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Past Questions
According to 1991, the proportion of Scheduled Tribes (ST) in total population was highest in
A)
Meghalaya
B)
Mizoram
C)
Nagaland
D)
Arunachal Pradesh
According to the 1991 Census, Nagaland had the highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes in its total population among the given states. Nagaland's population is overwhelmingly tribal, so its ST share is higher than Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, the correct option is (c) Nagaland.
When was the Indian Planning Commission set up?
A)
1948
B)
1949
C)
1950
D)
1951
The Planning Commission of India was set up in 1950 by a Government of India resolution, on 15 March 1950. Hence, option (c) 1950 is correct. The other years are incorrect because the Commission did not exist in 1948, 1949, or 1951.
What is the correct Chronological sequence of the following? 1) Wood’s Education Despatch 2) Macaulay’s Minute of Education 3) The Sargent Education Report 4) Hunter Education Commission
A)
2, 1, 4, 3
B)
2, 1, 3, 4
C)
1, 2, 4, 3
D)
4, 3, 1, 2
The correct chronological order is:
2) Macaulay’s Minute of Education — 1835
1) Wood’s Education Despatch — 1854
4) Hunter Education Commission — 1882
3) The Sargent Education Report — 1944
So the sequence is 2, 1, 4, 3.
Why others are wrong:
- Option (b) places Sargent Report before Hunter Commission, which is incorrect.
- Option (c) puts Wood’s Despatch before Macaulay’s Minute, which is incorrect.
- Option (d) is completely out of order chronologically.
The main problem faced by slum-dwellers in urban areas may be identified in -
A)
sanitation
B)
drainage
C)
air pollution
D)
all of these
Slum-dwellers in urban areas commonly face multiple basic civic problems at the same time. Poor sanitation, inadequate drainage, and unhealthy air conditions are all major issues in slum settlements. Since all the listed problems are relevant, the correct answer is 'all of these'.
In the strategy of development adopted, the responsibility for the development of heavy capital goods industries was placed largely on
A)
private sector
B)
public sector
C)
joint sector
D)
cooperative sector
In India’s planned development strategy, heavy capital goods industries were considered strategic and required huge investment, long gestation periods, and strong state control. Therefore, their development was placed largely on the public sector. The private sector was mainly expected to handle consumer goods and lighter industries. Joint and cooperative sectors were not the primary responsibility for heavy capital goods industries.
Which among the following was not the result of the battle of Plassey?
A)
Siraj-Ud-Daulah was killed
B)
MirJafar became the Nawab of Bengal
C)
East India Company lost its privilege of revenue collection
D)
24 Pargana area was given to the British
The Battle of Plassey (1757) resulted in Siraj-ud-Daulah’s defeat and death, Mir Jafar being installed as the Nawab of Bengal, and the grant of the 24 Parganas to the British. However, the East India Company did not lose the privilege of revenue collection as a result of Plassey; rather, British influence in Bengal increased after the battle. Therefore, option (c) is not a result of the Battle of Plassey.
Guha classified India into
A)
Nine races
B)
Eight races
C)
Seven races
D)
Six races
According to anthropological classifications by B.S. Guha, India was classified into nine racial types/races. Therefore, the correct option is Nine races. The other options do not match Guha’s standard classification.
The RBI was nationalised on -
A)
1st January,1949
B)
1st March, 1949
C)
1st January, 1950
D)
1st March 1950
The Reserve Bank of India was nationalised with effect from 1 January 1949, when it was taken over by the Government of India under the Reserve Bank (Transfer to Public Ownership) Act, 1948. Hence option (a) is correct. The other dates are incorrect because RBI’s transfer to public ownership did not occur in 1950.
Which Act allowed the Christian Missionaries to proselytise their religion?
A)
Charter Act of 1813
B)
The Rowlatt Act of 1919
C)
Charter Act of 1793
D)
Government of India Act 1833
The Charter Act of 1813 is the correct answer because it officially allowed Christian missionaries to enter British India and carry out missionary work, including proselytisation. Before this, missionary activity was restricted. The other options are incorrect: the Rowlatt Act (1919) dealt with repressive wartime powers, the Charter Act of 1793 renewed Company privileges without opening India to missionaries, and the Government of India Act 1833 mainly ended the East India Company's trade monopoly and further opened administration, but the first legal permission for missionaries came in 1813.
India is the world’s highest producer of
A)
Synthetic fibre
B)
Sugar
C)
Jute
D)
Papers
India has traditionally been the world’s largest producer of jute. The other options are incorrect because India is not the highest producer of synthetic fibre, sugar, or paper globally. Hence, the correct answer is Jute.
One important result of the British economic policy in India was the
A)
Development of Indian agriculture and industries
B)
Protestation of interests of Indian peasants and artisans
C)
Drain of wealth and poverty
D)
Better utilization of natural resources
The British economic policy in India was mainly exploitative. It led to the transfer of wealth from India to Britain through revenue extraction, trade imbalance, and deindustrialization. This caused widespread poverty in India. Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect because British rule did not promote Indian agriculture, protect peasants and artisans, or ensure better use of resources.
Who presides over the meeting of the Cabinet in the State?
A)
the Governor
B)
the Chief Minister
C)
the Speaker
D)
the Deputy Speaker
In a State, the Cabinet is headed and its meetings are presided over by the Chief Minister. The Governor is the constitutional head of the State, but real executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers led by the Chief Minister. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker preside over the Legislative Assembly, not the Cabinet.
Which of the following prominent leaders was not involved with the emergence of trade union movements?
