HAS Pre 2014
1. In which year was the Asiatic Society of Bengal established by Sir William Jones?
a) 1769
b) 1784
c) 1801
d) 1823
Answer: b) 1784
2. Which one is represented by the Harappan Civilization?
a) Rural settlements
b) Second urbanization
c) First urbanization
d) Nomadic culture
Answer: c) First urbanization
3. Which river is called ‘Nadittam’ in the Rigveda?
a) Ganga
b) Yamuna
c) Indus
d) Saraswati
Answer: d) Saraswati
4. The officer who enjoyed authority over a large pasture ground was known as what during the Rigvedic period?
a) Gramani
b) Senani
c) Vrajapati
d) Purohita
Answer: c) Vrajapati
5. Which of the following temple and location pairings is correct according to List I and List II?
a) Kailashanath Temple – Tanjavur
b) Brihadeshwar Temple – Kanchipuram
c) Hoyasaleshwar Temple – Halebid
d) Gomteshwar – Madurai
Answer: c) Hoyasaleshwar Temple – Halebid
6. Who is the author of Tamil Ramayana?
a) Valmiki
b) Tulsidas
c) Kamban
d) Ilango Adigal
Answer: c) Kamban
7. At which river is ‘Swargadwari’ located?
a) Yamuna
b) Godavari
c) Ganga
d) Narmada
Answer: c) Ganga
8. Who increased the Mansab from ₹5,000/- to ₹7,000/-?
a) Babur
b) Akbar
c) Jahangir
d) Shah Jahan
Answer: b) Akbar
9. Which political party was called ‘Rajadroha Ka Karkhana’ (Factory of Sedition) by the British?
a) Muslim League
b) Swaraj Party
c) Indian National Congress
d) Communist Party of India
Answer: c) Indian National Congress
10. Who established the Central Hindu School at Banaras?
a) Madan Mohan Malaviya
b) Annie Besant
c) Swami Vivekananda
d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Answer: b) Annie Besant
11. Rani Gaidinliu was one of the freedom fighters from the north-east. She hailed from which state?
a) Assam
b) Nagaland
c) Manipur
d) Mizoram
Answer: c) Manipur
12. Which state did not return Congress to power after the first provincial elections in 1937?
a) Madras
b) Bombay
c) United Provinces
d) Punjab
Answer: d) Punjab
13. Among Prairie, Steppes, Compos and Downs which is not a temperate grassland?
a) Prairie
b) Steppes
c) Compos
d) Downs
Answer: c) Compos
14. Bermuda triangle is located in
a) Pacific Ocean
b) Indian Ocean
c) Atlantic Ocean
d) Arctic Ocean
Answer: c) Atlantic Ocean
15. Which one of the following statements is incorrect?
a) India’s north-south extent is 3214km.
b) India’s east-west extent is 2933km.
c) India’s land frontier is 15,200km.
d) India’s total geographical area is 4.2% of total land area of the world.
Answer: d) India’s total geographical area is 4.2% of total land area of the world.
16. Which is correct descending order in terms of length of river?
a) Godawari, Ganga, Krishna, Narmada
b) Ganga, Godawari, Krishna, Narmada
c) Ganga, Krishna, Godawari, Narmada
d) Godawari, Krishna, Ganga, Narmada
Answer: b) Ganga, Godawari, Krishna, Narmada
17. Zulus tribe is found in:
a) Australia
b) North America
c) Asia
d) Africa
Answer: d) Africa
18. Among Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh which one has the highest sex ratio as per 2011 census?
a) Mizoram
b) Meghalaya
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: c) Tamil Nadu
19. Which one of the following statements is incorrect as per the source?
a) No scheduled caste population is found in Karnataka AND Majority of scheduled tribe population is found in hilly areas.
b) Main occupation of scheduled caste population is agriculture based activities.
c) No caste is notified as scheduled tribe in Delhi.
d) Both (i) “No scheduled caste population is found in Karnataka” and (ii) “Majority of scheduled tribe population is found in hilly areas” are incorrect.
Answer: a) No scheduled caste population is found in Karnataka AND Majority of scheduled tribe population is found in hilly areas.
