← Group B (Gazetted)
Past Questions
The last Mizo chief who put up resistance against the British was
A)
Kalkhama
B)
Ropuiliani
C)
Suakpuilal
D)
Kairuma
Kairuma was the last Mizo chief to put up active resistance against British annexation. To subdue him, the British launched the Kairuma Expedition in 1895–1896, and his submission marked the final pacification and complete annexation of the Lushai (Mizo) Hills. Among the incorrect options: Kalkhama (a) was captured earlier and committed suicide in 1891; Ropuiliani (b), a prominent chieftainess, was captured in 1894 and died in captivity in 1895; and Suakpuilal (c) was an influential chief who signed a treaty with the British in 1871 and died in 1880, long before the final resistance.
The Regional News Unit at AIR, Aizawl started functioning in
A)
1970
B)
1975
C)
1978
D)
1980
The Regional News Unit (RNU) of All India Radio (AIR), Aizawl, officially started functioning in the year 1978. While the AIR Aizawl station itself was commissioned earlier on May 31, 1966, the dedicated Regional News Unit was established in 1978 to broadcast regional news bulletins in Mizo and other local dialects. The other options (1970, 1975, and 1980) are incorrect as they do not correspond to the official establishment year of the RNU at AIR Aizawl.
The portion used as sleeping place in Zawlbuk was called
A)
Bawhbel
B)
Awkpaka
C)
Fasuar
D)
Bahzar or Dawvan
In a traditional Mizo Zawlbuk (bachelors' dormitory), the different structural portions had specific names and functions:
1. **Awkpaka (Option b)**: This was the raised platform or designated portion of the Zawlbuk used specifically as a sleeping place for the young men.
2. **Bawhbel (Option a)**: This refers to a large log of wood placed horizontally across the entrance of the Zawlbuk, serving as a threshold.
3. **Bahzar or Dawvan (Option d)**: 'Bahzar' refers to the outer verandah, while 'Dawvan' is a raised platform near the entrance.
4. **Fasuar (Option c)**: This is a small window or opening in the wall of the Zawlbuk used for ventilation and letting out smoke.
According to Mizo custom the principal bride price is known as:
A)
Sumfang
B)
Manpui
C)
Pusum
D)
Palal
In Mizo traditional custom, the bride price (Man) is divided into primary and secondary categories. **Manpui** (Option b) is the principal bride price, which is paid directly to the bride's father or her nearest male relative. The other options represent subsidiary bride prices: **Sumfang** (Option a) is a subsidiary price paid to the bride's sister or close relative; **Pusum** (Option c) is paid to the bride's maternal uncle (Pu); and **Palal** (Option d) is paid to a trusted male guardian or protector chosen by the bride's father.
Which of the following Mizo political party had an objective of joining Burma
A)
Mizo Union
B)
UMFO
C)
EITU
D)
None of the Above
The United Mizo Freedom Organisation (UMFO), founded on July 5, 1947, had the primary objective of joining Burma (now Myanmar). This was because they believed the Mizo people shared closer ethnic, cultural, and linguistic ties with the Chins of Burma than with the people of India. In contrast, the Mizo Union (Option a) favored integration with India with a demand for local autonomy, while the Eastern India Tribal Union (EITU) (Option c) was formed later in 1954 to demand a separate hill state within the Indian Union.
When did the first documented Mautam famine occur in Mizoram?
A)
1861-1862
B)
1868-1869
C)
1871-1872
D)
1889-1890
The first documented Mautam famine in Mizoram occurred in 1861-1862. Mautam is a cyclic ecological phenomenon that occurs every 48 years in the region. It is triggered by the synchronous flowering of the bamboo species Melocanna baccifera, which leads to a massive boom in the black rat population. The rats then devour agricultural crops, leading to severe famine. Subsequent Mautam famines were recorded in 1911, 1959, and 2007-2008. The other options (1868-1869, 1871-1872, and 1889-1890) do not align with the historical 48-year cycle of the Mautam famine.
