← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
Which among the following banks has become the first Indian bank to list on the New York Stock Exchange?
A)
IDBI
B)
UTI Bank
C)
ICICI
D)
Corporation Bank
ICICI Bank became the first Indian bank to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). It achieved this through its NYSE listing in 2000, making it the first Indian banking institution to do so. UTI Bank (now Axis Bank) did not list on the NYSE first, and Corporation Bank and IDBI Bank also were not the first Indian bank to achieve this milestone.
Solid carbon dioxide is known as:
A)
Thiokol
B)
Drikold
C)
Perhydrol
D)
Mannitol
Solid carbon dioxide is commonly called dry ice, and the trade name given in the options is Drikold. Hence option (b) is correct. The other options are incorrect because Mannitol is a sugar alcohol used in medicine, Perhydrol is concentrated hydrogen peroxide, and Thiokol is a polysulfide rubber/sealant material, not solid carbon dioxide.
The Second Round Table Conference failed over the question of:
A)
Priority to be given to communal question
B)
Suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement
C)
Grant of Dominion Status
D)
Date of transfer of power
The Second Round Table Conference (1931) broke down mainly because the parties could not agree on the communal question—especially representation and safeguards for minorities, including the separate electorates issue. This became the central stumbling block and prevented a settlement.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- c) Grant of Dominion Status: This was an important demand, but it was not the immediate reason for the failure of the conference.
- d) Date of transfer of power: This was not the main issue discussed at the conference and did not cause its breakdown.
- b) Suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement: This was related to the political context, but the conference failed primarily over communal representation, not this point.
Therefore, the correct answer is a) Priority to be given to communal question.
Bodies at 0°C:
A)
Do not radiate heat
B)
Radiate heat
C)
Radiate heat only for particular materials
D)
May radiate heat or may not
At 0°C, a body still has thermal energy and therefore emits thermal radiation. By the Stefan–Boltzmann law, all bodies above absolute zero radiate heat. Hence the correct option is **b: Radiate heat**.
Why others are incorrect:
- **a. Do not radiate heat** — incorrect because radiation occurs at any temperature above 0 K, including 0°C.
- **c. Radiate heat only for particular materials** — incorrect because radiation is a general property of all bodies, though the amount depends on emissivity.
- **d. May radiate heat or may not** — incorrect because a body at 0°C definitely radiates; it is not optional.
7 RCR became the official residence of the Prime Minister of India during the tenure of:
A)
Rajiv Gandhi
B)
Indira Gandhi
C)
V.P. Singh
D)
Atal Bihari Vajpeee
7, Race Course Road (7 RCR), New Delhi, became the official residence of the Prime Minister of India during Indira Gandhi’s tenure. The Prime Minister’s official residence was shifted to 7 RCR in the 1980s, and it is historically associated with Indira Gandhi as the first PM to use it as the official residence. Rajiv Gandhi, V.P. Singh, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee all occupied it later, but they did not initiate its adoption as the PM’s official residence.
Which one of the following statements is not correct?
A)
There can be common high court for two or more states
B)
High courts have original as well as appellate jurisdiction
C)
A judge of a High Court can be transferred from one High Court
D)
Salaries and allowances of the judges of the high court are determined by the Supreme Court of India
Option (d) is not correct because the salaries and allowances of High Court judges are determined by Parliament by law (and are charged on the Consolidated Fund), not by the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court has no role in fixing their remuneration.
Why the others are correct:
- (a) Correct: Under Article 231 of the Constitution, a common High Court can be established for two or more states or for two or more states and a union territory.
- (b) Correct: High Courts have both original and appellate jurisdiction, though the extent of original jurisdiction varies from court to court.
- (c) Correct: A judge of a High Court can be transferred from one High Court to another by the President after consultation as provided in the Constitution.
Which among the following states is covered by Article 370 of the Constitution?
A)
Arunachal Pradesh
B)
Mizoram
C)
Jammu and Kashmir
D)
Haryana
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, so option (c) is correct. Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Haryana are not covered by Article 370; they do not have that special constitutional provision.
Which of the following glands receives messages from hypothalamus and communicates with other endocrine glands?
A)
Pituitary
B)
Thyroid
C)
Pancreas
D)
Thymus
The correct answer is Pituitary. The pituitary gland is called the "master gland" because it receives regulatory signals from the hypothalamus and then releases hormones that control other endocrine glands such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, and gonads. Thyroid is an endocrine gland but it is controlled by pituitary hormones rather than directly receiving messages from the hypothalamus in this role. Pancreas mainly regulates blood glucose through insulin and glucagon, and thymus is involved in immune function and T-cell maturation; neither is the central gland that relays hypothalamic signals to other endocrine glands.
The first metal used by man was:
A)
Copper
B)
Iron
C)
Aluminium
D)
Gold
Gold is generally regarded as the first metal used by man because it occurs in nature in the native (free) state and could be used without smelting or complex extraction. Early humans could shape it directly for ornaments and simple tools. Copper was used later, after people learned to extract and work metals. Iron required much higher-temperature smelting and came much later in human history. Aluminium is a modern metal, first isolated only in the 19th century, so it was not used by early humans.
