UPSC CSE Prelims Previous Year Questions (PYQs) – 2008

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 2008 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 2008 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.

What is Bisphenol A (BPA)?

1. A medical test for detecting cancer
2. A test for testing the use of drugs to improve performance by athletes
3. A chemical used for the development of food-packaging materials
4. A special type of alloy steel

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), BPA is commonly found in food and beverage containers, including plastic bottles and the internal coating of metal food cans. Polycarbonate plastics containing BPA are valued for their durability and transparency, while epoxy resins containing BPA are used as protective linings to prevent corrosion and food contamination.

Answer: (c) A chemical used for the development of food-packaging materials

Consider the following statements:

1. Orange Prize is awarded to a work of published fiction in English by a woman.
2. Pulitzer Prize is awarded by the Commonwealth Foundation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The “Orange Prize” is a widely recognised former name for one of the world’s most prestigious literary awards: the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Established in the UK in 1996, it was created to celebrate and amplify the voices of female authors globally

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Pulitzer Prize is administered by Columbia University, not by the Commonwealth Foundation. It is conferred annually in the United States for accomplishments in journalism, literature, and musical composition.

Answer: (a) 1 only

Recently, the manuscripts of which one of the following have been included in the UNESCO’s Memory of World Register?

1. Abhidhamma Pitaka
2. Mahabharata
3. Ramayana
4. Rig-Veda

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• In 2007, UNESCO included 30 manuscripts of the Rig-Veda, preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune, in its Memory of the World Register. These manuscripts are recognised for their immense universal significance as one of the oldest literary traditions in human history.

Answer: (d) Rig Veda

Selene-1, the lunar orbiter mission, belongs to which one of the following?

1. China
2. European Union
3. Japan
4. USA

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• SELENE-1 stands for SELenological and ENgineering Explorer, also popularly known as Kaguya. It was launched in September 2007 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It was Japan’s first lunar orbiter mission, aimed at studying the Moon’s origin and evolution.

Answer: (c) Japan

From which one of the following did India buy the Barak anti-missile defence systems?

1. Israel
2. France
3. Russia
4. USA

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• The Barak Missile Defence System is an advanced, jointly-developed Indo-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.

Answer: (a) Israel

Consider the following:

1. Rice fields
2. Coal mining
3. Domestic animals
4. Wetlands

Which of the above are sources of methane, a major greenhouse gas?

1. 1 and 4 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Methane is a major greenhouse gas released from both natural and human-related sources. Rice fields produce methane due to anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in waterlogged conditions. Coal mining releases methane trapped within coal seams during extraction. Domestic animals such as cattle emit methane through enteric fermentation in their digestive systems. Wetlands are also important natural sources of methane because decomposition occurs in oxygen-deficient environments. Therefore, all the given sources contribute to methane emissions

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

What is the number of spokes in the Dharmachakra in the National Flag of India?

1. 16
2. 18
3. 22
4. 24

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• The Ashoka Chakra in the Indian National Flag is adopted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. It contains 24 spokes, symbolising 24 virtues such as justice, courage, patience, righteousness, etc.

Answer: (d) 24

Which one of the following is not essentially a species of the Himalayan vegetation?

1. Juniper
2. Mahogany
3. Silver fir
4. Spruce

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Mahogany is a tropical hardwood tree found mainly in tropical rainforests and is not a characteristic species of Himalayan vegetation.

Answer: (b) Mahogany

Which of the following hills are found where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet?

1. Anaimalai Hills
2. Cardamom Hills
3. Nilgiri Hills
4. Shevrooy Hills

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Nilgiri Hills form a junction zone where the Eastern Ghats meet the Western Ghats.

Answer: (c) Nilgiri Hills

Consider the following pairs:

Tributary River	Main River
1. Chambal	Narmada
2. Sone	Yamuna
3. Manas	Brahmputra

Which of the following pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. 1, 2 and 3
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 3 only

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrect

• Chambal is a major tributary of the Yamuna, not the Narmada. It joins the Yamuna near Etawah (Uttar Pradesh).

