← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions — 2026
The founder of an influential nationalist newspaper Vande Mataram was:
A)
Lala Lajpat Rai
B)
Aurobindo Ghose
C)
Bipin Chandra Pal
D)
Surendranath Banerjee
The influential English-language nationalist newspaper 'Bande Mataram' (Vande Mataram) was founded by Bipin Chandra Pal in August 1906. Sri Aurobindo (Aurobindo Ghose) joined soon after as its editor and wrote many of its famous revolutionary editorials, which is why they are often associated together, but the founder was Bipin Chandra Pal. Lala Lajpat Rai later started an Urdu daily called 'Vande Mataram' from Lahore in 1920, while Surendranath Banerjee was the founder/editor of 'The Bengalee'.
With reference to Lokmat Parliamentary Awards 2025, which of the following statement is wrong?
A)
Lifetime Achievement Award (Lok Sabha) : Digvijay Singh
B)
Best Parliamentarian Award (Lok Sabha) : Jagdambika Pal
C)
Best Parliamentarian Award (Rajya Sabha) : Sanjay Singh
D)
Best Woman Parliamentarian Award (Rajya Sabha) : Dola Sen
Statement (a) is incorrect because veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Rajya Sabha, not the Lok Sabha. The Lifetime Achievement Award for the Lok Sabha was conferred upon DMK MP T.R. Baalu.
The other options are correct statements regarding the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards 2025:
- Best Parliamentarian Award (Lok Sabha) was awarded to Jagdambika Pal (BJP).
- Best Parliamentarian Award (Rajya Sabha) was awarded to Sanjay Singh (AAP).
- Best Woman Parliamentarian Award (Rajya Sabha) was awarded to Dola Sen (TMC).
The phenomena of “Peasants shifting to producing crops for sale in distant markets, often to meet cash and tax demands” during the British rule in India, is commonly known as:
A)
Absentee Landlordism
B)
Rural Indebtedness
C)
Commercialisation of Agriculture
D)
Growth of Commercial Labourers
The phenomenon described is known as the 'Commercialisation of Agriculture'. During British rule in India, agriculture shifted from a subsistence-based activity (growing food crops for self-consumption) to a commercial enterprise where peasants grew cash crops (like cotton, indigo, opium, and jute) specifically for sale in national and international markets. This shift was largely forced by the British administration's demand for high land revenue to be paid strictly in cash.
* **Why other options are incorrect:**
* **Absentee Landlordism (a):** Refers to a system where landowners do not live on or personally manage their estates, but instead rent them out to tenant farmers and collect rent through intermediaries.
* **Rural Indebtedness (b):** Refers to the chronic burden of debt on peasants, which was a major consequence of high taxation and commercialisation, rather than the shift in crop production itself.
* **Growth of Commercial Labourers (d):** Refers to the rise of a class of landless agricultural laborers who worked on others' farms for wages, which was a socio-economic outcome of colonial land policies.
“Hind Swaraj” was authored by
A)
W C Banerjee
B)
Mahatma Gandhi
C)
Jawaharlal Nehru
D)
B R Ambedkar
The correct option is 'b' because 'Hind Swaraj' (or Indian Home Rule) was written by Mahatma Gandhi in 1909 in his native language, Gujarati. In this book, he expressed his views on Swaraj (self-rule), modern civilization, and mechanization.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option 'a' (W C Banerjee): Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was a co-founder and the first president of the Indian National Congress, not the author of this book.
- Option 'c' (Jawaharlal Nehru): He wrote several famous books, including 'The Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of World History'.
- Option 'd' (B R Ambedkar): He was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and authored influential works such as 'Annihilation of Caste' and 'The Buddha and His Dhamma'.
In which year did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place in Amritsar?
A)
1930
B)
1924
C)
1920
D)
1919
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab, when British troops under the command of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed civilians protesting the arrest of nationalist leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. Option 'a' (1930) is incorrect as it is the year of the Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March). Option 'c' (1920) is incorrect as it marks the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Option 'b' (1924) is incorrect as it is the year Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Belgaum session of the Indian National Congress.
Despite ongoing reforms, India ranks ________ in Global Innovation Index (2025) published by WIPO.
A)
38th
B)
48th
C)
34th
D)
44th
This question is based on a well-known standard current affairs question from the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020, where India ranked **48th** (marking its entry into the top 50 for the first time). The year '2025' in the question is a typographical error or a placeholder often updated in mock exams without updating the corresponding options.
* **Why Option B is correct:** In the original GII 2020 report published by WIPO, India secured the **48th** rank.
* **Latest Update (GII 2024):** In the most recent Global Innovation Index (2024), India has improved its position to **39th** rank among 133 economies.
