← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
The equity of the RRBs is contributed by the Central Government, State Government and the Sponsor Bank in the proportion of
A)
50 : 20 : 30
B)
50 : 15 : 35
C)
30 : 50 : 20
D)
40 : 40 : 20
According to the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Act, 1976, the share capital of an RRB is subscribed by the Central Government, the concerned State Government, and the Sponsor Bank in the proportion of 50:15:35 respectively. Therefore, the Central Government contributes 50%, the State Government contributes 15%, and the Sponsor Bank contributes 35% of the equity. The other options (a, c, and d) do not represent this legally mandated shareholding ratio.
The first bank to be nationalized in India is
A)
State Bank of India
B)
Punjab National Bank
C)
United Bank of India
D)
Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was the first bank to be nationalized in India. Originally established as a private shareholders' bank in 1935, it was nationalized on January 1, 1949, under the Reserve Bank (Transfer to Public Ownership) Act, 1948. State Bank of India (Option a) was nationalized later in July 1955 (making it the first commercial bank to be nationalized). Punjab National Bank (Option b) and United Bank of India (Option c) were nationalized much later, on July 19, 1969, along with 12 other major commercial banks.
Which of the following is not the four essential elements of Human Development Index?
A)
Education
B)
Sustainability
C)
Productivity
D)
Empowerment
The four essential pillars (or elements) of human development are Equity, Sustainability, Productivity, and Empowerment. 'Education' is a key dimension/indicator used to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI) itself (along with health and decent standard of living), but it is not one of the four core pillars of human development. Therefore, 'Education' is the correct answer as it is not one of the four pillars, while 'Sustainability' (b), 'Productivity' (c), and 'Empowerment' (d) are indeed part of the four essential elements.
The four most populated states in India are
A)
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal
B)
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh
C)
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan
D)
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh
According to the 2011 Census of India, the four most populated states in descending order of population are:
1. Uttar Pradesh (approx. 19.98 crore)
2. Maharashtra (approx. 11.23 crore)
3. Bihar (approx. 10.40 crore)
4. West Bengal (approx. 9.12 crore)
This makes option 'a' the correct choice.
- Option 'b' is incorrect because Andhra Pradesh (approx. 8.45 crore pre-bifurcation) has a lower population than West Bengal.
- Option 'c' is incorrect because Rajasthan (approx. 6.85 crore) has a lower population than Bihar and West Bengal.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because Madhya Pradesh (approx. 7.26 crore) has a lower population than Bihar.
The number of ‘million-plus cities’ in India as per the Census of India 2011 was
A)
43
B)
53
C)
63
D)
73
According to the Census of India 2011, there were 53 'million-plus' cities (urban agglomerations/cities with a population of 1 million or more) in India, an increase from 35 such cities in the 2001 Census. Therefore, option 'b' is correct. Options 'a' (43), 'c' (63), and 'd' (73) are incorrect as they do not match the official census data.
Which one of the followings is not included in the five major crops covered under 1st Green Revolution?
A)
Rice
B)
wheat
C)
Maize
D)
Millet
During the First Green Revolution in India (launched in 1966 under the High Yielding Varieties Programme - HYVP), five major crops were targeted: Wheat, Rice (Paddy), Maize, Jowar, and Bajra. While Jowar and Bajra are specific types of millets, generic 'Millet' (or other millets like Ragi) was not included as one of the five designated crops. Therefore, option d is the correct answer. Options a (Rice), b (wheat), and c (Maize) are incorrect because they were all primary crops covered under the First Green Revolution.
The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog is
A)
Suman Bery
B)
Narendra Modi
C)
Parameswaran Iyer
D)
Satya Nadella
Suman Bery is the current Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog, having taken charge on May 1, 2022. The other options are incorrect because:
- Narendra Modi (Option b) is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog in his capacity as the Prime Minister of India.
- Parameswaran Iyer (Option c) is a former CEO of NITI Aayog.
- Satya Nadella (Option d) is the CEO of Microsoft and has no connection to NITI Aayog.
Which one of the following books was known as the Bible of Modern Bengalee Patriotism?
