Practice question set with answers. Use deep links to save questions.
5010 questions loaded. Showing page 27 of 63 for fast crawlable revision and deep linking.
2081. The 'Loktak Lake', the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India famous for its floating 'phumdis', is located in which state?
- A. Meghalaya
- B. Assam
- C. Tripura
- D. Manipur
Answer: Manipur
Explanation: Loktak Lake in Manipur is famous for its phumdis, floating masses of vegetation and soil, and hosts the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world's only floating national park, home to the Sangai deer.
2082. Which Indian river is known for its 'tidal bore' phenomenon near Bharuch during high tide, reversing its flow direction?
- A. Godavari
- B. Mahanadi
- C. Narmada
- D. Krishna
Answer: Narmada
Explanation: The Narmada river experiences a tidal bore near Bharuch where it meets the Gulf of Khambhat, a phenomenon where incoming tidal waves cause the river to flow backward temporarily.
2083. The 'Chhota Nagpur Plateau', rich in mineral resources like coal and iron ore, spans parts of Jharkhand and which other states?
- A. Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal
- B. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
- C. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
- D. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
Answer: Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal
Explanation: The Chhota Nagpur Plateau extends across Jharkhand, parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and is one of India's richest regions for coal, iron ore, and mica deposits.
2084. The 'Puisne Judges' of the Supreme Court of India, as referred to in constitutional provisions, denote:
- A. Additional judges on probation
- B. Judges of High Courts only
- C. Judges other than the Chief Justice
- D. Retired judges
Answer: Judges other than the Chief Justice
Explanation: 'Puisne Judges' is a term used in Article 124 to refer to the judges of the Supreme Court other than the Chief Justice of India, denoting their relative seniority rank.
2085. Under the Indian Constitution, a Bill to form a new state or alter boundaries requires prior recommendation from whom before introduction in Parliament?
- A. The President
- B. The Finance Commission
- C. The concerned State's High Court
- D. The Supreme Court
Answer: The President
Explanation: Under Article 3, a Bill for forming new states or altering boundaries can only be introduced in Parliament with the President's prior recommendation, and the President refers it to the affected state legislature for its views.
2086. Which Constitutional Amendment Act lowered the voting age in India from 21 to 18 years?
- A. 44th Amendment Act, 1978
- B. 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
- C. 61st Amendment Act, 1988
- D. 52nd Amendment Act, 1985
Answer: 61st Amendment Act, 1988
Explanation: The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988, amended Article 326 to reduce the voting age for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections from 21 to 18 years.
2087. The 'Sarkaria Commission' (1983) was constituted primarily to examine which aspect of Indian governance?
- A. Electoral reforms
- B. Judicial appointments
- C. Centre-State relations
- D. Administrative reforms
Answer: Centre-State relations
Explanation: The Sarkaria Commission, set up in 1983 under Justice R.S. Sarkaria, examined Centre-State relations and recommended measures to improve cooperative federalism in India.
2088. Which Article of the Constitution empowers Parliament to legislate on a State List subject if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution in national interest?
- A. Article 252
- B. Article 254
- C. Article 256
- D. Article 249
Answer: Article 249
Explanation: Article 249 allows Parliament to legislate on a State List matter if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by two-thirds majority declaring it necessary in the national interest, valid for one year at a time.
2089. The 'Doctrine of Pleasure', under which government servants hold office at the pleasure of the President/Governor, is enshrined in which Article?
- A. Article 310
- B. Article 315
- C. Article 320
- D. Article 300
Answer: Article 310
Explanation: Article 310 provides that civil servants of the Union and States hold office during the pleasure of the President or Governor respectively, subject to constitutional safeguards under Article 311.
2090. Under Article 143 of the Indian Constitution, the President may seek the advisory opinion of which body?
- A. The Supreme Court
- B. The Rajya Sabha
- C. The Law Commission
- D. The Attorney General
Answer: The Supreme Court
Explanation: Article 143 empowers the President to refer questions of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion, though such opinions are not binding.
2091. The 'Royal Indian Navy Mutiny' (Bombay Mutiny) of February 1946 was primarily triggered by:
- A. The Quit India Movement call
- B. Partition announcement
- C. Poor food quality and racial discrimination against Indian sailors
- D. The INA trials verdict alone
Answer: Poor food quality and racial discrimination against Indian sailors
Explanation: The RIN Mutiny began on HMIS Talwar in Bombay over poor food quality and racial discrimination, though it was also fueled by nationalist sentiment and the INA trials, spreading to other ships and ports.
