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Past Questions — 2025
Which is the largest planet in the Solar System?
A)
Saturn
B)
Earth
C)
Neptune
D)
Jupiter
Step-by-step reasoning: 1. The Solar System consists of eight major planets. 2. These are categorized into Terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and Gas/Ice Giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). 3. Comparing the diameters and masses of these planets, Jupiter is the most massive and largest. 4. Jupiter's diameter is approximately 139,820 km, which is about 11 times the diameter of Earth. 5. Evaluating the options: (a) Saturn is the second largest; (b) Earth is a small terrestrial planet; (c) Neptune is smaller than Jupiter and Saturn. Therefore, Jupiter is the correct answer.
Mahavira was the tirthankara.
A)
21st
B)
22nd
C)
23rd
D)
24th
In Jainism, a 'Tirthankara' is a spiritual teacher who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth and established a ford (tirtha) for others to cross over to liberation. According to Jain tradition, there are 24 Tirthankaras in the current time cycle. Lord Rishabhdev was the 1st Tirthankara, Lord Parshvanatha was the 23rd, and Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th and final Tirthankara. Mahavira is credited with reorganizing the Jain faith and providing the final teachings that form the basis of modern Jainism. Therefore, options a, b, and c are incorrect as they refer to earlier Tirthankaras.
What is the basic unit of life?
A)
Organ
B)
Cell
C)
Tissue
D)
Organism
The cell is defined as the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. According to the Cell Theory, all living things are composed of one or more cells, and the cell is the smallest unit of life capable of performing all life processes (such as metabolism, reproduction, and response to stimuli).
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Organ: An organ is a collection of tissues joined together in a structural organization to serve a common function (e.g., the heart).
- c. Tissue: A tissue is a group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function.
- d. Organism: An organism is an individual living entity, which is the highest level of biological organization, composed of organs, tissues, and cells.
Which Indian state has the highest population density as per the latest census?
A)
Maharashtra
B)
Uttar Pradesh
C)
Bihar
D)
West Bengal
Population density is calculated as the number of persons per square kilometer of land area. According to the Census of India 2011 (which remains the latest official census data available for competitive exams), Bihar has the highest population density among all Indian states, with approximately 1,106 persons per square km.
Comparing the options:
- Bihar: ~1,106 persons/sq km (Highest)
- West Bengal: ~1,028 persons/sq km (Second highest)
- Uttar Pradesh: ~829 persons/sq km
- Maharashtra: ~365 persons/sq km
Therefore, Bihar is the correct answer.
The first Superintendent of the Lushai Hills was -
A)
John Shakespeare
B)
C.S. Murray
C)
V. Tregear
D)
Robert McCabe
Following the annexation of the Lushai Hills by the British, the administration was organized to bring the region under formal control. C.S. Murray was appointed as the first Superintendent of the Lushai Hills in 1890. He played a pivotal role in establishing the initial administrative framework of the region.
Analysis of other options:
- John Shakespeare: He was a prominent British officer involved in the Lushai Expedition and early diplomacy, but he was not the first Superintendent.
- V. Tregear: He served as a Superintendent at a later date and is well-known for his linguistic work and documentation of Mizo culture.
- Robert McCabe: He was an officer involved in the administration/expeditions but did not hold the position of the first Superintendent.
Which of the following Gods was not worshipped by the Rig Vedic people?
A)
Agni
B)
Indra
C)
Krishna
D)
Varuna
The Rig Vedic period (Early Vedic Period, c. 1500–1000 BCE) was characterized by the worship of personified forces of nature.
1. Indra: The most important deity in the Rig Veda, known as the God of Thunder and Rain, and the breaker of forts (Purandara). He has the highest number of hymns dedicated to him.
2. Agni: The God of Fire, acting as the intermediary between gods and humans. He is the second most important deity in the Rig Veda.
3. Varuna: The upholder of the cosmic order (Rta) and the God of water/oceans.
Krishna, on the other hand, is a central figure in the later Puranic and Epic traditions (such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita), which emerged significantly later than the composition of the Rig Veda. Therefore, Krishna was not a deity worshipped by the Rig Vedic people.
The term ‘Sixth Mass Extinction’ refers to-
A)
A geological phenomenon
B)
A period of increased volcanic activity
C)
Human-induced loss of species
D)
The end of the Ice Age
The 'Sixth Mass Extinction' (also known as the Holocene or Anthropocene extinction) refers to the ongoing extinction event occurring during the present epoch. Unlike the previous five mass extinctions, which were caused by natural phenomena such as asteroid impacts, massive volcanic eruptions, or drastic climate shifts, the current crisis is driven primarily by human activities. These include habitat destruction, overexploitation of species, pollution, the introduction of invasive species, and anthropogenic climate change.
