200 questions · 150 minutes · −1/3 per wrong answer · Free
Answer: (A) Claim
'Forgo' means to give up or go without something voluntarily, so its antonym is 'Claim', which means to assert ownership or demand something as one's right. 'Despise' and 'Remember' are unrelated in meaning.
Answer: (C) Pregnancy & child birth
An Obstetrician is a medical doctor who specialises in pregnancy, labour, and childbirth. Paediatrics covers child diseases, Hepatology covers liver disease, and Neurology covers nerve/brain disease.
Answer: (B) on
The correct preposition used with phone in this context is 'on' — one speaks 'on the phone' or spends time 'on the phone'. 'At' is used for location, and 'with' or 'in' do not collocate naturally with 'phone' in this sense.
Answer: (B) Alumni
'Alumni' is the Latin plural of 'alumnus' (male former student) or 'alumna' (female). 'Index', 'Hypothesis', and 'Analysis' are all singular forms; their plurals are 'indices/indexes', 'hypotheses', and 'analyses' respectively.
Answer: (C) Cruelty
'Atrocity' means an extremely wicked or cruel act, so 'Cruelty' is the closest synonym. 'Solidarity' means unity of purpose, 'Pity' is compassion, and 'Punctuality' is timeliness — all unrelated.
Answer: (B) A very mild punishment
'A slap on the wrist' idiomatically means a very light or token punishment, far less severe than the offence might warrant. It implies the wrongdoer has been let off lightly.
Answer: (B) number
The phrase 'four in number' is a standard English construction used to state the count of a group of people or things. 'Quantity' is used for uncountable nouns, and 'totality' means the whole amount, not a count.
Answer: (D) about
'Worry about' is the standard collocation in English — one worries about something or someone. 'Worry for', 'worry to', and 'worry with' are not standard constructions.
Answer: (A) for
When stating one's employer, 'works for' is the most natural construction in standard English (e.g., 'He works for a bank'). 'Works at' refers more to a physical location, and 'works in' an industry, but 'for' is standard with a company as employer.
Answer: (C) Hate
'Adore' means to love and respect someone deeply; its direct antonym is 'Hate', which is the opposite emotional stance. 'Love' and 'Like' are synonyms of adore, and 'Ignore' implies indifference, not opposition.
Answer: (C) of
In English, 'die of' is used with diseases or direct causes — one dies 'of dengue', 'of cancer', etc. 'Die from' can also be used (especially in American English), but the book's answer is 'of', which is the more traditional and widely accepted form.
Answer: (C) over
The standard collocation is 'control over' — one has control over a situation, emotions, or people. 'Control on' is a common non-standard usage but 'over' is the correct preposition here.
Answer: (C) Rehearsal
'Rehearsal' is the correctly spelled word, meaning a practice session for a performance. The other options contain misspellings of either the 'ea' vowel pair or the '-al' suffix.
Answer: (A) Q-P-R-S
The correct sequence is Q-P-R-S, forming: 'Although a great scientist, Einstein was weak in arithmetic right from his school days.' The concessive clause ('although') logically comes first, followed by the main clause establishing the surprising fact.
Answer: (C) bear with
'Bear with' means to be patient or tolerant with someone, making it the correct substitute for 'tolerance' in this context. 'Bear on' means to be relevant to something, and 'bear in' is not a standard phrasal verb.
Answer: (A) Humanitarian
A philanthropist is someone who promotes the welfare of others, typically through charitable donations of money or time — essentially a humanitarian. The word derives from Greek 'philos' (loving) + 'anthropos' (human being). A misanthrope, by contrast, is a hater of mankind.
Answer: (D) Compound
'Do or Die' is a Compound sentence because it contains two finite verbs ('do' and 'die') joined by the coordinating conjunction 'or'. A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses of equal weight.
Answer: (B) see eye to eye
'See eye to eye' means to agree or share the same opinion with someone, directly replacing 'agreed on' in the sentence. 'Let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret, and 'feel under the weather' means to feel unwell.
Answer: (B) Present Perfect
The sentence uses 'have done', which is formed with the auxiliary 'have' + past participle — the defining structure of the Present Perfect tense. Present Perfect describes a past action with present relevance or a recently completed action.
Answer: (A) painting
A gerund is a verb form ending in '-ing' used as a noun. After 'like', both a gerund and an infinitive can be used, but the question specifically asks for a gerund form, which is 'painting'. 'Painted' is a past participle, and 'paint' here would be a bare infinitive.
Answer: (C) Loquacious
'Loquacious' means tending to talk a great deal; it is the precise one-word substitute for someone who talks continuously. 'Voracious' means having a huge appetite (for food or knowledge), 'Impecunious' means having little money, and 'Avaricious' means extremely greedy for wealth.
Answer: (D) Hermaphrodite
A hermaphrodite is an organism that possesses both male and female reproductive organs. The term comes from the Greek myth of Hermaphroditus, child of Hermes and Aphrodite. Many plant and some animal species are naturally hermaphroditic.
Answer: (D) By whom has the work been done?
In the passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and 'by whom' replaces 'who'. The correct passive is 'By whom has the work been done?' — note 'has been done' (present perfect passive) with the auxiliary correctly placed.
Answer: (B) Noun
The word 'Adjective' (as used in the sentence 'what part of speech is the word Adjective') is functioning as a Noun — it is the name of a grammatical category. This is a meta-linguistic question: the word itself names a thing, so it functions as a noun in this context.
Answer: (B) Secret
'Covert' means secret or hidden, especially of military or intelligence operations. 'Overt' is its antonym (done openly). 'Revert', 'Desert', and 'Honest' share no meaning with 'covert'.
Answer: (A) Harishena
The Allahabad Prasasti (also known as the Prayag Prasasti) was composed by Harishena, the court poet of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta. It is a panegyric inscribed on the Ashokan Pillar at Allahabad and is one of the most important epigraphic sources for Gupta-era history, detailing Samudragupta's military conquests.
Answer: (B) Gandhiji
'Navjivan' (meaning 'New Life') was a Gujarati-language journal founded and edited by Mahatma Gandhi, published from Ahmedabad starting 1919. Gandhi used it to spread his ideas on non-cooperation, swadeshi, and Indian self-rule. He later also edited 'Young India' in English.
Answer: (A) Shamsuddin Iltutmish
Shamsuddin Iltutmish (r. 1211–1236) is credited with consolidating the Delhi Sultanate by organising its key institutions: the Iqta system (land grants to officers), a standing army, and a standardised silver tanka currency. He was the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate's administrative structure.
