members, while Hungary, Finland, and Denmark have been Schengen members for many years.
Gandhi started the Dandi March from which place?
A)
Champaran
B)
Sabarmati Ashram
C)
Bardoli
D)
Dandi
Mahatma Gandhi started the historic Dandi March (also known as the Salt Satyagraha) on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, marching towards the coastal village of Dandi to protest against the British salt monopoly. Option 'd' (Dandi) is incorrect because it was the destination of the march, reached on April 6, 1930. Option 'a' (Champaran) is incorrect as it is associated with the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 (Gandhi's first satyagraha in India). Option 'c' (Bardoli) is incorrect as it is associated with the Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
‘M23 rebels’, recently highlighted in the news, are associated with which country?
A)
Pakistan
B)
Iran
C)
Myanmar
D)
Democratic Republic of Congo
The M23 rebels (March 23 Movement) are a rebel military group operating primarily in the eastern province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are predominantly ethnic Tutsis and have been involved in an ongoing conflict against the DRC government. Other options are incorrect because: Pakistan is associated with groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP); Iran is associated with various Middle Eastern proxy militias; and Myanmar is home to ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) fighting the military junta.
2025 has been declared as International Year of Cooperatives by United Nations. Choose the correct theme.
A)
Prosperity through cooperation.
B)
Cooperation among cooperatives.
C)
Cooperatives Build a Better World.
D)
Autonomy and independence.
The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025) with the official theme 'Cooperatives Build a Better World'. This theme highlights the global impact of cooperatives and how they accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Option 'a' ('Prosperity through cooperation') is a slogan associated with cooperative initiatives (such as India's 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' vision) but is not the UN theme. Options 'b' and 'd' represent two of the seven core Cooperative Principles established by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), rather than the theme for the year 2025.
The Operation launched by Pakistan in response to Operation Sindoor on May 2025 was called-
A)
Operation Black Forest
B)
Operation Sindh Ul’Haq
C)
Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos
D)
Operation Hill Response
Option C is correct: Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos.
Who among the following actively participated in the Swadeshi Movement? 1. Landlords 2. Students 3. Lawyers 4. Women
A)
1 and 2
B)
2 and 3
C)
1 and 3
D)
All of these
The Swadeshi Movement (1905) was characterized by mass mobilization across various sections of society. 1. Landlords (zamindars), particularly in Bengal, actively supported the movement as the partition affected their interests. 2. Students participated in large numbers, boycotting government schools and colleges and picketing shops. 3. Lawyers boycotted British courts and helped organize the movement. 4. Women, traditionally home-bound, stepped out to join processions and picket shops selling foreign goods. Since all four groups actively participated, 'All of these' is the correct choice, making options a, b, and c incorrect as they are incomplete.
The spiritual guru Gadadhar Chattopadhyay is best known with which among the following names?
A)
Upendranath Brahmachari
B)
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
C)
Sri Arubindo
D)
Swami Prabhupad
Gadadhar Chattopadhyay is the birth name of the revered 19th-century Indian mystic and spiritual leader Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who was the guru of Swami Vivekananda.
- Option 'a' is incorrect because Upendranath Brahmachari was a renowned Indian scientist and medical practitioner famous for synthesizing Urea Stibamine to treat Kala-azar.
- Option 'c' is incorrect because Sri Aurobindo's birth name was Aurobindo Ghose, a prominent philosopher, yogi, and nationalist.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because Swami Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON) was born as Abhay Charan De.
Which of the following Acts provided that Indians should not be barred from holding jobs with the East India Company?
A)
The Charter Act, 1833
B)
Pitt’s India Act, 1784
C)
The Regulating Act, 1733
D)
The Gov’t of India Act, 1858
The Charter Act of 1833 (specifically Section 87) declared that no native of India, nor any natural-born subject of His Majesty, should be disabled from holding any place, office, or employment under the East India Company by reason only of his religion, place of birth, descent, color, or any of them. This was a landmark provision that theoretically opened the doors for Indians in public services.
- Pitt’s India Act, 1784: Established a dual system of control (Board of Control and Court of Directors) but did not address employment opportunities for Indians.
- The Regulating Act, 1773 (misprinted as 1733): Aimed to regulate the affairs of the East India Company and established the office of Governor-General of Bengal, but did not contain provisions regarding Indian employment.
- The Gov’t of India Act, 1858: Transferred the governance of India from the East India Company to the British Crown following the Revolt of 1857, liquidating the Company's ruling powers.
Who among the following were prominent leaders of the ‘Khilafat Movement’?
A)
Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
B)
Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Shaukat Ali
C)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai
D)
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai and Shaukat Ali
The Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) was a major pan-Islamic political campaign launched in British India to influence the British government to protect the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I. The movement was led by the 'Ali Brothers'—Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali—making option 'a' the correct answer. Mohammad Ali Jinnah (option 'b') opposed the movement and its alliance with Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement. While Maulana Abul Kalam Azad supported the movement, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (options 'c' and 'd') was not one of its primary prominent leaders.
Which of the following countries is not correctly matched to its Prime Minister as on July 2025?
A)
Pakistan – Shehbaz Sharif
B)
Australia – Anthony Albanese
C)
United Kingdom – Rishi Sunak
D)
Prime Minister of Canada – Mark Carney
The question asks for the country that is NOT correctly matched to its Prime Minister.
1. **Why Option D is correct (incorrectly matched):** Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister of Canada. Mark Carney is a well-known economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, but he has never served as the Prime Minister of Canada. Therefore, this pairing is completely incorrect.
