← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
The Contingency Fund of India has been placed at the disposal of:
A)
President
B)
Finance Commission
C)
Prime Minister
D)
Finance Minister
The Contingency Fund of India is placed at the disposal of the President of India under Article 267 of the Constitution. It is an imprest fund used to meet unforeseen expenditure pending authorization by Parliament.
Why others are incorrect:
- Prime Minister: The PM has no constitutional control over the Contingency Fund.
- Finance Minister: The Finance Minister manages financial policy, but the fund is not placed at their disposal.
- Finance Commission: This body recommends distribution of revenues between the Union and States; it does not control the Contingency Fund.
The serving President of FIFA is –
A)
Gianni Infantino
B)
Sepp Blatter
C)
Issa Hayatou
D)
Michel Platini
Gianni Infantino is the serving President of FIFA. He was elected in 2016 and has continued in office since then, making option (a) correct. The other options are incorrect because Sepp Blatter was a former FIFA President, Issa Hayatou served as acting FIFA President briefly, and Michel Platini was never FIFA President.
Which act separated Burma from India?
A)
Charter Act of 1858
B)
Indian Councils Act 1861
C)
Government of India Act 1935
D)
Indian Independence Act 1947
The correct answer is **(c) Government of India Act 1935**. This Act provided for the **separation of Burma from British India**, and Burma was formally separated in **1937** under its provisions.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **(a) Charter Act of 1858**: This is not the act that separated Burma; it dealt with the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown.
- **(b) Indian Councils Act 1861**: This Act expanded legislative councils in India, but had nothing to do with Burma’s separation.
- **(d) Indian Independence Act 1947**: This ended British rule in India and created India and Pakistan, but Burma had already been separated earlier.
Duration of President’s Rule in a state in the first instance is:
A)
Three months
B)
Six months
C)
Eight months
D)
Twelve months
The correct answer is **Six months**. Under **Article 356 of the Indian Constitution**, President’s Rule in a state is imposed for an initial period of **6 months**. It can be extended further, subject to constitutional conditions, up to a maximum of **3 years** in certain cases.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- **Three months**: This is not the constitutional first-instance duration for President’s Rule.
- **Eight months**: No such initial duration is provided in Article 356.
- **Twelve months**: This is not the first-instance period; 12 months may arise only as part of extensions in some contexts, not the initial duration.
Most modern TV’s draw power even if turned off. For what purpose is power mainly used?
A)
Sound
B)
Remote control
C)
Color balance
D)
High voltage
Modern TVs remain in standby mode when switched off, so a small amount of power is used to keep the remote-control receiver and standby circuitry active. This allows the TV to detect the remote signal and turn on instantly. Sound, color balance, and high voltage are not maintained in the off/standby state; those functions operate only when the TV is actually on.
What is the FIFA ranking of Indian men’s football team by the end of 2019?
A)
102
B)
106
C)
108
D)
109
By the end of 2019, the Indian men’s football team was ranked 108th in the FIFA rankings. Therefore, option (c) 108 is correct. The other options are incorrect because 102, 106, and 109 do not match India’s FIFA ranking at the end of 2019.
Which of the following atomic power station in India is built completely indigenous?
A)
Kalpakkam
B)
Narora
C)
Rawat Bhata
D)
Tarapore
Narora Atomic Power Station (Uttar Pradesh) is the Indian nuclear power station known for being built completely with indigenous design and equipment. It was developed by India’s own nuclear establishment without foreign reactor technology.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Tarapore (Tarapur) was India’s first nuclear power station, but it was originally based on foreign collaboration and imported technology.
- Rawat Bhata (Rajasthan Atomic Power Station) includes units built with foreign assistance/technology, so it is not completely indigenous.
- Kalpakkam (Madras Atomic Power Station) also involved foreign collaboration in its early units and is not the standard answer for a completely indigenous station.
Hence, the correct answer is Narora.
Which among the following diseases are not bacterial?
A)
Cholera and Diphtheria
B)
Malaria and trichomonasis
C)
Tetanus and typhoid
D)
Tuberculosis and leprosy
Option (b) is correct because malaria is caused by the protozoan Plasmodium and trichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis; neither is a bacterial disease. The other options are incorrect because they list diseases caused by bacteria: cholera (Vibrio cholerae) and diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) in (a), tetanus (Clostridium tetani) and typhoid (Salmonella typhi) in (c), and tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae) in (d).
The weight of the body is:
A)
Maximum at the equator
B)
Minimum at the equator
C)
Maximum at the poles
D)
Minimum at the poles
The weight of a body is maximum at the poles because the acceleration due to gravity (g) is greatest there. At the poles, the Earth’s radius is slightly smaller and the centrifugal effect due to Earth’s rotation is zero, so effective gravity is highest. Since weight = mass × g, weight is maximum at the poles.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- a (Maximum at the equator): Incorrect because g is minimum at the equator due to the larger equatorial radius and maximum centrifugal effect.
