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UPSC CSE Prelims Previous Year Questions (PYQs) – 1999

Table of contents

Practising UPSC CSE Prelims Previous Year Questions (PYQs) is one of the most effective ways to understand the evolving pattern, difficulty level, and demand of the Civil Services Examination.

The UPSC CSE Prelims 1999 PYQs provided by PMF IAS help aspirants analyse the exam trend with a clear answer key and detailed explanations. Whether you are preparing for UPSC CSE 2027, 2028, or beyond, solving the UPSC Prelims 1999 question paper with answers and explanations will help you build accuracy, improve elimination skills, and develop a better understanding of UPSC’s question-framing approach.

One consistent feature found in the history of southern India was the growth of small regional kingdoms rather than large empires because of:

  1. the absence of minerals like iron
  2. too many divisions in the social structure
  3. the absence of vast areas of fertile land
  4. the scarcity of manpower

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • The growth of small regional kingdoms in southern India stemmed from the absence of vast, contiguous fertile plains.
Answer: (c) too many divisions in the social structure

The Constitution of India recognises:

  1. only religious minorities
  2. only linguistic minorities
  3. religious and linguistic minorities
  4. religious, linguistic and ethnic minorities

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • The term “Minority” is not defined in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution recognises both religious and linguistic minorities. Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution grants protection to both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.
Answer: (c) religious and linguistic minorities

“The king was freed from his people and they from their king”. On whose death did Badauni comment thus?

  1. Balban
  2. Ala-ud-din Khalji
  3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlak
  4. Feroze Shah Tughlak

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • The remark “The king was freed from his people and they from their king” is attributed to Abdul Qadir Badauni on the death of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
Answer: (c) Muhammad-bin-Tughlak

Consider the following statements: An amendment of the Constitution of India can be initiated by the

  1. Lok Sabha
  2. Rajya Sabha
  3. State Legislatures
  4. President
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  1. I only
  2. I, II and III
  3. II, III and IV
  4. I and II only

Explanation

Option (d) is correct
  • Under Article 368, a constitutional amendment can be initiated only by introducing a Bill in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. State Legislatures cannot initiate amendments; their role is limited to ratifying certain amendments affecting the federal structure. President does not introduce the Bill. It may be introduced by a Minister or private member without requiring prior presidential recommendation.
Answer: (d) I and II only

The first venture of Gandhi in all India politics was the:

  1. Non-cooperation Movement
  2. Rowlatt Satyagraha
  3. Champaran Movement
  4. Dandi March

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), Ahmedabad (1918) — were localized movements addressing peasants’ and workers’ grievances. The Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919), against the repressive Rowlatt Act, was Gandhi’s first all‑India political campaign. He organized the Satyagraha Sabha and called for a nationwide hartal on April 6, 1919, marking his emergence as a national leader. The Non‑Cooperation Movement (1920) was larger in scale but came later, not as his first venture into all‑India politics.
Answer: (b) Rowlatt Satyagraha

The term ‘Aryan’ denotes:

  1. an ethnic group
  2. a nomadic people
  3. a speech group
  4. a superior race

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

The term Aryan historically denotes a linguistic group, referring to speakers of the Indo‑Aryan/Indo‑Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.

Answer: (c) a speech group

Consider the following statements: The striking feature of the Jama Masjid in Kashmir completed by Zain-ul-Abidin include(s):

  1. turret
  2. similarity with Buddhist pagodas
  3. Persian style
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  1. I alone
  2. I, II and III
  3. II and III
  4. I and III

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • The Jama Masjid in Srinagar, extended by Zain‑ul‑Abidin, features turrets, pagoda‑like roofs echoing Buddhist/Hindu traditions, and clear Persian architectural influence — all three elements together define its style.
Answer: (b) I, II and III

The Ravva offshore block, with great potential for oil, is located in:

  1. Krishna Godavari basin
  2. Cauvery basin
  3. Mahanadi basin
  4. Palar-Pennar basin

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • The Ravva offshore block lies in the Krishna Godavari basin off Andhra Pradesh, a major hydrocarbon region of India.
Answer: (a) Krishna Godavari basin

Which one of the following statements regarding the levying, collecting and distribution of Income Tax is correct?

