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Past Questions — 2024
Who was formally recognised as the king of Manipur under the Treaty of Yandaboo?
A)
Nara Singh
B)
Gambhir Singh
C)
Bodh Chandra
D)
Chandrakirti
Under Article 2 of the Treaty of Yandabo (February 24, 1826) signed between the British and Burmese at the end of the First Anglo-Burmese War, Raja Gambhir Singh was officially recognized as the sovereign ruler of Manipur.
Which of the following Constitutional Amendments has been described as a “Mini Revision of the Constitution”?
A)
Forty-Second Ammendment Act, 1976
B)
Forty-Fourth Ammendment Act, 1978
C)
Fifty-Second Ammendment Act, 1985
D)
Forty-Eighth Ammendment Act, 1987
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 introduced extensive changes across various parts of the Indian Constitution (including the Preamble, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles), earning it the moniker 'Mini-Constitution' or 'Mini Revision of the Constitution'.
In Koeppen’s classification of climate, tropical climate is represented by :
A)
B
B)
C
C)
D
D)
A
In the Köppen climate classification system, major climate group 'A' represents Tropical Moist/Megathermal climates, where the mean temperature of every month is 18°C or higher.
Which one of the following approach to the study of Public Administration is related with Max Weber?
A)
Classical Approach
B)
Human Relation Approach
C)
Scientific Approach
D)
Bureaucratic Approach
Max Weber is famously associated with the Bureaucratic Model of organization in Public Administration.
The world’s first conversational AI with emotional intelligence is :
A)
AI Robot
B)
Gemini AI
C)
HumeAI
D)
Humanoid Robot
Hume AI developed the Empathic Voice Interface (EVI), recognized as the world's first conversational voice AI with emotional intelligence.
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 added Part IX-A and the Twelfth Schedule to the Indian Constitution, providing constitutional status and framework for urban local bodies (Municipalities).
Harappan exchanges were regulated by a precise system of :
A)
Sizes
B)
Lengths
C)
Weights
D)
Perimeters
In the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation, commercial exchanges and trade were regulated by a highly standardized and precise system of weights, usually made of chert stone and following binary and decimal systems.
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 personnel management, the two fundamental and universally accepted principles governing civil service promotion are the Principle of Seniority (length of service) and the Principle of Merit (qualifications and proven competence).
On which occasion was Bombay handed over to the British by the Portuguese?
A)
Liberation of Portuguese from Spanish control.
B)
Charles II marriage with princess Catherine.
C)
The defeat of Spanish Armada in 1588.
D)
None of the above
Bombay was handed over to the British Crown by Portugal in 1661 as part of the royal dowry upon the marriage of King Charles II of England to Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza.
Which language family has the largest number of speakers in India?
A)
Dravidian family
B)
Indo-European family
C)
Sino-Tibetan family
D)
Austric family
The Indo-European language family (specifically the Indo-Aryan branch) accounts for approximately 78% of the Indian population, making it the largest language family by number of speakers in India.
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,' which occurs when the proportion of the working-age population (typically defined as ages 15 to 64) is higher than the non-working (dependent) population. According to data from the Census of India and various UN population reports, the working-age group constitutes the largest segment of the Indian population.
1. Working age population (15-64 years): This is the largest cohort, providing India with a competitive economic advantage if skilled and employed.
2. Dependent population of children (0-14 years): While significant, this percentage has been declining due to a drop in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR).
3. Dependent population of senior citizens (65+ years): This is the smallest of the three groups, although it is growing as life expectancy increases.
Therefore, the working-age population contributes the highest share to the total population structure.
Consider the following statements regarding the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. 1. Hama’s surprise attack on the state of Israel was on October 7, 2023. 2. Hamas campaign was dubbed “Operation al-Aqsa Flood”. 3. Israel has declared war on Hamas and launched “Operation Swords of Iron”. 4. In response to both the developments, the government of India launched an operation to retrieve Indians from Israel known as ‘Operation Dost’. Which of the above statements are correct?
A)
1 & 2 only
B)
1, 2 & 3 only
C)
1, 2 & 4 only
D)
1, 2, 3 & 4
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. Statement 4 is incorrect because India's evacuation mission from Israel was named 'Operation Ajay' (Operation Dost was for Turkey-Syria earthquake relief).
If the Reserve Bank of India raise the repo rate
A)
Money supply will increase, and there will be an inflationary pressure.
B)
Loans issued by the banking system to the economy will increase.
C)
Investment may decrease, and inflationary pressure may also decrease.
D)
Consumer demand will increase.
The Repo Rate is the rate at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends money to commercial banks. When the RBI raises the repo rate, it implements a 'Dear Money Policy' (Contractionary Monetary Policy).
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Cost of Borrowing:** An increase in the repo rate makes borrowing from the RBI more expensive for commercial banks.
2. **Transmission to Consumers:** To maintain their profit margins, commercial banks increase the lending rates for loans (home loans, car loans, business loans) for the general public and businesses.
3. **Impact on Investment:** Higher interest rates make borrowing for capital expenditure more expensive for companies, leading to a decrease in business investments.
4. **Impact on Consumption:** Higher loan rates discourage consumers from taking loans, leading to a decrease in aggregate demand.