Answer: (A) Antiochus II Theos
Ashoka's Rock Edict XIII mentions several contemporary Hellenistic rulers to whom he sent dharma-ambassadors. Antiochus II Theos was the Seleucid king of Syria (261–246 BC), and he is specifically named in the edict as the Greek king of Syria (Amtiyoke). Ptolemy II was king of Egypt, not Syria.
Answer: (D) Lord Ripon
The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was enacted by Lord Lytton to suppress criticism of British policy in Indian-language newspapers. Lord Ripon repealed it in 1882 as part of his liberal reforms, which also included the Ilbert Bill controversy.
Answer: (C) Lala Hardayal, America
The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 in San Francisco, USA, by Lala Hardayal, along with other Indian expatriates. It was a revolutionary movement of overseas Indians, primarily Punjabi Sikhs, aimed at overthrowing British rule in India through armed uprising.
Answer: (A) Dadabhai Naoraoji
Dadabhai Naoroji formulated the 'Drain of Wealth' theory in his landmark 1901 work 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'. He argued that Britain systematically extracted India's economic surplus through trade and administration, impoverishing the subcontinent. This theory was foundational to early Indian nationalist economics.
Answer: (B) Chakraborty Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (commonly called Rajaji) was the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India, serving from 1948 to 1950 after Mountbatten's tenure ended. Rajendra Prasad became the first President when India became a republic on January 26, 1950.
Answer: (B) Selim
Abul Fazl, the chief court historian of Emperor Akbar and author of the Akbarnama, was assassinated in 1602 on the orders of Prince Selim (later Emperor Jahangir). Selim resented Abul Fazl's influence over Akbar and saw him as an obstacle to his succession.
Answer: (B) Ilbari Turks, Khilji, Tughlaq, Lodi
The correct chronological order of the Delhi Sultanate dynasties is: Mamluk/Ilbari Turks (1206–1290) → Khilji (1290–1320) → Tughlaq (1320–1414) → Sayyid (1414–1451) → Lodi (1451–1526). Option B correctly captures this sequence for the four dynasties listed.
Answer: (B) 1932
The Poona Pact was signed in September 1932 between B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi while Gandhi was on a fast unto death protesting the British government's Communal Award. It replaced separate electorates for Depressed Classes with reserved seats in the general electorate.
Answer: (C) Ahmednagar
Chand Bibi served as regent of the Bijapur Sultanate (1580–1590) and later of the Ahmednagar Sultanate (1595–1600). Since the question asks which she 'ruled over' primarily and the printed answer is Bijapur, that is noted. However, she is also associated with Ahmednagar for her famous defence against the Mughals. PSC official answer is Ahmednagar.
Answer: (C) Rashtrakuta
Arab travellers and geographers referred to the Rashtrakuta rulers as 'Balhar' (possibly a corruption of 'Vallabha', one of their titles). The Rashtrakutas of the Deccan were founded by Dantidurga and were of Kannada origin, known for their patronage of Jainism.
Answer: (C) Mehrgarh
Mehrgarh, located in the Baluchistan region of present-day Pakistan, is the earliest known site of settled agriculture and pastoralism in the South Asian subcontinent, dating back to around 7000 BCE. It predates the Indus Valley Civilisation by several millennia and provides evidence of wheat/barley cultivation and domesticated animals.
Answer: (D) Bipin Chandra Pal
Aurobindo Ghosh called Bipin Chandra Pal the 'Prophet of Great Political Creed'. Bipin Chandra Pal was one of the Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate of extremist leaders and is also called the 'Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India'. He championed complete independence ('swaraj') from Britain.
Answer: (B) Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore painted the iconic image of Bharat Mata (Mother India) in 1905, depicting her as a four-armed woman in saffron robes holding a book, sheaves of paddy, a piece of white cloth, and a rudraksha garland. The image became a powerful symbol of the swadeshi and nationalist movements.
Answer: (B) D-4
The correct matches are: Moriyas — Pippalivana (A-1 ✓), Videhas — Mithila (B-2 ✓), Licchavis — Vaishali (C-3 ✓), Mallas — Kushinagar/Kusinara, NOT Kapilavastu. Kapilavastu was associated with the Sakyas (Siddhartha Gautama's clan), not the Mallas. Therefore only D-4 is incorrectly matched.
Answer: (A) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
The correct matching of Indus sites to excavators is: Kot Diji — F.A. Khan and G.S. Ghurye (2); Harappa — Daya Ram Sahani (3); Kalibangan — Luigi Pio Tessitori (1); Mohenjodaro — Rakhal Das Bandyopadhyay (4). Daya Ram Sahani's 1921 excavation of Harappa marked the discovery of the Indus civilisation.
Answer: (A) 1931
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5 March 1931 between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India. Under the pact, Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and attend the Second Round Table Conference in London, while the British agreed to release political prisoners.
Answer: (D) Dara Sukoh
Prince Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan, was a great scholar of Sufism and Hindu mysticism. He translated 52 Upanishads into Persian under the title 'Sirr-i-Akbar' (The Great Secret) in 1657. His syncretic views eventually led to his execution by Aurangzeb, who considered him a heretic.
Answer: (C) Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 in Pune. The organisation aimed to train Indians in selfless public service and was dedicated to the welfare of the country. Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by Gokhale, whom he regarded as his political mentor.
Answer: (C) Rowlatt Act
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 authorised the British government to arrest and imprison any person suspected of sedition without trial or warrant. It was universally condemned by Indian leaders and referred to as the 'Black Act'. Gandhi launched a Satyagraha against it, culminating in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Answer: (C) D, C, A, B
The correct chronological order is: Megasthenes (4th–3rd century BCE, during Chandragupta Maurya) → Fa Hien/Fa Tsien (400–411 CE, during Chandragupta II) → Xuanzang/Hieun Tsang (630–643 CE, during Harsha) → I-Tsing/Itsing (671–695 CE). Option C (D, C, A, B) correctly reflects this.
Answer: (D) Pramathanath Mitra
Pramathanath Mitra founded the Anushilan Samiti in Calcutta in 1902, making it one of the earliest revolutionary secret societies in Bengal. The organisation focused on physical training, arms practice, and eventually on overthrowing British rule by force.
Answer: (C) Eran inscription
The Eran inscription (510 CE, Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh), from the reign of the Gupta king Bhanugupta, contains the earliest epigraphic reference to the practice of Sati — a devoted wife immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre. The inscription mentions a warrior's wife following him into the fire.
Answer: (B) Dharmachakra pravartana
Buddha's first sermon, delivered at Sarnath (Deer Park) to his five former companions after his enlightenment, is called the Dharmachakra Pravartana, meaning 'Setting the Wheel of Law in Motion'. This event, also called the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, established the foundation of Buddhist teaching (the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path).
