← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Who among the following persons were put on trial in the Red Fort in Delhi?
A)
Shah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon, Subash Chandra Bose
B)
Shah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon, P.K. Saghal
C)
Shah Nawaz Khan, P.K. Saghal, Subash Chandra Bose
D)
None of the above
The Red Fort trials (also known as the INA trials) of 1945–1946 involved the joint court-martial of three officers of the Indian National Army (INA): Colonel Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal (P.K. Saghal), and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (G.S. Dhillon). They were tried for 'waging war against the King-Emperor'. Options 'a' and 'c' are incorrect because they include Subhash Chandra Bose, who was the supreme commander of the INA but was never captured or put on trial, having reportedly died in a plane crash in August 1945. Option 'd' is incorrect because option 'b' is the correct combination.
The newly elected President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
A)
K. Raghu
B)
Debashis Mitra
C)
Atul Kumar Gupta
D)
Prafulla Premsukh
Debashis Mitra was elected as the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the term 2022-23. Among the other options: K. Raghu (option a) served as the President for the term 2014-15; Atul Kumar Gupta (option c) served as the President for the term 2020-21; and Prafulla Premsukh Chhajed (option d) served as the President for the term 2019-20.
GOI in the event of ‘Tiranga Utsav’ released a commemorative postage stamp in honour of the designer of India’s national flag
A)
Kasturba Gandhi
B)
Bankim Chandra Chaterjee
C)
Rabindra Nath Tagore
D)
Pingali Venkayya
The correct option is 'd' (Pingali Venkayya). Pingali Venkayya was a freedom fighter and the designer of India's national flag. On August 2, 2022, during the 'Tiranga Utsav' organized to celebrate his 146th birth anniversary, the Government of India released a commemorative postage stamp in his honour. Other options are incorrect because: 'a' Kasturba Gandhi was a prominent freedom fighter and wife of Mahatma Gandhi; 'b' Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed India's national song, 'Vande Mataram'; and 'c' Rabindra Nath Tagore composed India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.
Where is the Taj Mahal situated?
A)
Delhi
B)
Jaipur
C)
Agra
D)
Meerut
The correct option is 'c' (Agra). The Taj Mahal is an iconic ivory-white marble mausoleum located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Delhi (Option a) is the capital of India and is home to historical monuments like the Red Fort and Qutub Minar, but not the Taj Mahal.
- Jaipur (Option b) is the capital of Rajasthan, famous for monuments like the Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort.
- Meerut (Option d) is a historical city in Uttar Pradesh known for its association with the Revolt of 1857, but it does not house the Taj Mahal.
Which of the following was the cause for the decline of Cotton Industry in India?
A)
Exploitation of cotton weavers by officials of the English East India Company and large-scale influx of foreign piece-goods into India
B)
Luxurious life enjoyed by the Indian rulers
C)
Paucity of capital, lack of technological development and innovations
D)
None of the above
The decline of the Indian cotton textile industry during the colonial period was primarily caused by the policies of the British East India Company. Firstly, the Company's officials heavily exploited local weavers through coercive contracts and monopolistic practices, forcing them to sell their goods at throwaway prices. Secondly, the Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the mass production of cheap, machine-made textiles. These foreign piece-goods flooded the Indian market virtually duty-free, while heavy tariffs were imposed on Indian textiles exported to Britain, making Indian handloom products uncompetitive. Option B is incorrect because Indian rulers were traditionally patrons of the textile industry, not the cause of its decline. Option C is incorrect because while technological stagnation was present, it was a consequence of colonial suppression rather than the primary driver of the industry's collapse.
Sir Lanka recently signed a bailout package agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth
A)
$2.9 billion
B)
$2.3 billion
C)
$ 2.6 billion
D)
$ 1.3 billion
In March 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of approximately $2.9 billion (SDR 2.286 billion) to support Sri Lanka's economic policies and reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. The other options ($2.3 billion, $2.6 billion, and $1.3 billion) are incorrect as they do not match the official bailout amount approved by the IMF.
“The British rule in India has brought about moral, material, cultural and spiritual ruination of India… I am out to destroy this system …we are not to kill anybody but it is our Dharma to see that the curse of this government is blotted out” Who made the above statement?