* **Why other options are incorrect:** Options A (38th), C (34th), and D (44th) do not represent India's rank in the GII 2020 (which this question template is based on) nor do they represent India's latest rank in GII 2024 (39th).
“Sardar@150 Unity March,” to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, spanned for:
A)
Five months
B)
Four months
C)
Three months
D)
Two months
The "Sardar@150 Unity March" was organized to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This nationwide commemorative march spans for a duration of three months, starting from National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) on October 31, 2024, and concluding on Republic Day, January 26, 2025. Therefore, options a, b, and d are incorrect as they do not represent the official three-month duration of the march.
Which city hosted the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) conference, where the much lauded Mizoram traffic gets national recognition, held during 7-9 November, 2025?
A)
Mumbai
B)
Shilma
C)
Gurugram
D)
Bhopal
The 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition is scheduled to be held in Gurugram, Haryana, from November 7 to 9, 2025. This announcement was made during the valedictory session of the 17th UMI Conference held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat (October 2024), where Mizoram's exemplary traffic management system received national recognition. Mumbai (option a), Shimla (option b), and Bhopal (option d) are incorrect as they are not the host cities for this edition of the conference.
Government of India has recently taken decision to construct two cross border railway lines with Bhutan connecting:
A)
Assam and West Bengal
B)
Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh
C)
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
D)
Sikkim and West Bengal
The Government of India, in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan, has decided to construct two cross-border railway links. These links are: 1) The Kokrajhar (Assam) to Gelephu (Bhutan) rail link, and 2) The Banarhat (West Bengal) to Samtse (Bhutan) rail link. Therefore, the two Indian states involved in these cross-border railway connections are Assam and West Bengal. Options b, c, and d are incorrect because Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are not part of these two proposed cross-border railway projects with Bhutan.
The slogan ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Delhi Chalo’ was attributed to:
A)
Mahatma Gandhi
B)
Subash Chandra Bose
C)
Ananda Mohan Bose
D)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
The slogans 'Jai Hind' (Victory to India) and 'Delhi Chalo' (March to Delhi) are attributed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He gave the call 'Delhi Chalo' in July 1943 to inspire the soldiers of the Indian National Army (INA) to march towards Delhi to overthrow British rule. 'Jai Hind' was popularized by him as a salutation for the INA and later became a national slogan.
- Option a: Mahatma Gandhi is famous for the slogan 'Do or Die' (Karo ya Maro) given during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
- Option c: Ananda Mohan Bose was a prominent social reformer and co-founder of the Indian National Association, but is not associated with these slogans.
- Option d: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the 'Iron Man of India', is famously associated with the Bardoli Satyagraha and the slogan 'Kar Mat Do' (Don't pay tax).
India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations primarily because:-
A)
India recognises Taiwan as a sovereign independent country.
B)
Taiwan has refused diplomatic ties with India.
C)
India has no economic interests with Taiwan.
D)
India follows the One China Policy.
India does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan primarily because India adheres to the 'One China Policy', which recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China. Under this policy, India cannot maintain official diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). Option 'a' is incorrect because India does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent sovereign nation. Option 'b' is incorrect because Taiwan actively seeks to strengthen its relations with India through initiatives like its New Southbound Policy. Option 'c' is incorrect because India has significant and growing economic, trade, and technological interests with Taiwan, particularly in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sectors.
Which factor most directly encouraged the early growth of modern industries such as jute and cotton textiles in colonial India during the late 19th century?
A)
Protective tariffs imposed by the colonial state to shield Indian industries
B)
The construction and expansion of railway networks linking raw material areas to ports
C)
A deliberate British policy to reduce imports from Britain and promote Indian manufacturing
D)
Large-scale state subsidies to Indian industrialists like the Tatas and Birlas
The construction and expansion of the railway network in the late 19th century was the most direct catalyst for the growth of early modern industries like cotton and jute. Railways connected the interior agricultural hinterlands (where raw cotton and jute were grown) to major port cities and manufacturing hubs like Bombay and Calcutta, facilitating the cheap and rapid transport of raw materials and finished goods.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option A is incorrect because the colonial government followed a policy of free trade and actively resisted protective tariffs to protect British manufacturers (especially Lancashire cotton mills) from Indian competition.
- Option C is incorrect because British colonial policy was designed to keep India as a source of raw materials and a market for British manufactured goods, not to promote indigenous manufacturing.
- Option D is incorrect because the colonial state did not provide subsidies to Indian industrialists; Indian enterprise grew despite colonial apathy and discriminatory policies.
Which early 19th century social reform is most closely associated with the joint efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the British administration under Lord William Bentinck?
