A selection of 25 solved questions — sign up free to practise all 102.
Q1History & Culture·Socio-Religious Reform MovementsPYQ 2020
The Vital-Vidhwansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience, was published by:
- AGopal Baba WalangkarCorrect
- BJyotiba Phule
- CMohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- DBhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Explanation
Correct. Gopal Baba Walangkar, a retired soldier from the Mahar community, was one of the earliest anti-caste activists and is credited with publishing Vital-Vidhwansak, a pioneering journal aimed at untouchable readers.
Q2Environment·Agriculture, Biotechnology and EnvironmentPYQ 2020
In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture?
1. Crop diversification
2. Legume intensification
3. Tensiometer use
4. Vertical farming
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- B3 only
- C4 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. Crop diversification reduces pest pressure, legume intensification adds soil nitrogen naturally, and tensiometers optimise irrigation to prevent water waste.
Q3Polity & Governance·Parliament and State LegislaturesPYQ 2020
With reference to the funds under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are correct?
1. MPLADS funds must be used to create durable assets like physical infrastructure for health and education.
2. A specified portion of each MP's fund must benefit SC/ST populations.
3. MPLADS funds are sanctioned yearly and unused funds cannot be carried forward to the next year.
4. The district authority must inspect at least 10% of all works under implementation every year.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 and 4 only
- C1, 2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 4 onlyCorrect
Explanation
Correct. MPLADS funds are meant for creating durable community assets (Statement 1), a prescribed share must benefit SC/ST areas (Statement 2), and district authorities must inspect at least 10% of works under implementation (Statement 4). Statement 3 is wrong because unused funds can be carried forward.
Q4Environment·Conservation Programmes and MissionsPYQ 2020
Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under 'Critical Tiger Habitat'?
- ACorbett
- BRanthambore
- CNagarjunasagar-SrisailamCorrect
- DSundarbans
Explanation
Correct. Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has the largest notified Critical Tiger Habitat among all Indian tiger reserves.
Q5Science·Computers, ICT and Emerging TechPYQ 2020
With reference to "Blockchain Technology", consider the following statements:
1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody's permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 only
- D1 and 3 onlyCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Blockchain is a transparent, decentralised public ledger (statement 1) and allows permissionless application development (statement 3). It is not limited to cryptocurrency data.
Q6Indian Economy·External Sector & TradePYQ 2020
Which of the following provided immunity to India against the 2008 global financial crisis?
1. India not having full capital account convertibility.
2. Large foreign exchange reserves of India.
3. Small amount of foreign direct investment in India.
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B1 and 2 only
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. India's restricted capital account prevented sudden massive outflows of the kind that devastated countries with fully open capital accounts.
Q7History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 2020
Wellesley established the Fort William College, Calcutta because:
- AHe was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so
- BHe wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India
- CHe wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment
- DHe wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in IndiaCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Lord Wellesley founded Fort William College in 1800 to train newly arrived East India Company civil servants in Indian languages, laws, and customs needed for effective administration of the expanding British territories.
Q8Indian Economy·Economic Reforms since 1991PYQ 2020
Post-1991 liberalization in rural India was associated with:
1. Non-farm economy growth in rural areas
2. Decline in growth rate of rural employment
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Post-1991, rural areas saw non-farm economic growth but also a deceleration in the growth rate of rural employment.
Q9Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2020
With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are:
- ABirdsCorrect
- BPrimates
- CReptiles
- DAmphibians
Explanation
Correct. All four are bird species found in India. Ceylon frogmouth belongs to Podargidae, Coppersmith barbet to Megalaimidae, Gray-chinned minivet to Campephagidae, and White-throated redstart to Muscicapidae.
Q10Environment·Climate Change SciencePYQ 2020
In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for reducing the carbon footprint?
1. Copper slag
2. Cold mix asphalt technology
3. Geotextiles
4. Hot mix asphalt technology
5. Portland cement
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- B2, 3 and 4 only
- C4 and 5 only
- D1 and 5 only
Explanation
Correct. Copper slag (industrial by-product reuse), cold mix asphalt (no heating needed, lower emissions), and geotextiles (reduce material use) all help lower the carbon footprint of road construction.
Q11Environment·Indian Environmental Laws and InstitutionsPYQ 2020
If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?
- AA licence is required to cultivate that plant.Correct
- BSuch a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.
- CIt is a Genetically Modified crop plant.
- DSuch a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem.
Explanation
Correct. Schedule VI of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 lists specified plants whose cultivation and trade require a licence from the competent authority.
Q12Indian Economy·Fiscal Policy & BudgetingPYQ 2020
Non-financial debt of a country includes:
1. Housing loans owed by households
2. Credit card bills owed by households
3. Treasury bills issued by the government
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Non-financial debt includes all borrowings by non-financial entities such as households, corporations, and the government. Housing loans, credit card bills, and treasury bills all qualify.
Q13Indian Economy·AgriculturePYQ 2020
Which of the following factors affect the price of rice in India?