Answer: (A) Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill famously disparaged Gandhi as a 'half-naked seditious fakir' (his exact phrase used was slightly longer and colourful). Churchill was vehemently opposed to Indian independence and made this remark in 1931 when Gandhi was invited to the Second Round Table Conference.
Answer: (C) Babur
Babur first used the Tulghuma (flanking/encircling) military tactic in India at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. This Central Asian tactic involved sending mounted archers in a wide arc to encircle the enemy. Combined with artillery (the first use of guns in Indian warfare), it allowed Babur to defeat the numerically superior Ibrahim Lodi.
Answer: (B) Congress session at Nagpur
The Indian National Congress formally adopted the Non-Cooperation Movement at its Nagpur session in December 1920, under the presidency of C. Vijaraghavachariar. Gandhi's resolution for non-cooperation was passed there, marking a decisive shift from moderate to mass political agitation.
Answer: (D) C. R. Das
C.R. Das (Chittaranjan Das), known as 'Deshbandhu', enunciated that Swaraj must be for the masses and not just the classes. He co-founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 with Motilal Nehru to contest elections from within the legislature. He was one of the most prominent Congress leaders of Bengal.
Answer: (B) Akbar
Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence) was built by Akbar in 1602 at Fatehpur Sikri to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. Standing about 54 metres high, it is the highest gateway in the world and a masterpiece of Mughal architecture.
Answer: (C) Mahatma Gandhi
'Hind Swaraj' (Indian Home Rule) was written by Mahatma Gandhi in 1909, originally in Gujarati, during his voyage from London to South Africa. It articulates Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance and critiques modern industrial civilisation as destructive to Indian culture. The British government banned it in India in 1910.
Answer: (A) Kakori Conspiracy Case
Ram Prasad Bismil was one of the key organisers of the Kakori Train Robbery (1925), in which members of the Hindustan Republican Association looted a train near Kakori village (Lucknow) to fund their revolutionary activities. Bismil was subsequently arrested, tried, and hanged in 1927.
Answer: (B) Periyar E. V. Ramasamy Naicker
E.V. Ramasamy Naicker, known as Periyar, founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 in South India. The movement aimed to achieve social equality for oppressed castes, challenging Brahminical dominance and promoting rationalism. It emphasised self-respect for backward classes in the face of a hierarchical caste system.
Answer: (B) Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore (father of Rabindranath Tagore) founded the Tattwabodhini Sabha in 1839 as a reform group within the Brahmo Samaj, focused on propagating rational religion and opposing blind ritual. The Sabha also published the influential Tattwabodhini Patrika journal.
Answer: (D) Alauddin Hussain Shah
Alauddin Hussain Shah (r. 1494–1519) was the Sultan of Bengal during the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534). Hussain Shah was known for his religious tolerance and patronage of Bengali literature and Vaishnavism. His reign is considered a golden age in medieval Bengal.
Answer: (A) 1919
The Montagu-Chelmsford Report was prepared in 1918 and the resulting Government of India Act was passed in 1919. The reforms introduced the system of 'dyarchy' in provinces, partially transferring some departments to elected Indian ministers while keeping others under British control.
Answer: (B) Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore popularised the Rakhi Bandhan ceremony during the 1905 Partition of Bengal as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and Bengal's unity. He led processions where people tied rakhis on each other's wrists to protest the divisive British partition.
Answer: (D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji was called the 'Grand Old Man of India' for his lifelong service to the Indian cause. He was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress, served as its President three times, and was the first Indian elected to the British House of Commons (1892).
Answer: (C) Ajmer — Kubbatul Islam
The Quwwat-ul-Islam (or Kubbatul Islam) mosque is located in Delhi's Qutb complex, not Ajmer. Ajmer is known for the Adhai Din ka Jhonpra mosque and the Dargah of Moinuddin Chishti. All other pairs (Atala Masjid-Jaunpur, Jahaz Mahal-Malwa, Bara Sona Masjid-Gaur) are correct.
Answer: (D) Gorakhpur
Chauri Chaura is a town in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh (then United Provinces). On 4 February 1922, a large group of Non-Cooperation Movement protesters clashed with police there; the mob subsequently burned a police station, killing 22 policemen. Gandhi called off the entire Non-Cooperation Movement as a result.
Answer: (B) Vallabhbhai Patel
The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 in Gujarat was a peasant movement against enhanced land revenue; it was led by Vallabhbhai Patel. Its success elevated Patel to national prominence and earned him the honorary title 'Sardar' (leader), bestowed by the women of Bardoli.
Answer: (A) 1905
The Carlyle Circular was issued on 22 October 1905 by R.W. Carlyle, the Chief Secretary of Bengal, in response to the anti-Partition agitation. It threatened to withdraw government assistance from any college whose students violated government orders, effectively penalising educational institutions for student participation in the swadeshi movement.
Answer: (A) Bhagwati Charan Vohra
Bhagwati Charan Vohra wrote 'The Philosophy of the Bomb' in 1930, articulating the justification for revolutionary violence against colonial rule. Vohra was a key member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and a close associate of Bhagat Singh. He died accidentally in a bomb explosion the same year.
Answer: (D) Chandra Gupta - II
Chandragupta II (also known as Vikramaditya) defeated the Western Kshatrapas (Sakas) of Gujarat and Malwa, earning the title 'Sakari' (slayer of Sakas). This conquest extended Gupta control to the western coast and is considered a major achievement of his reign (c. 375–415 CE).
Answer: (C) Megasthenes
Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya, wrote in his 'Indica' that there was no slavery in India, which distinguished it from Greek and Roman societies. This observation, while debated by historians, reflects his experience at the Mauryan court.
Answer: (A) Gulbadan Begum
Humayun-Nama was written by Gulbadan Begum, the daughter of Babur and half-sister of Emperor Humayun. It was composed at the request of Emperor Akbar and provides a vivid personal account of life at the Mughal court. It is one of the few medieval texts written by a woman.
Answer: (B) Rajaraja I
Rajaraja I (r. 985–1014 CE), the greatest Chola emperor, was known as Arumolivarman before his coronation. He significantly expanded the Chola Empire across South India and into Sri Lanka, and built the famous Brihadeeswara (Rajarajeshwaram) temple at Thanjavur.
Answer: (A) Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was the first president of the All India Kisan Sabha, founded in 1936 as the peasants' wing of the Communist Party of India. He was a prominent agrarian activist who fought for the rights of peasants in Bihar against zamindari oppression.
Answer: (D) Bisthi
In the Gupta period, 'Vishti' (also spelled Bisthi or Visti) referred to forced or unpaid labour that villagers were compelled to provide to the state. It was a form of tax-in-labour. 'Bali' was a form of tribute/tax, 'Shulka' was a customs/toll duty, and 'Udranga' was a land revenue component.
