← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
The mountain climber Ang Rita Sherpa who died on 21st September 2020 is popularly known as
A)
Mountain man
B)
Snow Leopard
C)
Climbing pro
D)
Man of tiger
Ang Rita Sherpa, a legendary Nepalese mountaineer, was popularly known as the 'Snow Leopard' (Him Chitwa) for his extraordinary climbing skills, particularly for climbing Mount Everest 10 times without the use of supplemental oxygen between 1983 and 1996. Other options are incorrect: 'Mountain man' is a moniker associated with Dashrath Manjhi of India, while 'Climbing pro' and 'Man of tiger' are not recognized titles or nicknames associated with Ang Rita Sherpa.
Government of India has extended the reservation to SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by how many years?
A)
5 years
B)
7 years
C)
10 years
D)
15 years
The correct option is 'c' (10 years). The 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2020, extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies by another 10 years, until January 25, 2030. Options 'a', 'b', and 'd' are incorrect because the reservation has historically been extended in blocks of 10 years, and the latest amendment continues this 10-year extension pattern rather than 5, 7, or 15 years.
‘Hope’ is a spacecraft to Mars launched by
A)
North Korea
B)
China
C)
Iran
D)
United Arab Emirates
The 'Hope' spacecraft (also known as Al-Amal) is a Mars orbiter launched by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) space agency in July 2020. It successfully entered orbit around Mars on February 9, 2021, making the UAE the first Arab nation and the fifth country in the world to reach Mars.
- Option a (North Korea): North Korea has not launched any interplanetary missions to Mars.
- Option b (China): China's Mars mission launched around the same time is called 'Tianwen-1'.
- Option c (Iran): Iran has a domestic space program but has not launched any missions to Mars.
What was introduced by the Government of India Act 1919?
A)
Separate electorate
B)
Dyarchy
C)
Provincial autonomy
D)
Separation of subjects between central and provincial governments
The Government of India Act 1919 (also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced 'Dyarchy' (dual rule) in the provinces. Under this system, provincial subjects were divided into two categories: 'Transferred' subjects (administered by the Governor with the help of ministers responsible to the Legislative Council) and 'Reserved' subjects (administered by the Governor and his executive council without responsibility to the legislature).
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option a: Separate electorates were first introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909) for Muslims, though the 1919 Act extended them to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.
- Option c: Provincial Autonomy was introduced by the Government of India Act 1935, which abolished dyarchy in the provinces.
- Option d: While the 1919 Act demarcated and separated central and provincial subjects to relax central control, the most defining and significant constitutional mechanism introduced by this Act was 'Dyarchy' in the provincial executive.
The best university in the world according to the annual Times Higher Education World Rankings 2020 is-
A)
Stanford University
B)
Oxford University
C)
Cambridge University
D)
California Institute of technology
According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020, the University of Oxford (Oxford University) secured the 1st rank globally, maintaining its top position. The other options are incorrect because California Institute of Technology (option d) was ranked 2nd, the University of Cambridge (option c) was ranked 3rd, and Stanford University (option a) was ranked 4th in the same year's rankings.
Which country has signed a peace agreement with Armenia and Azerbaijan to end the war over Nagorno-Karabakh?
A)
Iran
B)
China
C)
Russia
D)
USA
In November 2020, Russia brokered a trilateral peace agreement (ceasefire deal) signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the six-week-long armed conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Under the agreement, Russian peacekeepers were deployed to monitor the ceasefire. Iran (a), China (b), and the USA (d) were not signatories or primary brokers of this specific peace deal, making them incorrect options.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received a consignment of Guided Bomb Spice-2000 which is being supplied by-
A)
France
B)
Israel
C)
USA
D)
Russia
The correct option is 'b' (Israel). The Spice-2000 is a precision-guided stand-off bomb manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli defense technology company. The Indian Air Force (IAF) procured these bombs from Israel, and they were famously used during the Balakot airstrikes in 2019. France (Option a) is a major defense partner of India, known for supplying Rafale and Mirage fighter jets, but not the Spice-2000. The USA (Option c) supplies equipment like Apache helicopters and SiG Sauer rifles, while Russia (Option d) is India's largest defense supplier, providing Sukhoi fighter jets and S-400 missile systems, but neither country manufactures the Spice-2000.
