HAS Prelim 2005
- Nobel laureate Saul Bellow who died recently was the native of ?
(A) United Kingdom
(B) Canada
(C) United States
(D) France
Answer: (B) Canada (Saul Bellow was born in Canada, though he is often associated with American literature and became a U.S. citizen) - Who is the author of controversial book Dwikhandita?
(A) Taslima Nasrin
(B) Salman Rushdie
(C) Mahasweta Devi
(D) Arundhati Roy
Answer: (A) Taslima Nasrin - Which is the longest Dam in the world?
(A) Three Gorges Dam, China
(B) Hirakud Dam, India
(C) Hoover Dam, USA
(D) Aswan High Dam, Egypt
Answer: (B) Hirakud Dam, India (In the context of these exams, Hirakud was often referred to as the longest, specifically as an earthen dam. The broader document also refers to it as “longest in the world” ) - Which country is well known for the diamond cutting industry?
(A) South Africa
(B) Russia
(C) Belgium
(D) Australia
Answer: (C) Belgium (Antwerp in Belgium is a major diamond trading and cutting hub) - What is the present stage of the Vesuvius Volcano (in Italy)?
(A) Extinct
(B) Active
(C) Dormant
(D) Shield
Answer: (B) Active (It is considered an active volcano, though it has long periods of dormancy between eruptions) - Which is the most important raw material for Power generation in India?
(A) Uranium
(B) Natural Gas
(C) Coal
(D) Oil
Answer: (C) Coal - What is the major source of Irrigation in India?
(A) Canals
(B) Wells and Tubewells
(C) Tanks
(D) Rainfall
Answer: (B) Wells and Tubewells - Is Mustard the crop of which season?
(A) Rabi
(B) Kharif
(C) Zaid
(D) All seasons
Answer: (A) Rabi - Brazil comes under the category of?
(A) Developed Country
(B) Least Developed Country
(C) Developing Country / Emerging Economy
(D) Failed State
Answer: (C) Developing Country / Emerging Economy - Which atomic power station in India is completely indigenously built?
(A) Tarapur Atomic Power Station
(B) Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS – some units with Canadian collaboration)
(C) Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station (MAPS)
(D) Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (with Russian collaboration)
Answer: (C) Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station (MAPS – Madras Atomic Power Station) - Which river will provide the largest quantity of its surplus water for the Telgu-Ganga Project?
(A) Godavari
(B) Krishna
(C) Pennar
(D) Cauvery
Answer: (B) Krishna - Where is located the headquarter of European Union?
(A) Paris, France
(B) Berlin, Germany
(C) Brussels, Belgium
(D) Rome, Italy
Answer: (C) Brussels, Belgium - Crescograph is a device for measuring growth in plants. Who invented it?
(A) C.V. Raman
(B) Jagadish Chandra Bose
(C) Homi J. Bhabha
(D) Satyendra Nath Bose
Answer: (B) Jagadish Chandra Bose - Which is the most densely populated area in the world?
(A) South Asia
(B) East Asia
(C) Western Europe
(D) Monaco (if referring to a country/city-state) / Ganges Delta (if referring to a larger geographical region)
Answer: (D) Monaco (If options were regions, South Asia or East Asia would be contenders. Monaco is the most densely populated sovereign state.) - Which country is building the Baglihar Dam on Chenab river?
(A) Pakistan
(B) India
(C) China
(D) Afghanistan
Answer: (B) India - What is Chandrayan-I?
(A) India’s Mars Orbiter Mission
(B) India’s first lunar probe
(C) A new Indian telecommunication satellite
(D) A ballistic missile
Answer: (B) India’s first lunar probe - Who is the author of the famous drama St. Joan?
(A) William Shakespeare
(B) George Bernard Shaw
(C) Oscar Wilde
(D) Samuel Beckett
Answer: (B) George Bernard Shaw - What was the ‘Phukan Commission’ inquiring into?
(A) 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
(B) Tehelka Tapes (Defence Deals Corruption)
(C) Godhra Train Incident
(D) Mumbai Serial Blasts
Answer: (B) Tehelka Tapes (Defence Deals Corruption) - Who is Silvio Berlusconi?
(A) Former Prime Minister of Spain
(B) Former Prime Minister of Italy
(C) Former President of France
(D) Former Chancellor of Germany
Answer: (B) Former Prime Minister of Italy - Who is Zacarias Moussaoui?
(A) A leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq
(B) The 20th hijacker in the 9/11 attacks (convicted)
(C) A Chechen rebel leader
(D) A key figure in the Taliban regime
Answer: (B) The 20th hijacker in the 9/11 attacks (convicted) - On whom is the book ‘Journey of a Legend’ published by the Indian Council of Cultural Affairs (ICCR) written?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Mother Teresa
(D) Ustad Bismillah Khan
Answer: (D) Ustad Bismillah Khan - In which state of India is the Tadobha Andhari Tiger Reserve located?
