HAS Pre 2013
I. Indian Polity & Governance
- Which of the following statements is NOT correct about a judge of a High Court in India?
a) He is appointed by the President.
b) He holds office until he attains the age of 62 years.1
c) He can be removed by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the President.
d) He can be transferred to another High Court by the President.
Answer: c) He can be removed by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the President. (A High Court judge can be removed by the President on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after an address by Parliament). - The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament presents its report to:
a) The President of India
b) The Prime Minister
c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
d) The Union Finance Minister
Answer: c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha - When an advance grant is made by Parliament, pending the regular passage of the budget, to meet immediate expenditure, it is called:
a) Vote on Credit
b) Vote of Account
c) Supplementary Grant
d) Exceptional Grant
Answer: b) Vote of Account - Under the Constitution of India, Education as a subject of legislation is included in:
a) Union List
b) State List
c) Concurrent List
d) Residuary Powers
Answer: c) Concurrent List - The Tenth Schedule, added to the Constitution of India by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, relates to:
a) Panchayati Raj Institutions
b) Provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection
c) Land Reforms
d) Official Languages
Answer: b) Provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection - The concept of “Privileges of Parliament” in the Indian Constitution is largely borrowed from the constitutional traditions of:
a) United States of America
b) Canada
c) United Kingdom
d) Ireland
Answer: c) United Kingdom - The provision for “Residuary Powers” (vesting in the Centre) in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the Constitution of:
a) United States of America
b) Canada
c) Australia
d) Germany
Answer: b) Canada - The “Directive Principles of State Policy” in the Indian Constitution were borrowed from the Constitution of:
a) United Kingdom
b) United States of America
c) Ireland
d) France
Answer: c) Ireland - The concept of “Judicial Review” as adopted in the Indian Constitution is primarily based on the model from:
a) United Kingdom
b) United States of America
c) Switzerland
d) Australia
Answer: b) United States of America - Under the Constitution of India, the power to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights is vested in:
a) The District Courts only
b) The High Courts only
c) The Supreme Court only
d) Both the Supreme Court and the High Courts
Answer: d) Both the Supreme Court and the High Courts - In which Part of the Indian Constitution has the provision for Panchayats (Rural Local Self-Government) been made?
a) Part III
b) Part IV
c) Part IX
d) Part IX-A
Answer: c) Part IX - P.A. Sangma, a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was primarily associated with which political party during his early and prominent political career?
a) Bharatiya Janata Party
b) Communist Party of India (Marxist)
c) Indian National Congress
d) Janata Dal
Answer: c) Indian National Congress (Later formed/joined other parties like NCP) - G.M.C. Balayogi, who served as a Speaker of the Lok Sabha, belonged to which political party?
a) Indian National Congress
b) Bharatiya Janata Party
c) Telugu Desam Party
d) Shiv Sena
Answer: c) Telugu Desam Party - Manohar Joshi, a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was a prominent leader of which political party?2
a) Indian National Congress
b) Bharatiya Janata Party
c) Nationalist Congress Party
d) Shiv Sena
Answer: d) Shiv Sena - Somnath Chatterjee, who served as a Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was a long-time member of which political party?
a) Indian National Congress
b) Bharatiya Janata Party
c) Communist Party of India (Marxist)
d) Trinamool Congress
Answer: c) Communist Party of India (Marxist)
II. Indian Economy & Finance
- Which Indian city had the highest population according to the 2011 Census?
a) Delhi
b) Mumbai
c) Kolkata
d) Bengaluru
Answer: b) Mumbai (Referring to the city proper/urban agglomeration as typically understood in these contexts) - Among the following Indian companies, which one was frequently listed at a high position (often top among Indian PSUs) in the Forbes Global 2000 list around the early 2010s?
a) Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)
b) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
c) Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL)
d) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Answer: b) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) (RIL as a private company was also high, but ONGC was often the top PSU) - The ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan Yojana’ (formerly Total Sanitation Campaign) launched by the Government of India is primarily associated with:
a) Providing safe drinking water
b) Promoting sanitation and hygiene in rural areas to achieve open defecation free communities
c) Cleaning of rivers
d) Urban waste management
Answer: b) Promoting sanitation and hygiene in rural areas to achieve open defecation free communities - As of the early 2010s, what was the maximum limit of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) permitted in public sector banking in India?
