200 questions · 150 minutes · −1/3 per wrong answer · Free
Answer: (A) Despondency
'Ecstasy' means overwhelming joy. Its antonym is 'Despondency,' a state of low spirits and hopelessness. 'Despair' is also negative but less precise, and 'Displeasure' is milder.
Answer: (D) being smooth
'Being smooth' is the correct absolute participial phrase: the sea being smooth was the condition enabling the sail. 'Being rough' would be the opposite condition. 'Disturbed' is a past participle but does not fit idiomatically.
Answer: (A) Most typical example
'Quintessential' means representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality. It comes from the Latin 'quinta essentia' — the purest form of something.
Answer: (C) cast up
'Cast up' in British English can mean to tally, reckon, or throw up. The source key gives (C). 'Cast aside' means to discard; 'cast about' means to search; 'cast out' means to expel.
Answer: (A) on
'Prevail on someone' is the idiomatic expression meaning to persuade or convince someone to do something. Both 'on' and 'upon' are acceptable; the source key gives (A) 'on.'
Answer: (B) Not on good terms
'There is no love lost between them' means the two people feel no affection for each other — they are not on good terms. It does not necessarily imply active quarrelling, merely the absence of goodwill.
Answer: (D) Amiable
'Forbidding' means having an unfriendly or threatening appearance. 'Amiable' — having a friendly, pleasant manner — is its most precise antonym. All options are positive qualities, but 'Amiable' best captures the opposite of 'forbidding.'
Answer: (A) Becoming less acceptable
'Losing ground' is an idiom meaning to become less popular, accepted, or effective. The belief in witchcraft is declining in influence — becoming less accepted.
Answer: (C) Ha!
'Ha!' is an interjection expressing surprise or sudden discovery. 'Hush!' demands silence; 'Alas!' expresses grief; 'Bravo!' expresses approval.
Answer: (C) eyes.
An ophthalmologist (from Greek 'ophthalmos' — eye) is a medical specialist in eye disorders and surgery. A nephrologist treats kidneys; a hepatologist treats the liver; a cardiologist treats the heart.
Answer: (C) memories of objects collected because of their links with people or events.
'Memorabilia' are objects kept or collected because of their historical connection with memorable people or events — souvenirs, keepsakes, mementos. Sports memorabilia (jerseys, signed equipment) is a common example.
Answer: (C) A confused situation
'Imbroglio' (Italian origin) means an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation. 'Cacophony' refers to harsh noise; 'Confession' and 'Candid admission' relate to disclosing information.
Answer: (A) as though
'As though' is more idiomatic for a hypothetical/unreal comparison.
Answer: (B) dislikes other people.
A 'misanthrope' dislikes humankind in general. The word derives from Greek 'misos' (hatred) + 'anthropos' (human being). A misogynist dislikes women; a misopedist dislikes children.
Answer: (C) can
'Can' expresses present ability or habitual capacity — 'she can sit for hours' means it is within her capacity to do so. 'Would' expresses past habit; 'will' refers to future or willingness.
Answer: (B) To reign
'To reign is worth ambition' — this alludes to Milton's Paradise Lost and the idea that rulership is a worthy aspiration. 'To reign' creates the most meaningful and contextually literary sentence.
Answer: (D) that
The source key gives (D) 'that.' When the relative pronoun refers back to a whole clause ('his being here'), 'which' or 'that' is used. Among the given options 'that' is the answer key's choice.
Answer: (C) Eloquence.
'Gift of the gab' is an idiom meaning the ability to speak easily and persuasively — eloquence. Edmund Burke was indeed famous for his oratorical powers in the British Parliament.
Answer: (A) sweet-sounding.
'Mellifluous' (Latin: mel = honey, fluere = to flow) describes a voice or sound that is pleasingly smooth and musical — literally 'flowing like honey.' It is the direct antonym of 'cacophonic.'
Answer: (A) creaking
'Creaking' is a present participle describing the sound a door makes. A creaking door — one making a squeaking noise — would awaken a dog. 'Old' and 'new' are adjectives, not participles; 'waving' is inappropriate for a door.
Answer: (C) to survey.
'To take stock of' means to make a careful assessment or survey of a situation. The idiom originates from the counting of goods in a shop (taking inventory/stock). 'Take stock of the situation' is a common expression.
Answer: (A) on board
'On board' is the correct prepositional phrase — the crew were on board the ship. The key gives (A). 'Aboard' works without the article ('aboard ship') but with 'the ship' 'on board' is the standard form.
Answer: (B) permitting
'Weather permitting' is the standard participial absolute phrase meaning 'if the weather allows.' It is a fixed idiomatic expression. 'Favourable' is an adjective not a participle.
Answer: (C) nearest
'Nearest' is correct — referring to the Post Office geographically closest to one's house. 'Next' typically refers to adjacency in a sequence, not spatial proximity.
Answer: (B) further
'Further' is accepted in modern British English as the standard comparative for 'far' in both literal and figurative senses. 'Farther' strictly refers to physical distance. The source key gives (B) 'further.'
Answer: (A) Kalibangan.
Rice cultivation evidence in the Harappan civilisation has been found at Kalibangan in Rajasthan. Lothal is known as a major port city with a dockyard; Kot Diji is in Sindh; Ropar is in Punjab.
Answer: (C) trishna.
According to Buddhist philosophy, 'Trishna' (craving, desire, or thirst) is the root cause of all suffering (dukkha). This is the Second Noble Truth. 'Kama' is sensual desire (a subset), 'maya' is illusion (a Hindu concept), 'krodh' means anger.
Answer: (A) 600 BC.
The Upanishads, the philosophical texts forming the concluding part of the Vedas, were composed between approximately 800–200 BC, with the core Upanishads compiled around 600 BC. The source key gives (A) 600 BC as the specific answer.
Answer: (D) Mudrarakshasa.
