← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Which of the following crops are related to Green Revolution?
A)
Cotton, Bajra
B)
Maize, Rice
C)
Bajra, Wheat
D)
Wheat, Rice
The Green Revolution, launched in India in the mid-1960s, primarily focused on introducing High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds of food grains to ensure food security. The most dramatic and successful increases in production and yield were achieved in Wheat and Rice, making them the core crops of the Green Revolution. Other crops like Bajra, Maize, and Cotton (which is a non-food cash crop) were either not the primary focus or did not experience the same revolutionary growth during the initial phases of the movement.
Economic Surveys are published by:
A)
Ministry of Finance
B)
Niti Aayog
C)
Indian Statistical Institute
D)
Central Statistical Organization
The Economic Survey of India is an annual document prepared by the Economics Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, guided by the Chief Economic Adviser. It reviews the developments in the Indian economy over the past financial year and is presented in Parliament. Niti Aayog (Option b) is a policy think tank that provides strategic inputs but does not publish the survey. The Indian Statistical Institute (Option c) is an academic and research institution. The Central Statistical Organization (Option d), now part of the National Statistical Office (NSO), is responsible for compiling national accounts and indices like GDP and CPI, not the Economic Survey.
The settlements that occurs near rivers, coastal and railway line are classified as
A)
Star like pattern
B)
Disperse settlement pattern
C)
Linear settlement pattern
D)
Nuclear settlement pattern
1. **Linear settlement pattern (Option c)** is correct because settlements that develop along linear features such as rivers, coastlines, roads, canals, and railway lines naturally align themselves in a straight or curved line following the path of that feature.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Star-like pattern (Option a):** Occurs where multiple roads converge, and houses are built along these roads radiating outwards from a central point.
- **Disperse settlement pattern (Option b):** Characterized by isolated dwellings scattered over a large area, common in mountainous or agricultural regions.
- **Nuclear (Nucleated) settlement pattern (Option d):** Features houses clustered closely together around a central point, such as a pond, temple, or market.
Interim budget is also known as:
A)
Mini Budget
B)
Vote on Account
C)
Both (a) & (b)
D)
None of these
An Interim Budget is presented by an outgoing government in an election year to cover expenses until a new government is formed and a full budget is presented. It is commonly referred to as a 'Mini Budget' because it is a temporary budget covering a short duration. It is also known as a 'Vote on Account' because its primary purpose is to obtain parliamentary approval for essential government expenditures during the transition period without making major policy changes. Since both terms are widely used to describe an interim budget, option (c) is the correct choice.
Which of the following agency is responsible for management of Chit funds?
A)
RBI
B)
Central Government
C)
State governments
D)
SEBI
Under the Chit Funds Act, 1982, the administration, registration, and management of chit funds are the responsibility of the respective State Governments. Each state government appoints a 'Registrar of Chits' to monitor and regulate chit fund businesses within its jurisdiction.
- RBI (Option a) does not regulate chit funds directly, although it can provide advisory guidelines.
- Central Government (Option b) framed the central legislation (Chit Funds Act, 1982), but the execution and management lie with the states.
- SEBI (Option d) regulates collective investment schemes and securities markets, but chit funds are explicitly excluded from SEBI's purview.
‘The Artic Home of the Vedas’ is a book written by
A)
Raja Rammohan Roy
B)
Swami Vivekananda
C)
Prof. Bhandarkar
D)
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
The book 'The Arctic Home in the Vedas' was written by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1903. In this book, he formulated the theory that the Aryan people originated in the Arctic region before migrating southwards at the beginning of the last glacial epoch.
- Option a: Raja Rammohan Roy was a social reformer who founded the Brahmo Samaj and is known for his efforts to abolish the Sati practice.
- Option b: Swami Vivekananda was a spiritual leader who founded the Ramakrishna Mission and is famous for his speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago.
- Option c: Prof. Bhandarkar (R. G. Bhandarkar) was an eminent indologist and scholar who contributed significantly to the scientific study of ancient Indian history, but did not write this book.
B.R. Ambedkar was greatly influenced in his concept of equality by
A)
Mahatma Gandhi
B)
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
C)
Mahatma Jyotiba Phooley
D)
None of these
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarded Mahatma Jyotiba Phule as one of his three chief gurus (along with Gautama Buddha and Kabir). Phule's pioneering crusade against the caste system, advocacy for the education of women and lower castes, and his vision of a society based on equality and justice deeply shaped Ambedkar's own philosophy. Ambedkar even dedicated his book 'Who Were the Shudras?' to Jyotiba Phule. In contrast, Ambedkar had major ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi regarding the caste system and the annihilation of Varna, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a moderate political leader who primarily influenced Gandhi rather than Ambedkar's concept of social equality.