(The provided answer “both (i) and (ii)” implies both individual statements (i) and (ii) are incorrect, but the question asks which one of the following options is incorrect. Option (a) presents the combined incorrectness of (i) and (ii) as stated in the source’s answer line.)
20. Which is the largest producer of coffee in world?
a) Vietnam
b) Colombia
c) Brazil
d) Ethiopia
Answer: c) Brazil
21. Among SAPTA, EFTA, OPEC and UPEC which one is not a trade block according to the source?
a) SAPTA
b) EFTA
c) OPEC
d) UPEC
Answer: d) UPEC
22. Which is the tallest dam of India?
a) Bhakra Dam
b) Sardar Sarovar Dam
c) Tehri in Uttrakhand
d) Hirakud Dam
Answer: c) Tehri in Uttrakhand
23. Which of the following Sobriquet and Place pairings is correct?
a) Pittsburg of India – Bengaluru
b) Boston of India – Pune
c) Silicon Valley of India – Ahmedabad
d) Deccan queen of India – Pune
Answer: d) Deccan queen of India – Pune
24. What was the exact constitutional status of the Indian Republic on 26th January 1950?
a) A Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic
b) A Sovereign Democratic Republic
c) A Sovereign Secular Democratic Republic
d) A Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic
Answer: b) A Sovereign Democratic Republic
25. Which former Presidents contested the election to the office of the President of India without resigning from the office of Vice-President of India?1
a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
b) Dr. Zakir Hussin, V.V. Giri
c) Dr. Zakir Hussin, R. Venkataraman, Dr. S.D. Sharma
d) Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Giani Zail Singh
Answer: c) Dr. Zakir Hussin, R. Venkataraman, Dr. S.D. Sharma
26. Which are the ways of acquiring citizenship of India mentioned in the source?
a) Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalization
b) Birth, Descent, Incorporation of Territory and Naturalization
c) By investment, By marriage, By service
d) Only by Birth and Descent
Answer: b) Birth, Descent, Incorporation of Territory and Naturalization
27. The right to freedom under Article 19 of the Constitution of India may be suspended by the President of India under which Article?
a) Under Article 350
b) Under Article 352
c) Under Article 356
d) Under Article 360
Answer: b) Under Article 352
28. Disagreement between the two Houses of Parliament on which bills can be resolved by the Houses in a joint sitting?
a) Money Bill and Constitutional Amendment Bill
b) An ordinary Bill and Private Member Bill
c) Constitutional Amendment Bill only
d) Money Bill only
Answer: b) An ordinary Bill and Private Member Bill
29. Which union territories do not have any representative in the Rajya Sabha, according to the source?
a) Delhi and Puducherry
b) Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep
c) Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep
d) Daman & Diu and Puducherry
Answer: c) Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep
30. Which languages have been declared by the Constitution to be the languages for conducting business in Parliament?
a) Hindi only
b) English only
c) English and Hindi
d) Hindi and any language from the Eighth Schedule
Answer: c) English and Hindi
31. Which committee was the first to demand constitutional recognition for Panchayats?
a) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
b) Ashok Mehta Committee
c) G.V.K. Rao Committee
d) L.M. Singhvi Committee
Answer: d) L.M. Singhvi Committee
32. In which states have the Panchayati Raj institutions been set up in conformity with the traditions and customs of the local people?
a) Mizoram and Tripura
b) Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
c) Assam and Meghalaya
d) Manipur and Sikkim
Answer: b) Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
33. Which model/theory views public policy as a continuation of previous government activities with some modifications?
a) Rational Model
b) Incremental Model
c) Garbage Can Model
d) Elite Model
Answer: b) Incremental Model
34. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) was set up in:
a) 1948
b) 1993
c) 2006
d) 2010
Answer: c) 2006
35. What were the main findings of the N.N. Vohra Committee?
a) Electoral malpractices
b) Judicial corruption
c) Nexus between Politicians, Bureaucrats and Criminals
d) Police reforms
Answer: c) Nexus between Politicians, Bureaucrats and Criminals
36. NABARD came into existence in the year?
a) 1969
b) 1975
c) 1982
d) 1991
Answer: c) 1982
37. Who was the Chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) at the time of the paper (2014)?
a) M.S. Swaminathan
b) C. Rangarajan
c) Ashok Gulati
d) Y.K. Alagh
Answer: c) Ashok Gulati
38. The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was adopted in the year?
a) 1992
b) 1995
c) 1997
d) 2000
Answer: c) 1997
39. What is India’s Global Position out of 187 countries as per UNDP’s Human Development Report 2011?
a) 119
b) 127
c) 134
d) 142
Answer: c) 134
40. Which is the correct measure of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)?
a) No. of infant deaths during a year divided by No. of live births during the year multiplied by 100
b) No. of infant deaths during a year divided by No. of live births during the year multiplied by 1000
c) No. of infant deaths during a year divided by Total population during the year multiplied by 1000
d) No. of deaths of children under 5 years during a year divided by No. of live births during the year multiplied by 1000
Answer: b) No. of infant deaths during a year divided by No. of live births during the year multiplied by 1000
41. What was the average annual growth rate of Agricultural and allied sector in India during 11th five year plan?
a) 2.8%
b) 3.2%
c) 3.6%
d) 4.1%
Answer: c) 3.6%
42. “There is enough for everybody’s need but not enough for everybody’s greed” Who said it?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) M.K. Gandhi
c) Sardar Patel
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: b) M.K. Gandhi
43. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission was established during which of the Five Year Plans?
a) 1st Five Year Plan
b) 2nd Five Year Plan
c) 3rd Five Year Plan
d) 4th Five Year Plan
Answer: b) 2nd Five Year Plan
44. Which one of the following statements is/are correct as per the source (context 2011-12)?
(i) Bihar has the highest decadal (2001-2011) growth rate of population, while Kerala has the lowest.
(ii) The best performing state in terms of growth rate during 2011-12 is Bihar.
a) (i) only
b) (ii) only
c) Both (i) and (ii)
d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer: b) (ii) only
45. Which one is taken as the Base Year for estimating GDP at constant prices in India during 2012-13?
a) 2000-2001
b) 2004-2005
c) 2008-2009
d) 2010-2011
Answer: b) 2004-2005
46. Which Indian State has the lowest death rate according to census 2011?
a) Kerala
b) Goa
c) West Bengal
d) Maharashtra
Answer: c) West Bengal
47. In a national park protection is provided to:
a) Flora only
b) Fauna only
c) Flora and Fauna
d) Environment and ecosystem
Answer: c) Flora and Fauna
48. Soil erosion can be prevented by:
a) Deforestation
b) Overgrazing
c) Afforestation
d) Intensive farming
Answer: c) Afforestation
49. Climatology is the science of:
a) Weather patterns
b) Atmospheric composition
c) Climatic factors
d) Ocean currents
Answer: c) Climatic factors
50. Ultimate source of energy for living being is:
a) Moon
b) Earth’s core
c) Sunlight
d) Fossil fuels
Answer: c) Sunlight
51. ‘Jhum’ is a term used for:
a) Terrace farming
b) Shifting farming
c) Commercial farming
d) Dairy farming
Answer: b) Shifting farming
52. The working principle of a washing machine is:
a) Dialysis
b) Reverse osmosis
c) Centrifugation
d) Sedimentation
Answer: c) Centrifugation
53. An air bubble in water will act like a:
a) Convex lens
b) Concave lens
c) Plane mirror
d) Concave mirror
Answer: b) Concave lens
54. Diffusion of light in the atmosphere takes place due to:
a) Carbon dioxide
b) Water vapour
c) Dust particles
d) Ozone layer
Answer: c) Dust particles
55. The characteristic odour of garlic is due to:
a) A fluorine compound
b) A chlorine compound
c) A sulphur compound
d) An iodine compound
Answer: c) A sulphur compound
56. Which is an active component of clove oil?
a) Menthol
b) Camphor
c) Eugenol
d) Thymol
Answer: c) Eugenol
57. Among Boron, Zinc, Sodium and Copper which one is not an essential micronutrient for plants?
a) Boron
b) Zinc
c) Sodium
d) Copper
Answer: c) Sodium
58. Fat present below the skin surface in our body, acts as a barrier against:
a) Loss of water from our body
b) Loss of heat from our body
c) Entry of harmful microorganisms
d) Absorption of essential nutrients
Answer: b) Loss of heat from our body
59. When ants bite, they inject:
a) Acetic acid
b) Formic acid
c) Lactic acid
d) Citric acid
Answer: b) Formic acid
60. The “Stones” formed in human kidney consist mostly of:
a) Sodium chloride
b) Calcium carbonate
c) Calcium oxalate
d) Uric acid
Answer: c) Calcium oxalate
61. Cryogenic engines find applications in:
a) Submarines
b) Nuclear reactors
c) Rocket technology
d) Deep sea drilling
Answer: c) Rocket technology
62. In eye donation, which part of donor’s eye is utilized?
a) Retina
b) Lens
c) Cornea
d) Iris
Answer: c) Cornea
63. The major component of honey is:
a) Glucose
b) Sucrose
c) Fructose
d) Maltose
Answer: c) Fructose
64. Arteries supplying blood to the heart are called:
a) Pulmonary arteries
b) Carotid arteries
c) Coronary arteries
d) Hepatic arteries
Answer: c) Coronary arteries
65. What is the average fat content of “Buffalo milk” according to the source?
a) 3.5%
b) 4.2%
c) 7.2%
d) 8.1%
Answer: c) 7.2%
66. Which fuel causes minimum environmental pollution?
a) Diesel
b) Coal
c) Hydrogen
d) Kerosene
Answer: c) Hydrogen
67. Standard 18-carat gold sold in the market contains:
a) 18 parts gold 8 parts other metals
b) 18 parts gold 6 parts other metals
c) 24 parts gold
d) 18 parts gold 2 parts other metals
Answer: b) 18 parts gold 6 parts other metals
68. Which type of glasses can cut-off ultraviolet rays?
a) Soda glass
b) Pyrex glass
c) Crookes glass
d) Flint glass
Answer: c) Crookes glass
69. On the bank of which river is Nadaun town of Hamirpur District?
a) Satluj
b) Ravi
c) Beas
d) Chenab
Answer: c) Beas
70. Which mountain pass connects Spiti to Ladakh?
a) Rohtang Pass
b) Baralacha La Pass
c) Shipki La Pass
d) Kangla
Answer: d) Kangla
71. Among Sultanpur palace, Bijli Mahadev, Deotibba and Kalatope which one is not in the vicinity of Kullu?
a) Sultanpur palace
b) Bijli Mahadev
c) Deotibba
d) Kalatope
Answer: d) Kalatope
72. In which town is Panchvaktra temple?
a) Kullu
b) Chamba
c) Mandi
d) Shimla
Answer: c) Mandi
73. Which lake in Mandi district is known for floating islands?
a) Prashar Lake
b) Rewalsar
c) Pandoh Lake
d) Kumarwah Lake
Answer: b) Rewalsar
74. Give the correct chronological order in which the Europeans Thomas Coryat, Moorcraft, and Vigne travelled in Punjab and Shimla Hill states.
a) Moorcraft – Vigne – Thomas Coryat
b) Thomas Coryat – Moorcraft – Vigne
c) Vigne – Thomas Coryat – Moorcraft
d) Thomas Coryat – Vigne – Moorcraft
Answer: b) Thomas Coryat – Moorcraft – Vigne
75. Which action of Raja Sansar Chand prompted the hill chiefs to invite Gurkhas to invade Kangra?
a) His matrimonial alliances
b) His refusal to pay tribute to Mughals
c) His attack on Kehloor state and capture of some territory
d) His patronage of Kangra school of painting
Answer: c) His attack on Kehloor state and capture of some territory
76. Which princely state is believed to be the oldest among the Shimla Hill states?
a) Keonthal
b) Jubbal
c) Bushahr
d) Bilaspur
Answer: c) Bushahr
77. Who negotiated the arrangement between the states of Kashmir and Chamba by which the latter became independent of the former?
