A selection of 25 solved questions — sign up free to practise all 57.
Q1History & Culture·Late Freedom Struggle (1939-1947)PYQ 1999
Which Indian nationalist leader looked upon a war between Germany and Britain as a godsent opportunity which would enable Indians to exploit the situation to their advantage?
- AC. Rajagopalachari
- BM. A. Jinnah
- CSubhas Chandra BoseCorrect
- DJawaharlal Nehru
Explanation
Correct. Subhas Chandra Bose believed that Britain's wartime difficulties presented a golden opportunity for Indian independence. He sought external support from Germany and Japan, eventually forming the Indian National Army to fight the British.
Q2Indian Economy·Fiscal Policy & BudgetingPYQ 1999
With reference to income tax in India, which one of the following is correct?
- AThe Union levies and collects it, and distributes a part of the proceeds between itself and the StatesCorrect
- BThe Union levies and collects it, and retains the entire proceeds
- CThe entire proceeds are assigned to the States
- DOnly the surcharge on income tax is shared with the States
Explanation
Correct. Income tax is levied and collected by the Union Government, and the divisible pool is shared with the States according to Finance Commission recommendations.
Q3Indian Economy·AgriculturePYQ 1999
Which of the following are considered institutional sources of agricultural credit in India?
1. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies
2. Commercial Banks
3. Regional Rural Banks
4. Money lenders
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- B2 and 4 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Commercial Banks and Regional Rural Banks are institutional sources. Money lenders are non-institutional sources of credit.
Q4Indian Economy·Economic Reforms since 1991PYQ 1999
Why did centralized planning assume a relatively less important role in the industrial sector during the 1990s?
- ABecause markets and private investment were given a larger role under liberalizationCorrect
- BBecause the Constitution removed industry from the Union List
- CBecause industrial production was abolished from GDP calculation
- DBecause all PSUs were privatized immediately
Explanation
Correct. Liberalization shifted emphasis from detailed state control to market signals and private investment decisions.
Q5Geography·Physiography of IndiaPYQ 1999
The Ravva offshore block, with great potential for oil, is located in:
- AKrishna-Godavari basinCorrect
- BCauvery basin
- CMahanadi basin
- DPalar-Pennar basin
Explanation
Correct. The Ravva offshore block is situated in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh and is one of India's important offshore oil-producing areas.
Q6History & Culture·Late Freedom Struggle (1939-1947)PYQ 1999
"It made its proposals in May. It still wanted a united India. There was to be a Federal Union composed of British provinces." The above quotation is related to:
- ASimon Commission
- BGandhi-Irwin Pact
- CCripps Mission
- DCabinet MissionCorrect
Explanation
Correct. The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in March 1946 and announced its plan on 16 May 1946. It proposed a united India with a three-tier federal structure and provincial groupings, rejecting the demand for Pakistan.
Q7History & Culture·Ancient Art, Literature and PhilosophyPYQ 1999
The Indo-Greek kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century BC was:
- ABactriaCorrect
- BScythia
- CZedrasia
- DAria
Explanation
Correct. Bactria (modern northern Afghanistan) was the base of the Indo-Greek kingdom established after Alexander's successors. From here, Greek rulers like Demetrius and Menander extended their control into the Indian subcontinent.
Q8Polity & Governance·Fundamental RightsPYQ 1999
The Constitution of India recognises:
- AOnly religious minorities
- BOnly linguistic minorities
- CReligious and linguistic minoritiesCorrect
- DReligious, linguistic and ethnic minorities
Explanation
Correct. The Constitution explicitly recognises and protects both religious and linguistic minorities through Articles 29 and 30. It does not separately recognise ethnic minorities as a distinct constitutional category.
