← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Political elites of a democratic system are backed by
A)
the general support and consent of the masses
B)
social medias
C)
economy
D)
none of the above
In a democratic system, the fundamental source of power and legitimacy is the sovereignty of the people. Therefore, political elites are backed by the general support and consent of the masses, typically expressed through regular, free, and fair elections. While the economy (option c) and social media (option b) are influential factors in modern politics, they do not provide the foundational legitimacy or backing required for political elites in a true democracy.
Population explosion occurred in India during the period of
A)
1901 – 1921
B)
1921 – 1951
C)
1951 – 1981
D)
1981 – 2021
In the demographic history of India, the period from 1951 to 1981 is known as the phase of 'Population Explosion'. During this period, India experienced a rapid fall in the mortality (death) rate due to improved health, sanitation, and medical facilities, while the fertility (birth) rate remained high, leading to an unprecedented growth rate of over 2.2% per annum.
- Option 'a' (1901–1921) is the period of stagnant or stationary growth, where growth was extremely low and even negative in 1911-1921.
- Option 'b' (1921–1951) is the period of steady population growth.
- Option 'd' (1981–2021) is the period of high growth with a definite declining trend in the growth rate.
The Directive principle of State policy underline the philosophy of
A)
Socialism
B)
Idealism
C)
Sarvoday
D)
Democratic centralisation
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), enshrined in Part IV of the Indian Constitution, primarily underline the philosophy of Socialism. They aim to establish a welfare state by securing socio-economic justice, minimizing inequalities in income and status, and ensuring the equitable distribution of material resources.
* **Why 'a' is correct:** The core objective of DPSPs is to achieve a socialist pattern of society where the state actively works for the welfare of the people through economic and social democracy.
* **Why 'b' is incorrect:** While DPSPs represent noble goals, 'Idealism' is a broad metaphysical philosophy rather than the specific socio-economic framework of the Indian Constitution.
* **Why 'c' is incorrect:** 'Sarvodaya' (progress of all) is a Gandhian concept. Although some DPSPs reflect Gandhian principles, the overarching constitutional philosophy of DPSPs is broader, focusing on democratic socialism.
* **Why 'd' is incorrect:** 'Democratic centralisation' is a communist organizational principle that concentrates decision-making power, which is contrary to India's democratic and federal structure.
Which one of the following statement is Incorrect?
A)
Anaimudi is the highest peak in Kerala
B)
The Eastern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats
C)
The western coastal plains are wider than the eastern plains
D)
The coastal strip in southeast India is known as the Coromandel Coast
Statement 'c' is incorrect because the Western Coastal Plains are actually much narrower (average width of 50-65 km) compared to the Eastern Coastal Plains, which are wider (average width of 80-120 km) and feature extensive river deltas.
Why other options are correct statements:
- 'a' is correct: Anaimudi (2,695 m) is indeed the highest peak in Kerala and the entire South India.
- 'b' is correct: The Western Ghats are higher (average elevation of 900-1600 m) and more continuous compared to the Eastern Ghats (average elevation of about 600 m).
- 'd' is correct: The coastal stretch of southeast India (Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh) is known as the Coromandel Coast.
An Inter State Council was set up in 1990 under Art 263 of the Constitution by the
A)
President
B)
Parliament
C)
Government
D)
Planning Commission
The Inter-State Council was established in 1990 by a Presidential Order under Article 263 of the Constitution of India, following the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission. Under Article 263, the President is empowered to establish such a council if it appears that the public interest would be served by its establishment. Parliament (option b) does not establish this council, though it can legislate on other matters. The Government/Cabinet (option c) may advise, but the formal authority lies with the President. The Planning Commission (option d) was an advisory body with no constitutional power to set up such councils.
Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban population in India according to 2011 Census?
A)
Tamil Nadu
B)
Kerala
C)
Maharashtra
D)
Goa
According to the 2011 Census of India, Goa is the most urbanized state in India with 62.17% of its population living in urban areas. The urban population proportions for the other options are: Tamil Nadu at 48.4%, Kerala at 47.7%, and Maharashtra at 45.2%. Therefore, Goa has the highest proportion of urban population among the given states.