Answer: (C) the Great Himalayan Range
The Great Himalayan Range (also called the Himadri) is the oldest and highest of the Himalayan parallel ranges, with average elevations of 6,000 metres. It forms the core of the Himalayan mountain system. The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) and the Siwaliks are younger, outer ranges formed later by geological folding.
Answer: (D) India and Pakistan
The Radcliffe Line, drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe in 1947, demarcated the boundary between India and Pakistan (both West Pakistan and East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). It was announced on 17 August 1947, two days after independence, and remains the basis of the current India-Pakistan border.
Answer: (A) Terai
The Teesta River divides the foothills region of North Bengal into two parts: the western part is called the Terai (a humid zone of grasslands and forests at the foot of the Darjeeling hills), and the eastern part is called the Dooars (meaning 'doors' or passes to Bhutan). The Terai extends from the Nepal border to the Teesta.
Answer: (C) Manipur
Loktak Lake in Manipur is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is famous for the phumdis — floating islands of heterogeneous vegetation, soil, and organic matter — some of which support the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park in the world.
Answer: (B) Narmada valley
The earliest fossil remains of archaic Homo sapiens in India were found in the Narmada valley at Hathnora in Madhya Pradesh in 1982. Discovered by Dr. Arun Sonakia, these fossils are known as 'Narmada Man' and date to the Middle Pleistocene period (approximately 0.25 to 0.6 million years ago).
Answer: (B) Ten degree Channel
The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. The channel is approximately 150 km wide. The Nine Degree Channel is a different waterway in the Indian Ocean that separates the Lakshadweep islands.
Answer: (C) Mizoram
Mizoram is known as the 'Molasses basin' because its geological structure consists of soft, unconsolidated sedimentary deposits typical of a molasse basin — sediments formed after mountain-building activity. The state's hills are composed of these relatively young, easily eroded sandstones and shales.
Answer: (A) Son
The Koel River (North Koel) originates from the Ranchi plateau and flows northward to join the Son River, which is itself a major right-bank tributary of the Ganga. The South Koel drains into the Brahmani River system. The Koel is not a direct tributary of the Ganga.
Answer: (A) Tamilnadu
Pongal is the principal harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, celebrated in mid-January to mark the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun's northward journey (Uttarayan). It is dedicated to the Sun God and corresponds to Makar Sankranti celebrated elsewhere in India.
Answer: (A) Darjeeling
According to the 2011 Census, Darjeeling district had the highest child sex ratio (number of females per 1,000 males in the 0–6 age group) among West Bengal's districts. This reflects relatively better gender balance in the hill districts compared to the plains.
Answer: (B) Sivasamudram
The Sivasamudram Dam on the Cauvery River in Karnataka was built primarily for hydroelectric power generation — it powered Asia's first hydroelectric station (established 1902), not for irrigation. The other three dams (Bhavani Sagar, Krishnaraja Sagar, Bhakra Nangal) were all constructed primarily to provide irrigation water.
Answer: (C) Kansabati
The Kumari River rises from the eastern face of the Baghmundi uplands (Ranchi Plateau) in Jharkhand and flows into the Kansabati (Kasai) River in West Bengal. The Kansabati drains through Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur before joining the Haldi River.
Answer: (B) Kari
The peaty, waterlogged soils found mainly in the Kottayam and Alappuzha districts of Kerala are locally called 'Kari'. These dark, organic soils form under anaerobic conditions from partial decomposition of waterlogged vegetation. 'Reh' is the saline/alkaline soil of North India.
Answer: (B) the Haldi river
The Kasai (Kansabati) and Keleghai rivers meet at Tangrakhali near Nandakumar Police Station in Tamluk subdivision to form the Haldi River, which then flows through Purba Medinipur district before draining into the Hooghly estuary near Haldia.
Answer: (B) Alwar
Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Alwar district of Rajasthan. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1978. It covers an area of about 881 sq km of scrub-thorn and dry deciduous forests.
Answer: (D) NH - 34 - Sevak - Gangtok
NH 34 runs from Dalsingpara (West Bengal) to Dalkhola, not Sevak to Gangtok. Also, NH 35 (under the old numbering) ran from Kolkata to Bangoan on the Bangladesh border (via Barasat). Note: This question uses the old NH numbering system; these numbers were revised after 2010. PSC official answer 'NH - 34 - Sevak - Gangtok'.
Answer: (C) Nilgiri Hills
The Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats converge at the Nilgiri Hills at the trijunction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. The highest peak of the Nilgiris is Doddabetta at 2,637 metres. The Nilgiris thus form a geographical link connecting both major hill ranges.
Answer: (B) Yamuna, Son and Damodar
The major right-bank tributaries of the Ganga include the Yamuna, Son, Punpun, and Damodar. The Chambal is a right-bank tributary of the Yamuna (not directly of the Ganga). Gandak joins the Ganga from the left (north) bank. Option B correctly lists Yamuna, Son, and Damodar as right-bank tributaries.
Answer: (B) Jammu & Kashmir
The Dulhasti Hydroelectric Power Station is located in the Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir (now a Union Territory). It is a run-of-the-river project on the Chenab River with an installed capacity of 390 MW. It was built by NHPC and became fully operational in 2007.
Answer: (A) Singhbhum District
Noamundi (Notuburu/Notu Buru) iron ore mines are located in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar). The Singhbhum-Keonjhar belt contains India's richest haematite iron ore deposits, and Noamundi is one of Asia's largest open-cast iron ore mines, operated by Tata Steel.
Answer: (A) Dev Prayag
The Alakananda and Bhagirathi rivers meet at Dev Prayag in Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, to form the main stem of the Ganga. Dev Prayag is the last of the Panch Prayag (five confluences) on the Alakananda, and from this confluence the combined river is officially called the Ganga.
Answer: (D) Andhra Pradesh
Coringa Mangrove Forest is located near Kakinada in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the third-largest stretch of mangroves in India and the second largest in Asia, covering about 235 sq km. It is named after a small village called Coringa in the area.
Answer: (D) Cauvery
The Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) is built across the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu. Completed in 1934, it is one of the largest and oldest dams in India. It irrigates over 2.75 lakh acres in the Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, and Thanjavur districts.
Answer: (C) 23
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
At the time of the 2022 exam, West Bengal had 23 districts. These include: Alipurduar, Bankura, Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Hooghly, Howrah, Jalpaiguri, Jhargram, Kalimpong, Kolkata, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Bardhaman, Purba Medinipur, Purulia, South 24 Parganas, and Uttar Dinajpur.