'Mudrarakshasa' (The Signet Ring of Rakshasa) is a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta that describes the political machinations of Chanakya/Kautilya in overthrowing the Nanda dynasty and establishing Chandragupta Maurya's empire. Mrichhakatika is a different play by Shudraka.
Answer: (C) Menander.
Menander I (Milinda) is the most famous Indo-Greek king, known from Indian Buddhist texts as 'Milinda' in the 'Milindapanha.' He ruled from Sagala (modern Sialkot) and reportedly converted to Buddhism. Demetrius was an earlier Indo-Greek ruler.
Answer: (B) Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas
The tripartite struggle for control of Kanauj (8th–10th century CE) was fought among the Palas of Bengal, the Gurjara-Pratiharas of western India, and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan. The Cholas and Pallavas were southern dynasties not involved.
Answer: (C) Arab merchants of Malabar Coast.
India's earliest contact with Islam was through Arab merchants who traded along the Malabar Coast of Kerala as early as the 7th century CE, even before the Arab conquest of Sindh (711 CE). Arab traders and settlers intermarried with local populations, creating the Mappila Muslim community.
Answer: (C) Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi
The 'Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi' by Ziauddin Barani provides a detailed account of the reigns of Balban (1266–1287) and subsequent Delhi Sultans up to Firoz Shah Tughlaq. 'Tahqiq-i-Hind' was written by Al-Biruni about India; 'Shahnama' is Firdausi's Persian epic about Persian kings.
Answer: (A) Dharmapala
Vikramshila University was founded by Dharmapala, the second ruler of the Pala dynasty of Bengal (c. 775–810 CE). It was one of the two greatest centres of Buddhist learning in India alongside Nalanda. Devapala was his successor; Ballal Sen was a Sena dynasty king.
Answer: (C) Jalaluddin Khilji.
Jalaluddin Khilji (1290–1296) sent his nephew Alauddin Khilji on military campaigns that resulted in the first Muslim incursions into the Deccan. Alauddin raided Devagiri in 1296, acquiring enormous wealth. Balban and Raziya focused on northern India.
Answer: (C) Hampi.
Hampi (in modern Karnataka) was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Its magnificent ruins — temples, market streets, royal enclosures — are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bijapur and Golconda were capitals of the Adil Shahi and Qutb Shahi Sultanates respectively.
Answer: (D) Raja Birbal
Raja Birbal (Mahesh Das) was the only Hindu to formally convert to and become a member of Akbar's syncretic spiritual order Din-i-Ilahi. He was Akbar's favourite courtier and poet. Todarmal and Man Singh were Navratnas but did not join Din-i-Ilahi.
Answer: (C) Zabti.
Raja Todar Mal, Akbar's finance minister, developed and implemented the Zabti (also called Dahsala) system of land revenue, which involved measuring the land and fixing revenue based on average produce over ten years. He is known as the father of the land revenue system in Mughal India.
Answer: (B) Persian.
Persian was the official language of the Mughal court and administration throughout the empire's history, used for literary, diplomatic, and administrative purposes. Urdu developed as a court language later. Turkish was spoken by the Mughal family (being of Timurid origin) but was never the official language.
Answer: (C) Jahangir
The Du-Aspah Sih-Aspah system was introduced by Emperor Jahangir. Under this system, a mansabdar could maintain two or three horses for each cavalryman, effectively doubling or tripling the cavalry strength. It was a modification of Akbar's mansabdari system.
Answer: (A) Loans to the peasants
'Taccavi' (or Taqavi) refers to agricultural loans advanced by the state to peasants during times of distress, drought, or for investment in agricultural improvements like wells and irrigation. These were official loans at low or no interest, distinct from moneylender credit.
Answer: (D) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Hindu College (now Presidency University) was established in 1817 in Calcutta by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in collaboration with David Hare (a watchmaker-philanthropist) and David Scott, along with other reformers. It later became a centre of the Young Bengal movement.
Answer: (A) Alexander Cunningham
Sir Alexander Cunningham is considered the father of Indian Archaeology. He founded the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1861 and served as its first Director-General. He conducted extensive excavations at sites including Sanchi, Sarnath, and Harappa.
Answer: (D) Lord Cornwallis
Lord Cornwallis introduced the Indian Civil Service (ICS) system during his tenure as Governor-General (1786–1793). He systematically reorganised the civil service, made appointments merit-based, separated judicial from revenue functions, and is called the 'Father of Civil Services in India.'
Answer: (D) Nana Phadnavis
Nana Phadnavis (Nana Fadnavis), the shrewd Peshwa administrator, organised the Council of Barabhais ('Twelve Chiefs') after the death of Narayan Rao Peshwa in 1773. This council governed in the name of the infant Sawai Madhav Rao and represented the collective leadership of the Maratha confederacy.
Answer: (A) Sukerchakia misl.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh belonged to the Sukerchakia Misl, one of the twelve Sikh Misls (confederacies). He became its chief at age 12 in 1792 and expanded his territory to eventually found the Sikh Empire in 1799, capturing Lahore and unifying the Punjab.
Answer: (A) Lord Wellesley.
Tipu Sultan's final defeat and death occurred on 4 May 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War during the Siege of Seringapatam, under the command of Governor-General Lord Wellesley. Cornwallis defeated Tipu in the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1792) but did not kill him.
Answer: (D) Punjab
After the 1937 provincial elections under the Government of India Act 1935, Congress formed governments in seven provinces: Madras, Bombay, Central Provinces, Bihar, Orissa, United Provinces, and later NWFP. Congress did not form a ministry in Punjab (where the Unionist Party dominated), Bengal, or Sindh.
Answer: (C) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Shom Prakash (Shom Prakash) was a Bengali-language weekly newspaper started by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1858. It was one of the earliest newspapers to advocate for women's rights, widow remarriage, and social reforms in Bengal.
Answer: (C) Civil Disobedience Movement
The Civil Disobedience Movement began with Gandhi's Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) on March 12, 1930, when Gandhi and 78 satyagrahis marched from Sabarmati Ashram to the Dandi seashore to break the salt law. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) and Quit India Movement (1942) were separate.
