MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
In a given administrative scenario, you are confronted with a dilemma where rigid adherence to statutory rules may lead to significant humanitarian hardship. Which of the following principles should primarily guide your course of action as a civil servant?
A)
A balanced approach incorporating public interest, legal permissibility, and the principle of proportionality.
B)
Literal interpretation of statutory provisions irrespective of context.
C)
Prevailing public sentiment as reflected in media narratives.
D)
Directives issued by political executives, even if not codified in administrative norms.
In administrative ethics and situational decision-making, civil servants are expected to exercise lawful discretion by balancing the broader public interest, legal permissibility, and proportionality rather than applying rigid literalism that causes acute humanitarian distress.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, fill in the blank: _________ will influence social media’s future development.
A)
Government shutdown of all platforms.
B)
Technological advances and regulatory responses.
C)
Complete abandonment by younger users.
D)
Return to only text-based communication.
According to the reading passage, technological innovations alongside regulatory and policy responses will shape the future trajectory and governance of social media.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Choose the odd one out:
A)
HJN
B)
JLP
C)
PRU
D)
QSW
Examining letter position gaps: H(8) +2 -> J(10) +4 -> N(14); J(10) +2 -> L(12) +4 -> P(16); Q(17) +2 -> S(19) +4 -> W(23). All follow a (+2, +4) difference pattern except P(16) +2 -> R(18) +3 -> U(21), which has a (+2, +3) pattern, making PRU the odd one out.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Which letter in the Alphabet is the Eighth letter to the right of the letter which is Tenth letter to the left of the last but one letter of the alphabet?
A)
M
B)
W
C)
P
D)
I
Alphabet has 26 letters. Last but one letter is Y (25th). 10th letter to its left is 25 - 10 = 15th letter (O). 8th letter to the right of O is 15 + 8 = 23rd letter, which is W.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Rama obtained 12 marks more than that of Thana. If the ratio of their marks is 3 : 4, find the sum of their marks:
A)
96
B)
72
C)
84
D)
108
Let Thana's marks = 3x and Rama's marks = 4x. Since Rama obtained 12 marks more, 4x - 3x = x = 12. Total sum of marks = 3x + 4x = 7x = 7 * 12 = 84.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, how can an individual cultivate a sense of well-being and fulfillment?
A)
Engaging in meaningful conversations with loved ones.
B)
Engaging in activities that promote both solitude and social connection.
C)
Spending time in nature, pursuing hobbies.
D)
Finding a healthy balance between time alone and social interaction.
According to the passage on solitude: 'Engaging in activities that promote both solitude and social connection, such as spending time in nature, pursuing hobbies, or engaging in meaningful conversations with loved ones, can help individuals cultivate a sense of well-being and fulfillment.'
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
You have been assigned to a rural region where deep-rooted traditional beliefs and practices are negatively impacting public health outcomes—such as resistance to medical treatment, unsafe childbirth practices, or reliance on unscientific remedies. As a responsible official, how would you effectively address the community’s resistance to change, while respecting their cultural values and ensuring the implementation of health-promoting practices?
A)
Enforce strict penalties.
B)
Initiate awareness campaigns involving local leaders.
C)
Ignore the practices.
D)
Impose modern practices directly.
Partnering with respected community elders and local leaders in targeted awareness campaigns ensures cultural respect, builds mutual trust, and achieves sustainable public health compliance.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, how can solitude be a source of rejuvenation?
A)
Recharges mental and emotional batteries.
B)
Lightens intense social work.
C)
Lightens demanding work by peaceful thoughts.
D)
Intense social and demanding work are done peacefully.
Option A is correct: Recharges mental and emotional batteries..
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Which of the followings are/is non-verbal communication examples? (i) Blushing (ii) Crying (iii) Kinesics (iv) Laughter
A)
(iii) only
B)
(i), (ii) and (iv) only
C)
(ii) and (iv) only
D)
(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
All listed examples (Blushing, Crying, Kinesics, Laughter) are forms of non-verbal communication.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Fill in the blank: _________ means to state something written or spoken in different words, especially in a shorter and simpler form to make the meaning clearer.
A)
Paraphrasing
B)
Questioning
C)
Active Listening
D)
Emotions
Paraphrasing is restating written or spoken material in different words, usually in a more concise and clearer manner, while preserving the original meaning.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Choose the synonym of the word “disproportionately” as used in the passage.
A)
unreasonably
B)
vaguely
C)
loosely
D)
imprecisely
'Disproportionately' means to an extent that is out of proportion or excessive, making 'unreasonably' the closest synonym.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
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 situational judgement and interpersonal ethics, the most constructive and mature response is to communicate directly and make the friend realize their mistake.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
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
During disaster emergency response with limited resources, a District Magistrate's first and immediate life-saving priority is providing basic sustenance (food, clean drinking water, and immediate medical relief) to prevent starvation and waterborne epidemics.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
In a row of 21 girls, Rini was shifted by four places towards the right, now she becomes 12th from the left end. What was her earlier position from the right end of the row?
A)
10th
B)
12th
C)
14th
D)
8th
Original position from left = 12 - 4 = 8th. Original position from right = Total - (position from left) + 1 = 21 - 8 + 1 = 14th.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Five years ago, A was thrice as old as B and ten years later, A shall be twice as old as B. The present age of B is:
A)
20 years
B)
22 years
C)
24 years
D)
18 years
Let the present ages of A and B be A and B. Five years ago: (A - 5) = 3(B - 5) => A = 3B - 10. Ten years later: (A + 10) = 2(B + 10) => A = 2B + 10. Equating the two expressions for A: 3B - 10 = 2B + 10 => B = 20 years.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
In code language, ASTARK is written as LBFMG and MOBILE is written as TNRSPJ. How is BLAME written in that code?
