Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
Consider the following statements with reference to the Subsidiary Alliance. 1. The first ruler to accept the Subsidiary Alliance was the Nizam of Hyderabad. 2. Under this policy, Indian rulers were forced to have a British official called the resident at his court. 3. Under this policy, Indian rulers made to keep a large British force within their territory and pay for its maintenance. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
A)
Only 1
B)
1 and 2
C)
2 and 3
D)
1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct with reference to the Subsidiary Alliance system introduced by Lord Wellesley:
1. **Statement 1 is correct**: The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first Indian ruler to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1798.
2. **Statement 2 is correct**: Under this system, the allied ruler had to agree to the stationing of a British official called the 'Resident' at his court, who interfered in the internal affairs of the state.
3. **Statement 3 is correct**: The ruler had to maintain a permanent British force within his territory and pay a subsidy for its maintenance. If the ruler failed to make the payment, a portion of their territory was ceded to the British as a penalty.
Since all statements are correct, option 'd' (1, 2 and 3) is the right choice.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
Why did Mahatma Gandhi withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?
A)
Most of the leaders were arrested and they were in prison.
B)
Britishers were ready to accept the demands partly.
C)
Because of the violence in Chauri Chaura.
D)
There were not any chances of success in the movement.
Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 due to the Chauri Chaura incident in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh. During this incident, a peaceful demonstration turned violent, and a mob set fire to a police station, killing 22 policemen. Since Gandhi was strictly committed to the principle of non-violence (Ahimsa), he felt the movement was losing its peaceful character and decided to call it off. Option 'a' is incorrect because, although many leaders were arrested, it was not the reason for the withdrawal. Option 'b' is incorrect because the British government did not concede to the demands. Option 'd' is incorrect because the movement had massive public support and high potential for success before it was suspended.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
Which of the following movements was combined with the Non-Cooperation Movement under Gandhiji’s leadership?
A)
Civil Disobedience Movement
B)
Quit India Movement
C)
Khilafat Movement
D)
Swadeshi Movement
The correct option is 'c' (Khilafat Movement). Mahatma Gandhi combined the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) with the Khilafat Movement (led by the Ali brothers) to bring Hindus and Muslims together on a common platform to fight against British colonial rule.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 'a' (Civil Disobedience Movement) was launched much later in 1930 with the Salt March.
- 'b' (Quit India Movement) was launched in 1942 during World War II, demanding an immediate end to British rule.
- 'd' (Swadeshi Movement) was started in 1905 as a protest against the Partition of Bengal, before Gandhiji became active in Indian national politics.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
Which of the following pair is incorrectly matched? Pair I (Anglo-Maratha War) Pair II (Years)
A)
First Anglo-Maratha War 1775-1782 AD
B)
Second Anglo-Maratha War 1803-1805 AD
C)
Third Anglo-Maratha War 1817-1819 AD
D)
None of the above
All the pairs listed in the options are correctly matched with their respective years:
1. **First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782 AD):** Began with the Treaty of Surat and ended with the Treaty of Salbai.
2. **Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805 AD):** Fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire, ending with treaties like Deogaon, Surji-Anjangaon, and Rajghat.
3. **Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1819 AD):** The final conflict that led to the dissolution of the Maratha Empire and the pensioning off of the Peshwa.
Since all pairs are correctly matched, option 'd' (None of the above) is the correct answer.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
The Indigo Revolt by farmers against the British planters took place primarily in-
A)
Madras
B)
Punjab
C)
Gujarat
D)
Bengal
The Indigo Revolt (or Nil Bidroha) was a peasant movement and subsequent uprising of indigo farmers against British planters that took place primarily in Bengal in 1859. It started in the Nadia district of Bengal, where farmers refused to grow indigo under the exploitative terms imposed by British planters. Madras, Punjab, and Gujarat were not the primary regions of this revolt, as the intensive cultivation of indigo under the oppressive 'Ryoti' system was heavily concentrated in the Bengal Presidency.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
A new policy of ‘paramountcy’ was initiated under the reign of which of the following Governor Generals in 1813?