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Karnataka
(D) Rajasthan
Answer: (B) Maharashtra - With which style of dance is Sonal Man Singh, the Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, associated?
(A) Kathak and Kuchipudi
(B) Bharatanatyam and Odissi
(C) Mohiniyattam and Manipuri
(D) Kathakali and Sattriya
Answer: (B) Bharatanatyam and Odissi - Why is John Wright in news? (This question is time-sensitive, depending on the year of the paper. Assuming a context around his coaching career)
(A) For being appointed as the coach of the Indian Cricket Team
(B) For releasing his controversial autobiography
(C) For becoming a commentator for a major sports channel
(D) For retiring from all forms of cricket involvement
Answer: (A) For being appointed as the coach of the Indian Cricket Team (This was a significant event, though other options could be plausible depending on the specific timeframe) - What is the M.K. Mukerjee commission inquiring into?
(A) The death of Subhas Chandra Bose
(B) The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
(C) The Babri Masjid demolition
(D) The Bofors scandal
Answer: (A) The death of Subhas Chandra Bose - To which country does Elton John the famous pop singer belong?
(A) United States
(B) United Kingdom
(C) Canada
(D) Australia
Answer: (B) United Kingdom - Who has been elected Vice-President of the Interim in Iraq? (This question is highly time-sensitive. Assuming a period around 2004-2005)
(A) Ghazi al-Yawer
(B) Ibrahim al-Jaafari (One of the two VPs under the Transitional Government)
(C) Jalal Talabani
(D) Ayad Allawi
Answer: (B) Ibrahim al-Jaafari (Rowsch Shaways was another VP. The specific individual would depend on the exact timing) - With which sport is Ronaldinho associated?
(A) Basketball
(B) Tennis
(C) Football (Soccer)
(D) Cricket
Answer: (C) Football (Soccer) - Which of the Russian celebrations, many former constituents of the Soviet Union have refused to attend? (Likely refers to historical events, e.g., WWII Victory Day parades, where attendance varied due to political reasons)
(A) New Year’s Day
(B) May Day (International Workers’ Day)
(C) Victory Day (May 9th)
(D) Russian Independence Day (June 12th)
Answer: (C) Victory Day (May 9th) (Attendance at these parades by leaders of former Soviet states has often been a subject of political significance) - In which country is the terrorist organization “Jemaah Islami” carrying on its violent activities?
(A) Philippines
(B) Indonesia
(C) Thailand
(D) Malaysia
Answer: (B) Indonesia (Though active in Southeast Asia, it’s most prominently associated with Indonesia) - With which sport is Bula Choudhary associated?
(A) Swimming
(B) Athletics
(C) Boxing
(D) Archery
Answer: (A) Swimming - For what is the Himachal Pradesh Government seeking the help of the USA based Robbins Company?
(A) Hydroelectric power projects
(B) Apple cultivation techniques
(C) Tunnel boring and construction
(D) Information Technology infrastructure
Answer: (C) Tunnel boring and construction (Robbins Company is known for tunnel boring machines) - Which business house is Vivek Paul, ranked among 30 most respected chief executive officers, serving now? (Time-sensitive. Vivek Paul was notably with Wipro and later TPG Capital.)
(A) Tata Group
(B) Reliance Industries
(C) Wipro Technologies (as Vice Chairman, before moving to TPG)
(D) Infosys
Answer: (C) Wipro Technologies (Assuming the question refers to his most prominent CEO-level role that garnered such a ranking) - Which leader has refused to join the interim government of Iraq? (Highly time-sensitive, depends on the specific interim government being referred to)
(A) Moqtada al-Sadr
(B) Ayad Allawi
(C) Ahmed Chalabi
(D) Adnan Pachachi
Answer: (A) Moqtada al-Sadr (His movement often boycotted or opposed various interim setups) - Which film has been partly shot inside the Jim Corbett National Park?
(A) Kaal
(B) Lagaan
(C) Sholay
(D) Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Answer: (A) Kaal - Who was Terri Schiavo? (Name corrected from “Teny Schjavo”)
(A) A famous American actress
(B) A political activist
(C) A woman at the center of a right-to-die legal case in the US
(D) An Olympic gold medalist
Answer: (C) A woman at the center of a right-to-die legal case in the US - What is G-20?
(A) A group of 20 European countries
(B) A group of 20 developing nations
(C) A group of 20 major developed and emerging economies
(D) A military alliance of 20 countries
Answer: (C) A group of 20 major developed and emerging economies - Who is elected as the Prime Minister of Britain for the third term of office?