5. **Impact on Inflation:** As spending and investment decrease, the overall demand in the economy falls. According to the laws of demand and supply, a decrease in demand helps in cooling down rising prices, thereby reducing inflationary pressure.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option (a) is incorrect because raising the repo rate decreases the money supply, not increases it.
- Option (b) is incorrect because higher rates make loans more expensive, leading to a decrease in the volume of loans issued.
- Option (d) is incorrect because higher borrowing costs lead to a decrease in consumer demand, not an increase.
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 (extending from the Bering Sea to the East China Sea) is the largest and most productive marine fishing ground in the world. Its high biological productivity is driven by the confluence of the warm Kuroshio Current and the cold Oyashio Current, which generates rich plankton feeding grounds for vast fish stocks.
Which ministry has received the highest allocation in the Interim Budget 2024-25 of the central government?
A)
Railways
B)
Defence
C)
Road, transport and highways
D)
Home affairs
In the Union Interim Budget 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence received the highest allocation of Rs 6.21 lakh crore (~13.04% of total budget expenditure).
Being able to put oneself in someone else’s situation is called:
A)
Understanding
B)
Leadership
C)
Sympathy
D)
Empathy
Empathy is defined as the psychological ability to understand, feel, and share another person's emotions and perspective by putting oneself in their situation.
The direct approach of retribution in influence strategies is:
A)
Bargaining
B)
Coercion
C)
Intimidating
D)
Ingra
In managerial influence models (Whetten & Cameron), Retribution strategies force compliance; Coercion (direct threats) is the direct approach, whereas Intimidation is the indirect approach.
Determinant(s) of positional power include(s):
A)
Flexibility
B)
Listening
C)
Coaching
D)
Counselling
In organizational management theory (e.g., Whetten & Cameron), the four core determinants of positional power are Centrality, Flexibility (discretion in decision making), Visibility, and Relevance. Listening, coaching, and counselling are interpersonal skills.
The service that is essential to keep systems running, networks connected and data secure is:
A)
Al
B)
Cloud Technologies
C)
IT
D)
Network Bandwidth
Information Technology (IT) encompasses the infrastructure, hardware, systems, network administration, and cybersecurity protocols necessary to keep enterprise systems running, networks connected, and digital data secure.
Mirroring is:
A)
Using a mirror to see one’s appearance
B)
Mimicking someone else’s manner of speech
C)
Matching the body language of someone we like
D)
Mocking someone by mimicking their behavior
In the context of management, soft skills, and psychology, 'mirroring' is a non-verbal communication technique. It involves subtly mimicking the gestures, posture, facial expressions, or tone of voice of another person. This behavior is often subconscious and occurs when people feel a sense of rapport, empathy, or attraction toward someone. By matching the other person's body language, an individual can build trust and make the other person feel more comfortable and understood.
Analysis of other options:
- Option (a) describes the literal use of a mirror, which is not the psychological/communication concept being tested.
- Option (b) refers to mimicking speech, which can be a part of mirroring, but 'mirroring' as a soft skill primarily focuses on the holistic synchronization of body language to build rapport, rather than just speech patterns.
- Option (d) describes 'mocking,' which is a negative, intentional act of ridicule, whereas mirroring is generally a positive or neutral social bonding mechanism.
Folded arms display what type of body language?
A)
Open body language
B)
Inattentive body language
C)
Defensive body language
D)
Attentive body language
Folding or crossing arms across the chest is a classic form of non-verbal communication indicating closed or defensive body language, often signaling resistance, defensiveness, or discomfort.
Influencing and persuasion are important elements of:
A)
Listening
B)
Empathy
C)
Managing emotions
D)
Negotiation
Negotiation relies critically on persuasion and influencing skills to bring disparate parties toward an agreement or mutually beneficial settlement.
______ is the skill of being aware of and understanding one’s emotions as they occur and they evolve.
A)
Self-Awareness
B)
Self-Efficacy
C)
Mental Health
D)
Social Skills
In emotional intelligence theory, Self-Awareness is defined as the ability to perceive, identify, and understand one's own emotions in real time as they occur and evolve.
______ are created either by strengthening connections between brain neurons or through the growth of new connections.
A)
Memories
B)
Nerve Cells
C)
Researchers
D)
Synapses
The sentence describes the biological process of memory formation, known as synaptic plasticity. Memories are stored in the brain not as single entities, but as patterns of connections between neurons. This happens through 'Long-Term Potentiation' (strengthening existing synapses) or 'Synaptogenesis' (the growth of new connections).
Why other options are incorrect:
- b. Nerve Cells: Nerve cells (neurons) are the physical structures themselves; they are not 'created' by strengthening connections between other neurons.
- c. Researchers: This is logically incorrect as researchers are people, not biological processes of the brain.
- d. Synapses: While synapses are the connections themselves, the sentence states that the subject is created *by* strengthening connections or growth of new connections. A synapse is the connection; a memory is the result of the specific configuration and strength of those synapses.
The ability to regulate and understand one’s emotions is known as:
A)
Confidence
B)
Leadership ability
C)
Emotional intelligence
D)
Self-Efficacy
Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to the capacity to recognize, understand, manage, and regulate one's own emotions and recognize and influence the emotions of others.