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Past Questions — 2026
What is the main objective of the PM Vidyalakshmi Scheme?
A)
Provide financial support to meritorious students for higher education
B)
Provide free laptops to students
C)
Promote digital learning in tribal areas
D)
Offer skill development courses
The PM Vidyalakshmi Scheme is a central government initiative designed to ensure that eligible and meritorious students, regardless of their socio-economic background, can access higher education. The scheme primarily focuses on providing financial assistance through a streamlined process for education loans, often incorporating collateral-free loans and interest subsidies for students pursuing higher studies in recognized institutions.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option b: Providing free laptops is typically handled by state-specific schemes or specific digital literacy programs, not the PM Vidyalakshmi Scheme.
- Option c: While digital learning is a goal of the National Education Policy (NEP), the specific objective of PM Vidyalakshmi is financial aid, not infrastructure for tribal areas.
- Option d: Skill development is the primary objective of schemes like PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana), whereas PM Vidyalakshmi focuses on formal higher education degrees.
Which of the following is true about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India?
A)
They are legally binding
B)
India has integrated SDGs into national policies
C)
They are only applicable to rural areas
D)
They focus exclusively on economic growth
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Analysis of SDGs: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all' by 2030, established by the United Nations.
2. Evaluating Option (a): SDGs are voluntary frameworks agreed upon by UN member states. They are not legally binding treaties or laws; therefore, option (a) is incorrect.
3. Evaluating Option (b): India has actively integrated the SDGs into its national development agenda. This is evidenced by the creation of the NITI Aayog SDG India Index, which monitors progress across states and union territories, and the alignment of various central schemes (like Swachh Bharat Mission for Goal 6 or Ayushman Bharat for Goal 3) with the SDGs. Thus, option (b) is correct.
4. Evaluating Option (c): SDGs are universal. They cover urban sustainability (Goal 11), industrialization (Goal 9), and global partnerships, making them applicable to both rural and urban areas. Therefore, option (c) is incorrect.
5. Evaluating Option (d): The SDGs are holistic. They balance three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. They focus on poverty, hunger, health, education, and climate action, not exclusively on economic growth. Therefore, option (d) is incorrect.
The first Mizo who was able to read and write was
A)
R Dala
B)
Makthanga
C)
Khamliana
D)
Suakliana
R. Dala is historically recognized as the first Mizo to be literate (able to read and write). He was educated by the early Christian missionaries in the late 19th century. His literacy played a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between the British administration and the Mizo people, as he served as an interpreter and assistant to the British officers.
Regarding the other options:
- Makthanga was a prominent early convert and a key figure in the early church and education, but he followed R. Dala in the timeline of literacy.
- Khamliana and Suakliana were influential figures in Mizo society/history, but they are not credited as the first literate Mizo.
With reference to the Bana Kaih scheme of Mizoram, consider the following statements: 1. It focuses on cluster-based livelihood generation. 2. It integrates animal husbandry with horticulture. 3. It is fully funded by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Which of the statements given above are correct?
A)
1 and 2 only
B)
2 and 3 only
C)
1 and 3 only
D)
1 and 2 only
Option A is correct: 1 and 2 only.
Which country was formally admitted to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025?
A)
Bhutan
B)
Maldives
C)
East Timor (Timor Leste)
D)
Papua New Guinea
East Timor (Timor-Leste) has been on a roadmap toward full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for several years. After being granted 'observer status' in 2022, the ASEAN summitry and diplomatic processes have been geared toward its formal admission. Based on the timeline of the accession roadmap and current geopolitical trends leading into 2025, East Timor is the only country among the options that is a candidate for ASEAN membership.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Bhutan: A South Asian country and member of SAARC, not a candidate for ASEAN.
- b. Maldives: An island nation in the Indian Ocean and member of SAARC, not a candidate for ASEAN.
- d. Papua New Guinea: While it has expressed interest in the future and maintains relations with ASEAN, it is not the primary candidate currently undergoing the formal admission roadmap like Timor-Leste.
Consider the following statements about the National Green Tribunal (NGT): 1. It deals with cases related to environmental protection. 2. Its decisions are binding in nature. Which of the statements is/are correct?
A)
1 only
B)
2 only
C)
1 and 2
D)
Neither 1 nor 2
Option C is correct: 1 and 2.
The ‘Demographic Transition Model’ stage characterized by low birth rate and low death rate corresponds to:
A)
Stage I
B)
Stage II
C)
Stage III
D)
Stage IV
Option D is correct: Stage IV.
Which earthquake wave moves with a push-pull motion?
A)
Primary waves
B)
Secondary wave
C)
Love waves
D)
Rayleigh waves
Earthquake waves are divided into Body waves (P-waves and S-waves) and Surface waves (Love and Rayleigh waves).