(A) Margaret Thatcher
(B) John Major
(C) Tony Blair
(D) Gordon Brown
Answer: (C) Tony Blair (He won a third term in 2005) - How were the members of the Constituent Assembly chosen?
(A) Directly elected by the people
(B) Nominated by the Governor-General
(C) Elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies
(D) Appointed by the British Crown
Answer: (C) Elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies - Who was the Prime Minister of Britain when India became Independent?
(A) Winston Churchill
(B) Clement Attlee
(C) Neville Chamberlain
(D) Harold Macmillan
Answer: (B) Clement Attlee - Which princely State joined the Indian Union as a result of plebiscite after India was granted Independence?
(A) Hyderabad
(B) Junagadh
(C) Kashmir
(D) Travancore
Answer: (B) Junagadh - What is India’s National bird?
(A) Sparrow
(B) Peacock
(C) Eagle
(D) Parrot
Answer: (B) Peacock - Against which action of the British Government did Gandhi Ji organize the Dandi March as a protest?
(A) Rowlatt Act
(B) Simon Commission
(C) Salt Tax
(D) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Answer: (C) Salt Tax - To which country does the new pope Benedict XVI belongs?
(A) Italy
(B) Poland
(C) Germany
(D) France
Answer: (C) Germany - Who is the chairman of the committee of State Finance ministers on VAT? (Time-sensitive. Asim Dasgupta was a prominent chairman for a long time)
(A) P. Chidambaram
(B) Asim Dasgupta
(C) Yashwant Sinha
(D) Pranab Mukherjee
Answer: (B) Asim Dasgupta (He chaired the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST and previously on VAT for many years) - How many Judges are there in the International Court of Justice?
(A) 10
(B) 15
(C) 20
(D) 25
Answer: (B) 15 - Who is Danish Kaneria?
(A) An Indian cricketer
(B) A Pakistani cricketer
(C) A Bangladeshi cricketer
(D) A Sri Lankan cricketer
Answer: (B) A Pakistani cricketer - Who is the lifetime chairman of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)?
(A) Dr. V. Kurien
(B) Sam Pitroda
(C) M.S. Swaminathan
(D) Ratan Tata
Answer: (A) Dr. V. Kurien (He was the founder and lifetime chairman) - Who was elected speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925?
(A) Motilal Nehru
(B) Vithalbhai Patel
(C) C.R. Das
(D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: (B) Vithalbhai Patel - Who committed the first political murder in 1897 as part of the terrorist movement in India?
(A) Bhagat Singh
(B) The Chapekar Brothers
(C) Madan Lal Dhingra
(D) Khudiram Bose
Answer: (B) The Chapekar Brothers (They assassinated W.C. Rand) - At which place did the revolutionary leader Lala Har Dayal form the “Ghadar Party” in 1914?
(A) London, England
(B) Berlin, Germany
(C) San Francisco, USA
(D) Vancouver, Canada
Answer: (C) San Francisco, USA - Who were the ‘Khudai Khidmatgars’?
(A) A militant group in Punjab
(B) A non-violent Pashtun movement led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
(C) A faction of the Muslim League
(D) A princely state’s army
Answer: (B) A non-violent Pashtun movement led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan - In which year were Congress Ministries formed in seven provinces of India before Independence?
(A) 1935
(B) 1937
(C) 1939
(D) 1942
Answer: (B) 1937 - Who was the first general secretary of the Congress Socialist Party?
(A) Acharya Narendra Dev
(B) Jayaprakash Narayan
(C) Ram Manohar Lohia
(D) Minoo Masani
Answer: (B) Jayaprakash Narayan - What was the slogan of the ‘Quit India Movement’ started under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership?
(A) “Swaraj is my birthright”
(B) “Do or Die”
(C) “Jai Hind”
(D) “Inquilab Zindabad”
Answer: (B) “Do or Die” - Who was the Finance minister in the Interim Cabinet formed by Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1946? (Initially, it was to be John Matthai under Congress, but after Muslim League joined, Liaquat Ali Khan took the portfolio)
(A) Sardar Patel
(B) C. Rajagopalachari
(C) Liaquat Ali Khan
(D) John Matthai
Answer: (C) Liaquat Ali Khan (After the Muslim League joined the Interim Government) - Which two leaders voted against Mahatma Gandhi’s resolution proposing militant action against the British Government at the Nagpur Session of the Congress? (This seems to refer to the Non-Cooperation resolution. Some leaders had initial reservations.)
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel
(B) Subhas Chandra Bose and C.R. Das
(C) M.A. Jinnah and Lala Lajpat Rai
(D) B.C. Pal and Annie Besant (though they later agreed or their opposition was at different stages/sessions related to it)
Answer: (This is complex as initial opposition to Non-Cooperation came from several quarters including C.R. Das, Lala Lajpat Rai, B.C. Pal and Jinnah before the final resolution. The specific context of “militant action” at Nagpur needs clarity. Generally, Jinnah strongly opposed Non-Cooperation.) (C) M.A. Jinnah and Lala Lajpat Rai (as representative of initial major opposition figures to Non-Cooperation movement principles). - What was the end result of the Champaran Agitation?