Q9History & Culture·Music, Dance, Literature and PhilosophyPYQ 1999
Match List I (Books) with List II (Authors): [1999]
I. The First Indian War of Independence — A. Rabindranath Tagore
II. Anand Math — B. Sri Aurobindo
III. Life Divine — C. Bankim Chandra Chatterji
IV. Sadhana — D. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
- AI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-ACorrect
- BI-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
- CI-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
- DI-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A
Explanation
Correct. Savarkar wrote The First Indian War of Independence (1857), Bankim Chandra wrote Anand Math, Sri Aurobindo wrote The Life Divine, and Tagore wrote Sadhana.
Q10History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 1999
The term 'imperial preference' was applied to the:
- ASpecial privileges on British imports in IndiaCorrect
- BRacial discrimination by the Britishers
- CSubordination of Indian interest to that of the British
- DPreference given to British political agents over Indian Princes
Explanation
Correct. Imperial preference referred to the system of preferential tariffs and duties that gave British manufactured goods favourable treatment in colonial markets, including India, at the expense of local industries.
Q11History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 1999
There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the:
- AAbsence of heavy industriesCorrect
- BScarcity of foreign capital
- CScarcity of natural resources
- DPreference of the rich to invest in land
Explanation
Correct. The absence of heavy industries (iron, steel, machinery) meant India could not independently develop a manufacturing base. Colonial policies deliberately prevented the growth of capital goods industries to keep India as a supplier of raw materials.
Q12History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 1999
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
List I (Year): I. 1775, II. 1780, III. 1824, IV. 1838
List II (Event): A. First Anglo-Burmese War, B. First Anglo-Afghan War, C. First Anglo-Maratha War, D. Second Anglo-Mysore War
- AI-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
- BI-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
- CI-C, II-D, III-A, IV-BCorrect
- DI-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A
Explanation
Correct. The First Anglo-Maratha War began in 1775 (C), the Second Anglo-Mysore War started in 1780 (D), the First Anglo-Burmese War commenced in 1824 (A), and the First Anglo-Afghan War started in 1838 (B).
Q13History & Culture·Medieval Art, Architecture and LiteraturePYQ 1999
'The king was freed from his people and they from their king'. On whose death did Badauni comment thus?
- ABalban
- BAlauddin Khalji
- CMuhammad-bin-TughlaqCorrect
- DFiroz Shah Tughlaq
Explanation
Correct. The historian Badauni made this famous remark about Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (d. 1351), whose reign was marked by ambitious but often impractical schemes that caused immense suffering to his subjects, leading to mutual relief at his passing.
Q14Geography·World Physical GeographyPYQ 1999
Assertion (A): Chile continues to be an important producer of copper in the world.
Reason (R): Chile is endowed with the world's largest deposit of porphyry copper.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of ACorrect
- BBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
- CA is true, but R is false
- DA is false, but R is true
Explanation
Correct. Chile is the world's largest copper producer, and this is directly because it possesses the world's largest porphyry copper deposits, including the giant Chuquicamata and Escondida mines.
Q15Polity & Governance·Fundamental RightsPYQ 1999
A British citizen staying in India cannot claim Right to:
- AFreedom of trade and professionCorrect
- BEquality before the Law
- CProtection of life and personal liberty
- DFreedom of religion
Explanation
Correct. Article 19 freedoms, including freedom of trade and profession under Article 19(1)(g), are available only to citizens of India. A foreign national cannot claim these rights.
Q16History & Culture·Medieval Art, Architecture and LiteraturePYQ 1999
Consider the following statements: The striking feature of the Jama Masjid in Kashmir completed by Zain-ul-Abidin include(s):
I. Turret
II. Similarity with Buddhist pagodas
III. Persian style
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- AI alone
- BI, II and IIICorrect
- CII and III
- DI and III
Explanation
Correct. The Jama Masjid of Kashmir, associated with Zain-ul-Abidin, uniquely combines turrets, a pagoda-like multi-tiered structure reminiscent of Buddhist architecture, and Persian stylistic elements, reflecting Kashmir's syncretic architectural tradition.
Q17Science·BiotechnologyPYQ 1999
Consider the following assertion and reason:
Assertion (A): Insect resistant transgenic cotton has been produced by inserting Bt gene.