How many Mizos participated in the First World War?
A)
2100
B)
1200
C)
2500
D)
3100
During the First World War, a total of 2,100 Mizo men (then known as Lushais) were recruited into the 21st Lushai Labour Corps. They sailed for France in 1917 to assist the Allied forces, serving as laborers, transport workers, and in other supportive roles. Therefore, option 'a' (2100) is the correct answer. Options 'b' (1200), 'c' (2500), and 'd' (3100) are incorrect as they do not match the official historical records of the recruitment strength of the Lushai Labour Corps during WWI.
Hnawkhal was the dress worn by:
A)
Men
B)
Women
C)
Children
D)
Men and women
Hnawkhal is a traditional, prestigious handwoven shawl of the Mizo tribe of Mizoram, India, which is traditionally worn exclusively by men. Other options are incorrect because traditional Mizo attire is highly gender-specific; for instance, women wear garments like Puanchei or Hmaram, whereas Hnawkhal is reserved specifically for men.
A Mizo ceremony in order to have successful hunting is known as:
A)
Fano Dawi
B)
Kawngpui siam
C)
Daibawl
D)
Chungpui
In traditional Mizo culture, 'Fano Dawi' is a specific ritual or ceremony performed to ensure successful hunting and to bless the hunters before they embark on a hunt.
- **Kawngpui siam**: This is a community ritual performed to clear and sanctify the main village path, aimed at warding off epidemics, natural calamities, or evil spirits.
- **Daibawl**: This is a sacrificial ritual performed outside the village boundary to appease spirits and cure illnesses.
- **Chungpui**: This is a household sacrifice/ritual associated with family prosperity and well-being rather than hunting.
The first organization formed by the Mizos was
A)
Lushai Students’ Association
B)
Young Mizo Association
C)
Lungleh Association
D)
Mizo Hmeichhe Tangrual Pawl
The correct answer is the Young Mizo Association (YMA).
1. **Young Mizo Association (YMA)**: Originally established as the *Young Lushai Association (YLA)* on **June 15, 1935**, it is the first and oldest voluntary organization formed by the Mizo people. It was later renamed the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in 1947.
2. **Lushai Students’ Association (LSA)**: Formed on **October 27, 1935** (later renamed Mizo Zirlai Pawl or MZP), which was established a few months after the YLA/YMA.
3. **Lungleh Association**: Formed much later in **1945** as a regional/political body.
4. **Mizo Hmeichhe Tangrual Pawl (MHTP)**: Formed in **1946** as a women's organization, which is also much later than the YMA.
Name the village official created by the British after they occupied Mizoram.
A)
Thirdeng
B)
Tlangau
C)
Khawchhiar
D)
Upa
Based on established principles in Mizoram-specific, the correct and most appropriate choice is 'Tlangau' (Option B).
Which of the following Mizo political leader/leaders was/were associated with the UMFO or Zalen Pawl Party? 1) Pachhunga 2) Lalhema 3) Lalmawia 4) Rev. Zairema
A)
1 only
B)
1 and 2
C)
3 only
D)
3 and 4
1. **Lalmawia (3)** was the founder and primary leader of the United Mizo Freedom Organisation (UMFO), which was popularly known as the *Zalen Pawl* (Freedom Party), established on July 5, 1947.
2. **Pachhunga (1)** was the first president of the Mizo Union (originally Mizo Common People's Union), formed in April 1946, and was not associated with the UMFO.
3. **Rev. Zairema (4)** was a highly respected Presbyterian church leader and peace mediator rather than a political leader of the UMFO.
4. **Lalhema (2)** was not a leading figure of the UMFO.
Therefore, only Lalmawia was associated with the UMFO/Zalen Pawl, making '3 only' (Option c) the correct answer.
Which one of the followings was not used to determine the traditional Mizo wealth?
