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Past Questions — 2024
The direct approach of retribution in influence strategies is:
A)
Bargaining
B)
Coercion
C)
Intimidating
D)
Ingratiation
In the study of influence strategies (often based on the framework by Kipnis et al.), influence tactics are categorized into Soft, Hard, and Rational approaches.
1. **Coercion (Correct):** This is the direct approach of retribution. It involves the use of threats, sanctions, or punishment to force someone to comply with a request. It is a 'hard' tactic where the influencer leverages power to penalize the target if they do not comply.
2. **Bargaining (Incorrect):** This is an exchange-based strategy. It involves offering a trade-off or a reward in exchange for compliance, rather than threatening retribution.
3. **Intimidating (Incorrect):** While similar to coercion, intimidation is often viewed as a psychological state or a precursor. In formal management influence strategy frameworks, 'Coercion' is the specific term used for the active application of retribution or punishment.
4. **Ingratiation (Incorrect):** This is a 'soft' tactic. It involves using flattery, praise, or friendly behavior to make the target feel good before making a request, which is the opposite of retribution.
_______ 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
According to the reading passage on neuroscience, memories are formed in the brain either by strengthening existing connections between neurons or through the growth of new synaptic connections.
The inappropriate means of motivation is:
A)
Punishment
B)
Praise
C)
Knowledge of progress
D)
None of these
In psychological and management theories, praise and knowledge of progress are constructive motivators, whereas punishment induces avoidance and demotivation, making it an inappropriate means of motivation.
How many processes are involved in memory?
A)
Seven
B)
Five
C)
Four
D)
Three
Memory involves three fundamental stages/processes: encoding (receiving and processing sensory information), storage (maintaining information over time), and retrieval (accessing stored information).
What is the main idea of the passage?
A)
There is aneed to save energy, especially in our future.
B)
All of us should not only plant trees but also run the marathon.
C)
Use of plastic bags should be completely banned.
D)
We need to respect the Earth and consume less of its calories.
The central theme of the passage emphasizes ecological conservation and responsible living, highlighting that humanity must respect the planet's ecosystems and reduce its resource consumption.
In _______, managers pass along advice and information or set standards to help others improve their work skills.
A)
Counselling
B)
Coaching
C)
Listening
D)
Guidance
In organizational management (Whetten & Cameron framework), coaching focuses on ability and task performance, where managers provide advice, direction, and standards to help employees improve their work skills. Counseling, by contrast, focuses on attitudes and personal issues.
Empathy will allow us to be more effective as a leader and form more _______ relationships.
A)
Professional
B)
Compassionate
C)
Active
D)
Exciting
In leadership and management assessments, empathy enables leaders to understand diverse perspectives and build constructive, professional relationships.
Which of the following is part of the delegation process?
A)
Removing authority and responsibility
B)
Designing organisation structure
C)
Selecting the right person for the task
D)
Receiving feedback
Delegation is the process of assigning responsibility and authority to a subordinate to complete specific tasks. The delegation process typically involves three key elements: Assignment of Responsibility, Granting of Authority, and Creation of Accountability.
1. Why 'c' is correct: For delegation to be effective, the manager must identify and select a subordinate who possesses the necessary skills, competence, and reliability to handle the assigned task. Without selecting the right person, the delegation process is likely to fail.
2. Why 'a' is incorrect: Delegation involves *granting* or *transferring* authority, not removing it. While the manager retains ultimate accountability, they provide the subordinate with the authority needed to act.
3. Why 'b' is incorrect: Designing the organizational structure is a function of 'Organizing' at a macro level. Delegation is a tool used *within* an established structure to manage workflow, not the act of designing the structure itself.
4. Why 'd' is incorrect: While receiving feedback is part of the general 'Control' process or a good management practice after delegation, the core 'process of delegation' focuses on the transfer of authority and responsibility to initiate the task.
Around _______ percent of the manager’s waking hours are spent in verbal communication:
A)
80
B)
45
C)
60
D)
50
Studies in managerial behavior and organizational communication show that managers spend approximately 75% to 80% (around 80%) of their waking working hours in verbal communication.
Folded arms display what type of body language?
A)
Open body language
B)
Inattentive body language
C)
Defensive body language
D)
Attentive body language
Crossed or folded arms are widely interpreted in non-verbal communication as a sign of being defensive, closed off, or unapproachable.
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 to the Constitution, providing constitutional status and framework to Municipalities (urban local government).
A warm and dry wind blowing on the northern side of the Alps Mountain ranges is :
A)
Blizzards
B)
Foehn
C)
Sirocco
D)
Mistral
The correct answer is Foehn. A Foehn wind is a type of rain-shadow wind (adiabatic warming) that occurs when moist air is forced up a mountain range (the Alps), loses its moisture as precipitation on the windward side, and then descends rapidly on the leeward side. As the air descends, it compresses and warms up, resulting in a warm, dry wind blowing on the northern side of the Alps.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Blizzards: These are severe snowstorms characterized by strong winds and low visibility, not specific warm/dry mountain winds.
