← MCSCCE
Past Questions — 2023
Which is the smallest constituent of matter?
A)
Atom
B)
Quark
C)
Electron
D)
Proton
To determine the smallest constituent of matter, we must look at the hierarchy of subatomic particles:
1. **Atom**: Historically considered the smallest unit of matter, but it is composed of a nucleus and electrons.
2. **Proton and Neutron**: These are the constituents of the nucleus. While they are smaller than the atom, they are not the smallest particles.
3. **Electron**: An electron is a fundamental particle (a lepton), meaning it is not known to be made of smaller components. However, it is not the only fundamental particle.
4. **Quark**: Protons and neutrons are composed of smaller particles called quarks. According to the Standard Model of particle physics, quarks are elementary particles, meaning they have no known substructure.
Comparing the options: Atoms are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons are made of quarks. Therefore, among the given choices, the quark is the smallest constituent because it is a fundamental building block that cannot be further divided into smaller particles.
Which Country has forecasted in 2023 that its population will be doubled in the next 26 years mostly due to migration?
A)
England
B)
Canada
C)
Italy
D)
France
In early 2023, Statistics Canada projected that due to record international immigration rates, Canada's population would double in about 26 years.
The tenure of every Panchayat in India is five years from:
A)
the scheduled date of its first meeting
B)
the date of notification of the election
C)
the date of declaration of election results
D)
the date of oath of office by members
Under Article 243E(1) of the Indian Constitution, the five-year tenure of every Panchayat commences from the date appointed/scheduled for its first meeting.
Loo is a local wind found in:
A)
Congo basin
B)
Alps mountain
C)
Sahara Desert
D)
North western India and Pakistan
'Loo' is a strong, hot, and dry summer wind that blows over the plains of northwestern India and Pakistan during May and June.
The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in
A)
1952
B)
1972
C)
1986
D)
1991
The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India in 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution, following the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
Minamata incident was caused by
A)
Mercury pollution
B)
Ozone depletion
C)
Acid rain
D)
Nuclear accident
Minamata disease is a severe neurological condition caused by severe mercury (methylmercury) poisoning from contaminated industrial wastewater in Minamata Bay, Japan.
Which of the following greenhouse gases has the highest atmospheric lifetime?
A)
CO2
B)
N2O
C)
CH4
D)
CF4
Atmospheric lifetime refers to the average time a molecule of a gas remains in the atmosphere before being removed by chemical reactions or deposited into sinks.
1. **CF4 (Tetrafluoromethane):** This is a potent synthetic greenhouse gas (an F-gas). It is extremely stable and has no significant sinks in the troposphere or stratosphere. Its atmospheric lifetime is estimated to be approximately 50,000 years, making it one of the longest-lived greenhouse gases known.
2. **N2O (Nitrous Oxide):** It has a lifetime of approximately 114–121 years.
3. **CO2 (Carbon Dioxide):** CO2 does not have a single 'lifetime' because it cycles between the ocean, biosphere, and atmosphere. However, a significant fraction remains for thousands of years, but it is generally considered to have a shorter effective residence time than CF4.
4. **CH4 (Methane):** It is a short-lived climate pollutant with an atmospheric lifetime of approximately 12 years.
Comparing these, CF4 has the highest atmospheric lifetime by a vast margin.
Increase in concentration of a toxicant at successive trophic level is called
A)
Bio-magnification
B)
Succession
C)
Eutrophication
D)
Biotransformation
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. The question asks for the term describing the increase in concentration of a toxicant as it moves up the food chain (successive trophic levels).
2. Bio-magnification (or Biomagnification) occurs when persistent, fat-soluble toxins (like DDT or mercury) are ingested by organisms. Because these toxins are not easily metabolized or excreted, they accumulate in the tissues. When a predator eats many prey organisms, it consumes all the toxins accumulated in those prey, leading to a higher concentration of the toxin in the predator's body. This process repeats at every higher trophic level.