2092. Who led the 'Indian National Army' (Azad Hind Fauj) reorganization in 1943 after taking over from Rash Behari Bose?
- A. Mohan Singh
- B. Subhas Chandra Bose
- C. J.C. Guha
- D. Shah Nawaz Khan
Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation: Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Southeast Asia in 1943 and reorganized the INA, declaring the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) and leading the Indian National Army against British forces.
2093. The 'Moplah Rebellion' (1921) was an uprising by Muslim peasants primarily against landlords in which region?
- A. Bengal delta
- B. Malabar region of present-day Kerala
- C. Western Punjab
- D. Konkan coast
Answer: Malabar region of present-day Kerala
Explanation: The Moplah Rebellion of 1921 occurred in the Malabar region of present-day Kerala, where Mappila Muslim peasants rose against Hindu landlords and British authority, intertwined with the Khilafat movement.
2094. Which Indian leader organized the 'Home Rule League' movement in 1916, demanding self-government within the British Empire?
- A. Lala Lajpat Rai
- B. Mahatma Gandhi
- C. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant
- D. Bipin Chandra Pal
Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant
Explanation: Two Home Rule Leagues were formed in 1916, one by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Maharashtra and another by Annie Besant, demanding self-government on the lines of the Irish Home Rule movement.
2095. The 'Ilbert Bill Controversy' of 1883, which sparked strong opposition from the European community in India, concerned:
- A. Restricting vernacular press freedom
- B. Allowing Indian judges to try European offenders
- C. Partitioning Bengal province
- D. Imposing salt tax on Indians
Answer: Allowing Indian judges to try European offenders
Explanation: The Ilbert Bill of 1883 sought to allow Indian judges and magistrates to preside over cases involving European British subjects, provoking fierce racial backlash that led to its eventual dilution.
2096. Who founded the 'Prarthana Samaj' in Bombay in 1867, inspired by the Brahmo Samaj's reformist ideals?
- A. Atmaram Pandurang
- B. Jyotirao Phule
- C. M.G. Ranade
- D. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: Atmaram Pandurang
Explanation: The Prarthana Samaj was founded in 1867 by Dr. Atmaram Pandurang in Bombay, with M.G. Ranade later becoming its most prominent leader, advocating social reform within a theistic framework.
2097. The 'Treaty of Purandar' (1665) was signed between Shivaji and which Mughal general representing Aurangzeb?
- A. Jai Singh I
- B. Aurangzeb himself
- C. Shaista Khan
- D. Afzal Khan
Answer: Jai Singh I
Explanation: The Treaty of Purandar was signed in 1665 between Shivaji and Raja Jai Singh I, the Mughal general sent by Aurangzeb, under which Shivaji surrendered 23 forts to the Mughals.
2098. Which Delhi Sultanate dynasty was founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad of Ghor?
- A. Tughlaq Dynasty
- B. Khalji Dynasty
- C. Lodi Dynasty
- D. Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
Answer: Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
Explanation: Qutb-ud-din Aibak founded the Mamluk or Slave Dynasty in 1206, the first of the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate, ruling until 1290 when it was succeeded by the Khaljis.
2099. The 'Kalinga War' (261 BCE), which led to Emperor Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism, was fought against which region?
- A. Present-day Odisha
- B. Present-day Bengal
- C. Present-day Andhra Pradesh
- D. Present-day Tamil Nadu
Answer: Present-day Odisha
Explanation: The Kalinga War was fought in 261 BCE against the kingdom of Kalinga, corresponding to present-day coastal Odisha. The immense bloodshed led Ashoka to adopt Buddhism and the policy of Dhamma.
2100. The 'Chauri Chaura incident' (1922), which led Gandhi to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement, took place in which present-day state?