Pair 2 is incorrect

• The river Sone is an important right-bank tributary of the river Ganga. It originates in the Amarkantak highlands of the Maikala range.

Pair 3 is correct

• Manas is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, flowing from Bhutan into Assam.

Answer: (d) 3 only

Which one amongst the following has the largest livestock population in the world?

1. Brazil
2. China
3. India
4. USA

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• With 19.46% of the world’s cattle and 59.29% of its buffalo, India is home to the biggest livestock population in the world.

Answer: (c) India

How many High Courts in India have jurisdiction over more than one State (Union Territories not included)?

1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• High Courts with Jurisdiction Over Multiple States (UTs Excluded). The three High Courts are:
  • Gauhati High Court: Has jurisdiction over four states: Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Bombay High Court: Has jurisdiction over two states: Maharashtra and Goa. It also covers the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
  • Punjab and Haryana High Court: Has jurisdiction over two states: Punjab and Haryana. It also covers the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Answer: (b) 3

In which one of the following kinds of organisms is the phenomenon found wherein the female kills the male after copulation?

1. Dragonfly
2. Honeybee
3. Spider
4. Pit viper

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Sexual cannibalism is well documented in spiders, especially black widow spiders. The female kills and consumes the male after mating.

Answer: (c) Spider

For which one of the following snakes is the diet mainly composed of other snakes?

1. Krait
2. Russell’s viper
3. Rattlesnake
4. King cobra

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• The King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is famously ophiophagous, which literally means “snake-eating” in Greek. Its diet is almost exclusively composed of other snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, as well as lizards.

Answer: (d) King Cobra

Which one of the following is an insectivorous plant?

1. Passion flower plant
2. Pitcher plant
3. Night queen
4. Flame of the forest

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Pitcher plant is an insectivorous plant. It traps and digests insects using its modified pitcher-shaped leaves, which contain digestive fluids. This adaptation helps the plant obtain nutrients, especially nitrogen, from nutrient-poor soils.

Answer: (b) Pitcher Plant

Starting with the Australian Open Lawn Tennis Tournament, which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the other three major Lawn Tennis Tournaments?

1. French Open – US Open – Wimbledon
2. French Open – Wimbledon – US Open
3. Wimbledon – US Open – French Open
4. Wimbledon – French Open – US Open

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The four Grand Slam tennis tournaments are held in the following order during the year: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

Answer: (b) French Open – Wimbledon – US Open

In which one of the following is Malta located?

1. Baltic Sea
2. Mediterranean Sea
3. Black Sea
4. North Sea

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Malta is an island country located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Italy.

Answer: (b) Mediterranean Sea

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Service / Agency	Country
A. Foreign Intelligence Service	1. Israel
B. Ministry of State Security	2. Britain
C. Secret Intelligence Service	3. China
D. The Mossad	4. Russia

1. A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
2. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
3. A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
4. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• The Foreign Intelligence Service refers to Russia’s external intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security is associated with China, the Secret Intelligence Service (commonly known as MI6) belongs to Britain, and the Mossad is the intelligence agency of Israel.

Answer: (d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

In which one of the following States are the Namchik-Namphuk Coalfields located?

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Meghalaya
3. Manipur
4. Mizoram

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• The Namchik-Namphuk coalfield is a major commercial coal block located in the Changlang district of southeastern Arunachal Pradesh, India, within the Upper Assam coal belt

Answer: (a) Arunachal Pradesh

Norman Ernest Borlaug, who is regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India, is from which country?

1. United States of America
2. Mexico
3. Australia
4. New Zealand

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Norman Ernest Borlaug, regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India, was from the United States of America. He played a major role in developing high-yielding varieties of wheat that significantly increased agricultural production in India and other countries.