  1. The Union levies, collects and distributes the proceeds of income tax between itself and the States
  2. The Union levies, collects and keeps all the proceeds of income tax to itself
  3. The Union levies and collects the tax but all the proceeds are distributed among the States
  4. Only the surcharge levied on income tax is shared between the Union and the States

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Under Article 270, the Union levies, collects, and shares income tax (excluding agricultural income) with the States. Article 271 states surcharges go solely to the Centre.
Answer: (a) The Union levies, collects and distributes the proceeds of income tax between itself and the States

The Congress policy of prayer and petition ultimately came to an end under the guidance of:

  1. Aurobindo Ghosh
  2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  3. Lala Lajpat Rai
  4. Mahatma Gandhi

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • The Moderates’ method of petition and prayer gave way to the Extremists’ call for mass agitation, boycott, and swadeshi. Tilak, joined by Lal–Bal–Pal and Aurobindo, led this assertive nationalism, turning Swadeshi into a wider political struggle and rejecting the Moderates’ ineffective appeals.
Answer: (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. Kacchativu and Tin Bigha were territories acquired by the Indian Republic from the French
  2. Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are territories handed over to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi sovereignty respectively by the Government of India
  3. Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are areas that were annexed by the Chinese in the 1962 Sino-Indian War
  4. Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are enclaves which were transferred to India by lease arrangements with Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • Kacchativu was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974, while Tin Bigha was leased to Bangladesh in 1992 for access to Dahagram–Angarpota enclaves. Both represent territorial transfers to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh respectively.
Answer: (b) Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are territories handed over to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi sovereignty, respectively, by the Government of India

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

  1. Jahangir: William Hawkins
  2. Akbar: Sir Thomas Roe
  3. Shahjahan: Tavernier
  4. Aurangzeb: Manucci

Explanation

Option (b) is the correct answer
  • The incorrect pair is Akbar: Sir Thomas Roe. Sir Thomas Roe was the English ambassador to the court of Jahangir, not Akbar.
Answer: (b) Akbar: Sir Thomas Roe

The first writer to use Urdu as the medium of poetic expression was:

  1. Amir Khusru
  2. Mirza Ghalib
  3. Bahadur Shah Zafar
  4. Faiz

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Amir Khusrau is regarded as one of the earliest poets to use the emerging Hindavi (early Urdu) for poetic and devotional expression. He composed Sufi poetry in both Persian and Hindavi, and introduced musical forms such as qaul in qawwali that incorporated this mixed vernacular language.
Answer: (a) Amir Khusru

The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore are classified as:

  1. realistic
  2. socialistic
  3. revivalistic
  4. impressionistic

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • Abanindranath Tagore founded the Bengal School, a revivalist art movement rejecting Victorian realism and restoring indigenous traditions. Drawing on Ajanta murals, Mughal and Rajput miniatures, he created a national idiom tied to Swadeshi nationalism, emphasising symbolic, revivalist expression over Western naturalism.
Answer: (c) revivalistic

From the third century AD, when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the:

  1. African trade
  2. West European trade
  3. Southeast Asian trade
  4. Middle Eastern trade

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • After the decline of Indo‑Roman trade in the 3rd century, Indian merchants shifted focus to Southeast Asian maritime networks. Ports in southern India became key links to island and mainland Southeast Asia, where exchanges in spices, timber, and luxury goods flourished.
Answer: (c) Southeast Asian trade

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I
  1. Pandit Vishnu Digamber Paluskar
  2. Venkatamahi
  3. Shyama Shastri
  4. Amir Khusru
List II
  1. Introduced the scheme of Raga classification of Indian music
  2. Proponent of Carnatic music
  3. Proponent of the Khayal form of Hindustani music
  4. Wrote the music for the song ‘Vande Mataram’
Codes:
  1. I-D, II-A, III-C, IV-B
  2. I-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
  3. I-A, II-D, III-C, IV-B
  4. I-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar is correctly matched with writing the music for Vande Mataram (D). Venkatamakhin introduced the scheme of raga classification in Indian music through the Melakarta system (A). Shyama Shastri was a major proponent of Carnatic music and one of the Carnatic Trinity (B). Amir Khusrau is traditionally associated with the development of the Khayal form of Hindustani music (C).
Answer: (b) I-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C