Answer: (B) Gorgaburu
Gorgaburu (677 m) is the highest peak of South Bengal, located in the Purulia district on the Western Plateau. Sandakphu (3,636 m) is the highest peak of West Bengal overall but lies in North Bengal (Darjeeling district). Pareshnath (1,365 m) and Biharinath (448 m) are in Jharkhand and Bankura respectively.
Answer: (B) Judiciary
The Judiciary is the guardian of Fundamental Rights in India. Under Article 32, citizens can approach the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights, and under Article 226, High Courts can issue writs. The Supreme Court is constitutionally designated as the protector of these rights.
Answer: (A) 1967
The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) was established in 1967 under the Companies Act. It is the premier nodal agency for West Bengal's industry, commerce, and enterprises, responsible for promoting industrial development in the state.
Answer: (B) 1935
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was established on 1 April 1935 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, based on the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission. It was nationalised on 1 January 1949 and is the apex monetary authority of India.
Answer: (B) D D Basu
D.D. Basu, the eminent constitutional jurist and author of 'Commentary on the Constitution of India', characterised the Indian Constitution as neither purely federal nor purely unitary, but a combination of both — a 'quasi-federal' or 'federal with a unitary bias' structure.
Answer: (C) The Governor of the state
Under Article 316 of the Constitution, the Chairman and members of a State Public Service Commission (SPSC) are appointed by the Governor of the respective state. The SPSC is a constitutional body that conducts recruitment for state-level civil services.
Answer: (D) Elected by an electoral college constituted by member subject to houses of the parliament
The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) by the system of proportional representation through single transferable vote, by secret ballot. State legislators do not participate in this election.
Answer: (C) Any house of the parliament
Under Article 107 of the Indian Constitution, ordinary (non-money) bills can be introduced in either House of Parliament — both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Only Money Bills must originate exclusively in the Lok Sabha. Both Houses have equal power over ordinary legislation.
Answer: (A) 25
The quorum to conduct business in the Rajya Sabha is 1/10th of the total membership. The Rajya Sabha has 250 members (238 elected + 12 nominated), so 10% of 250 = 25 members must be present. This is the minimum attendance required for the House to transact business.
Answer: (B) 73rd
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions (rural local self-government), adding Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. The 74th Amendment did the same for urban local bodies (municipalities).
Answer: (B) Remember of the opposition party
By constitutional convention in India, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a member of the opposition party in Parliament. This convention was established in 1967 to ensure independent scrutiny of government expenditure. The PAC examines audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Answer: (C) The President of India
Under Article 109 and Article 117 of the Indian Constitution, a Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha with the prior recommendation (consent) of the President of India. The President's recommendation is a constitutional requirement without which no Money Bill can be presented.
Answer: (C) Securities and exchange board of India
SEBI stands for the Securities and Exchange Board of India. It is the regulatory body for the securities and capital markets in India, established in 1988 and given statutory powers under the SEBI Act, 1992. It functions under the Ministry of Finance.
Answer: (B) The Vice President
The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament) under Article 64 of the Constitution. The Vice President presides over Rajya Sabha sessions but is not a member of the House.
Answer: (B) GATT
The World Trade Organization (WTO), established in 1995, succeeded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). GATT was a multilateral trade agreement in force from 1948; the WTO formalised and expanded the global trade framework after the Uruguay Round of negotiations.
Answer: (A) Corporation tax
Corporation tax is levied on the net profits of companies and falls under the Union List (Central Government's jurisdiction). Professional tax is levied by state governments; land revenue is a state subject; and excise duty on alcoholic liquors is also in the State List under the Constitution's Seventh Schedule.
Answer: (C) Attorney general of India
The Attorney General of India is the first law officer of the Government of India and the chief legal advisor to the Government. Appointed by the President under Article 76(1), the AG represents the Government before the Supreme Court and advises on legal matters.
Answer: (B) Article 356
Article 356 of the Constitution empowers the President to impose 'President's Rule' (State Emergency) in a state if the government cannot function according to constitutional provisions. This effectively transfers state administration to the President. Article 352 deals with National Emergency (war/armed rebellion).
Answer: (C) The Comptroller and Auditor General of India
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is the guardian of the public purse, established under Article 148 of the Constitution. The CAG audits all expenditures and receipts of the Union and State Governments and reports to Parliament, ensuring accountability in public finance.
Answer: (B) November 26, 1949
The Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, which is now observed as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas). It came into force on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. These two dates mark different milestones in the Constitution's journey.
Answer: (B) Second five year plan
P.C. Mahalanobis, the renowned Indian statistician and founder of the Indian Statistical Institute, provided the economic model (the Mahalanobis model) that shaped India's Second Five Year Plan (1956–61). This plan emphasised rapid industrialisation, particularly of heavy and capital goods industries.
Answer: (B) 25
The minimum age (not maximum) required for a person to be a member of the Lok Sabha is 25 years. There is no upper age limit for Lok Sabha membership. The question appears to ask for the 'maximum age required' which is a misworded way to ask for the minimum qualifying age — the answer is 25.
Answer: (C) Concurrent list
Education is in the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, meaning both Parliament and State Legislatures can make laws on it. It was moved from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), though implementation is primarily at the state level.
Answer: (C) The Governor
Under Article 165 of the Constitution, the Advocate General of a State is appointed by the Governor of the state. The Advocate General is the chief legal officer of the state government and must be qualified to be a High Court Judge. He holds office at the pleasure of the Governor.
Answer: (A) Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad is the only person in Indian history to have been elected President of India twice, serving from 1950 to 1962. He was the first President and remains the longest-serving one. He was also the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
Answer: (C) Afghanistan
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
As of 2022, Afghanistan was by far the world's largest opium producer, accounting for approximately 85–90% of global illicit opium supply. The country's economy had become heavily dependent on the opium trade, particularly in provinces under Taliban influence.
Answer: (C) Fish
A seahorse is a small marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus, family Syngnathidae. Despite its horse-like head and upright posture, it is classified as a bony fish (class Actinopterygii). Notably, it is the male seahorse that carries and gives birth to the young.
Answer: (D) Chlorofluorocarbon
Traditional refrigerators use Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), also known as Freon, as refrigerants. CFCs have low boiling points and high volatility, making them effective at absorbing heat. However, they damage the ozone layer and have been largely replaced by more environmentally friendly HFCs under the Montreal Protocol.
Answer: (D) Toad
A toad is an amphibian and is cold-blooded (ectothermic), meaning it cannot internally regulate its body temperature and depends on the environment. Hens, tigers, and bats are all warm-blooded (endothermic) — birds and mammals that maintain a constant internal body temperature.
Answer: (A) Bird
Ornithology is the scientific study of birds, including their physiology, behaviour, ecology, and classification. It is a branch of zoology. The study of reptiles is herpetology (which also includes amphibians), and the study of mammals is mammalogy.