In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?
A)
Jammu and Kashmir
B)
Manipur
C)
Maharashtra
D)
Jharkhand
Black soil, also known as Regur soil, is predominantly found in the Deccan Trap region of India, which covers a major part of Maharashtra, along with parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is formed by the weathering of lava (basaltic) rocks and is highly suitable for cotton cultivation. In contrast, Jammu and Kashmir is dominated by mountainous and forest soils; Manipur predominantly has red and laterite soils; and Jharkhand is characterized mainly by red and yellow soils.
Price discrimination is possible and profitable under which of the following market conditions?
A)
Monopoly
B)
Monopolistic Competition
C)
Oligopoly
D)
Perfect Competition
Price discrimination is the practice of charging different prices to different consumers for the same product. For it to be possible and profitable, the firm must possess significant market power (be a price maker), be able to segment the market based on different price elasticities of demand, and prevent resale (arbitrage). Under a Monopoly (Option a), the firm is the sole seller with absolute market power and no close substitutes, making it the ideal market structure for price discrimination. In contrast, under Perfect Competition (Option d), firms are price takers and cannot influence prices. Under Monopolistic Competition (Option b) and Oligopoly (Option c), the presence of competitors and close substitutes severely limits a firm's ability to successfully and profitably segment the market and discriminate on prices.
Which one of the following states of India has the lowest female literacy?
A)
Jammu and Kashmir
B)
Jharkhand
C)
Arunachal Pradesh
D)
Bihar
According to the 2011 Census of India, Bihar has the lowest female literacy rate in the country at approximately 51.5%, making option (d) the correct choice. In comparison, the female literacy rates for the other options are: Jharkhand (b) at approximately 55.4%, Jammu and Kashmir (a) at approximately 56.4%, and Arunachal Pradesh (c) at approximately 57.7%. All of these states have higher female literacy rates than Bihar.
Which one of the following ports is an artificial harbor?
A)
Chennai Port
B)
Kochi Port
C)
Marmagao Port
D)
Mumbai Port
Chennai Port is one of the oldest artificial ports in India, constructed on the Coromandel Coast as an all-weather artificial harbor. In contrast, the other options are natural harbors: Kochi Port is a natural harbor situated on Willingdon Island in Kerala; Marmagao Port is a natural harbor located in Goa at the entrance of the Zuari estuary; and Mumbai Port is India's largest natural deep-water harbor.
Article 280 of the Indian constitution contains
A)
Money Bill
B)
Finance Commission
C)
Planning Commission
D)
Union Budget
Article 280 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the Finance Commission. It is a quasi-judicial body constituted by the President of India every five years to recommend the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Money Bill (Option a) is defined under Article 110 of the Constitution.
- Union Budget (Option d) is referred to as the 'Annual Financial Statement' and is covered under Article 112.
- Planning Commission (Option c) was a non-constitutional, non-statutory body established by an executive resolution in 1950 (now replaced by NITI Aayog), and thus has no specific article in the Constitution.
The Himalayas consist of _________ main parallel ranges from north to south.
A)
Two
B)
Three
C)
Four
D)
Five
The Himalayas consist of three main parallel ranges in their longitudinal extent from north to south:
1. The Great or Inner Himalayas (Himadri): The northernmost, highest, and most continuous range.
2. The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): Located to the south of the Himadri, characterized by rugged mountain systems.
3. The Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks): The southernmost range, composed of unconsolidated sediments.
Options 'a' (Two), 'c' (Four), and 'd' (Five) are incorrect because they do not represent the standard geographical division of the main Himalayan ranges.
The Mon-Khmer branch of Austro-Asiatic linguistic family is NOT spoken by
A)
Khasi
B)
Garo
C)
Nicobarese
D)
Shompens
The correct option is 'b' (Garo). The Garo language belongs to the Bodo-Garo branch of the Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan) language family, rather than the Austro-Asiatic family. In contrast, Khasi, Nicobarese, and Shompen are all well-known languages belonging to the Austro-Asiatic language family (specifically the Mon-Khmer branch or closely related sub-branches spoken in India).
