← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
In which battle was the English finally defeat the French in India?
A)
Wandiwash
B)
St. Thome
C)
Jinji
D)
Arcot
The correct answer is **Wandiwash**. The decisive **Battle of Wandiwash (1760)** in the Third Carnatic War marked the final defeat of the French by the English in India, ending French hopes of establishing political supremacy in the subcontinent.
Why the others are incorrect: **St. Thome** was an earlier conflict near Madras and did not decide the Anglo-French struggle in India; **Jinji** was a fort/campaign location, not the battle that finally defeated the French; **Arcot** is associated with the famous defense by Robert Clive, but it was not the final निर्णायक battle against the French.
Match the following statements: A. Analgin 1. Vitamin B B. Riboflavin 2. Vitamin C C. Penicilin 3. Analgesic D. Ascorbic Acid 4. Antibiotic Codes : A B C D (a) 3 2 4 1 (b) 3 1 4 2 (c) 2 3 1 4 (d) 2 1 4 3
A)
3 2 4 1
B)
3 1 4 2
C)
2 3 1 4
D)
2 1 4 3
Match each item with its correct category: Analgin is an analgesic (pain reliever) → 3; Riboflavin is Vitamin B2, so it belongs to Vitamin B → 1; Penicillin is an antibiotic → 4; Ascorbic acid is Vitamin C → 2. Therefore the correct code is A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, which corresponds to option (b). The other options are incorrect because they misplace at least one of these standard drug/vitamin identifications.
The atmospheric layer that reflects radio waves to earth is called:
A)
The Ionosphere
B)
The Stratosphere
C)
The Mesosphere
D)
The Thermosphere
The correct answer is **a: The Ionosphere**. The ionosphere contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons, which can reflect or refract radio waves back toward Earth, enabling long-distance radio communication.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **b: The Stratosphere** — this layer is mainly known for containing the ozone layer; it does not reflect radio waves.
- **c: The Mesosphere** — this layer is too low in ionization to reflect radio waves effectively.
- **d: The Thermosphere** — although it overlaps with the ionosphere in altitude, the radio-wave reflection property is specifically attributed to the **ionized region**, i.e., the ionosphere.
‘Regatta’ is the term associated with:
A)
Golf
B)
Rowing
C)
Bridge
D)
Horse-racing
Regatta is a sporting event consisting of a series of boat races, especially rowing races, so it is associated with Rowing. Golf is played on a course with clubs and balls, horse-racing involves horses on a track, and bridge is a card game; none of these are related to a regatta.
Gasoline is obtained from crude petroleum by:
A)
Fractional distillation
B)
Fractional crystallization
C)
Sublimation
D)
Evaporation
Gasoline is separated from crude petroleum by fractional distillation, which works because the different hydrocarbons in crude oil have different boiling points. The crude oil is heated and its vapors are separated in a fractionating column; gasoline condenses in the appropriate temperature range. Evaporation is not a separation method used to obtain gasoline from crude oil, fractional crystallization is used for separating solids based on crystallization behavior, and sublimation applies to substances that change directly from solid to vapor, which is not relevant here.
A and B are two heavy steel blocks. If B is placed on the top of A, the weight increases by 60%. How much would be the reduction of weight with respect to the total weight of A and B, if B is removed from the top of A?
A)
60%
B)
45.5%
C)
40%
D)
37.5%
Let the weight of block A be W. If placing B on top of A increases the weight by 60%, then the weight of B is 60% of A, i.e. B = 0.6W. So the total weight of A and B together is W + 0.6W = 1.6W. If B is removed, the reduction in weight is just B = 0.6W. Therefore, the reduction as a percentage of the total weight (A+B) is (0.6W / 1.6W) × 100 = 37.5%. Hence, option d is correct.
Why others are incorrect: 60% is the increase relative to A, not the reduction relative to the combined weight. 40% and 45.5% do not match the correct ratio 0.6/1.6 = 3/8 = 37.5%.
Amnesty International is an organization associated with which of the following fields?