Answer: (D) Butane
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) used for domestic cooking primarily consists of butane ($C_4H_{10}$) and propane ($C_3H_8$), but butane is the chief component in the Indian LPG standard. Methane is the main constituent of natural gas (CNG), not LPG.
Answer: (B) 32° F
Pure water freezes at 0°C, which is equivalent to 32°F. The conversion formula is $F = \frac{9}{5}C + 32$; substituting $C = 0$: $F = 32$. This is a fundamental fixed point used in defining the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales.
Answer: (A) Iron
Haemoglobin contains iron (Fe) at the centre of its haem group. Each haem group contains one iron atom that binds one oxygen molecule, allowing red blood cells to transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. Chlorophyll (in plants) contains magnesium, not iron.
Answer: (C) Salvinia
Salvinia is a genus of free-floating aquatic ferns. It grows on the surface of water and is common in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. Adiantum (maidenhair fern) and Dryopteris grow in moist terrestrial habitats, while Equisetum (horsetail) grows in damp soil.
Answer: (C) Lens
The cornea has the highest refractive index (approximately 1.376) among the eye's optical components, and it performs about two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. The lens has a variable refractive index of 1.386–1.406 at its core, but in standard optics questions at this level, the cornea is typically cited as having the maximum refractive index.
Answer: (D) None of the above
A human ovum (egg cell) is a haploid cell containing 23 chromosomes — not 46, 36, or 48. The answer is 'None of the above' because 23 is not among the listed options. Somatic (body) cells are diploid with 46 chromosomes; gametes (egg and sperm) have half that number through meiosis.
Answer: (B) Current
A step-down transformer reduces voltage while proportionally increasing current, since power (Voltage × Current) remains approximately constant (assuming ideal conditions). So if voltage halves, current doubles. Frequency is unchanged by transformers, and wattage (power) is conserved, not increased.
Answer: (A) $F^{-}$
Isoelectronic species have the same number of electrons. $O^{2-}$ has 8 protons + 2 extra electrons = 10 electrons. $F^{-}$ (fluorine) has 9 protons + 1 extra electron = 10 electrons. Both have the electronic configuration of neon [He] 2s² 2p⁶. $Cl^{-}$ has 18 electrons, $Li^{+}$ has 2, and $K^{+}$ has 18.
Answer: (D) K
Vitamin K is essential for blood coagulation (clotting). Its chemical name is Phylloquinone ($K_1$) or Menaquinone ($K_2$). It is required for the synthesis of several clotting factors. Deficiency of Vitamin K leads to excessive bleeding. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables.
Answer: (A) Peripatus
Peripatus (velvet worm) is called a 'living fossil' because it retains characteristics of both annelids (segmented worms) and arthropods, representing an evolutionary link between these two major animal groups. Its basic body plan has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of millions of years.
Answer: (D) $V^2/r$
For uniform circular motion, the centripetal acceleration is directed toward the centre and has magnitude $a = \frac{v^2}{r}$, where $v$ is the speed and $r$ is the radius. Although the speed is constant, the direction changes continuously, so the particle is always accelerating. This acceleration is not zero.
Answer: (A) Radioactivity
The Curie (Ci) is a non-SI unit of radioactivity, named in honour of Pierre Curie. One Curie equals $3.7 \times 10^{10}$ radioactive disintegrations per second. The SI unit of radioactivity is the Becquerel (Bq), where 1 Ci = $3.7 \times 10^{10}$ Bq.
Answer: (C) Copper and Tin
Bronze is an alloy primarily of copper (Cu) and tin (Sn), typically about 88% copper and 12% tin. It should not be confused with brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc. Bronze was one of the first alloys created by humans and gave its name to the Bronze Age.
Answer: (B) ${}^{14}C_{6}$
Carbon-14 (${}^{14}C$), also called radiocarbon, is used in radiocarbon dating of organic archaeological materials. It has a half-life of about 5,730 years, making it suitable for dating items up to about 50,000 years old. Uranium-235 is used for geological dating of rocks (millions of years), not archaeological artefacts.
Answer: (B) AIDS antibodies
The ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test is the primary screening test for HIV/AIDS. It detects antibodies to HIV in a person's blood serum. Due to its high sensitivity, it is widely used as the first-line diagnostic tool, and positive results are confirmed by the Western Blot test.
Answer: (C) Plutonium
Plutonium-238 was historically used in nuclear-powered cardiac pacemakers in the 1970s–80s. These devices used the heat from radioactive decay to generate electricity, lasting for decades without battery replacement. Modern pacemakers use lithium-iodide batteries, but Plutonium remains the textbook answer for this question.
Answer: (D) First bioherbicide
Phytophthora palmivora (strain 'Devine') was the world's first commercially registered bioherbicide, approved in the USA in 1981. It is a water mould used to control strangler vine (Morrenia odorata) in citrus orchards. A mycoherbicide uses fungi specifically, while this organism is an oomycete (water mould).
Answer: (B) Zymase
Zymase is the enzyme complex in yeast that catalyses the fermentation of sugars (glucose) into ethanol and carbon dioxide. It was first isolated by Eduard Buchner in 1897, a discovery that earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Amylase breaks down starch, while invertase hydrolyses sucrose.
Answer: (C) Mitochondria
Mitochondria are called the 'powerhouse of the cell' because they produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through aerobic respiration — the primary energy currency of the cell. They are double-membrane organelles found in most eukaryotic cells and have their own DNA, suggesting an evolutionary origin as independent bacteria.
Answer: (B) Gamma rays
Gamma rays carry the highest energy among electromagnetic radiations, with the shortest wavelengths (less than 0.01 nm). Since energy is inversely proportional to wavelength ($E = hf = hc/\lambda$), shorter wavelength means higher energy. Gamma rays are produced by nuclear decay and can penetrate most materials.
Answer: (A) Tobacco
Tobacco was the first transgenic (genetically modified) crop, developed in the early 1980s by researchers who inserted antibiotic-resistance genes into tobacco plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a vector. This pioneering work opened the door to commercial GM crops like Bt cotton and Golden Rice.
Answer: (C) Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma became the second Indian (after Virat Kohli) to score 10,000 T20 runs in 2022. He is a right-handed batsman and former captain of the Indian T20 team. Chris Gayle was the first player globally to cross this milestone in T20 cricket.
Answer: (A) Victoria
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
At the time of the 2022 exam, the Australian state of Victoria (with events spread across Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, and Gippsland, with the Opening Ceremony at the MCG in Melbourne) had been announced as the 2026 Commonwealth Games host. Victoria subsequently withdrew in July 2023, and Glasgow (Scotland) became the replacement host. The correct answer at exam date was Victoria.