A)
Sial
B)
Silai
C)
Hmui
D)
Dar
In traditional Mizo society, wealth and social status were determined by specific valuable possessions. 'Hmui' (spindle) is a common household tool used by women for spinning cotton and was never used as a measure of wealth. On the other hand, 'Sial' (Mithun) was the primary standard of wealth and currency; 'Silai' (Guns) were highly prized assets representing power and status; and 'Dar' (Gongs) were valuable brass instruments and family heirlooms that directly indicated a household's richness.
Synthesise the sentences using an infinitive: 'My father heard of my success. He is overjoyed.'
A)
My father is too overjoyed to hear of my success.
B)
My father heard of my success to overjoy.
C)
My father is overjoyed to hear of my success.
D)
My father heard of my success as he is too overjoyed.
To synthesize the two sentences using an infinitive, we use the structure 'subject + be + adjective + to-infinitive'. Option 'c' ('My father is overjoyed to hear of my success.') correctly uses the infinitive 'to hear' to express the reason for the father's joy, preserving the original meaning. Option 'a' incorrectly uses 'too... to', which changes the meaning to imply he cannot hear of the success. Option 'b' is grammatically incorrect. Option 'd' uses a conjunction ('as') instead of an infinitive and distorts the meaning.
Fill in the blank choosing the correct adjective or adverb: 'Can you tell me __________ pen is yours?'
A)
what
B)
whose
C)
those
D)
which
The correct option is 'd' (which). 'Which' is an interrogative adjective used to ask for a specific choice among a limited set of options (e.g., identifying one specific pen out of a group). 'Whose' (option b) is incorrect because it denotes possession, making 'whose pen is yours' redundant and grammatically incorrect. 'What' (option a) is used for unlimited choices, whereas 'which' is preferred for a specific, limited set. 'Those' (option c) is a plural demonstrative adjective and cannot modify the singular noun 'pen'.
Fill in the blank with a suitable conjunction: 'You may go now _________ your teacher has not come.'
A)
and
B)
but
C)
lest
D)
since
The correct option is 'd' (since). In this sentence, 'since' acts as a subordinating conjunction of reason, meaning 'because' or 'as'. It explains the reason why the person is allowed to go (because the teacher has not come). Other options are incorrect because: 'and' (option a) is a coordinating conjunction used to add information; 'but' (option b) is used to show contrast; and 'lest' (option c) means 'for fear that' or 'to avoid', none of which fit the logical context of the sentence.
Choose the correct word-substitute for: 'Conclusion'
A)
an event honouring someone
B)
the end of an event or process
C)
something which will never happen again
D)
to find out something
The word 'Conclusion' refers to the end, finish, or termination of an event, process, or text. Therefore, option 'b' is the correct word-substitute.
- Option 'a' (an event honouring someone) refers to a 'tribute' or 'commemoration'.
- Option 'c' (something which will never happen again) describes a 'unique' or 'unprecedented' occurrence.
- Option 'd' (to find out something) defines verbs like 'discover', 'detect', or 'ascertain'.
Choose the word opposite in meaning to the word in bold: 'She was very candid about her part in the scandal.'
A)
frank
B)
dishonest
C)
disappointed
D)
happy
The word 'candid' means truthful, straightforward, and open. Therefore, its opposite in meaning is 'dishonest' (option b).
- Option 'a' (frank) is a synonym of 'candid'.
- Options 'c' (disappointed) and 'd' (happy) refer to emotional states and are completely unrelated to the meaning of 'candid'.
Choose the word opposite in meaning to the word in bold: 'He was a pompous man whom everyone hated.'
A)
proud
B)
boastful
C)
generous
D)
humble
The word 'pompous' means self-important, arrogant, or exhibiting an exaggerated sense of dignity. The direct opposite of this is 'humble', which means modest and unassuming. Options 'proud' and 'boastful' are synonyms of 'pompous' rather than antonyms. 'Generous' refers to a willingness to give, which is unrelated to the concept of self-importance.
Choose the appropriate preposition: 'He was sitting __________ the road.'
A)
besides
B)
aside
C)
astride
D)
beside
The correct preposition is 'beside' (option d), which means 'at the side of' or 'next to', perfectly describing someone sitting next to the road.