2. **Why other options are incorrect (correctly matched/historical context):**
- **Option A:** Shehbaz Sharif is the Prime Minister of Pakistan (assumed office in March 2024).
- **Option B:** Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia (assumed office in May 2022).
- **Option C:** Rishi Sunak served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom until July 2024, when he was succeeded by Keir Starmer. While this option is also technically outdated for a July 2025 timeline, Option D represents a pairing where the individual (Mark Carney) has never held the office of Prime Minister at all.
With which uprising is Mangal Pandey associated?
A)
Barrackpore
B)
Meerut
C)
Delhi
D)
None of these
Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment of the British East India Company stationed at Barrackpore. On March 29, 1857, he revolted against his British officers, which acted as a key catalyst for the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Meerut (Option b) is incorrect because the formal, widespread uprising broke out there later on May 10, 1857. Delhi (Option c) is incorrect because it became the center of the rebellion only after the mutineers from Meerut marched there to declare Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader.
What was the former name of Aligarh Muslim University?
A)
Muhammadan Aligarh College
B)
Aligarh Islamic University
C)
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College
D)
None of the above
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was originally established as the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College in 1875 by the great Muslim reformer and statesman Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. It was later elevated to the status of a central university in 1920 through the Aligarh Muslim University Act. Option 'a' (Muhammadan Aligarh College) and Option 'b' (Aligarh Islamic University) are incorrect because no institution existed under these names; the historical name was specifically the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College. Therefore, Option 'd' is also incorrect.
Tinkathia System is associated to:
A)
Kheda Satyagraha
B)
Champaran Satyagraha
C)
Bardoli Satyagraha
D)
Moplah Rebellion
The Tinkathia System was an exploitative system in Champaran, Bihar, under which European planters forced Indian peasants to cultivate indigo on 3/20th (3 Kathas out of 20 Kathas) of their land. Mahatma Gandhi launched his first Satyagraha in India, the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, to protest against this system, which eventually led to its abolition. Other options are incorrect because: (a) Kheda Satyagraha (1918) was against high land revenue during a crop failure; (c) Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel against increased land tax; and (d) Moplah Rebellion (1921) was an uprising of Muslim peasants against landlords and British rule in Malabar, Kerala.
Who is the Union Cooperation Minister?
A)
Piyush Goel
B)
Rajnath Singh
C)
Amit Shah
D)
Kiran Rijiju
Amit Shah is the Union Minister of Cooperation. The Ministry of Cooperation was created in July 2021 to strengthen the cooperative movement in India, and Amit Shah was appointed as its inaugural minister, holding this charge alongside the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Option a: Piyush Goyal (Goel) serves as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, among other portfolios.
- Option b: Rajnath Singh is the Union Minister of Defence.
- Option d: Kiren Rijiju (Kiran Rijiju) serves as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is developed by which institution?
A)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
B)
State Bank of India (SBI)
C)
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
D)
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
The correct option is 'c' because the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
- Option 'a' (RBI) is incorrect because, while the Reserve Bank of India is the regulatory body that governs the banking sector and supported the creation of NPCI, it did not directly develop UPI.
- Option 'b' (SBI) is incorrect because the State Bank of India is a public sector bank that uses the UPI platform but did not develop it.
- Option 'd' (SEBI) is incorrect because the Securities and Exchange Board of India is the regulator for the securities and commodity markets in India, having no role in retail payment systems like UPI.
Who won the French Open 2025 (Men’s Singles)?
A)
Jannick Sinner
B)
Carlos Alcaraz
C)
Novak Djokovic
D)
Alexander Averev
Carlos Alcaraz won the French Open (Men's Singles) title in 2024 by defeating Alexander Zverev in the final. Note: The 2025 French Open is scheduled to take place from May 25 to June 8, 2025. Therefore, the question contains a typographical error and refers to the 2024 edition, of which Carlos Alcaraz is the reigning champion.
Why other options are incorrect:
- **a) Jannick Sinner:** Sinner reached the semifinals of the 2024 French Open, where he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz.
- **c) Novak Djokovic:** Djokovic withdrew from the 2024 tournament prior to his quarterfinal match due to a knee injury.
- **d) Alexander Averev (Zverev):** Zverev reached the final of the 2024 French Open but finished as the runner-up after losing to Alcaraz.
The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) was recently discovered using which telescope?
A)
James Webb Space Telescope
B)
Hubble Space Telescope
C)
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
D)
Spitzer Space Telescope
The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) was imaged and studied in detail using the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble's high-resolution imaging capabilities captured the striking ring-like structure of this galaxy, which resembles a target or bullseye.
- **Hubble Space Telescope (Option b)** is correct because it is the telescope responsible for the detailed imaging and discovery of the unique features of LEDA 1313424.
- **James Webb Space Telescope (Option a)**, **Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (Option c)**, and **Spitzer Space Telescope (Option d)** are incorrect as they were not the primary instruments used for the discovery and imaging of this specific galaxy.
What was the main motive of British to promote modern education in India? 1. For the welfare of Indians. 2. To train Indians so that they could help the Company’s British officials in administration. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
A)
Only 1
B)
Only 2
C)
Both 1 and 2
D)
Neither 1 nor 2
The primary motive of the British in introducing and promoting modern education in India was administrative convenience and cost-cutting. They needed a large number of subordinates (clerks and lower-level officials) to run the administration, and importing British officials for these low-paying jobs was financially unfeasible. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect because the welfare of Indians was never the main motive of the colonial government; any developmental or educational reforms were secondary to their economic and administrative interests.