- A. Bihar
- B. Uttar Pradesh
- C. Madhya Pradesh
- D. West Bengal
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: The Chauri Chaura incident occurred in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, where protesters set fire to a police station, killing policemen; this violence led Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
2101. Which of the following correctly describes 'Parallax' as used in astronomy to measure distances to nearby stars?
- A. The apparent shift in a star's position when viewed from two different points in Earth's orbit
- B. The redshift of light from a receding galaxy
- C. The bending of light due to gravitational lensing
- D. The brightness variation of a variable star over time
Answer: The apparent shift in a star's position when viewed from two different points in Earth's orbit
Explanation: Stellar parallax is the apparent displacement of a nearby star's position against distant background stars, observed from two points in Earth's orbit six months apart, used to calculate stellar distances.
2102. Which international river system forms a major source of water-sharing disputes between India and Pakistan, governed by the 1960 treaty mediated by the World Bank?
- A. Indus River system (Indus Waters Treaty)
- B. Sutlej River alone
- C. Brahmaputra River system
- D. Ganges River system
Answer: Indus River system (Indus Waters Treaty)
Explanation: The Indus Waters Treaty (1960), brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus river system (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab for Pakistan; Ravi, Beas, Sutlej for India) between the two countries.
2103. Which ancient Indian scholar is traditionally credited as the author of the 'Kama Sutra'?
- A. Chanakya
- B. Vatsyayana
- C. Kalidasa
- D. Panini
Answer: Vatsyayana
Explanation: The 'Kama Sutra', an ancient Sanskrit text on human sexual behaviour and social conduct, is traditionally attributed to the sage Vatsyayana, likely composed between the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.
2104. Which of the following best describes the term 'Bancassurance' in the Indian financial sector?
- A. Selling insurance products through a bank's distribution network
- B. Insurance cover for bank employees only
- C. A government bond insurance scheme
- D. A type of deposit insurance for bank accounts
Answer: Selling insurance products through a bank's distribution network
Explanation: Bancassurance refers to banks selling insurance products (life, health, general) to their customers through their branch network, generating fee-based income for the bank.
2105. Which Indian state was formed in 2000 by bifurcating Madhya Pradesh, with its capital at Raipur?
- A. Jharkhand
- B. Telangana
- C. Uttarakhand
- D. Chhattisgarh
Answer: Chhattisgarh
Explanation: Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 2000, with Raipur as its capital; Jharkhand (from Bihar) and Uttarakhand (from Uttar Pradesh) were also formed in the same year.
2106. Which of the following best describes the ecological concept of a 'Keystone Species'?
- A. A species found only in a single, restricted habitat
- B. The most abundant species in an ecosystem
- C. A species whose impact on its ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its abundance
- D. A species at the very top of every food chain
Answer: A species whose impact on its ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its abundance
Explanation: A keystone species has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its population size; its removal can trigger dramatic changes or collapse in the ecosystem (e.g., sea otters, wolves).
2107. Under the RBI's monetary policy framework, which rate is the rate at which RBI borrows money from commercial banks, acting opposite to the Repo Rate?
- A. Cash Reserve Ratio
- B. Bank Rate
- C. Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate
- D. Reverse Repo Rate
Answer: Reverse Repo Rate
Explanation: The Reverse Repo Rate is the rate at which RBI borrows funds from commercial banks (absorbing excess liquidity), the opposite function of the Repo Rate where RBI lends to banks.
2108. Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, reached its architectural zenith under which ruler, who built many of its grandest temples?
- A. Sadashiva Raya
- B. Harihara I
- C. Bukka Raya I
- D. Krishnadevaraya
Answer: Krishnadevaraya
Explanation: Hampi was founded by Harihara and Bukka (founders of the Vijayanagara Empire, 1336 CE) but reached its architectural zenith under Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529), who built many of its grandest temples and structures.
2109. The 'Indian Ocean Dipole' (IOD), a phenomenon affecting monsoon rainfall, refers to temperature differences between which two ocean regions?
- A. Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
- B. Southern Indian Ocean and Northern Indian Ocean
- C. Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
- D. Western Indian Ocean (near Africa) and Eastern Indian Ocean (near Indonesia)
Answer: Western Indian Ocean (near Africa) and Eastern Indian Ocean (near Indonesia)
Explanation: The IOD refers to the difference in sea surface temperature between the western (near African coast) and eastern (near Indonesia) tropical Indian Ocean; a 'positive IOD' often enhances Indian monsoon rainfall.
2110. Which of the following vitamins, essential for vision and immune function, can lead to night blindness if deficient?
