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
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
_________ 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
A powerful personal quality that some people have to attract and impress other people is:
A)
Conscientiousness
B)
Agreeableness
C)
Extraversion
D)
Charisma
Charisma is the compelling personal charm, magnetic presence, and attractiveness that enables an individual to inspire, attract, influence, and impress others.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
A politician strongly recommends a candidate for appointment in a temporary government post under your supervision. The candidate is underqualified and others in the list are better suited. What should you do?
A)
Evaluate all candidates on merit and document the process transparently.
B)
Appoint the recommended candidate to avoid political conflict.
C)
Request the politician to send a better candidate.
D)
Cancel the recruitment altogether.
Public administration ethics require civil servants to maintain impartiality, uphold merit-based selection, and ensure transparent, verifiable documentation, resisting improper external or political influence.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
An economist was quoted as saying that the Cost Index (CI) will go up next month because of a recent increase in the price of fruit and vegetables. Which of the following cannot be inferred from the statement?
A)
The cost of fruits and vegetables has risen sharply.
B)
Consumers have decreased their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
C)
The cost of fruit and vegetable is a major item in the CI.
D)
Food cost changes are reflected quickly in the CI.
The economist's forecast only relates fruit and vegetable price increases to the Cost Index. It provides no information or data regarding changes in consumer purchasing behavior or consumption volume.
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
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
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 present ages 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: 3B - 10 = 2B + 10 => B = 20 years.
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
Three of the following words are similar in a certain way. Pick the odd one out:
A)
Hexagon
B)
Hendecagon
C)
Heptagon
D)
Pentagon
Hexagon (6 sides), Heptagon (7 sides), and Pentagon (5 sides) are standard elementary polygons commonly taught in basic Euclidean geometry, whereas Hendecagon (11-sided polygon) is the odd one out with double-digit odd sides / distinct Greek numeral root.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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)
Non-verbal communication includes body language/kinesics (iii), facial/physiological expressions like blushing (i), and vocalics/paralanguage like crying (ii) and laughter (iv). Thus, all four are non-verbal communication examples.
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
In this question, four words have been given, out of which three are alike in some manner and the fourth one is different. Choose out the odd one.
A)
Stool
B)
Bench
C)
Table
D)
Chair
Stool, Bench, and Chair are items of seating furniture, whereas a Table is a surface for eating, writing, or placing objects.
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
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. 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.
This question tests the candidate's understanding of administrative ethics, specifically the principles of 'Rule of Law', 'Impartiality', and 'Integrity'.
1. **Rule of Law**: In a democratic administration, the law applies equally to all citizens regardless of their social or political status. Ignoring a violation because of the offender's identity is a violation of this fundamental principle.
2. **Impartiality**: An officer must act without bias. Treating a political leader differently than an ordinary citizen constitutes partiality and undermines public trust in the administration.
3. **Integrity**: Acting according to the law despite external pressure demonstrates professional integrity and courage.
**Analysis of Options:**
- **Option (a)** is incorrect because it prioritizes personal/political relations over legal duty, which is an ethical failure.
- **Option (c)** is incorrect because a verbal warning for repeated violations is insufficient and creates a precedent of selective enforcement.
- **Option (d)** is a common 'trap' answer. While reporting to seniors is often good, in this specific case, the law is clear and the violation is documented. Referring it to a senior to 'seek permission' to enforce the law suggests that the law is negotiable, which is ethically wrong.
- **Option (b)** is correct because it ensures the law is upheld uniformly. Documenting evidence carefully protects the officer from potential false accusations of harassment or bias, ensuring the action is based on facts rather than personal vendetta.
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
If 40% of the students in a school are boys and the number of girls in the school is 540. How many boys are there in the school?
A)
360
B)
390
C)
420
D)
460
If 40% are boys, then 60% are girls. 60% of total students = 540 => Total students = 540 / 0.60 = 900. Number of boys = 40% of 900 = 360.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
Lala and Dova can do a piece of work in 45 days and 40 days respectively. They began the work together, but Lala leaves after 9 days. In how many days will Dova finish the remaining work?
A)
23 days
B)
21 days
C)
18 days
D)
16 days
Lala's daily rate = 1/45, Dova's daily rate = 1/40. Working together for 9 days, they completed 9 × (1/45 + 1/40) = 9 × (17/360) = 17/40 of the work. Remaining work = 1 - 17/40 = 23/40. Dova completes the remaining work in (23/40) / (1/40) = 23 days.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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. Total work = 15 workers * 48 hours = 720 worker-hours. Workers required for 30 hours = 720 / 30 = 24 workers.
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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 ethical civil service governance, administrators must adopt a proportional and balanced approach that reconciles statutory compliance with public interest and humanitarian considerations.
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
Rini was at 8th position from the left. In a row of 21, 8th from left is 14th from right (21-8+1).
MCSCCE • 2025 • 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 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) => (3b - 10) + 10 = 2b + 20 => 3b = 2b + 20 => b = 20 years.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
In a certain code ‘POTASSIUM’ is written as ‘PoTassium’. How is ‘GRAPHITE’ written in that code?
A)
GrAphItE
B)
GrApHiTe
C)
gRaPHiTe
D)
GRAphiTE
The coding rule capitalizes letters at odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th) and writes letters at even positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th) in lowercase. Applying this to GRAPHITE gives G (1), r (2), A (3), p (4), H (5), i (6), T (7), e (8) = 'GrApHiTe'.
MCSCCE • 2025 • Paper-II
The major obstacle to effective interpersonal communication includes:
A)
Defensiveness
B)
Accusations
C)
Alternatives
D)
Memory
Interpersonal communication is the process by which people exchange information, feelings, and meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages. Obstacles to this process are known as 'communication barriers.'
1. **Defensiveness (Correct):** This is a psychological barrier. When a person feels threatened or attacked, they stop listening objectively and instead focus on protecting themselves or countering the other person. This shuts down open dialogue, prevents active listening, and leads to misunderstandings, making it a major obstacle to effective communication.
2. **Accusations (Incorrect):** While accusations can *cause* defensiveness, they are a specific behavior or a symptom of poor communication rather than a broad psychological state or systemic obstacle. Defensiveness is the internal state that fundamentally blocks the communication loop.
3. **Alternatives (Incorrect):** Providing alternatives is generally a positive part of problem-solving and collaborative communication, not an obstacle.
4. **Memory (Incorrect):** While memory lapses can lead to factual errors in communication, 'memory' as a cognitive function is not categorized as a primary interpersonal barrier in the same way that emotional or psychological states (like defensiveness) are.