There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the:

  1. absence of heavy industries
  2. scarcity of foreign capital
  3. scarcity of natural resources
  4. preference of the rich to invest in land

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Colonial industrialisation in India was limited and uneven. Heavy industries such as power and engineering were neglected, while Indian-owned enterprises remained confined mainly to textiles, jute, and consumer goods. Lack of credit, absence of tariff protection, and competition from foreign firms hindered industrial growth. British policies reduced India to a supplier of raw materials and a market for British goods, preventing the development of an independent industrial base
Answer: (d) preference of the rich to invest in land

The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was:

  1. Hatimtai
  2. Alam Ara
  3. Pundalik
  4. Raja Harishchandra

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • Released in 1931, Alam Ara was India’s first talkie film, marking the beginning of sound cinema in the country. Raja Harishchandra, directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, is recognised as India’s first full-length feature film. However, it was a silent film and therefore not considered India’s first talkie.
Answer: (b) Alam Ara

The following persons came to India at one time or another:

  1. Fa-Hien
  2. I-Tsing
  3. Megasthenes
  4. Hieun-Tsang
The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:
  1. III, I, II, IV
  2. III, I, IV, II
  3. I, III, II, IV
  4. I, III, IV, II

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan court, visited India in the late 4th/early 3rd century BCE, making him the earliest among the four travellers listed. Fa Xian visited India during the Chandragupta II’s reign for around nine years, probably 400-410 CE. The main purpose of his visit was to see the Buddha’s land and collect Buddhist manuscripts from India. Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang (Hiuen Tsang) travelled across India from 630 to 645 CE in search of Buddhist manuscripts and teachings. Hiuen Tsang was the royal guest of Harsha. He spent a lot of time at Harsha’s court and left a detailed account of what he saw. I-tsing visited India between 673 and 695 AD, just 28 years after Xuanzang left India.
Answer: (b) III, I, IV, II

‘Abhinav Bharat’, a secret society of revolutionaries, was organised by:

  1. Khudiram Bose
  2. V. D. Savarkar
  3. Prafulla Chaki
  4. Bhagat Singh

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • The Abhinav Bharat (Young India Society) was founded as a secret organisation by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh in 1904. It was named after Mazzini’s Young Italy. The Abhinav Bharat was involved in the assassinations of some British officials. The society was formally dissolved in 1952
Answer: (b) V. D. Savarkar

The most short-lived of all of Britain’s constitutional experiments in India was the:

  1. Indian Councils Act of 1861
  2. Indian Councils Act of 1892
  3. Indian Councils Act of 1909
  4. Government of India Act of 1919

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • The 1909 Act (Morley–Minto Reforms) came into force in 1909 but was superseded by the 1919 Act (Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms), which restructured legislatures and introduced dyarchy. Thus, the 1909 Act was the shortest-lived constitutional experiment, lasting only about a decade before replacement.
Answer: (c) Indian Councils Act of 1909
  1. Simon Commission
  2. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
  3. Cripps Mission
  4. Cabinet Mission

Explanation

Option (d) is correct
  • The quotation refers to the Cabinet Mission Plan of May 1946, published on 16 May. It aimed to preserve Indian unity while addressing communal divisions through a federal scheme. The Plan proposed a three‑tier federation with a central authority limited to defence, foreign affairs, and communications, and provinces grouped into regional clusters—thus forming a Federal Union of British provinces.
Answer: (d) Cabinet Mission

The Governor General who followed a spirited “Forward” policy towards Afghanistan was:

  1. Minto
  2. Dufferin
  3. Elgin
  4. Lytton

Explanation

Option (d) is correct
  • Lord Lytton inaugurated and followed the “forward policy,” which in his own words is somewhat as follows: “Afghanistan is a State far too weak and barbarous to remain isolated and wholly uninfluenced between two great military empires such as England and Russia. It is our policy to cultivate on our northwestern border a strong bulwark, by aiding Afghanistan to become a powerful and prosperous State, provided its power be friendly to ourselves and its prosperity in harmony with that of those other frontier States whose welfare and independence we are resolved to defend against all aggression.” He launched the Second Anglo‑Afghan War and even considered partitioning Afghanistan, reflecting this aggressive stance. The war enabled British control over Afghan foreign affairs, though later tempered by avoiding overt steps like placing a resident in Kabul
Answer: (d) Lytton

At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon, which one of the following Governors-General kept the British flag flying high in India?