Answer: (a) United States of America

Yom Kippur War was fought between which sides/countries?

1. Turkey and Greece
2. Serbs and Croats
3. Israel and Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria
4. Iran and Iraq

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Yom Kippur War (1973) was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria.

Answer: (c) Israel and Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria

Consider the following statements:

1. The albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light.
2. The albedo of Mercury is much greater than the albedo of the Earth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect

• Albedo refers to the reflecting power of a surface and determines how bright an object appears when viewed in reflected light. Hence, statement 1 is correct. However, Mercury has a relatively low albedo because of its dark, rocky surface, whereas Earth has a higher albedo due to clouds, ice, and atmospheric reflection.

Answer: (a) 1 only

What does the Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayan Sulva Sutra) relate to?

1. Lengths of sides of a right-angled triangle
2. Calculation of the value of pi
3. Logarithmic calculations
4. Normal distribution curve

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• The Baudhayan Sulva Sutra contains the Baudhayan theorem, which relates to the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. It is considered an early statement of what later became known as the Pythagorean theorem.

Answer: (a) Lengths of sides of a right-angled triangle

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

Theory/Law — Associated Scientist

1. Continental Drift — Edwin Hubble
2. Expansion of Universe — Alfred Wegener
3. Photoelectric Effect — Albert Einstein

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 2 and 3 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1 only

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener, not Edwin Hubble, so pair 1 is incorrect. The Expansion of the Universe is associated with Edwin Hubble, not Alfred Wegener, making pair 2 incorrect. The Photoelectric Effect was correctly explained by Albert Einstein, so pair 3 is correct. Therefore, only pair 3 is correctly matched.

Answer: (b) 3 only

Which of the following minerals are found in a natural way in the State of Chhattisgarh?

1. Bauxite
2. Dolomite
3. Iron ore
4. Tin

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

All options are correct

• Chhattisgarh is rich in mineral resources and naturally contains deposits of bauxite, dolomite, iron ore, and tin. In fact, Chhattisgarh is the only tin producing State in India.

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

On which one of the following rivers is the Tehri Hydropower Complex located?

1. Alaknanda
2. Bhagirathi
3. Dhauliganga
4. Mandakini

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Tehri Dam, which is part of the Tehri Hydropower Complex, is built on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand.

Answer: (b) Bhagirathi

Which one of the following cities is nearest to the equator?

1. Colombo
2. Jakarta
3. Manila
4. Singapore

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Singapore is the city nearest to the Equator. Singapore lies at about 1° North latitude, whereas Colombo is around 7° North, Jakarta is about 6° South, and Manila is around 14° North. Since Singapore is closest to 0° latitude, it is nearest to the Equator.

Answer: (d) Singapore

Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line?

1. Malacca Strait
2. Bering Strait
3. Strait of Florida
4. Strait of Gibraltar

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Bering Strait separates the Chukchi Peninsula of the Asian mainland (Russia) from the Seward Peninsula of the North American mainland (Alaska, USA). It is located just west of the International Date Line, which largely follows 180° longitude and runs through the strait. The date line bends around the Strait to keep the U.S. and Russia on different calendar days.

Answer: (b) Bering Strait

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

Waterfalls	River
1. Kapildhara Falls	Godavari
2. Jog Falls	Sharavati
3. Sivasamudram Falls	Cauvery

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrect

• Kapildhara Falls is actually on the Narmada River, not Godavari.

Pair 2 is correct

• Jog Falls is formed by the Sharavati River in Karnataka.

Pair 3 is correct

• Sivasamudram Falls is on the Cauvery River.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India?

1. Motilal Nehru
2. M. G. Ranade
3. G. K. Gokhale
4. B. G. Tilak

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Gopal Krishna Gokhale famously rejected a highly prestigious position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India. In addition to declining this seat, the prominent moderate leader and founder of the Servants of India Society also refused the title of Knighthood offered by the British colonial government

Answer: (c) G.K. Gokhale

During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India?