A)
Gora
B)
Anandmath
C)
Wreck
D)
Dev Das
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's historical novel 'Anandmath' (published in 1882) is widely regarded as the 'Bible of Modern Bengali Patriotism'. Set against the backdrop of the Sannyasi Rebellion and the Bengal famine of 1770, it played a monumental role in inspiring the Indian nationalist movement and contains the patriotic song 'Vande Mataram'. 'Gora' (Option a) and 'Wreck' (Option c) are famous novels by Rabindranath Tagore, while 'Dev Das' (Option d) is a romantic drama novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, none of which carry this specific epithet.
Which of the followings is the biggest source of revenue for the Union Government?
A)
Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST)
B)
State Goods and Services Tax (SGST)
C)
Union Territory Goods and Services Tax (UTGST)
D)
Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST)
Among the given options, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) is the biggest source of revenue for the Union Government.
1. **Why IGST is correct**: Under Article 269A of the Indian Constitution, IGST is levied and collected by the Union (Central) Government on all inter-state supplies of goods and services, as well as on imports. It consistently accounts for the largest share (nearly 50%) of the total gross GST collections, making it the largest revenue-generating GST component collected by the Centre.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **CGST (Central GST)**: Although it goes directly to the Central Government, it is only levied on intra-state supplies and its total collection is much smaller than IGST.
- **SGST (State GST)**: This is levied and collected by the respective State Governments, so it is not a source of revenue for the Union Government.
- **UTGST (Union Territory GST)**: This is levied on intra-state supplies within Union Territories without legislatures. Due to the small geographical and economic size of these UTs, its revenue contribution is minimal.
The price at which the Government purchase food grains for maintaining Public Distribution System and for building Buffer Stocks are known as
A)
Minimum Support Prices
B)
Issue Prices
C)
Ceiling of Prices
D)
Procurement Prices
The correct option is 'd' (Procurement Prices). Here is the breakdown of the terms:
1. **Procurement Prices (Correct)**: This is the price at which the government purchases food grains from farmers specifically for maintaining the Public Distribution System (PDS) and building buffer stocks. Although the government currently uses the Minimum Support Price (MSP) as the procurement price, conceptually, the price paid for PDS and buffer stock acquisition is termed the Procurement Price.
2. **Minimum Support Prices (Incorrect)**: MSP is a price guarantee announced by the government *before* the sowing season to protect farmers from any sharp fall in agricultural prices.
3. **Issue Prices (Incorrect)**: This is the subsidized price at which food grains are distributed to the consumers/beneficiaries through fair price shops under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
4. **Ceiling of Prices (Incorrect)**: This is the maximum legal limit set by the government on the price of a good or service to protect consumers from exploitation.
The term ‘Operation Flood’ is concerned about
A)
Increasing production of fish
B)
Prevention of floods in flood prone areas
C)
Construction of Dams along river banks to check floods
D)
Increasing production of milk and milk products
‘Operation Flood’, launched in 1970 by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), is the world's largest dairy development program. It led to the 'White Revolution' in India, transforming the country from a milk-deficient nation into the world's largest milk producer by significantly increasing the production of milk and milk products. Option 'a' is incorrect because the increase in fish production is known as the 'Blue Revolution'. Options 'b' and 'c' are incorrect as they literally interpret the word 'flood', whereas the term was used metaphorically to represent 'flooding' the nation with milk.
Konkan railways connect the states of
A)
Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka
B)
Karnataka, Goa and Tamil Nadu
C)
Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat
D)
Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra
The Konkan Railway is a 741 km long railway line running along the western coast of India. It connects Roha in Maharashtra to Thokur in Karnataka, passing through the state of Goa, thereby directly connecting Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. Option b is incorrect because Tamil Nadu is on the southeastern coast of India. Option c is incorrect because Gujarat lies to the north of Maharashtra, while the Konkan route runs southwards. Option d is incorrect because the Konkan Railway line itself terminates at Thokur (near Mangaluru) in Karnataka and does not enter Kerala, although it links to the Southern Railway network serving Kerala.