A)
Lord Hastings
B)
Lord Ripon
C)
Lord Curzon
D)
Lord Dufferin
The policy of 'paramountcy' was initiated under Lord Hastings, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823. Under this policy, the British East India Company claimed that its authority was supreme or 'paramount', giving it the right to annex or threaten to annex any Indian state to protect its interests. Other options are incorrect because: Lord Ripon (1880–1884) is famous for introducing local self-government; Lord Curzon (1899–1905) is known for the Partition of Bengal; and Lord Dufferin (1884–1888) was the Viceroy during the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
The official name of the military junta governing Myanmar after the 2021 coup d’état is
A)
Democratic Council of Myanmar
B)
State Administration Council
C)
Administrative Government of Burma
D)
People’s Democratic Council
The correct option is 'b' (State Administration Council). Following the military coup d'état in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, the military (Tatmadaw) established the 'State Administration Council' (SAC) on February 2, 2021, as the official executive governing body of the country. Options 'a', 'c', and 'd' are incorrect as they are fabricated names and do not represent the official designation of the ruling military junta.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
How long is railway lines from Bairabi to Sairang?
A)
49.3 kms
B)
52.55 kms
C)
51.38 kms
D)
53.41 kms
The correct answer is option 'c' (51.38 kms). The Bairabi–Sairang railway line is a 51.38 km long broad-gauge railway line project being constructed by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to connect Bairabi to Sairang (near Mizoram's capital, Aizawl). The other options (49.3 kms, 52.55 kms, and 53.41 kms) are incorrect as they do not represent the official planned length of this railway project.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Studies Paper-I
First Muslim President of Indian National Congress was-
A)
Abul Kalam Azad
B)
Rafi Ahmad Kidwal
C)
MA Ansari
D)
Badruddin Tyabji
Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress (INC). He presided over the third annual session of the Congress held in Madras in 1887.
- Option 'a' (Abul Kalam Azad) is incorrect because, although he was a prominent leader and the youngest President of the INC (1923), he was not the first.
- Option 'c' (MA Ansari) is incorrect as Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari presided over the Madras session much later, in 1927.
- Option 'b' (Rafi Ahmad Kidwai) is incorrect because he was a key nationalist leader and minister post-independence, but he never served as the President of the INC.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Public policies for reduction of poverty.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration : scope and risks.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Media and its impact on Government accountability.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Skill acquisition for entrepreneurship development.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Environmental issues in Mizoram.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Political literacy for better democratic process.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Drug abuse among youth : A Law and Order challenge.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General Essay
Write an essay on Digital India and its impact on Grassroots Administration.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Read the passage below and write a précis in 120-140 words giving a suitable title: 'The modern world is full of bustle and activity. Men live in a perpetual hurry, and their minds are perpetually occupied with a thousand fleeting interests. The pressure of immediate needs and urgent tasks absorbs their attention. Reflection, solitude, and leisurely thought are becoming rare luxuries. In earlier times, particularly in simpler societies, people were more given to introspection. They lived closer to nature and closer to themselves. But now, man has become a stranger to silence, to solitude, to the inner world. The greatest loss that this entails is the decline of independent thinking. The individual today thinks less and less for himself. His opinions are formed by mass communication—by newspapers, radio, and television. Instead of thinking, he absorbs ideas; instead of forming convictions, he repeats clichés. Public opinion is not so much the result of personal deliberation as it is a reflection of mass suggestion. True education is meant to awaken the capacity for critical thought, to teach individuals how to think rather than what to think. But unfortunately, even education has become increasingly a system of training minds to conform, rather than to inquire and dissent. The man who dares to think independently finds himself in a difficult position. Society does not easily forgive originality. Nonconformity is often punished, either by ridicule or isolation. Yet, it is this very nonconformist, the one who questions the accepted dogmas and resists the pull of the crowd, who is often the source of progress. It was never the crowd that led the way in science, in art, or in ethics—it was always the individual. In such a world, the value of cultivating solitude and independent judgment cannot be overstated. To read great books, to converse with one’s own mind, to retreat occasionally from the world’s noise—these are not escapist habits but essential practices for a fully realized life. A democracy flourishes not merely by the number of people who vote, but by the quality of thought behind those votes.'
