← Controller of Mines
Past Questions — 2022
In the Mizo marriage system, it is mandatory for the bride to bring along a Pawndum into the bridegroom’s house, this special cloth is called:
A)
Puanrin
B)
Mangpuan
C)
Puanhlap
D)
Zawlpuan
In Mizo culture, the 'Mangpuan' is a traditional wedding cloth that is essential in the marriage system. It is a specially woven cloth that the bride brings to the groom's house. The term 'Mang' refers to the wedding/marriage context, and 'Puan' means cloth. The Mangpuan is not only a garment but a symbol of the bride's transition into her new home and her skill in weaving, which was traditionally highly valued.
Analysis of other options:
- Puanrin: Generally refers to a type of wrap or specific pattern, but not the mandatory wedding cloth.
- Puanhlap: This is typically a cloth used for specific ceremonial purposes or as a cover, not the primary wedding cloth.
- Zawlpuan: This is a cloth traditionally worn in the 'Zawlbuk' (the bachelor's dormitory) or used for specific communal activities, not associated with the bride's dowry/marriage requirement.
It _____ by the time you get ready to leave.
A)
will be raining
B)
rains
C)
is raining
D)
had been raining
The sentence uses a time clause ('by the time you get ready to leave') to refer to a future event. In English grammar, when a time clause refers to the future, the verb in that clause is in the present simple ('get ready'), while the main clause must be in a future tense.
1. Option (a) 'will be raining' is the Future Continuous tense. It correctly indicates an action that will be in progress at a specific point in the future (the moment the person is ready to leave).
2. Option (b) 'rains' is Present Simple, which is used for habits or general truths, not for a specific future event triggered by a time clause.
3. Option (c) 'is raining' is Present Continuous. While it can sometimes be used for planned future events, it does not fit the temporal structure of 'by the time...'.
4. Option (d) 'had been raining' is Past Perfect Continuous, which refers to an action that happened before another action in the past. This contradicts the future context established by 'get ready'.
Therefore, 'will be raining' is the only grammatically correct choice to complete the future-oriented sequence.
In which year, two additional Commissioners were appointed for the first time in Election Commission of India?
A)
1980
B)
1985
C)
1989
D)
1991
The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established as a single-member body (consisting of only the Chief Election Commissioner) from 1950 until 1989. Due to the increasing workload and the complexity of managing elections in a vast country, the government decided to expand the commission. In October 1989, for the first time, two additional Election Commissioners were appointed to assist the Chief Election Commissioner, transforming the ECI into a multi-member body. While the commission has occasionally reverted to a single-member body in the past, it has predominantly functioned as a three-member body since 1989 to ensure a more balanced and collegiate decision-making process.
Which state has become the first state to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVa) in the State Legislative Assembly?
A)
Mizoram
B)
Nagaland
C)
Goa
D)
Kerala
The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a digital initiative aimed at making the functioning of the State Legislatures paperless and more transparent. Goa became the first state in India to implement the NeVA project in its State Legislative Assembly. The application is designed to digitize the legislative process, including the management of questions, bills, and proceedings, thereby reducing the reliance on physical paper and improving efficiency in governance.
Which among the following fundamental rights is available to Indian Citizens but not to aliens?
A)
Freedom of expression and speech
B)
Equality before Law
C)
Protection of life & liberty
D)
None of the above
Under the Constitution of India, Fundamental Rights are divided into those available only to citizens and those available to all persons (including aliens/foreigners).
1. **Option (a) Freedom of expression and speech**: This falls under Article 19. Articles 15, 16, 19, 29, and 30 are exclusively available to citizens of India. Therefore, the right to freedom of speech and expression is not available to aliens.
2. **Option (b) Equality before Law**: This is guaranteed under Article 14. Article 14 applies to 'any person', meaning it is available to both citizens and aliens.
3. **Option (c) Protection of life & liberty**: This is guaranteed under Article 21. Like Article 14, Article 21 applies to 'any person', ensuring that the right to life and personal liberty is available to everyone on Indian soil, regardless of citizenship.
Since only the freedom of speech and expression is restricted to citizens, option (a) is the correct answer.
Dantes probably broke the jug:
A)
in the morning
B)
during the night
C)
after breakfast
D)
at exactly 3 P.M.
Dantes broke jug during night to avoid detection and prepare escape tools secretly.
Biodiversity
A)
Increases towards the equator
B)
Decreases towards the equator
C)
Is not affected by change in latitude
D)
None of the above
This question refers to the 'Latitudinal Gradient of Species Diversity,' a well-established pattern in ecology. Biodiversity generally increases as one moves from the poles toward the equator.
