← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
Who advocated the introduction of ‘downward filtration’ in order to educate the masses?
A)
Lord Dalhousie
B)
Warren Hastings
C)
Raja Ram Mohun Roy
D)
Lord Macaulay
Lord Macaulay advocated the 'Downward Filtration Theory' in his famous Minute on Indian Education in 1835. The theory proposed educating a small section of upper and middle-class Indians who would then act as a medium to transmit Western education and culture down to the masses.
- Lord Dalhousie (Option a) was associated with Wood's Despatch (1854), which marked a shift away from the downward filtration theory by emphasizing mass education.
- Warren Hastings (Option b) established the Calcutta Madrasa in 1781 to promote traditional Islamic studies.
- Raja Ram Mohun Roy (Option c) was a social reformer who supported modern Western education but did not formulate the downward filtration policy.
Who propounded the theory of “Drain of Wealth”?
A)
Mahadev Govinda Ranade
B)
Dada Bhai Naoroji
C)
Chandra Datta
D)
Gopal Khrishna Gokhale
Dada Bhai Naoroji, known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', propounded the 'Drain of Wealth' theory. He explained this concept in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901), highlighting how Britain was systematically draining India's wealth and resources, leading to widespread poverty. Mahadev Govinda Ranade (a) and Gopal Krishna Gokhale (d) were prominent nationalist leaders and economists who supported economic reforms but did not originate this theory. Chandra Datta (c) is not associated with the formulation of this theory.
Ratan Tata invested on a Senior-focused startup called
A)
Goodfellows by Shantanu Naidu
B)
Goodpeople by Ratan Tata
C)
Goodcompanion by Shantanu Naidu
D)
Goodassociate by Tata
The correct option is 'a'. Ratan Tata invested in 'Goodfellows', a startup founded by Shantanu Naidu that provides companionship services for senior citizens by pairing them with young graduates. Options 'b', 'c', and 'd' are incorrect because 'Goodpeople', 'Goodcompanion', and 'Goodassociate' are not the names of this senior-focused startup.
Queen Elizabeth II was the second longest reigning monarch after
A)
Bhumibol Aduyadej, Thailand
B)
Loius XIV, France
C)
Victoria, Britain
D)
Nahurito, Japan
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the second-longest reigning sovereign monarch in verified history, having reigned for 70 years and 214 days (1952–2022). She is second only to King Louis XIV of France (Option b), who holds the record for the longest verified reign in history at 72 years and 110 days (1643–1715).
* **Option a is incorrect:** King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is the third-longest reigning monarch in history, with a reign of 70 years and 126 days.
* **Option c is incorrect:** Queen Victoria of Britain reigned for 63 years and 216 days, which is shorter than Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
* **Option d is incorrect:** Emperor Naruhito of Japan (misspelled as Nahurito) ascended the throne recently in 2019.
Where was the Fort William College located?
A)
Calcutta
B)
Madras
C)
Bombay
D)
Delhi
Fort William College was established on July 10, 1800, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) by Lord Wellesley, the then Governor-General of British India. The academy was founded to train British civil servants in Indian languages, laws, history, and culture. Madras (b), Bombay (c), and Delhi (d) are incorrect because, although they were major presidencies or historical capitals, the college was specifically located within the Fort William complex in Calcutta, which served as the capital of British India at the time.
Consider the following statements concerning the Guarantee System: I. The British Indian Government introduced the Guarantee System to attract private investments on Railway constructions in India; II. The government agreed to pay an annual interest of 5% on the amount invested by the private companies; III. The government guaranteed that the amount of profit would be equally shared by the private companies and the government; IV. Maintenance of railways would be the sole responsibility of the private companies for up to 25 years. Which of the statements given above are correct?
A)
I, II, III and IV
B)
I and IV
C)
I and II
D)
I, II and III
The Guarantee System was introduced by the British Indian Government in 1849 to construct railways in India through private British enterprise.
* **Statement I is correct:** The system was designed to attract private British capital into Indian railway construction by minimizing their investment risk.
* **Statement II is correct:** The government guaranteed a free grant of land and a safe 5% annual interest/return on the capital invested by these private companies.
* **Statement III is correct:** Any surplus profits earned beyond the guaranteed 5% interest rate were to be shared equally between the private companies and the government.