Analysis of other options:
- Option (a) is incorrect because while extinction is recorded in the geological record, the 'Sixth' specifically refers to the biological loss caused by humans, not a general geological phenomenon.
- Option (b) is incorrect because volcanic activity was a primary driver of previous extinctions (like the Permian-Triassic extinction), but not the current one.
- Option (d) is incorrect because the end of the Ice Age refers to the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene, which is a climatic shift rather than the defining cause of the current mass extinction event.
Which of the following is the main cause of ocean acidification?
A)
Excess oxygen in water
B)
Carbon dioxide absorption by seawater
C)
Oilspills
D)
Marine biodiversity loss
Ocean acidification is a direct result of the ocean absorbing increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. When CO2 dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This acid then dissociates into bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. The increase in hydrogen ions lowers the pH of the water, making it more acidic. This process reduces the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential for calcifying organisms (like corals and mollusks) to build their shells and skeletons.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option (a): Excess oxygen does not cause acidification; in fact, low oxygen levels (hypoxia) are a separate environmental issue.
- Option (c): Oil spills cause severe toxic pollution and physical damage to marine life, but they do not change the chemical pH of the global ocean on a systemic scale.
- Option (d): Marine biodiversity loss is a consequence (effect) of ocean acidification and other stressors, not the cause of the acidification itself.
The Tourism minister of Mizoram is -
A)
Lalrinpuii
B)
Prof. Lalnilawma
C)
Dr. Vanlalthlana
D)
Lalnghinglova Hmar
Option A is correct: Lalrinpuii.
What is the longest river in India?
A)
Ganga
B)
Krishna
C)
Brahmaputra
D)
Godavari
Option A is correct: Ganga.
What is the basic unit of life?
A)
Organ
B)
Cell
C)
Tissue
D)
Organism
Option B is correct: Cell.
The ‘Four Asian Tigers’ are:
A)
Japan, India, Hong Kong, South Korea
B)
Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan
C)
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
D)
Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China
Option B is correct: Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located in -
A)
Meghalaya
B)
Darjeeling
C)
Assam
D)
Manipur
Option C is correct: Assam.
Thimkual is -
A)
A brass hairpin
B)
Hair comb
C)
Earrings
D)
Necklaces
Option A is correct: A brass hairpin.
Mahavira was the tirthankara.
A)
21st
B)
22nd
C)
23rd
D)
24th
Option D is correct: 24th.
Who has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha?
A)
The President of India
B)
The Prime Minister of India
C)
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D)
The Chief Justice of India
Option A is correct: The President of India.
The World Bank classifies countries into different income groups based on-
A)
GDP growth rate
B)
Per capita income
C)
Employment rate
D)
Population size
Option B is correct: Per capita income.
The Sunderbans delta is formed by the confluence of which rivers?
A)
Ganga and Yamuna
B)
Ganga and Brahmaputra
C)
Brahmaputra and Barak
D)
Godavari and Krishna
Option B is correct: Ganga and Brahmaputra.
Tumphit instrument is made of -
A)
Mithun’s horn
B)
Wooden pieces
C)
Bamboo tubes
D)
Marble
Option A is correct: Mithun’s horn.
The first Superintendent of the Lushai Hills was -
A)
John Shakespeare
B)
C.S. Murray
C)
V. Tregear
D)
Robert McCabe
Option A is correct: John Shakespeare.
Which of the following refers to a relationship between a cultural group and its natural environment?
A)
Cultural ecology
B)
Cultural convergence
C)
Cultural diffusion
D)
Cultural assimilation
Option A is correct: Cultural ecology.
What is the largest organ in the human-body?
A)
Heart
B)
Liver
C)
Brain
D)
Skin
Option D is correct: Skin.
The concept of ‘Concurrent List’ in the Indian Constitution is borrowed from which country?
A)
United States
B)
United Kingdom
C)
Canada
D)
Australia
Option D is correct: Australia.
Who are the NASA astronauts stranded in space for nine months?
A)
Sunita Reeves and Bobby Wilmore
B)
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore
C)
Sunny Williams and Buck Wilmore
D)
Sona Williams and Burt Wilmore
Option B is correct: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Which of the following is the longest written Constitution in the world?
A)
United States Constitution
B)
Constitution of India
C)
Constitution of Canada
D)
Constitution of Germany
Option B is correct: Constitution of India.