- A. Vitamin E
- B. Vitamin C
- C. Vitamin A
- D. Vitamin B12
Answer: Vitamin A
Explanation: Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness (nyctalopia) due to its essential role in forming rhodopsin, the light-sensitive pigment in retinal rod cells.
2111. Which Indian leader presided over the historic Avadi Session (1955) of the Indian National Congress, which adopted the goal of a 'socialistic pattern of society'?
- A. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
- B. Jawaharlal Nehru
- C. Acharya Kripalani
- D. U.N. Dhebar
Answer: U.N. Dhebar
Explanation: U.N. Dhebar presided over the 1955 Avadi Session of the Congress, which formally adopted the goal of establishing a 'socialistic pattern of society' as state policy.
2112. Which of the following best describes 'Van Allen Belts'?
- A. Bands of high-altitude jet streams
- B. Zones of volcanic activity around the Pacific Rim
- C. Regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field around the planet
- D. Layers of the atmosphere containing ozone
Answer: Regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field around the planet
Explanation: Van Allen Belts are regions of energetic charged particles (mostly electrons and protons) held in place by Earth's magnetic field, protecting the planet from harmful solar radiation.
2113. In the Indian economy, which sector contributes the largest share to Gross Value Added (GVA) as of recent estimates?
- A. Mining sector
- B. Industry/manufacturing sector
- C. Services sector
- D. Agriculture and allied sector
Answer: Services sector
Explanation: The services sector contributes the largest share (over 50%) to India's GVA/GDP, followed by industry, with agriculture contributing a smaller but employment-heavy share.
2114. Which Mughal emperor's reign saw the compilation of the 'Ain-i-Akbari' and 'Akbarnama' by court historian Abul Fazl?
- A. Akbar
- B. Jahangir
- C. Humayun
- D. Shah Jahan
Answer: Akbar
Explanation: Abul Fazl, a key courtier of Akbar, authored the 'Akbarnama' (biography of Akbar) and its third volume, the 'Ain-i-Akbari', documenting the administration of the Mughal Empire.
2115. Which of the following correctly describes 'Isobars' as used in weather maps?
- A. Lines connecting places of equal temperature
- B. Lines connecting places of equal atmospheric pressure
- C. Lines connecting places of equal altitude
- D. Lines connecting places of equal rainfall
Answer: Lines connecting places of equal atmospheric pressure
Explanation: Isobars are lines on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure, used to identify high and low-pressure systems and predict wind patterns.
2116. Which Fundamental Right guarantees 'Freedom of Conscience and Free Profession, Practice and Propagation of Religion' under the Indian Constitution?
- A. Article 29
- B. Article 26
- C. Article 19
- D. Article 25
Answer: Article 25
Explanation: Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion to all persons, subject to public order, morality, and health.
2117. Which Indian state is the leading producer of cardamom (the 'Queen of Spices'), grown extensively in the Idukki district?
- A. Karnataka
- B. Kerala
- C. Sikkim
- D. Tamil Nadu
Answer: Kerala
Explanation: Kerala, particularly the Idukki district in the Western Ghats, is India's leading producer of cardamom, known as the 'Queen of Spices'.
2118. The 'Treaty of Yandabo' (1826), which ended the First Anglo-Burmese War, resulted in the British annexation of which territories?
- A. Assam, Manipur, and Arakan (and Tenasserim)
- B. Mysore and Hyderabad
- C. Awadh and Bengal
- D. Punjab and Sindh
Answer: Assam, Manipur, and Arakan (and Tenasserim)
Explanation: The Treaty of Yandabo ended the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26), with Burma ceding Assam, Manipur, Arakan, and Tenasserim to the British East India Company.
2119. Which of the following best explains the process of 'Nitrification' in the nitrogen cycle?
- A. Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia
- B. Conversion of nitrates back into atmospheric nitrogen gas
- C. Conversion of ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates by specific bacteria
- D. Absorption of nitrogen directly by plant roots from the air
Answer: Conversion of ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates by specific bacteria
Explanation: Nitrification is carried out by nitrifying bacteria (e.g., Nitrosomonas converts ammonia to nitrite, Nitrobacter converts nitrite to nitrate), making nitrogen available in a form plants can absorb.
2120. Which Indian economist and nationalist first articulated the 'Drain of Wealth' theory in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?