1. Akbar
2. Jahangir
3. Shahjahan
4. Aurangzeb

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The English East India Company established its first factory at Surat in 1613, during the reign of Jahangir.

Answer: (b) Jahangir

During the Indian Freedom Struggle, who of the following raised an army called “Free Indian Legion”?

1. Lala Hardayal
2. Rashbehari Bose
3. Subhas Chandra Bose
4. V. D. Savarkar

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Free Indian Legion (also known as the Indische Legion or Infanterie-Regiment 950) in Germany in 1941. The unit was primarily composed of Indian prisoners of war captured by the Axis powers in North Africa and Europe.

Answer: (c) Subhas Chandra Bose

Which one of the following suggested the reconstitution of the Viceroy’s Executive Council in which all the portfolios, including that of War Members, were to be held by the Indian leaders?

1. Simon Commission
2. Simla Conference
3. Cripps Proposal
4. Cabinet Mission

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Simla Conference (1945), based on the Wavell Plan, proposed a major overhaul of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. The key proposal was that all members of the Council, except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief (who held the War portfolio at that specific moment), would be Indian political leaders. While the Commander-in-Chief was still a British official, the intention was to have all other significant portfolios managed by Indians, a major step toward self-governance. The conference ultimately failed due to disagreements between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League over the method of selecting Muslim representatives.

Answer: (b) Simla Conference

What is Agent Orange?

1. An ace spying group trained by the Police in London
2. A weed-killing chemical used by the US Military in the Vietnam War
3. A technique used in advanced railway safety procedure
4. A special chemical used in making alloy steel

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Agent Orange was a herbicide (defoliant) extensively used by the United States military during the Vietnam War (1961–71) to destroy forest cover and crops. It contained dioxin, a highly toxic compound. Caused long-term environmental damage and severe health effects.

Answer: (b) A weed-killing chemical used by the US Military in the Vietnam War

Which of the following countries share borders with Moldova?

1. Ukraine
2. Romania
3. Belarus

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Moldova shares its borders with Ukraine to the east and Romania to the west. It does not share a border with Belarus.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

India is a member of which of the following?

1. Asian Development Bank
2. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
3. Colombo Plan
4. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• India is a member of the Asian Development Bank and the Colombo Plan. However, India is not a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only

Consider the following statements:

1. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer was the Chief Justice of India.
2. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer is considered as one of the progenitors of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India from 1973 to 1980, but he never held the post of Chief Justice of India.

Statement 2 is correct

• Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, along with Justice P. N. Bhagwati, is credited as a pioneer and progenitor of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India.

Answer: (b) 2 only

Consider the following statements:

1. Chikmagalur is well-known for sugar production.
2. Mandya is well-known as a coffee-producing region.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Chikmagalur is famously known as the “Coffee Land of Karnataka” and is a major coffee-producing region in India.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Mandya is widely recognized as a major sugarcane-producing district and is often called the “Sugar City” or Sakkare Nagara of Karnataka because of its extensive sugarcane cultivation and sugar factories.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Bimbavati Devi is a well-known dancer of which type of dance?

1. Manipuri
2. Bharat Natyam
3. Kuchipudi
4. Odissi

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Bimbavati Devi was a celebrated Manipuri classical dancer.

Answer: (a) Manipuri; Difficulty Level: Medium

Who among the following gave a systematic critique of the moderate politics of the Indian National Congress in a series of articles entitled “New Lamps for Old”?

1. Aurobindo Ghosh
2. R. C. Dutt
3. Syed Ahmad Khan
4. Viraraghavachari

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• In 1893–1894, Aurobindo Ghosh published a series of nine articles titled “New Lamps for Old” in the journal Indu Prakash. In these writings, he launched a scathing and systematic critique of the Moderate leadership of the Indian National Congress.

Answer: (a) Aurobindo Ghosh

Which of the following shall cause every recommendation made by the Finance Commission to be laid before each House of Parliament?