a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 49%
d) 74%
Answer: b) 20% - Which of the following government schemes is primarily meant for constructing houses for the rural poor in India?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)
b) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
c) Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
d) Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA)
Answer: c) Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) (Ambedkar Awas Yojana was often state-specific or for particular groups). - Which of the following is a key component of Gross Domestic Capital Formation (GDCF) in an economy?
a) Personal consumption expenditure
b) Government final consumption expenditure
c) Gross fixed capital formation (e.g., investment in machinery, buildings)
d) Exports minus imports
Answer: c) Gross fixed capital formation (e.g., investment in machinery, buildings) (GDCF also includes change in stocks and valuables)3 - As per the 13th Finance Commission Recommendations for the period 2010-2015, transfers to the states in the form of ‘grants-in-aid’ were expected to:
a) Decrease significantly
b) Remain static
c) Form a substantial part of total transfers, addressing specific needs
d) Be completely replaced by tax devolution
Answer: c) Form a substantial part of total transfers, addressing specific needs - The value of gold sold in various tranches by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by January 31, 2013, was related to specific market operations or management of reserves. (This question is highly specific and requires data from that time, impossible to give a precise value without it. We’ll frame it conceptually).
The sale of gold by the RBI from its reserves is generally aimed at:
a) Increasing domestic gold prices
b) Managing liquidity or optimizing reserve portfolio
c) Funding government fiscal deficit directly
d) Discouraging gold imports by private citizens
Answer: b) Managing liquidity or optimizing reserve portfolio - Which Post Office savings scheme generally offered the highest interest rate among various options available around the early 2010s?
a) Savings Account
b) Recurring Deposit
c) National Savings Certificate (NSC) / Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS)
d) Monthly Income Scheme (MIS)
Answer: c) National Savings Certificate (NSC) / Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) (SCSS typically had high rates for seniors) - According to reports around the early 2010s (e.g., by the MPI), what was the approximate percentage of the Indian population considered to be under multi-dimensional poverty?
a) Around 15-20%
b) Around 25-35%
c) Around 45-55%
d) Over 60%
Answer: c) Around 45-55% (The MPI figures for India were high, often cited above 50% initially). - ‘Mission Indradhanush’, launched by the Government of India, is associated with:
a) Banking reforms for public sector banks
b) Universal immunization of children against preventable diseases
c) Development of smart cities
d) Promotion of solar energy
Answer: b) Universal immunization of children against preventable diseases (Note: A later “Mission Indradhanush” also referred to banking, but the primary and more famous one is for immunization).4 - Full Capital Account Convertibility (CAC) for a country like India is often argued to benefit which of the following the most, in terms of easier access to international capital?
a) Small scale agricultural sector
b) Domestic unorganized labor
c) Large corporations seeking foreign investment and multinational operations
d) Government’s social welfare programs
Answer: c) Large corporations seeking foreign investment and multinational operations - Which of the following is correct about the Repo Rate?
a) It is the rate at which the RBI borrows money from commercial banks.
b) It is the rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the RBI, typically against government securities.
c) It is the interest rate on inter-bank lending.
d) It is the rate offered by banks on customer deposits.
Answer: b) It is the rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the RBI, typically against government securities. - A Gini coefficient of 0 for a country implies:
a) Perfectly unequal income distribution.
b) Perfectly equal income distribution.
c) The country has no income.
d) The majority of the population is below the poverty line.
Answer: b) Perfectly equal income distribution. - According to the Census of India 2011, what was the approximate male literacy rate in India?
a) Around 65%
b) Around 74%
c) Around 82%
d) Around 90%
Answer: c) Around 82% (Actual was 82.14%) - The Uruguay Round of trade negotiations was instrumental in the establishment of which international organization?
a) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
b) World Bank
c) World Trade Organization (WTO)
d) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Answer: c) World Trade Organization (WTO) - During the period 2009-2010, which of the following was often cited as one of India’s largest trading partners (e.g., second largest)?
a) Japan
b) United Kingdom
c) China or UAE (after EU considered as a bloc)
d) Russia
Answer: c) China or UAE (after EU considered as a bloc) (China and UAE were major partners) - Which of the following handicraft sectors traditionally held a high value in India’s exports?
a) Pottery and Terracotta
b) Woodcrafts
c) Gems and Jewellery
d) Bamboo and Cane products
Answer: c) Gems and Jewellery - Which of the following is often cited as a key reason for food inflation in India?