- A. M.G. Ranade
- B. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- C. Dadabhai Naoroji
- D. R.C. Dutt
Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji first articulated the Drain of Wealth theory in 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India', arguing that British policies systematically drained India's wealth to Britain; Romesh Chandra Dutt later developed similar arguments in 'The Economic History of India'.
2121. Which Indian Governor-General/Viceroy introduced the 'Vernacular Press Act' (1878), nicknamed the 'Gagging Act'?
- A. Lord Ripon
- B. Lord Lytton
- C. Lord Dufferin
- D. Lord Curzon
Answer: Lord Lytton
Explanation: Lord Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 to curb criticism of British policies in Indian-language newspapers; it was repealed in 1882 by Lord Ripon.
2122. Which Indian freedom fighter, known as the 'Lion of Punjab', died from injuries sustained during a lathi charge while protesting the Simon Commission?
- A. Sukhdev Thapar
- B. Bhai Parmanand
- C. Bhagat Singh
- D. Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: Lala Lajpat Rai
Explanation: Lala Lajpat Rai, known as 'Punjab Kesari' (Lion of Punjab), died in November 1928 from injuries sustained during a lathi charge while leading a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore.
2123. The 'Coriolis Force', which deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere, arises due to which phenomenon?
- A. Earth's rotation on its axis
- B. Earth's revolution around the Sun
- C. Differential heating of land and water
- D. Axial tilt of the Earth
Answer: Earth's rotation on its axis
Explanation: The Coriolis force is an apparent force caused by Earth's rotation, deflecting moving objects (like winds and ocean currents) to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
2124. Which of the following is the correct description of a 'Money Bill' as defined under Article 110 of the Constitution?
- A. A bill containing only provisions dealing with taxation, borrowing, or the Consolidated Fund, as certified by the Speaker
- B. A bill requiring the Rajya Sabha's approval to become law
- C. Any bill involving government expenditure of any kind
- D. A bill that can originate in either House
Answer: A bill containing only provisions dealing with taxation, borrowing, or the Consolidated Fund, as certified by the Speaker
Explanation: A Money Bill, per Article 110, deals exclusively with specified matters like taxation and government borrowing; the Speaker's certification is final, it can only originate in the Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha has limited powers (14-day recommendation window only).
2125. Which Indian physicist, known for work on cosmic rays and founding the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), has a crater on the Moon named after him?
- A. Meghnad Saha
- B. S. Chandrasekhar
- C. Vikram Sarabhai
- D. Homi J. Bhabha
Answer: Homi J. Bhabha
Explanation: Homi J. Bhabha, founder of TIFR and father of the Indian nuclear programme, has a lunar crater named 'Bhabha' in his honour.
2126. Under Article 368 of the Indian Constitution, which category of constitutional amendments requires ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures?
- A. Amendments creating new states
- B. Amendments affecting federal provisions (e.g., election of President, distribution of legislative powers)
- C. Any amendment to the Preamble
- D. Amendments to Fundamental Rights only
Answer: Amendments affecting federal provisions (e.g., election of President, distribution of legislative powers)
Explanation: Certain amendments affecting federal structure (like Article 54, 55, distribution of powers between Union and States, representation of states in Parliament) require ratification by at least half the State Legislatures in addition to the special majority in Parliament.
2127. The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, protecting the only habitat of the Indian wild ass (Khur) in the country, is located in which state?
- A. Maharashtra
- B. Madhya Pradesh
- C. Rajasthan
- D. Gujarat (Little Rann of Kutch)
Answer: Gujarat (Little Rann of Kutch)
Explanation: The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat — the only habitat of the Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) in the country.
2128. The 'Santhal Rebellion' (Santhal Hul) of 1855-56 against British colonial rule and moneylenders primarily took place in which region?
- A. Rajmahal Hills region (present-day Jharkhand/West Bengal border)
- B. Malabar Coast
- C. Vindhya Plateau
- D. Konkan Coast
Answer: Rajmahal Hills region (present-day Jharkhand/West Bengal border)
Explanation: The Santhal Rebellion, led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, erupted in the Rajmahal Hills region (present-day Jharkhand) against exploitative moneylenders, zamindars, and British administration.
