Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service General Studies Question Paper 2010

General Studies

Time Allowed: Three Hours
Maximum Marks : 100

Instructions

Candidates should be attempt ALL Questions, unless otherwise directed. The number of Marks Carried by each question is indicated for the question.
Answers must be written in English.
Important Notes: The question paper contains an outline map of india. This is to be detached carefully from the question paper and attached firmly to the answer book
while attempting question No. 4.
Do not write your roll number or name on the map.

1. Answer any Five of the following, in about 75 words each :-   5 x 5 = 25

(a) Discuss the role of Carbon Credit as a means of awareness in pollution control.
(b) Distinguish between hydrological characteristics of north Indian and south Indian rivers.
(c) Assess the importance of power in the industrial development of india.
(d) Explain how the president of india is an integral part of Parliament.
(e) Discuss the concept of Dyarchy introduced by the Government of india Act of 1919.
(f) Write a critical note on ‘food security’ issue debated in Indian parliament.

2. Write briefly on any Five of the following (In about 30 Words each) : -  2 x 5 = 10
(a) What is invisible web ?
(b) What is genomics ?
(c) What are the uses of grapheme ?
(d) What are the uses of phytoremediation ?
(e) Explain the role of UNIDO.
(f) Discuss Geographic Information System.

3.  Write on any Five of the following ( In about 30 words each) :-  2 x 5 = 10
(a) Allauddin Khalji’s market reforms.
(b) Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu.
(c) INA.
(d) Kailashnath temple at Ellora
(e) Poona Pact of 1932.
(f) Charter Act of 1813.

4. Show any Five of the following places on the outline Map of india that is attached to your question paper.
(The map must then be detached carefully from the question paper and attached to your answer book firmly.) On your answer book, write about the significance of the five places marked by you, in about 20 words each: -  (1+1) x 5 = 10
(a) Dehradun
(b) Digboi
(c) Pachmarhi
(d) Nagarjunasagar
(e) Paradip
(f) Vadodara.

5. Explain any Five of the following terms, in about 30 words each: -  2 x 5 = 10
(a) Effect of El Nino on Indian Climate.
(b) Open Source.
(c) Natural rubber producing areas of india.
(d) Formation of Oxbow lakes.
(e) Radioactive pollution.
(f) Scientometrics.

6. Write note on any Eight of the following, in about 35 words each :-  2½  x 8 = 20
(a) Privileges enjoyed by the members of Indian Parliament individually.
(b) Constitutional limitations on the powers of Rajya Sabha.
(c) Effects of the dissolution of Lok Sabha.
(d) Article 360.
(e) Social Audit.
(f) Censure Motion.
(g) Write of Prohibition.
(h) Paid News.
(i) ‘Honours Killings’
(j) Hypertext

7. Write about the Following in not more than a Sentence or two each :- 1 x 10 = 10
(a) Lagoon
(b) Xerophytes
(c) Digital Signature
(d) Coral reefs
(e) ‘The  Finkler Question’
(f) ‘Before Memory Fades’
(g) Inter Tropical Front
(h) Suspensive Veto Power
(i) Erosion
(j) Equinox

8. Why were the following in the news recently ? (Answer to each should be in a sentence or two only) :- 1 x 5 = 5
a) ONV Kurup
b) Dileep Padgaonkar
c) Krishna Poonia
d) Liu Xiaobo
e) D. Udai Kumar