1. Minimum Support Price
2. Government trading in rice
3. Government stockpiling of rice
4. Consumer subsidies on rice
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 4 only
- B1, 3 and 4 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4Correct
Explanation
Correct. All four factors — MSP, government trading, stockpiling and consumer subsidies — can influence the price of rice.
Q14Science·Computers, ICT and Emerging TechPYQ 2020
In India, under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in addition to payment for the loss of funds and other benefits?
1. Cost of restoration of the computer system in case of malware disrupting access to one's computer
2. Cost of a new computer if some miscreant wilfully damages it, if proved so
3. Cost of hiring a specialised consultant to minimise the loss in case of cyber extortion
4. Cost of defence in the Court of Law if any third party files a suit
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 4 only
- B1, 3 and 4 onlyCorrect
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. Cyber insurance covers system restoration costs, consultant fees for cyber extortion, and legal defence costs. Physical damage to hardware is not a cyber insurance benefit.
Q15Polity & Governance·Elections and Political DynamicsPYQ 2020
Consider the following statements:
Statement 1: According to the Constitution of India, a person eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he or she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
Statement 2: According to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after release from prison.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2Correct
Explanation
Correct. Statement 1 is wrong because Article 164(4) requires qualification to become a member, not merely voter eligibility. Statement 2 is wrong because the disqualification is not permanent — it lasts during imprisonment plus six years after release.
Q16Environment·Conservation Programmes and MissionsPYQ 2020
Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?
- AKanha National ParkCorrect
- BManas National Park
- CMudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- DTal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
Explanation
Correct. Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is famous for conserving the hard-ground Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi), which was brought back from the brink of extinction through a dedicated species recovery effort.
Q17Environment·Protected Areas and Conservation FrameworksPYQ 2020
Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?
1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- B2 and 3 only
- C3 and 4 only
- D1 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct. Musk deer inhabit high-altitude alpine scrub and forests of the Himalayas. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttarakhand) and Gangotri National Park (Uttarakhand) provide this habitat.
Q18Polity & Governance·Important Acts and Rights-Based GovernancePYQ 2020
Consider the following statements:
1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months.
2. States cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing Aadhaar data.
3. Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products.
4. Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 and 4 only
- B2 and 4 onlyCorrect
- C3 only
- D1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Correct. Under the Aadhaar framework, States cannot share Aadhaar data with private corporations, and Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act allows Aadhaar to be required for receipt of benefits and subsidies funded from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Q19Indian Economy·International Economic OrganizationsPYQ 2020
With reference to the TRIMS (Trade-Related Investment Measures) Agreement under the WTO, consider the following statements:
1. It prohibits investment measures that are inconsistent with GATT provisions on national treatment and quantitative restrictions.
2. It covers trade in both goods and services.
3. It is not concerned with the regulation of foreign investment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B1 and 3 only
- C2 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. The TRIMS Agreement applies to investment measures related to trade in goods and prohibits measures violating GATT Articles III (national treatment) and XI (quantitative restrictions).
Q20Polity & Governance·Parliament and State LegislaturesPYQ 2020
Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in:
- ACreation of new All India Services
- BAmending the ConstitutionCorrect
- CRemoval of the government
- DMaking cut motions
Explanation
Correct. Under Article 368, a Constitution Amendment Bill must be passed separately by each House with the required special majority. Neither House can override the other, making their powers equal in this regard.
Q21Current Affairs·Economy and Reports in NewsPYQ 2020
With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:
1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C2 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Ammonia for urea production is derived from natural gas, and sulphur used in phosphoric acid manufacture is commonly recovered as a by-product from oil refineries.
Q22History & Culture·Early Medieval IndiaPYQ 2020
Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the 'Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?
- AAn advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
- BA diary to be maintained for daily accounts
- CA bill of exchangeCorrect
- DAn order from the feudal lord to his subordinates
Explanation
Correct. Hundi evolved as a financial instrument functioning essentially as a bill of exchange. It facilitated long-distance commercial transactions by allowing merchants to transfer funds without physically moving cash, reflecting the sophistication of medieval Indian commercial practices.
Q23Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2020
What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?
1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 3 only
- B1, 2 and 4 only
- C1, 3 and 4 onlyCorrect
- D2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct. Fertigation can control irrigation water alkalinity (1), increase nutrient availability through targeted root-zone delivery (3), and reduce leaching losses (4). However, rock phosphate and similar phosphatic fertilizers are poorly soluble, making statement 2 incorrect.
Q24Current Affairs·Science and Technology in NewsPYQ 2020
In India, the term 'Public Key Infrastructure' is used in the context of:
- ADigital security infrastructureCorrect
- BFood security infrastructure
- CHealth care and education infrastructure
- DTelecommunication and transportation infrastructure
Explanation
Correct. Public Key Infrastructure refers to the framework of certificates, encryption and authentication used to secure digital transactions and verify identities.
Q25History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 2020
Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of the Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?
- AIndian handicrafts were ruinedCorrect
- BMachines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers
- CRailway lines were laid in many parts of the country
- DHeavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures
Explanation
Correct. The Industrial Revolution led to massive production of cheap machine-made textiles in Britain, which flooded Indian markets and destroyed the traditional Indian handicraft and handloom industries in the first half of the nineteenth century.