A)
Introduction of widow remarriage
B)
Abolition of untouchability
C)
Raising the age of consent for girls
D)
Abolition of sati
Option 'd' is correct because Raja Ram Mohan Roy campaigned tirelessly against the practice of Sati (widow burning). His advocacy, combined with the administrative action of Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, led to the passage of the Bengal Sati Regulation Act in 1829, which declared the practice illegal and punishable by law. Option 'a' is incorrect because the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856 was championed by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Option 'b' is incorrect because the abolition of untouchability was a 20th-century reform led by B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, later codified in the Indian Constitution (Article 17) in 1950. Option 'c' is incorrect because the Age of Consent Act was passed in 1891, largely due to the efforts of Behramji Malabari.
The Act of the British government that provided for the establishment of the First Law Commission in India was:
A)
Charter Act of 1813
B)
Charter Act of 1833
C)
Government of India Act of 1858
D)
Indian Council Act of 1909
The Charter Act of 1833 provided for the establishment of the First Law Commission in India to codify Indian laws. Under this Act, the First Law Commission was established in 1834 with Lord Macaulay as its Chairman.
- Option 'a' (Charter Act of 1813) is incorrect because it primarily ended the East India Company's trade monopoly in India (except for tea and trade with China) and promoted education, but did not provide for a Law Commission.
- Option 'c' (Government of India Act of 1858) is incorrect because it transferred the governance of India from the East India Company to the British Crown after the Revolt of 1857.
- Option 'd' (Indian Council Act of 1909) is incorrect because it is known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, which introduced separate electorates for Muslims and expanded legislative councils.
The Act of the British Government that established the Board of Control to exercise control over the Company’s affairs and its administration in India was:
A)
Regulating Act of 1773
B)
Pitt’s India Act of 1784
C)
Charter Act of 1813
D)
Charter Act of 1833
Pitt’s India Act of 1784 established the Board of Control to supervise and direct all civil, military government, and revenues of the British possessions in India, thereby introducing a dual system of control where the Board of Control managed political affairs and the Court of Directors managed commercial affairs.
- Regulating Act of 1773 (Option a) was the first step to regulate the Company's affairs and established the Governor-General of Bengal, but did not create the Board of Control.
- Charter Act of 1813 (Option c) ended the Company's trade monopoly in India (except for tea and trade with China).
- Charter Act of 1833 (Option d) made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India and ended the Company's commercial activities completely, making it a purely administrative body.
The first Indian to have qualified examination for Indian Civil Services was:
A)
Satyendranath Tagore
B)
Debendranath Tagore
C)
Rabindranath Tagore
D)
Dwarkanath Tagore
Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to successfully clear the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination in June 1863. He was the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore and was appointed to the Bombay civil service cadre.
- Debendranath Tagore (b) was a prominent philosopher, religious reformer, and leader of the Brahmo Samaj.
- Rabindranath Tagore (c) was a legendary poet, writer, and the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- Dwarkanath Tagore (d) was one of the earliest Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs, and the grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore.
How did the need to pay land revenue in cash contribute to rural indebtedness?
A)
It ensured that the colonial state always waived revenue in years of bad harvest
B)
It allowed peasants to easily save surplus money in banks instead of borrowing
C)
It completely eliminated the role of moneylenders from rural society
D)
It forced peasants to borrow from moneylenders when crops failed or prices fell
The requirement to pay land revenue strictly in cash and on fixed dates, regardless of harvest conditions, was a major cause of rural indebtedness under colonial rule. When crops failed or market prices fell, peasants could not generate enough cash from selling their produce. To prevent their land from being confiscated and auctioned by the state, they were forced to borrow cash from local moneylenders at high interest rates. Option 'a' is incorrect because the colonial state rarely waived revenue, even during famines. Option 'b' is incorrect because peasants lived at subsistence levels and had no surplus to save. Option 'c' is incorrect because this system actually empowered and expanded the role of moneylenders rather than eliminating them.
The first State in the Country to rename Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan is:
A)
West Bengal
B)
Tamil Nadu
C)
Kerala
D)
Mizoram
Mizoram is the first state in India to rename its Raj Bhavan (the official residence of the Governor) as 'Lok Bhavan' (People's House). This initiative was undertaken to make the institution more accessible to the common public and to transition away from the colonial-era connotations associated with the term 'Raj'. The other states listed (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala) still retain the traditional name 'Raj Bhavan' for their respective Governor's residences.
Which British land revenue settlement fixed land revenue demand on zamindars in perpetuity, turning them into hereditary landowners?
A)
Permanent Settlement
B)
Ryotwari Settlement
C)
Mahalwari Settlement
D)
Malguzari Settlement
The Permanent Settlement (also known as the Permanent Settlement of Bengal) was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. Under this system, the land revenue demand was fixed in perpetuity (permanently), and zamindars were recognized as the hereditary owners of the land, provided they paid the fixed revenue to the British government on time. In contrast, the Ryotwari Settlement (option b) made agreements directly with individual cultivators (ryots) with periodic revenue revisions. The Mahalwari Settlement (option c) settled revenue with the entire village community (mahal) collectively, also subject to periodic revision. The Malguzari Settlement (option d) was implemented in the Central Provinces and did not fix revenue in perpetuity.
