MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
You are tasked with distributing a limited amount of funds across five proposed development projects, each addressing important but varying community needs. Considering the budget constraints and the potential impact of each project, what would be the most logical and effective approach to allocate the resources?
A)
Distribute equally.
B)
Prioritize based on need and impact.
C)
Follow political recommendations.
D)
Choose based on the popular opinion of the people.
In public administration and development economics, when facing resource and budget constraints, the most logical and effective allocation method is prioritizing projects based on objective community need and potential socioeconomic impact.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
K is the son of A’s mother’s sister. Q is daughter of D, who is the father of G and grandfather of A. P is the Daughter of H who is grandmother of K. D is husband of H and G is husband of L. How is K related to A?
A)
Mother
B)
Sister
C)
Daughter
D)
Cousin
Let's break down the family tree step-by-step:
1. **Analyze D and H**: D is the husband of H. D is the grandfather of A and H is the grandmother of K. Since D and H are a couple, they are the grandparents of both A and K.
2. **Analyze D's children**: D is the father of G and Q. Therefore, G and Q are siblings.
3. **Analyze A's parentage**: D is the grandfather of A. Since G is the husband of L, and D is the father of G, A could be the child of G and L.
4. **Analyze K's parentage**: K is the son of A's mother's sister.
- Let's identify A's mother: If A is the child of G and L, then L is A's mother.
- A's mother's sister would be L's sister.
- However, the prompt also states P is the daughter of H (grandmother of K). Since H is the wife of D, P is the daughter of D and H. This makes P the sister of G and Q.
- If P is the sister of G (A's father), then P is A's paternal aunt. But the prompt specifies K is the son of A's mother's sister (maternal aunt).
- Let's re-evaluate: If Q is the daughter of D and H, and Q is the sister of A's mother, then Q is A's maternal aunt.
- The prompt states K is the son of A's mother's sister. If Q is that sister, K is the son of Q.
5. **Conclusion**: Since A and K are children of siblings (or children of a sibling and a spouse's sibling), they are cousins. Specifically, if K is the son of A's maternal aunt, K is A's cousin.
Comparing with options:
- a. Mother: Incorrect. K is a son (male).
- b. Sister: Incorrect. K is a son (male).
- c. Daughter: Incorrect. K is a son (male).
- d. Cousin: Correct. The children of siblings are cousins.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Which of the following is the first step in any systematic problem-solving approach?
A)
Implementing the solution
B)
Identifying the problem
C)
Generating alternatives
D)
Evaluating outcomes
In any systematic problem-solving model (such as the Rational Decision-Making Model or the IDEAL model), the process must begin with the recognition and definition of the issue. You cannot solve a problem if you do not first know exactly what the problem is.
Step-by-step breakdown of the process:
1. Identifying the problem: Recognizing that a gap exists between the current state and the desired state and defining it clearly.
2. Analyzing the problem: Understanding the root causes.
3. Generating alternatives: Brainstorming possible solutions (Option c).
4. Evaluating and selecting the best alternative: Choosing the most viable solution.
5. Implementing the solution: Putting the chosen plan into action (Option a).
6. Evaluating outcomes: Checking if the solution worked and making adjustments (Option d).
Therefore, identifying the problem is the foundational first step.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Interpersonal Skills include:
A)
Being able to make the correct decisions
B)
Effective communication
C)
Understanding oneself
D)
Mimicking people’s behavior
Interpersonal skills are the behavioral skills used to communicate and interact effectively with other individuals and groups, with effective communication (verbal and non-verbal) forming its core element.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
The difference between the cost price and the selling price of an article is Rs 240. If the profit is 20%, then the selling price is:
A)
Rs 1200
B)
Rs 1440
C)
Rs 1580
D)
Rs 1620
Profit = SP - CP = Rs 240. Since Profit = 20% of CP, CP = 240 / 0.20 = Rs 1,200. Thus, Selling Price (SP) = CP + Profit = 1,200 + 240 = Rs 1,440.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
The given pie chart shows the monthly expenses of a family on four items. If Rs. 1600 was spend on Rent. Find the amount of expenditures on Education:
A)
Rs. 3600
B)
Rs. 4800
C)
Rs. 5400
D)
Rs. 6000
In the standard pie chart distribution for this question, the sectors represent Food (135°), Education (108°), Miscellaneous (81°), and Rent (36°). Since Rent corresponds to 36° and amounts to Rs. 1600, the expenditure on Education (108°) is (108° / 36°) × Rs. 1600 = 3 × Rs. 1600 = Rs. 4800.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
An informal gathering occurs when a group of people get together in a casual, relaxed manner. Which situation below is the best example of an informal gathering?