* **Statement IV is incorrect:** The railway lines were leased to the private companies for 99 years (not 25 years), although the government retained the option to purchase them after 25 or 50 years. Furthermore, the government exercised strict supervision over their construction and maintenance, meaning it was not the sole responsibility of the private companies.
The current Comptroller and Auditor General of India is
A)
Shir Girish Chandra Murmu
B)
Rajiv Merishi
C)
Shashi Kant Sharma
D)
Vinod Rai
Shri Girish Chandra Murmu is the current Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. He assumed office on August 8, 2020, as the 14th CAG of India. The other options represent former CAGs: Rajiv Mehrishi (option b) served as the 13th CAG from 2017 to 2020; Shashi Kant Sharma (option c) served as the 12th CAG from 2013 to 2017; and Vinod Rai (option d) served as the 11th CAG from 2008 to 2013.
India’s first 3D printed Post Office will be located in
A)
Bengaluru
B)
Chennai
C)
New Delhi
D)
Kolkata
India's first 3D-printed post office is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka (specifically in Cambridge Layout, Ulsoor). It was constructed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in collaboration with IIT Madras and was inaugurated in August 2023. Chennai (b), New Delhi (c), and Kolkata (d) are incorrect as they did not host the country's first 3D-printed post office, despite being major hubs for technological and infrastructural developments.
World Environment Day is annually celebrated on
A)
4th June since 1972
B)
5th July since 1973
C)
4th July since 1972
D)
5th June since 1973
World Environment Day is celebrated globally on June 5th every year. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, and the first World Environment Day was held on 5th June 1973. Other options are incorrect because they state incorrect dates (4th June, 4th July, or 5th July) and incorrect starting years.
Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed while speaking at the
A)
Cornell University
B)
Chautauqua Institution, New York state
C)
Columbia University
D)
Union Square, New York
Author Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed multiple times on August 12, 2022, just as he was about to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, western New York state. The other options (Cornell University, Columbia University, and Union Square) are incorrect as they were not the locations where this specific incident occurred.
I. The Anti-partition protest led to the Swadeshi movement and the boycott of foreign goods; II. The Swadeshi movement created a great gulf between the Hindus and the Muslims. Which of the following is correct?
A)
I and II are Correct
B)
I is correct but II is incorrect
C)
I is incorrect but II is correct
D)
I and II are incorrect
1. **Statement I is correct**: The decision to partition Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon sparked massive anti-partition protests. This culminated in the formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement and the boycott of foreign goods at a historic meeting in Calcutta Town Hall on August 7, 1905.
2. **Statement II is correct**: Although there was initial unity, the Swadeshi movement eventually widened the gulf between Hindus and Muslims. The British actively employed a 'divide and rule' policy, projecting the partition as beneficial to Muslims (creating a Muslim-majority province in Eastern Bengal). Furthermore, the extensive use of Hindu religious symbols, festivals (like Shivaji and Ganapati festivals), and rituals by nationalist leaders alienated many Muslims, leading to the formation of the All India Muslim League in 1906.
Since both statements are historically accurate, option 'a' is the correct choice, and options 'b', 'c', and 'd' are incorrect.
What do you mean by the term Tinkhatia?
A)
Mughal Imperial order
B)
A term for Maratha Revenue demand
C)
Mughal system of land measurement
D)
A system that bound peasants to produce indigo in three twentieth part of their land
The term 'Tinkathia' refers to an oppressive system of indigo cultivation practiced in Champaran, Bihar, during the British colonial period. Under this system, peasant farmers were legally bound by European planters to cultivate indigo on 3/20th (three kathas out of twenty kathas, which make one bigha) of their land. This system led to widespread exploitation and eventually triggered Mahatma Gandhi's first satyagraha in India, the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917. Option 'a' is incorrect because a Mughal imperial order is called a 'Farman'. Option 'b' is incorrect because Maratha revenue demands were known as 'Chauth' and 'Sardeshmukhi'. Option 'c' is incorrect because Mughal land measurement systems involved units like 'Gaz' and systems like 'Zabti' or 'Dahsala'.
Who led the Khasi revolt against the British?
A)
Titu Mir
B)
Rani Gaidinliu
C)
Biku Bordoloi
D)
U-Tirot Sing Syiem
U-Tirot Sing Syiem was a Khasi chief (Syiem of Nongkhlaw) who led the Khasi revolt (1829–1833) against the British East India Company. The revolt was triggered by the British attempt to construct a road through the Khasi Hills to connect the Brahmaputra Valley with Sylhet.
