← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
According to the National Statistic Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India’s GDP growth rate in the Q1 (April-June) 2019-20 was
A)
5.7%
B)
5.2%
C)
5%
D)
4.9%
According to the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), India's GDP growth rate in the first quarter (Q1: April-June) of the financial year 2019-20 was 5%. This marked a significant slowdown from the 8% growth recorded in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, driven by a slump in manufacturing and agriculture sectors. The other options (5.7%, 5.2%, and 4.9%) are incorrect as they do not represent the official growth rate released by the NSO for this specific quarter.
The first English factory in India was established at:
A)
Hooghly
B)
Surat
C)
Calcutta
D)
Bombay
The first permanent English factory in India was established at Surat. In 1613, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir issued a farman permitting the English East India Company to establish a factory there under Thomas Aldworth.
- **Hooghly (a):** The English established their first factory in Bengal at Hooghly much later, in 1651.
- **Calcutta (c):** The settlement of Calcutta (now Kolkata) was founded by Job Charnock in 1690.
- **Bombay (d):** Bombay was acquired by the British Crown from the Portuguese as a royal dowry in 1661 and transferred to the East India Company in 1668.
Which Indian mass movement began with the famous ‘Dandi March’ of Mahatma Gandhi?
A)
Civil Disobedience Movement
B)
Non-Cooperation Movement
C)
Khilafat Movement
D)
Quit India Movement
The correct option is 'a'. The Civil Disobedience Movement was officially launched on April 6, 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt law at Dandi after completing the 24-day 'Dandi March' (Salt Satyagraha) which began on March 12, 1930.
Here is why the other options are incorrect:
- 'b' (Non-Cooperation Movement) was launched in 1920 in response to the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
- 'c' (Khilafat Movement) was initiated in 1919 by the Ali brothers to protect the Ottoman Caliphate.
- 'd' (Quit India Movement) was launched much later, in August 1942, during World War II, demanding an immediate end to British rule.
The play Nil Darpan (The Mirror of Indigo) was written in 1858-1859 by:
A)
Dinabandhu Mitra
B)
Bharatendu Harishchandra
C)
Makhanlal Chaturvedi
D)
Rabindranath Tagore
The play 'Nil Darpan' (The Mirror of Indigo) was written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858–1859 and published in Dhaka in 1860. It vividly portrayed the severe exploitation and oppression of Bengali peasants by British indigo planters, which sparked the Indigo Revolt (Nil Bidroha).
- Option 'b' (Bharatendu Harishchandra) is incorrect; he was a pioneer of modern Hindi literature and theatre, famous for works like 'Bharat Durdasha'.
- Option 'c' (Makhanlal Chaturvedi) is incorrect; he was a renowned Hindi poet and journalist, best known for his patriotic poem 'Pushp ki Abhilasha'.
- Option 'd' (Rabindranath Tagore) is incorrect; although a legendary Bengali polymath and Nobel laureate, his famous plays include 'Raktakarabi' and 'Dak Ghar', not 'Nil Darpan'.
Which of the following personalities were the founders of the ‘Home Rule Movement’? 1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak 2. Annie Besant 3. Mohammad Ali Jinnah 4. Mahatma Gandhi
A)
1 and 2
B)
1, 2 and 3
C)
1, 3 and 4
D)
1, 2, 3 and 4
The Home Rule Movement in India was launched in 1916 under the leadership of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant. Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916 at Belgaum, while Annie Besant founded the Home Rule League in September 1916 at Madras. Mohammad Ali Jinnah joined the movement later and led its Bombay branch, but he was not a founder. Mahatma Gandhi was also not a founder; he only accepted the presidency of the All India Home Rule League in 1920, renaming it to Swarajya Sabha.
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana was launched in March 2019 to assure
A)
Monthly pension of ‘3000 for the enrolled unorganized sector workers
B)
Monthly Old-Age Pension for citizen above 60 years of age
C)
Monthly old age pension of ‘3000 for disabled workers
D)
Monthly pension for all BPL families
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme launched in March 2019 for unorganized sector workers (such as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, agricultural workers, etc.) aged between 18 and 40 years with a monthly income of ₹15,000 or less. Under this scheme, beneficiaries receive an assured minimum monthly pension of ₹3,000 after attaining the age of 60 years. Option 'b' is incorrect because the scheme is not for all citizens above 60 years of age. Option 'c' is incorrect because it is not specifically targeted at disabled workers. Option 'd' is incorrect because the scheme is a contributory pension scheme for unorganized workers, not a general pension for all BPL families.