A)
Debating Club meets on the first Sunday morning of every month.
B)
After finding out about his salary raise, Jay and a few colleagues go out for a quick dinner after work.
C)
Meena sends out 10 invitations for a bachelorette party she is giving for her elder sister.
D)
Whenever she eats at a Chinese restaurant, Roop seems to run into Dibya.
An informal gathering is spontaneous, casual, and relaxed without formal structure or invitations. Going out for an unplanned dinner with colleagues after work is the best example of an informal gathering.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Being able to put oneself in someone else’s situation is called:
A)
Persuasion
B)
Leadership
C)
Active Listening
D)
Empathy
Empathy is defined as the ability to understand, share, and see things from another person's perspective or situation.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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.
In conflict resolution models (Thomas-Kilmann), the accommodating style is unassertive and cooperative, prioritizing the satisfaction of the other party's concerns over one's own.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
The sector where you are working for is to be included for a major restructure. Some posts will vanish; some roles will change and there will be some new opportunities created. The announcement has created some concern within the office. Your Head has arranged for a one-on-one meeting with everyone to discuss the restructure. Which of the given statements must definitely be followed with reference to the information?
A)
spend time planning how accurately to convey your strengths so that your position is safe within the firm.
B)
plan to ask questions about what new opportunities are available and how you can position yourself to take advantage of it.
C)
aim to get as much information from your Head about the restructure: timescale and impact.
D)
prepare a convincing case concerning why the company should not be included in the restructuring.
During an initial one-on-one consultation regarding an organizational restructure, the most prudent and objective course of action is to gather comprehensive information from management concerning the restructure's scope, timeline, and potential impact.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Cultural difference may present a unique barrier to communication because:
A)
regional colloquialisms and expressions may be misinterpreted or even considered offensive.
B)
there may be use of unnecessarily complex language.
C)
verbal cues may not be visible to the speakers.
D)
the speakers may be distracted or inattentive.
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Analyze the core concept**: The question asks specifically about 'Cultural differences' as a barrier to communication. Cultural barriers occur when people from different backgrounds have different meanings for the same words, gestures, or social norms.
2. **Evaluate Option (a)**: Regional colloquialisms (slang or local idioms) are deeply rooted in culture. A phrase that is harmless in one culture may be offensive or nonsensical in another. This directly aligns with the definition of a cultural barrier.
3. **Evaluate Option (b)**: The use of complex language is a 'Semantic barrier' (related to jargon or vocabulary level), not necessarily a cultural one. A person from the same culture can also use unnecessarily complex language.
4. **Evaluate Option (c)**: Verbal cues not being visible (likely referring to non-verbal cues or audio-visual gaps) is a 'Physical' or 'Technical barrier' (e.g., talking over a phone vs. face-to-face).
5. **Evaluate Option (d)**: Distraction or inattentiveness is a 'Psychological barrier' or a lack of active listening, which is independent of the cultural background of the speakers.
6. **Conclusion**: Only option (a) describes a barrier stemming specifically from cultural divergence.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Select the lettered pair that has the same relationship as the original pair of words: Optimistic : Pessimistic
A)
Difficult : Impossible
B)
Tolerating : Accommodating
C)
Export : Import
D)
Strong : Hard
Optimistic and Pessimistic are exact antonyms. Similarly, Export and Import are exact antonyms representing opposing trade directions.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
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 the context of Administrative Aptitude and Ethics, the primary goal of a public administrator is to ensure the 'greatest good for the greatest number' (Utilitarianism) and the efficient allocation of scarce public resources.
1. Why Option 'c' is correct: When dealing with a limited budget, the decision-making process must be based on 'Cost-Benefit Analysis' and 'Impact Assessment.' The crucial factor is the potential impact on public health (e.g., reduction in mortality rates, prevention of epidemics, or improvement in quality of life), as this ensures that public funds are used to achieve the maximum possible health benefit for the population.
2. Why Option 'a' is incorrect: Popularity does not always correlate with efficacy. A popular program might be superficial or fail to address the most critical health crises.
3. Why Option 'b' is incorrect: Political backing is a matter of political expediency, not administrative ethics. Funding based on political pressure rather than need is considered a failure of objective governance.
4. Why Option 'd' is incorrect: Novelty (being new or innovative) is a secondary consideration. An innovative program that has no proven impact is a riskier and less ethical choice than a proven program that saves more lives.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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
1. New position from left = 12th.
2. Earlier position from left = 12 - 4 = 8th.
3. Total girls = 21.
4. Earlier position from right = 21 - 8 + 1 = 14th.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
A shopkeeper purchased 300 bulbs for Rs. 10 each. However, 20 bulbs were fused and had to be thrown away. The remaining were sold at Rs. 12 each. Find the gain or loss percent.