Answer: (A) Saifuddin Kitchlew
The quote 'a surrender of nationalism in favour of communalism' characterising the partition of India is attributed to Saifuddin Kitchlew, a prominent Muslim Congress leader from Punjab who opposed the partition.
Answer: (D) All of the above
All three movements — Brahmo Samaj (Raja Rammohun Roy), Arya Samaj (Swami Dayananda), and Ramakrishna Mission (Vivekananda) — significantly influenced Indian nationalism by promoting religious reform, social regeneration, and pride in Indian culture, which fed the nationalist consciousness.
Answer: (B) Lahore
The Lahore session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is where the 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) resolution was passed. The Social Democratic resolution was also passed at Lahore. The answer key gives (B) Lahore.
Answer: (B) 'Shaheed' and 'Swaraj' Islands
When Subhas Chandra Bose's Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) liberated Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1943, he renamed them 'Shaheed' (Martyr) Island (Andaman) and 'Swaraj' (Self-Rule) Island (Nicobar) respectively, symbols of the freedom struggle.
Answer: (B) Subhash Chandra Bose, 1943
While the INA was first organised by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942 from Indian POWs in Malaya and Singapore, it was officially reorganised and formally constituted under Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 when he took command. The source key gives (B) Subhash Chandra Bose, 1943 as the 'official' organisation.
Answer: (C) 1941
Subhas Chandra Bose made his famous 'Great Escape' from house arrest in Calcutta in January 1941, escaping via Afghanistan to reach Germany. He travelled disguised as a Pathan named Ziauddin. The source key gives (C) 1941.
Answer: (C) The Partition of Bengal.
The Partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon was the direct catalyst for the rise of extremism and the Swadeshi movement within the Indian National Congress. The partition outraged nationalists in Bengal and gave Bal Gangadhar Tilak and other extremists a powerful rallying issue.
Answer: (A) G. K. Gokhale.
Servants of India Society was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in Pune in 1905. It was dedicated to training national workers who would devote their lives to the cause of India's social and political uplift. M.G. Ranade was Gokhale's mentor but did not found this society.
Answer: (C) G. L. Nanda
Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), a major national trade union federation, was founded in 1948. The source key gives (C) G. L. Nanda. Nanda later served as India's acting PM twice; he was closely associated with trade union activities before independence.
Answer: (B) Surat.
The English East India Company established its first factory (trading post) in India at Surat in 1608, with the first permanent factory set up in 1613. The source key gives (B) Surat and year 1621 (for permanent establishment). Goa was Portuguese; Calicut was Zamorin's territory.
Answer: (C) travelling from England to South Africa by ship.
Gandhi wrote 'Hind Swaraj' (Indian Home Rule) in 1909 during his voyage by ship from England to South Africa. He wrote the entire book in ten days, writing with his left hand when his right hand tired. It articulated his critique of modern civilisation and vision for India.
Answer: (B) Lord Wavell
The Cabinet Mission of 1946 consisted of three Cabinet ministers: Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty). Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of India who hosted the mission but was not a member of it.
Answer: (C) R. C. Dutt
Romesh Chunder Dutt (R.C. Dutt) is considered the pioneer of Economic Nationalism in India. His works 'The Economic History of India' (1901, 1903) systematically exposed the economic drain of wealth from India to Britain under colonial rule, providing an intellectual foundation for nationalist economic critique.
Answer: (A) 1923, 1926
The Swaraj Party, founded by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru in 1923, participated in the Legislative Council elections of 1923 and again in 1926. They won substantial seats and used council membership to obstruct British-controlled legislation from within.
Answer: (D) Madame H. P. Blavatsky
The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (a Russian occultist) and Henry Steel Olcott. Its Indian headquarters were established at Adyar, Chennai. Annie Besant became its president later and was a prominent Theosophist in India.
Answer: (B) Kerala.
The Moplah Rebellion (Mappila Lahala) of 1921 broke out in the Malabar region of Kerala (then part of Madras Presidency). It began as a Khilafat and anti-landlord agitation by Muslim Mappila peasants against Hindu landlords and British authority, and turned into a communal uprising.
Answer: (C) P. Mitra
Anushilan Samiti was founded in 1902 in Calcutta by Pramatha Mitra (P. Mitra), a lawyer, as a revolutionary nationalist organization. It later became one of the most important revolutionary societies in Bengal, with branches in Dhaka and elsewhere, training freedom fighters.
Answer: (C) J. B. Kripalani
Acharya J. B. Kripalani (Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani) was the President of the Indian National Congress when India became independent on August 15, 1947. Nehru became India's first Prime Minister; Sardar Patel was Deputy PM.
Answer: (C) Ramsay Macdonald
The Communal Award was announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in August 1932. It provided for separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians, and crucially for the first time for Depressed Classes (untouchables), which led to the Gandhi-Ambedkar Poona Pact.
Answer: (A) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1893 to counter the activities of the Indian National Congress and to present Muslim political interests to the British government. It was a precursor to the formal Muslim political organisation that emerged later.
Answer: (B) Labour Party.
Sir Stafford Cripps was a member of the British Labour Party. He served as the President of the Board of Trade in Clement Attlee's Labour government and was one of the three Cabinet members who came to India on the Cabinet Mission in 1946.
Answer: (B) M. L. Dhingra
Madan Lal Dhingra shot and killed Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, a British political aide-de-camp, at the Imperial Institute in London on July 1, 1909 (not 1907 as printed — the question has a year error). Dhingra was inspired by Veer Savarkar and was hanged on August 17, 1909.
Answer: (A) Linlithgow
Lord Linlithgow was the Viceroy of India when the Quit India Movement was launched on August 8–9, 1942. He immediately arrested Gandhi, Nehru, and other Congress leaders. Lord Wavell succeeded Linlithgow in October 1943.