A)
Jayaprakash Narayan
B)
Abul Kalam Azad
C)
Mahatma Gandhi
D)
Jawaharlal Nehru
The correct option is 'c' (Mahatma Gandhi). This statement was made by Mahatma Gandhi during the historic Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March) in 1930. In this speech, he emphasized his philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) and moral duty (Dharma) to dismantle the British colonial system, which he viewed as a curse that caused the moral, material, cultural, and spiritual ruin of India.
- Jayaprakash Narayan (a) was a prominent socialist leader and independence activist, famous for leading the 'Total Revolution' in the 1970s, but he did not make this statement.
- Abul Kalam Azad (b) was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and a key freedom fighter, but this quote is not attributed to him.
- Jawaharlal Nehru (d) was India's first Prime Minister, known for his 'Tryst with Destiny' speech, but he is not the author of this quote.
Who was the King of Persia that plundered the riches of India 1739?
A)
Ahmad Shah Abdali
B)
Timur
C)
Genghis Khan
D)
Nadir Shah
Nadir Shah, the Emperor of Persia (Iran), invaded India in 1739. He defeated the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah at the Battle of Karnal and went on to plunder Delhi, carrying away immense wealth, including the famous Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Ahmad Shah Abdali (Option a) was the founder of the Durrani Empire who invaded India later, notably fighting the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. Timur (Option b) was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who invaded India much earlier, in 1398. Genghis Khan (Option c) was the founder of the Mongol Empire who reached the Indus River in 1221 but did not invade deep into India.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) 2022 will be held in
A)
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
B)
Shanghai, China
C)
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
D)
Samrakand, Uzbekistan
The correct option is 'd' (Samarkand, Uzbekistan). The 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held on September 15–16, 2022, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- Option 'a' (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) is incorrect as Bishkek hosted the SCO Summit in 2019.
- Option 'b' (Shanghai, China) is incorrect as Shanghai did not host the 2022 summit.
- Option 'c' (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) is incorrect because, although Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and has hosted previous summits (such as in 2016), the 2022 summit was specifically held in the historic city of Samarkand.
PM-SHRI stands for
A)
Pradhan Mantri Scheme for Rising Institutions
B)
Pradhan Mantri Scheme for Stand-Up India
C)
Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising Industries
D)
Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India
PM-SHRI stands for 'Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India'. It is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India aimed at developing and upgrading more than 14,500 schools across the country to showcase the components of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Other options are incorrect because: Option 'a' incorrectly uses 'Scheme' and 'Institutions'; Option 'b' refers to a completely different initiative (Stand-Up India); and Option 'c' incorrectly uses 'Industries' instead of 'India'.
Which of the following was one of the most important result of the Revolt of 1857?
A)
The Transfer of Power from the East India Company to the British Crown
B)
The end of British rule in India
C)
The introduction of Military rule in India
D)
None of the above
The Revolt of 1857 led directly to the passage of the Government of India Act 1858. This act abolished the rule of the British East India Company and transferred the governance of India directly to the British Crown, making option 'a' correct. Option 'b' is incorrect because British rule did not end in 1857; it transitioned into the British Raj, which lasted until 1947. Option 'c' is incorrect because military rule was not established; instead, a formal civil administration under a Secretary of State for India and a Viceroy was introduced. Option 'd' is incorrect as option 'a' is the correct statement.
The SMILE scheme launched by the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment stands for
A)
Support for Minority Independence Livelihood and Enterprise
B)
Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise
C)
Support for Marginalized Independence for Livelihood and Enterprise
D)
Support for Minority Indipendence for Livelihood and Enterprise
The SMILE scheme stands for 'Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise'. It is a comprehensive umbrella scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, designed to provide welfare measures, rehabilitation, medical facilities, counseling, and skill development to transgender persons and persons engaged in the act of begging. Options 'a' and 'd' are incorrect because they use the word 'Minority' instead of 'Marginalized'. Option 'c' is incorrect because it uses 'Independence' instead of 'Individuals'.
Cyber helpline number 1930 in India is related to
A)
Web attacks
B)
Cyber financial fraud
C)
Cross-site scripting
D)
Crimes against people
The cyber helpline number 1930 (formerly 155260) is the national helpline in India dedicated to reporting and preventing cyber financial fraud. It is operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs to help victims of online financial fraud quickly report incidents and freeze defrauded funds. Options 'a' (Web attacks) and 'c' (Cross-site scripting) refer to specific technical cyber threats, while option 'd' (Crimes against people) is a broader category of offenses, none of which are the primary focus of the 1930 helpline.