Which of the following is most liquid measure of money supply in India?
A)
M1
B)
M2
C)
M3
D)
M4
In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) classifies the money supply into four measures: M1, M2, M3, and M4, in decreasing order of liquidity. M1 is the most liquid measure of money supply because it consists of currency with the public, demand deposits with the banking system, and other deposits with the RBI, all of which can be immediately used for transactions. M2 is less liquid than M1 as it includes post office savings bank deposits. M3 (broad money) is even less liquid because it includes time deposits with banks, which have a fixed maturity. M4 is the least liquid measure as it includes all total deposits with post office savings organisations along with M3.
Which of the following writs literally means to produce the body of a person
A)
Habeas Corpus
B)
Certiorari
C)
Quo Warranto
D)
Prohibition
The writ of 'Habeas Corpus' literally translates from Latin to 'to have the body of' or 'to produce the body'. It is a powerful judicial remedy used to secure the release of a person who has been unlawfully or illegally detained. The other options are incorrect because: 'Certiorari' (option b) means 'to be certified' or 'to be informed' and is used to quash the order of a lower court; 'Quo Warranto' (option c) means 'by what authority or warrant' and is used to prevent illegal usurpation of a public office; and 'Prohibition' (option d) means 'to forbid' and is issued by a higher court to a lower court to prevent it from exceeding its jurisdiction.
The concept of secularism in the context of the Constitution of India stands for
A)
Separation of religion from state
B)
Anti-religious sense
C)
Equal treatment of all religions
D)
None of these
In the context of the Constitution of India, secularism does not mean a strict separation of religion from the state (as in the Western model), but rather 'Sarva Dharma Sambhava', which translates to the equal treatment of all religions by the state. Under Indian secularism, the state maintains a principled distance from all religions, treats them equally, and provides equal protection and respect to all faiths. Option 'a' represents the Western concept of secularism, which is a rigid separation of church and state. Option 'b' is incorrect because Indian secularism is deeply respectful of religious diversity and is not anti-religious.
Which one of the following was established by Raja Rammohan Roy
A)
Arya Samaj
B)
Brahmo Samaj
C)
Asiatic Society
D)
None of these
1. **Brahmo Samaj (Option b)** is the correct answer. It was established by Raja Rammohan Roy in 1828 (initially as Brahmo Sabha) in Calcutta to reform Hindu society, promote monotheism, and fight against social evils like Sati and child marriage.
2. **Arya Samaj (Option a)** is incorrect because it was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 with the slogan 'Back to the Vedas'.
3. **Asiatic Society (Option c)** is incorrect because it was founded by Sir William Jones in 1784 to promote Oriental research and studies in India.
Which of the following is the popular title given to Dadabhai Naoroji
A)
The grand old thinker of India
B)
The grand old philosopher of India
C)
The grand old man of India
D)
The grand old social reformer of India
Dadabhai Naoroji is widely known as 'The Grand Old Man of India' due to his immense contribution to the Indian national movement, his role as a founding member of the Indian National Congress (serving as its President thrice), and his pioneering work on the 'Drain of Wealth' theory. The other options ('thinker', 'philosopher', and 'social reformer') are incorrect because they modify his actual, historically recognized title.
Considering the following statement. Choose the correct ones. 1. The ITCZ is a zone of low pressure which attracts inflow of winds from different directions. 2. ITCZ is plays an important role in the Indian Monsoon
A)
Both 1 and 2 are correct
B)
Only 2 is correct
C)
Only 1
D)
None of these
Statement 1 is correct because the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a low-pressure belt near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge, attracting winds from different directions. Statement 2 is correct because during the summer, the ITCZ shifts northward over the Indian subcontinent (referred to as the monsoon trough), which is crucial in attracting the moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds, thereby playing a pivotal role in the Indian Monsoon. Since both statements are correct, option 'a' is the right choice, making options 'b', 'c', and 'd' incorrect.
