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Past Questions — 2024
The powers and functions of the three tiers Panchayats are listed in which of the following schedules of the Constitution of India?
A)
Ninth Schedule
B)
Eleventh Schedule
C)
Twelfth Schedule
D)
None of these
The Eleventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, added by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992, contains 29 functional items outlining the powers and responsibilities of Panchayats.
At present, which age group contributes the highest in Indian population?
A)
Working age population
B)
Dependent population of children
C)
Dependent population of senior citizens
D)
None of these
India is currently experiencing a 'demographic dividend,' a phenomenon where the proportion of the working-age population is higher than the dependent population.
1. **Working Age Population (Option a):** Generally defined as the age group between 15 and 64 years. According to recent demographic data and census trends, this group constitutes the largest segment of India's population (roughly 60-68%).
2. **Dependent Population of Children (Option b):** This refers to the age group 0-14 years. While India has a large youth population, the fertility rate has been declining, leading to a decrease in the relative percentage of children compared to the working-age group.
3. **Dependent Population of Senior Citizens (Option c):** This refers to the age group 65+ years. While this segment is growing due to increased life expectancy, it remains the smallest of the three demographic categories in India.
Therefore, the working-age population is the dominant group, providing India with a strategic economic advantage if properly utilized through education and employment.
An important pass that links Kerala with Tamil Nadu is :
A)
Thal Ghat
B)
Bhor Ghat
C)
Palghat Gap
D)
Vindhyan Ghat
The Palghat (Palakkad) Gap is a major low mountain pass in the Western Ghats connecting Palakkad in Kerala with Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
What are the two basic principles of promotion in civil service?
A)
Principles of seniority and examination for promotion to the next higher post.
B)
Principles of seniority and merit.
C)
Principles of merit only.
D)
Principles of seniority and higher qualification.
In public administration and civil service personnel management, the two fundamental principles governing promotions are seniority and merit.
The largest fishing ground of the world is the :
A)
North West Pacific Region
B)
North West Atlantic Region
C)
North East Atlantic Region
D)
South Western Arctic Region
The North West Pacific region, where the cold Oyashio Current meets the warm Kuroshio Current off the coasts of Japan, Russia, and China, forms the world's most productive fishing ground.
Who acts as the President of India when neither the President nor the Vice President is available?
A)
Chief Election Commissioner of India
B)
Chief Justice of India
C)
Auditor General of India
D)
Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Under the President (Discharge of Functions) Act, 1969, the Chief Justice of India discharges the functions of the President when both the President and Vice-President offices are vacant.
The Three Gorges Dam on the is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world.
A)
Jinsha River
B)
Parana River
C)
Yangtze River
D)
Mekong River
The Three Gorges Dam is located on the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in Hubei Province, China.
Seventy Fourth Amendment Act, 1992 of the Constitution deals with :
A)
Municipality
B)
Panchayati Raj
C)
Non-territorial Council
D)
Village empowerment
The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 constitutionalized urban local government bodies (Municipalities) by inserting Part IX-A and the Twelfth Schedule into the Constitution.
‘Barbie’ movie released in 2023 made history, becoming the first Billion-Dollar movie directed solely by a woman, and was directed by :
A)
Jane Campion
B)
Sofia Coppola
C)
Kathryn Bigelow
D)
Greta Gerwig
The 2023 Barbie movie was directed by Greta Gerwig, and it was the first billion-dollar movie directed solely by a woman.
Which of the following economists held the view that nature will check population growth?
A)
Thomas Robert Malthus
B)
Adam Smith
C)
JS Mill
D)
David Ricardo
In his 1798 'Essay on the Principle of Population', Thomas Robert Malthus posited that population grows geometrically while food supply increases arithmetically, leading to natural 'positive checks' like famine and disease.
The idea of Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution has been borrowed from the constitution of:
A)
England
B)
France
C)
Germany
D)
U.S.A
The concept of Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution was influenced and borrowed from the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States.