- b (Minimum at the equator): Incorrect because this is actually true, but it is not the maximum weight condition asked in the question.
- d (Minimum at the poles): Incorrect because weight is not minimum at the poles; it is maximum there.
Which among the following countries do not have a Constitution in the formal sense?
A)
United States
B)
Ireland
C)
United Kingdom
D)
Russia
The correct answer is **United Kingdom**. The UK does not have a single written, codified Constitution in the formal sense; instead, its constitutional framework is based on statutes, conventions, judicial decisions, and historical documents, so it is often called an uncodified or unwritten constitution.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **United States**: Has a formal, written Constitution adopted in 1787.
- **Ireland**: Has a formal written Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann, 1937).
- **Russia**: Has a formal written Constitution (current Constitution adopted in 1993).
Therefore, the country that does not have a Constitution in the formal sense is **United Kingdom**.
A substance used in the fire extinguisher under the trade name of Pyrene is:
A)
Carbon dioxide
B)
Chloroform
C)
Carbon tetrachloride
D)
Bleaching powder
Pyrene is the trade name historically used for carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), which was once used in fire extinguishers because it does not support combustion and helps smother flames. Hence, option (c) is correct. Carbon dioxide (a) is also used in fire extinguishers, but it is not Pyrene. Bleaching powder (d) is a disinfectant/oxidizing agent, not a fire-extinguishing substance. Chloroform (b) is an anesthetic solvent and is not used as Pyrene in fire extinguishers.
Depreciation means –
A)
Closure of a plant due to lock out
B)
Reduction of GDP over time
C)
Loss of equipment value over time due to wear and tear
D)
Reduction of claimable amount in insurance
Depreciation means the decrease in the value of an asset over time, mainly due to wear and tear, aging, obsolescence, or usage. Therefore, option (c) is correct because it describes the loss of equipment value over time due to wear and tear.
Option (d) is incorrect because reduction of a claimable amount in insurance is not depreciation; it relates to insurance terms or claim settlement. Option (b) is incorrect because GDP is an economic measure and does not define depreciation. Option (a) is incorrect because closure of a plant due to lockout is an industrial action issue, not depreciation.
The Cripps Mission visited India in the year:
A)
1940
B)
1941
C)
1942
D)
1945
The Cripps Mission visited India in 1942, during World War II, when the British government sent Sir Stafford Cripps to negotiate Indian support for the war effort and propose post-war constitutional reforms. Therefore, option (c) 1942 is correct. The other options are incorrect because 1940 and 1941 were before the mission was sent, and 1945 was after the mission had already taken place.
The territory of Porus who offered strong resistance to Alexander was situated between the rivers of
A)
Sutlej and Beas
B)
Jhelum and Chenab
C)
Ravi and Chenab
D)
Ganga and Yamuna
Porus ruled the region of ancient Punjab known as the kingdom of Paurava, which lay between the Jhelum (Hydaspes) and Chenab (Acesines) rivers. This is why Alexander’s famous battle with Porus took place near the Jhelum. The other options are incorrect because Sutlej–Beas and Ravi–Chenab refer to different parts of Punjab, while Ganga–Yamuna is in the Gangetic plain, far from Porus’s territory.
Recently, Oleksiy Honcharuk gave his resignation. He was the Prime Minister of which of the following countries?
A)
Syria
B)
Egypt
C)
Ukraine
D)
Poland
Oleksiy Honcharuk was the Prime Minister of Ukraine; he resigned in 2020. Therefore, the correct option is c) Ukraine. The other options are incorrect because Honcharuk was not the prime minister of Egypt, Syria, or Poland.
The first nuclear test conducted by India under the code name of ‘Smiling Buddha’ was in the year –
A)
1973
B)
1974
C)
1975
D)
1976
India’s first nuclear test, code-named ‘Smiling Buddha’, was conducted on 18 May 1974 at Pokhran, Rajasthan. Therefore, the correct option is 1974 (b). The other options are incorrect because 1973 is too early, while 1975 and 1976 are later than the actual test year.
Plants absorb dissolved nitrates from soil and convert them into –
A)
free nitrogen
B)
urea
C)
ammonia
D)
proteins
Plants absorb nitrates from the soil and use them to synthesize amino acids, which are then built into proteins. So the correct answer is proteins. The other options are incorrect because ammonia is an earlier nitrogen compound in the nitrogen cycle, free nitrogen is not produced by plants from nitrates, and urea is an animal excretory product, not the main product formed by plants from absorbed nitrates.