Residuary powers are subjects which are not clearly enumerated in the three list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India but are
A)
assigned to State Government
B)
assigned to both Union Government and State Government
C)
assigned to Union Government
D)
not assigned to both Union Government and State Government
Under Article 248 of the Constitution of India, the residuary powers of legislation—which refer to subjects not enumerated in the Union List, State List, or Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule—are vested exclusively in the Parliament (Union Government). Therefore, option 'c' is correct. Option 'a' is incorrect because State Governments do not have power over residuary subjects. Option 'b' is incorrect because these powers are not shared concurrently. Option 'd' is incorrect because residuary powers are explicitly assigned to the Union Government rather than being left unassigned.
The significant contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian freedom movement was that
A)
he transformed the freedom movement into a mass movement
B)
he introduced non-cooperation movement
C)
he opposed the Rowlatt Act
D)
he attended Round Table Conferences at London
The most significant contribution of Mahatma Gandhi to the Indian freedom struggle was transforming it from an elite, middle-class movement into a true mass movement. Before his arrival, the nationalist struggle was largely confined to urban intellectuals. Gandhi, through his simple lifestyle, use of vernacular languages, and focus on peasant and worker issues, successfully mobilized millions of common people, including women, peasants, and laborers, across the country. While options 'b' (introducing the Non-Cooperation Movement) and 'c' (opposing the Rowlatt Act) are important historical events led by him, they were specific instruments of this broader mass mobilization. Option 'd' is incorrect as he only attended the Second Round Table Conference, which was not his primary contribution.
Consider the following actions which the government can take: (i) Devaluing the domestic currency (ii) Reduction in export subsidy (iii) Adopting suitable policies which attract greater FDI and more funds from FIIs. Which of the above action/ actions can help in reducing the current account deficit?
A)
i and ii
B)
ii and iii
C)
iii only
D)
i and iii
1. **Action (i) is correct**: Devaluing the domestic currency makes domestic goods cheaper for foreign buyers (boosting exports) and foreign goods more expensive for domestic consumers (reducing imports). This improves the balance of trade, which directly helps in reducing the Current Account Deficit (CAD).
2. **Action (ii) is incorrect**: Reducing export subsidies makes domestic exports more expensive and less competitive in the international market. This decreases exports, which would increase (worsen) the CAD.
3. **Action (iii) and Elimination**: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) are components of the Capital Account. While they primarily help in *financing* the CAD rather than directly reducing it, in the long run, FDI can enhance domestic manufacturing capacity, promote import substitution, and boost exports, thereby helping to reduce the CAD.
By elimination, since Action (i) is correct and Action (ii) is incorrect, options (a) and (b) are ruled out. Since there is no 'i only' option, **option d (i and iii)** is the correct choice.
If there were a balance of payments deficit then in a floating exchange rate system:
A)
The external value of currency would tend to fall
B)
The external value of currency would tend to rise
C)
The injections from trade are greater than the withdrawal
D)
Aggregate demand is increasing
In a floating exchange rate system, the value of a currency is determined by the market forces of demand and supply. A balance of payments (BoP) deficit means that a country is spending more foreign currency on imports and capital outflows than it is earning from exports and capital inflows. This creates an excess supply of the domestic currency in the foreign exchange market, which causes its external value to fall (depreciate). Option 'b' is incorrect because a deficit leads to depreciation, not appreciation. Option 'c' is incorrect because a BoP deficit implies that withdrawals (imports) exceed injections (exports). Option 'd' is incorrect because a trade deficit (part of a BoP deficit) reduces net exports, which tends to decrease aggregate demand.
What type of forest is found in eastern fringe of Mizoram?
A)
Mountain Sub Tropical Forest
B)
Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest
C)
Tropical Wet-Evergreen Forest
D)
Tropical Deciduous Forest
In Mizoram, the forests are broadly classified based on altitude and rainfall. The Mountain Sub-Tropical Forest is found in the eastern fringe of Mizoram, bordering Myanmar, where the elevation is higher. In contrast, Tropical Wet-Evergreen Forests (Option c) are located in the southern and western parts of the state, while Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests (Option b) occupy the central and northern regions. Tropical Deciduous Forests (Option d) are not characteristic of the eastern fringe of Mizoram.
Which part of India is lying under the influence of sub-tropical and temperate climates?