(A) Abolition of the Tinkathia system
(B) Grant of Dominion Status to India
(C) Withdrawal of the Rowlatt Act
(D) Return of land to peasants immediately
Answer: (A) Abolition of the Tinkathia system - In which year was the Capital of India shifted from Calcutta to Delhi?
(A) 1905
(B) 1911 (Announced) / 1912 (Formally shifted)
(C) 1919
(D) 1921
Answer: (B) 1911 (Announced) / 1912 (Formally shifted) - Which African Nation defeated the Italian army in 1896?
(A) Ethiopia (Abyssinia)
(B) Egypt
(C) Sudan
(D) Libya
Answer: (A) Ethiopia (Abyssinia) (Battle of Adwa) - Where is located the Salarjung Museum?
(A) Delhi
(B) Hyderabad
(C) Kolkata
(D) Mumbai
Answer: (B) Hyderabad - Who was the main inspiration behind the enactment of the ‘Widow remarriage Act of 1856’?
(A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(B) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(C) Swami Vivekananda
(D) Dayanand Saraswati
Answer: (B) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar - Which Governor-General tried to pass the Ilbert Bill (1883), which sought to empower Indian judges to try criminal cases involving Englishmen?
(A) Lord Curzon
(B) Lord Lytton
(C) Lord Ripon
(D) Lord Dufferin
Answer: (C) Lord Ripon - Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress at Bombay in 1885?
(A) A.O. Hume
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji
(C) W.C. Bannerjee
(D) Surendranath Banerjea
Answer: (C) W.C. Bannerjee - The Pong Dam is the joint venture of the States governments of? (Pong Dam is primarily in Himachal Pradesh, on the Beas River. Beneficiary states include Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan)
(A) Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana
(B) Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan
(C) Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
(D) Punjab and Rajasthan
Answer: (B) Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan (While HP is the location, the water sharing and benefits are primarily for these states from Beas waters regulated by Bhakra Beas Management Board). Note: If the question implies ownership/construction management, HP has a role via BBMB. - Where is located the Sun Temple in India?
(A) Madurai, Tamil Nadu
(B) Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
(C) Konark, Odisha
(D) Hampi, Karnataka
Answer: (C) Konark, Odisha - Gautamiputra Satkarni was an ancient ruler of?
(A) Chola Dynasty
(B) Maurya Dynasty
(C) Satavahana Dynasty
(D) Gupta Dynasty
Answer: (C) Satavahana Dynasty - Which European country presented Bombay as a dowry to Charles II of England on his marriage to princess?
(A) France
(B) Portugal
(C) Spain
(D) Netherlands
Answer: (B) Portugal (Catherine of Braganza) - Dr. Norman Borlaug, the famous agricultural scientist, received the Nobel Prize for what?
(A) Medicine
(B) Economics
(C) Peace
(D) Chemistry
Answer: (C) Peace (For his work in the Green Revolution) - In which Continent lies Uganda?
(A) Asia
(B) Africa
(C) South America
(D) Europe
Answer: (B) Africa - In which year did Queen Elizabeth I of England grant the East India company a Royal Charter to carry on trade in the East?
(A) 1558
(B) 1600
(C) 1649
(D) 1701
Answer: (B) 1600 - The battle in which the British defeated the combined forces of the Nawab of Bengal, nawab of Awadh and the Moughal Emperor was fought at where?
(A) Plassey
(B) Buxar
(C) Panipat
(D) Seringapatam
Answer: (B) Buxar - Which Governor General of Bengal formulated the policy of ‘Subsidiary Alliance’?
(A) Lord Cornwallis
(B) Lord Wellesley
(C) Lord Hastings
(D) Lord William Bentinck
Answer: (B) Lord Wellesley - Who was the author of the book ‘The Indian War of Independence’?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Subhas Chandra Bose
(C) V.D. Savarkar
(D) R.C. Majumdar
Answer: (C) V.D. Savarkar - In which year did Alexander land at the bank of the Beas river?
(A) 326 BC
(B) 323 BC
(C) 305 BC
(D) 261 BC
Answer: (A) 326 BC - Which foreign traveller has written in detail about the glory of the Kullu state in ancient days?
(A) Fa-Hien
(B) Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
(C) Ibn Battuta
(D) Marco Polo
Answer: (B) Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) - Which foreign ruler invaded Kangra in 1009 A.D.?