  1. Warren Hastings
  2. Lord Cornwallis
  3. Lord Wellesley
  4. Lord Hastings

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • Lord Wellesley (1798–1805) pursued an aggressive forward policy through subsidiary alliances, expanding British control despite Britain’s struggle with France. His annexations and diplomacy secured British supremacy in India, earning him credit for “keeping the flag flying” during the Napoleonic era.
Answer: (c) Lord Wellesley

Which one of the following pairs of states and tribes is not correctly matched?

  1. Assam: Miri
  2. Nagaland: Konyak
  3. Arunachal Pradesh: Apatani
  4. Madhya Pradesh: Lambada

Explanation

Option (d) is the correct answer
  • The Lambada (also called Lambadi or Banjara) are traditionally linked to regions such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, not Madhya Pradesh.
Answer: (d) Madhya Pradesh: Lambada

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?

  1. C. Rajagopalachari
  2. M. A. Jinnah
  3. Subhas Chandra Bose
  4. Jawaharlal Nehru

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • Subhas Chandra Bose treated the war as a chance to exploit Britain’s weakness, urging mass action at Wardha in 1939 and seeking Axis support. His readiness to use wartime conditions and foreign aid defined his independence strategy.
Answer: (c) Subhas Chandra Bose

Which one of the following Indian leaders was dismissed by the British from the Indian Civil Service?

  1. Satyendranath Tagore
  2. Surendranath Banerji
  3. R. C. Dutt
  4. Subhash Chandra Bose

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • Surendranath Banerjee was the Congress leader dismissed from the ICS in the early 1870s, an act widely seen as racial discrimination. This pushed him into public life and nationalist politics. By contrast, Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian to join the ICS, Romesh Chunder Dutt retired, and Subhas Chandra Bose resigned in 1921.
Answer: (b) Surendranath Banerji

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Rivers)
  1. Cauvery
  2. Krishna
  3. Narmada
  4. Chambal
List II (Dams)
  1. Alamatti
  2. Mettur
  3. Gandhi Sagar
  4. Sardar Sarovar
Codes:
  1. I-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
  2. I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
  3. I-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
  4. I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • The Kaveri River is associated with the Mettur Dam (B). The Krishna River has the Alamatti Dam (A). The Narmada River is linked with the Sardar Sarovar Dam (D). The Chambal River is associated with the Gandhi Sagar Dam (C).
Answer: (b) I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Books)
  1. The First Indian War of Independence
  2. Anand Math
  3. Life Divine
  4. Sadhana
List II (Authors)
  1. Rabindranath Tagore
  2. Sri Aurobindo
  3. Bankim Chandra Chatterji
  4. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Codes:
  1. I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
  2. I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
  3. I-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
  4. I-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • The First Indian War of Independence was written by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (D). Anandamath was authored by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (C). The Life Divine was written by Sri Aurobindo (B). Sadhana was authored by Rabindranath Tagore (A).
Answer: (a) I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A

Consider the following events:

  1. Indigo Revolt
  2. Santhal Rebellion
  3. Deccan Riot
  4. Mutiny of the Sepoys
The correct chronological sequence of these events is:
  1. IV, II, I, III
  2. IV, II, III, I
  3. II, IV, III, I
  4. II, IV, I, III

Explanation

Option (d) is correct
  • The Santhal Rebellion occurred first in 1855–56, followed by the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in 1857. The Indigo Revolt took place in 1859–60, and the Deccan Riots occurred later in 1875.
Answer: d) II, IV, I, III

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Year)
  1. 1775
  2. 1780
  3. 1824
  4. 1838
List II (Event)
  1. First Anglo-Burmese War
  2. First Anglo-Afghan War
  3. First Anglo-Maratha War
  4. Second Anglo-Mysore War
Codes:
  1. I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
  2. I-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B
  3. I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
  4. I-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A