With reference to the 2026 Winter Olympics, which of the following statement is correct?
A)
An upcoming international multi-sport event is scheduled to take place from 16 to 28 February, 2026.
B)
2026 Winter Olympics is the XXVI edition of Winter Olympic Games.
C)
It is commonly known as Milano Cortinha 2026.
D)
The Games will be the first Olympic Games under the IOC presidency of Kirsty Coventry.
1. **Why Option C is correct**: The 2026 Winter Olympics is officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games and is commonly known as **Milano Cortina 2026** (spelled as "Milano Cortinha 2026" in the option due to a minor typographical error). It will be jointly hosted by the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option A is incorrect**: The games are scheduled to take place from **6 to 22 February, 2026**, not 16 to 28 February.
- **Option B is incorrect**: The 2026 Games will be the **XXV (25th)** edition of the Winter Olympics, not the XXVI (26th) edition.
- **Option D is incorrect**: The election for the next IOC President will take place in March 2025. While Kirsty Coventry is one of the candidates, she has not been elected, making this statement speculative and incorrect.
The ‘Downward filtration theory’ referred to the:
A)
Arrogant attitude of the British towards Indians
B)
Expansionist policy of the British in India
C)
British policy of Education in India
D)
Lenient attitude of the British towards princely states of India
The 'Downward filtration theory' was a key aspect of the British policy of Education in India, particularly associated with Lord Macaulay's Minute on Indian Education (1835). Under this theory, the British government decided to spend its limited resources on educating a small section of upper and middle-class Indians. It was believed that modern education, western ideas, and culture would gradually 'filter down' from this elite class to the general masses. Options 'a', 'b', and 'd' are incorrect because they refer to other aspects of British rule, such as racial attitudes, territorial expansion (e.g., Doctrine of Lapse), and political relations with princely states (e.g., Subordinate Isolation), which have no connection to the Downward filtration theory.
Which city hosted UN Climate Change Conference in November, 2025?
A)
Belem
B)
Johannesburg
C)
Sydney
D)
Baku
The correct option is 'a' (Belem). The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is scheduled to be held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. This is a significant location as Belém is a gateway to the Amazon River basin. Option 'd' (Baku) is incorrect because Baku, Azerbaijan, hosted COP29 in November 2024. Options 'b' (Johannesburg) and 'c' (Sydney) are incorrect as they are not the designated hosts for the November 2025 UN Climate Change Conference.
Which, among the following was the first to recommend English as the medium of instruction?
A)
Thomas Macaulay’s Minute on Education,1835
B)
Wood’s Despatch,1854
C)
Hunter Commission, 1882
D)
Kothari Commission, 1964-66
Thomas Macaulay’s Minute on Education (1835) was the first to formally recommend English as the medium of instruction for higher education in India, which led to the passage of the English Education Act of 1835. Wood’s Despatch (1854) came later and is known as the 'Magna Carta of English Education in India', recommending English for higher education and vernaculars for schools. The Hunter Commission (1882) focused on primary education using vernacular languages, and the Kothari Commission (1964-66) was a post-independence commission that proposed the Three-Language Formula.
The legislation of Widow Remarriage Act, 1856 owed a credit to:
A)
Iswar Chandra Vidhyasagar
B)
Sawmi Vevekenanda
C)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
D)
Henry Vivan Derazio
The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856, was passed mainly due to the relentless efforts and campaigning of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. He petitioned the Legislative Council and used ancient Hindu texts to prove that widow remarriage was sanctioned by Vedic scriptures.
- Option 'b' (Swami Vivekananda) is incorrect because he was a spiritual leader born in 1863, after the act was passed.
- Option 'c' (Raja Ram Mohan Roy) is incorrect because he is primarily credited with the abolition of Sati (Sati Regulation Act of 1829).
- Option 'd' (Henry Vivian Derozio) is incorrect because he was the leader of the Young Bengal Movement, focusing on radical free-thinking and intellectual reform, rather than the legislation of widow remarriage.
SMART-PDS is an initiative by the Indian government aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the country’s Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Its full form is:
A)
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound in Public Distribution System.
B)
Scheme for Manual-less and Record through Technology in Public Distribution System.
C)
Scheme for Modernisation, Accountability and Regeneration of Transparency in Public Distribution System.
D)
Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System.
The correct full form of SMART-PDS is 'Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System'. It is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to prevent leakages, improve efficiency, and bring transparency to the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) through technological interventions. Options a, b, and c are incorrect as they are fabricated expansions and do not represent the official name of the government initiative.