Match List I with List II. List I (Names of presidents of the National Congress): A. William Wedderburn, B. George Yule, C. Badruddin Tyabji, D. Pheroze Shah Mehta List II (Sessions presided by them): 1. Calcutta Session, 2. Bombay Session, 3. Allahabad Session, 4. Madras Session
A)
2 3 4 1
B)
3 2 1 4
C)
1 2 3 4
D)
3 1 4 2
The correct matching is:
- A. William Wedderburn → 3. Allahabad Session
- B. George Yule → 1. Calcutta Session
- C. Badruddin Tyabji → 4. Madras Session
- D. Pheroze Shah Mehta → 2. Bombay Session
So the sequence is A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, which corresponds to option d.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Option a (2 3 4 1) wrongly assigns Wedderburn to Bombay and Mehta to Calcutta.
- Option b (3 2 1 4) wrongly assigns Yule to Bombay and Tyabji to Calcutta.
- Option c (1 2 3 4) is completely mismatched and does not reflect the known Congress presidencies.
Which of the following is a rift valley?
A)
Kashmir Valley
B)
Damodar Valley
C)
Narmada Valley
D)
Chambal Valley
Narmada Valley is a classic rift valley formed by tectonic faulting, where a block of the Earth’s crust subsided between two parallel faults. This is why it is identified as a rift valley. The other options are incorrect: Kashmir Valley is an intermontane valley formed between mountain ranges, not a rift valley; Chambal Valley is mainly an erosional river valley; and Damodar Valley is a river basin/valley formed by fluvial processes, not by crustal subsidence.
The line dividing North Korea and South Korea is the:
A)
17th parallel
B)
23rd parallel
C)
38th parallel
D)
Order-Neisse Line
The correct answer is **38th parallel** because the Korean Peninsula was divided into North and South Korea along the 38th parallel after World War II, and this line became the basis of the later Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The other options are incorrect: the **Oder-Neisse Line** is the post-World War II border between Germany and Poland, while the **17th parallel** and **23rd parallel** are not the dividing line between North and South Korea.
Who among the following dignitaries cannot be impeached?
A)
President
B)
Vice-President
C)
Judges of the Supreme Court
D)
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
The Vice-President cannot be impeached because the Constitution does not provide any impeachment procedure for that office. The Vice-President can be removed only by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an effective majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha, not by impeachment.
Why the others are incorrect:
- President: The President can be impeached under Article 61 for violation of the Constitution.
- Comptroller and Auditor General of India: The CAG can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge, so removal is possible.
- Judges of the Supreme Court: They can be removed by impeachment by Parliament on grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity.
When a person crosses the International Dateline from west to east:
A)
he loses 12 hours
B)
he loses 24 hours
C)
he gains 24 hours
D)
he neither gains nor lose any hours
When crossing the International Date Line from west to east, the calendar date is moved back by one day, which is equivalent to losing 24 hours. Hence option (b) is correct. Option (c) is incorrect because gaining 24 hours happens when crossing from east to west. Option (d) is incorrect because there is a date change at the International Date Line, so there is not zero change. Option (a) is incorrect because the change is not 12 hours; it is a full day (24 hours).
Indian Standard Time is based on longitude:
A)
82°30´E near Allahabad
B)
80°15´E near Chennai
C)
74°30´E near Mumbai
D)
87°15´E near Kolkata
Indian Standard Time (IST) is based on the standard meridian of India at 82°30′E (82.5°E), which passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, option (a) is correct. The other options are incorrect because 74°30′E near Mumbai, 80°15′E near Chennai, and 87°15′E near Kolkata are not the standard meridian used for IST.
The Appleton Layer is a layer of air in the
A)
Mesosphere
B)
Stratosphere
C)
Troposphere
D)
Ionosphere
The Appleton layer is part of the ionosphere. It is an ionized region of the upper atmosphere that reflects radio waves, and the Appleton layer specifically refers to one of the ionospheric layers. The other options are incorrect because the troposphere is the lowest weather layer, the stratosphere contains the ozone layer, and the mesosphere lies above the stratosphere but is not the Appleton layer.
The Khilafat Movement was organised to protest against the injustice done to:
A)
Syria
B)
Saudi Arabia
C)
Iran
D)
Turkey
The Khilafat Movement was launched by Indian Muslims after World War I to protest the harsh treatment of the Ottoman Caliphate and the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire by the Allied powers. Since the Caliphate was part of the Ottoman state, the injustice was done to Turkey (the Ottoman Empire), making option d correct. Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria were not the primary targets of this movement; the issue specifically concerned the fate of the Ottoman Caliph and Turkey.
Organisms which synthesize their own food are called:
A)
Autotrophs
B)
Heterotrophs
C)
Saprotrophs
D)
Auxotrophs
Autotrophs are organisms that synthesize their own food from inorganic substances using light energy (photosynthesis) or chemical energy (chemosynthesis). Hence, the correct answer is option a. Saprotrophs obtain nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter, heterotrophs depend on other organisms for food, and auxotrophs are organisms that cannot synthesize a particular organic compound and must obtain it from the environment.