1. The President of India
2. The Speaker of Lok Sabha
3. The Prime Minister of India
4. The Union Finance Minister

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Article 281 of the Constitution of India mandates that the President shall cause every recommendation made by the Finance Commission, along with an explanatory memorandum, to be laid before each House of Parliament.

Answer: (a) The President of India

The Ogaden region is located in which one of the following countries?

1. Somalia
2. Eritrea
3. Ethiopia
4. Sudan

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Ogaden is a region located in eastern Ethiopia, inhabited largely by ethnic Somalis. It lies near the borders of Somalia and Djibouti and has historically been an area of strategic and political significance in the Horn of Africa

Answer: (c) Ethiopia

Near which one of the following cities are the Palitana Temples located?

1. Bhavnagar
2. Mount Abu
3. Nasik
4. Ujjain

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Palitana Temples (Shatrunjaya Hills) are one of the holiest Jain pilgrimage sites. Located in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat.

Answer: (a) Bhavnaga

In order of their distances from the Sun, which of the following planets lie between Mars and Uranus?

1. Earth and Jupiter
2. Jupiter and Saturn
3. Saturn and Earth
4. Saturn and Neptune

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Order of planets from Sun: Mercury → Venus → Earth → Mars → Jupiter → Saturn → Uranus → Neptune. Hence, between Mars and Uranus lie Jupiter and Saturn.

Answer: (b) Jupiter and Saturn

Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?

1. Lord Irwin
2. Lord Reading
3. Lord Chelmsford
4. Lord Wavell

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Rowlatt Act, 1919, which allowed detention without trial, was passed during the tenure of Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921).

Answer: (c) Lord Chelmsford

In which one of the following locations is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project to be built?

1. Northern Spain
2. Southern France
3. Eastern Germany
4. Southern Italy

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• ITER is located at Cadarache, Southern France.

Answer: (b) Southern France

Which two countries follow China and India in the decreasing order of their populations?

1. Brazil and USA
2. USA and Indonesia
3. Canada and Malaysia
4. Russia and Nigeria

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• India (Estimated ~1.47 billion)
• China (Estimated ~1.41 billion)
• United States (Estimated ~349 million)
• Indonesia (Estimated ~288 million)

Answer: (b) USA and Indonesia

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below:

List-I (Organisation)	List-II (Associated Convention / Person / Place / Headquarters)
A. Amnesty International	1. Viskuli
B. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)	2. Paris
C. Danube Commission	3. Peter Benenson
D. European Space Agency	4. Belgrade Convention

Which of the following is correctly matched?

1. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
2. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
3. A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
4. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Amnesty International was founded by Peter Benenson, so A-3 is correct. The Commonwealth of Independent States was established by Agreement, signed in Viskuli, Belarus, making B-1 correct. The Danube Commission is associated with the Belgrade Convention, so C-4 is correct. The European Space Agency has its headquarters in Paris, making D-2 correct.

Answer: (d) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Under which one of the following Constitution Amendment Acts, four languages were added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, thereby raising their number to 22?

1. Constitution (Ninetieth Amendment) Act
2. Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act
3. Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act
4. Constitution (Ninety-third Amendment) Act

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Under the Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act, 2003, four languages—Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali—were added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. This increased the total number of scheduled languages from 18 to 22

Answer: (c) Constitution (Ninety-second Amendment) Act

Consider the following statements:

The Constitution of India provides that

1. The Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than 450 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State.
2. A person shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly of a State if he/she is less than 25 years of age.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• According to Article 170, the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) of each State shall consist of not more than 500 members and not less than 60 members (subject to specific exceptions for smaller states like Goa, Sikkim, and Mizoram).

Statement 2 is correct

• Under Article 173 (b), the minimum age qualification for a person to be chosen to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly is 25 years.

Answer: (b) 2 only

Who among the following translated the Autobiography of Madam Curie into Hindi?

1. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri
3. Chaudhary Charan Singh
4. Govind Vallabh Pant

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The autobiography of Madam Curie was translated into Hindi by Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India.

Answer: (b) Lal Bahadur Shastri

Which one of the following is also called Stranger Gas?

1. Argon
2. Neon
3. Xenon
4. Nitrous Oxide

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Xenon is called the “Stranger Gas” because its name is derived from the Greek word xenos, which literally means “strange” or “stranger.” It was given this name by its discoverers, William Ramsay and Morris Travers, in 1898 because it was found as a small, “strange” residue during the fractional distillation of liquid air.

Answer: (c) Xenon

Mixture of which one of the following pairs of gases is the cause of occurrence of most of the explosions in mines?

1. Hydrogen and oxygen
2. Oxygen and acetylene
3. Methane and air
4. Carbon dioxide and methane

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Methane (CH₄), also known as firedamp, is the primary gas released from coal seams during mining operations. Explosions occur when methane builds up and mixes with air (oxygen) in a specific range, typically between 5% and 15% by volume. When this mixture encounters an ignition source—such as a spark from machinery, defective safety lamps, or a naked flame—it results in a violent explosion.

Answer: (c) Methane and Air

Which one of the following pairs of metals constitutes the lightest metal and the heaviest metal, respectively?

1. Lithium and mercury
2. Lithium and osmium
3. Aluminium and osmium
4. Aluminium and mercury

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Lithium is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. It has a density of approximately 0.534 g/cm³, about half that of water. Osmium is the heaviest metal (densest naturally occurring element). It has a density of approximately 22.59 g/cm³, making it twice as dense as lead.

Answer: (b) Lithium and Osmium

Who among the following Gandhian followers was a teacher by profession?

1. A. N. Sinha
2. Braj Kishore Prasad
3. J. B. Kripalani
4. Rajendra Prasad

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Jivatram Bhagwandas (Acharya) Kripalani was a professor of history at Muzaffarpur College in Bihar when he first met Mahatma Gandhi in 1917 during the Champaran Satyagraha. It was because of his career in education that he earned the title “Acharya” (teacher). He later served as the Principal of the Gujarat Vidyapith, an institution established by Gandhi.

Answer: (c) J.B. Kriplani

Where was the First Session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1885?

1. Ahmedabad
2. Bombay
3. Calcutta
4. Delhi

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The first session of the Indian National Congress (INC) was held from December 28 to December 31, 1885. Location: Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay (now Mumbai).

Answer: (b) Bombay

What does the S&P 500 relate to?

1. Supercomputer
2. A new technique in e-business
3. A new technique in bridge building
4. An index of stocks of large companies

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• S&P 500 is a stock market index of 500 large-cap US companies. It reflects the overall performance of the US equity market.

Answer: (d) An Index of stocks of large companies

Who among the following wrote the poem Subh-e-Azadi?

1. Sahir Ludhianvi
2. Faiz Ahmed Faiz
3. Muhammad Iqbal
4. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Faiz Ahmed Faiz wrote the deeply moving Urdu poem Subh-e-Azadi (The Dawn of Freedom) in August 1947. The poem expresses his profound anguish and disillusionment regarding the partition of the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: (b) Faiz Azhmed Faiz

The release of which one of the following into ponds and wells helps in controlling the mosquitoes?

1. Crab
2. Dogfish
3. Gambusia fish
4. Snail

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Gambusia, commonly known as the mosquitofish, is released into ponds and wells because it feeds on mosquito larvae and helps control mosquito populations biologically. A single adult Gambusia can consume hundreds of larvae in a single day, effectively breaking the mosquito life cycle before they can fly and spread diseases like Malaria, Dengue, or Zika.

Answer: (c) Gambusia Fish

Which Schedule of the Constitution of India contains special provisions for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas in several States?

1. Third
2. Fifth
3. Seventh
4. Ninth

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India contains special provisions for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in several states of India.