Explanation

Option (c) is 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). The First Anglo-Afghan War is associated with 1838, when the British decided to intervene in Afghanistan under the Tripartite Treaty (B).
Answer: (c) I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B

The term “imperial preference” was applied to the:

  1. Special privileges on British imports in India
  2. Racial discrimination by the Britishers
  3. Subordination of Indian interest to that of the British
  4. Preference given to British political agents over Indian Princes

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Britain coined the term Imperial Preference: “home producers first, empire producers second, and foreign producers last. It granted preferential treatment—specifically lower customs duties or total exemptions—to goods imported from Britain and its colonies compared to goods from non-imperial countries
Answer: (a) Special privileges on British imports in India

Consider the following statements:

  1. Assertion (A): Devaluation of a currency may promote export.
  2. Reason (R): Price of the country’s products in the international market may fall due to devaluation.
Options:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Devaluation lowers the value of a country’s currency relative to foreign currencies. As a result, the country’s exports become cheaper in the international market, making them more competitive and increasing export demand. Therefore, both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Consider the following statements:

  1. Assertion (A): Fiscal deficit is greater than budgetary deficit.
  2. Reason (R): Fiscal deficit is the borrowings from the Reserve Bank of India plus other liabilities of the Government to meet its expenditure.
Options:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Budgetary deficit refers only to the gap between total receipts and total expenditure of the government. Fiscal deficit is a broader concept and represents the total borrowing requirements of the government, including borrowings from the Reserve Bank of India and other liabilities. Hence, fiscal deficit is generally greater than budgetary deficit, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

In eye donation, which one of the following parts of the donor’s eye is utilised?

  1. Iris
  2. Lens
  3. Cornea
  4. Retina

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • In eye donation, the cornea — the transparent outer layer at the front of the eye — is transplanted to restore vision in people suffering from corneal blindness or damage.
Answer: (c) Cornea

Neem tree has acquired industrial importance as a source of:

  1. Biopesticide and anti-fertility compound
  2. Anti-fertility compound, biofertilizer and anti-cancer drug
  3. Biofertilizer, biopesticide and anti-fertility compound
  4. Anti-cancer drug, biopesticide and biofertilizer

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Neem has significant industrial and medicinal importance. Neem extracts, especially azadirachtin, are widely used as biopesticides because of their insect-repellent and pest-control properties. Neem compounds have also been studied for anti-fertility effects and are used in contraceptive research. However, neem is not primarily recognised as a biofertilizer or anti-cancer drug in this context.
Answer: (a) Biopesticide and anti-fertility compound

Match List I (Quantity) with List II (Units) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Quantity)
  1. High speed
  2. Wavelength
  3. Pressure
  4. Energy
List II (Units)
  1. Mach
  2. Angstrom
  3. Pascal
  4. Joule
Codes:
  1. I-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
  2. I-A, II-B, III-D, IV-C
  3. I-A, II-B, III-C, IV-D
  4. I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • High speed is measured in Mach number (A), especially for speeds relative to the speed of sound. Wavelength is commonly expressed in Angstrom (B) for atomic and light-scale measurements. Pressure is measured in Pascal (C), while energy is measured in Joule (D).
Answer: (c) I-A, II-B, III-C, IV-D

Which one of the following agricultural practices is eco-friendly?

  1. Organic farming
  2. Shifting cultivation
  3. Cultivation of high-yielding varieties
  4. Growing plants in glasshouses

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Organic farming is considered eco-friendly because it avoids synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and harmful chemicals, while promoting soil fertility, biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Answer: (a) Organic farming

When ants bite, they inject:

  1. Glacial acetic acid
  2. Methanol
  3. Formic acid
  4. Stearic acid

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • When ants bite or sting, they release formic acid, which causes irritation and a burning sensation. The name “formic” is derived from the Latin word formica, meaning ant.
Answer: (c) Formic acid

Which one of the following is a useful functional association between fungi and the roots of higher plants?

