MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
In which of the medium do sound waves travel the fastest?
A)
Gaseous medium
B)
Liquid
C)
Solid
D)
Vacuum
Sound waves are mechanical waves, meaning they require a medium to propagate. The speed of sound depends primarily on the elasticity and density of the medium.
1. **Solids (Option c):** In solids, atoms and molecules are packed very closely together and have strong intermolecular bonds (high elasticity). This allows the vibration (compression and rarefaction) to be transferred from one particle to the next much more rapidly than in other states of matter. Therefore, sound travels fastest in solids.
2. **Liquids (Option b):** Molecules in liquids are further apart than in solids, resulting in lower elasticity and slower transmission of sound compared to solids, though still faster than in gases.
3. **Gaseous medium (Option a):** In gases, molecules are far apart and collisions are less frequent, making the transmission of sound waves the slowest among the three physical states.
4. **Vacuum (Option d):** Since sound is a mechanical wave, it cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles to transmit the vibration. The speed of sound in a vacuum is zero.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Chief Zakapa Fanai defeated the British force led by CS Murray at Khawhri in-
A)
1889
B)
1890
C)
1891
D)
1892
Chief Zakapa Fanai of Khawhri resisted and defeated the British forces led by C.S. Murray (Superintendent of South Lushai Hills) at Khawhri in February 1891.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
In the context of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy operations, a sustained period of increasing Repo Rate is generally expected to have which of the following effects on the Indian economy?
(i) Dampen demand-pull inflation by increasing the cost of borrowing and investment.
(ii) Reduce the net interest margin (NIM) of commercial banks that rely heavily on deposits for funding.
(iii) Lead to an appreciation of the Indian Rupee against major global currencies.
(iv) Encourage a shift in household savings from market-linked instruments to bank fixed deposits.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A)
(i) and (ii) only
B)
(i) and (iv) only
C)
(i), (iii) and (iv) only
D)
(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
Sustained Repo rate hikes raise borrowing costs to dampen demand-pull inflation (i), enhance currency yields attracting capital and appreciating the Rupee (iii), and incentivize household deposits into higher-yielding bank FDs (iv). However, banks typically reprice floating loans quickly while deposit costs lag, so NIM does not necessarily reduce (ii is incorrect).
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
‘Churning poor’ in the context of poverty refers to:
A)
Individuals who frequently move in and out of poverty due to vulnerable livelihoods.
B)
Individuals who are always below the poverty line and depend entirely on government assistance.
C)
Individuals that have recently escaped poverty and are unlikely to fall back.
D)
Urban homeless populations with no formal identity or income records.
In poverty classification (NCERT economics), 'churning poor' refers to transient individuals who regularly fluctuate between being above and below the poverty line (e.g., small and seasonal workers).
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Consider the following organisms-
(i) Bat
(ii) Bee
(iii) Bird
Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?
A)
(i) and (ii) only
B)
(ii) only
C)
(i) and (iii) only
D)
(i), (ii) and (iii)
Bats, bees, and birds are all well-known natural agents that assist in the process of pollination.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which period in India’s demographic history is marked by a sharp decline in mortality and persistently high fertility rates?
A)
Phase I (1901–1921)
B)
Phase II (1921–1951)
C)
Phase III (1951–1981)
D)
Phase IV (1981–2001)
Phase III (1951–1981) was the period of India's population explosion, characterized by a rapid drop in mortality due to public health improvements while birth rates remained consistently high.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
The conversion of glucose to glycogen is mediated by an enzyme called-
A)
glycogen synthase
B)
glucose phosphatase
C)
glycogen phosphorylase
D)
glycogen phosphatase
Glycogen synthase is the key regulatory enzyme responsible for converting glucose units into glycogen polymers during glycogenesis.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which article was presented by ladies to men who returned with enemies’ heads from their head hunting?
A)
Chhawndawl
B)
Arkeziak
C)
Hranghrual
D)
Lenchhawn
In traditional Mizo culture, 'Arkeziak' (a specialized spun yarn tassel/plume) was presented by young women to honor victorious warriors returning with enemy heads.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
The function of the human kidney is -
I. Removing waste and excess fluid from the body
II. The functional unit is nephron
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A)
Only I is correct
B)
Only II is correct
C)
Both I and II are correct
D)
Both I and II are not correct
The human kidney removes metabolic waste products and excess fluid from the body to maintain fluid-electrolyte balance. The microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. Both statements are correct.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which of the following is not one of the Sustainable Development Goals?