- c. Sirocco: This is a Mediterranean wind that originates in the Sahara Desert and blows towards Southern Europe; it is not specific to the Alps mountain range.
- d. Mistral: This is a cold, strong northwesterly wind that blows from southern France into the Gulf of Lion in the Mediterranean Sea.
India’s first-ever military-grade geospatial satellite built entirely by the private sector which was launched on 7" April, 2024 is :
A)
EOS-07
B)
RISAT-2BRI
C)
TSAT-1A
D)
CARTOSAT-03
TSAT-1A, built by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in collaboration with Satellogic, is India's first sub-metre resolution optical satellite built entirely by the private sector, launched on April 7, 2024.
The replacement level of total fertility rate in India is :
A)
1.0
B)
2.1
C)
2.5
D)
2.8
The replacement-level fertility rate is the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) required for a population to replace itself from one generation to the next, which is demographically established as 2.1 children per woman.
In Koeppen’s classification of climate, tropical climate is represented by :
A)
B
B)
C
C)
D
D)
A
In Köppen's climate classification scheme, Group 'A' designates Tropical climates where all twelve months have an average temperature of 18°C or higher.
The growth rate of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to the provisional estimate of the National Statistic Organisation (NSO) in the financial year 2023-24 is :
A)
7.2 per cent
B)
7.5 per cent
C)
8 percent
D)
8.2 per cent
According to the provisional estimates released on May 31, 2024 by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India's real GDP growth rate for FY 2023-24 was estimated at 8.2%.
An important pass that links Kerala with Tamil Nadu is :
A)
Thal Ghat
B)
Bhor Ghat
C)
Palghat Gap
D)
Vindhyan Ghat
The Palghat (Palakkad) Gap is a major low mountain pass in the Western Ghats connecting Kerala (Palakkad) with Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore).
Which of the following economists held the view that nature will check population growth?
A)
Thomas Robert Malthus
B)
Adam Smith
C)
JS Mill
D)
David Ricardo
Thomas Robert Malthus, in his 1798 work, 'An Essay on the Principle of Population', argued that human population growth would inevitably outstrip food supply, leading nature to intervene with 'positive checks' like famine, disease, and war to restore balance.
The Paris Agreement, a universal agreement which aims to keep a global temperature rise for this century w
Answer: well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels (and limit to 1.5°C)
The Paris Agreement (adopted at COP21 in 2015) aims to keep the increase in global average temperature this century well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
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-Agsa Flood”. 3. Israel has declared war on Hamas and launched “Operation Swords of Iron”. 4. Inresponse 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&2only
B)
1,2 &3 only
C)
1,2 & 4 only
D)
1,2,3&4
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct: Hamas launched 'Operation al-Aqsa Flood' on October 7, 2023, and Israel responded with 'Operation Swords of Iron'. Statement 4 is incorrect because India launched 'Operation Ajay' to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel ('Operation Dost' was India's humanitarian relief mission following the Turkey–Syria earthquake).
Which country recently launched the World’s first dedicated Drone Carrier?
A)
USA
B)
Russia
C)
China
D)
Turkey
China has recently developed and launched the world's first dedicated drone carrier. Unlike traditional aircraft carriers that are modified to carry drones, China's approach involves specialized vessels designed specifically for the launch, recovery, and operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to extend their operational range and surveillance capabilities. While the USA, Russia, and Turkey are leaders in drone technology (especially Turkey with the Bayraktar series), China is the first to implement a dedicated carrier platform specifically for these systems. This move is part of China's broader strategy to integrate AI and unmanned systems into its naval warfare capabilities.
The Indian National Congress was founded in which year?
A)
1857
B)
1885
C)
1905
D)
1925
The Indian National Congress (INC) was established on 28 December 1885 at Bombay by retired British civil servant Allan Octavian Hume.
Which Iron and Steel Industry was set up in Chhattisgarh with the technical support of former USSR?
A)
Rourkela
B)
Durgapur
C)
Bokaro
D)
Bhilai
The Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh was established in 1955 with technical and economic collaboration from the former USSR.
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
The Treaty of Yandabo was signed on February 24, 1826, between the British Empire and the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma, ending the First Anglo-Burmese War. One of the key outcomes of this treaty was the restoration of the independence of Manipur. Maharaja Bodh Chandra, who had been displaced by the Burmese invasions, was formally recognized as the legitimate King of Manipur under the terms of the treaty.
Analysis of other options:
- Nara Singh: He was a general and later became the Raja, but he was not the primary sovereign recognized at the signing of the Treaty of Yandabo.
- Gambhir Singh: He was the brother of Bodh Chandra and the military leader who led the Manipur Levy to reclaim the territory from the Burmese. While he did the fighting, the formal recognition of the throne went to Bodh Chandra.
- Chandrakirti: He belonged to a later period of Manipuri history and was not the ruler during the 1826 treaty.
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
In 1661, the Portuguese crown ceded Bombay to King Charles II of England as part of the royal marriage dowry of Catherine of Braganza.