Answer: (b) Fifth

Department of Border Management is a department of which one of the following Union Ministries?

1. Ministry of Defence
2. Ministry of Home Affairs
3. Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways
4. Ministry of Environment and Forests

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Department of Border Management is a constituent department of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 

Answer: (b) Ministry of Home Affairs

For which one of the following reforms was a Commission set up under the Chairmanship of Veerappa Moily by the Government of India?

1. Police Reforms
2. Tax Reforms
3. Reforms in Technical Education
4. Administrative Reforms

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• The Government of India constituted the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on August 31, 2005, under the chairmanship of Veerappa Moily.

Answer: (d) Administrative Reforms

In India, how many States share the coastline?

1. 7
2. 8
3. 9
4. 10

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• 9 Coastal States are: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.

Answer: (c) 9

With reference to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements:

Board	Headquarters
A. Coffee Board	1. Bengaluru
B. Rubber Board	2. Guntur
C. Tea Board	3. Kottayam
D. Tobacco Board	4. Kolkata

Which of the following code is correctly matched?

1. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
2. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
3. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
4. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2

Explanation

• The Coffee Board of India is headquartered in Bengaluru, the Rubber Board is headquartered in Kottayam, the Tea Board India is headquartered in Kolkata, and the Tobacco Board is headquartered in Guntur.

Answer: (b) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

Among the following, which one is not an ape?

1. Gibbon
2. Gorilla
3. Langur
4. Orangutan

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Langur is a monkey, not an ape. Apes lack tails; langurs possess tails.

Answer: (c) Langur

Consider the following Assertion and Reason:

1. Assertion (A): In the visible spectrum of light, red light is more energetic than green light.
2. Reason (R): The wavelength of red light is more than that of green light.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true but R is false
4. A is false but R is true

Explanation

Assertion (A) is false

• In the visible spectrum, red light is less energetic than green light. Energy is inversely proportional to wavelength (E=hc/lambda). Since red light has a longer wavelength, it possesses lower energy per photon. 

Reason (R) is true

• The wavelength of red light (approximately 620–750 nm) is indeed greater than that of green light (approximately 495–570 nm).

Answer: (d) A is false, but R is true

Consider the following Assertion and Reason:

1. Assertion (A): Radio waves bend in a magnetic field.
2. Reason (R): Radio waves are electromagnetic in nature.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true but R is false
4. A is false but R is true

Explanation

Assertion (A) is false

• Radio waves do not bend in a static magnetic field. Because they are composed of photons with no electric charge, they do not experience the Lorentz force that causes charged particles (like electrons) to curve. While light and radio waves can be bent by gravity (gravitational lensing) or very intense nonlinear interactions in specific plasmas, a standard magnetic field does not deflect them.

Reason (R) is true

• Radio waves are indeed electromagnetic in nature. They belong to the long-wavelength, low-frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

Answer: (d) A is false but R is true

Consider the following statements:

1. Salt-water crocodile is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. Shrew and tapir are found in the Western Ghats of the Malabar region.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Shrews are found in parts of India including the Western Ghats. Tapir, however, is not found in India. They inhabit parts of Latin America and in Asia are found in Malaysia, Thailand and may wander into India along the border shared with Myanmar.

Answer: (a) 1 only

Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?

1. Al-Hilal
2. Comrade
3. The Indian Sociologist
4. Zamindar

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Al-Hilal was an Urdu weekly newspaper established by Abul Kalam Azad in 1912 to propagate his radical anti-British views and forge Hindu-Muslim unity. Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar started Comrade in 1911 as an English-language newspaper. Shyamji Krishna Varma started The Indian Sociologist in 1905 as an English-language journal to promote Indian nationalism and criticise British rule in India. Zamindar was a prominent Urdu-language newspaper founded in January 1903 as a weekly in Lahore by Maulvi Sirajuddin Ahmed, initially focusing on issues affecting farmers and landowners, and was relaunched as a daily in 1911 under the editorship of his son, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan.