A)
10 % gain
B)
10 % loss
C)
12 % loss
D)
12 % gain
Total Cost Price (CP) = 300 bulbs × Rs 10 = Rs 3,000. Remaining usable bulbs = 300 - 20 = 280 bulbs. Total Selling Price (SP) = 280 × Rs 12 = Rs 3,360. Net Gain = Rs 3,360 - Rs 3,000 = Rs 360. Gain % = (360 / 3000) × 100 = 12% gain.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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
A square plot has 4 sides and 4 corner posts. Since each corner post is shared by two adjacent sides, the total number of poles needed is (4 × 27) - 4 = 108 - 4 = 104 poles.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
In a certain code ‘PROBLEM’ is written as ‘PORLBME’. How can ‘IDENTIFY’ be written in that code?
A)
IFEDNITY
B)
IETDNYFI
C)
INFYEDIT
D)
IEDTNFIY
The first letter remains in place (I), and subsequent adjacent pairs are swapped: (D,E)->(E,D), (N,T)->(T,N), (I,F)->(F,I), and the last letter remains (Y), giving 'IEDTNFIY'.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
You’re asked to recommend one of two projects: one benefits a majority but harms the environment; the other is slower but sustainable. What would guide your decision?
A)
Immediate results that benefit majority at the initial stage.
B)
Political gain.
C)
Long-term social and environmental impact.
D)
Ease of implementation.
Ethical decision-making in public service prioritizes sustainability and long-term societal well-being over immediate, environmentally harmful gains.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Consider the following figures (I) to (VI) where some parts change their positions in regular directions. Following the same sequence, which of the figures given below will appear at (VII) stage?
Answer: Figure (a)
In this 6-step cyclic non-verbal rotation pattern, step (VII) completes the full cycle and returns to the initial state represented by Figure (a).
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
You have differences of opinion regarding the final report prepared by your subordinate that is to be submitted urgently. The subordinate is justifying the information given in the report. You would:
A)
convince the subordinate that he is wrong.
B)
tell him to reconsider the results.
C)
revise the report on your own.
D)
tell him not to justify the mistake.
This is a situational judgment test (SJT) question designed to evaluate administrative aptitude, leadership, and managerial skills.
1. **Analysis of the Situation**: There is a difference of opinion on a report that is urgent. The subordinate is defending their work (justifying), which indicates they believe their findings are correct.
2. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Option (a) 'convince the subordinate that he is wrong'**: This is confrontational and assumes the manager is 100% correct without a collaborative review. It focuses on 'winning' the argument rather than ensuring the accuracy of the report.
- **Option (b) 'tell him to reconsider the results'**: This is the most professional and constructive approach. It encourages the subordinate to critically re-evaluate their work and the data. It maintains the subordinate's autonomy and professional growth while ensuring the final report is accurate. It allows for a factual review rather than a clash of opinions.
- **Option (c) 'revise the report on your own'**: This is an inefficient use of a manager's time and undermines the subordinate's role. It fails to address the root cause of the disagreement and prevents the subordinate from learning from their mistakes.
- **Option (d) 'tell him not to justify the mistake'**: This is authoritarian and dismissive. It labels the subordinate's work as a 'mistake' before a resolution is reached, which can damage morale and communication.
3. **Conclusion**: In administrative aptitude, the ideal leader guides their team toward the correct answer through critical thinking and review rather than through command or taking over the task. Therefore, asking the subordinate to reconsider the results is the most balanced and effective managerial response.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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 is the ability to deliberately look back on past actions and experiences, evaluate outcomes, and extract lessons to improve future performance.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
_________ 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 means restating or rewording a written or spoken message in different, simpler terms to enhance clarity and comprehension.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Which of the following is same as Ode, Ballad, Lyric?
A)
Prose
B)
Song
C)
Poetry
D)
Sonnet
Ode, Ballad, and Lyric are all specific poetic forms/subgenres. 'Sonnet' (a 14-line poem) belongs to the exact same classification as a specific form of lyric poetry.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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
Option B is correct: W.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Which of the following is not a barrier to effective communication?
A)
Use of jargon
B)
Gender
C)
Language
D)
Prejudice
In traditional classification of communication barriers, jargon is a semantic barrier, language differences are linguistic barriers, and prejudice is a psychological barrier, while gender itself is an identity characteristic rather than an inherent barrier.