Answer: (D) 562
At the time of Indian independence and partition in 1947, there were 562 princely states (also written as 565 in some sources). The source key gives (D) 562. These states had to accede to either India or Pakistan under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V. P. Menon.
Answer: (C) isodapanes.
Alfred Weber's theory of industrial location (1909) uses 'isodapanes' — lines connecting all points that have the same total transport cost for a given industry. He used these to determine the optimal location by finding the minimum cost point.
Answer: (A) Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has the highest percentage of tank irrigation among Indian states. The state has thousands of traditional tanks (eris) built over centuries and relies heavily on tank irrigation for rice cultivation. This is due to the flat topography and seasonal rainfall patterns of the region.
Answer: (D) $-2.91\%$
During 1911–21, West Bengal experienced a negative population growth rate of $-2.91\%$, largely attributed to the 1918 influenza pandemic and famines of that period. The source key gives (D) $-2.91\%$.
Answer: (A) a region between troposphere and stratosphere.
The tropopause is the boundary layer (transition zone) between the troposphere (lowest atmospheric layer, where weather occurs) and the stratosphere. It is characterised by a temperature inversion — temperature stops decreasing with altitude and begins to increase.
Answer: (A) Tropical monsoon
West Bengal experiences a tropical monsoon climate (also classified as Aw/Am in Köppen system). It has a pronounced monsoon season (June–September), a dry winter, and a hot summer. The climate supports rice cultivation and deciduous/tropical forests.
Answer: (C) Trivandrum to Delhi.
Flying from Trivandrum (Kerala — tropical evergreen forests) northward to Delhi (dry deciduous scrub/grassland), one would pass over progressively drier vegetation zones: tropical evergreen → moist deciduous → dry deciduous → semi-arid scrub. This north-to-south tropical-to-dry transition is best captured by C.
Answer: (D) Western Ghats
The Western Ghats have markedly different vegetation on their two slopes due to the rain shadow effect. The western windward slopes (facing the Arabian Sea) receive heavy rainfall and support tropical evergreen forests, while the eastern leeward slopes are drier with deciduous forests.
Answer: (B) Methyl isocyanate
The Bhopal gas tragedy (December 2–3, 1984) was caused by a leak of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas from a Union Carbide pesticide plant. It is considered the world's worst industrial disaster, killing thousands immediately and causing long-term health impacts for hundreds of thousands.
Answer: (B) Narmada and Mahanadi.
Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh is the source of both the Narmada River (flowing westward to the Arabian Sea) and the Son River (flowing eastward to join the Ganga). The Mahanadi also originates in the Chhattisgarh plateau near this region. The source key gives (B) Narmada and Mahanadi.
Answer: (B) S. P. Chatterjee.
The name 'Meghalaya' (meaning 'abode of clouds' in Sanskrit) for the Shillong plateau region was coined by geographer S. P. Chatterjee. It became an independent state in 1972. O.H.K. Spate and D.N. Wadia were also noted geographers of India.
Answer: (D) Cochin Shipyard, Kochi.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi is India's largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility by capacity. It was established in 1972 and has built some of India's largest vessels. The source key gives (D) Cochin Shipyard, Kochi.
Answer: (C) Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest population density among Indian states at just 17 persons per sq. km (2011 Census). Its difficult terrain, forests, and remote location account for this low density. J&K has 56 per sq. km; Manipur has 122.
Answer: (B) Goa.
Goa has the highest percentage of urban population among Indian states at approximately 62.2% (2011 Census). Maharashtra has about 45%, Tamil Nadu about 48%, and Kerala about 48%.
Answer: (C) Nagaland
Nagaland recorded a negative population growth rate of $-0.47\%$ during the 2001–2011 Census decade — the only state to record a decline in population in this period. This has been attributed partly to out-migration and revision of earlier inflated census counts.
Answer: (A) Sutlej
The Sutlej (along with the Indus and Brahmaputra) is considered antecedent — older than the Himalayas. These rivers carved their courses before the Himalayas were fully uplifted and continued to flow, cutting deep gorges through the rising mountains. The Ganga and its tributaries are younger rivers.
Answer: (B) TVA
The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), established in 1948, was modelled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the USA. Both are multi-purpose river valley development projects combining flood control, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and regional development.
Answer: (B) Singalila range
Sandakphu (3,636 m), the highest peak in West Bengal, lies on the Singalila Ridge/Range along the Nepal border in the Darjeeling district. The Singalila range is part of the Himalayan foothills.
Answer: (B) Malthus.
Thomas Robert Malthus wrote 'An Essay on the Principle of Population' (1798), arguing that population grows geometrically while food supply grows arithmetically, leading to checks like famine and disease. Both Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace cited Malthus as a key influence on their theory of natural selection through competition.
Answer: (C) 2272
West Bengal shares approximately 2,272 km of international boundary with Bangladesh — the longest such boundary of any Indian state with Bangladesh. This border runs through the districts of North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, South Dinajpur, and North Dinajpur.
Answer: (B) Damodar.
The Damodar River is the longest river flowing through western West Bengal. Known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal' for its devastating floods historically, it flows through the Chota Nagpur plateau and West Bengal before joining the Hooghly. DVC has tamed it substantially.
Answer: (A) Darjeeling
Singalila National Park is located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, at elevations of 2,000–3,636 metres on the Singalila ridge. It is famous for its rhododendron forests, red pandas, and views of Kanchenjunga and Everest.
Answer: (B) Nadia
The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) passes through the Nadia district of West Bengal. It also passes through Purulia, Bankura, and Barddhaman, but Nadia is the district specifically cited in standard geography texts.
Answer: (C) Cooch Bihar.
Cooch Behar district of West Bengal is the largest producer of tobacco in the state. The district's agro-climatic conditions are suitable for tobacco cultivation.
Answer: (B) West Bengal
The source key gives (B) West Bengal as having shown an increase in forest cover according to the Forest Survey of India data current at the time of the 2016 exam. Forest Survey of India reports periodically show states gaining or losing forest cover.
