← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2016
The world Health Organization (WHO) named which country as the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child?
A)
Argentina
B)
Peru
C)
Mexico
D)
Cuba
WHO announced Cuba as the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. This was a landmark public health achievement recognized by WHO in 2015. The other options—Argentina, Peru, and Mexico—were not the first country to receive this recognition.
The Indian sub-continent is not originally originated in the Northern Hemisphere. It was a part of
A)
Laurasia
B)
Gondwana
C)
Pangea
D)
Antarctica
The Indian subcontinent was originally part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana (or Gondwanaland). It later broke away and drifted northward to collide with the Eurasian plate, forming the Himalayas. Laurasia was the northern landmass, Pangea was the earlier combined supercontinent, and Antarctica is only one of the Gondwanan fragments.
Which of the following Phenomena are associated with surface tension? 1. Floating of leaf on the surface of water. 2. Insect walking on the water. 3. Movement of water inside a straw.
A)
1 and 2 only
B)
2 only
C)
2 and 3 only
D)
1, 2 and 3
Surface tension is the property of a liquid surface that makes it behave like a stretched membrane. It is responsible for: 1) a leaf floating on water if not broken through the surface, 2) an insect walking on water due to the supporting surface film, and 3) capillary rise, which helps water move inside a narrow straw. Hence, all three phenomena are associated with surface tension.
Two glass prisms are placed side by side, one placed upright and the other one inverted. A white light is allowed to pass through both prisms. The light coming out of the second prism will be
A)
White light
B)
VIBGYOR with violet light at the top
C)
VIBGYOR with red light at the top
D)
Two sets of VIBGYOR with one over the other
A prism disperses white light into its constituent colours, but the second prism is inverted relative to the first. So the second prism produces an equal and opposite deviation, recombining the colours back into white light. Therefore, the light emerging from the second prism is white light. The other options are incorrect because they describe dispersion, whereas two opposite prisms in sequence cancel the dispersion effect.
Which of the following are collectively called the council of ministers? 1. Cabinet ministers 2. Minister of state 3. Minister of state, independent charge 4. Deputy Minister 5. Parliamentary secretaries
A)
1, 2, 4 and 5 only
B)
1, 3, 4 and 5 only
C)
1, 2, 3 and 4 only
D)
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
In the broad sense used in such exam questions, the Council of Ministers includes all ministers who assist the Prime Minister/Chief Minister in administration. This covers: 1) Cabinet Ministers, 2) Ministers of State, 3) Ministers of State with independent charge, 4) Deputy Ministers, and 5) Parliamentary Secretaries. Therefore, all five are collectively called the Council of Ministers in this context. Hence, option (d) is correct.
A dielectric is
A)
a bad conductor of electricity
B)
also called a resistor
C)
also called a capacitor
D)
an electric device leaving two magnetic poles
A dielectric is an insulating material that does not allow electric current to pass through it easily. Hence, it is a bad conductor of electricity. Option (b) is incorrect because a resistor is a component that opposes current flow, not a dielectric. Option (c) is incorrect because a capacitor is a device that uses dielectrics, but a dielectric itself is not a capacitor. Option (d) is unrelated.
Which of the following companies teamed up with NASA to develop software called Onsight, a new technology that will enable scientists to work virtually on Mars?
A)
Apple
B)
Google
C)
Microsoft
D)
IBM
NASA teamed up with Microsoft to develop 'OnSight', a software tool that lets scientists explore and analyze Mars data in a virtual environment. OnSight was built using Microsoft’s HoloLens platform for immersive, mixed-reality collaboration. Hence, the correct answer is Microsoft. The other options do not match this NASA partnership for OnSight.
Consider the following statements: 1. Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are weaker sections according to the Constitution. 2. The Constitution has not defined who the weaker sections of the society are. 3. The Constitution mandates the government to promote the educational and economic interest of the weaker sections of the society.
A)
1 only
B)
1 and 3 only
C)
1 and 2 only
D)
1, 2 and 3
Statement 1 is correct: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are generally treated as weaker sections under the Constitution. Statement 2 is also correct: the Constitution does not give a precise definition of 'weaker sections'. Statement 3 is incorrect because Article 46 directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections, not to define weaker sections in general. Hence, the correct answer is 1 and 2 only.
Which among the following gases does not contribute to green house effect?
A)
Methane
B)
Carbon dioxide
C)
Water vapour
D)
Nitrogen dioxide
Greenhouse gases trap outgoing infrared radiation and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapour are all major greenhouse gases. Nitrogen dioxide is not considered a greenhouse gas in this context, so it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect as asked in the question.
Who among the following was not a member of the Congress Socialist Party, although he encouraged and blessed its formation?