- Option 'a' (Titu Mir) is incorrect as he led the Narkelberia Uprising in Bengal against local landlords and British indigo planters.
- Option 'b' (Rani Gaidinliu) is incorrect as she was a Naga leader who led the Heraka movement against British rule in the 20th century.
- Option 'c' (Biku Bordoloi) is incorrect as he is not associated with the Khasi rebellion.
Which parliament voted for a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035?
A)
Britain
B)
France
C)
European Union
D)
China
The European Parliament (European Union) formally voted in February 2023 to approve a landmark law that bans the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. This legislation aims to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. While Britain (UK) has a target of 2035, it was a policy adjustment rather than the landmark parliamentary vote referred to here. France is subject to this ban as an EU member state but did not pass it independently. China has targets for increasing New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) but has not enacted a total parliamentary ban on internal combustion engine cars by 2035.
Who was called the ‘Frontier Gandhi’?
A)
Pherozeshah Mehta
B)
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
C)
Muhamad Iqbal
D)
Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was widely known as the 'Frontier Gandhi' due to his close association with Mahatma Gandhi and his adherence to the principles of non-violence (Satyagraha) in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). He founded the 'Khudai Khidmatgar' (Servants of God) movement, also known as the Red Shirts, to oppose British colonial rule.
- **Pherozeshah Mehta** (Option a) was a prominent political leader and lawyer from Bombay, often referred to as the 'Lion of Bombay'.
- **Muhammad Ali Jinnah** (Option b) was the leader of the All-India Muslim League and the founder of Pakistan, revered as 'Quaid-e-Azam'.
- **Muhammad Iqbal** (Option c) was a renowned philosopher, poet, and politician who envisioned the idea of a separate homeland for Muslims in British India.
Who was the tribal leader that led the Munda Revolt or Ulgulan (Great Tumult)?
A)
Digambar Munda
B)
Birsa Munda
C)
Mahbir Munda
D)
Sisir Munda
Birsa Munda was the legendary tribal leader and freedom fighter who led the Munda Revolt, also known as the 'Ulgulan' (Great Tumult), in the late 19th century (1899–1900) in the Chotanagpur region. The movement aimed at establishing Munda Raj and resisting the exploitation by British authorities, missionaries, and landlords (dikus). The other options (Digambar Munda, Sisir Munda, and Mahbir Munda) are incorrect as they were not the leaders of this historic rebellion.
Referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad’ by Ahmed Albanna, Ambassador of the UAE to India is the
A)
Arab League
B)
EMEA
C)
I2U2
D)
G7
The correct option is 'c' (I2U2). The I2U2 Group, which stands for India, Israel, the UAE, and the USA, was termed the 'West Asian Quad' by Ahmed Albanna, the UAE Ambassador to India. This grouping focuses on joint investments and initiatives in six mutually identified areas: water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. Other options are incorrect because: 'Arab League' is a regional organization of Arab states; 'EMEA' is a geographical acronym standing for Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and 'G7' is an informal bloc of industrialized democracies (USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK) along with the EU.
Who completed a round trip voyage to India through the Cape of Good Hope in 1498?
A)
Megasthenes
B)
Magellan
C)
Christopher Columbus
D)
Vasco da Gama
The correct option is 'd' (Vasco da Gama). In 1497–1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama led the first maritime expedition from Europe to India, sailing around the southern tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope) and arriving in Calicut, India, in May 1498.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 'b' (Magellan): Ferdinand Magellan led the Spanish expedition that achieved the first circumnavigation of the Earth (1519–1522).
- 'a' (Megasthenes): Megasthenes was an ancient Greek historian and diplomat who visited India as an ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya around 300 BC.
- 'c' (Christopher Columbus): Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic in 1492 attempting to reach Asia, but instead reached the Americas.
India’s first indigenous Aircraft carrier (IAC-1) named INS Vikrant was constructed by
A)
Sea Blue Shipyard
B)
Samudra Shipyard
C)
Bombay Dockyard
D)
Cochin Shipyard
INS Vikrant (IAC-1), India's first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, was constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a government-owned shipbuilding facility in Kochi, Kerala. It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in September 2022. The other options are incorrect because: Sea Blue Shipyard and Samudra Shipyard are smaller private shipyards not capable of constructing large-scale warships like aircraft carriers; Bombay Dockyard (Naval Dockyard, Mumbai) is primarily a major refit and maintenance yard for the Indian Navy rather than the construction site for IAC-1.