Which of the following leader was not moderate?
A)
Dada Bhai Naorojis
B)
Anand Charlu
C)
Bipin Chandra Pal
D)
Madan Mohan Malviya
Bipin Chandra Pal was a prominent leader of the extremist (or radical) faction of the Indian National Congress, famously known as part of the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio (along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak). He advocated for active resistance, Swadeshi, and boycott of British goods rather than the moderate approach of petitions and constitutional agitation. On the other hand, Dada Bhai Naoroji (a), Anand Charlu (b), and Madan Mohan Malviya (d) were all leading figures of the Moderate phase of the Congress, who believed in peaceful and constitutional methods to achieve political reforms.
Who was the founder of the Muslim League in 1906 ?
A)
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B)
Shaukat Ali
C)
Nawab Khwaja Salimullah
D)
Aga Khan
The All-India Muslim League was founded on December 30, 1906, in Dacca (now Dhaka, Bangladesh). Nawab Khwaja Salimullah of Dhaka was the key founder who proposed the resolution to establish the political party.
- **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Muhammad Ali Jinnah (a):** He did not participate in the founding of the Muslim League; he joined the party much later in 1913.
- **Aga Khan (d):** Sir Aga Khan III was elected as the first permanent President of the Muslim League, but he was not the primary initiator/founder.
- **Shaukat Ali (b):** He was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement alongside his brother Mohammad Ali, and was not a founder of the Muslim League in 1906.
In May 2016, the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 was amended to provide a statutory basis for the implementation of which of the following:
A)
The flexible inflation targeting framework
B)
The flexible deflation targeting framework
C)
The flexible Banking Ombudsman framework
D)
The flexible KYC framework
In May 2016, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934 was amended through the Finance Act, 2016, to provide a statutory basis for the implementation of the flexible inflation targeting framework. This amendment empowered the Government of India, in consultation with the RBI, to set an inflation target once every five years and led to the constitution of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to achieve this target. Options 'b', 'c', and 'd' are incorrect because deflation targeting, the Banking Ombudsman framework, and KYC guidelines are not the subjects of this specific statutory amendment to the RBI Act.
The first Santhal Rebellion (1854) was led by
A)
Birsa Munda
B)
Bir Singh
C)
Sidhu and Kanhu
D)
Daroga Mahesh Lal Dutt
The early phase of the Santhal Rebellion in 1854 was led by Bir Singh of Sasan, who organized early resistance and conducted raids against oppressive moneylenders (mahajans) and landlords.
- Option 'b' is correct because Bir Singh led this initial 1854 uprising before the movement escalated.
- Option 'c' is incorrect because Sidhu and Kanhu led the massive, well-known Santhal Hool (rebellion) of 1855–1856.
- Option 'a' is incorrect because Birsa Munda led the Munda Ulgulan (rebellion) much later, between 1899 and 1900.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because Mahesh Lal Dutt was a corrupt police inspector (Daroga) who was killed by the Santhals during the 1855 rebellion.
Who established Prarthna Samaj?
A)
Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar
B)
Derozio
C)
David Hare
D)
Athmaram Panduranga with the help of Keshav Chandra Sen
Prarthana Samaj was established in Bombay in 1867 by Dr. Atmaram Panduranga with the guidance and help of the prominent Brahmo Samaj leader, Keshav Chandra Sen. Its primary aim was to reform Hindu society through rational worship and social reforms like women's education and the abolition of child marriage. Other options are incorrect because: (a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a key reformer in Bengal known for advocating widow remarriage; (b) Henry Vivian Derozio founded the Young Bengal Movement; and (c) David Hare was a Scottish philanthropist who helped establish the Hindu College in Calcutta.
Which of the following statements is correct about the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A by the Constitutional Order of the President of India?
A)
The state of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories.
B)
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2009 come into effect on 31st October 2019.
C)
Ladakh will be administered by Lt. Governor acting on behalf of the Central Government.
D)
This Constitutional Order of the President superseded the Order of 1950.
Option 'c' is correct because, under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, Ladakh was established as a Union Territory without a legislature, to be administered by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President, acting on behalf of the Central Government.
Other options are incorrect because:
- Option 'a' is grammatically incomplete and does not form a correct statement.
- Option 'b' is incorrect because the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was enacted in 2019, not 2009.