1. Why Option (a) is correct: Tropical regions near the equator exhibit the highest biodiversity due to several factors:
- Solar Energy: Higher solar radiation leads to higher primary productivity (plant growth), which supports a larger variety of consumers.
- Climate Stability: Tropical regions have more stable temperatures and higher humidity compared to temperate or polar regions, reducing the risk of extinction during extreme weather events.
- Evolutionary Time: Tropical rainforests are thought to have remained relatively undisturbed by glaciations compared to higher latitudes, allowing more time for species to evolve and diversify.
2. Why Option (b) is incorrect: Biodiversity decreases as you move away from the equator toward the poles, not the other way around.
3. Why Option (c) is incorrect: Latitude is one of the most significant predictors of biodiversity; therefore, it is heavily affected by changes in latitude.
After reigning for 70 long years, Queen Elizabeth II died on
A)
5th September 2022
B)
6th September 2022
C)
7th September 2022
D)
8th September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, passed away on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She had served as Queen for 70 years, having ascended to the throne in 1952. Options a, b, and c are incorrect as they list dates prior to her actual date of death.
My brother _____ in the garden since morning.
A)
will dig
B)
has dug
C)
digs
D)
has been digging
The sentence contains the time phrase 'since morning', which indicates an action that started in the past and is still continuing into the present. In English grammar, the Present Perfect Continuous tense (has/have + been + verb-ing) is used to describe such actions.
Step-by-step analysis of options:
- (a) 'will dig' is Future Simple, which does not align with the 'since' time marker.
- (b) 'has dug' is Present Perfect Simple. While it refers to the past, it usually emphasizes the completion of the action rather than the ongoing duration indicated by 'since morning'.
- (c) 'digs' is Present Simple, used for habits or general truths, not for actions spanning a specific duration from the past to now.
- (d) 'has been digging' is Present Perfect Continuous, which perfectly matches the requirement of an action starting in the past and continuing up to the present moment.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the present minister of
A)
Railway
B)
Agriculture
C)
External Affairs
D)
Education
Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is a distinguished diplomat and currently serves as the Minister of External Affairs of India. He took office in July 2019.
Analysis of options:
- Option (a) Railway: The Ministry of Railways is headed by the Minister of Railways (currently Ashwini Vaishnaw).
- Option (b) Agriculture: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is headed by a different minister (currently Shivraj Singh Chouhan).
- Option (c) External Affairs: This is the correct portfolio held by Dr. S. Jaishankar.
- Option (d) Education: The Ministry of Education is headed by a different minister (currently Dharmendra Pradhan).
Which of the following is not a part of the Union executive?
A)
The President
B)
The Vice President
C)
The Attorney General of India
D)
Chief Justice of India
The Union Executive of India consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the Attorney General for India.
1. The President (Option a) is the nominal head of the state and the formal head of the executive.
2. The Vice President (Option b) is part of the executive and serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
3. The Attorney General of India (Option c) is the chief legal advisor to the government and is explicitly included in the Union Executive under the Constitution of India.
4. The Chief Justice of India (Option d) is the head of the Judiciary (the Supreme Court of India). According to the principle of 'Separation of Powers,' the Judiciary is independent of the Executive and the Legislature. Therefore, the Chief Justice of India is not a part of the Union Executive.
The first Newspaper published in Mizo language was?
A)
Mizo Chanchin
B)
Mizo Chanchin Laisuih
C)
Mizo leh Vai Chanchin
D)
Kristian Tlangau
The first newspaper published in the Mizo language was 'Kristian Tlangau'. It was started in 1913 by the missionaries of the Welsh Presbyterian Mission. The publication served as a medium for spreading the Gospel and providing news to the Mizo community during the early colonial period. While other options like 'Mizo Chanchin' sound like generic titles for Mizo news, 'Kristian Tlangau' is historically documented as the pioneer publication in the language.
The youngest men’s Tennis world number one Carloz Alcaraz is from which country?
A)
Poland
B)
Spain
C)
Switzerland
D)
Sweden
Carlos Alcaraz is a professional tennis player from Spain. He made history by becoming the youngest man to ever reach the world number one ranking in the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) rankings on September 12, 2022, at the age of 19.
Analysis of other options:
- Poland: While Iga Świątek (women's tennis) is from Poland, Alcaraz is not.
- Switzerland: Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic are prominent Swiss players, but not Alcaraz.
- Sweden: Sweden has a rich tennis history (e.g., Björn Borg), but Alcaraz is not Swedish.
When a person took refuge in the Chief’s house owing to poverty, they are called?