A)
Protection of Cruelty to animals
B)
Environment protection
C)
Protection of human rights
D)
Protection of historic monuments
Amnesty International is a global non-governmental organization that works for the protection and promotion of human rights, including opposing torture, arbitrary detention, and discrimination. Therefore, option (c) is correct. The other options are incorrect because Amnesty International is not primarily concerned with animal welfare (a), environmental protection (b), or preservation of historic monuments (d).
Who was the Mughal emperor who granted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the East India Company?
A)
Shah Alam II
B)
Farrukhsiyar
C)
Muhammad Shah
D)
Shah Alam I
The correct answer is **Farrukhsiyar (option b)**. He issued the **1717 farman** granting the East India Company important trading privileges, including the **Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa** (the right to collect revenue in these provinces), which greatly strengthened the Company’s position in India.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Shah Alam I (d)**: He was a Mughal emperor, but he did not grant the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company.
- **Muhammad Shah (c)**: His reign is known for later Mughal decline, but the Diwani grant was not issued by him.
- **Shah Alam II (a)**: He is associated with the **1765 grant of Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company by the Treaty of Allahabad**, but the question asks who granted it originally in the Mughal context; the standard exam answer for the grant/farman is **Farrukhsiyar**.
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.
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.
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.
Dronacharya Awards are given to:
A)
Best performer in Archery
B)
Outstanding coaches in sports
C)
Outstanding athletes
D)
Outstanding invention in science
Dronacharya Awards are awarded by the Government of India to outstanding coaches in sports for their contribution to training athletes. Option (b) is correct. Option (c) is incorrect because outstanding athletes receive the Arjuna Award, not the Dronacharya Award. Option (d) is incorrect because inventions in science are recognized by science/innovation awards, not Dronacharya. Option (a) is incorrect because there is no special Dronacharya award specifically for archery performance; it is a coaching award across sports.
The most Olympic gold medals won by a male athlete is 23, and is achieved by –
A)
Michael Phelps
B)
Ian Thorpe
C)
Usain Bolt
D)
Asafa Powell
Michael Phelps is the male athlete with the most Olympic gold medals, having won 23 golds. Ian Thorpe won far fewer Olympic gold medals, and Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell are track athletes who did not reach 23 Olympic golds; Bolt won 8 Olympic gold medals, while Powell did not win Olympic gold medals at that level. Therefore, the correct answer is Michael Phelps.
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.
Among the following, the most powerful Upper House is:
A)
Rajya Sabha in India
B)
Senate in USA
C)
House of Lords in United Kingdom
D)
Council of States in Switzerland
The correct answer is **b) Senate in USA**. The U.S. Senate is generally regarded as the most powerful upper house among the given options because it has strong constitutional powers: it participates equally in law-making, approves treaties, confirms high-level appointments, and can significantly check the executive. Compared with other upper houses, its authority is especially substantial and independent.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **a) Rajya Sabha in India**: It is an important upper house, but it is weaker than the Lok Sabha in financial matters and does not have the same level of power as the U.S. Senate.
- **c) House of Lords in United Kingdom**: It is largely a revising chamber and has limited powers; it cannot permanently block most legislation passed by the House of Commons.
- **d) Council of States in Switzerland**: The Swiss upper house is important, but it is not typically considered more powerful than the U.S. Senate.
Therefore, the most powerful upper house among the options is the **U.S. Senate**.
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.
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**.
Which politician in India was recently honoured by Bill-Melinda Gates Foundation with the ‘Global Goalkeeper Award’?
A)
Sonia Gandhi
B)
Amit Shah
C)
Narendra Modi
D)
Mamata Bannerjee
Narendra Modi is the correct answer. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Goalkeeper Award was conferred on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his leadership in advancing sanitation and the Swachh Bharat Mission. Mamata Banerjee, Amit Shah, and Sonia Gandhi were not recipients of this award, so options d, b, and a are incorrect.