Answer: (a) Al-Hilal

Consider the following statements in respect of a jet engine and a rocket:

1. A jet engine uses the surrounding air for its oxygen supply and so is unsuitable for motion in space.
2. A rocket carries its own supply of oxygen in the gas form, and fuel.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• A jet engine is an “air-breathing” engine; it must intake atmospheric oxygen to combust its fuel. Consequently, it cannot function in the vacuum of space.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• While a rocket does carry its own oxidizer (oxygen source) and fuel, it rarely carries oxygen in gas form for primary propulsion. To save space and increase efficiency, rockets carry oxygen as a liquid (cryogenic) or within solid/liquid chemical compounds.

Answer: (a) 1 only

In the context of governance, consider the following:

1. Encouraging Foreign Direct Investment inflows
2. Privatization of higher educational institutions
3. Down-sizing of bureaucracy
4. Selling or offloading the shares of Public Sector Undertakings

Which of the above can be used as measures to control the fiscal deficit in India?

1. 1, 2 and 3
2. 2, 3 and 4
3. 1, 2 and 4
4. 3 and 4 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• FDI flows primarily into the private sector, not directly into government accounts. Does not automatically increase government revenue or reduce expenditure. Hence, not a direct fiscal deficit control measure.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Privatisation of higher educational institutions is a structural reform, not a budgetary or fiscal instrument. It may reduce future public spending marginally, but not treated as a direct fiscal deficit control tool.

Statement 3 is correct

• Downsizing of bureaucracy reduces recurring expenditure such as salaries and pensions. Lower recurring expenditure leads to a reduction in fiscal deficit.

Statement 4 is correct

• Selling or offloading shares of Public Sector Undertakings generates non-debt capital receipts, directly lowering the fiscal deficit, without increasing government liabilities.

Answer: (d) 3 and 4 only

Who among the following used the phrase “Un-British” to criticize the English colonial control of India?

1. Anandmohan Bose
2. Badruddin Tyabji
3. Dadabhai Naoroji
4. Pherozeshah Mehta

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Dadabhai Naoroji used the phrase “Un-British” to criticise British colonial rule in India. He famously described British policies in India as “un-British” in his work Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, where he explained the economic drain of wealth from India to Britain.

Answer: (d) Dadabhai Naoroji

Which of the following is/are included in the Directive Principles of State Policy?

1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.
2. Prohibition of consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour is a Fundamental Right under Article 23, not a DPSP.

Statement 2 is correct

• Article 47 (DPSP) directs the State to prohibit intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health except for medicinal purposes.

Answer: (b) 2 only

How is the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference wherein the agreements were signed to set up IBRD, GATT and IMF, commonly known?

1. Bandung Conference
2. Bretton Woods Conference
3. Versailles Conference
4. Yalta Conference

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Bretton Woods Conference, formally known as the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, was the gathering of 730 delegates from all 44 allied nations at the Mount Washington Hotel, in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States, to regulate what would be the international monetary and financial order after the conclusion of World War II. The conference was held from July 1 to 22, 1944. Agreements were signed that, after legislative ratification by member governments, established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, later part of the World Bank Group) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This led to the establishment of the Bretton Woods system for international commercial and financial relations. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) also traces its origins to the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference.

Answer: (b) Bretton Woods Conference

Consider the following Assertion and Reason:

1. Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939.
2. Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the decision of the Viceroy to declare war against Germany in the context of the Second World War.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the 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

In October and November 1939, the Congress Ministries in provinces resigned en masse. They had been in power since the 1937 elections under the Government of India Act, 1935. The resignation was a protest against the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, who had declared India a belligerent in World War II without consulting the Indian legislatures or leaders. The Congress argued that a nation cannot be forced into a war for “democratic freedom” when that very freedom was denied to its own people.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A; Difficulty Level: Medium