Which one of the following is NOT a merit of bi – party system?
A)
difficulty in the formation of an alternative government
B)
stability of government
C)
strong policies
D)
easy choice for the people
In a bi-party (two-party) system, there are only two major political parties. If the ruling party loses its majority or fails, the opposition party can easily and smoothly form an alternative government. Therefore, there is no 'difficulty' in forming an alternative government, making option (a) NOT a merit of a bi-party system. On the other hand, stability of government (b), strong and consistent policies (c), and an easy choice for the voters (d) are all well-established merits of a bi-party system.
The government has merged the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSP) into a single entity on 23rd May, 2019 called
A)
National Statistical Commission (NSC)
B)
National Statistical Office (NSO)
C)
National Sample Office (NSO)
D)
National Commission Office (NCO)
On 23rd May 2019, the Government of India approved the merger of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to form a single overarching agency called the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Option 'a' (National Statistical Commission) is incorrect as the NSC is an autonomous advisory body established in 2005, not the merged entity. Options 'c' and 'd' are incorrect names and do not exist in this context.
To prevent a person from holding a public office to which he is not entitled, the court issues the writ of
A)
mandamus
B)
certiorari
C)
Quo Warranto
D)
prohibition
The writ of 'Quo Warranto' (which literally means 'by what authority or warrant') is issued by the court to enquire into the legality of a person's claim to a public office, thereby preventing them from illegally holding a public office to which they are not entitled.
- Mandamus (option a) is a command issued to a public official or body to perform a mandatory public duty that they have failed to perform.
- Certiorari (option b) is issued by a higher court to quash an order already passed by a lower court or tribunal.
- Prohibition (option d) is issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to prevent it from exceeding its jurisdiction or acting contrary to the rules of natural justice.
Zonal Councils are provided
A)
by the Constitution
B)
by Parliamentary Act
C)
under the 42nd Amendment Act
D)
by a Presidential ordinance
Zonal Councils are statutory (and not constitutional) bodies. They were established by an Act of Parliament, specifically Part III of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which divided the country into five zones and set up a council for each.
- Option 'a' is incorrect because Zonal Councils are not mentioned in the Constitution of India (unlike the Inter-State Council, which is a constitutional body under Article 263).
- Option 'c' is incorrect because the 42nd Amendment Act (1976) has no relation to the creation of these councils.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because they were created through a permanent Act of Parliament, not a temporary Presidential ordinance.
The ‘Rolling Plan’ concept in National Planning was introduced during the reign of
A)
Nehru government
B)
The Janata government
C)
Rajiv Gandhi government
D)
Indira Gandhi government
The 'Rolling Plan' concept was introduced by the Janata Party government in 1978, led by Prime Minister Morarji Desai. This plan rejected the Fifth Five-Year Plan of the previous Congress government and ran from 1978 to 1980 before being terminated by the incoming Indira Gandhi government.
- **Nehru government (a):** Initiated the traditional Five-Year Plan model in India starting in 1951.
- **Rajiv Gandhi government (c):** Was responsible for the Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985–1990).
- **Indira Gandhi government (d):** Launched the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Five-Year Plans, and ended the Rolling Plan in 1980 to resume the Five-Year Plan system.
The book “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” is
A)
a collection of the speeches of the PM Modi
B)
an autobiography of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley
C)
compiled by Bharatiya Sanskrit Pitham
D)
None of these
The book 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' is a compilation of selected speeches delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It focuses on the government's vision of inclusive development and was published by the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Option (b) is incorrect because it is not an autobiography of Arun Jaitley (though he released the book in 2019). Option (c) is incorrect because it was compiled by the Publications Division, not the Bharatiya Sanskrit Pitham.
Indo-Russia Riffles Limited was inaugurated on March 3, 2019 to manufacture new
A)
Kalashnikov AK-203 rifles
B)
Kalashnikov AK-47 rifles
C)
Kalashnikov AK-54 rifles
D)
Kalashnikov AK-303 rifles
Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) was inaugurated on March 3, 2019, at Korwa in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, specifically to manufacture the modern Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces. Option b (AK-47) is incorrect as it is an older, legacy model of the Kalashnikov family. Options c (AK-54) and d (AK-303) are incorrect because no such models are being manufactured under this joint venture.