International Date Line is a/an:
A)
Straight line
B)
Zigzag line
C)
Elliptical line
D)
Curved line
The International Date Line is generally a zigzag line. It roughly follows the 180° meridian but bends around islands and countries to avoid splitting them into different calendar dates. Hence, option b is correct. Option a (straight line) is incorrect because the line is not perfectly straight on maps. Option c (elliptical line) is incorrect because it is not an ellipse. Option d (curved line) is too vague; while the line does bend, the standard description in geography is a zigzag line.
The principles of Asoka’s Dharma (Dhamma) were taken from:
A)
Buddhism
B)
Jainism
C)
Brahmanism
D)
The moral values of all Indian religions of that period
Asoka’s Dhamma was not borrowed from one single religion. It was a broad ethical code emphasizing non-violence, truthfulness, compassion, respect for elders, tolerance, and social harmony, drawn from the common moral teachings found across the major Indian traditions of the time. Hence, the best answer is (d) the moral values of all Indian religions of that period.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) Buddhism: Asoka was influenced by Buddhism, but Dhamma was not simply Buddhist doctrine; it was a wider moral policy.
- (b) Jainism: Jainism also stressed ahimsa, but Asoka’s Dhamma was not specifically based on Jain principles alone.
- (c) Brahmanism: Brahmanism was one source of ethical ideas, but Dhamma was broader than Brahmanical teachings and not derived exclusively from them.
Match List I with List II. List I (Tribes): A. Eskimos, B. Berbers, C. Bindibus, D. Masai List II (Connected): 1. North West Africa, 2. Tanzania, 3. Northern Canada, 4. Australia
A)
1 2 3 4
B)
2 3 4 1
C)
4 2 1 3
D)
3 1 4 2
The correct matching is: A. Eskimos → 3. Northern Canada, B. Berbers → 1. North West Africa, C. Bindibus → 4. Australia, D. Masai → 2. Tanzania. So the sequence is 3 1 4 2, which corresponds to option d.
Why the others are wrong:
- a (1 2 3 4) wrongly places Eskimos in North West Africa and Berbers in Tanzania.
- b (2 3 4 1) wrongly places Eskimos in Tanzania and Masai in North West Africa.
- c (4 2 1 3) wrongly places Eskimos in Australia and Berbers in Tanzania.
Thus, option d is the only correct answer.
Poverty Line means:
A)
Demarcation line between the rich and the poor
B)
Lowest level in the ladder of economic prosperity
C)
Stage at which there is a levelling down between the rich and the poor
D)
Minimum level of per capita consumer expenditure
The poverty line is defined as the minimum level of per capita consumer expenditure required to meet basic needs. It is used to identify people whose income/expenditure falls below this threshold and are therefore considered poor. Option (d) is correct because it states this economic cutoff directly.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) Demarcation line between the rich and the poor: too vague and not the standard definition; the poverty line separates the poor from those above the minimum subsistence level, not simply rich vs poor.
- (b) Lowest level in the ladder of economic prosperity: this is not a formal definition and is imprecise.
- (c) Stage at which there is a levelling down between the rich and the poor: incorrect, because the poverty line does not imply equality or levelling down; it is only a threshold for basic consumption needs.
By which amendment of the constitution was the tenure of the Lok Sabha reduced to five years which was fixed as six years under the 42nd Amendment?
A)
43rd Amendment
B)
44th Amendment
C)
45th Amendment
D)
46th Amendment
The correct answer is **44th Amendment (option b)**. The **42nd Amendment Act, 1976** had extended the tenure of the Lok Sabha from **5 years to 6 years**. This was later reversed by the **44th Amendment Act, 1978**, which restored the original constitutional tenure of the Lok Sabha to **5 years**.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **43rd Amendment**: Did not deal with changing the tenure of the Lok Sabha.
- **45th Amendment**: Also unrelated to restoring Lok Sabha tenure.
- **46th Amendment**: Concerned mainly with taxation and sales tax-related matters, not Lok Sabha tenure.
Hence, the tenure was reduced back to five years by the **44th Amendment**.
The oldest product of biotechnology known to man is:
A)
Antibiotics
B)
Humulin
C)
Alcoholic drinks
D)
Citric acid
Alcoholic drinks are the oldest known product of biotechnology because fermentation by yeast has been used by humans for thousands of years to produce beer, wine, and other fermented beverages. This is an early example of using microorganisms in a controlled process. Antibiotics are much newer discoveries, Humulin is a modern recombinant human insulin produced by genetic engineering, and citric acid is an industrial fermentation product developed later than alcoholic beverages.
Which among the following locations is not correct: (a) UNESCO Paris (b) ILO Geneva (c) FAO Brussels (d) ICJ The Hague
A)
UNESCO Paris
B)
ILO Geneva
C)
FAO Brussels
D)
ICJ The Hague
FAO is not headquartered in Brussels; the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is based in Rome, Italy. Therefore, option (c) is the incorrect location pairing. The other pairs are correct: UNESCO is in Paris, ILO is in Geneva, and the ICJ (International Court of Justice) is in The Hague.