(A) Muhammad Ghori
(B) Mahmud of Ghazni
(C) Taimur
(D) Babur
Answer: (B) Mahmud of Ghazni - Which Muslim ruler constructed a mosque inside the fort of Nagarkot?
(A) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(B) Akbar
(C) Jahangir
(D) Aurangzeb
Answer: (C) Jahangir - Which ruler expanded the territory of his State after the disintegration of the Mughal empire? (This is a general question, but given the context of HP exams, it might refer to a specific hill state ruler).
(A) Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra
(B) Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab
(C) Shivaji Maharaj of Marathas
(D) Tipu Sultan of Mysore
Answer: (A) Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra (He expanded significantly in the late 18th/early 19th century) - The treaty of Saigauli signed in 1815 resulted in what?
(A) British annexation of Punjab
(B) End of the Anglo-Nepalese (Gurkha) War
(C) Cession of Assam to the British
(D) Establishment of British paramountcy over Marathas
Answer: (B) End of the Anglo-Nepalese (Gurkha) War - Which Governor General formulated the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ in India?
(A) Lord Wellesley
(B) Lord William Bentinck
(C) Lord Dalhousie
(D) Lord Canning
Answer: (C) Lord Dalhousie - Which princely State in Himachal Pradesh adopted a neutral attitude during the War of Independence in 1857?
(A) Bushahr
(B) Sirmaur
(C) Chamba
(D) Bilaspur (Kehlur)
Answer: (A) Bushahr (While some sources suggest most hill states supported the British or remained neutral, Bushahr under Raja Shamsher Singh is often cited for its non-cooperation/neutrality) - What did the system of “Begar” prevalent in Himachal Pradesh and some other states before Independence in 1857? (The question might mean “before independence in 1947”, as Begar continued post-1857)
(A) A system of revenue collection
(B) A form of bonded/forced labor
(C) A traditional judicial system
(D) A religious tax
Answer: (B) A form of bonded/forced labor - Who was S.N. Stokes?
(A) A British Governor of Punjab
(B) An American missionary who introduced apple cultivation in Himachal
(C) A leader of the Ghadar Party
(D) The first Chief Commissioner of Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (B) An American missionary who introduced apple cultivation in Himachal (Samuel Evans Stokes Jr.) - In which princely State did Yashawant Singh Parmar serve as District & Session Judge?
(A) Jubbal
(B) Bushahr
(C) Sirmaur
(D) Mandi
Answer: (C) Sirmaur - Who was the president of the “All India State Peoples’ Conference” in 1939 when the police fired on a mob in Dhami?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Sardar Patel
(D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: (B) Jawaharlal Nehru (He was the president of AISPC from 1939-1946) - In which state of Himachal Pradesh did the Kissan Sabha set up an independent government in 1942? (This refers to the Pajhota Andolan)
(A) Sirmaur
(B) Mandi
(C) Chamba
(D) Suket
Answer: (A) Sirmaur - In which year was the Himalayan Hill States Regional Council formed?
(A) 1942
(B) 1946
(C) 1948
(D) 1950
Answer: (B) 1946 - Which states were under the direct rule of the British before 1947? (Referring to British India Provinces vs Princely States)
(A) Princely States like Hyderabad and Mysore
(B) Provinces like Punjab, Bengal, and Bombay
(C) French colonies like Pondicherry
(D) Portuguese colonies like Goa
Answer: (B) Provinces like Punjab, Bengal, and Bombay - Which princely state initially refused to join the Indian Union when the British rule ended in India?
(A) Mysore
(B) Baroda
(C) Travancore
(D) Gwalior
Answer: (C) Travancore (along with others like Hyderabad, Junagadh, Kashmir, Bhopal) - When did the Chief Commissioner’s Province of Himachal Pradesh come into existence?
(A) 15th August 1947
(B) 26th January 1950
(C) 15th April 1948
(D) 1st November 1956
Answer: (C) 15th April 1948 - Which princely state was merged into the part ‘C’ State of Himachal Pradesh in 1954?
(A) Sirmaur
(B) Bilaspur
(C) Mandi
(D) Chamba
Answer: (B) Bilaspur - What was the effect of the report of the States Reorganization Commission on the position of the Himachal Pradesh?
(A) It became a full-fledged state
(B) It was merged with Punjab
(C) It became a Union Territory
(D) It remained a Part ‘C’ State
Answer: (C) It became a Union Territory (in 1956) - What change in the shape of different states occurred when the question of the reorganization of Punjab was reopened in 1966?
(A) Punjab was divided into Punjab and Haryana, with some hilly areas going to Himachal Pradesh
(B) Punjab was merged with PEPSU
(C) Haryana was merged into Punjab
(D) Himachal Pradesh was merged entirely into Punjab
Answer: (A) Punjab was divided into Punjab and Haryana, with some hilly areas going to Himachal Pradesh - Who was Rin Chan Sang Po?