- Option 'd' is incorrect because the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 superseded the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, not 1950.
Which among the following cities saw the first instance of Satyagraha in India?
A)
Surat
B)
Kheda
C)
Champaran
D)
Ahmedabad
The correct option is 'c' (Champaran). Mahatma Gandhi launched the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 in Bihar, which was the first Satyagraha movement led by him in India. It was organized to protest against the oppressive Tinkathia system imposed on indigo farmers.
- Option 'b' (Kheda) is incorrect because the Kheda Satyagraha took place later, in 1918, in support of peasants who could not pay taxes due to crop failure.
- Option 'd' (Ahmedabad) is incorrect because the Ahmedabad Mill Strike occurred in 1918, where Gandhi used a hunger strike for the first time.
- Option 'a' (Surat) is incorrect as it was not the site of Gandhi's first Satyagraha in India.
Which institution got 1st rank in the NIRF’s India Rankings 2019 released by President Ram Nath Kovind on April 8, 2019?
A)
IIT Kharagpur
B)
IIT Madras
C)
IIT Delhi
D)
IISc Bangalore
In the NIRF India Rankings 2019 released by President Ram Nath Kovind on April 8, 2019, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) secured the 1st rank in the 'Overall' category. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore secured the 2nd rank, while IIT Delhi secured the 3rd rank. IIT Kharagpur was ranked 5th in the same category.
The present Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is
A)
DV Sadananda
B)
Ramvilas Paswan
C)
Ravi Shankar Prasad
D)
Nitin Gadkari
At the time this exam question was framed (during the Modi 2.0 cabinet from 2019 to 2021), Nitin Gadkari served as the Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), in addition to his portfolio as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
Why other options are incorrect:
- **DV Sadananda Gowda** (Option a) was the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers during this period.
- **Ramvilas Paswan** (Option b) was the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- **Ravi Shankar Prasad** (Option c) was the Minister of Law and Justice, Communications, and Electronics and Information Technology.
Which of the following British officials in India was associated with the Dual System of Administration?
A)
Robert Clive
B)
Lord Wallesly
C)
Lord Dalhausie
D)
Lord Cornwallis
Robert Clive introduced the Dual System of Government (or Dual Administration) in Bengal in 1765 following the Treaty of Allahabad. Under this system, the administration was split into two: 'Diwani' (the right to collect revenue, which was acquired by the British East India Company) and 'Nizamat' (administrative and police powers, which remained with the Nawab of Bengal). This allowed the Company to enjoy power without any responsibility, while the Nawab had all the responsibility without any power.
- Lord Wellesley (option b) is associated with the 'Subsidiary Alliance' system.
- Lord Dalhousie (option c) is famous for the 'Doctrine of Lapse'.
- Lord Cornwallis (option d) is known for introducing the 'Permanent Settlement' of Bengal in 1793 and administrative reforms.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a great 19th Century Social Reformer who struggle form which of the following social cause?
A)
Female Education
B)
Abolition of Sati
C)
Widow Remarriage
D)
Untouchability
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is most famously known for his relentless crusade for the legalization of widow remarriage in India. His petitioning and intellectual arguments from ancient Hindu texts directly led to the enactment of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856. While he also made significant contributions to 'Female Education' (Option a), his primary and most defining struggle was for widow remarriage. 'Abolition of Sati' (Option b) was championed by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and the fight against 'Untouchability' (Option d) was led by later reformers like B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
In which country has the PM Narendra Modi launched BHIM, Rupay Card and SBI Apps recently?
A)
Indonesia
B)
Malaysia
C)
Singapore
D)
Brazil
In May 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three Indian digital payment apps—BHIM, RuPay, and SBI app—at the 'Business, Innovation and Community Event' in Singapore. This marked the international launch of India's digital payment systems. While PM Modi visited Indonesia (a) and Malaysia (b) during the same three-nation tour, the official launch of these apps took place in Singapore. Brazil (d) is incorrect as no such launch occurred there.
Arrange the following events/movements in the correct order of their chronology: 1. Rowlatt Act Satyagraha 2. Civil Disobedience Movement 3. Boycott of Simon Commission 4. Quit India Movement.
A)
1-2-3-4
B)
1-3-2-4
C)
2-3-4-1
D)
2-3-1-4
To find the correct chronological order, we can look at the years these historical events took place:
1. **Rowlatt Act Satyagraha**: Launched by Mahatma Gandhi in **1919** against the repressive Rowlatt Act.