Analysis of other options:
- b. Succession: This refers to the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time (e.g., primary or secondary succession).
- c. Eutrophication: This is the process where a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus), leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.
- d. Biotransformation: This is the chemical modification made by an organism on a chemical compound (usually a drug or a toxin) to make it easier to excrete from the body.
Mizo chief who captured and brought Mary Winchester into the Lushai Hills
A)
Vuttaia
B)
Bengkhuaia
C)
Lalsavunga
D)
Sibuta
Bengkhuaia, the chief of Sailam, led the January 1871 raid on the Alexandrapur tea garden in Cachar where Mary Winchester (Zoluti) was captured and brought to the Lushai Hills.
The world’s best and unique semiconductor and chip manufacturing industry is
A)
Intel Corp. (INTC)
B)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM)
C)
Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM)
D)
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world's most prominent dedicated semiconductor foundry, pioneering pure-play chip fabrication and manufacturing over 90% of the world's advanced microchips.
The understanding made between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress in 1916 was the
A)
Khilafat Pact
B)
Lucknow Pact
C)
Lahore Pact
D)
Madras Pact
The 1916 agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League is known as the Lucknow Pact.
As per the Human Development Index (HDI), the index value varies between
A)
0 and 1
B)
0 and 5
C)
-5 and +5
D)
0 and 10
The Human Development Index (HDI), calculated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is a normalized composite index with values ranging between 0 (lowest development) and 1 (highest development).
The word ‘Socialist’ was inserted into the Preamble of the Constitution by:
A)
The Constitution (Thirty-Eight Amendment) Act, 1975
B)
The Constitution (Thirty-Nine Amendment) Act, 1975
C)
The Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act, 1976
D)
The Constitution (Forty-Fourth Amendment) Act, 1978
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' into the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
Which article provides for a free and compulsory education for all children of six to fourteen years?
A)
Article 19
B)
Article 21-A
C)
Article 29
D)
Article 30
Article 21-A was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, guaranteeing free and compulsory education for all children aged 6 to 14 years as a Fundamental Right.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed on
A)
30th April
B)
25th November
C)
10th December
D)
8th March
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed annually on November 25th. This day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Analysis of other options:
- 30th April: Not a globally recognized major international day related to this topic.
- 10th December: This is Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
- 8th March: This is International Women's Day, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, though it also advocates for gender equality.
Which of the following is not associated with the Kanpur conspiracy case?
A)
S.A. Dange
B)
Muzaffar Ahmed
C)
Nalini Gupta
D)
Ashfaqulla Khan
The Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case (1924) tried communist leaders including S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Nalini Gupta, and Shaukat Usmani. Ashfaqulla Khan was a revolutionary of the HRA associated with the Kakori Conspiracy Case (1925).
Which of the following company is the newest in the aviation sector in India?
A)
Vistara
B)
Spice Jet
C)
Akasa Air
D)
Go First
Akasa Air (SNV Aviation) commenced commercial flight operations in August 2022, making it the newest airline among the given options.
Which among the following correctly defines Global 200?
A)
An annual list of top ranking 200 companies released by Forbes Magazine
B)
List of 200 World Heritage Sites released by UNESCO
C)
List of 200 Cities which are of strategic importance by UNO
D)
List of 200 Ecoregions identified by the WWF for conservation
The Global 200 is a priority list of the world's most biologically outstanding ecoregions designated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for conservation.
As per the National Education Policy-2020, mother tongue/ regional language is to be the medium of teaching up to
A)
at least Grade/Class -V
B)
at least Grade/Class -VI
C)
at least Grade/Class -VII
D)
at least Grade/Class -VIII
According to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, specifically under the section regarding 'Curriculum and Pedagogy', the policy emphasizes the importance of the mother tongue or regional language in early education to improve learning outcomes. The policy explicitly states that wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, should be the home language/mother tongue/local language. In the context of competitive exams based on NEP 2020, the 'preferred' target for the medium of instruction is Grade VIII to ensure a strong foundational understanding before transitioning to other languages. Therefore, option (d) is the most accurate representation of the policy's goal for the medium of teaching.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which proclaimed the 30th March 2023 as
A)
International Day of Education
B)
International Day of Zero Waste
C)
World Mental Health Day
D)
International Day of Persons with Disability
On 14 December 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 77/161 proclaiming 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste, observed annually starting on 30 March 2023.