(A) A Tibetan King
(B) A famous Buddhist scholar and translator who founded monasteries in Spiti and Kinnaur
(C) A Chinese traveler
(D) A ruler of Lahaul
Answer: (B) A famous Buddhist scholar and translator who founded monasteries in Spiti and Kinnaur (Rinchen Zangpo) - Which ruler renovated the famous 13th Century Baijnath temple in the 18th Century? (The temple was significantly renovated by Raja Sansar Chand)
(A) Raja Ghamand Chand
(B) Raja Sansar Chand
(C) Raja Sidh Sen
(D) Raja Bir Singh
Answer: (B) Raja Sansar Chand (though the question in source 1189 states 19th century) - In which year did Himachal Pradesh attain full Statehood?
(A) 1966
(B) 1971
(C) 1956
(D) 1948
Answer: (B) 1971 (25th January 1971) - What is Guru Ghantal?
(A) A mountain peak in Kinnaur
(B) A famous monastery in Lahaul
(C) A traditional folk dance
(D) A historical fort in Kangra
Answer: (B) A famous monastery in Lahaul - At which place is the famous Bhuri Singh Museum located?
(A) Shimla
(B) Mandi
(C) Chamba
(D) Kangra
Answer: (C) Chamba - What part of the total area of Himachal Pradesh is cultivable? (Approximate figure)
(A) About 5%
(B) About 10-12%
(C) About 20-25%
(D) About 30-35%
Answer: (B) About 10-12% (Net sown area is around this figure) - What is the share of Himachal Pradesh in the total National Hydro-Electric potential?
(A) About 10%
(B) About 15%
(C) About 20%
(D) About 25%
Answer: (D) About 25% (Often cited as around 20-25% of the country’s total hydel potential) - With whose collaboration is the Kol Dam being constructed?
(A) Russia (NTPC with Russian assistance)
(B) USA
(C) Germany
(D) Japan
Answer: (A) Russia (NTPC with Russian assistance) - Which country is providing assistance to Himachal Pradesh Govt. for commercial trout farming in Kullu Valley?
(A) Switzerland
(B) Norway
(C) Japan
(D) Canada
Answer: (B) Norway - In which districts of Himachal Pradesh is Tea grown traditionally?
(A) Shimla and Solan
(B) Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti
(C) Kangra and Mandi
(D) Una and Hamirpur
Answer: (C) Kangra and Mandi - Among Kinnaur, Kangra, Bharmour and Solan which one is not a tribal area in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Kinnaur
(B) Kangra
(C) Bharmour (Sub-division of Chamba, a tribal area)
(D) Solan
Answer: (D) Solan (While it has tribal populations, it’s not designated as a tribal district like Kinnaur or Lahaul-Spiti, or a tribal tehsil like Bharmour/Pangi). (Kangra is also not a designated tribal area in its entirety, but Bharmour is more clearly a tribal region). For the purpose of “not a tribal area”, Solan is the clearest. - What is the percentage of Schedule Castes population in Himachal Pradesh? (As per Census 2011, it’s around 25.2%)
(A) Around 15%
(B) Around 20%
(C) Around 25%
(D) Around 30%
Answer: (C) Around 25% - Who was the first to discover Shimla as a fine hill station? (Often credited to British officers exploring the region)
(A) Lord Amherst
(B) Lt. Ross (or Major Kennedy, but discovery is often attributed to earlier surveyors/officers)
(C) Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy (instrumental in developing it)
(D) Lord William Bentinck
Answer: (B) Lt. Ross (discovery is attributed to him around 1819; Major Kennedy later built the first permanent house). (The provided text earlier in the document also mentions “Scottish officer brothers (Alexander and James Gerard)” first mentioning Shimla in their diary in 1817 ) - Which place in Himachal Pradesh is held sacred by Buddhists, Hindus & Sikhs alike?
(A) Manikaran
(B) Rewalsar
(C) Triloknath
(D) Paonta Sahib
Answer: (B) Rewalsar - Which party gained a majority in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly in the general election of 1977?
(A) Indian National Congress
(B) Janata Party
(C) Communist Party of India (Marxist)
(D) Bharatiya Janata Party
Answer: (B) Janata Party - Where is the University for Horticulture and Forestry located in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Palampur
(B) Shimla
(C) Nauni (Solan)
(D) Hamirpur
Answer: (C) Nauni (Solan) (Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry) - Among Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala which state has the largest area?
(A) Punjab
(B) Haryana
(C) Himachal Pradesh
(D) Kerala
Answer: (A) Punjab (Punjab: ~50,362 sq km, Haryana: ~44,212 sq km, HP: ~55,673 sq km, Kerala: ~38,863 sq km. So actually, Himachal Pradesh is the largest among these options. Let me re-verify the general context.)