2. **Boycott of Simon Commission**: The Simon Commission arrived in India in **1928**, leading to widespread protests and boycotts because it had no Indian members.
3. **Civil Disobedience Movement**: Launched in **1930** with the historic Dandi Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi.
4. **Quit India Movement**: Launched in August **1942** demanding an end to British rule in India.
Arranging these events in chronological order gives: 1 (1919) -> 3 (1928) -> 2 (1930) -> 4 (1942), which corresponds to the sequence **1-3-2-4** (Option b). Other options are incorrect because they do not follow this correct chronological sequence.
Which of the following act ended the monopoly of trade of east India Company with china and sea route also?
A)
Pitt’s India Act, AD 1784
B)
The charter Act, 1813 AD
C)
Charter Act, 1833 AD
D)
The Regulating Act, AD 1773
The Charter Act of 1833 AD completely ended the commercial monopoly of the East India Company, including its monopoly on trade with China and trade in tea (which had been retained under the Charter Act of 1813). This act transformed the Company into a purely administrative body. In contrast, the Charter Act of 1813 (Option b) only ended the Company's monopoly in India, while preserving its monopoly on trade with China and tea. Pitt's India Act of 1784 (Option a) established a system of dual control over the Company's affairs, and the Regulating Act of 1773 (Option d) was the first parliamentary act to regulate the Company's administration but did not abolish its trade monopolies.
Moplah revolt occurred in:
A)
Bengal
B)
Bihar
C)
Uttar Pradesh
D)
Malabar region
The Moplah Revolt (also known as the Malabar Rebellion) of 1921 occurred in the Malabar region of Kerala. It was an armed uprising by the Mappila (Moplah) Muslim peasantry against the British colonial authorities and local Hindu landlords (Jenmis). Bengal (option a) is known for uprisings like the Indigo Revolt; Bihar (option b) was the site of the Champaran Satyagraha; and Uttar Pradesh (option c) witnessed the Eka and Kisan Sabha movements, making these options incorrect.
Who of the following is not the appointed Advocates for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
A)
Erna Solberg
B)
Boris Johnson
C)
Nadia Murad
D)
Dia Mirza
Boris Johnson is the correct answer because he has never been appointed as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate. On the other hand, the other options are officially appointed SDG Advocates: Erna Solberg (former Prime Minister of Norway) served as the Co-chair of the SDG Advocates; Nadia Murad (Nobel Peace Prize laureate) and Dia Mirza (Indian actress and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador) are both prominent members of the UN Secretary-General's SDG Advocates group, working to mobilize global action to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
The fiscal deficit of the Union Government of India for the FY 2018-19 was
A)
3.6% of GDP
B)
3.5% of GDP
C)
3.4% of GDP
D)
3.3% of GDP
The fiscal deficit of the Union Government of India for the financial year 2018-19 stood at 3.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although the initial budget estimate (BE) for FY 2018-19 was set at 3.3%, it was revised upwards to 3.4% in the interim budget and eventually met at 3.4%. Option 'd' (3.3%) represents the initial budget target, while option 'b' (3.5%) was the fiscal deficit for the previous fiscal year (FY 2017-18). Option 'a' (3.6%) is incorrect as it does not correspond to the actual fiscal deficit of FY 2018-19.
Poshan Rally is associated with
A)
Nutrition
B)
Maternal Health
C)
Infant Mortality Rate
D)
HIV
The term 'Poshan' translates to 'Nutrition' in Hindi. The 'Poshan Rally' is organized as part of the 'Poshan Abhiyaan' (National Nutrition Mission), which is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. While maternal health (Option b) and infant mortality rate (Option c) are closely linked to nutritional status, the direct and primary focus of the Poshan Rally is spreading awareness about 'Nutrition'. HIV (Option d) is unrelated to this initiative.
The Indian Cricket Captain, Virad Kohli has became the quickest batsman to complete 20000 international runs in his _____
A)
414th International Innings
B)
415th International Innings
C)
416th International Innings
D)
417th International Innings
Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 20,000 international runs in his 417th international innings (131 in Tests, 224 in ODIs, and 62 in T20Is) on June 27, 2019, during a World Cup match against the West Indies. He broke the previous record held jointly by Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, who both took 453 innings to reach the milestone. Options a, b, and c are incorrect as they represent fewer innings than the actual 417 innings Kohli took to achieve this record.