The consequences of World War I for India and the Indian national movement included: 1. Huge increase in defence expenditure funded by war loans and rising taxes. 2. Customs duties were lowered to zero to import cheap British products in India 3. The Rowlatt Act was repealed. 4. The Indian industries were rejuvenated as demand for industrial goods during the WW-I increased. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A)
1 and 4 only
B)
2, 3 and 4 only
C)
1 and 3 only
D)
1, 2 and 4 only
Let's analyze each statement based on the historical consequences of World War I (1914-1918) on India:
1. **Statement 1 is Correct**: To fund the war effort, the British government significantly increased defense expenditure. This was financed through war loans and by increasing taxes (including income tax and customs duties), which led to severe economic hardship for the Indian population.
2. **Statement 2 is Incorrect**: Customs duties were not lowered to zero. In fact, the British government increased customs duties and taxes to raise revenue for the war. Lowering duties to zero would have contradicted the goal of funding the war and would have harmed the emerging local industries.
3. **Statement 3 is Incorrect**: The Rowlatt Act (1919) was not repealed as a consequence of the war; rather, it was *introduced* by the British government shortly after the war to curb the rising nationalist activities and political unrest that had grown during the war years. It allowed the government to imprison people without trial.
4. **Statement 4 is Correct**: During the war, imports from Britain declined because British factories were diverted to war production. This created a vacuum in the Indian market, which provided a huge opportunity for local Indian industries (like textiles and steel) to expand and supply goods for war needs, leading to a period of industrial rejuvenation.
Since statements 1 and 4 are correct, the correct option is (a).
A polymer which is coated as a thin layer on the inner side of non-sticking pans is
A)
Bakelite
B)
Teflon
C)
PVC
D)
Polypropylenes
The correct answer is Teflon.
1. **Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE)**: This is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. It is characterized by its extreme chemical inertness, high heat resistance, and an exceptionally low coefficient of friction. Because it is hydrophobic and non-reactive, it prevents food from sticking to the surface of cookware, making it the ideal coating for non-stick pans.
2. **Why other options are incorrect**:
- **Bakelite**: This is a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde resin. It is used for electrical switches and handles of cookware because it is a good insulator and heat-resistant, but it is not used as a non-stick coating.
- **PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)**: This is a versatile plastic used primarily in piping, cable insulation, and medical tubing. It cannot withstand the high temperatures required for cooking and does not possess non-stick properties.
- **Polypropylenes**: These are thermoplastic polymers used in containers, textiles, and automotive parts. While they have some chemical resistance, they lack the specific low-friction and high-temperature stability required for non-stick pan coatings.
Consider which among the following is not a constitutional body in India
A)
Niti Aayog
B)
State Election Commission
C)
Finance Commission
D)
National Human Rights Commission
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a statutory body, not a constitutional one.
On an average the temperature decreases with altitude at the rate of:
A)
5°C per 1000 meters
B)
5.5°C per 1000 meters
C)
6°C per 1000 meters
D)
6.5°C per 1000 meters
The normal lapse rate of temperature in the troposphere is an average decrease of approximately 6.5°C for every 1,000 meters increase in altitude.
The famous chief of the spirit, Sahmula is said to be ruled over
A)
Tan tlang
B)
Hachhek tlang
C)
Mawmrang tlang
D)
Phawngpui tlang
In Mizo folklore and mythology, Sahmula is regarded as the powerful chief/king of the mountain spirits (Tlâng huai) who ruled over Mawmrang Tlang in eastern Mizoram.