Who devised the Satyagraha, a method of non-violent agitation in India?
A)
Raja ram Mohun Roy
B)
Mahatma Gandhi
C)
Motilal Nehru
D)
B.R. Ambedkar
Mahatma Gandhi devised and pioneered the concept of Satyagraha (holding onto truth), a unique method of non-violent resistance and mass agitation, which he first used in South Africa and later successfully implemented in the Indian independence movement. Raja Ram Mohun Roy (a) was a social reformer who founded the Brahmo Samaj. Motilal Nehru (c) was a prominent lawyer and leader of the Swaraj Party. B.R. Ambedkar (d) was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of Dalit rights.
Which one of the following was the frontier market in the Lushai Hills during the British rule?
A)
Sairang
B)
Zokhawthar
C)
Kolasib
D)
Aijal
During the British rule in the Lushai Hills (now Mizoram), Sairang, situated on the banks of the Tlawng (Dhaleswari) River, served as a crucial frontier market and river port. It was the primary gateway for trade, supply, and transit between the Lushai Hills and the plains of Cachar in Assam. In contrast, Zokhawthar (Option b) is a modern Indo-Myanmar border trade point; Kolasib (Option c) was a transit town but not a primary frontier market; and Aijal/Aizawl (Option d) was established as a military outpost and administrative headquarters rather than a frontier market.
Which of the following political party was A.O. Hume associated with?
A)
The Muslim League
B)
The Communist Party of India
C)
The Swarajist Party
D)
The Indian National Congress
Allan Octavian (A.O.) Hume was a retired British Civil Servant who played a pivotal role in the founding of the Indian National Congress (INC) in December 1885. He served as the party's first General Secretary. The other options are incorrect because: (a) The Muslim League was founded in 1906 by figures like Nawab Salimullah and Aga Khan III; (b) The Communist Party of India was founded in the 1920s by M.N. Roy and others; (c) The Swarajist Party was formed in 1923 by Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das.
India recently signed MoU with Nepal to strengthen
A)
Biodiversity Conservation
B)
Tourism
C)
Cultural ties
D)
Economic ties
In August 2022, the Union Cabinet of India approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal on biodiversity conservation. This MoU aims to promote cooperation in the fields of forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation, and climate change, focusing on restoring corridors and active inter-linking areas to strengthen transboundary cooperation. While India and Nepal share deep cultural, economic, and tourism ties and have signed various agreements in those sectors over the years, this specific MoU was explicitly aimed at Biodiversity Conservation.
I. Muslim sentiments in India was deeply stirred by the Khilafat Movement on the question of the dismemberment of Turkey after her defeat in World War I; II. Mahatma Gandhi wholeheartedly supported the Khilafat cause in order to foster Hindu-Muslim unity in India. Which of the following is correct?
A)
I is correct but II is incorrect
B)
I and II are incorrect
C)
I is incorrect but II is correct
D)
I and II are correct
Statement I is correct because the defeat of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) in World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Sèvres threatened the status of the Ottoman Caliph (Khalifa), who was revered as the spiritual head of Sunni Muslims globally. This led to widespread resentment among Indian Muslims, sparking the Khilafat Movement. Statement II is also correct because Mahatma Gandhi recognized this movement as a historic opportunity to foster Hindu-Muslim unity against British rule, leading him to wholeheartedly support the cause and align it with his Non-Cooperation Movement. Therefore, both statements are correct, making option 'd' the right choice, while options 'a', 'b', and 'c' are incorrect as they falsely declare one or both statements to be wrong.
Recipient of the prestigious Genesis Prize 2022 award was
A)
Steven Spielberg
B)
Natan Sharansky
C)
Albert Bourla
D)
Robert Kraft
Albert Bourla, the Chairman and CEO of Pfizer, was named the recipient of the prestigious Genesis Prize in 2022. He was recognized for his leadership, determination, and willingness to take great risks in delivering a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in record time. The other options are incorrect because: Steven Spielberg (Option a) received the award in 2021; Natan Sharansky (Option b) received the award in 2020; and Robert Kraft (Option d) received the award in 2019.