Women’s singles Wimbledon 2022 was won by
A)
Elena Rybakina
B)
Swiatek Iga
C)
Badosa Paula
D)
Kontaveit Anett
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the Women's singles title at Wimbledon 2022 by defeating Ons Jabeur in the final (3–6, 6–2, 6–2). This was her first Grand Slam singles title, making her the first Kazakhstani player to win a major singles title. Iga Swiatek (b) won the French Open and US Open in 2022, while Paula Badosa (c) and Anett Kontaveit (d) did not reach the finals of Wimbledon 2022.
Which of the following pairs is correct?
A)
Lord Dalhousie – Subsidiary alliance
B)
Annie Besant–Indian National Congress
C)
General Dyer – Jallianwalla Bagh
D)
Tilak – Swaraj party
1. **General Dyer – Jallianwalla Bagh (Correct):** Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer was the British officer who ordered his troops to open fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed civilians at Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, making this pair historically correct.
2. **Lord Dalhousie – Subsidiary alliance (Incorrect):** The Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by Lord Wellesley (1798). Lord Dalhousie is associated with the 'Doctrine of Lapse'.
3. **Annie Besant – Indian National Congress (Incorrect/Less Appropriate):** While Annie Besant was the president of the INC in 1917, she is primarily and uniquely associated with the Home Rule League.
4. **Tilak – Swaraj party (Incorrect):** The Swaraj Party was founded by Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das in 1923. Bal Gangadhar Tilak passed away in 1920 and was never associated with it.
What is the Indian term for the Europeans?
A)
Sarkar
B)
Sahib
C)
Sahukar
D)
Sepoy
The correct option is 'b' (Sahib). During the colonial period in India, the term 'Sahib' (originally an Arabic word meaning master or lord) was commonly used by Indians to address or refer to Europeans, particularly British officials, as a term of respect or authority.
- 'Sarkar' (Option a) refers to the government, state, or supreme authority.
- 'Sahukar' (Option c) refers to a traditional Indian moneylender or merchant.
- 'Sepoy' (Option d) is the anglicized version of 'sipahi', which refers to an Indian soldier serving under British command.
Predecessor of the current Army Vice Chief Lt. Gen. B.S. Raju was
A)
Lt. Gen. Manoj Naravane
B)
Lt. Gen. Satinder Kumar Saini
C)
Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande
D)
Lt. Gen. Chandi Prasad
Lt. Gen. B.S. Raju took over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) on May 1, 2022. He succeeded Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande, who vacated the post to assume office as the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on April 30, 2022. Among the other options: Lt. Gen. Manoj Naravane (Option a) served as the Chief of the Army Staff prior to Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande; Lt. Gen. Chandi Prasad Mohanty (Option d) was the predecessor of Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande as Vice Chief; and Lt. Gen. Satinder Kumar Saini (Option b) served as the Vice Chief prior to Lt. Gen. Chandi Prasad Mohanty.
Who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal?
A)
William Jones
B)
H.I. Colebrook
C)
James Prinsep
D)
Max Mueller
The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded by Sir William Jones on January 15, 1784, to promote Oriental research and study the history, antiquities, arts, sciences, and literature of Asia.
- **Option b (H.I. Colebrook):** Henry Thomas Colebrooke was a pioneering Sanskrit scholar and later served as the president of the society, but he was not its founder.
- **Option c (James Prinsep):** James Prinsep was a brilliant scholar who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts and served as the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society, but he joined much later.
- **Option d (Max Mueller):** Friedrich Max Müller was a German philologist and Orientalist famous for his translations of sacred texts (like the Rigveda), but he was not associated with the founding of the society.
The former Soviet Union leader Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev who died on the 30th August 2022 was buried in
A)
Old Donskoe, Moscow
B)
Kremlin Wall Necropolis, Moscow
C)
Red Square, Moscow
D)
Novodevichy, Moscow
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union who passed away on August 30, 2022, was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow (Option d) next to his wife, Raisa Gorbacheva. Option b (Kremlin Wall Necropolis) and Option c (Red Square) are incorrect because, unlike many other Soviet leaders, Gorbachev was not buried at the Kremlin Wall. Option a (Old Donskoe) is another cemetery in Moscow but is not his final resting place.