Which of the following sustainable development goals aims to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth?
A)
SDG-6
B)
SDG-7
C)
SDG-8
D)
SDG-13
SDG 8 aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
A warm and dry wind blowing on the northern side of the Alps Mountain ranges is :
A)
Blizzards
B)
Foehn
C)
Sirocco
D)
Mistral
Foehn is a warm, dry, leeward katabatic wind that descends on the northern slopes of the Alps in Central Europe.
John’s horse is of an excellent _________.
A)
Brood
B)
Steed
C)
Breed
D)
Stood
The correct term to describe the type or variety of a horse is 'breed'.
Being able to put oneself in someone else’s situation is called:
A)
Persuasion
B)
Leadership
C)
Active Listening
D)
Empathy
The question asks for the term that describes the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person by imagining oneself in their situation.
1. **Empathy (Correct):** By definition, empathy is the cognitive and emotional ability to 'step into someone else's shoes' to understand their perspective and feelings. It is a core component of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
2. **Persuasion (Incorrect):** Persuasion is the act of convincing someone to believe something or take a specific action. While empathy can be used to persuade more effectively, persuasion itself is the goal/action, not the act of understanding another's situation.
3. **Leadership (Incorrect):** Leadership is the ability to lead or guide a group of people. While a good leader often possesses empathy, leadership is a broad role or set of skills, not the specific act of putting oneself in another's situation.
4. **Active Listening (Incorrect):** Active listening is a communication technique that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said. It is a tool used to achieve empathy, but it refers to the process of listening rather than the internal state of experiencing another's perspective.
Assertion (A) Glaciers are melting at a faster speed. Reason (R) There is a hole in the ozone layer due to burning of fluorocarbons.
A)
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B)
Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C)
A is true but R is false.
D)
A is false but R is true.
Step-by-step analysis:
1. **Analyze Assertion (A):** 'Glaciers are melting at a faster speed.' This is a scientifically proven fact. Global warming, caused by the increase of greenhouse gases (like CO2 and methane) in the atmosphere, has led to a rise in global average temperatures, resulting in the accelerated melting of glaciers and polar ice caps. Thus, Assertion (A) is True.
2. **Analyze Reason (R):** 'There is a hole in the ozone layer due to burning of fluorocarbons.' This is also scientifically true. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halons migrate to the stratosphere where they break down ozone (O3) molecules, leading to the thinning of the ozone layer (the 'ozone hole'). Thus, Reason (R) is True.
3. **Evaluate the Relationship:** The question asks if R is the *correct explanation* for A. The melting of glaciers is caused by the **Greenhouse Effect** (trapping of infrared radiation/heat). The hole in the ozone layer allows more **Ultraviolet (UV) radiation** to reach the Earth's surface. While UV radiation is harmful to biological life (causing skin cancer, cataracts, etc.), it is not the primary driver of global warming or the melting of glaciers. The primary driver is the accumulation of greenhouse gases.
Conclusion: Since both statements are independently true, but the ozone hole is not the cause of glacial melting, option (b) is the correct choice.
Which of the following is the first step in any systematic problem-so
Answer: Problem Identification (or Defining the Problem)
In any systematic problem-solving methodology (such as the Engineering Design Process, Polya's problem-solving steps, or the Scientific Method), the first and most critical step is 'Problem Identification' or 'Defining the Problem'. Before a solution can be developed, analyzed, or implemented, one must clearly understand what the problem is, its scope, the constraints involved, and the desired outcome. Without a precise definition, subsequent steps—such as analyzing the cause, brainstorming solutions, and testing—would be unfocused and likely ineffective. The general sequence is: 1. Define/Identify the Problem $\rightarrow$ 2. Analyze the Problem $\rightarrow$ 3. Generate Potential Solutions $\rightarrow$ 4. Evaluate and Select a Solution $\rightarrow$ 5. Implement and Verify.