Reason (R): The Bt gene is derived from a bacterium.
Select the correct answer:
- ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of ACorrect
- BBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
- CA is true, but R is false
- DA is false, but R is true
Explanation
Correct. The Bt gene (cry gene) is derived from Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium, and inserting it into cotton confers insect resistance. The bacterial origin of the gene directly explains why it could be inserted transgenically.
Q18Geography·Transport, Communication and Trade GeographyPYQ 1999
Which one of the following statements is not true of the Konkan Railway?
- AThe total length is about 760 km
- BIt runs through the states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala
- CIt is the only rail route that cuts across the Western Ghats
- DThe Konkan Railway Construction Company which came into being raised money through Public IssuesCorrect
Explanation
Correct — this is NOT true. The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) raised funds primarily through institutional financing and government support, not through public share issues in the conventional sense described.
Q19Environment·Conservation Programmes and MissionsPYQ 1999
Which one of the following legislations does not deal with the protection of the environment?
- AThe Water (Cess) Act, 1977Correct
- BThe Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- CThe Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
- DThe Port Laws Amendment Act, 1997
Explanation
Correct. The Water (Cess) Act, 1977 is a fiscal legislation that levies a cess on water consumed by industries; it is primarily a revenue measure rather than an environmental protection law.
Q20Science·Human PhysiologyPYQ 1999
Match the hormones in List I with items in List II:
I. Adrenaline — II. Estrogen — III. Insulin — IV. Pheromones
A) Anger, fear, danger — B) Attracting partners through sense of smell — C) Females — D) Glucose
- AI-A, II-C, III-D, IV-BCorrect
- BI-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
- CI-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
- DI-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
Explanation
Correct. Adrenaline is the fight-or-flight hormone released during anger, fear, and danger (A); estrogen is the primary female sex hormone (C); insulin regulates blood glucose (D); pheromones attract partners through smell (B).
Q21Polity & Governance·Emergency Provisions and Amendment ProcessPYQ 1999
An amendment of the Constitution of India can be initiated by the:
1. Lok Sabha
2. Rajya Sabha
3. State Legislatures
4. President
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- A1 alone
- B1, 2 and 3
- C2, 3 and 4
- D1 and 2Correct
Explanation
Correct. Under Article 368, a Constitution Amendment Bill may be introduced in either House of Parliament — the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. State Legislatures and the President cannot initiate such a bill.
Q22History & Culture·Vedic Age and MahajanapadasPYQ 1999
The term 'Aryan' denotes:
- AAn ethnic group
- BA nomadic people
- CA speech groupCorrect
- DA superior race
Explanation
Correct. In modern scholarly usage, 'Aryan' refers to speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. The term is linguistic, not racial or ethnic.
Q23History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 1999
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
- AJahangir: William Hawkins
- BAkbar: Sir Thomas RoeCorrect
- CShahjahan: Travernier
- DAurangzeb: Manucci
Explanation
Correct — this is the incorrectly matched pair. Sir Thomas Roe was an ambassador to Jahangir's court (1615-1619), not Akbar's. Akbar died in 1605, before Roe's arrival in India.
Q24Indian Economy·Poverty & UnemploymentPYQ 1999
The Below Poverty Line (BPL) classification in India is based primarily on:
- AA minimum prescribed food basket and consumption expenditureCorrect
- BNumber of working days per year
- CMembership of agricultural labourer or SC/ST groups
- DDaily wage levels alone
Explanation
Correct. India's official poverty line has historically been anchored to a minimum consumption expenditure norm linked to nutritional requirements and broader consumption baskets.
Q25History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 1999
The most short-lived of all of Britain's constitutional experiments in India was the:
- AIndian Councils Act of 1861
- BIndian Councils Act of 1892
- CIndian Councils Act of 1909Correct
- DGovernment of India Act of 1919
Explanation
Correct. The Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) was the most short-lived, lasting only about 10 years before being superseded by the Government of India Act of 1919.