A)
Achyuta Patwardhan
B)
Jayaprakash Narayanan
C)
Acharya Narendra Dev
D)
Jawaharlal Nehru
The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was formed in 1934 within the Congress by socialist leaders such as Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayaprakash Narayan, and Achyuta Patwardhan. Jawaharlal Nehru supported socialist ideas and encouraged the formation of the CSP, but he was not a member of it. Hence, the correct answer is Jawaharlal Nehru.
The primary function of the Finance Commission in India is to
A)
Distribute revenue between the Centre and the States
B)
Prepare the Annual Budget
C)
Advise the Presidents on financial matters
D)
Allocate funds to various ministries of the Union and the State Governments
The Finance Commission is a constitutional body under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. Its primary role is to recommend the distribution of taxes and grants between the Union and the States, and also among the States if needed. Option (b) is incorrect because the Annual Budget is prepared by the Union Finance Ministry, not the Finance Commission. Option (c) is incorrect because the President may seek advice from various bodies, but the Finance Commission’s main function is not advising on financial matters in general. Option (d) is incorrect because allocation of funds to ministries is part of the budgetary process, not the Finance Commission’s function.
A body travelling with a speed of more than the velocity of sound in air is said to travel with
A)
supersonic speed
B)
hypersonic speed
C)
ultrasonic speed
D)
infrasonic speed
A body moving faster than the speed of sound in air is called supersonic. Hypersonic refers to much higher Mach numbers, typically above Mach 5. Ultrasonic and infrasonic describe sound frequencies, not the speed of a body.
Which of the following has minimum energy consumption?
A)
Cathode ray tube
B)
Plasma TV
C)
LED TV
D)
LCD TV
Among the given display technologies, LED TVs consume the least energy. Cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs are the most power-hungry, plasma TVs also consume a lot of power, and LCD TVs use less than CRT/plasma but generally more than LED TVs. LED TVs are more energy efficient because they use light-emitting diodes for backlighting, which requires less power.
Who among the following has recently warned that the global economy may be slipping into a 1930s-like depression?
A)
Janet Yellen
B)
Mario Draghi
C)
Jim Yong Kim
D)
Raghuram Rajan
Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank President, had warned that the global economy could be slipping into a 1930s-like depression. Among the given options, this statement is associated with him, not Janet Yellen, Mario Draghi, or Raghuram Rajan. Yellen was the U.S. Fed Chair, Draghi was ECB President, and Rajan was RBI Governor, but this specific warning is linked to Jim Yong Kim.
To elect the President of India which one of the following election procedures is used?
A)
System of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote
B)
Proportional representation through list system
C)
Collective voting system
D)
Secondary voting system
The President of India is elected indirectly by an electoral college, and the election follows the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote (STV) with secret ballot. This is provided under Article 55 of the Constitution of India. Option (b) is the list system, used in some proportional representation elections but not for the President. Option (c) is not the constitutional method for this election. Option (d) secondary voting system is also not used for electing the President of India.
The State Legislature consists of
A)
The Legislative Assembly
B)
The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council
C)
The Governor and one or two Houses of the Legislature, i.e., Legislative Assembly and Legislative Councils as the case may be
D)
None of these
Under the Indian Constitution, the State Legislature is not just the elected House(s). It consists of the Governor and the Legislature proper. In some states it is unicameral, with only the Legislative Assembly; in others it is bicameral, with both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. Therefore option (c) is correct. Option (a) is incomplete, option (b) applies only to bicameral states, and option (d) is incorrect.
Which of the following industries are presently subject to the compulsory licensing? 1. Aerospace 2. Tobacco, Cigarette 3. Alcoholic drinks 4. Drugs and Pharmaceuticals 5. Gun powder, Industrial explosives
A)
1, 2 and 3 only
B)
2, 3, 4 and 5 only
C)
1, 4 and 5 only
D)
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
In India, compulsory licensing is required for certain industries under the industrial licensing framework, including: tobacco, cigarette; alcoholic drinks; drugs and pharmaceuticals; and gun powder/industrial explosives. Aerospace is not one of the industries presently subject to compulsory licensing. Therefore, the correct combination is 2, 3, 4 and 5 only.
Which of the following statements is/are true about electric current? 1. The drift speed of electrons inside a conductor is almost equal to the speed of light in vacuum. 2. The motion of electrons in the conductor is similar to flow of charges in empty space.
A)
1 only
B)
2 only
C)
Both 1 and 2
D)
Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 1 is false because the drift speed of electrons in a conductor is very small, not close to the speed of light. Statement 2 is also false because electrons in a conductor do not move like charges in empty space; they undergo frequent collisions with the lattice while drifting slowly under an electric field. Hence, both statements are incorrect.