A)
Northern Part of India
B)
Southern Part of India
C)
Deccan Plateau
D)
None of the Above
The Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) passes through the middle of India, dividing the country into two distinct climatic zones. The region lying north of the Tropic of Cancer (Northern Part of India) experiences a sub-tropical and temperate climate characterized by high seasonal temperature variations, including hot summers and cold winters. Conversely, the regions lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, such as the Southern Part of India and the Deccan Plateau, are closer to the equator and experience a tropical climate with high temperatures throughout the year and minimal seasonal variation.
Which of the following cities are connected by Golden Quadrilateral?
A)
Delhi-Ahmedabad-Chennai - Kolkata
B)
Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata - Kanpur
C)
Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata
D)
Agra-Nagpur-Chennai-Kolkata
The Golden Quadrilateral is a major national highway network in India that connects the country's four primary metropolitan cities located in the North, West, South, and East. These cities are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, making option 'c' the correct answer. The other options are incorrect because they include intermediate or non-vertex cities such as Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Agra, and Nagpur as the main connecting nodes of the quadrilateral.
In the interim budget of 2019, fund allocation for infrastructure development in north eastern region was increased to Rs.58,116 crore, which was a rise over last year’s budget by:
A)
11%
B)
15%
C)
21%
D)
25%
In the Interim Budget of 2019-20, the allocation for the infrastructure development of the North Eastern Region was increased by 21% to Rs. 58,166 crore (referred to as Rs. 58,116 crore in the question) over the Revised Estimates (RE) of the previous fiscal year (2018-19). Therefore, option 'c' is correct, while options 'a' (11%), 'b' (15%), and 'd' (25%) are incorrect as they do not represent the actual percentage increase announced in the budget.
In which river system, Sardar Sarovar dam is build?
A)
Tapi River
B)
Yamuna River
C)
Narmada River
D)
Sabarmati River
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada River near Kevadia in the Narmada district of Gujarat, India. It is the largest dam of the Narmada Valley Project, benefiting the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
- Tapi River (Option a): The Ukai Dam is built on this river.
- Yamuna River (Option b): This river flows through northern India and does not host the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
- Sabarmati River (Option d): The Dharoi Dam is built on this river.
The issue of linguism has been the deep-rooted political issue in which region of India?
A)
North
B)
East
C)
South
D)
West
The issue of linguism has been a deep-rooted political issue primarily in South India. The region witnessed intense linguistic movements, most notably the anti-Hindi agitations in Tamil Nadu during the 1930s and 1960s, and the demand for the creation of states on a linguistic basis (which began with the creation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953). These movements were driven by the desire to protect regional languages and identities from the perceived imposition of Hindi. In contrast, North India is largely Hindi-speaking and did not face such linguistic conflicts. While East and West India experienced some linguistic reorganization movements (like the Samyukta Maharashtra movement), linguism did not become as permanently defining or deep-rooted a political cleavage there as it did in the South.
Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) is management by:
A)
State Bank of India
B)
Reserve Bank of India
C)
Government of India
D)
Indian Banking Association
Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) is managed and operated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is the central bank of the country.
- **Why Option 'b' is correct:** The RBI owns, operates, and maintains the RTGS system in India to facilitate secure, high-value, and instantaneous interbank fund transfers.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Option 'a' (State Bank of India):** SBI is a public sector commercial bank and a participant in the RTGS system, not its manager.
- **Option 'c' (Government of India):** While the government oversees the financial sector through policy, it does not directly operate payment systems like RTGS.
- **Option 'd' (Indian Banking Association):** IBA is an association representing banks in India to discuss and implement common banking policies, but it does not manage payment infrastructures.
Which of the following is related with Blossom Shower?
A)
Hot, dry and oppressing winds blowing in Northern plains
B)
Pre-Monsoon showers which help in blossoming of coffee flowers
C)
Pre-Monsoon shower in Bengal and Assam
D)
Pre-Monsoon showers which help in the ripening of mangoes
The correct option is 'b'. Here is the breakdown of the options:
1. **Why 'b' is correct**: 'Blossom Shower' (or Cherry Blossom showers) refers to the pre-monsoon rainfall that occurs in Kerala and parts of Karnataka. This rainfall is highly beneficial as it helps in the blossoming of coffee flowers.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option 'a'** refers to **Loo**, which are hot, dry, and oppressing winds blowing in the Northern plains of India during summers.
- **Option 'c'** refers to **Kalbaisakhi** (or Nor'westers), which are violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms in West Bengal and Assam.
- **Option 'd'** refers to **Mango Showers**, which are pre-monsoon rains in Karnataka and Kerala that aid in the early ripening of mangoes.