1. Primary waves (P-waves) are longitudinal waves. They move by compressing and expanding the material they pass through in the same direction as the wave travels. This creates a 'push-pull' or compressional motion. Because they are the fastest, they are the first to be detected by seismographs.
2. Secondary waves (S-waves) are transverse waves. They move the ground up and down or side-to-side, perpendicular to the direction of wave travel (shear motion), not push-pull.
3. Love waves are surface waves that move the ground in a horizontal, side-to-side motion.
4. Rayleigh waves are surface waves that move the ground in an elliptical, rolling motion, similar to ocean waves.
Therefore, only Primary waves exhibit the push-pull motion.
What do we call a situation when the Government meets the gap of the public expenditure and public revenue by printing new currency?
A)
Fiscal Deficit
B)
Fiscal Stimulation
C)
Deficit Financing
D)
Differential accumulation
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. **Understanding the Scenario**: The question describes a situation where the government's expenditures exceed its revenues (a budget deficit) and the government chooses to cover this gap by printing new currency (increasing the money supply).
2. **Defining Deficit Financing**: Deficit financing occurs when a government spends more money than it receives in revenue and finances this gap through borrowing or by issuing new currency (often via the central bank). When the government prints money to fund the deficit, it is a classic example of deficit financing.
3. **Evaluating Other Options**:
- **a. Fiscal Deficit**: This is the *measure* of the gap between total expenditure and total receipts (excluding borrowings). It describes the 'gap' itself, not the 'method' used to meet that gap.
- **b. Fiscal Stimulation**: This is a broad policy action (increasing spending or decreasing taxes) intended to boost economic growth, not specifically the act of printing money to cover a deficit.
- **d. Differential accumulation**: This is not a standard term in macroeconomics related to government budget deficits.
4. **Conclusion**: Since the question specifically asks what we call the *act of meeting the gap* by printing currency, 'Deficit Financing' is the correct technical term.
When one suffers from a serious stomach problem, the early Mizos believed it was done by an evil spirit called
A)
Khawhring
B)
Khawvar
C)
Lasi
D)
Chawmnu
In traditional Mizo folklore and belief systems, various spirits were thought to cause specific ailments. The 'Khawvar' was believed to be a malevolent spirit or a 'village-spirit' that caused sudden, severe illnesses, particularly those affecting the stomach or internal organs, often leading to death if not treated by traditional healers.
Breakdown of other options:
- Khawhring: Generally refers to a type of spirit or entity, but not specifically associated with stomach ailments in the same primary way as Khawvar.
- Lasi: These are generally considered benevolent or neutral nature spirits/fairies, often associated with forests and mountains, rather than spirits that cause stomach diseases.
- Chawmnu: This term is not typically associated with the specific cause of stomach ailments in Mizo spiritual tradition.
Ramhual was abolished in 1951during whose Superintendency?
A)
A.G. McCall
B)
A.R.H. MacDonald
C)
S.N. Barkataki
D)
L.L. Peters
Ramhual (the practice of casting out individuals from the community/village) was a traditional social sanction in Mizo society. This practice was officially abolished in 1951 during the tenure of A.R.H. MacDonald, who served as the Superintendent of the Lushai Hills (Mizoram).
- A.G. McCall was a prominent missionary and administrator but is not associated with the 1951 abolition of Ramhual.
- S.N. Barkataki and L.L. Peters were administrators in the region, but the specific historical record attributes the abolition of this social practice to the administration of A.R.H. MacDonald.
Which of the following is not an alloy?
A)
Bronze
B)
Brass
C)
Steel
D)
Zinc
Option D is correct: Zinc.
Khawnglung Run occurred during
A)
Chhim leh Hmar Indo
B)
Chhak leh Thlang Indo
C)
Thlawnrawn rawt
D)
Vailen vawikhatna
The 'Khawnglung Run' refers to a significant historical event/conflict associated with the 'Chhim leh Hmar Indo' (the war between the South and the North). In Mizo history, this period was characterized by inter-clan and inter-regional warfare before the consolidation of the Lushai hills. The Khawnglung Run specifically pertains to the strategic movements and conflicts that occurred during this particular struggle. Options b, c, and d refer to different historical contexts or specific events (such as the Vailen wars) that do not align with the specific occurrence of the Khawnglung Run.
Who protects the investors in a stock market?
A)
SEBI
B)
RBI
C)
Government of India
D)
Ministry of Finance
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the statutory regulatory body established by the Government of India to regulate the securities market. Its primary objective is to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development and regulation of the stock market. SEBI prevents fraudulent and unfair trade practices, ensures transparency in the issuance of shares, and monitors the activities of stock exchanges and intermediaries.
Why other options are incorrect:
- b. RBI (Reserve Bank of India): The RBI is the central bank of India. Its primary role is to regulate the monetary policy, manage the currency, and supervise the banking sector, not the stock market.