a) Lord Hardinge
b) Sir Henry Lawrence
c) Col. Lawrence
d) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: c) Col. Lawrence
78. Raja of which state was treated by the wife of Dara Shikoh as her son?
a) Sirmur
b) Kangra
c) Nurpur
d) Chamba
Answer: c) Nurpur
79. When did the consultative body of rulers of princely states known as Narendra Mandal come into existence?
a) 1919
b) 1921
c) 1935
d) 1947
Answer: b) 1921
80. With which district of Himachal Pradesh is Kayang folk dance mainly associated?
a) Chamba
b) Kullu
c) Kinnaur
d) Lahaul-Spiti
Answer: c) Kinnaur
81. With which is the NGO named Vishakha associated?
a) Child rights
b) Environmental protection
c) Women
d) Animal welfare
Answer: c) Women
82. When was a Sanad granted to the Raja of Bilaspur by the British government confirming his possession on the right bank of Satluj?2
a) June, 1846
b) October, 1847
c) March, 1849
d) May, 1850
Answer: b) October, 1847
83. Court poet of which princely state of Shimla Hills is the author of Shashi Vansh Vinod?
a) Jubbal
b) Keonthal
c) Bilaspur
d) Bushahr
Answer: c) Bilaspur
84. Who was the first person to vote in the first General Elections in India in 1951-52, from Kalpa?
a) Anand Chand
b) Satya Dev Bushahri
c) Shyam Saran Negi
d) Devi Ram Keonth
Answer: c) Shyam Saran Negi
85. In which year did the publication of Hindi daily Divya Himachal begin?
a) 1990
b) 1993
c) 1997
d) 2000
Answer: c) 1997
86. Which tehsil of Mahasu district was carved out to form Kinnaur district?
a) Rohru
b) Rampur
c) Chini
d) Theog
Answer: c) Chini
87. According to Annual Status Education Report (ASER) 2012-13, what percentage of class V students of Himachal Pradesh Government and private schools could read only class II text?
a) 55.2%
b) 68.5%
c) 72.8%
d) 79.1%
Answer: c) 72.8%
88. Who led the famous Mandi conspiracy of 1914-15?
a) Hardev Ram
b) Mian Jawahar Singh
c) Bhai Hirda Ram
d) Padha Sanjhi Ram
Answer: b) Mian Jawahar Singh
89. Which day is observed as Anti-Leprosy Day?
a) January, 26
b) January, 30
c) March, 8
d) December, 1
Answer: b) January, 30
90. After which American scientist is ‘h-index’ named?
a) Linus Pauling
b) Richard Feynman
c) Jorge E. Hirsch
d) James Watson
Answer: c) Jorge E. Hirsch
91. Which lake is jointly owned by China and India?
a) Tso Moriri
b) Pangong Tso
c) Dal Lake
d) Wular Lake
Answer: b) Pangong Tso
92. Who is George Alexander Louis?
a) Prime Minister of Canada
b) A famous Hollywood actor
c) Third in line as heir to the British throne
d) A Nobel laureate in Physics
Answer: c) Third in line as heir to the British throne
93. In which field did Frederick Sanger win Nobel prize twice?
a) Physics
b) Medicine
c) Chemistry
d) Peace
Answer: c) Chemistry
94. When was telegraph service closed in India?
a) July, 2010
b) July, 2013
c) August, 2014
d) June, 2015
Answer: b) July, 2013
95. Who is Shinzo Abe (in the context of the 2014 paper)?
a) President of South Korea
b) Prime Minister of Japan
c) Emperor of Japan
d) Foreign Minister of China
Answer: b) Prime Minister of Japan
96. With which game/sport is Deepika Kumari associated?
a) Badminton
b) Tennis
c) Archery
d) Boxing
Answer: c) Archery
97. What is the name of the Pakistani bus that plies between Lahore and Delhi?
a) Dosti
b) Aman Express
c) Sada-e-Sarhad
d) Lahore-Delhi Express
Answer: c) Sada-e-Sarhad
98. For which work did Mridula Garg get the 2013 Sahitya Academy Award?
a) Uske Hisse Ki Dhoop
b) Chittacobra
c) Miljul Man
d) Anitya
Answer: c) Miljul Man
99. According to Transparency International which were the most honest countries in the world in 2012-13?
a) Sweden and Norway
b) Finland and Switzerland
c) New Zealand and Denmark
d) Canada and Australia
Answer: c) New Zealand and Denmark
100. Who was crowned as Miss World in 2013 beauty contest?
a) Wenxia Yu of China
b) Marine Lorphelin of France
c) Megan Young of Philippines
d) Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter of Ghana
Answer: c) Megan Young of Philippines