a) Excessive food grain exports
b) Supply chain inefficiencies and rising input costs
c) Decreased consumer demand for food products
d) Over-reliance on imported food items
Answer: b) Supply chain inefficiencies and rising input costs - Which of the following was largely discontinued or reformed as a direct source of income for urban local bodies in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh by the early 2010s?
a) Property Tax
b) Water Supply Charges
c) Octroi
d) License fees for shops
Answer: c) Octroi
III. Environmental Science & Ecology
- The headquarters of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is located in:
a) Delhi
b) Nagpur
c) Chennai
d) Kolkata
Answer: b) Nagpur - Algae that are specifically cultivated and grown in wastewater oxidation ponds for bioremediation purposes are often referred to as part of:
a) Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
b) Phytoplankton blooms in marine environments
c) Wastewater treatment algae or phycoremediation systems
d) Genetically modified algae for biofuel
Answer: c) Wastewater treatment algae or phycoremediation systems - In the coming years, skin-related disorders, including skin cancer, are expected to become more common primarily due to:
a) Increased use of chemical fertilizers
b) Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer
c) Acid rain
d) Water pollution by heavy metals
Answer: b) Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer - Rapid urbanization and increasing levels of pollution in cities are often attributed to:
a) Decreased population growth and industrial decline
b) Migration from rural to urban areas, industrial growth, and increased vehicular traffic
c) Afforestation programs and reduced energy consumption
d) Strict environmental regulations and decentralized industries
Answer: b) Migration from rural to urban areas, industrial growth, and increased vehicular traffic - What is the iconic symbol of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature?
a) Tiger
b) Bald Eagle
c) Giant Panda
d) Elephant
Answer: c) Giant Panda - Seeds of endangered plant species are preserved for long durations under special conditions in institutions known as:
a) Herbaria
b) Botanical Gardens (for live plants primarily)
c) Seed Banks or Gene Banks
d) Zoos (for animals)
Answer: c) Seed Banks or Gene Banks - The state bird of Rajasthan is the:
a) Peacock (Indian Peafowl)
b) Great Indian Bustard
c) Sarus Crane
d) House Sparrow
Answer: b) Great Indian Bustard - Soil erosion is generally more severe when:
a) The land is covered with dense vegetation.
b) The rainfall is low and gentle.
c) The land has a steep slope and lacks vegetative cover.
d) Terrace farming is practiced.
Answer: c) The land has a steep slope and lacks vegetative cover. - Ecology as a scientific discipline primarily takes into account the study of:
a) The classification of plants and animals.
b) The interaction between organisms and their environment.
c) The chemical composition of soils.
d) The geological history of the Earth.
Answer: b) The interaction between organisms and their environment. - Plants that are adapted to grow best in bright, direct sunlight are known as:
a) Sciophytes (shade-loving plants)
b) Heliophytes (sun-loving plants)5
c) Mesophytes
d) Hydrophytes
Answer: b) Heliophytes (sun-loving plants)6 - Among the following, which one is NOT a natural fibre?
a) Wool
b) Silk
c) Cotton
d) Teflon
Answer: d) Teflon - Which of the following polymers is commonly used for making strong ropes, carpets, and tyre cords due to its high tensile strength?
a) Polythene
b) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
c) Nylon (a polyamide)
d) Bakelite
Answer: c) Nylon (a polyamide) - Fly ash, an environmental pollutant, is primarily produced by:
a) Nuclear power plants
b) Hydroelectric power plants
c) Thermal power plants (burning coal)
d) Fertilizer industries
Answer: c) Thermal power plants (burning coal) - The quality of diesel oil, particularly its ignition properties required in diesel engines, is determined by its:
a) Octane number
b) Cetane number
c) Calorific value
d) Viscosity index
Answer: b) Cetane number
IV. General Science (Chemistry, Physics, Biology)
- The urine sample of a patient suffering from diabetes mellitus typically contains an abnormal level of:
a) Urea
b) Sodium chloride
c) Glucose
d) Albumin
Answer: c) Glucose - Rusting of iron is a chemical process best described as:
a) Reduction
b) Oxidation (of iron)
c) Decomposition
d) Displacement
Answer: b) Oxidation (of iron) - When mild steel is heated to a high temperature and then suddenly cooled by quenching in water, it becomes very hard and brittle. This heat treatment process is known as:
a) Annealing
b) Normalizing
c) Tempering
d) Hardening (or Quench Hardening)
Answer: d) Hardening (or Quench Hardening) - Which one of the following is commonly used as a moderator in nuclear reactors to slow down neutrons?