- c. Government of India: While the government creates the laws and establishes the regulatory bodies, it does not directly manage the day-to-day protection of investors in the stock market; it delegates this authority to SEBI.
- d. Ministry of Finance: The Ministry of Finance oversees the overall economic policy and financial administration of the country, but the specific regulatory and enforcement functions for the stock market are handled by SEBI.
What is the study of the rings in the trees to estimate the life span and the climatic conditions prevailing in the past called?
A)
Ring analysis
B)
Linear analysis
C)
Paleoclimatology
D)
Dendrochronology
Option D is correct: Dendrochronology.
Consider the following statements regarding the Rajya Sabha: 1. It cannot be dissolved but one-third of its members retire every two years. 2. Money Bills can be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)
1 only
B)
1 only
C)
2 only
D)
1 and 2
Option A is correct: 1 only.
Which one of the following correctly explains the term “demographic dividend”?
A)
Increase in total population due to high fertility
B)
Increase in elderly population
C)
Economic growth potential arising from a higher proportion of working-age population
D)
Decline in dependency ratio due to high mortality
Option C is correct: Economic growth potential arising from a higher proportion of working-age population.
Which of the following is NOT correct about Sodium chloride?
A)
It is a covalent compound
B)
It is also known as common salt
C)
It is also used in de-icing of roadways during snowfall
D)
It is used as a food preservative
Option A is correct: It is a covalent compound.
What is the primary objective of the PM-AASHA scheme?
A)
To provide free education in tribal areas
B)
To promote organic farming
C)
To improve health infrastructure in rural areas
D)
To ensure remunerative prices for farmers’ produce
Option D is correct: To ensure remunerative prices for farmers’ produce.
The term ‘zachhamlak’ used by the Mizos refers to
A)
Harvesting of crops after due date
B)
An unexpected fortune received by the poor
C)
Sudden and unexplained death
D)
Revenge of the murder of a close relative
Option D is correct: Revenge of the murder of a close relative.
When Congress leaders condemned the Montague Chelmsford Report, many moderates left the party to form the
A)
Swarajya Party
B)
Indian Freedom Party
C)
Independence Federation of India
D)
Indian Liberal Federation
The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) introduced 'diarchy' in the provinces. While the Indian National Congress (INC) condemned these reforms as inadequate and disappointing, a group of moderate leaders felt that the reforms provided a starting point for constitutional progress and believed in working within the system. These moderates, led by figures like Surendranath Banerjea, disagreed with the Congress's increasingly radical stance and the decision to boycott the reforms. Consequently, they broke away from the Congress to form the Indian Liberal Federation (also known as the Liberal Party) in 1919.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Swarajya Party: Formed in 1923 by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement, not as a result of the Montague-Chelmsford Report.
- b. Indian Freedom Party: This is not a recognized major political entity associated with this specific historical split.
- c. Independence Federation of India: This is not the correct name of the party formed by the moderates during this period.
The Kyoto Protocol is associated with:
A)
Wildlife conservation
B)
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
C)
Deforestation control
D)
Ozone layer protection
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on December 11, 1997, and entered into force on February 16, 2005. It is an extension of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its primary objective is to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs)—such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride—which are the main contributors to global warming.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Option (a) Wildlife conservation is primarily addressed by treaties like CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
- Option (c) Deforestation control is a component of broader environmental goals and specific agreements like the REDD+ framework, but the Kyoto Protocol's overarching mandate is GHG emissions.
- Option (d) Ozone layer protection is the primary goal of the Montreal Protocol (1987), not the Kyoto Protocol.
Assertion (A): Fundamental Duties are enforceable in a court of law. Reason (R): They were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
A)
Both A and R are true
B)
A is false but R is true
C)
A is true but R is false
D)
Both A and R are false
Option B is correct: A is false but R is true.
The “Chipko Movement” in India was related to:
A)
Water conservation
B)
Wildlife protection
C)
Forest conservation
D)
Renewable energy
Option C is correct: Forest conservation.
The Lodhi dynasty was established by which tribe of Afghans?
A)
Ghizlai
B)
Ilabari
C)
Aibak
D)
Khalji
The Lodi (or Lodhi) dynasty, which ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526, was the first Afghan dynasty to rule Delhi. Bahlul Lodi, the founder of the dynasty, belonged to the Ilabari (also spelled Lodi or Lodhi) tribe of Afghans. The Ilabari were a prominent Pashtun tribe.
Analysis of other options:
- a. Ghizlai: While the Ghilzai are a major Afghan tribe, they were not the founders of the Lodi dynasty.
- c. Aibak: Qutb-ud-din Aibak founded the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty, not the Lodi dynasty. He was of Turkic origin, not Afghan.
- d. Khalji: The Khaljis founded the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320). While they were also of Turkic-Afghan origin, they are a distinct lineage from the Lodis.