Even during very low winter temperature, Delhi experiences dense fog but very rarely experiences snowfall. This is due to
A)
less availability of moisture
B)
air mass doesn’t reach its saturation
C)
Delhi is located on plain
D)
all of these
Delhi gets very low winter temperatures, but snowfall needs both sufficient moisture and conditions that allow condensation and freezing. Delhi generally lacks enough moisture in winter, the air mass often does not reach saturation, and its location on the plains does not favor snowfall like mountainous regions do. So all the given reasons are correct.
How many members of the Lok Sabha are elected by the States?
A)
Nearly 540
B)
Nearly 535
C)
Nearly 530
D)
Nearly 528
The Lok Sabha has a total strength of 545 members: up to 530 elected from the States, up to 20 elected from the Union Territories, and 2 nominated from the Anglo-Indian community (as per the pre-2019 constitutional provision). Therefore, the number elected by the States is nearly 530, but since the question asks for the number of members of the Lok Sabha elected by the States and the closest option given is 530, the correct option is (c). Wait—carefully reading the options, the exact constitutional figure is 530, not 540. So the correct answer is option (c): Nearly 530.
Which of the following becomes a part of the Consolidated Fund of India? 1. Capitation Tax 2. Taxes on railway fares and freight charges 3. Taxes on sale and purchase of newspapers and advertisements therein
A)
1 and 2 only
B)
2 and 3 only
C)
3 only
D)
None of these
Under the Constitution, taxes become part of the Consolidated Fund of India only if they are taxes levied by the Union and not specifically assigned otherwise. However: (1) Capitation tax is a State subject (not a Union tax for the Consolidated Fund of India in this context). (2) Taxes on railway fares and freight charges are Union taxes, but the specific tax historically under this wording is not treated as a separate head becoming part of the Consolidated Fund in the way implied here. (3) Taxes on sale and purchase of newspapers and advertisements therein are also not correctly stated as a Union tax for this purpose. Since none of the listed statements correctly identifies the taxes that become part of the Consolidated Fund of India, the correct option is "None of these".
The Chairman or members of a Public Service Commission is removed by
A)
the President on the resolution of the Parliament
B)
the President on the Report of the Supreme Court
C)
the Governor on the recommendation of the State Legislature
D)
the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers
Under Article 317 of the Indian Constitution, the Chairman or a member of a Public Service Commission can be removed by the President only on the grounds and in the manner prescribed. For misbehavior, the removal is based on an address by Parliament supported by a special majority. Therefore, the correct option is (a). Options (b), (c), and (d) do not match the constitutional procedure.
Which of the following is correct about the Chief Election Commissioner? He holds the office till he attains the age of
A)
62 years
B)
65 years
C)
62 years of age or completes 3 years of service, whichever is earlier
D)
65 years of age or completes 5 years of service, whichever is earlier
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India holds office for a term of 6 years or until he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Among the given options, this matches option (b). Options (c) and (d) are incorrect because they mention different ages and service limits not applicable to the CEC.
Consider the following statements about 12th Five Year Plan’s goals: 1. Clean all the critically polluted rivers by 2020. 2. Setup an autonomous body named National Environment Assessment and Monitoring Authority for E14, Costal Zone regulations and Marine Fisheries regulations.
A)
1 only
B)
2 only
C)
Both 1 and 2
D)
Neither 1 nor 2
The 12th Five Year Plan did emphasize environmental sustainability, but both statements are incorrect as written.
1) "Clean all the critically polluted rivers by 2020" — This was not stated as a 12th Plan goal in this form. The Plan focused on cleaning polluted rivers and improving water quality, but the specific wording and target given here are inaccurate.
2) "Setup an autonomous body named National Environment Assessment and Monitoring Authority for E14, Costal Zone regulations and Marine Fisheries regulations" — This is also incorrect. The 12th Plan discussed strengthening environmental regulation and assessment, but the body mentioned is not correctly named or described, and the references to "E14" and the listed regulations do not match the official context.
Therefore, neither statement is correct.
A dynamo works on the principle of
A)
Magnetic effect of current
B)
Electromagnetic induction
C)
Photo electric effect
D)
Electromagnetic theory
A dynamo generates electric current by rotating a coil in a magnetic field, or by changing magnetic flux through a conductor. This is the principle of electromagnetic induction, discovered by Faraday.
(a) Magnetic effect of current is the effect produced when electric current creates a magnetic field, which is the reverse phenomenon.
(c) Photo electric effect relates to emission of electrons from a material due to light, not a dynamo.
(d) Electromagnetic theory is too general and not the specific working principle of a dynamo.