2129. In economics, 'Deficit Financing' primarily refers to which of the following government practices?
- A. Selling government assets to foreign investors
- B. Raising taxes to cover a revenue shortfall
- C. Reducing government expenditure to balance the budget
- D. Meeting excess expenditure over revenue by borrowing or creating new money
Answer: Meeting excess expenditure over revenue by borrowing or creating new money
Explanation: Deficit financing means covering the gap between government expenditure and revenue through borrowing (from the public or RBI) or by printing new currency, often used to fund development in developing economies.
2130. Which Indian state has adopted 'Kuchipudi' as its principal classical dance form, originating from a village of the same region in Andhra Pradesh?
- A. Kerala
- B. Tamil Nadu
- C. Andhra Pradesh
- D. Karnataka
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Kuchipudi originated in the village of Kuchipudi in present-day Andhra Pradesh and remains closely identified with that state's classical dance heritage.
2131. Which Indian king, a contemporary of Alexander the Great, is said to have resisted the Macedonian invasion along the Jhelum (Hydaspes)?
- A. Ambhi of Taxila
- B. Porus (Purushottama)
- C. Dhana Nanda
- D. Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: Porus (Purushottama)
Explanation: King Porus ruled the region between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers and fought Alexander at the Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BCE), earning Alexander's respect despite losing.
2132. In the context of Indian geography, 'Duars', the alluvial floodplains at the foothills of the Himalayas, are mainly located in which states?
- A. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
- B. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
- C. West Bengal and Assam
- D. Punjab and Haryana
Answer: West Bengal and Assam
Explanation: The Duars region, part of the Terai-Duars savanna, is located mainly in northern West Bengal and Assam at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
2133. Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides for a 'Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities' to investigate matters relating to safeguards for linguistic minorities?
- A. Article 350A
- B. Article 350B
- C. Article 347
- D. Article 29
Answer: Article 350B
Explanation: Article 350B, inserted by the 7th Amendment (1956), provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President to investigate and report on safeguards.
2134. Which strait connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, separating Spain from Morocco?
- A. Strait of Gibraltar
- B. Bosphorus Strait
- C. Strait of Malacca
- D. Strait of Hormuz
Answer: Strait of Gibraltar
Explanation: The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain (Europe) from Morocco (Africa), connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
2135. Which Indian leader is credited with the phrase 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan', later extended to 'Jai Vigyan' by Atal Bihari Vajpayee?
- A. Morarji Desai
- B. Jawaharlal Nehru
- C. Indira Gandhi
- D. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer: Lal Bahadur Shastri
Explanation: Lal Bahadur Shastri coined 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' during the 1965 Indo-Pak war to honour both soldiers and farmers; Vajpayee added 'Jai Vigyan' after the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
2136. Which of the following is the correct sequence of layers of the Earth from the surface to the centre?
- A. Core, Mantle, Crust, Lithosphere
- B. Mantle, Crust, Inner Core, Outer Core
- C. Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core
- D. Crust, Outer Core, Mantle, Inner Core
Answer: Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core
Explanation: From the surface inward, Earth's layers are: Crust (thin, solid outer layer), Mantle (thick, semi-solid), Outer Core (liquid, mostly iron-nickel), and Inner Core (solid, due to immense pressure).
2137. Which of the following best describes India's 'Minimum Support Price' (MSP) mechanism for agricultural produce?
- A. A guaranteed floor price set by the government to protect farmers from sharp price falls, announced on CACP recommendations
- B. A market-determined price revised daily by commodity exchanges
- C. A ceiling price to prevent inflation in food grains
- D. A price fixed exclusively by state governments for all crops
Answer: A guaranteed floor price set by the government to protect farmers from sharp price falls, announced on CACP recommendations
Explanation: MSP is a floor price announced by the central government, based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), to protect farmers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
2138. Which scientist proposed the 'Big Bang Theory' framework that is now the prevailing cosmological model explaining the origin of the universe?
- A. Albert Einstein
- B. Stephen Hawking
- C. Edwin Hubble
- D. Georges Lemaître
Answer: Georges Lemaître
Explanation: Georges Lemaître, a Belgian priest and physicist, first proposed the theory of the expanding universe originating from a single primeval atom in 1927, the basis of the Big Bang theory; Hubble later provided observational evidence of expansion.
2139. In the Indian Constitution, Schedule VIII originally listed how many languages, a number that has since been expanded to 22 via amendments?