a) Boron
b) Graphite (or Heavy Water)
c) Cadmium
d) Liquid Sodium
Answer: b) Graphite (or Heavy Water) (Paraffin can also be used but graphite/heavy water are more common in power reactors) - Silicon Carbide (SiC), an extremely hard and abrasive material, is also known by the common name:
a) Quartz
b) Corundum
c) Carborundum
d) Silica gel
Answer: c) Carborundum - A pale blue gas with a characteristic fish-like odour, which can restore the colour of a blackened lead sulphide painting (by oxidizing lead sulphide to lead sulphate) and is also used as a rocket fuel (oxidizer), is:
a) Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
b) Ozone (O₃)
c) Chlorine dioxide (ClO₂)
d) Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) vapour
Answer: b) Ozone (O₃) (Fish-like odour is characteristic) - The bleaching action of chlorine gas occurs effectively in the presence of:
a) Dry air
b) Sunlight
c) Moisture (water)
d) Carbon dioxide
Answer: c) Moisture (water) (Forms hypochlorous acid, the bleaching agent) - Haem is an important biological porphyrin complex containing iron.7 In myoglobin (and hemoglobin), it is primarily used to:
a) Store and transport carbohydrates
b) Catalyze metabolic reactions
c) Store and transport oxygen
d) Transmit nerve impulses
Answer: c) Store and transport oxygen
V. Himachal Pradesh Specific
- What is the Vedic name of the river Ravi, which flows through Himachal Pradesh?
a) Vipasa
b) Askini
c) Parushni
d) Sutudri
Answer: c) Parushni - The legendary 40-year war between the ancient Aryan King Divodas and the Kirata chief Shambara resulted in the defeat of:
a) Divodas
b) Shambara
c) Both suffered equal losses
d) The war ended in a truce
Answer: b) Shambara - Where was the capital of the princely state of Kutlehr located in earlier times?
a) Nadaun
b) Kotkhai
c) Kot Kutlehr (or similar name indicative of the state)
d) Sujanpur Tira
Answer: c) Kot Kutlehr (or similar name indicative of the state) (Kutlehr Fort was its main seat) - Who is credited with translating a collection of South Indian tales (likely Brihatkatha) into Sanskrit, which became known as the ‘Kathasaritsagara’?
a) Kalhana
b) Vishnu Sharma
c) Somadeva Bhatta
d) Gunadhya
Answer: c) Somadeva Bhatta - From the given options related to the rulers of Kullu region’s princely states around 1839-40, which ruler of Shangri was noted during that period? (This question format implies a specific match was provided in the original exam).
Assuming a match from the prompt: “Shangri – Pritam Singh”
Who was the ruler of Shangri around the time territories were ceded to the British (e.g., 1839-40)?
a) Jit Singh
b) Pritam Singh
c) Mahila Jairam Sen
d) Jagat Singh
Answer: b) Pritam Singh (Based on the presumed direct match from the prompt) - Which treaty, signed in 1816, marked the end of the Anglo-Gurkha war and significantly influenced the arrival and consolidation of British power in the Hill states of present-day Himachal Pradesh?
a) Treaty of Lahore
b) Treaty of Amritsar
c) Treaty of Sugauli
d) Treaty of Bassein
Answer: c) Treaty of Sugauli - Which Raja of a Himachal hill state is often depicted in a famous portrait titled ‘Dola Raja’, possibly indicating his mode of transport or a significant event?
(This is a very specific art history question. Without the portrait or more context, it’s hard. However, ‘Dola Raja’ is sometimes associated with Raja Sidh Sen of Mandi due to a particular painting style/event depiction.)
a) Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra
b) Raja Sidh Sen of Mandi
c) Raja Shamsher Prakash of Sirmaur
d) Raja Fateh Prakash of Sirmaur
Answer: b) Raja Sidh Sen of Mandi (This is a common association, but requires specific art knowledge) - Major Mehar Dass of the Indian National Army (INA) was honoured with which title for his contributions? (Assuming a match from the prompt: “Major Mehar Dass – Sardar-i-Jung”)
a) Sher-e-Hind
b) Tagma-i-Shatrunash
c) Sardar-i-Jung
d) Medal for exceptional bravery
Answer: c) Sardar-i-Jung - Who among the following prominent leaders from Himachal Pradesh was returned unopposed to the first Lok Sabha elections in 1952?