A)
Lala Lajpat Rai
B)
B.P.Wadia
C)
Mohammed Ali Jinnah
D)
N.M.Joshi
Lala Lajpat Rai, B.P. Wadia, and N.M. Joshi were prominent leaders associated with the early trade union movement in India. Mohammed Ali Jinnah was primarily a political leader and constitutionalist, not a figure involved with the emergence of trade union movements. Hence, the correct answer is Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
The Indian national movement upto 1905 was dominated by leaders who are often described as
A)
Militants
B)
Extremists
C)
Conservative groups
D)
Moderates
The Indian national movement up to 1905 was mainly led by the early Congress leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Pherozeshah Mehta. They believed in constitutional methods, petitions, prayers, and peaceful reforms, so they are known as the Moderates. The Extremists became prominent only after 1905, especially during the Swadeshi movement.
The famous Asiatic Society of India was founded by
A)
William Jones
B)
Lord Cornwallis
C)
Lord Wellesley
D)
Lord Dalhousie
The Asiatic Society of India was founded in 1784 by Sir William Jones in Calcutta. He was a noted orientalist and judge who initiated the society to promote studies in Asian languages, history, and culture. The other options are incorrect because Cornwallis, Wellesley, and Dalhousie were British governors-general, not the founder of the Asiatic Society.
According to Foreign Trade Statistics (2010-11), the top trading partners of India are -
A)
Japan, S. Korea and China
B)
Japan, UAE and USA
C)
China, Kuwait and S. Korea
D)
China, UAE and USA
According to India’s Foreign Trade Statistics for 2010-11, the major trading partners among the given choices were China, UAE and USA. Hence option (d) is correct. The other options include countries like Japan, South Korea, and Kuwait, which were not the top trio in that year.
Under the provisions of the Indian Constitution a community can be declared a minority on the basis of-
A)
Religion only
B)
Either religion or language
C)
Either language or caste
D)
Either religion or race
Under the Indian Constitution, minorities are recognized on the basis of either religion or language. This is reflected in Articles 29 and 30, which protect the interests of minorities and grant them cultural and educational rights. A community is not declared a minority on the basis of caste or race under these provisions. Hence, option (b) is correct.
Which of the following is not part of poverty alleviation programme?
A)
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
B)
Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
C)
Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana
D)
Ashray Bima Yojana
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, and Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana are all poverty alleviation programmes aimed at employment generation and income support. Ashray Bima Yojana is not a standard poverty alleviation programme; it is an insurance-related scheme, so it is the odd one out.
The source of all political power in India lies with
A)
the Parliament
B)
the Lok Sabha
C)
the People
D)
the Constitution
In India, sovereignty rests with the people. The Constitution begins with the idea of "We, the People of India," showing that all political power ultimately comes from the people. Parliament and Lok Sabha are institutions created by the Constitution, so they derive power from the people, not the other way around. Hence, the correct answer is the People.
Rural indebtedness in India was the outcome of
A)
Mercantilism
B)
Laissez faire
C)
High revenue demands
D)
Industrialisation
Rural indebtedness in India largely grew because peasants had to meet heavy land revenue demands imposed under colonial rule. To pay revenue, many farmers borrowed from moneylenders, which led to chronic debt. Mercantilism and industrialisation were not the direct main causes, and laissez faire was a broader economic policy, not the immediate reason for rural indebtedness.
Which of the following is the mongoloid Stock?
A)
Santhal
B)
Kadar
C)
Lepcha
D)
Munda
Among the given groups, Lepcha is a Mongoloid ethnic group. Santhal and Munda are generally classified among Austroasiatic/Proto-Australoid tribal groups, while Kadar is a Dravidian tribal group. Hence, the correct answer is Lepcha.
The Chief Election Commissioner of India can be removed from office during his tenure by
A)
the Chief Justice of India if some charges are proved against him
B)
the President on the basis of a resolution of the Union Cabinet
C)
a committee consisting of Chief Justice of India, Law Minister of India and the Vice President of India
D)
the President on the basis of resolution passed by the Parliament by two-thirds majority
The Chief Election Commissioner enjoys security of tenure. Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, he can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge, i.e., by the President after an address by Parliament supported by a special majority. Among the given options, this is represented by option (d). Options (a), (b), and (c) are not the constitutional procedure.
Who established the first ‘Vedanta Society’?
A)
Keshav Chandra Sen
B)
Devendra Nath Tagore
C)
Swami Vivekananda
D)
Raja Rammohan Roy
The first Vedanta Society was established by Swami Vivekananda. He founded the Vedanta Society in New York in 1894 to spread the teachings of Vedanta and practical Hindu philosophy in the West. The other options are associated with the Brahmo Samaj and reform movements, not the Vedanta Society.
Who propounded the theory of Orientalism?
A)
Warren Hasting and William Jones
B)
Jeremy Bentham
C)
David Ricardo
D)
Lord Dalhousie
The theory/policy of Orientalism in British India was associated with the early colonial administrators and scholars who promoted the study of Indian languages, laws, and culture. Warren Hastings and William Jones were key proponents of this approach. The other options are incorrect: Jeremy Bentham was a utilitarian reformer, David Ricardo was an economist, and Lord Dalhousie was a later Governor-General known for expansion and modernization, not Orientalism.
The objective of setting up of public enterprises in India reflects -
A)
to create employment opportunities
B)
to promote balanced regional growth
C)
neither (a) nor (b)
D)
both (a) and (b)
Public enterprises in India were set up not only to provide goods and services in sectors where private investment was inadequate, but also to achieve broader socio-economic goals. These include creating employment opportunities and promoting balanced regional development by establishing industries in backward or less-developed areas. Hence, both (a) and (b) are correct.