Re-evaluation: If this question is from an older context before HP’s area was fully established or if it’s a trick, typically Punjab is perceived as larger than Haryana or Kerala. However, HP is larger than Punjab.
Given the options, if HP is one of them, and its area is indeed the largest of the four, then HP should be the answer. Let’s assume the areas are HP: 55,673; Punjab: 50,362; Haryana: 44,212; Kerala: 38,863.
Corrected Answer: (C) Himachal Pradesh - Which river do the glacier fed streams, Bhadal & Tantagiri form?
(A) Beas
(B) Ravi
(C) Chenab
(D) Sutlej
Answer: (B) Ravi - At which place does the Beas river enter the plains?
(A) Pathankot
(B) Mirthal/Talwara (near Pong Dam)
(C) Rupnagar (Ropar)
(D) Harike
Answer: (B) Mirthal/Talwara (near Pong Dam) - In which state does the Yamuna river originate?
(A) Himachal Pradesh
(B) Uttarakhand
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Haryana
Answer: (B) Uttarakhand (Yamunotri glacier) - Which larger river does the tributary ‘Tons’ join?
(A) Ganga
(B) Yamuna
(C) Sutlej
(D) Beas
Answer: (B) Yamuna - The Second permanent station setup by India in the Antarctica is named as what?
(A) Dakshin Gangotri
(B) Maitri
(C) Bharati
(D) Himadri
Answer: (B) Maitri - On which longitude is the Indian Standard Time based?
(A) 80.5° E
(B) 82.5° E
(C) 84.5° E
(D) 86.5° E
Answer: (B) 82.5° E - Who discovered the Cholera bacillus?
(A) Louis Pasteur
(B) Robert Koch
(C) Alexander Fleming
(D) Joseph Lister
Answer: (B) Robert Koch - At which place in India did Vasco-de-Gama land first on May 20, 1498 A.D.?
(A) Goa
(B) Cochin
(C) Calicut (Kozhikode)
(D) Surat
Answer: (C) Calicut (Kozhikode) - Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
(A) Jupiter
(B) Mars
(C) Venus
(D) Saturn
Answer: (B) Mars - Who is regarded as the father of modern medicine?
(A) Charaka
(B) Sushruta
(C) Hippocrates
(D) Galen
Answer: (C) Hippocrates - Who was the author of the ‘Charter of American Declaration of Independence’?
(A) George Washington
(B) Benjamin Franklin
(C) Thomas Jefferson
(D) John Adams
Answer: (C) Thomas Jefferson - In ancient India with which field was Bhaskaracharya related?
(A) Medicine
(B) Astronomy and Mathematics
(C) Philosophy
(D) Literature
Answer: (B) Astronomy and Mathematics - In which country is Mohenjodaro located now?
(A) India
(B) Pakistan
(C) Afghanistan
(D) Iran
Answer: (B) Pakistan - Who was the first person to set foot on the Moon?
(A) Yuri Gagarin
(B) Neil Armstrong
(C) Buzz Aldrin
(D) Michael Collins
Answer: (B) Neil Armstrong - The term ‘Creamy layer’ is related to what?
(A) Income classification for tax purposes
(B) Socially and economically advanced members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for reservation purposes
(C) A classification of agricultural land
(D) A measure of poverty
Answer: (B) Socially and economically advanced members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for reservation purposes - With which event is the Tiananmen Square associated?
(A) The Long March in China
(B) Pro-democracy protests and crackdown in China (1989)
(C) The Cultural Revolution
(D) The founding of the People’s Republic of China
Answer: (B) Pro-democracy protests and crackdown in China (1989) - Which state in India is known for its Sandal Wood?
(A) Kerala
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Karnataka
(D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (C) Karnataka - Which is the main Ruling party in Bangladesh at present? (Time-sensitive. As of early 2024/late 2023, it’s Awami League)
(A) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
(B) Awami League
(C) Jatiya Party
(D) Jamaat-e-Islami
Answer: (B) Awami League (This would need to be updated based on the specific exam year) - The equatorial low pressure region 5° North & 5° South of the equator is known as what?
(A) Horse latitudes
(B) Doldrums
(C) Roaring Forties
(D) Polar Easterlies
Answer: (B) Doldrums - With which discovery is Marie Curie associated?
(A) X-rays
(B) Radioactivity (and discovery of Radium and Polonium)
(C) Theory of Relativity
(D) Penicillin
Answer: (B) Radioactivity (and discovery of Radium and Polonium) - Diabetes is caused by the malfunctioning of which gland?