A)
Chemsen Bawi
B)
Tukluh Bawi
C)
Chung Bawi
D)
Inpuichhung Bawi
In traditional Mizo society, the social structure was centered around the Chief (Lal). Due to extreme poverty, famine, or social displacement, some individuals would seek refuge and protection in the Chief's house. A woman who entered the Chief's household in this manner—essentially seeking asylum or shelter due to her desperate circumstances—was referred to as a 'Tukluh Bawi'. The term 'Tukluh' implies 'entering' or 'coming into' the household for refuge.
Other options refer to different statuses or roles:
- 'Chemsen Bawi' typically refers to a woman who has been 'bought' or redeemed from a certain status.
- 'Chung Bawi' and 'Inpuichhung Bawi' are not the standard terms used for refugees of poverty in the Chief's house in Mizo historical context.
Many were called, but few were chosen.
A)
Simple Sentence
B)
Complex Sentence
C)
Compound Sentence
To determine the sentence type, we analyze its structure: 1. 'Many were called' is an independent clause (it has a subject 'Many' and a verb 'were called' and expresses a complete thought). 2. 'few were chosen' is also an independent clause (it has a subject 'few' and a verb 'were chosen' and expresses a complete thought). These two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction 'but'. By definition, a sentence that consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) is a Compound Sentence. A Simple Sentence contains only one independent clause, and a Complex Sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
The first Mizo woman awarded with Padma Shri in Literature was?
A)
Lalsangzuali Sailo
B)
Buangi Sailo
C)
Khawlkungi
D)
Nuchhungi
Lalsangzuali Sailo is a renowned Mizo writer and poet who was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her significant contributions to literature. She is recognized as the first Mizo woman to receive this honor in the field of literature. The other options listed (Buangi Sailo, Khawlkungi, and Nuchhungi) are not recognized as Padma Shri awardees in the field of literature.
According to Central Pollution Control Board, which particulate matter size in diameter (in micrometer) are responsible for causing the greatest harm to human health
A)
10 or less
B)
7.5 or less
C)
5 or less
D)
2.5 or less
Particulate Matter (PM) is categorized by the diameter of the particles. PM10 refers to particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, while PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and global health organizations like the WHO, PM2.5 is considered the most harmful because these 'fine particles' can bypass the natural filtration systems of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) and penetrate deep into the alveolar regions of the lungs. From there, they can enter the bloodstream, leading to severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, systemic inflammation, and premature death. While PM10 is also harmful, the smaller size of PM2.5 allows for deeper penetration and higher toxicity, making it the primary concern for human health.
Who can dissolve the Lok Sabha prior to completion of its tenure?
A)
President on recommendation of Council of Ministers
B)
President on recommendation of the Speaker
C)
Speaker
D)
President on his own will
Under the Indian Constitution, the President has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha. However, according to Article 74(1), the President must exercise his functions in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Therefore, the President cannot dissolve the Lok Sabha on his own will or on the recommendation of the Speaker; he does so upon the recommendation (advice) of the Council of Ministers.
Breakdown of options:
- Option (a) is correct: The President acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
- Option (b) is incorrect: The Speaker presides over the house but does not have the constitutional authority to recommend dissolution to the President.
- Option (c) is incorrect: The Speaker has no power to dissolve the house.
- Option (d) is incorrect: The President is a constitutional head and generally cannot act independently (discretionarily) regarding the dissolution of the Lok Sabha unless the Council of Ministers has lost the confidence of the house.
Which of the following method is used for election of President in India?
A)
Open Ballot System
B)
Single Transferable Voteing System
C)
Direct Election
D)
None of these
The President of India is elected through an indirect election process. According to Article 54 and 55 of the Indian Constitution, the President is elected by an Electoral College consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States. The specific method used is the 'System of Proportional Representation by means of a Single Transferable Vote'. In this system, voters mark their preferences (1, 2, 3, etc.) for the candidates. If no candidate gets the required quota of votes in the first count, the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated, and their votes are transferred to the second-preference candidates until a winner is decided.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option (a) Open Ballot System: The election of the President is conducted via a Secret Ballot to ensure the independence of the electors.
- Option (c) Direct Election: The President is not elected directly by the citizens of India; instead, it is an indirect election via the Electoral College.
Who among the following chief wrote a letter to the British Queen in the year 1897?
A)
Lianphunga
B)
Khamliana
C)
Kamliana
D)
Suakliana
In the history of Mizoram, specifically during the period of British colonization and the aftermath of the Lushai Expedition, various Mizo chiefs interacted with the British administration. Kamliana was a prominent chief who is historically noted for writing a letter to the British Queen in 1897. This act was a significant diplomatic gesture during a time of transition and conflict between the Mizo tribes and the British Empire, reflecting the chiefs' attempts to navigate the new political landscape and seek recognition or favorable terms from the highest authority of the British Crown.
