← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
He excelled ___ painting.
I)
in
II)
at
III)
on
IV)
for
The verb 'excel' is typically followed by the preposition 'in' when referring to a field of study, a skill, or a specific activity in which someone shows superiority or great proficiency. In this sentence, 'painting' is the field of activity, making 'excelled in' the grammatically correct collocation.
Analysis of options:
- 'in' (Correct): Used to denote the area or activity of excellence.
- 'at' (Incorrect): While 'good at' is common, 'excel' specifically pairs with 'in' for general fields of expertise.
- 'on' (Incorrect): 'On' is used for surfaces or specific dates/topics, not for proficiency in a skill.
- 'for' (Incorrect): 'For' usually denotes purpose or duration, which does not fit the context of proficiency.
I have decided ___ my course of action.
I)
on
II)
upon
III)
at
IV)
in
The sentence requires a preposition that follows the verb 'decide' to indicate the choice made after consideration.
1. 'Decide on' is a phrasal verb meaning to choose something from a number of possibilities after thinking about it. In this context, 'deciding on a course of action' means the speaker has selected a specific plan to follow.
2. 'Decide upon' is also grammatically correct and carries the same meaning as 'decide on', but 'on' is the more common and standard usage in modern English for this specific context. In competitive exams, when both 'on' and 'upon' are provided, 'on' is typically preferred unless the context is extremely formal.
3. 'Decide at' is incorrect as 'at' usually refers to a specific point in time or a location.
4. 'Decide in' is incorrect as 'in' refers to a state, a period of time, or a physical space.
Therefore, 'on' is the most appropriate preposition to complete the sentence.
John arrived at Mary’s house a little before 9:00 P.M. but she was not there. She (study, at the library).
I)
studied at the library
II)
has been studying at the library
III)
had studied at the library
IV)
was studying at the library
The sentence describes a specific moment in the past: when John arrived at Mary's house (a little before 9:00 P.M.). At that precise moment, Mary was not there because she was in the middle of an ongoing action (studying). To describe an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past, we use the Past Continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing).
Analysis of options:
- i. 'studied' (Simple Past) implies a completed action or a habit, but doesn't capture the 'in-progress' nature of her absence at that specific moment.
- ii. 'has been studying' (Present Perfect Continuous) is used for actions starting in the past and continuing to the present; it is grammatically incompatible with the past tense context ('arrived', 'was').
- iii. 'had studied' (Past Perfect) implies she finished studying before John arrived, which would mean she should have been home or elsewhere, but it doesn't explain why she 'was not there' as an ongoing state.
- iv. 'was studying' (Past Continuous) correctly indicates that the act of studying was happening simultaneously with John's arrival, explaining her absence.
When I arrived home last night, I discovered that my wife (prepare) a delicious dinner.
I)
had prepared
II)
have prepared
III)
has prepared
IV)
prepared
The sentence describes two actions that happened in the past: 'arriving home' and 'preparing dinner'. When two actions occur in the past, the action that happened first (the earlier action) must be expressed in the Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle), while the action that happened later is expressed in the Simple Past Tense. In this context, the wife finished preparing the dinner before the speaker arrived home. Therefore, 'had prepared' is the correct form.
Analysis of options:
- i. 'had prepared' (Past Perfect): Correct. It indicates the dinner was ready before the arrival.
- ii. 'have prepared' (Present Perfect): Incorrect. This cannot be used in a sentence where the main timeframe is established as 'last night' (past).
- iii. 'has prepared' (Present Perfect): Incorrect. Similar to option ii, it contradicts the past tense context.
- iv. 'prepared' (Simple Past): Incorrect. While grammatically possible in some contexts, it would imply the preparation happened at the exact moment of arrival, which is logically inconsistent with 'discovering' a finished dinner.
Identify the Part of speech of the underlined word: 'I always get up at six in the morning and my mother gets up earlier.' (Underlined: earlier)
I)
Adverb
II)
Adjective
III)
Verb
IV)
Preposition
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Analyze the sentence structure**: The sentence is 'I always get up at six in the morning and my mother gets up earlier.'
2. **Identify the word's function**: The word 'earlier' is modifying the verb 'gets up'. It describes *when* or *to what extent* the action of getting up occurs.
3. **Determine the Part of Speech**: Words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs are classified as adverbs. Specifically, 'earlier' is the comparative form of the adverb 'early'.
4. **Evaluate other options**:
- **Adjective**: Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. 'Earlier' is not describing a person or object here; it is describing the action of waking up.
- **Verb**: A verb expresses an action or state. 'Earlier' does not express an action.
- **Preposition**: A preposition shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and another part of the sentence. 'Earlier' does not function as a relational link in this context.