India’s first Greenfield smart city project will start in
A)
Guwahati
B)
Ranchi
C)
Lucknow
D)
Mumbai
India's first Greenfield Smart City project is being developed in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Spanning over 656 acres in the Dhurwa area, it is designed from scratch as a fully planned, sustainable, and modern urban space with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Other options like Guwahati (a), Lucknow (c), and Mumbai (d) are part of the Smart Cities Mission but are primarily brownfield developments (retrofitting or redeveloping existing urban areas) rather than the first greenfield project.
Which of the following acts of the British Government in India gave permission to grant the Christian missionaries to go to India to propagate English and teach their religion?
A)
Charter act of 1813
B)
Charter act of 1833
C)
Charter act of 1853
D)
Charter act of 1858
The Charter Act of 1813 allowed Christian missionaries to travel to India to propagate their religion, spread English, and promote moral and religious improvements. It also set aside an annual sum of Rs. 1 Lakh for the education of Indians. Other options are incorrect because: the Charter Act of 1833 (b) ended the East India Company's trade monopoly with China and made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India; the Charter Act of 1853 (c) introduced an open competition system for civil services; and the Act of 1858 (d) transferred the governance of India from the East India Company directly to the British Crown.
Indian Civil Service was established by:
A)
Warren Hastings
B)
Lord Cornwallis
C)
Lord Wallesly
D)
William Bentinck
Lord Cornwallis is known as the 'Father of Indian Civil Service'. He established, reformed, and organized the civil services in India to curb corruption and make the administration more efficient and professional.
- **Warren Hastings (Option a):** He laid the initial foundation of civil administration in India, but it was Cornwallis who structured it into a systematic civil service.
- **Lord Wellesley (Option c):** He founded the Fort William College in 1800 for training young civil servants, but he did not establish the service itself.
- **William Bentinck (Option d):** He is famous for social reforms (such as the abolition of Sati) and introducing English as the medium of instruction, not for establishing the civil services.
Which of the following scheme is related to regional connectivity?
A)
UDAN
B)
RGGVY
C)
DDU-GK
D)
UDAY
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is a regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) launched by the Government of India in 2016. Its primary objective is to make flying affordable for the common man and to improve air connectivity to unserved and underserved airports in the country.
Brief overview of other options:
- UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) is a financial turnaround and revival package for electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs).
- DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) is a placement-linked skill training program for rural poor youth.
- RGGVY (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana) was a scheme launched for rural electricity infrastructure and household electrification, which has now been subsumed into the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).
Mahalwari system was introduced in:
A)
Madras, Bengal and Mysore
B)
Bengal, Odhisha and Mysore
C)
Western parts of UP, Punjab and Delhi
D)
Bengal, Calcutta and Delhi
The Mahalwari system of land revenue was introduced by Holt Mackenzie in 1822. It was implemented in the North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Delhi, Central Province, and Western parts of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Under this system, the revenue settlement was made with the entire village community, known as a 'Mahal'. Options 'a', 'b', and 'd' are incorrect because Bengal and Odisha were under the Permanent Settlement (Zamindari) system, while Madras and Mysore were under the Ryotwari system.
Which among the following is not a literary work of Mahatma Gandhi?
A)
Hind Swaraj
B)
Indian Opinion
C)
Yugantar
D)
Young India
Option 'c' (Yugantar) is correct because it was not a literary work of Mahatma Gandhi. Yugantar (or Jugantar) was a Bengali revolutionary newspaper founded in 1906 by Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Abhinash Bhattacharya, and Bhupendranath Dutt. The other options are works associated with Mahatma Gandhi: 'Hind Swaraj' (Option a) is a book written by him in 1909; 'Indian Opinion' (Option b) was a newspaper established by him in South Africa in 1903; and 'Young India' (Option d) was a weekly journal published by him from 1919 to 1931.