Answer: (C) Nilgiri Hills
The Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu are where the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet. The Blue Mountains (Nilgiris) form the junction of these two ranges, creating some of the highest peaks in peninsular India including Doddabetta (2,637 m).
Answer: (C) Gujarat coast.
The Gujarat coast (particularly the Gulf of Khambhat/Cambay and Gulf of Kutch) has the greatest tidal power potential in India, with tidal ranges of 8–10 metres. The Kalpasar project and Hansthal Creek tidal power project are planned in Gujarat.
Answer: (B) Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under wasteland in India. Its vast plateau regions include significant stretches of degraded, barren, and ravine lands. The source key gives (B) Madhya Pradesh.
Answer: (B) shifting cultivation.
Shifting cultivation (jhum cultivation) is the primary reason for increasing deforestation and barren hills in Nagaland. Farmers clear forested hill slopes, cultivate for 2–3 years, and move on, giving insufficient time for forest regeneration.
Answer: (D) Kuch.
The Rann of Kutch (Kuch) in Gujarat, with its arid climate, salt flats, and low rainfall, supports xerophytic vegetation — plants adapted to dry conditions such as succulents, thorny scrubs, and drought-resistant grasses. The Khasi hills and Chotanagpur plateau are wetter regions.
Answer: (D) decreases.
In a pure (intrinsic) semiconductor, as temperature increases, more electrons gain enough thermal energy to jump from the valence band to the conduction band, increasing the number of charge carriers. This increase in carriers reduces the resistance — so resistance decreases with increasing temperature, unlike metals.
Answer: (A) nuclear fusion.
The Sun generates energy through nuclear fusion — specifically the proton-proton chain reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei (protons) are fused to form one helium nucleus, releasing enormous energy (about 3.8 × 10²⁶ W). Nuclear fission is the splitting of heavy nuclei (used in nuclear reactors).
Answer: (A) electromagnetic radiations of very short wavelength.
X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometres — much shorter than visible light. They were discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895. Their short wavelength gives them high energy and penetrating power.
Answer: (C) virtual and erect.
A plane mirror forms a virtual image (cannot be projected on a screen) that is erect (same orientation as the object) and laterally inverted (left-right reversed). The image is the same size as the object and appears to be as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.
Answer: (B) surface tension.
Water rises in a capillary tube due to surface tension combined with the adhesive force between water molecules and the tube walls. Surface tension causes the water surface to curve upward (meniscus), and the adhesive force pulls the water up along the tube until balanced by the weight of the water column.
Answer: (C) radiation.
Solar heat reaches Earth through radiation — specifically electromagnetic radiation (infrared, visible, and UV). Conduction requires direct contact between materials; convection requires a fluid medium. Space is essentially a vacuum, so only radiation can transmit energy across it.
Answer: (B) Frictional force
Frictional force is not a conservative force because the work done by friction depends on the path taken (not just start and end points) and energy is dissipated as heat. Gravitational, electrostatic, and magnetostatic forces are conservative — work done is path-independent.
Answer: (B) Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is commonly known as 'Laughing Gas' because inhaling small amounts causes euphoria, giddiness, and sometimes uncontrollable laughter. It is used as an anaesthetic in dentistry and medicine, and also as a propellant in aerosol whipped cream canisters.
Answer: (C) Polyvinyl chloride
PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride, a synthetic plastic polymer made from vinyl chloride monomers. It is one of the most widely produced synthetic plastic polymers and is used in pipes, cable insulation, flooring, and packaging.
Answer: (C) Hydrogen
Vanaspati ghee (partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) is manufactured by passing hydrogen gas through vegetable oils in the presence of a nickel catalyst at high temperature and pressure. This hydrogenation process converts unsaturated liquid oils into semi-solid fats.
Answer: (C) Chlorofluorocarbon
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) — compounds containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon — are primarily responsible for the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, UV radiation breaks them apart, releasing chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules.
Answer: (D) Chara.
'Globule' (male sex organ) and 'Nucule' (female sex organ) are the reproductive structures found specifically in Chara (a stonewort, a type of green alga). These are distinctive terms used only in the Characeae family.
Answer: (A) epithelial tissue.
A carcinoma is a type of cancer that originates from epithelial cells — the cells lining body surfaces, cavities, and glands. Examples include lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, and colorectal carcinoma. Cancer of connective tissue is called sarcoma; of nerve tissue, it's a neuroblastoma or glioma.
Answer: (D) Magnesium
Magnesium (Mg) is the metal at the centre of the porphyrin ring structure of chlorophyll molecules. Without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot be synthesised. Iron is present in haemoglobin (not chlorophyll); zinc is a co-factor for many enzymes.
Answer: (C) 12 hours
A 'short day plant' (more accurately a long night plant) flowers when the night length exceeds its critical value. If the critical day length is 14 hours, the plant flowers when day length is LESS than 14 hours (i.e., night is longer than 10 hours). Among the options, 12 hours (less than 14) is the only qualifying day length.
Answer: (C) Labiatae
A gynobasic style arises from the base of the ovary (not from the top). It is a characteristic feature of the family Labiatae (Lamiaceae — mint family). Labiatae/Lamiaceae is the standard botany answer.
Answer: (C) epistasis.
When F₁ shows an intermediate phenotype (pink) between two pure parental traits (red and white), this is Incomplete Dominance — neither allele completely masks the other. The source key gives (C) epistasis, but the correct term for this pattern is incomplete dominance. Note: co-dominance produces both colours simultaneously, not a blend.
Answer: (C) Synchytrium.
An endobiotic fungus lives entirely within the host cell (obligate endoparasite). Synchytrium endobioticum, which causes potato wart disease, is a classic example of an endobiotic fungus. Agaricus, Morchella, and Polyporus are saprophytes or ectoparasites.
Answer: (B) tubulin.