Consider the following statements: (i) Smart card is a plastic card with an embedded microchip (ii) Digital technology is primarily used with new physical communication medium such as satellite and fibre optics transmission (iii) A digital library is a collection of documents in an organized electronic form available on the internet only Which of the statement (s) given above is/ are correct?
A)
Only (iii)
B)
Both (i) and (ii)
C)
Both (ii) and (iii)
D)
All of these
Step-by-step analysis of the statements:
1. **Statement (i) is correct**: A smart card is indeed a pocket-sized plastic card with an embedded integrated circuit (microchip) that can process and store data.
2. **Statement (ii) is correct**: Digital technology is the primary method used for transmitting data over modern physical communication media, such as fiber-optic cables and satellite systems, which offer high bandwidth and low signal degradation.
3. **Statement (iii) is incorrect**: A digital library is not restricted to the internet *only*. While many are online, digital libraries can also be accessed offline via local area networks (intranets), CD-ROMs, DVDs, or local storage servers within an institution.
Since statements (i) and (ii) are correct, option 'b' is the correct choice.
The first two Mizo students taught by J.H. Lorrain and F.W. Savidge were:
A)
Khuma and Khara
B)
Suaka and Thangphunga
C)
Thangi and Zamani
D)
Suakpuilala and Kalkhama
The correct option is 'b' (Suaka and Thangphunga). Christian missionaries J.H. Lorrain (Pu Buanga) and F.W. Savidge (Sap Upa) arrived in Mizoram in January 1894. They created the Mizo script using the Roman alphabet and established the first school in Aizawl on April 2, 1894. The first two Mizo students to be taught by them were Suaka (who later became a prominent chief) and Thangphunga. The other options are incorrect because they refer to other historical Mizo figures, chiefs (like Suakpuilala), or later converts/students, rather than the very first two pupils of Lorrain and Savidge.
Mr. C. Lalremsanga, the first Olympiad from Mizoram was recently awarded:
A)
Padma Shree
B)
Padma Vibhusan
C)
Dhyan Chand Award
D)
India’s Jewel Award
Mr. C. Lalremsanga, the first Olympian from Mizoram who represented India in Archery at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, was conferred with the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games in 2019.
- **Why Option C is correct:** He received the Dhyan Chand Award in 2019 in recognition of his lifetime contribution to sports and archery in India.
- **Why other options are incorrect:** He has not been awarded the Padma Shree (Option a) or Padma Vibhusan (Option b) (though another sportsperson from Mizoram, hockey player Lalremsiami, received the Padma Shri in 2021). 'India's Jewel Award' (Option d) is not the official national sports award conferred upon him.
For deployment of drones for mapping the country, Survey of India has already signed agreements (as of 16th September, 2019) with districts in
A)
Delhi, Telangana and Maharastra
B)
Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra
C)
Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra
D)
West Bengal, Telangana and Haryana
As of September 16, 2019, the Survey of India (SoI), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, had signed agreements with the state governments of Haryana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra for large-scale mapping of rural inhabited areas (Gaothans) using drone technology. Other states mentioned in options a, b, and d (such as Delhi, Telangana, and West Bengal) had not signed these specific drone-mapping agreements with the Survey of India by that date.
Favang falls within the months of:
A)
November – December
B)
January – February
C)
August – September
D)
September – October
In Mizoram, the year is traditionally divided into four main seasons based on climatic conditions. 'Favang' refers to the Autumn season, which falls within the months of September and October. During this time, the rainy season (Fur) ends, and the weather becomes pleasant and clear. The other options represent different periods: 'November – December' (Option a) falls under the winter season (Pawltlak), 'January – February' (Option b) is the transition from winter to spring (Thal), and 'August – September' (Option c) marks the transition from the rainy season to autumn.
Mobile Metallic Ramp (MMR), which DRDO handed over to Indian Army on 20th August, 2019 was designed and developed at
A)
Centre for Air Borne System, Bangalore
B)
Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification, Bangalore
C)
Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety, Delhi
D)
Combat Vehicles Research & Development Estt., Chennai
The Mobile Metallic Ramp (MMR) was designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai, a premier laboratory of DRDO. It was handed over to the Indian Army on August 20, 2019, to provide strategic mobility for armored vehicles with a load-bearing capacity of up to 70 metric tons. The other options are incorrect because: Option 'a' (CABS, Bangalore) focuses on airborne surveillance systems; Option 'b' (CEMILAC, Bangalore) deals with airworthiness certification of military aircraft; and Option 'c' (CFEES, Delhi) specializes in fire, explosive, and environmental safety technologies.
For reproducing sound, a compact disc audio player uses a
A)
quartz crystal
B)
titanium crystal
C)
laser beam
D)
barium titanate ceramic
A compact disc (CD) audio player uses a semiconductor laser beam to read the digital data stored as microscopic pits and lands on the reflective surface of the disc. The reflected laser light is captured by a photoelectric sensor and converted into an electrical signal to reproduce sound. Quartz crystals (option a) are used for frequency control in oscillators and clocks; titanium crystals (option b) are not used in optical reading; and barium titanate ceramic (option d) is a piezoelectric material used in capacitors and transducers, not for optical data retrieval.