Answer: (D) 1989
Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) was launched on 1 April 1989 by merging two earlier employment schemes — National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) and Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP). It was the largest rural employment programme in independent India at that time.
Answer: (B) P.V. Sindhu
PV Sindhu won the Women's Singles title at the Swiss Open 2022 (Super 300 level), held at St. Jakobshalle in Basel. She defeated Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-16, 21-8 in the final. This was her second Super Series/BWF title win, demonstrating her continued dominance in world badminton.
Answer: (B) General Manoj Pande
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
As of the 2022 exam, General Manoj Pande was the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of India, having assumed office on 30 June 2022. He is a member of the Corps of Engineers and had previously commanded forces in the Northeast. He succeeded General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
Answer: (C) Vivek Agnihotri
'The Kashmir Files' (2022) was directed by Vivek Agnihotri. The film depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s and became a major box-office success and a topic of significant public debate in India.
Answer: (C) 101st
Satyajit Ray was born on 2 May 1921. In 2022, it was therefore his 101st birth anniversary. His centenary (100th anniversary) was celebrated in 2021 with year-long events. The 2022 WBCS exam correctly identifies this as the 101st anniversary.
Answer: (C) Ravi Kumar Dahiya
Ravi Kumar Dahiya won the sole gold medal for India at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2022 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in the men's 57 kg freestyle category. This was his third consecutive Asian Championship gold, making him the first Indian to win three Asian Championship gold medals. Bajrang Punia and Gourav Baliyan won silvers.
Answer: (A) Manoj Soni
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
Dr. Manoj Soni was appointed as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in April 2022, succeeding Pradip Kumar Joshi. As an educationist who had served as Vice-Chancellor of two universities, he was the first UPSC Chairman from outside the civil services. He later resigned in July 2024.
Answer: (B) Czech Republic
Russia was suspended from the UN Human Rights Council in April 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, due to evidence of grave human rights violations. Czech Republic was the only candidate for the vacant Eastern European seat and took Russia's place on the Council.
Answer: (C) Taranjit Singh Sandhu
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
Taranjit Singh Sandhu was appointed as India's Ambassador to the United States in 2020, replacing Harsh Vardhan Shringla. An IFS officer of the 1988 batch, Sandhu served as ambassador until 2022. S. Jaishankar is India's External Affairs Minister, not the ambassador.
Answer: (B) Honduras
Xiomara Castro became Honduras' first female president when she was inaugurated on 27 January 2022. The 62-year-old leftist leader of the LIBRE party defeated the incumbent National Party candidate and replaced President Juan Orlando Hernández as the 56th President of Honduras.
Answer: (D) Hungary
Viktor Orbán won a fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister of Hungary in the April 2022 general elections with a landslide victory. His right-wing Fidesz party secured over 53% of votes. Orbán, who has been in power since 2010, is known for his nationalist and Eurosceptic positions.
Answer: (A) Manik Saha
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
Manik Saha was appointed as the Chief Minister of Tripura in May 2022, replacing Biplab Kumar Deb who resigned. A BJP state unit president and dentist by profession, Saha is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Tripura. He went on to lead the BJP to victory in the 2023 Tripura elections.
Answer: (D) Santoor
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (1938–2022) was a maestro of the santoor, a traditional Kashmiri stringed instrument that he popularised and elevated to the level of Indian classical music. He passed away on 10 May 2022. He is credited with transforming the santoor from a folk instrument into a mainstream classical concert instrument.
Answer: (A) Sri Lanka
The 5th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit was hosted by Sri Lanka in hybrid mode on 30 March 2022. Sri Lanka held the BIMSTEC chairmanship. BIMSTEC includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Answer: (D) Jane Campion
Jane Campion won the Best Director award at the 94th Academy Awards (2022) for 'The Power of the Dog'. She became only the third woman in Oscar history to win Best Director, following Kathryn Bigelow (2010) and Chloé Zhao (2021).
Answer: (B) Shinjo Abe
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was conferred the Netaji Award 2022 by the Netaji Research Bureau at the Elgin Road residence in Kolkata, on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The honour was received by Japan's Consul General in Kolkata on Abe's behalf.
Answer: (C) 2001
Lata Mangeshkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2001. She is among the most celebrated playback singers in the history of Indian cinema and recorded songs in over 36 languages. She passed away on 6 February 2022.
Answer: (C) Ranil Wickremesinghe
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in May 2022, replacing Mahinda Rajapaksa who resigned amid mass protests over the country's worst economic crisis. Wickremesinghe was serving his sixth stint as Prime Minister and was subsequently elected President of Sri Lanka in July 2022.
Answer: (A) Namita Gokhale
Author Namita Gokhale won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2021 for her novel 'Things to Leave Behind'. The Sahitya Akademi Awards recognise literary excellence in 24 languages listed in the Constitution of India. Namita Gokhale is also a co-founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Answer: (B) India
India won the Thomas Cup (men's team badminton championship) for the first time in 2022, defeating Indonesia 3-0 in the final held in Bangkok, Thailand. This historic victory ended India's 73-year wait for the title. Stars like Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and Chirag Shetty/Satwikasairaj Rankireddy contributed to India's triumph.
Answer: (A) Campbell Wilson
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
Campbell Wilson was appointed as the CEO and Managing Director of Air India in April 2022, following the Tata Group's acquisition of the airline from the government. An aviation industry veteran, Wilson previously served as CEO of Scoot (Singapore Airlines' low-cost subsidiary).
Answer: (A) Balkrishna Doshi
Indian architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi was awarded the Royal Gold Medal 2022 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). It is one of the world's most prestigious architecture awards. Doshi had earlier won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2018, making him the first Indian to receive that honour.
Answer: (B) Rajiv Kumar
Answer as of 2022 — this may have changed since.
Rajiv Kumar took charge as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India on 15 May 2022, succeeding Sushil Chandra. A retired IAS officer, Kumar had previously served as Finance Secretary of India. His tenure was from May 2022 to February 2025.
Answer: (D) gala
'acme' rearranged (reversed) gives 'emca' — but checking: 'mace' is an anagram of 'acme'. Similarly, the letters of 'alga' rearranged give 'gala'. The relationship is: one word is an anagram of the other word. A-L-G-A rearranged = G-A-L-A.
Answer: (A) 3
Working out the family: A (male, father of E, C's brother) + B (A's wife) = married couple. C (male, A's brother) is parent of D (son). E is granddaughter of F (female, whose husband died — so F's husband is deceased, not in the 6). The six members are A, B, C, D, E, F. Male members: A, C, D = 3 males.
Answer: (A) R is sister of T.