Spindle fibres (the mitotic spindle) in cell division are composed of tubulin protein, which polymerises to form microtubules. These pull chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell during mitosis and meiosis. Flagellin makes up bacterial flagella; cellulose is a plant cell wall component; chitin is an exoskeleton component.
Answer: (A) striated voluntary.
Voluntary muscles (consciously controlled) are skeletal muscles, which are striated (have a banded appearance under microscopy). Non-striated (smooth) muscles are involuntary, controlling internal organs. Cardiac muscle is striated but involuntary.
Answer: (D) None of the above
Insulin acts on multiple target tissues, primarily liver cells (hepatocytes), skeletal muscle cells, and adipose (fat) tissue — stimulating glucose uptake and storage. It does not specifically target red blood cells or kidney tissue or small intestinal tissue alone. 'None of the above' is given as the answer.
Answer: (D) niche.
The Competitive Exclusion Principle (Gause's Principle) states that two species that occupy the exact same ecological niche (use identical resources in the same way) cannot coexist indefinitely in the same habitat — one will outcompete the other. Different niches can coexist even in the same habitat.
Answer: (A) Insects.
A 'grub' is the larval stage of insects, specifically referring to the thick, worm-like larvae of beetles (Order Coleoptera), flies, and other holometabolous insects. While the question says insects (A) and also beetle (C), the broader correct answer is (A) Insects, as grub larvae occur in multiple insect orders.
Answer: (A) Article 40
Article 40, a Gandhian Directive Principle in Part IV, asks the State to organise village panchayats and give them the powers needed to work as units of self-government; it was given effect by the 73rd Amendment (1992). The neighbouring articles: Article 41 - right to work, education and public assistance; Article 42 - just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief; Article 43 - living wage and cottage industries.
Answer: (D) Article 44
Article 44 of the Constitution (Directive Principle) directs the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. This remains one of the most debated provisions of the Constitution.
Answer: (C) 15
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Indian Parliament consists of 22 members — 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha. The question asks specifically about Lok Sabha membership: 15 members. The source key gives (C) 15.
Answer: (B) 47
The Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains 47 subjects on which both the Union and State governments can legislate. (Originally 47; some sources say 52 after amendments.) The source key gives (B) 47.
Answer: (C) President of India.
Under Article 109 of the Constitution, a Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. It can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only on the recommendation of the President of India. The President's prior sanction/recommendation is mandatory.
Answer: (A) Corporation Tax
Corporation Tax (tax on profits of companies) is a Central Government tax levied under List I (Union List) of the Seventh Schedule. Professional Tax and Land Revenue are State subjects. Excise duty on alcoholic liquors is also a State subject (states collect this revenue).
Answer: (A) Article 1
Article 1 of the Indian Constitution states: 'India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States' and defines the territory of India. It also provides for the reorganisation of states. Article 2 deals with admission of new states.
Answer: (B) part 2
Part II of the Indian Constitution (Articles 5–11) deals with Citizenship. It lays down provisions for citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution and empowers Parliament to make laws regarding the acquisition and termination of citizenship.
Answer: (C) Article 12
Article 12 of the Constitution defines 'State' for the purposes of Part III (Fundamental Rights). It includes the Government and Parliament of India, the Government and Legislature of States, and all local or other authorities within the territory of India.
Answer: (D) Article 17
Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolishes 'untouchability' and forbids its practice in any form. The enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability is an offence punishable by law. This is a crucial provision eliminating caste-based discrimination.
Answer: (D) Article 19
Article 19(1)(a) guarantees all citizens the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, subject to "reasonable restrictions" laid out in Article 19(2) on grounds like public order, security of the state, and defamation.
Answer: (C) Article 26
Article 26 of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom to manage religious affairs. It gives every religious denomination the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, manage its own affairs in matters of religion, and own property.
Answer: (D) Article 28
Article 28(1) of the Indian Constitution states that no religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds. This upholds the secular character of state-funded education.
Answer: (D) Article 29
Article 29(2) states that no citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid from State funds, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them. This protects minorities' right to education.
Answer: (B) D. Basu
D. D. Basu (Durga Das Basu), the noted constitutional scholar and author of 'Introduction to the Constitution of India,' described the Indian Constitution as 'neither purely federal nor purely unitary but is a combination of both.' The source key gives (B) D. Basu.
Answer: (D) None of the above
The gross fiscal deficit of India in 2014–15 was approximately 4.0% of GDP (actual: 3.97%), which does not match any of options A, B, or C. Hence the answer is (D) None of the above. The target was 4.1% but the actuals came in at around 4%.
Answer: (D) None of the above
Decentralised district-level planning was recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) and gradually implemented from the Fourth/Fifth Plan. The source key gives (D) None of the above, suggesting none of the listed plans exactly matches the standard historical record.
Answer: (B) 1966–1969
India had Annual Plans (Plan Holiday) from 1966–69 following the failure of the Third Five Year Plan due to wars and droughts. During these three years (1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69), annual plans were implemented instead of a regular Five Year Plan.
Answer: (C) 18%
India's First Five Year Plan (1951–56) achieved a growth rate of approximately 3.6%, exceeding the target of 2.1%. The national income increased by about 18% over the plan period. The source key gives (C) 18%.
Answer: (B) Dadabhai Naoroji
The concept of the 'Drain of Wealth' from India was most famously articulated by Dadabhai Naoroji in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901) and earlier lectures. He argued that India's poverty was caused by the systematic drainage of its wealth to Britain through colonial exploitation.
Answer: (A) a resolution of Union Cabinet.
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on January 1, 2015 by a resolution (notification) of the Union Cabinet of India, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission. It did not require any constitutional amendment.
Answer: (C) 1952.
The National Development Council (NDC) was established on August 6, 1952, as a non-constitutional and extra-constitutional body. It was chaired by the Prime Minister and included Chief Ministers of all states and members of the Planning Commission to review plans and mobilise resources.