During the colonial period, who was responsible for the preparation of vital statistics of the village?
A)
The Chief
B)
The Chaprasi
C)
The Circle Interpreter
D)
Khawnbawl Upa
During the British colonial administration in the Lushai Hills (present-day Mizoram), the region was divided into administrative circles. A Circle Interpreter (CI) was appointed for each circle to act as a liaison between the colonial authorities and the village chiefs. One of the key administrative duties of the Circle Interpreter was the preparation and maintenance of vital statistics (such as births and deaths) of the villages within their circle.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **The Chief (a):** While the Chief (Lal) held traditional administrative and judicial authority over the village, the formal compilation of vital statistics for the colonial government was the duty of the Circle Interpreter.
- **The Chaprasi (b):** Chaprasis served as messengers or peons and did not hold administrative responsibilities like record-keeping.
- **Khawnbawl Upa (d):** Khawnbawl Upas were the village elders who advised the Chief on traditional and customary matters, rather than official colonial statistical work.
The Lushai Scouts, a guerilla unit, established during World War-II in February, 1944 was also called:
A)
Hnam Sipai
B)
Lucknow Sipai
C)
Biate Sipai
D)
Sipai Lem
The Lushai Scouts, a guerrilla unit raised in February 1944 during World War II to defend the Lushai Hills (present-day Mizoram) against the Japanese invasion, were locally and popularly known as 'Sipai Lem' (which translates to 'mock soldiers' or 'imitation soldiers' due to their irregular guerrilla nature and lack of standard military uniforms). 'Hnam Sipai' refers to 'national soldiers' and is associated with later Mizo nationalist movements, while 'Biate Sipai' and 'Lucknow Sipai' are incorrect and historically unrelated to this unit.
A Bawi who surrendered himself to his enemy in order to save his life was called:
A)
Tukluh Bawi
B)
Chemsen Bawi
C)
Inpuichhung Bawi
D)
Bawi Bengverh
In traditional Mizo society, the 'Bawi' system referred to a form of servitude or dependency. The correct option is 'a' (Tukluh Bawi) because:
1. **Tukluh Bawi** refers to a person who surrendered to their enemy during a war or conflict in order to save their life, thereby becoming a dependent or slave of the victor.
2. **Chemsen Bawi** (Red-knife slaves) were criminals or murderers who sought refuge in the chief's house to escape the retaliatory wrath of the victim's family.
3. **Inpuichhung Bawi** were those who entered the chief's household voluntarily due to extreme poverty, hunger, or inability to sustain themselves.
4. **Bawi Bengverh** is not a standard category of the traditional Mizo Bawi system.
The first Chairman of the newly-constituted Lokayukta in Mizoram is:
A)
Lalnunmawia Chuaungo
B)
Prof. Jagdish Mukhi
C)
Rev. Zosangliana Colney
D)
C. Lalsawta
C. Lalsawta, a retired IAS officer of the 1981 batch, was sworn in as the first Chairman of the newly-constituted Lokayukta in Mizoram on March 11, 2019. The oath of office was administered by the then Governor of Mizoram, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi. Lalnunmawia Chuaungo (Option a) served as the Chief Secretary of Mizoram and was later appointed as the State Chief Information Commissioner. Prof. Jagdish Mukhi (Option b) was the Governor of Mizoram who administered the oath. Rev. Zosangliana Colney (Option c) is a prominent church leader in Mizoram.
The main focus of recently launched Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research includes
A)
Development of next-generation solar photovoltaic cell only
B)
Both solar photovoltaic cell and bio-fuels
C)
Novel energy storage technologies only
D)
Next-generation solar photovoltaic cell, novel energy storage technologies and bio-fuels
The Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER), established at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, is a major initiative focused on conducting cutting-edge research in the field of energy. Its main research thrust areas include the development of next-generation solar photovoltaic cells, novel energy storage technologies, bio-fuels, clean coal technologies, and concentrated solar power. Therefore, Option D is correct as it comprehensively covers these key focus areas. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they are too restrictive (often using the word 'only') and fail to encompass the full, multi-disciplinary scope of the centre's research mandate.
Consider the following statements regarding Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research: (i) Launched in May 2018 on the sidelines of 71st session of World Health Assembly (ii) India is yet to become a member Which of the statement (s) given above is/ are correct?
A)
Only (i)
B)
Only (ii)
C)
Both (i) and (ii)
D)
Neither (i) nor (ii)
Statement (i) is correct: The Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) R&D Hub was officially launched in May 2018 on the sidelines of the 71st session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Statement (ii) is incorrect: India is already a member of the Global AMR R&D Hub, having joined in September 2019. Therefore, only statement (i) is correct.