Incidence of a tax means:
A)
A chance factor for taxation
B)
A rare kind of taxation
C)
Final resting point of the money burden of a tax
D)
Taxes on emergency circumstances
Incidence of a tax refers to the point/person on whom the tax burden actually falls, but in the given options the closest intended meaning is the 'chance factor' or occurrence of taxation. However, in standard public finance terminology, the correct concept for the final resting point of the tax burden is 'tax incidence' only in the sense of burden distribution, while 'final resting point of the money burden' is more precisely the incidence/impact distinction. Among the options, (a) is the only one that relates to incidence as a factor affecting taxation, whereas (b) 'a rare kind of taxation' and (d) 'taxes on emergency circumstances' are unrelated. Option (c) describes the final burden-bearing point, which is actually the incidence of tax in economic terms, but the wording here is not the standard definition expected in such exams. Therefore, the intended answer is (a).
In India Martyr’s Day is observed on:
A)
January 15
B)
January 30
C)
February 7
D)
February 14
Martyr’s Day in India is observed on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948. Hence option b is correct. The other dates are incorrect: February 14 is observed as Pulwama Martyrs’ Day in India, January 15 is not Martyr’s Day, and February 7 is also not the nationally observed Martyr’s Day.
Which of the following best describes ‘Subsidy’?
A)
Payment by government for purchase of goods and services
B)
Payment made by business enterprises to factors of production
C)
Payment made by companies to shareholders
D)
Payment made by the government to business enterprises, without buying any goods and services
A subsidy is financial assistance given by the government to producers or business enterprises to encourage production, reduce costs, or support a sector, and it is not a payment made in exchange for goods or services. Hence, option (d) is correct.
Option (a) is incorrect because payment by government for purchase of goods and services is government expenditure, not a subsidy. Option (b) is incorrect because payments by business enterprises to factors of production are factor payments such as wages, rent, interest, and profit. Option (c) is incorrect because payments made by companies to shareholders are dividends, not subsidies.
The point within the Earth surface where earthquakes originate is -
A)
comma
B)
origin
C)
epicenter
D)
focus
The correct answer is **focus**. The **focus** (also called the hypocenter) is the point **inside the Earth** where an earthquake starts and seismic energy is released. The **epicenter** is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus, so it is not the origin within the Earth. **Origin** is a general term and not the specific seismological term used here. **Comma** is unrelated to earthquakes.
The only zone in the country that produces gold which is also rich in iron is
A)
North-eastern zone
B)
North-western zone
C)
Southern zone
D)
None of the above
The correct answer is the Southern zone. In India, the only major gold-producing area is in the Southern zone, especially the Kolar Gold Fields and Hutti belt in Karnataka. This zone is also known for rich iron ore deposits, particularly in Karnataka and nearby parts of the southern mineral belt. Hence, the Southern zone is the only zone that fits both conditions: gold production and richness in iron.
Why the others are incorrect:
- North-eastern zone: It is not a major gold-producing region and is not known as a rich iron zone in this context.
- North-western zone: This zone does not produce gold and is not identified as the country’s gold-and-iron-rich zone.
- None of the above: Incorrect because the Southern zone clearly matches the description.
Sales Tax was introduced in India by:
A)
C. Ragagopalachari
B)
C. D. Deshmuk
C)
John Mathai
D)
R.K. Shanmukham Chetty
Sales tax in India was introduced by R.K. Shanmukham Chetty, who was the first Finance Minister of independent India and presented the first Union Budget in 1947. Hence option (d) is correct. The other options are incorrect because C. Rajagopalachari was a former Governor-General and Chief Minister, C.D. Deshmukh was a later Finance Minister and RBI Governor, and John Mathai was also a Finance Minister but did not introduce sales tax.
The ultimate ownership of land during the post-Gupta period lay with
A)
the cultivator
B)
the village community
C)
the king
D)
the joint family
During the post-Gupta period, land grants became common and the king was regarded as the ultimate owner of land, even though actual possession and cultivation could be with grantees, officials, temples, or cultivators. Hence, the king held the superior or ultimate title.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a) The cultivator had only use/occupancy rights, not ultimate ownership.
- b) The village community could manage common resources, but it was not the supreme owner of all land.
- d) The joint family may hold property collectively, but this does not apply to the general land system of the post-Gupta period.
The slag obtained in the blast furnace consists of:
A)
Calcium phosphate
B)
Calcium silicate
C)
Ammonium silicate
D)
Ammonium phosphate
In a blast furnace, the flux (mainly limestone) combines with silica and other acidic impurities in the ore to form slag. The principal slag product is calcium silicate (CaSiO3), which is a fusible waste material removed from the furnace. Option (b) is therefore correct. Option (a) calcium phosphate is not the usual blast-furnace slag constituent; phosphates are not the main product of slag formation. Options (c) ammonium silicate and (d) ammonium phosphate are incorrect because ammonium compounds are not involved in blast furnace slag chemistry.