The 17th Group of 20 (G20) Summit 2022 scheduled to be held in Bali, Indonesia will focus on which theme?
A)
Global Economy
B)
Trade & Investment
C)
Environment, Recover and Empower
D)
Recover Together, Recover Stronger
The correct option is 'd'. The 17th G20 Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia, on November 15–16, 2022, under the presidency of Indonesia. The official theme for the summit was 'Recover Together, Recover Stronger', which aimed to address the collective global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a resilient and sustainable future. Options 'a', 'b', and 'c' are incorrect as they do not represent the official theme of the 2022 Bali Summit, although they represent general focus areas of G20 discussions.
During the reign of Aurangazeb, the Mughal nobility were divided into three racial categories;
A)
Irani, Madnavi, Hundustani
B)
Irani, Turani, Afghanisthani
C)
Irani, Turani, Hindustani
D)
Irani, Afghanisthani, Hindusthani
During the Mughal rule, especially during the reign of Aurangzeb, the nobility (mansabdars) was divided into three major racial/ethnic factions: the Iranis (Persians), the Turanis (Central Asians from Transoxiana), and the Hindustanis (Indian-born Muslims). These groups competed for power, influence, and key administrative posts in the empire. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they either include 'Madnavi' (which is not a recognized category of the nobility) or replace 'Turanis' or 'Hindustanis' with 'Afghanisthani', which was not one of the three primary structural divisions of the Mughal court nobility.
Which Governor General of India passed a law in 1821 making the custom of Sati illegal and punishable by law?
A)
Lord Curzon
B)
Lord Mayo
C)
Lord William Bentinck
D)
Lord Hardinge
Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India, passed the Bengal Sati Regulation Act on December 4, 1829 (noted as 1821 in the question due to a common typographical error in some exams), which made the practice of Sati illegal and punishable by criminal courts. He was strongly supported in this reform by the Indian social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Other options are incorrect because: Lord Mayo (1869–1872) is known for conducting the first census in India; Lord Hardinge I (1844–1848) is associated with the First Anglo-Sikh War; and Lord Curzon (1899–1905) is infamous for the Partition of Bengal in 1905.
With which one of the following movements is the slogan “Do or Die” associated?
A)
Non Co-operation Movement
B)
Civil Disobedience Movement
C)
Quit India Movement
D)
Swadeshi Movement
The slogan 'Do or Die' (Karo ya Maro) is associated with the Quit India Movement. It was coined by Mahatma Gandhi during his speech at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on August 8, 1942, urging Indians to either free India or die in the attempt.
* **Non Co-operation Movement (a):** Launched in 1920, this movement focused on peaceful non-cooperation with British rule and did not feature this slogan.
* **Civil Disobedience Movement (b):** Launched in 1930 with the Dandi Salt March, this movement aimed at defying salt laws and other British regulations.
* **Swadeshi Movement (d):** Launched in 1905 in protest against the partition of Bengal, this movement focused on boycotting British goods and promoting indigenous products.
Rafael Nadal’s record win of 21st Grand Slam men’s title at the Australian Open was done defeating
A)
Nadal
B)
Medvedev
C)
Zverev
D)
Alcaraz
Rafael Nadal won his historic 21st Grand Slam men's singles title at the 2022 Australian Open by defeating Daniil Medvedev in an epic five-set final (2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5). Other options are incorrect because: Option 'a' (Nadal) is the winner himself; Option 'c' (Zverev) was eliminated in the fourth round by Denis Shapovalov; and Option 'd' (Alcaraz) lost in the third round to Matteo Berrettini.
Under which category did Jeremy Lalrinnunga win Gold medal in Men’s Weightlifting at the Common Wealth Games 2022?
A)
65 Kgs
B)
66 Kgs
C)
70 Kgs
D)
67 Kgs
Jeremy Lalrinnunga won the gold medal in the Men's 67 kg weightlifting category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. He achieved this feat by lifting a total of 300 kg (140 kg in snatch and 160 kg in clean and jerk), setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the process. The other options (65 Kgs, 66 Kgs, and 70 Kgs) are incorrect as they do not represent the weight category in which he competed and won.