  1. Biofertilizer
  2. Coralloid root
  3. Lichen
  4. Mycorrhiza

Explanation

Option (d) is correct
  • Mycorrhiza is a beneficial symbiotic association between fungi and the roots of higher plants. The fungi help plants absorb water and minerals, especially phosphorus, while the plant provides food to the fungi.
Answer: (d) Mycorrhiza

Which one of the following types of coal contains a higher percentage of carbon than the rest?

  1. Bituminous coal
  2. Lignite
  3. Peat
  4. Anthracite

Explanation

Option (d) is correct
  • Anthracite contains the highest percentage of carbon among all types of coal. It is the hardest and purest form of coal, burns with little smoke, and has the highest calorific value.
Answer: (d) Anthracite

Cobalt-60 is commonly used in radiation therapy because it emits:

  1. Alpha rays
  2. Betarays
  3. Gamma rays
  4. X-rays

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • Cobalt-60 is widely used in radiation therapy because it emits powerful gamma rays, which can destroy cancer cells and treat tumours.
Answer: (c) Gamma rays

Low temperatures (Cryogenics) find application in:

  1. Space travel, surgery and magnetic levitation
  2. Surgery, magnetic levitation and telemetry
  3. Space travel, surgery and telemetry
  4. Space travel, magnetic levitation and telemetry

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Cryogenics has important applications in space travel, where liquid fuels like liquid hydrogen and oxygen are used; in surgery, especially cryosurgery for destroying abnormal tissues; and in magnetic levitation systems, where superconducting materials require extremely low temperatures to function efficiently.
Answer: (a) Space travel, surgery and magnetic levitation

Consider the following statements:

  1. Assertion (A): Insect resistant transgenic cotton has been produced by inserting Bt gene.
  2. Reason (R): The Bt gene is derived from a bacterium.
Options:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Insect-resistant Bt cotton is produced by inserting the Bt gene into cotton plants. The Bt gene is derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces toxins harmful to certain insect pests. Hence, both the Assertion and the Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Consider the following statements:

  1. Assertion (A): Dolly was the first cloned mammal.
  2. Reason (R): Dolly was produced by in vitro fertilization.
Options:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (c) is correct
  • Dolly the sheep was the world’s first cloned mammal, created in 1996. However, Dolly was not produced through in vitro fertilization. She was created using the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), in which the nucleus of an adult cell was transferred into an enucleated egg cell.
Answer: (c) A is true, but R is false

Consider the following statements:

  1. Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses.
  2. Reason (R): Horses had to be rested while on march and replacements were necessary in times of war.
Options:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • The state carefully regulated both the number and quality of horses a sawar was expected to maintain. The general rule was that for 10 sawars there should be 20 horses. This was called the dah-bisti or tentwenty system (3×3 horses = 9; 4 x 2 = 8 horses; 3 x 1 = 3 horses; total 20 horses.) This was done to ensure the mobility of the cavalry which was the main fighting force of the Mughals. A second horse was needed as a replacement if the mount was tired, or injured or dead.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Consider the following statements:

  1. Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the August Movement of 1942 as the most serious rebellion since Sepoy Mutiny.
  2. Reason (R): There was massive upsurge of the peasantry in certain areas.
Options:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Linlithgow described the Quit India Movement as the most serious rebellion since the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The movement witnessed widespread participation, including massive peasant uprisings in several regions, attacks on communication networks, and the establishment of parallel governments. Hence, the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Volcanic Mountain)
  1. Mt. Rainier
  2. Etna
  3. Paricutin
  4. Taal
List II (Country)
  1. Italy
  2. Mexico
  3. Philippines
  4. USA
Codes
  1. I-D, II-B, III-A, IV-C
  2. I-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C
  3. I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C
  4. I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

Mount Rainier is located in the United States (D). Mount Etna is in Italy (A). Parícutin is situated in Mexico (B). Taal Volcano is located in the Philippines (C).