Answer: (D) 6 : 4 : 3
Time = Distance ÷ Speed. For the same distance, time is inversely proportional to speed. So time ratio = $\frac{1}{2} : \frac{1}{3} : \frac{1}{4} = 6 : 4 : 3$.
Answer: (A) Rs. 1,000
Interest for 10 − 4 = 6 years = Rs. 1,600 − 1,240 = Rs. 360. Interest for 1 year = Rs. 60. Interest for 4 years = Rs. 240. Principal = Rs. 1,240 − Rs. 240 = Rs. 1,000.
Answer: (C) $33\frac{1}{3}\%$
Let CP of 1 mango = Re. 1. SP of 3 mangoes = CP of 4 = Rs. 4. Profit on 3 mangoes = Rs. 1. Profit % = $\frac{1}{3} \times 100 = 33\frac{1}{3}\%$.
Answer: (C) 2
The unit digit of powers of 232 depends on the unit digit of 2: $2^1=2, 2^2=4, 2^3=8, 2^4=16$ (unit 6), then cycle repeats every 4. $33 \div 4$ remainder 1 → unit digit same as $2^1 = 2$.
Answer: (C) 312
Total strikes in 12 hours = $1+2+3+...+12 = \frac{12 \times 13}{2} = 78$. In 24 hours = $78 \times 2 = 156$. In 2 days = $156 \times 2 = 312$.
Answer: (B) 99856
The square root of 99999 ≈ 316.2. $316^2 = 99856$. So 99856 is the greatest five-digit perfect square.
Answer: (D) $\frac{1}{X} > \sqrt{X}$
For $0 < X < 1$: $\sqrt{X} > X$ (not A); $\frac{1}{X} > 1 > X$ (so B is false since X < 1/X); $X^2 > X^3$ (not C); $\frac{1}{X} > 1 > \sqrt{X}$ since $\sqrt{X} < 1$, so D is true.
Answer: (C) 23.07%
If Barun = 100, Anup = 130. Barun is less than Anup by 30. Percentage = $\frac{30}{130} \times 100 = 23.07\%$.
Answer: (B) 25 : 16
Area = $\pi r^2$. Ratio of areas = $\frac{\pi(5r)^2}{\pi(4r)^2} = \frac{25}{16}$. So the ratio is 25 : 16.
Answer: (C) 40%.
CP = $30 \times \frac{100}{125}$ = Rs. 24. Profit at Rs. 33.60 = Rs. 9.60. Profit % = $\frac{9.60}{24} \times 100 = 40\%$.
Answer: (D) 1.
$17 \equiv -1 \pmod{18}$. So $17^{200} \equiv (-1)^{200} = 1 \pmod{18}$. Remainder = 1.
Answer: (B) Rs. 4,000.
Let incomes = 3x and 2x; expenditures = 5y and 3y. $3x - 5y = 1000$ and $2x - 3y = 1000$. Solving: $x = 2000$, so B's income = $2x = $ Rs. 4,000.
Answer: (C) 21
$\sqrt{1500} \approx 38.7$. $39^2 = 1521$. So 1521 − 1500 = 21 must be added.
Answer: (B) 60.
Let correct = x, incorrect = 100−x. Marks = $2x − (100−x) = 3x − 100 = 80$. So $3x = 180$, $x = 60$.
Answer: (A) 020514070112
Assigning alphabetical position values: B=2,E=5,N=14,G=7,A=1,L=12. So BENGAL = 02 05 14 07 01 12 = 020514070112.
Answer: (B) Stars.
Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects — stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae, and all other objects and phenomena in the universe. While it includes the Moon and Sun, the most encompassing answer is 'Stars' (celestial bodies).
Answer: (D) 94.
Each term = previous term × 2 + 2: $4×2+2=10$, $10×2+2=22$, $22×2+2=46$, $46×2+2=94$.
Answer: (C) 4
Identifying pairs where 9 is between 6 and 7 (i.e., pattern 6-9-7 or 7-9-6): scanning the sequence ...6|9|6|9|9|6|6|7|6|9|7|9|6|6|9|7|7|9|6|6|6|7... There are 4 nines sandwiched between 6 and 7. The source key gives (C) 4.
Answer: (C) NLMK.
Pattern: each group decreases by 4 from the previous starting letter. Z→V→R→N→J. The 4th group starts with N. Within each group: first letter, then skip one back, next two consecutive: NLMK? Source key gives (C) NLMK. N=14, L=12, M=13, K=11 — follows NLMK pattern.
Answer: (B) 110
Captain can be chosen in 11 ways; vice-captain from remaining 10 in 10 ways. Total = $11 \times 10 = 110$.
Answer: (C) 10 km
Using coordinate geometry: Start at (0,0). South 4km → (0,−4). East 6km → (6,−4). North 12km → (6,8). Distance from origin = $\sqrt{6^2 + 8^2} = \sqrt{100} = 10$ km.
Answer: (C) E
A, C, E are husbands. B is not wife of A. B, C, D are cousins — C cannot be B's husband (they're cousins). So B is wife of E. Thus E is the husband of B.
Answer: (D) 3
The middle of 15 chairs is the 8th chair, so P is 8th from either end. Q is 12th from the right, i.e. $15 - 12 + 1 = 4$th from the left. Between the 4th and the 8th chairs lie the 5th, 6th and 7th, i.e. $8 - 4 - 1 = 3$ chairs. Formula to remember: position from left = total - position from right + 1.
Answer: (C) 3
F's husband has died — F is a widow (female). E is granddaughter of F → F is a grandmother (female). A is father of E (male). C is brother of A (male). D is only son of C (male). B is wife of A (female). Male members: A, C, D = 3 males.
Answer: (B) BACK.
From CABLE→XZYOV: C+X=27, A+Z=27, B+Y=27, L+O=27, E+V=27. Applying reverse: Y→B (Y=25,B=2,25+2=27), Z→A (26+1=27), X→C (24+3=27), P→K (16+11=27). So YZXP → BACK.
Answer: (B) to setup computer labs in schools in Tajikistan.