- A. 14
- B. 18
- C. 12
- D. 16
Answer: 14
Explanation: The Eighth Schedule originally listed 14 languages in 1950; through subsequent amendments (including the 21st and 92nd Amendments), this expanded to the current 22 official languages.
2140. The 'Dandi March' or 'Salt Satyagraha' (1930) covered a distance of approximately how many kilometres from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi?
- A. About 150 km
- B. About 1000 km
- C. About 600 km
- D. About 385 km
Answer: About 385 km
Explanation: Gandhi and his followers marched approximately 385 km from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, to the coastal village of Dandi over 24 days, to break the salt law.
2141. Which of the following best describes the phenomenon of 'El Niño'?
- A. Periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
- B. Seasonal reversal of trade winds over the Atlantic
- C. Permanent cooling of the Indian Ocean affecting monsoons
- D. Annual melting of Arctic sea ice
Answer: Periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
Explanation: El Niño is a periodic (every 2-7 years) warming of sea surface temperatures in the central/eastern Pacific that weakens trade winds and is often associated with weaker Indian monsoons.
2142. Which Indian Prime Minister's government launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana' (PMGSY) in 2000 to provide rural road connectivity?
- A. P.V. Narasimha Rao
- B. Manmohan Singh
- C. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
- D. H.D. Deve Gowda
Answer: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Explanation: PMGSY was launched in December 2000 under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations.
2143. Under the Indian Constitution, the term 'Quorum' for conducting business in Parliament refers to what minimum fraction of total membership?
- A. One-third of the total membership
- B. One-tenth of the total membership of the House
- C. One-half of the total membership
- D. One-fourth of the total membership
Answer: One-tenth of the total membership of the House
Explanation: As per Article 100(3), the quorum to constitute a sitting of either House of Parliament is one-tenth of the total number of members of that House.
2144. Which of the following freedom fighters is associated with the founding of the 'Abhinav Bharat Society', a secret revolutionary organization in early 20th century India?
- A. Bhagat Singh
- B. Rash Behari Bose
- C. Chandrashekhar Azad
- D. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Answer: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Explanation: Abhinav Bharat Society was founded in 1904 by V.D. Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Savarkar as a secret society to promote armed revolution against British rule.
2145. The 'Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation' (BIMSTEC) includes which of the following member countries?
- A. Myanmar
- B. Maldives
- C. Afghanistan
- D. Pakistan
Answer: Myanmar
Explanation: BIMSTEC comprises seven member states: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, linking South and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal.
2146. Which international organization's headquarters is located at Vienna, Austria, and is primarily concerned with nuclear energy cooperation and safeguards?
- A. World Trade Organization (WTO)
- B. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- C. World Health Organization (WHO)
- D. International Labour Organization (ILO)
Answer: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Explanation: The IAEA, headquartered in Vienna, promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy and implements safeguards to prevent its military use.
2147. Which Mughal painting style, characterized by naturalism and fine detail, reached its zenith under which emperor's patronage?
- A. Babur
- B. Jahangir
- C. Aurangzeb
- D. Bahadur Shah I
Answer: Jahangir
Explanation: Mughal painting reached its artistic peak under Jahangir, who had a deep personal interest in naturalistic depiction of flora, fauna, and portraiture.
2148. Which Indian state is the largest producer of jute, grown extensively in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta region?
- A. West Bengal
- B. Assam
- C. Odisha
- D. Bihar
Answer: West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal is India's largest producer of jute, benefiting from the fertile alluvial soil and humid climate of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.
2149. The 'Bombay Plan' (1944), drafted by prominent Indian industrialists, proposed which broad economic approach for post-independence India?
- A. Complete laissez-faire capitalism
- B. State-led planned industrial development with a mixed economy
- C. Agrarian-only economy rejecting industrialization
- D. Full-scale nationalization of all private industry
Answer: State-led planned industrial development with a mixed economy
Explanation: The Bombay Plan, authored by industrialists like J.R.D. Tata and G.D. Birla, advocated a mixed economy with significant state planning and investment alongside private enterprise, influencing India's later Five-Year Plans.