a) Dr. Y.S. Parmar
b) Anand Chand (of Bilaspur)
c) Pt. Padam Dev
d) Thakur Sen Negi
Answer: b) Anand Chand (of Bilaspur) - According to the 2011 census, which district of Himachal Pradesh had the lowest female literacy rate?
a) Kinnaur
b) Lahaul-Spiti
c) Chamba
d) Sirmaur
Answer: c) Chamba - On which major issue did several Panchayats of the Nichar Sub-division in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, reportedly boycott the Panchayat elections held in December 2010 – January 2011?
a) Demand for a separate district
b) Protest against a hydro-electric project or related land acquisition/environmental concerns
c) Disagreement over reservation policies
d) Lack of development funds
Answer: b) Protest against a hydro-electric project or related land acquisition/environmental concerns (This was a known issue for boycotts in Nichar around that time, specifically related to hydel projects like Shongtong-Karcham). - When Himachal Pradesh was formed as a Chief Commissioner’s Province in 1948, which was the smallest (in terms of area) among the Princely States/Thakurais that joined it?
a) Ratesh
b) Ghund
c) Darkoti
d) Kuthar
Answer: d) Kuthar (Ratesh is often cited as the smallest by area). Correction: Based on common knowledge, Ratesh was the smallest. Kuthar was small but not the smallest.
Re-Answer: a) Ratesh - On which river in Himachal Pradesh is the Chamba Pattan bridge located, notable for being without pillars and considered a first of its kind in the state at the time of its construction?
a) Ravi
b) Sutlej
c) Beas
d) Chenab
Answer: c) Beas - At which place in Mandi District has the Department of Ayurveda, Himachal Pradesh, set up a notable herbal garden?
a) Sundernagar
b) Jogindernagar
c) Rewalsar
d) Sarkaghat
Answer: b) Jogindernagar - For the distribution of essential commodities under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Himachal Pradesh, families are divided into categories. Besides Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) families, which are two other key categories often used (especially around the early 2010s)?
a) Tribal families and Scheduled Caste families
b) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and Annapurna families
c) Urban families and Rural families
d) Migrant families and Resident families
Answer: b) Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and Annapurna families - In which district of Himachal Pradesh is the picturesque Mulgan valley (also known as Mulgun or Muglan valley) located?
a) Chamba
b) Kinnaur
c) Lahaul-Spiti
d) Kullu
Answer: b) Kinnaur - Dr. Piyush Guleria’s award-winning literary work (e.g., receiving Sahitya Akademi Award around 2011-2013) titled “Chhaunte,” is a collection of:
a) Novels
b) Poetry
c) Short Stories (in Pahari/Hindi)
d) Essays
Answer: c) Short Stories (in Pahari/Hindi)
VI. Indian History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
- Arrange the following ruling dynasties of ancient India in the correct chronological order of their rise to prominence: Mauryas, Guptas, Nandas, Kushans.
a) Nandas, Mauryas, Guptas, Kushans
b) Mauryas, Nandas, Kushans, Guptas
c) Nandas, Mauryas, Kushans, Guptas
d) Mauryas, Kushans, Nandas, Guptas
Answer: c) Nandas, Mauryas, Kushans, Guptas - At which place, located in present-day Bihar, was Vardhaman Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, born?8
a) Pataliputra
b) Vaishali (Kundagrama near Vaishali)
c) Rajagriha
d) Sarnath
Answer: b) Vaishali (Kundagrama near Vaishali) - From which place did Mahatma Gandhi start his historic Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) on March 12, 1930?
a) Dandi
b) Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
c) Porbandar
d) Wardha
Answer: b) Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad - After Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from the Presidentship of the Indian National Congress in 1939 (Tripuri session), who was elected as the party president?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
d) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Answer: c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad - Who were the two prominent leaders primarily associated with the establishment and leadership of the Home Rule League movement in India during 1916-1918?
a) Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
c) Sardar Patel and C. Rajagopalachari
d) Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das
Answer: b) Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak - In 1943, the Muslim League formed ministries in four provinces. Two of them were Sind and NWFP (North-West Frontier Province). Which were the other two provinces from the given options where they formed or were part of coalition ministries around that time?
a) Punjab and United Provinces
b) Bengal and Assam
c) Bombay and Madras
d) Bihar and Orissa
Answer: b) Bengal and Assam - In which year was the Partition of Bengal, which was originally implemented in 1905 by Lord Curzon, annulled or revoked?
a) 1909
b) 1911
c) 1916
d) 1919
Answer: b) 1911 - At which venue did the historic 1907 split in the Indian National Congress, between the Moderates and the Extremists, take place?
a) Calcutta
b) Bombay
c) Madras
d) Surat
Answer: d) Surat - Who was the first prominent Indian nationalist leader to famously declare, “Swarajya is my birth-right and I shall have it!”?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
d) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Who founded the All India Depressed Classes Federation in 1920 to work for the rights and upliftment of the depressed classes?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jyotirao Phule
c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
d) E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar)
Answer: c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar - Who was the founder of the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement, in 1875?