From the given data: S is mother of Q (so Q is son or daughter of S), and Q is husband of P. S is grandmother of T. R is the granddaughter of W. P is mother of R. Q is a male (husband of P). Since S is mother of Q and grandmother of T, T is Q's child — making T a sibling of R. Since R is a granddaughter (female), and the diagram shows R is sister of T, option A is correct.
Answer: (B) 15
The number of matches = $\binom{6}{2} = \frac{6 \times 5}{2} = 15$. This is the number of ways to choose 2 players from 6 for each unique pairing. Alternatively, using the formula $\frac{n(n-1)}{2} = \frac{6 \times 5}{2} = 15$.
Answer: (B) Rain
The sky is blue in real life. In this language, 'Blue' is called 'Rain'. Therefore, the colour of sky in this language is 'Rain'.
Answer: (C) 82.5
If the remaining portion is 7 metres, then the portion cut = 40 - 7 = 33 metres. Percentage cut = $\frac{33}{40} \times 100 = 82.5\%$. The question asks for the percentage that should be cut, not the remaining percentage.
Answer: (B) BACK
In CABLE→XZYOV: C→X, A→Z, B→Y, L→O, E→V. The pattern is: each letter is replaced by its mirror image in the alphabet (A↔Z, B↔Y, C↔X, D↔W…). YZXP decoded: Y→B, Z→A, X→C, P→K = BACK.
Answer: (D) 3
P is at the middle of 15 chairs = position 8 from either end. Q is at 12th from the right = position (15 - 12 + 1) = 4th from the left. Chairs between positions 4 and 8: positions 5, 6, 7 = 3 chairs in between.
Answer: (A) KKK
Pattern: ACE (positions 1,3,5; +5=K), FGH (positions 6,7,8; the gaps decrease), ? should be KKK (positions 11,11,11), PON (positions 16,15,14). Looking at the letter-step pattern: A+5=F+5=K+5=P; C+4=G+4=K+4=O; E+3=H+3=K+3=N. So the third term has K,K,K = KKK.
Answer: (D) 69
Let the 6 consecutive odd numbers be x, x+2, x+4, x+6, x+8, x+10. Their sum = 6x + 30. Average = $\frac{6x+30}{6} = x + 5 = 64$, so x = 59. The greatest = 59 + 10 = 69.
Answer: (A) 53
The series should increase by +4 each time: 55→59→63→67→71. Each consecutive term increases by 4. The first term should be 55, not 53. Therefore, 53 is the wrong term.
Answer: (D) J58Q
Letters: B→D→F→H→J (every alternate letter, +2 each). Numbers: 2→5→12→27→58 (×2+1: 2×2+1=5, 5×2+2=12, 12×2+3=27, 27×2+4=58). End letters: E→H→K→N→Q (every 3rd letter, +3 each). So the next term is J58Q.
Answer: (D) M
In the reversed alphabet (Z=1, Y=2, X=3…), the 14th letter is: 26 - 14 + 1 = 13th letter in normal alphabet = M. Alternatively, reversed alphabet: Z,Y,X,W,V,U,T,S,R,Q,P,O,N,M — M is the 14th.
Answer: (A) 50 years
Let elder son's age = x years. Father's age = 2x. Younger son's age = x - 15. Ten years hence: father = 2x+10, younger son = x-15+10 = x-5. Condition: 2x+10 = 3(x-5) → 2x+10 = 3x-15 → x = 25. Father's age = 2×25 = 50 years.
Answer: (A) 7
Let cows = y, hens = x. Total heads = x + y. Total legs = 4y + 2x. Condition: 4y + 2x = 2(x + y) + 14 → 4y + 2x = 2x + 2y + 14 → 2y = 14 → y = 7. There are 7 cows.
Answer: (C) 94
The pattern is: each term = (previous term × 2) + 2. Check: 4×2+2=10 ✓, 10×2+2=22 ✓, 22×2+2=46 ✓. Next: 46×2+2 = 94.
Answer: (D) 9
This is a two-interleaved series: odd positions (3, 6, ?, ...) and even positions (8, 14, 20, ...). Odd position series: 3, 6, 9 (increasing by 3). Even position series: 8, 14, 20 (increasing by 6). The missing term is the 5th term (odd position) = 9.
Answer: (C) $\frac{4}{5}$
$\frac{3}{4} = 0.75$, $\frac{5}{6} \approx 0.833$. Checking the options: $\frac{2}{3} \approx 0.667$ (less than 0.75, ✗), $\frac{1}{2} = 0.50$ (✗), $\frac{4}{5} = 0.80$ (between 0.75 and 0.833, ✓), $\frac{9}{10} = 0.90$ (greater than 0.833, ✗). Only $\frac{4}{5}$ lies in the required range.
Answer: (C) VTT
The code uses reverse alphabet (A→Z, B→Y, C→X…). C→X, A→Z, T→G; B→Y, O→L, A→Z, T→G — confirmed. E→V, G→T, G→T. Therefore EGG = VTT.
Answer: (B) E
The three husbands are A, C, E. Their wives are among B, D, F. Since B is not wife of A, and the three couples must pair each husband with one wife, and C is both a husband and a cousin of B (so B is not C's wife in typical interpretation), B must be wife of E. So E is the husband of B.
Answer: (A) 020514070112
KOLKATA: K=11, O=15, L=12, K=11, A=01, T=20, A=01 → 1115121101200l. Each letter is replaced by its 2-digit position in the alphabet (A=01, B=02…Z=26). BENGAL: B=02, E=05, N=14, G=07, A=01, L=12 → 020514070112.
Answer: (C) NLMK
Each group of 4 letters takes every 4th position going backward: Z(-4)=V(-4)=R(-4)=N; X(-4)=T(-4)=P(-4)=L; Y(-4)=U(-4)=Q(-4)=M; W(-4)=S(-4)=O(-4)=K. So the 4th term is N, L, M, K = NLMK.
Answer: (C) 200 days
Food consumed in 30 days by 4000 men = 30 × 4000 = 120,000 man-days. Remaining food = 190 × 4000 − 120,000 = 760,000 − 120,000 = 640,000 man-days. After 30 days, remaining men = 4000 − 800 = 3200. Days = $\frac{640000}{3200} = 200$ days.
Answer: (C) ₹2400
If cost price = CP, selling price = ₹2280, and loss = 5%, then: SP = CP × (1 − 5/100) = 0.95 × CP. Therefore CP = $\frac{2280}{0.95} = 2400$. He spent ₹2,400 to purchase the basket.
Answer: (B) Hearing
Stammering is an impediment to speech (the act of speaking). By the same relationship, Deafness is an impediment to Hearing (the act of hearing). The analogy pairs a disability with the function it impairs, not the organ involved.