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: The report was dismissed as being full of vague generalizations and lacked ___ evidence.
A)
circumstantial
B)
empirical
C)
verbal
D)
anecdotal
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'empirical'. 'Empirical' evidence refers to evidence that is verifiable by observation, experience, or scientific experimentation rather than theory or pure logic. It directly contrasts with 'vague generalizations'. Other options are incorrect because: 'circumstantial' (a) refers to indirect evidence; 'anecdotal' (d) refers to evidence based on personal accounts, which is often unreliable and similar to generalizations; and 'verbal' (c) refers to spoken evidence, which is irrelevant to the factual validity of a report.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: He piques himself _______his artistic taste.
A)
on
B)
at
C)
by
D)
of
The correct preposition is 'on'. The idiomatic expression 'to pique oneself on (something)' means to pride oneself on or take pride in something. Therefore, 'He piques himself on his artistic taste' is the correct usage. Other prepositions like 'at', 'by', and 'of' do not form this standard idiomatic phrase and are grammatically incorrect in this context.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Which word best fits the sentence: ‘The judge’s decision was widely considered ___ because it balanced law with compassion.’
A)
arbitrary
B)
biased
C)
lenient
D)
judicious
The correct option is 'd' (judicious). 'Judicious' means having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense. A decision that successfully balances the strictness of the law with human compassion is a prime example of wise and fair judgment. Option 'a' (arbitrary) means based on random choice or whim rather than reason, which contradicts a balanced decision. Option 'b' (biased) means unfairly prejudiced, which is a negative trait. Option 'c' (lenient) means merciful or tolerant; while it relates to compassion, it fails to capture the balance with the 'law' aspect, as a purely lenient decision might disregard legal requirements.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: Extremism is detrimental ______ the progress of the country.
A)
to
B)
for
C)
with
D)
at
The adjective 'detrimental' (meaning harmful or damaging) is always followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the object or entity that is being harmed. Therefore, 'detrimental to' is the correct standard collocation. Options 'for', 'with', and 'at' are grammatically incorrect as they do not pair with 'detrimental' in this context.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: The player kicked the ball.
A)
Verb
B)
Noun
C)
Interjection
D)
Preposition
In the sentence 'The player kicked the ball', the word 'kicked' is the action performed by the subject ('The player'). Therefore, its part of speech is a Verb.
- Noun: 'player' and 'ball' are nouns as they represent a person and an object respectively.
- Preposition: Words like 'in', 'on', or 'at' that show relationships are prepositions.
- Interjection: Words expressing sudden emotion (e.g., 'Wow!', 'Alas!') are interjections.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: This information is all wrong.
A)
Preposition
B)
Verb
C)
Noun
D)
Conjunction
In the sentence 'This information is all wrong', the underlined word is **'information'**, which is a **Noun**.
1. **Why Option C is correct:** 'Information' is an uncountable abstract noun that represents a concept or entity and serves as the head of the subject noun phrase ('This information') in the sentence.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Preposition (Option A):** Prepositions (like *in, on, at*) express spatial or temporal relations; 'information' does not perform this function.
- **Verb (Option B):** The verb in this sentence is 'is' (a linking verb).
- **Conjunction (Option D):** Conjunctions (like *and, but, because*) connect words, phrases, or clauses, which is not the role of 'information'.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Which of the following words is closest in meaning to ‘precarious’?
A)
predictable
B)
temporary
C)
dangerous
D)
unstable
The word 'precarious' means not securely held or in position, uncertain, or dangerously likely to fall or collapse. Therefore, 'unstable' is the closest synonym.
- 'unstable' (correct) directly matches the definition of lacking stability or security.
- 'predictable' (incorrect) means expected or foreseeable, which is contrary to the uncertain nature of something precarious.
- 'temporary' (incorrect) means lasting for a limited time, which does not necessarily imply instability or risk.
- 'dangerous' (incorrect) means likely to cause harm; while a precarious situation can lead to danger, 'unstable' is a more precise and direct synonym.