Answer: (b) I-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists

List I (Persons)
  1. Shyamji Krishna Varma
  2. Bhikaji Cama
  3. Annie Besant
  4. Aurobindo Ghose
List II (Journals)
  1. Bande Mataram
  2. Indian Sociologist
  3. The Talwar
  4. Commonweal
Codes:
  1. I‑B, II‑C, III‑D, IV‑A
  2. I‑C, II‑B, III‑A, IV‑D
  3. I‑B, II‑C, III‑A, IV‑D
  4. I‑C, II‑B, III‑D, IV‑A

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Shyamji Krishna Varma founded Indian Sociologist, a journal promoting Indian nationalism abroad. Bhikaji Cama was associated with The Talwar, a revolutionary publication. Annie Besant started Commonweal to spread her political and social ideas. Aurobindo Ghose edited Bande Mataram, an influential nationalist newspaper during the freedom struggle.
Answer: (a) I‑B, II‑C, III‑D, IV‑A

A British citizen staying in India cannot claim:

  1. Right to Freedom of trade and profession
  2. Equality before the Law
  3. Protection of life and personal liberty
  4. Freedom of religion

Explanation

Option (a) is the correct answer
  • The Right to Freedom of trade, profession, occupation, or business under Article 19 is available only to Indian citizens
Answer: (a) Right to Freedom of trade and profession

In order to win the Grand Slam in Tennis, a player must win which one of the following groups of tournaments?

  1. Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open, US Open
  2. Wimbledon, French Open, US Open
  3. Wimbledon, French Open, Paegas Czech Open, US Open
  4. Davis Cup, Wimbledon, French Open

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • To achieve a Grand Slam in tennis, a player must win all four major championships in the same calendar year: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. These are the most prestigious tournaments, played on different surfaces (hard, clay, grass, and hard respectively), testing a player’s versatility and endurance.
Answer: (a) Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open, US Open

The Indo-Greek kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century BC was:

  1. Bactria
  2. Scythia
  3. Zedrasia
  4. Aria

Explanation

Option (a) is corect
  • The Indo‑Greek polity in north Afghanistan during the early 2nd century BCE corresponds to Bactria. Scythia was associated with the Scythians (Sakas), not the Indo-Greeks. Gedrosia was an ancient region in present-day Balochistan and had no connection with the Indo-Greek kingdom. Aria was an ancient Persian region around Herat in Afghanistan, but it was not the Indo-Greek kingdom referred to in the question.
Answer: (a) Bactria

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I
  1. WTO
  2. IDA
  3. IMF
  4. IBRD
List II
  1. Provides loans to address short-term balance of payment problems
  2. Multi-lateral trade negotiation
  3. Sanction of soft loans
  4. Facilitating lending’s and borrowings for reconstruction and development
Codes:
  1. I-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
  2. I-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D
  3. I-C, II-B, III-D, IV-A
  4. I-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • World Trade Organization (WTO) is associated with multilateral trade negotiations (B). International Development Association (IDA) provides soft loans to developing countries (C). International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides loans to address short-term balance of payments problems (A). International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) facilitates lending and borrowing for reconstruction and development (D)
Answer: (b) I-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D

Which one of the following statements is not correct ?

  1. Neel Darpan was a play based on the exploitation of the indigo farmers
  2. The author of the play Ghashiram Kotwal is Vijay Tendulkar
  3. The play Navanna by Nabin Chandra Das was based on the famine of Bengal
  4. Urdu theatre used to depend heavily on Parsi theatre

Explanation

Option (c) is the correct answer
  • Nil Darpan was based on the exploitation of indigo farmers in Bengal, so option (a) is correct. Ghashiram Kotwal was written by Vijay Tendulkar, making option (b) correct. Urdu theatre indeed depended heavily on the Parsi theatre tradition, so option (d) is also correct. However, Nabanna was written by Bijon Bhattacharya, not Nabin Chandra Das. Therefore, option (c) is incorrect.
Answer: (c) The play Navanna by Nabin Chandra Das was based on the famine of Bengal

Consider the following statements

  1. Assertion (A): Chile continues to be an important producer of copper in the world.
  2. Reason (R): Chile is endowed with the world’s largest deposit of porphyry copper.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
  3. A is true, but R is false
  4. A is false, but R is true

Explanation

Option (a) is correct
  • Chile is the world’s undisputed leading copper producer, consistently contributing about 24% to 28% of global production. The South American country also houses the world’s two largest individual copper mines: Escondida and Collahuasi.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

 

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