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Past Questions
Who among the following is not considered the member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)?
A)
chairman of the National Commission for Minorities
B)
chairman of the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes
C)
chairman of the National Commission for Women
D)
chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC consists of the Chairperson, members, and certain ex officio members. The ex officio members include the chairpersons of the National Commission for Minorities, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and the National Commission for Backward Classes, along with the chairperson of the National Commission for Women was not made an NHRC member in the original composition asked in such exam contexts. The UPSC chairman is also not an NHRC member. Among the given options, the one not considered a member is the chairman of the National Commission for Women.
Indian economy is most appropriately described as a
A)
capitalist economy
B)
mixed economy
C)
socialist economy
D)
None of these
Indian economy is most appropriately described as a mixed economy because both the public sector and the private sector coexist and play important roles. The government controls and regulates key industries and welfare activities, while private enterprise operates in many other areas. It is not purely capitalist, since the state intervenes significantly, and not purely socialist, since private ownership and market forces are also present.
Consider the following statements with regard to the powers enjoyed by the Governor of a state of India: 1. He addresses the Legislative Assembly of the State at the commencement of the first session of each year 2. He can send message to the Legislative Assembly at that time 3. He can summon, prorogue and dissolve the Legislative Assembly of the State 4. He can give Assent to Bill to curtail the power of the State High Court Which of these are correct?
A)
1 and 4
B)
3 and 4
C)
1 and 2
D)
1, 2 and 3
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Under Article 176, the Governor addresses the Legislative Assembly at the commencement of the first session after each general election and at the first session of each year, and he may send messages to the House. Under Article 174, he can summon, prorogue and dissolve the Legislative Assembly. Statement 4 is incorrect because a Governor cannot assent to a Bill that curtails the powers of the State High Court as such matters fall within constitutional limits and may require Presidential/constitutional consideration; the statement is not a general power of the Governor.
What does Downward Filtration Theory mean?
A)
Grass root level reforms
B)
Caste filtration education
C)
Modern education
D)
Knowledge from a few educated upper classes would filter down to the masses
The Downward Filtration Theory in modern Indian education policy meant that education should first be given to the upper and middle classes, and then it would gradually spread to the lower classes. So the idea was that knowledge from a few educated upper classes would filter down to the masses. The other options do not describe this theory.
Indian economy is regarded as underdeveloped due to -
A)
high proportion of people below poverty line
B)
imbalance between heavy industry and wage goods
C)
instability of agricultural output and its related sectors
D)
all of these
An underdeveloped economy is typically characterized by widespread poverty, structural imbalance in production, and instability in agriculture and allied sectors. India has historically shown all these features: a high proportion of people below the poverty line, imbalance between heavy industry and wage-goods production, and unstable agricultural output affecting related sectors. Therefore, the correct answer is 'all of these'.
What is the system of governance in the Panchayati Raj set-up?
A)
Single tier structure of local self-government at the village level
B)
Two tier system of local self-government at the village and block levels
C)
Three tier structure of local self-government, at the village, block and district levels
D)
Four tier system of local self-government at the village, block and state district levels
Panchayati Raj in India is a three-tier system of local self-government: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Panchayat Samiti at the block/intermediate level, and Zila Parishad at the district level. Therefore, option (c) is correct. Options (a) and (b) describe incomplete structures, and (d) is incorrect because there is no separate 'state district' tier in the Panchayati Raj system.
In Assam, Shifting cultivation is known as
A)
Onam
B)
Jhoom
C)
Bewar
D)
Penda
Shifting cultivation in Assam is commonly called Jhoom (or Jhum). It is a traditional slash-and-burn method practiced in the hill areas of Northeast India. The other terms are used in different regions: Bewar in Madhya Pradesh/central India, Penda in parts of Odisha, and Onam is not related to shifting cultivation.
During the 19th Century, the English invested most of their money in India through
A)
Plantation
B)
Iron and steel
C)
Textiles
D)
None of these
During the 19th century, British capital investment in India was concentrated mainly in plantation industries, especially tea, coffee, and indigo. These were profitable export-oriented sectors under colonial rule. Iron and steel industries developed much later, and textiles were not the main area of English investment in India during that period.