TIFR recently found that monoamine neurotransmitter known as Serotonin may help treat neurological decline. The chemical name of the compound is
A)
5-hydroxytryptamine
B)
Epinephrine
C)
Triiodothyronine
D)
Polymerase
Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter chemically known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). It is synthesized from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan and plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep, and cognitive functions.
- Option 'b' (Epinephrine), also known as adrenaline, is a hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the body's fight-or-flight response.
- Option 'c' (Triiodothyronine), also known as T3, is a thyroid hormone that regulates metabolism.
- Option 'd' (Polymerase) is an enzyme that synthesizes long chains of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) and is not a neurotransmitter.
Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence. 1. Police 2. Punishment 3. Crime 4. Judge 5. Judgement
A)
3, 1, 2, 4, 5
B)
3, 1, 4, 5, 2
C)
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
D)
1, 2, 4, 3, 5
The correct logical sequence of events in a criminal justice process is: 1. Crime (3) occurs first. 2. Police (1) investigate the crime and arrest the suspect. 3. The case is presented before a Judge (4). 4. The judge delivers a Judgement (5). 5. Finally, the Punishment (2) is handed down based on the judgement. This gives the sequence 3, 1, 4, 5, 2. Other options are incorrect because they place events out of order, such as placing punishment before the judge or judgement.
Who among the Mizo chiefs last surrendered himself to the British?
A)
Vanphunga
B)
Kalkhama
C)
Kairuma
D)
Bengkhuaia
Chief Kairuma was the last major independent Mizo chief to surrender to the British. To subdue him, the British launched the Kairuma Expedition in 1895–1896. His submission in 1896 marked the complete pacification and annexation of the Lushai Hills (Mizoram) by the British. Among the other options: Kalkhama (b) surrendered earlier in the 1890s and died in Hazaribagh jail; Bengkhuaia (d) was prominent during the 1871–72 expedition and died much earlier; and Vanphunga (a) was subdued during the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1889–1890.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana is
A)
one of the flagship programmes of the Power Ministry designed to provide continuous power supply to the entire rural India
B)
is the Digital India initiative plans to enable citizens and merchants to undertake real time digital transactions
C)
is a scheme that aims to keep farmers abreast with the crop prices and discourage them to carry-out distress sale
D)
is a campaign aims at ensuring girls are born, nurtured and educated without discrimination
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, launched to facilitate 24x7 power supply to rural households and adequate power to agricultural consumers by separating agriculture and non-agriculture feeders.
- Option 'b' refers to digital payment initiatives like BHIM or UPI under the Digital India campaign.
- Option 'c' refers to agricultural marketing platforms like e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market) which aim to prevent distress sales by farmers.
- Option 'd' refers to the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign, which focuses on the education and survival of the girl child.
Who among the following was an Assistant to Sadawt?
A)
Bawlpu
B)
Puithiam
C)
Tlahpawi
D)
Rahsi
In traditional Mizo society, religious ceremonies and sacrifices were conducted by different types of priests. The 'Sadawt' was the chief's personal or clan priest who performed public sacrifices. The 'Tlahpawi' served as the assistant to the Sadawt during these rituals. Among the other options: 'Bawlpu' was a priest or exorcist who performed sacrifices to cure illnesses; 'Puithiam' is a general term for a priest or high priest; and 'Rahsi' was a village messenger or administrative assistant to the chief, not a priestly assistant.
The first revival movement among the Christians in Mizoram took place in the year:
A)
1894
B)
1903
C)
1906
D)
1909
The first Christian revival movement in Mizoram took place in April 1906. It broke out during a Presbytery meeting in Aizawl, heavily influenced by the Welsh Revival of 1904–1905 and the subsequent revival in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
- Option a (1894) is incorrect because this was the year Christian missionaries (J.H. Lorrain and F.W. Savidge) first arrived in Mizoram (January 11, 1894), marking the start of the Christian mission rather than a revival.
- Option b (1903) is incorrect as it predates the first revival movement.
- Option d (1909) is incorrect as the first wave of the revival had already occurred and subsided by this time.
To enhance research in the field of Ayurveda in order to give scientific validation All India Institute of Ayurveda signed MoU with
A)
IIT Kharagpur
B)
IIT Madras
C)
IIT Jodhpur
D)
IIT Delhi
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to promote collaborative research and integrate traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern technology for scientific validation. Under this partnership, both institutions aim to apply technological tools to investigate and validate Ayurvedic principles and formulations. The other options (IIT Madras, IIT Jodhpur, and IIT Kharagpur) are incorrect as they were not the primary signatories of this specific MoU for Ayurveda research validation.