On 24th August 2022, Mizoram government sent a consignment of homegrown pineapples from Sialhawk village to which of the following countries?
A)
Dubai and UAE
B)
Dubai and Qatar
C)
Dubai and Egypt
D)
Dubai and Bahrain
On August 24, 2022, the Government of Mizoram achieved a significant milestone in agricultural exports by sending a consignment of homegrown pineapples from Sialhawk village to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This initiative was part of the state's effort to promote the export of organic produce and enhance the livelihoods of local farmers. While Dubai is a city/emirate, it is located within the UAE; in the context of this specific news event and the provided options, 'Dubai and UAE' is the designated correct answer to identify the destination of the shipment.
Who among the following Chief was associated with ‘Thlanrawn rawt’ (Massacre)?
A)
Vuttaia
B)
Lallula
C)
Lalsavunga
D)
Mangphawrha
The 'Thlanrawn rawt' (often referred to as the Thlanrawn Massacre) is a significant event in Mizo history associated with the reign of Chief Lallula. Lallula was a powerful and influential chief of the Sailo clan. The event involved a violent conflict and massacre that occurred during the internal power struggles and territorial expansions characteristic of the Mizo chiefdoms before British colonization. Vuttaia, Lalsavunga, and Mangphawrha were other chiefs or figures in Mizo history, but they are not the primary figures associated with the specific event of the Thlanrawn massacre.
Which one of the following is an essential ceremony for a person to perform ‘Thangchhuah’?
A)
Kawngpui Siam
B)
Khuangchawi
C)
Chhawnghnawh
D)
Daibawl
In traditional Mizo culture, 'Thangchhuah' is the highest social status or 'attainment of glory' that a person could achieve. To be recognized as a 'Thangchhuah' person, one had to perform a series of expensive feasts and ceremonies to demonstrate wealth, generosity, and social standing. The most essential and final ceremony required to complete the process of Thangchhuah is the 'Khuangchawi' (the feast of the drum). Once the Khuangchawi was successfully performed, the individual was granted the status of Thangchhuah, allowing them to wear specific ornaments and garments reserved for this elite class.
Regarding the other options:
- Kawngpui Siam: Refers to the construction of a main road/path, not a specific ritual feast for Thangchhuah.
- Chhawnghnawh: This is a traditional Mizo dance/song form, not a status-granting ceremony.
- Daibawl: While feasts involving meat (Dai) were common, the specific ritualistic requirement for the pinnacle of social status was the Khuangchawi.
Which of the following is the name of tax paid by the villagers to the Chief?
A)
Chawng
B)
Fathang
C)
Tlahpawl
D)
Ngawn Chawm
In the traditional Mizo socio-political system, the village Chief (Lal) held significant authority and was entitled to various forms of tribute and taxes from the villagers. 'Tlahpawl' refers to the specific tax or tribute paid by the villagers to the Chief as a mark of allegiance and for the protection and administration provided by the Chief.
Regarding the other options:
- 'Chawng' generally refers to a type of traditional feast or specific social ritual.
- 'Fathang' is not a recognized term for a general village tax in Mizo history.
- 'Ngawn Chawm' typically refers to a specific type of contribution or share related to hunting or specific communal activities, rather than the general tax paid to the Chief.
Which one of the following is not a positive interaction
A)
Ammensalism
B)
Commensalism
C)
Mutualism
D)
Proto-cooperation
In ecology, biological interactions are categorized based on whether the participating species benefit (+), are harmed (-), or remain unaffected (0).
1. **Ammensalism (Option a):** This is an interaction where one species is harmed or inhibited (-), while the other species remains unaffected (0). Since one party is negatively impacted, it is not considered a positive interaction. Example: A large tree shading out a small plant beneath it.
2. **Commensalism (Option b):** An interaction where one species benefits (+) and the other is unaffected (0). Because there is a net benefit without harm, it is categorized as a positive interaction. Example: Remora fish attaching to sharks.
3. **Mutualism (Option c):** An interaction where both species benefit (+/+). This is a classic positive interaction. Example: Bees pollinating flowers.
4. **Proto-cooperation (Option d):** A non-obligatory interaction where both species benefit (+/+), but they can survive without each other. This is also a positive interaction. Example: Birds eating ticks off a rhinoceros.
Therefore, Ammensalism is the only option that involves a negative effect on one of the organisms.