- 'besides' (option a) is incorrect because it means 'in addition to' or 'apart from'.
- 'aside' (option b) is an adverb meaning 'to one side' and cannot be used as a preposition in this context.
- 'astride' (option c) means 'with a leg on each side of', which is physically inappropriate for sitting on a road.
Choose the correct word-substitute for: 'Linguist'
A)
one who collects stamps
B)
one who blackmails others
C)
scholar of many languages
D)
a health professional
The correct word-substitute for 'Linguist' is 'scholar of many languages' (Option c). A linguist is someone who studies language structure and is often skilled in multiple languages. Here is why the other options are incorrect: Option a refers to a 'philatelist' (one who collects stamps); Option b refers to a 'blackmailer'; and Option d refers to a medical practitioner or clinician.
Fill in the blank with a suitable conjunction: 'Please call me _________ you reach home.'
A)
as long as
B)
lest
C)
as soon as
D)
no sooner than
The correct conjunction is 'as soon as' because it is used to denote that one action happens immediately after another. In this sentence, it means 'call me immediately after you reach home'.
- 'as long as' means 'provided that' or 'on the condition that', which does not fit the temporal context of the sentence.
- 'lest' means 'for fear that' or 'to avoid the risk of', which is grammatically and contextually incorrect here.
- 'no sooner than' is a correlative conjunction typically used with inversion (e.g., 'No sooner had I reached home than...') and does not fit the structure of this imperative sentence.
Synthesise the sentences using an adverb or adverbial phrase: 'He tried to lift the box. He wanted to succeed.'
A)
He tried to lift the box and he wanted to succeed.
B)
He successfully tried to lift the box.
C)
He tried to lift the box with success.
D)
He tried to lift the box successfully.
The question asks to combine the two simple sentences into a single simple sentence using an adverb or an adverbial phrase.
1. **Why Option C is correct**: The phrase 'with success' is an adverbial phrase that modifies the verb 'tried', successfully combining the second sentence ('He wanted to succeed') into the first. This is a classic synthesis pattern (often found in standard grammar references like Wren & Martin).
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Option A** uses the coordinating conjunction 'and' to form a compound sentence, which violates the instruction to use an adverb or adverbial phrase.
- **Option B** ('successfully tried') and **Option D** ('tried... successfully') alter the meaning slightly by asserting that the attempt itself was definitely successful, whereas 'with success' is the standard textbook adverbial phrase synthesis for this specific exercise.
Identify the part of speech of the underlined word: 'I saw a huge caterpillar in the garden.'
A)
Adjective
B)
Adverb
C)
Verb
D)
Preposition
In the given sentence, the underlined word 'huge' describes the noun 'caterpillar' by specifying its size. Words that describe or modify nouns are classified as adjectives.
* **Option b (Adverb)** is incorrect because adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, not nouns.
* **Option c (Verb)** is incorrect because verbs represent actions or states of being (e.g., 'saw').
* **Option d (Preposition)** is incorrect because prepositions express spatial, temporal, or logical relationships between nouns and other words (e.g., 'in').
Fill in the blank choosing the correct adjective or adverb: 'I have a _________ words to say to you.'
A)
few
B)
little
C)
small
D)
many
The correct option is 'a' (few). Here is the step-by-step breakdown:
1. **Why 'few' is correct:** The noun 'words' is a plural countable noun. The phrase 'a few' is used with plural countable nouns to mean 'a small number of' or 'some'. Therefore, 'I have a few words to say to you' is grammatically correct.
2. **Why other options are incorrect:**
- **'little' (Option b):** 'Little' (or 'a little') is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., 'a little water'), making 'a little words' grammatically incorrect.
- **'many' (Option d):** 'Many' cannot be preceded directly by the indefinite article 'a' in this context ('a many words' is incorrect).
- **'small' (Option c):** 'Small' cannot be preceded by the singular article 'a' when modifying the plural noun 'words' ('a small words' is grammatically incorrect).