The Lingayats and Okkaligas have been the main contending castes in
A)
Tamil Nadu
B)
Kerala
C)
Rajasthan
D)
Karnataka
The Lingayats and Okkaligas (Vokkaligas) are the two most populous, socially influential, and politically dominant castes in the state of Karnataka. They have historically played a major role in shaping the state's electoral politics and leadership. Tamil Nadu (a) is dominated by castes like Gounders, Thevars, and Vanniyars; Kerala (b) by Ezhavas and Nairs; and Rajasthan (c) by Jats, Rajputs, Gujjars, and Meenas.
For Gandhi, the only means to bring about true socialism is
A)
centrally planned economy
B)
classless society
C)
satyagraha
D)
swaraj
For Mahatma Gandhi, the means to achieve any goal must be as pure as the end itself. He believed that true socialism could never be established through violence, coercion, or state force, but only through non-violent resistance and truth, which is 'satyagraha'. Gandhi asserted that only truthful and non-violent socialists could bring about a genuinely socialist society. Option 'a' (centrally planned economy) is incorrect because Gandhi opposed state centralization and advocated for decentralized village economies. Option 'b' (classless society) is an end goal of socialism rather than the means to achieve it. Option 'd' (swaraj) refers to self-rule or self-governance, which is a broader political and spiritual ideal, whereas satyagraha is the specific method or means used to realize it.
_________ is the largest fresh water lake in India.
A)
Loktak lake
B)
Wular lake
C)
Periyar lake
D)
Chilika lake
Wular Lake, located in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, is the largest freshwater lake in India and one of the largest in Asia. It is fed by the Jhelum River.
- **Loktak Lake (Option a)** is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, famous for its floating phumdis, but not the largest in the entire country.
- **Chilika Lake (Option d)** is a brackish water lagoon, making it the largest coastal lagoon in India, not a freshwater lake.
- **Periyar Lake (Option c)** is an artificial reservoir in Kerala, created by the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam.
Arrange the following rivers from north to south
A)
Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej
B)
Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej
C)
Indus, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Sutlej
D)
Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Sutlej, Ravi
The correct geographical sequence of these rivers from north to south is Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej. The Indus River is the northernmost among them. Moving southwards, the Jhelum River is located north of the Chenab River. The Ravi River flows south of the Chenab, and the Sutlej River is the southernmost of these tributaries. Options b, c, and d are incorrect because they misplace the relative north-to-south positions of Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi.
The Panchayati Raj is based on the Principle of
A)
Decentralisation
B)
Deconcentration
C)
Democratic centralism
D)
Democratic decentralisation
The Panchayati Raj system in India is based on the principle of 'Democratic decentralisation'. This concept involves the devolution of power, resources, and decision-making authority from the central/state government to democratically elected local bodies (Panchayats) to ensure grassroots participation in governance. This was famously recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee in 1957. Option 'a' (Decentralisation) is a broader, more general term, whereas 'Democratic decentralisation' is the precise political and administrative principle applied here. Option 'b' (Deconcentration) refers merely to the delegation of administrative workload within the same hierarchy without transferring real power to the people. Option 'c' (Democratic centralism) is a Marxist-Leninist organizational principle where policy is decided centrally and is binding on all members, which is the opposite of local self-governance.
Who described the Indian Constitution as “Quasi – federal”?
A)
K.C Wheare
B)
K Santhanam
C)
Morris Jones
D)
Ivor Jennings
K.C. Wheare, a prominent Australian constitutional scholar, described the Indian Constitution as "quasi-federal" because it contains both federal and unitary features, leaning heavily towards a strong central government (unitary state with subsidiary federal features).
- **K. Santhanam (Option b):** He emphasized that the financial provisions of the Constitution make the states dependent on the Centre, but did not coin the term "quasi-federal".
- **Morris Jones (Option c):** He described the Indian federal system as "bargaining federalism".
- **Ivor Jennings (Option d):** He described the Indian Constitution as a "federation with a strong centralizing tendency".