2150. Which of the following best describes 'Ozone layer depletion' in the stratosphere primarily caused by?
- A. Industrial sulphur dioxide emissions
- B. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) releasing chlorine atoms that break down ozone molecules
- C. Excess carbon dioxide trapping heat
- D. Deforestation reducing oxygen production
Answer: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) releasing chlorine atoms that break down ozone molecules
Explanation: CFCs, once released, rise to the stratosphere where UV radiation breaks them down, releasing chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules; this is distinct from the greenhouse effect causing global warming.
2151. Who was the Union Finance Minister when the Goods and Services Tax was rolled out nationwide on 1 July 2017?
- A. P. Chidambaram
- B. Yashwant Sinha
- C. Arun Jaitley
- D. Pranab Mukherjee
Answer: Arun Jaitley
Explanation: Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister under PM Modi, oversaw the rollout of GST on 1 July 2017, implemented via the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016.
2152. The 'Equator' passes through which of the following countries in South America?
- A. Ecuador
- B. Paraguay
- C. Chile
- D. Argentina
Answer: Ecuador
Explanation: The Equator passes through Ecuador (whose name itself derives from the Spanish word for Equator), as well as Colombia, Brazil, and Peru in South America.
2153. Under the Indian Constitution, which Article provides that 'No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law' (as a legal right, post-44th Amendment)?
- A. Article 300A
- B. Article 19(1)(f)
- C. Article 31
- D. Article 21
Answer: Article 300A
Explanation: The 44th Amendment (1978) removed the right to property as a Fundamental Right and inserted Article 300A, making it a constitutional/legal right instead.
2154. Which Indian mathematician is credited with introducing the concept of zero as a number (not just a placeholder) in his treatise 'Brahmasphutasiddhanta'?
- A. Varahamihira
- B. Brahmagupta
- C. Bhaskara II
- D. Aryabhata
Answer: Brahmagupta
Explanation: Brahmagupta's 'Brahmasphutasiddhanta' (628 CE) gave rules for arithmetic involving zero and negative numbers, treating zero as a number in its own right.
2155. Which Indian ruler is credited with the construction of the Grand Trunk Road's earliest precursor, later extended by the British?
- A. Ashoka
- B. Sher Shah Suri
- C. Chandragupta Maurya
- D. Akbar
Answer: Sher Shah Suri
Explanation: Sher Shah Suri rebuilt and extended the ancient route (Uttarapatha) connecting Bengal to the Indus, planting trees and building sarais; the British later extended it as the Grand Trunk Road.
2156. In the human eye, which part controls the amount of light entering by adjusting its size?
- A. Retina
- B. Lens
- C. Cornea
- D. Iris
Answer: Iris
Explanation: The iris, a muscular ring, controls the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light entering the eye; the retina then converts light into neural signals.
2157. In 2023 the Geological Survey of India reported inferred lithium resources of about 5.9 million tonnes at Salal-Haimana, in which district of Jammu and Kashmir?
- A. Kupwara
- B. Anantnag
- C. Reasi
- D. Doda
Answer: Reasi
Explanation: GSI reported 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources at Salal-Haimana in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir in February 2023.
2158. The 'Bardoli Satyagraha' of 1928, a notable peasant movement against increased land revenue, was led by which leader?
- A. Vallabhbhai Patel
- B. Rajendra Prasad
- C. Jawaharlal Nehru
- D. C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: Vallabhbhai Patel
Explanation: The Bardoli Satyagraha was led by Vallabhbhai Patel against a proposed land revenue hike in Gujarat; its success earned him the title 'Sardar' (leader).
2159. In economics, 'Gresham's Law' is popularly summarized by which of the following statements?
- A. Bad money drives out good money
- B. Supply creates its own demand
- C. Value is determined by marginal utility
- D. Higher wages always increase productivity
Answer: Bad money drives out good money
Explanation: Gresham's Law states that when two forms of currency are in circulation with the same face value but different intrinsic value, the 'bad' (debased) money drives the 'good' money out of circulation as people hoard the latter.
2160. The 'Great Himalayas' (Himadri), the northernmost and highest range of the Himalayas, contains which of the following peaks?
- A. Mount Everest
- B. Shiwalik peaks
- C. Dhauladhar
- D. Pir Panjal
Answer: Mount Everest
Explanation: The Himadri (Great Himalayas) is the highest and most continuous range, containing peaks like Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Nanga Parbat with an average height of over 6000m.
IUC AcademyHome