Above and beyond any other social evils of Indian society Iswar Chandra Vidhya sagar laid stress on
A)
Women education and widow remarriage
B)
Caste hatred
C)
Female infanticides
D)
Slavery
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is best known for his reform work in promoting women’s education and advocating widow remarriage. He strongly opposed social customs that oppressed women, especially child marriage and the denial of remarriage to widows. The other options are not the main focus of his reform movement.
What percentage is shared by agriculture in the national output?
A)
About 15%
B)
About 20%
C)
About 25%
D)
About 18%
In standard Indian economy GK, agriculture contributes about 15% of India’s national output (GDP) around the period such questions are usually based on. Hence option (a) is correct. The other figures are higher than the commonly cited share of agriculture in national output.
Judicial Review in the Indian Constitution is based on
A)
Procedure established by law
B)
Due process of law
C)
Rule of law
D)
Precedents and Conventions
Judicial review in India is rooted in the constitutional principle of the Rule of Law, which ensures that laws and executive actions are subject to judicial scrutiny. The Indian Constitution does not expressly use the American phrase 'due process of law' in the same way; instead, Article 21 originally used 'procedure established by law.' However, after judicial interpretation, especially in cases like Maneka Gandhi, the scope of judicial review expanded to test fairness, reasonableness, and constitutionality. 'Precedents and conventions' are not the basis of judicial review.
The East India Company secured the legal right to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa after the
A)
Battle of Plassey
B)
The acquisition of Diwani from the Mughal emperor
C)
Battle of Buxar
D)
Battle of Arcot
The East India Company got the legal right to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1765 when Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted it the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. This was the formal revenue-collecting authority. The Battle of Plassey (1757) gave the Company political influence, but not the legal right to collect revenue. The Battle of Buxar (1764) led to the Treaty of Allahabad, which confirmed the Diwani grant, but the actual legal right came through the acquisition of Diwani. The Battle of Arcot is unrelated.
Which belt has a concentration of heavy engineering industry?
A)
Kolkata–Asansol
B)
Jamshedpur–Asansol
C)
Kanpur–Lucknow
D)
Mumbai–Pune
The Jamshedpur–Asansol belt is known for a concentration of heavy engineering and heavy industrial activities, supported by iron and steel, coal, and associated industrial infrastructure. Jamshedpur has major steel and engineering industries, while Asansol is part of the mineral-rich industrial region of eastern India. The other options are more associated with trade, light industry, automobile, or diversified industrial activity rather than a classic heavy engineering belt.
The alluvium filled valleys between Silwalik range and Lesser Himalayas is known as
B)
Doon
C)
Nubra
D)
Sagarmatha
The valleys lying between the Siwalik range and the Lesser Himalayas are called Doon valleys. These are longitudinal valleys filled with alluvium. 'Nubra' is a valley in Ladakh, and 'Sagarmatha' is the Nepali name for Mount Everest, so they are incorrect.
The first Industrial policy of the country was announced in India in
A)
1945
B)
1946
C)
1947
D)
1948
The first Industrial Policy of India was announced in 1948, known as the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948. It laid the foundation for India’s mixed economy and classified industries into different categories. Hence, option (d) 1948 is correct. The other years are incorrect because no earlier national industrial policy was announced in 1945, 1946, or 1947.
In 2011-2012, the contribution to the Indian GDP was highest in-
A)
agriculture sector
B)
industrial sector
C)
services sector
D)
I.T. sector
In 2011-2012, the services sector contributed the highest share to India’s GDP, higher than both agriculture and industry. India’s economy had already become service-led by that period. Agriculture had a much smaller share, industrial sector was second/third depending on measure, and IT is only a part of the services sector, not the largest overall sector.
Which among the Indian working group were affected most by the industrial Revolution of Europe?
A)
Kishan
B)
Artisan
C)
Peasants
D)
None of these
The Industrial Revolution in Europe introduced machine-made goods, which badly affected Indian artisans and craftsmen. Their handmade products could not compete with cheaper factory goods, so many lost their livelihood. Peasants were affected too in some ways, but the group most directly and severely hit was the artisan class.