Swarajya party was founded by
A)
Motilal Nehru
B)
Lala Lajpat Rai
C)
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D)
Annie Besant
The Swarajya Party (or Swaraj Party) was formed on January 1, 1923, by Chittaranjan Das (who served as its President) and Motilal Nehru (who served as its Secretary) following the Gaya session of the Indian National Congress in December 1922.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Bal Gangadhar Tilak (c):** He passed away on August 1, 1920, well before the party was founded in 1923.
- **Lala Lajpat Rai (b):** Although a prominent nationalist leader, he was not a founder of the Swarajya Party.
- **Annie Besant (d):** She was famous for the Home Rule League movement but was not associated with the creation of the Swarajya Party.
Consider the following statement. 1. In the period of Dual Government, Indian officials were allowed to function as before but under the overall control of the British officials. 2. The Indian officials had responsibility but no power while the Company’s official had power but no responsibility. Choose the correct statement.
A)
Only 1
B)
Only 2
C)
Both 1 and 2
D)
Neither 1 nor 2
Both statements 1 and 2 are correct regarding the Dual Government system in Bengal (1765–1772) introduced by Robert Clive.
1. **Statement 1 is correct**: Under this system, the East India Company did not take direct control of the administration. Instead, they appointed Indian officials (such as Naib Diwans) to carry out the day-to-day judicial and revenue administration, but under the supreme supervision and veto power of the British.
2. **Statement 2 is correct**: This system separated power from responsibility. The Nawab and his Indian officials had the responsibility of maintaining law and order and administering justice but lacked the financial resources (power) to do so. Conversely, the Company held all the financial (Diwani) and military power but had zero responsibility for the welfare of the people or the administration.
Therefore, options 'a', 'b', and 'd' are incorrect as they do not account for both statements being true.
The British Parliament passed the Regulating Act to improve the administration of the East India Company in
A)
1773
B)
1775
C)
1853
D)
1855
The Regulating Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1773. It was the first major step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India, establishing a system of central administration and designating the Governor of Bengal as the 'Governor-General of Bengal' (Warren Hastings). Option 'b' (1775) is incorrect as it marks the start of the First Anglo-Maratha War. Option 'c' (1853) is incorrect because it was the year of the last Charter Act. Option 'd' (1855) is incorrect as no major constitutional or regulating act was passed in this year.
India was ranked at which position in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Rankings 2020?
A)
43rd
B)
55th
C)
60th
D)
63rd
In the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Rankings 2020 (released in October 2019), India was ranked 63rd among 190 countries. This was a significant improvement of 14 positions from its 77th rank in the 2019 report. The other options (43rd, 55th, and 60th) are incorrect as they do not represent India's official ranking in the 2020 report.
Which one of the following statements correctly describes the Dual government arrangement made by the East India company in Bengal?
A)
Executive and judicial authority were separated
B)
Revenue collection was entrusted to the deputy Nawab while military affairs were retained by the company
C)
Revenue collection was in the hand of the British while the Nawab depended for his internal and external security on the British.
D)
The new arrangement was made to encourage Indian rulers.
The Dual Government system was introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive in 1765 following the Treaty of Allahabad. Under this system, the administration was divided into Diwani (revenue collection) and Nizamat (police and military power).
1. **Why Option B is correct**: The East India Company did not collect the revenue directly to avoid administrative responsibility and public backlash. Instead, they appointed Deputy Diwans/Deputy Nawabs (like Mohammad Reza Khan in Bengal) to collect revenue on their behalf, while the actual military power and defense (Nizamat) were retained by the Company.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option A**: The separation of executive and judicial powers was introduced much later (notably by the Cornwallis Code of 1793) and was not a feature of the Dual Government.
- **Option C**: Although the British held the ultimate authority, they did not collect revenue directly; they entrusted it to Indian deputies to maintain a facade of native administration.
- **Option D**: The arrangement was designed to maximize the Company's financial gains and secure political control without administrative accountability, rather than to encourage or benefit Indian rulers.
The Young Bengal Movement in the 19th century was inspired by
A)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B)
Rabindranath Tagore
C)
Henry Vivian Derozio
D)
Aurobindo Ghosh
The Young Bengal Movement was a group of radical Bengali free-thinkers emerging from Hindu College, Calcutta, in the late 1820s and 1830s. They were inspired and led by Henry Vivian Derozio, a teacher at the college who encouraged his students to think freely, question authority, and cherish liberty. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Option a) was a pioneering social reformer who founded the Brahmo Samaj but was not the leader of this movement. Rabindranath Tagore (Option b) and Aurobindo Ghosh (Option d) were prominent nationalist and cultural figures of a later period in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Which country experienced the highest rate of inflation in the world in the year 2020?