(A) Thyroid
(B) Adrenal
(C) Pancreas
(D) Pituitary
Answer: (C) Pancreas (specifically, insulin production) - Which musical instrument does Pt. Shiv Prashad Sharma play? (Likely meant Pt. Shivkumar Sharma)
(A) Sitar
(B) Sarod
(C) Santoor
(D) Flute
Answer: (C) Santoor - Among Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Bulgaria which country was not a constituent of the erstwhile Soviet Union?
(A) Lithuania
(B) Kazakhstan
(C) Armenia
(D) Bulgaria
Answer: (D) Bulgaria - Which is the border town between Amritsar & Lahore?
(A) Attari / Wagah
(B) Firozpur
(C) Pathankot
(D) Gurdaspur
Answer: (A) Attari / Wagah - Which country is known as the ‘Land of White Elephants’?
(A) India
(B) Sri Lanka
(C) Thailand
(D) Myanmar
Answer: (C) Thailand - Which country was the worst sufferer of the onslaught of ‘Tsunami’ recently? (Assuming the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami)
(A) India
(B) Sri Lanka
(C) Indonesia
(D) Thailand
Answer: (C) Indonesia - Who was the founder of the Brahma Samaj in 1828 AD?
(A) Swami Vivekananda
(B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(C) Dayanand Saraswati
(D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: (B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy - Who is the President of Afghanistan? (Highly time-sensitive. As of early 2024, Afghanistan is under Taliban rule, and the internationally recognized presidential post is vacant or disputed. Assuming a time before August 2021)
(A) Hamid Karzai (President 2004-2014)
(B) Ashraf Ghani (President 2014-2021)
(C) Abdullah Abdullah
(D) Mullah Omar
Answer: (B) Ashraf Ghani (This would depend on the specific year the question was asked. Hamid Karzai preceded him.) - Among Security Council, General Assembly, International Labour Organization and International Court of Justice which one is not a Chief Organ of the United Nations Organization?
(A) Security Council
(B) General Assembly
(C) International Labour Organization (ILO)
(D) International Court of Justice
Answer: (C) International Labour Organization (ILO) (ILO is a specialized agency of the UN, not one of the six principal organs) - In which Scripture is the 40 year war between Kirat King Sambar and Aryan king Divodas described?
(A) Mahabharata
(B) Ramayana
(C) Rigveda
(D) Puranas
Answer: (C) Rigveda - Among Zaskar, Pirpanjal, Hindukush and Dhauladhar which mountain range lies outside Himachal Pradesh? (All except Hindukush have significant presence or form borders of HP)
(A) Zaskar
(B) Pirpanjal
(C) Hindukush
(D) Dhauladhar
Answer: (C) Hindukush (Primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan) - What is Gaddi?
(A) A folk dance of Himachal Pradesh
(B) A river in Himachal Pradesh
(C) A scheduled tribe in Himachal Pradesh
(D) A mountain pass in Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (C) A scheduled tribe in Himachal Pradesh - Which is the rainiest place in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Shimla
(B) Dharamshala
(C) Manali
(D) Dalhousie
Answer: (B) Dharamshala - When was ‘Territorial Council’ formed in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) 1948
(B) 1952
(C) 1956/1957
(D) 1963
Answer: (C) 1956/1957 (Formed under the Territorial Councils Act, 1956; elections held in 1957) - What percent of total geographical area of Himachal Pradesh comes under forests? (Recorded Forest Area is about 66-68%, actual forest cover is less)
(A) About 25%
(B) About 37% (Actual forest cover as per some FSI reports)
(C) About 50%
(D) About 66% (Recorded Forest Area)
Answer: (D) About 66% (This usually refers to the legally notified forest area) - On which river is situated the town of Chamba?
(A) Beas
(B) Sutlej
(C) Ravi
(D) Chenab
Answer: (C) Ravi - Among Yamuna, Chenab, Beas and Jhelum which river does not flow through Himachal Pradesh?
(A) Yamuna (Forms eastern border, small catchment area in HP)
(B) Chenab
(C) Beas
(D) Jhelum
Answer: (D) Jhelum - In which century did Padam Sambhava preach Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh?
(A) 5th Century AD
(B) 8th Century AD
(C) 10th Century AD
(D) 12th Century AD
Answer: (B) 8th Century AD - Where is located the Tsong Po lake in India? (Assuming “Tso Ngonpo” or a similar Tibetan name for a lake, and its Indian equivalent or border lake. “Tsong Po” usually refers to the Brahmaputra river in Tibet.) If it refers to Tso Moriri or Pangong Tso (partly in India):
(A) Sikkim
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Ladakh
(D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (C) Ladakh (Pangong Tso is partly in Ladakh, Tso Moriri is in Ladakh. If Tsong Po is a mistranscription for a lake in these regions.)
(If the question implies a lake associated with the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) within India, it’s more complex as the river itself is the main feature, not a specific large “Tsong Po lake” within Indian borders)