A)
Life below water
B)
Life on land
C)
Life on Air
D)
Climate action
Among the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 13 is Climate Action, SDG 14 is Life Below Water, and SDG 15 is Life on Land. 'Life on Air' is not one of the SDGs.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Consider the following statements with reference to CIBIL Score:
(i) It is a banker’s assessment which tells the client’s financial health.
(ii) It stand for Credit Index Bureau India Limited.
(iii) It is a 3-digit numeric summary of client’s credit history.
(iv) The closer the client’s score is to 900, the higher are the chances of his/her getting loan/credit card.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
A)
(i), (ii) & (iii) only
B)
(i), (iii) & (iv) only
C)
(ii), (iii) & (iv) only
D)
(i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
CIBIL stands for Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited, not 'Credit Index Bureau', making statement (ii) incorrect. Statements (i), (iii), and (iv) are accurate descriptions of the CIBIL 3-digit credit score ranging from 300 to 900.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Red light is used in traffic signals because-
A)
it is beautiful
B)
it has the shortest wavelength
C)
it has the longest wavelength
D)
it is visible to people even with bad eyesight
Red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum. According to Rayleigh's law, it scatters the least in atmospheric dust and fog, remaining visible over the greatest distance.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
The umbrella scheme ‘Mission Shakti’ represents an integrated approach to women’s empowerment. Which of the following best analyzes the logic behind its two sub-schemes , ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’?
A)
‘Sambal’ focuses on providing economic empowerment to women through skill development and financial inclusion, while ‘Samarthya’ focuses on ensuring their safety and legal rights.
B)
‘Sambal’ is a protection-oriented component aimed at the safety and security of women, while ‘Samarthya’ is an empowerment-oriented component focused on enabling women’s self-reliance.
C)
‘Sambal’ deals with the health and nutrition of women and children, while ‘Samarthya’ provides them with educational opportunities.
D)
Both ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’ are primarily focused on providing shelter and rehabilitation to women in distress, but ‘Sambal’ is for rural areas and ‘Samarthya’ is for urban areas.
Mission Shakti consists of two sub-schemes: 'Sambal' dedicated to the safety and security/protection of women (e.g., One Stop Centres, Women Helpline, BBBP) and 'Samarthya' for the empowerment and socio-economic self-reliance of women (e.g., Working Women Hostels, PMMVY, National Creche Scheme).
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Consider the following statements:
(i) Light can travel through vacuum while sound cannot do so.
(ii) The speed of light in vacuum is a constant.
(iii) Light year is a unit for measuring distance.
Which of the following statements is/are true?
A)
(i) and (ii) only
B)
(i) and (iii) only
C)
(ii) and (iii) only
D)
(i), (ii) and (iii)
Light can travel through a vacuum, sound cannot (i is true). The speed of light in vacuum is constant (ii is true). A light year is a unit of distance (iii is true).
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which one of the following fruits is parthenocarpic?
A)
Banana
B)
Jackfruit
C)
Apple
D)
Brinjal
Parthenocarpy is the natural or induced development of fruit without prior fertilization of ovules, producing seedless fruits. Cultivated banana is a classic example of a naturally parthenocarpic fruit.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which among the following is related to poultry farming?
A)
Silver Revolution
B)
Grey Revolution
C)
Pink Revolution
D)
Golden Revolution
The correct answer is the Silver Revolution. In the context of Indian agriculture, different 'colored revolutions' represent the growth of specific sectors.
1. Silver Revolution: This refers to the increase in egg and poultry production. It was launched to boost the production of eggs and poultry to ensure food security and economic growth for farmers.
2. Grey Revolution: This is associated with the increase in the production of fertilizers.
3. Pink Revolution: This is related to the production of prawns, onions, and pharmaceuticals (specifically meat processing).
4. Golden Revolution: This refers to the increase in the production of horticulture, honey, and fruits (especially yellow-colored fruits like mangoes).
Therefore, poultry farming is specifically linked to the Silver Revolution.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
World Environment Day was first observed on-
A)
5th June, 1971
B)
5th June, 1972
C)
5th June, 1973
D)
5th June, 1974
World Environment Day was established at the 1972 Stockholm Conference and was first officially observed on 5th June 1973 under the theme 'Only One Earth'.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Amphibians of the plant kingdom are-
A)
Algae
B)
Bryophytes
C)
Pteridophytes
D)
Gymnosperms
Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts) are called amphibians of the plant kingdom because they live in soil but depend on water for sexual reproduction.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Consider the following potential effects on economic development when the central bank decides to lower the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) in a developing economy:
(i) It is likely to inject additional liquidity into the banking system, potentially increasing banks’ capacity for credit creation.
(ii) It could lead to a reduction in market interest rates, making borrowing cheaper for businesses and consumers.