A)
Zimbabwe
B)
Iran
C)
Pakistan
D)
Venezuela
Venezuela experienced the highest rate of inflation in the world in the year 2020, with estimates ranging from 2,355% to over 6,500% according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), driven by a severe economic crisis, political instability, and massive currency devaluation. Zimbabwe (Option a) had the second-highest inflation rate in 2020 at approximately 557%. Iran (Option b) faced high inflation of around 30-40% due to economic sanctions, while Pakistan (Option c) recorded a much lower inflation rate of about 9.7% during the same period.
The ‘Quit India’ Resolution was passed on
A)
8 August, 1942
B)
12 August, 1942
C)
15 August, 1942
D)
18 August, 1942
The 'Quit India' Resolution was passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on 8 August, 1942, during its Bombay session at the Gowalia Tank Maidan. This historic resolution launched the Quit India Movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi, demanding an end to British rule in India. The other dates (12 August, 15 August, and 18 August, 1942) are incorrect because the resolution had already been passed on August 8, and by August 9, most of the top Congress leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, were arrested under Operation Blue Star/Operation Zero Hour.
India signed a deal to buy ‘Strum Ataka’ anti-tank missile from which country?
A)
Israel
B)
Russia
C)
France
D)
USA
The correct option is 'b' (Russia). India signed a deal worth around Rs 200 crore with Russia to acquire 'Strum Ataka' anti-tank guided missiles to equip its fleet of Mi-35 attack helicopters.
- Option 'a' (Israel) is incorrect; Israel is known for supplying 'Spike' anti-tank missiles to India.
- Option 'c' (France) is incorrect; France is known for 'Milan' anti-tank missiles.
- Option 'd' (USA) is incorrect; the US is known for 'Javelin' and 'Hellfire' missiles.
Consider the following statements. 1. The Revolt of 1857 was widely popular among the people. 2. It spread throughout the entire country. 3. Most rulers and zamindars refused to join in. Choose the correct statements:
A)
Both 1 and 2 are correct
B)
Both 1 and 3 are correct
C)
Both 2 and 3 are correct
D)
All are correct
To determine the correct statements, let us analyze each one:
1. **Statement 1 is correct**: The Revolt of 1857 was not just a military mutiny; it had widespread popular support. In many regions, especially in Awadh and Rohilkhand, the general public (including peasants, artisans, shopkeepers, and religious leaders) actively participated in the rebellion alongside the sepoys.
2. **Statement 2 is incorrect**: The revolt did not spread throughout the entire country. It was geographically confined mainly to Northern and Central India. Large parts of India, including the South, West (Bombay), East (Bengal), and Punjab, remained largely peaceful and unaffected.
3. **Statement 3 is correct**: Most of the ruling princes, chiefs, and big zamindars refused to join the revolt. Many of them (such as the Scindia of Gwalior, Holkar of Indore, Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Sikh chiefs of Punjab) actively helped the British suppress the rebellion. Lord Canning famously remarked that these rulers acted as 'breakwaters in the storm'.
Since Statements 1 and 3 are correct, and Statement 2 is incorrect, the correct option is **b** (Both 1 and 3 are correct).
The Muslim League demanded separate Pakistan for the first time in
A)
1933
B)
1939
C)
1940
D)
1941
The correct option is 'c' (1940). The All-India Muslim League formally demanded a separate homeland for Muslims, which later became Pakistan, through the Lahore Resolution (popularly known as the Pakistan Resolution) passed during its Lahore session on March 24, 1940.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 'a' (1933): In 1933, Choudhry Rahmat Ali coined the term 'Pakistan' in his pamphlet 'Now or Never', but the Muslim League did not officially adopt or demand it at this time.
- 'b' (1939): In December 1939, the Muslim League observed the 'Day of Deliverance' after the resignation of Congress ministries, but the formal demand for a separate state was not yet made.
- 'd' (1941): In 1941, during the Madras session, the Lahore Resolution was formally incorporated as the main objective in the constitution of the Muslim League, which was after the initial demand made in 1940.
Subhas Chandra Bose set up his Azad Hind Fauz in
A)
Singapore
B)
Japan
C)
Burma
D)
Malaya
Subhas Chandra Bose set up the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) and took charge of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) in Singapore on October 21, 1943. Singapore was the headquarters where the army was revitalized under his leadership. Japan (option b) provided crucial military and political support, but it was not the location where the Fauz was established. Burma (option c) served as a major base for the INA's subsequent military campaigns into India (such as the Imphal and Kohima campaigns) but was not the founding site. Malaya (option d) was a major recruiting ground for the INA, but the formal setup took place in Singapore.