A)
TSFRJ
B)
RPFTJ
C)
NJFTP
D)
TSFGJ
By direct letter substitution from MOBILE (M=T, O=N, B=R, I=S, L=P, E=J) and ASTARK (A=F): B -> R, L -> P, A -> F, M -> T, E -> J. Hence, BLAME is coded as RPFTJ.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, what is the main aim of Artificial Intelligence?
A)
To create machines that can perform all human tasks perfectly.
B)
To develop computer systems that can mimic human intelligence and perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
C)
To replace all human workers with robots.
D)
To create machines that are smarter than humans.
As defined in the reading comprehension passage on technology, the core goal of Artificial Intelligence is to develop computational systems capable of mimicking human cognitive faculties and executing tasks requiring human intelligence.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
You are an officer in charge of road safety in an urban area. A well-known political leader’s vehicle is repeatedly violating traffic rules, including signal jumping and driving on the wrong side. Your subordinate asks whether to issue a challan or ignore it due to political pressure. What should you do?
A)
Ignore the violation to maintain cordial political relations.
B)
Issue the challan according to the law, documenting all evidence carefully.
C)
Give a verbal warning instead of official action.
D)
Refer the matter to your senior officer before taking action.
In administrative ethics and situational judgement, public officials are legally and ethically obligated to enforce the rule of law uniformly without yielding to political influence, while properly preserving evidence.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
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 involves analyzing past actions, behaviors, and experiences to gain insights, understand causes of outcomes, and improve future performance.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Fill in the blank with the appropriate word: John’s horse is of an excellent _________.
A)
Brood
B)
Steed
C)
Breed
D)
Stood
In the context of animals, 'breed' refers to a specific type or variety of an animal, which fits correctly in the sentence.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
Statement I: The prices of petroleum products dropped marginally last week. Statement II: The State government reduced the tax on petroleum products last week. Decide the relationship between these two statements.
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.
To determine the relationship between the two statements, we must analyze the logical link between 'tax reduction' and 'price drop'.
1. **Analyze Statement II**: The State government reduced the tax on petroleum products. Taxes are a significant component of the final retail price of fuel. When a government reduces the tax (VAT or Excise duty), the cost of selling the product decreases.
2. **Analyze Statement I**: The prices of petroleum products dropped marginally. This is a direct outcome of a reduction in the cost components (like taxes).
3. **Establish Causality**: A reduction in tax (Cause) leads to a reduction in the final price for the consumer (Effect). Therefore, Statement II is the cause and Statement I is the effect.
**Why other options are incorrect:**
- **Option a**: A drop in prices does not cause a government to reduce taxes; usually, it is the other way around, or prices drop due to global crude oil rates.
- **Option c**: The statements are not independent; there is a clear economic link between taxation and retail pricing.
- **Option d**: While both could be effects of a larger cause (e.g., a government policy to curb inflation), the most direct and immediate relationship provided in the text is that the tax cut caused the price drop.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
The accommodating approach of conflict management is:
A)
Satisfies the other party’s concern while neglecting one’s own.
B)
Satisfies one’s own needs at the expense of the needs of other individual.
C)
Neglects the interest of both parties.
D)
Obtaining partial satisfaction for both the parties.
This question refers to the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), which identifies five styles of handling conflict based on two dimensions: assertiveness (concern for self) and cooperativeness (concern for others).
1. **Accommodating (Option a):** This style is characterized by high cooperativeness and low assertiveness. The individual neglects their own concerns to satisfy the concerns of the other party. It is often used when the relationship is more important than the issue at hand.
2. **Competing (Option b):** This is the opposite of accommodating. It is high assertiveness and low cooperativeness, where one's own needs are satisfied at the expense of others.
3. **Avoiding (Option c):** This is low assertiveness and low cooperativeness, where the interests of both parties are neglected or the conflict is ignored.
4. **Compromising (Option d):** This is an intermediate position where both parties give up something to reach a mutually acceptable solution, resulting in partial satisfaction for both.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
If 15 workers can finish a work in 48 hrs. How many workers will be required to do the same work in 30 hrs?
A)
24
B)
56
C)
34
D)
96
Work is constant: 15 workers * 48 hours = 720 worker-hours. To finish in 30 hours: 720 / 30 = 24 workers.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
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 hostile behavior, lack of empathy, and a desire for absolute control.
1. Why 'Inability to take feedback' is correct: Abusive supervisors often possess narcissistic traits or an authoritarian leadership style. They view feedback or constructive criticism as a challenge to their authority or a personal attack, leading to defensive or aggressive reactions. This inability to listen to subordinates is a hallmark of a toxic management style.
2. Why other options are incorrect:
- 'Introvert' (b): Introversion is a personality trait related to how one gains energy and processes stimulation; it is not a behavioral indicator of abuse. Many abusive bosses are actually extroverted and charismatic (manipulative).
- 'Decisiveness' (c): Being decisive is generally considered a positive leadership trait. While an abusive boss may be impulsive, decisiveness itself is not a characteristic of abuse.
- 'Praising others' (d): Praising others is a characteristic of supportive and transformational leadership. Abusive bosses typically withhold praise or use it manipulatively, rather than as a standard characteristic of their behavior.
MCSCCE • 2024 • Paper-II
A farmer built a fence around his square plot. He used 27 fence on each ride of the square. How many poles did he need all together?
A)
100
B)
104
C)
108
D)
None of these
For a square plot with 27 poles on each side, the 4 corner poles are shared between adjacent sides. Therefore, total poles needed = 4 × (27 - 1) = 4 × 26 = 104 poles (or 4 × 27 - 4 = 104).