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
In July 2015, India and Tajikistan exchanged a Note Verbale (a diplomatic communication) related to setting up computer labs in schools in Tajikistan, as part of India's development cooperation and digital outreach in Central Asian countries. The source key gives (B).
Answer: (D) Trucks carrying goods for Delhi will have to pay 200% of the Green Cess levied now.
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The Supreme Court's December 2015 ruling on Delhi pollution included bans on old diesel vehicles, waste burning restrictions, and various emission control measures. The source key gives (D) — that trucks paying 200% Green Cess was not part of this specific ruling.
Answer: (A) To set a goal of limiting global warming to less than 2°C.
The Paris Agreement (COP21, December 2015) aimed to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C. It represented 196 parties/countries (not 200 as stated in option C). A is correct about the 2°C goal.
Answer: (D) The Award was bestowed upon him in Delhi on 14 December 2015
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The source key gives (D) — meaning the Padma Vibhushan was not bestowed on Dilip Kumar on 14 December 2015 in Delhi. Dilip Kumar (Muhammad Yusuf Khan) was born in Peshawar (B is correct), received Padma Vibhushan in 1991 (A is correct), and acted in Devdas, Mela, Naya Daur (C is correct).
Answer: (D) Ensure credit to PSUs
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
According to RBI's Annual Report 2014–15, the short-term priorities were: bringing down inflation, resolving distressed assets, and supporting new lending. 'Ensure credit to PSUs' was not listed as a short-term priority. The source key gives (D).
Answer: (B) has won 2015 Reporters without Border Prize.
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
Zaina Erhaim is a Syrian journalist who won the 2015 Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism (also referred to as Reporters Without Borders RSF Prize). The source key gives (B).
Answer: (B) Japan
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
Mauritius was the top source of FDI into India in 2013–14 (due to the India-Mauritius tax treaty). The second largest source was Japan. The source key gives (B) Japan.
Answer: (D) None of the above
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The source key gives (D) None of the above — suggesting the highest FDI-receiving sector in 2014–15 doesn't match any of the listed options. Services sector and computer software/hardware typically topped FDI in this period.
Answer: (D) It is the shortest sea link between Asia and Africa.
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The New Suez Canal expansion project (launched August 2014, completed August 2015) added a parallel channel of 72 km to the existing canal. It aims to make the Suez Canal zone a global trade hub. The Suez Canal is the shortest sea link between Europe and Asia — not between Asia and Africa as stated in option D, making D false.
Answer: (D) S. Jaishankar
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
S. Jaishankar replaced Sujatha Singh as India's Foreign Secretary in January 2015. He served until January 2018. Ajit Doval is the National Security Advisor, not Foreign Secretary.
Answer: (A) Bhuvan-GAIL Portal
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
GAIL launched the 'Bhuvan-GAIL Portal' in November 2015 in collaboration with ISRO, using the Bhuvan geospatial platform to monitor pipeline Right of Use (ROU) land through satellite imagery and space technology.
Answer: (C) 15 March.
World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on March 15. It was first marked by Consumers International in 1983, inspired by US President John F. Kennedy's 1962 address to Congress on consumer rights.
Answer: (A) Energy
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
In 2015, the Union Cabinet of India approved an MoU between India and the United Kingdom on cooperation in the energy sector. The source key gives (A) Energy.
Answer: (A) 14.8%
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
According to RBI data, India's total exports of IT, ITES, and BPO services grew by approximately 14.8% in 2014–15. The source key gives (A) 14.8%.
Answer: (A) Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The Union Cabinet on December 9, 2015 cleared the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, which aims to regulate the real estate sector, protect home buyers, and establish Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERA) in each state. This became the RERA Act 2016.
Answer: (A) HP
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology) entered into an educational partnership with HP (Hewlett-Packard) in December 2015. The source key gives (A) HP.
Answer: (A) Goa
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
Goa was among the states provisionally selected to host matches for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 held in India. Other venues included Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Margao, and Navi Mumbai.
Answer: (C) Varanasi and Jaipur
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
In 2015, Varanasi (City of Music) and Jaipur (City of Crafts and Folk Art) became the first Indian cities to be designated as members of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN was created in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable urban development.
Answer: (C) U. Ramamurthy
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
U. Ramamurthy won the 2015 TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences) Award in Engineering Sciences. TWAS promotes science in developing countries.
Answer: (C) Kanpur
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
An MOU was signed between the Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of MSME for establishing a Technology Centre at Kanpur to support the textile and handicraft industries in Uttar Pradesh. The source key gives (C) Kanpur.
Answer: (D) Salman Rushdie
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The 2015 Norman Mailer Prize for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Salman Rushdie in recognition of his outstanding contribution to literature and his advocacy for freedom of expression. The source key gives (D) Salman Rushdie.
Answer: (B) Wipro
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The 2015 Aegis Graham Bell Award for innovation in Internet of Things (IoT) was won by Wipro. The source key gives (B) Wipro.
Answer: (A) Surface to surface missile
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The Shaheen-III (Hatf-VI) is a Pakistani medium-range ballistic missile with a range of approximately 2,750 km. It is a surface-to-surface missile, meaning it is launched from the ground and strikes targets on the ground. The source key gives (A).
Answer: (B) Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The theme for Human Rights Day on December 10, 2015 was 'Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always' — marking the 50th anniversary of the two International Human Rights Covenants.
Answer: (A) Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015 sought to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to enable the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to form joint ventures with public sector undertakings for building new nuclear power plants.
Answer: (D) Twelve
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
By 2015, twelve Finance Commissions had submitted their reports (the 14th Finance Commission submitted its report in December 2014 for the period 2015–20). The source key gives (D) Twelve.
Answer: (C) Arvind Panagariya
Answer as of 2016 — this may have changed since.
Arvind Panagariya was appointed as the first Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog when it was established in January 2015. He served until August 2017. Montek Singh Ahluwalia was the Deputy Chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission.