Atal Tunnel connects Manali with
A)
Lahaul-Spiti valley
B)
Jammu
C)
Kullu
D)
Shimla
Atal Tunnel, also known as the Rohtang Tunnel, is a 9.02 km long highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas. It connects Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, reducing the travel time between them by about 4 to 5 hours and ensuring all-weather connectivity. Jammu is located in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, far from this route. Kullu is in the same valley as Manali and is already connected directly by road. Shimla is the state capital and lies in a different direction, connected to Manali via NH-3.
Which among the following Acts established ‘Dyarchy’ in the Provinces?
A)
Indian Council Act, 1892
B)
Indian Council Act 1909
C)
Government of India Act, 1919
D)
Government of India Act, 1935
The Government of India Act, 1919 (also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) established 'Dyarchy' (dual rule) in the provinces. Under this system, provincial executive 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).
- Option 'd' (Government of India Act, 1935) is incorrect because it abolished dyarchy in the provinces, introduced 'Provincial Autonomy', and proposed dyarchy at the Center instead.
- Option 'b' (Indian Council Act, 1909) is incorrect because it is known for introducing separate electorates for Muslims (communal representation), not dyarchy.
- Option 'a' (Indian Council Act, 1892) is incorrect because it only expanded the size and functions of the legislative councils and introduced indirect elections.
Political parties are indispensable in
A)
a Parliamentary system of government
B)
a presidential system of government
C)
a confederation
D)
a dictatorship
Political parties are indispensable in a Parliamentary system of government because the executive (the Cabinet) is drawn directly from the legislature and must maintain the confidence of the majority in parliament to remain in power. Political parties provide the necessary organization, voting discipline, and cohesion to form a stable government and ensure collective responsibility. Without political parties, a parliamentary system would suffer from extreme instability. In contrast, in a presidential system (option b), the executive is elected independently of the legislature and does not rely on a legislative majority to survive. A confederation (option c) is a union of sovereign states and does not inherently require political parties to function, while a dictatorship (option d) often suppresses political parties or operates as a one-party state where genuine party competition is absent.
‘TRYSEM’ is a programme made for
A)
Employment to Rural youths
B)
Employment to Urban Youths
C)
Providing road connectivity to the villages
D)
Development of nutrition intake in the food of poor of the country
TRYSEM stands for 'Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment'. It was launched by the Government of India on August 15, 1979, as a centrally sponsored scheme. Its primary objective was to provide technical and entrepreneurial skills to rural youth (aged 18-35 years) from families below the poverty line to enable them to take up self-employment or wage employment. Option 'b' is incorrect because the scheme specifically targets rural youth, not urban youth. Option 'c' is incorrect as rural road connectivity is addressed by schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Option 'd' is incorrect because nutrition-related goals are covered under programmes like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and POSHAN Abhiyaan.
The most important item of India’s import is
A)
Electronics
B)
Defense equipment
C)
POL
D)
Gold and Jewellery
POL (Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants) is the most important and largest item of India's imports by value. India imports over 80% of its crude oil requirements to meet its domestic energy demands, making POL the single biggest contributor to the country's import bill. Gold and Jewellery (option d) and Electronics (option a) are also major imports but rank below POL in terms of total value. Defense equipment (option b), while strategically crucial, accounts for a much smaller share of the total import bill compared to bulk energy commodities.
The Indian National Congress observed ‘Independence Day’ for the first time on 26th January in
A)
1920
B)
1925
C)
1930
D)
1947
The Indian National Congress (INC) observed 'Independence Day' (Purna Swaraj Diwas) for the first time on 26th January 1930. This decision was taken during the historic Lahore Session of the INC in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, where the resolution for 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) was adopted. Option 'a' (1920) is incorrect because the INC was focused on the Non-Cooperation Movement and had not yet demanded complete independence. Option 'b' (1925) is incorrect as the goal of the Congress at that time was still dominion status. Option 'd' (1947) is incorrect because India achieved actual independence on 15th August 1947, although 26th January was later chosen as Republic Day in 1950 to honor the 1930 declaration.