In a conference, out of a total 100 participants, 70 are Indians. If 60 of the total participants are vegetarian, then which of the following statements is/are correct? i) At least 30 Indian participants are vegetarian. ii) At least 10 Indian participants are non-vegetarian. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A)
i) only
B)
ii) only
C)
Both i) & ii)
D)
Neither i) nor ii)
Total participants = 100, Indians = 70, so non-Indians = 30. Vegetarians = 60, so non-vegetarians = 40.
To minimize the number of Indian vegetarians, we can make as many non-Indians vegetarian as possible. Since there are only 30 non-Indians, at most 30 vegetarians can be non-Indians. Therefore, at least 60 - 30 = 30 vegetarians must be Indians. So statement (i) is true.
To minimize the number of Indian non-vegetarians, we can make as many non-Indians non-vegetarian as possible. Since there are only 30 non-Indians, at most 30 of the 40 non-vegetarians can be non-Indians. Therefore, at least 40 - 30 = 10 non-vegetarians must be Indians. So statement (ii) is also true.
Hence, both (i) and (ii) are correct, so the answer is c.
Why others are incorrect:
- a) i) only: incorrect because ii) is also true.
- b) ii) only: incorrect because i) is also true.
- d) Neither: incorrect because both statements are necessarily true.
‘Ad Valorem’ refers to:
A)
Taxes in proportion to the estimated value of the goods
B)
Taxes in proportion to the quantity of goods
C)
Taxes levied at the time of selling and purchasing
D)
Taxes levied for advertising
‘Ad valorem’ is a Latin term meaning ‘according to value.’ It refers to taxes or duties calculated as a percentage of the assessed value of goods or property, so option (a) is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because taxes based on quantity are specific taxes, not ad valorem. Option (c) is incorrect because it describes taxes levied on transactions, not the value-based method implied by ad valorem. Option (d) is incorrect because it has no relation to the meaning of the term.
6 : 24 :: 5 : ?
A)
23
B)
22
C)
26
D)
20
The pattern is: 6 × 4 = 24, so the same rule gives 5 × 4 = 20. Therefore, option d (20) is correct. The other options are incorrect because 23, 22, and 26 do not follow the same multiplication pattern.
The first state in India which has passed a resolution demanding rollback of CAA is?
A)
Assam
B)
Meghalaya
C)
Delhi
D)
Kerala
Kerala was the first state in India to pass a resolution demanding the rollback of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Kerala Legislative Assembly adopted this resolution in December 2019, making option d correct. Assam, Delhi, and Meghalaya are incorrect because they did not pass the first such resolution demanding rollback of the CAA.
In which year was the “@” chosen for its use in e-mail addresses?
A)
1976
B)
1972
C)
1980
D)
1984
The correct answer is **1972**. In 1972, Ray Tomlinson selected the **@** symbol for separating the user name from the host name in e-mail addresses on ARPANET, making it the standard format for email addressing.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **1976**: This is not the year the @ symbol was chosen for email addresses.
- **1980**: By this time, @ was already established in email use.
- **1984**: Much later than the original adoption; the symbol had been in use for email for over a decade.
The I-League champion (India) in 2018-19 season was –
A)
Aizawl FC
B)
Mohun Bagan FC
C)
East Bengal FC
D)
Chennai City FC
Chennai City FC won the I-League title in the 2018–19 season, so option (d) is correct. East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan FC were strong contenders in Indian football but did not win the 2018–19 I-League, and Aizawl FC had won the league earlier (2016–17), not in 2018–19.
The concept of welfare state finds elaboration in the:
A)
Directive Principles of State Policy
B)
Preamble
C)
Fundamental Rights
D)
Fundamental Duties
The concept of a welfare state is elaborated in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV of the Indian Constitution). These principles direct the State to promote social and economic justice, reduce inequalities, and secure the welfare of the people, which is the essence of a welfare state. The Preamble only states the broad ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity; it does not elaborate the welfare-state concept in operational terms. Fundamental Rights mainly guarantee individual liberties and legal protections, while Fundamental Duties impose obligations on citizens, not the State. Hence, the correct option is Directive Principles of State Policy.