What was the Rowlatt Act?
A)
Authorisation to arrest any person without trial
B)
Introducing dual system of government
C)
Enlarging the Viceroy’s executive council
D)
Annulled the partition of Bengal
The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, authorized the British government to arrest any person suspected of terrorism or revolutionary activities and detain them for up to two years without any trial or warrant. This sparked widespread outrage and led to the Rowlatt Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Option 'b' is incorrect because the dual system of government (Diarchy) was introduced by the Government of India Act 1919.
- Option 'c' is incorrect because the enlargement of the Viceroy's executive council was associated with various Indian Councils Acts, such as those of 1861, 1892, and 1909.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because the partition of Bengal was annulled in 1911 by King George V at the Delhi Durbar.
Due to sudden surge in price of local rice, which country has started to import rice from India, after a decade?
A)
Vietnam
B)
Thailand
C)
Indonesia
D)
Malaysia
Vietnam, the world's third-largest exporter of rice, started importing rice from India in early 2021 for the first time in decades. This decision was driven by a sharp surge in local rice prices in Vietnam to a nine-year high, coupled with shrinking domestic supplies. India, offering highly competitive prices, became the preferred source to meet Vietnam's domestic demand. Other options like Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are incorrect because they did not initiate rice imports from India after a decade-long gap under these specific circumstances; Thailand is a major rival exporter, while Malaysia and Indonesia have different import patterns and timelines with India.
The first President of the Indian National Congress was
A)
A. O. Hume
B)
W.C .Banerjee
C)
Badruddin Taybji
D)
Annie Besant
Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Banerjee) was the first President of the Indian National Congress (INC). He presided over the inaugural session of the INC held at Bombay in December 1885, which was attended by 72 delegates.
- Option 'a' (A. O. Hume) is incorrect because he was the founder and the first General Secretary of the INC, not its President.
- Option 'c' (Badruddin Tyabji) is incorrect because he was the third President of the INC and the first Muslim to hold the post (1887, Madras session).
- Option 'd' (Annie Besant) is incorrect because she was the first woman President of the INC (1917, Calcutta session).
Which of the following is the chief Guest for India’s Republic Day 2021 celebration?
A)
President of Russia
B)
Prime Minister of Britain
C)
President of France
D)
None of these
Initially, the Prime Minister of Britain, Boris Johnson, was invited and had accepted the invitation to be the chief guest for India's 2021 Republic Day parade. However, due to a severe outbreak of a new strain of COVID-19 in the UK, his visit was cancelled. As a result, India did not have any foreign chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations in 2021, making 'None of these' the correct answer. Consequently, options a, b, and c are incorrect.
What was the main cause of conflict between Mir Qasim and the East India Company?
A)
Mir Qasim’s alliance with theMughal Empeor and tha Nawab of Oudh
B)
Abuse of Dastaks by the English
C)
Mir Qasim’s conspiracy with the French
D)
Mir Jafar’s conspiracy with the English
The primary cause of the conflict between Mir Qasim and the East India Company was the rampant abuse of 'Dastaks' (free trade passes) by the Company's servants for their private trade. This misuse deprived the Nawab's treasury of essential customs duties and ruined local Indian merchants who had to pay taxes, leading to severe economic friction.
- Option 'a' is incorrect because the alliance with the Mughal Emperor and the Nawab of Oudh was formed after the conflict had already escalated and Mir Qasim was expelled from Bengal, culminating in the Battle of Buxar (1764).
- Option 'c' is incorrect as there was no major French conspiracy involved in this conflict.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because Mir Jafar's conspiracy with the English occurred earlier, leading to the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the downfall of Siraj-ud-Daulah, not the conflict with Mir Qasim.
According to World Migration Report 2020, which continent hosts the most number of migrants?
A)
North America
B)
Africa
C)
Europe
D)
Asia
According to the World Migration Report 2020 published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the distribution of international migrants by destination continent in 2019 was as follows:
1. **Asia**: Hosted the highest number of international migrants at **84 million** (approximately 31% of the global share).
2. **Europe**: Hosted the second-highest number at **82 million** (approximately 30% of the global share).
3. **North America**: Hosted **59 million** (approximately 22% of the global share).
4. **Africa**: Hosted **27 million** (approximately 10% of the global share).
Therefore, Asia (Option d) is the correct answer as it hosts the largest number of migrants.