You have a limited budget for a healthcare initiative. What is the crucial factor to consider when deciding which health programs to fund?
A)
Popularity of the program
B)
Political backing
C)
Program’s potential impact on public health
D)
The novelty of the program
In healthcare resource allocation under budget constraints, the most critical decision-making criterion is maximizing the potential positive impact and measurable health outcomes for the public.
Assertion (A) Tides indicate the regular and periodic rise and fall in sea level. Reason (R) Tides are caused by the gravitational force of the Moon and the Sun.
A)
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B)
Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C)
A is true but R is false.
D)
A is false but R is true.
Tides are the periodic rise and fall of ocean sea levels (Assertion A), and they are generated primarily by the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun on the Earth (Reason R). Thus, Reason R correctly explains Assertion A.
Three of the following words are similar in a certain way. Pick the odd one out:
A)
Hexagon
B)
Hendecagon
C)
Heptagon
D)
Pentagon
Pentagon (5), Heptagon (7), and Hendecagon (11) have an odd number of sides (and prime number of sides), whereas Hexagon has 6 sides, which is an even number.
I. The government medical college has decided to increase the number of seats in undergraduate course from the next academic session. II. The government has decided to withdraw its grant from the government medical colleges from the next academic session.
A)
If statement I is the cause and statement II is its effect.
B)
If statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.
C)
If both the statements I and II are independent causes.
D)
If both the statements I and II are effects of independent causes.
Increasing undergraduate seats is an institutional policy decision driven by academic demand, whereas the withdrawal of government grants is a fiscal policy decision. Both represent separate effects resulting from independent underlying causes.
You find that a person whom you call your friend has been cheating you. What would you do?
A)
Break relations with him/her
B)
Give him/her tit for tat.
C)
Make him / her realise his/her mistake
D)
Tell other friends about him / her.
In interpersonal situational judgment, the most mature, ethical, and constructive course of action is to confront the issue constructively and help the friend realize their mistake.
An important skill where a person is able to look back at previous behaviour/actions and learn from them is known as:
A)
Empathy
B)
Mirroring
C)
Active Listening
D)
Reflective Skill
Reflective skill refers to the critical ability to review past experiences, analyze previous actions and decisions, and apply the resulting insights to improve future behavior.
One characteristic of an abusive boss is:
A)
Inability to take feedback
B)
Introvert
C)
Decisiveness
D)
Praising others
In the context of interpersonal skills and organizational behavior, an abusive boss is characterized by patterns of behavior that undermine, belittle, or intimidate subordinates.
1. **Why Option (a) is correct:** An inability to take feedback is a hallmark of an abusive or narcissistic leadership style. Such individuals often view constructive criticism as a personal attack or a challenge to their authority, leading them to react with anger, denial, or retaliation. This lack of openness prevents professional growth and creates a toxic work environment.
2. **Why Option (b) is incorrect:** Being an introvert is a personality trait related to how a person gains energy and interacts socially. Introversion is not a behavioral pathology and does not correlate with abuse; many introverts are empathetic and supportive leaders.
3. **Why Option (c) is incorrect:** Decisiveness is generally considered a positive leadership trait. The ability to make firm decisions efficiently is a requirement for effective management, provided it is balanced with consultation and fairness.
4. **Why Option (d) is incorrect:** Praising others is a characteristic of a supportive and transformative leader. Abusive bosses typically withhold praise or use it manipulatively, rather than using it as a genuine tool for employee motivation.
An area is affected by severe flooding. You, as a District Magistrate, have limited resources. Which of the following should be your immediate priority?
A)
Repairing roads
B)
Distributing food and water
C)
Rebuilding houses
D)
Organizing entertainment to lift people’s spirits
In immediate disaster response and crisis management during a severe flood, the highest priority is saving lives and fulfilling basic physiological needs—specifically distributing safe drinking water and food—before initiating long-term rehabilitation.