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
b) Swami Vivekananda
c) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
d) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: c) Swami Dayananda Saraswati - Which Mughal ruler is known to have imprisoned his stepmother, Nur Jahan, after the death of his father, Emperor Jahangir?
a) Akbar
b) Shah Jahan
c) Aurangzeb
d) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Answer: b) Shah Jahan
VII. World Geography & Current Affairs/GK
- What is the capital of the Republic of South Sudan, which became an independent country in 2011?
a) Khartoum
b) Addis Ababa
c) Juba
d) Kampala
Answer: c) Juba - What is the name of India’s first permanent research station established in the Arctic region (Svalbard, Norway) in 2008?
a) Dakshin Gangotri
b) Maitri
c) Bharati
d) Himadri
Answer: d) Himadri - The five interlaced rings constituting the symbol of the Olympic Games are each of a different colour.9 Two colours are blue and black. Which of the following are the other three colours?
a) Green, Orange, Purple
b) Red, Yellow, Green
c) White, Brown, Violet
d) Pink, Grey, Indigo
Answer: b) Red, Yellow, Green - In which state of India is the Kaziranga National Park, famous for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses, located?
a) West Bengal
b) Assam
c) Arunachal Pradesh
d) Manipur
Answer: b) Assam - Wheeler Island, an important missile launching station in India (now renamed Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island), is located off the coast of which state?
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Odisha
d) West Bengal
Answer: c) Odisha - Which of the following are the three key dimensions (or components) measured by the Human Development Index (HDI) developed by the UNDP?
a) Poverty, Inequality, and Unemployment
b) GDP per capita, Industrial Growth, and Agricultural Output
c) A long and healthy life (Life Expectancy), Access to knowledge (Education), and a Decent Standard of Living (Income)
d) Political Freedom, Social Security, and Environmental Quality
Answer: c) A long and healthy life (Life Expectancy), Access to knowledge (Education), and a Decent Standard of Living (Income) - Which country gifted the iconic Statue of Liberty to the United States of America in 1886?
a) United Kingdom
b) Germany
c) France
d) Spain
Answer: c) France - Which statement is true about the Ellora caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Maharashtra, India?
a) They exclusively contain Buddhist rock-cut architecture.
b) They are renowned for their monolithic Kailasa Temple and represent Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain faiths.
c) They were built entirely during the Mauryan period.
d) They are primarily known for their intricate paintings rather than sculptures.
Answer: b) They are renowned for their monolithic Kailasa Temple and represent Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain faiths. - Which city in India is often referred to as the “Garden City of India” due to its greenery, parks, and pleasant climate?
a) Hyderabad
b) Bengaluru (Bangalore)
c) Chandigarh
d) Pune
Answer: b) Bengaluru (Bangalore) - Three important rivers of the Indian Subcontinent – the Indus, the Sutlej, and the Brahmaputra – have their sources near which geographical feature in the Great Himalayas?
a) Nanda Devi Peak
b) Siachen Glacier
c) Mansarovar Lake (in Tibet)
d) Zoji La Pass
Answer: c) Mansarovar Lake (in Tibet) - The Kakrapar Nuclear Power Station is located in which Indian state?
a) Rajasthan
b) Gujarat
c) Karnataka
d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: b) Gujarat - Koyali, known for a major oil refinery in India, is located in the state of:
a) Maharashtra
b) Gujarat
c) Assam
d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: b) Gujarat - The Zawar Mines in Rajasthan are primarily important for the extraction of:
a) Iron ore and Manganese
b) Copper and Gold
c) Lead and Zinc
d) Mica and Bauxite
Answer: c) Lead and Zinc - The Pennines (Europe), Appalachians (America), and the Aravallis (India) are examples of which type of mountains?
a) Young Fold Mountains
b) Volcanic Mountains
c) Block Mountains
d) Old Fold Mountains (or Relict Fold Mountains)
Answer: d) Old Fold Mountains (or Relict Fold Mountains)