(iii) It might stimulate aggregate demand, potentially leading to increased investment and consumption.
(iv) It invariably guarantees a rapid acceleration of real economic growth by ensuring optimal allocation of credit to productive sectors.
Which of the statements given above are conceptually sound effects of lowering CRR, but not necessarily a guaranteed outcome in all economic contexts?
A)
(i), (ii) and (iii) only
B)
(ii), (iii) and (iv) only
C)
(i), (ii) and (iv) only
D)
(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
Lowering CRR injects bank liquidity (i), exerts downward pressure on interest rates (ii), and stimulates aggregate demand and investment (iii). However, statement (iv) is flawed because monetary expansion cannot 'invariably guarantee' growth or optimal sector allocation due to potential credit frictions or structural bottlenecks.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Labour Force’?
A)
Only people who are currently employed.
B)
Only unemployed people looking for work.
C)
Both people who are working and those who are looking for work.
D)
People in formal jobs only.
In economics and labour market surveys (e.g., NSSO/PLFS), the 'Labour Force' comprises all economically active individuals, including both those currently employed (working) and those who are unemployed but actively looking for work.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which of the following statements is true of ‘carrying capacity of an ecosystem’?
A)
The number of organisms that can be carried for one year.
B)
The number of endemic species an ecosystem can support without degradation.
C)
The number of organisms of a species that can be sustainably supported.
D)
The number of exotic species that exists in an ecosystem.
Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely given available food, habitat, water, and other ecological resources.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
An ecological succession which begins on a place rich in inorganic contents but poor in organic contents is called-
A)
Autotrophic succession
B)
Heterotrophic succession
C)
Allogenic succession
D)
Secondary succession
Autotrophic succession begins in an environment rich in inorganic nutrients but deficient in organic matter, where green autotrophic plants dominate early stages.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which of the following is not helpful in maintaining ecological stability?
A)
Ecosystem diversity
B)
Homeostatic mechanism
C)
Ecosystem complexity
D)
Ecosystem uniformity
Ecological stability refers to the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time, even when subjected to disturbances.
1. **Ecosystem Diversity (Option a):** High diversity ensures that if one species fails or disappears, others can fill its ecological niche, thereby maintaining the overall stability of the system.
2. **Homeostatic Mechanism (Option b):** Homeostasis is the self-regulating process by which an ecosystem maintains a state of equilibrium (e.g., predator-prey cycles). This is fundamental to stability.
3. **Ecosystem Complexity (Option c):** Complexity, particularly in the form of intricate food webs, provides multiple pathways for energy flow. If one food chain is disrupted, the system can rely on alternative pathways, increasing resilience.
4. **Ecosystem Uniformity (Option d):** Uniformity (or monoculture) is the opposite of diversity. A uniform ecosystem is highly fragile; if a specific disease or pest attacks the dominant species, the entire system can collapse because there are no alternative species to sustain the ecological functions. Therefore, uniformity decreases stability.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which of the following is not a feature of ‘carbon credits’?
A)
The system was ratified in conjunction with Kyoto Protocol.
B)
They are traded at a fixed price under the UNEP.
C)
They are awarded to countries that have reduced their greenhouse gas below their emission quota.
D)
The goal is to limit the increase of carbon emission quota.
Step-by-step analysis of the options:
1. **Option (a) is a feature**: Carbon credits were formally introduced and operationalized through the Kyoto Protocol (1997), which established the 'Clean Development Mechanism' (CDM) and other flexible mechanisms to help developed countries meet their emission targets.
2. **Option (b) is NOT a feature**: Carbon credits are NOT traded at a fixed price, nor are they managed by the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) as a central trading house. Instead, they are traded in 'carbon markets' (Compliance markets or Voluntary markets) where the price is determined by **market demand and supply**. Prices fluctuate based on the availability of credits and the urgency of emission targets.
3. **Option (c) is a feature**: A carbon credit is essentially a permit that allows the holder to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of different greenhouse gases. If a country or company reduces its emissions below its assigned quota, it earns 'credits' which it can then sell to those exceeding their quota.
4. **Option (d) is a feature**: The overarching goal of the cap-and-trade system (which utilizes carbon credits) is to place a limit (cap) on the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted, thereby limiting the increase of carbon emissions globally.
Therefore, option (b) is the incorrect statement regarding carbon credits.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-I (Series C)
Which one of the following describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
A)
Ecotone
B)
Home Range
C)
Habitat
D)
Ecological niche
An ecological niche encompasses both the physical habitat occupied by a species and its functional role, trophic interactions, and resource utilization within the ecosystem.