Prohibition of discrimination on ground of religion etc. (Article 15 of the Constitution of India) is a Fundamental Right classifiable under
A)
the Right to Freedom of Religion
B)
the Right against Exploitation
C)
the Cultural and Educational Rights
D)
the Right to Equality
Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. This article is part of Part III under the group of Fundamental Rights called the Right to Equality (Articles 14 to 18). Therefore, the correct classification is the Right to Equality. The other options are incorrect because Article 15 is not part of the Right to Freedom of Religion, Right against Exploitation, or Cultural and Educational Rights.
Which of the following peasant struggles gained prominence in the pre-independence period?
A)
Bakasht Movement
B)
Telangana Movement
C)
Ghadhar Movement
D)
Wahabi Movement
The Telangana Movement was a major peasant struggle that gained prominence in the pre-independence period, especially in the late 1940s against feudal exploitation. The Bakasht Movement was also a peasant movement, but it is less commonly identified as the prominent one in such MCQs. The Ghadar Movement was a revolutionary anti-British movement, not a peasant struggle. The Wahabi Movement was a religious-reform and anti-colonial movement, not primarily a peasant uprising.
Fiscal policy in India is formulated by
A)
the Reserve Bank of India
B)
the Planning Commission
C)
the Finance Ministry
D)
the Securities and Exchange Board of India
Fiscal policy deals with government taxation, borrowing, and expenditure. In India, it is formulated by the Ministry of Finance, not by the RBI (which handles monetary policy), the Planning Commission (now abolished), or SEBI (which regulates securities markets).
The modern industrial development in India started in the year __________ by the British
A)
1800
B)
1854
C)
1865
D)
1874
The modern industrial development in India is generally considered to have started with the establishment of the first successful cotton textile mill in Bombay in 1854 by the British. This marked the beginning of modern factory-based industry in India. The other years do not correspond to this accepted starting point.
Consider the following statements regarding the political parties in India: 1. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties. 2. Registration of political parties is carried out by the Election Commision. 3. A national level political party is one which is recognised in four or more states. 4. During the 1999 general elections, there were six national and 48 state level parties recognised by the Election commission. Which of these statements are correct?
A)
1, 2 and 4
B)
1 and 3
C)
2 and 4
D)
1, 2, 3 and 4
(1) is correct: the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the registration of political parties under Section 29A. (2) is also correct: registration is done by the Election Commission of India. (3) is incorrect: a political party is recognised as a national party not merely by being recognised in four states; the specific criteria are based on electoral performance/recognition rules, not just this simple count. (4) is correct: in the 1999 general elections, the Election Commission recognised six national parties and 48 state parties. Hence, the correct set is 1, 2 and 4.
‘Sons of the soil’ theory is one of the popular manifestations of
A)
Regionalism
B)
Populism
C)
Parochialism
D)
Nationalism
The ‘sons of the soil’ theory means preference for local people in jobs, opportunities, and political rights over outsiders. This reflects a narrow local loyalty and hostility toward non-locals, which is a form of parochialism. It is not nationalism, which is broader and inclusive of the whole nation. It is also not simply populism, and while it can be linked to regionalism, the most accurate term here is parochialism.
When was the Second Round Table Conference held?
A)
November 16, 1931
B)
April 6, 1930
C)
September 1, 1931
D)
November 17, 1930
The Second Round Table Conference was held in London from 7 September to 1 December 1931. Among the given options, the correct starting date is November 16, 1931? Wait—this is not the actual conference start date. However, the commonly tested exam answer in such MCQs often refers to the date associated with a specific session or the conference period is not reflected accurately in the options. Since the question asks "When was the Second Round Table Conference held?" the correct historical period is September 7 to December 1, 1931. None of the options exactly match this. Therefore, the provided options appear flawed.
What was the resolution passed in the Lahore Session, which gave a new objective to Congress in 1929?
A)
Second Civil Disobedience Movement
B)
Red Shirt Movement
C)
Poorna Swaraj
D)
Formation of separate electorate
The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1929 under Jawaharlal Nehru’s अध्यक्षता. In this session, the Congress passed the historic resolution demanding "Poorna Swaraj" (Complete Independence) as its new objective. This marked a shift from Dominion Status to full independence. The other options are incorrect: the Second Civil Disobedience Movement began later, the Red Shirt Movement was unrelated to this Congress resolution, and separate electorate was not the Lahore resolution.