General Studies Sovled Paper of Civil Services Preliminary 2009 Exam

1. With which one of the following has the B.K. Chaturvedi Committee dealt?
(a) Review of Centres-States relations
(b) Review of Delimitation Act
(c) Tax reforms and measures to increase revenues
(d) Price-reforms in the oil sector
Answer (D)
"Chaturvedi Panel which was established by Prime Minister to understand financial position of oil firms and give recommendations has suggested for sharp increase in petrol, and diesel products. In its recommendation the commission has asked for hike in petrol prices by Rs 2.50 a litre per month till March 2009 and diesel prices by Rs 0.75 per litre till 2010 to eliminate subsidies.
Another recommendation that has come from the panel is that import duty on petrol and diesel should be slashed to zero-from 2.5 per cent, as has been done in the case of crude oil, domestic kerosene and LPG. Similarly, excise duty on petrol should be reduced from Rs 13.75 per litre to Rs 10. However, these are just recommendations and government has not yet decided to implement them"
2. Mahamastakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?
(a) Bahubali
(b) Buddha
(c) Mahavir
(d) Nataraja
Answer (A)
"The Mahamasthakabhisheka (or Mahamasthak Abhishek) is an important Jain festival held once every twelve years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka state, India. The festival is held in veneration of an immense 18 meter high statue of the Bhagwan (or Saint) Gomateshwara Bahubali. The anointing last took place in February 2006, and the next ceremony will occur in 2018."
3. Consider the following pairs:
Tradition State
1. Gatka a traditional marital art : Kerala
2. Madhubani, a traditional painting : Bihar
3. Singhwy Khababs Sindhu Darshan Festival : Jammu and Kashmir
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched:Festiva (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (C)
"Gatka is a weapon-based Indian martial art created by the Sikhs of the Punjab. The Punjabi word gatka refers to the wooden stick used in sparring matches. The term might have originated as a diminutive of the Sanskrit word gadha or mace. A more popular theory is that it derives from the Punjabi words gat and ka. Gat means grace, liberation, and respect in one's own power, while ka means someone who belongs or is part of a group. Gatka would therefore translate as "one whose freedom belongs to grace".
"Madhubani painting or Mithila Painting is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar state, India.
The origins of Madhubani painting or Mithila Painting are shrouded in antiquity. Tradition states that this style of painting originated at the time of the Ramayana, when King Janak commissioned artists to do paintings at the time of marriage of his daughter, Sita, to Lord Ram."
"The Sindhu Darshan festival is a celebration of River Sindhu or Indus - one of the world's longest rivers, which gave 'India' its name. It is held every year from June 1-3 at Leh, Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Sindhu Darshan is a movement, which rediscovered the flowing legend of Ladakh with its imprints of fables, and a 5000 year old history embedded in its fertile silt, which has enriched humankind for ages. Each turn of the river unfolds a unique culture of the land it passes through."
4. Match List I and List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I List II
(Famous Person) (Well-Known as)
A. Anna Hazare 1. Lawyer
B. Deepak Parekh 2. Banker
C. GVK Reddy 3. Gandhian and Social activist
D. Harish Salve 4. Industrialist
Code:
A B C D
(a) 1 2 4 3
(b) 1 4 2 3
(c) 3 2 4 1
(d) 3 4 2 1
Answer (C)
"Kisan Baburao Hazare, popularly known as Anna Hazare (June 15, 1938), is an Indian social activist who is especially recognized for his contribution to the development of Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India and his efforts for establishing it as a model village, for which he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by Govt. of India, in 1992. He is also one of the leading figures who championed the cause of Right to Information Act in India for his crusade towards fighting corruption in public offices"
"Deepak Parekh is the Chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation, India's leading housing finance company. A pioneer in mortgage finance, he has enabled scores of Indian middle class people to own their houses or apartments through affordable loans."
"GVK is a diversified business house. With a predominant focus on infrastructure - power, roads and urban infrastructure. The Company also have a significant position in services and manufacturing.
G V Krishna Reddy,Chairman of the Group epitomizes the GVK culture of making things happen. He is a towering source of inspiration and strength to a Company that is eagerly looking forward to the challenges of the coming millennium."
"Harish Salve is a lawyer who served as the Solicitor General of India from November 1, 1999 to November 3, 2002. He succeeded Santosh Hegde, after the latter was appointed a justice to the Supreme Court of India. Salve was a well-known lawyer and practiced, especially, constitutional law, commercial law and taxation law before his appointment. He had previously served as Amicus Curiae for the Supreme Court in multiple cases, and frequently represented parties before the Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court. He had previous experience working with Attorney General, Soli Sorabjee, in 1980-1986. He declined to be nominated for a second 3-year term due to "personal reasons" when his first term ended in November 2002"
5. Match List I and List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I List II
(Famous Person) (Well-Known as)
A. Amrita Sher-Gil 1. Dancer
B. Bhimsen Joshi 2. Painter
C. Rukmini Devi Arundale 3. Poet
D. Suryakant Tripathi Nirala 4. Singer
Code:
A B C D
(a) 2 1 4 3
(b) 2 4 1 3
(c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 3 4 1 2
Answer (B)
"Amrita Sher-Gil , – December 5, 1941), was an eminent Indian painter, sometimes known as India's Frida Kahlo, and today considered an important women painter of 20th century India, whose legacy stands at par with that of the Masters of Bengal Renaissance [3][4]; she is also the 'most expensive' woman painter of India
The Government of India has declared her works as National Art Treasures , and most of them are housed in the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi , and a postage stamp depicting her painting 'Hill Women' was released in 1978 in India, and a road in Lutyens' Delhi, was named after her, Amrita Shergill Marg.
Besides remaining an inspiration to many a contemporary Indian artists, in 1993, she also became the inspiration behind, the famous Urdu play, by Javed Siddiqi, 'Tumhari Amrita', starring Shabana Azmi and Farooq Shaikh." Her work is a key theme in the contemporary Indian novel "Faking It" by Amrita Chowdhury
Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (born February 4, 1922) is an Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana (school), he is renowned for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs). He is the most recent recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, awarded in 2008
"Rukmini Devi Arundale (February 29, 1904 – February 24, 1986) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, and also an activist for animal rights and welfare.
She is considered the most important revivalist in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam from its original 'sadhir' style, prevalent amongst the temple dancers, Devadasis, she also worked for the re-establishment of traditional Indian arts and crafts."
"Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' (February 21, 1896 – October 15, 1961) was one of the most famous figures of the modern Hindi literature. He was a poet, novelist, essayist and story-writer. He also drew many sketches."
6. With reference to the scheme launched by the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
2. Ministry of Textiles launched the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
"RSBY has been launched by Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India to provide health insurance coverage for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The objective of RSBY is to provide protection to BPL households from financial liabilities arising out of health shocks that involve hospitalization. Beneficiaries under RSBY are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs. 30,000/- for most of the diseases that require hospitalization."
"Union Ministry of Textiles, in association with ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, India's largest private sector general insurance company, has launched a comprehensive health insurance scheme for the handicraft artisans across the country. The scheme christened as 'Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana' would be the first ever health insurance initiative for the artisans in the country."
7. Consider the following pairs:
Persons Sports
1. Anand Pawar : Chess
2. Akhil Kumar : Boxing
3. Shiv Shanker Prasad Chowrasia : Golf
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (B)
"Anand Pawar won the biggest title of his young career when claiming the Wimbledon under-19 badminton title in London in 2004. Anand is the son of internationals Uday and Sujata (nee Jain)
"Akhil Kumar is an Indian boxer who has won several international and national boxing awards. He practices an “Open Guarded” boxing style. In 2005, the Indian government gave him the Arjuna Award for his achievements in international Boxing."
"Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (born 15 May 1978), also known as "Chipputtsia", is an Indian professional golfer. After he turned professional in 1997, he went on to win eight titles on the Indian Tour and finished second twice in the Indian Open. In February 2008, he won the inaugural Indian Masters, which was a part of the 2008 European Tour"
8. Match List I and List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I List II
(Book) (Author))
A. In custody 1. Amartya Sen
B. Sea of Poppies 2. Amitav Ghosh
C. The Argumentative Indian 3. Anita Desai
D. Unaccustomed Earth 4. Jhumpa Lahiri
Code:
A B C D
(a) 4 1 2 3
(b) 4 2 1 3
(c) 3 2 1 4
(d) 3 1 2 4
Answer (C)
"In Custody (1984) is a novel set in India by Indian American writer Anita Desai. It was Shortlisted, Booker Prize for Fiction in 1984.
The 1993 Merchant Ivory Productions film In Custody (based upon her 1984 novel of the same name) was directed by Ismail Merchant, with a screenplay by Shahrukh Husain. It won the 1994 President of India Gold Medal for Best Picture and stars the noted actors Shashi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Om Puri."
"Sea of Poppies (2008) is a novel by Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008[1]. It is the first volume of what will be the Ibis trilogy. Deeti, an ordinary village woman, a mulatto American sailor named Zachary Reid, an Indian rajah / zamindar called Neel Rattan Halder, and Benjamin Burnham, an evangelist opium trader."
"The Argumentative Indian is a book written by the Indian Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen. It is a collection of essays that discuss India's history and identity, focusing on the traditions of public debate and intellectual pluralism. Martha Nussbaum says the book "demonstrates the importance of public debate in Indian traditions generally."
"Unaccustomed Earth is the latest book from Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. After Interpreter of Maladies, the Pulitzer Prize winning book, this is her second collection of short stories. Just like her other books, Unaccustomed Earth is also a reflection of life with two separate cultures, and how people cope with one and the other. It made number one on the New York Times Book Review list of "10 Best Books of 2008" as chosen by the paper's editors"
9. Among the following, who are the Agaria community?
(a) A traditional toddy tappers community
(b) A traditional fishing community of Maharashtra
(c) A traditional silk-weaving community of Karnataka
(d) A traditional salt pan workers community of Gujarat.
Answer (D)
"Agaria is one of little known tribe found in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in India. The Agarias are closely related to the Gonds. They have been metal workers from time immemorial. They are called Agarias because of their little furnaces, which are used for conversion of iron-ore into iron for making the metal malleable for manufacture of weapons and agricultural implements. The Agarias live in close juxtaposition with both the Baigas and Gonds."
10. Recently, which one of the following was included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list?
(a) Dilwara Temple
(b) Kalka-Shimla Railway
(c) Bhiterkanika Mangrove Area
(d) Vishkhapatnam to Araku valley railway line
Answer (B)
"For about a week starting on September 11, 2007, an expert team from UNESCO was on a visit to the railway to review and inspect the railway for possible selection as a World Heritage Site. On July 7, 2008, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the World Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India. The Mountain Railways of India (including Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai have already been declared as world heritage properties"
11. Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located?
(a) Bhadrachalam
(b) Chidambaram
(c) Hampi
(d) Srikalahasti
Answer (C)
"Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi 350 km from Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka in southern India.
Hampi sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the ruins of the ancient city of Vijayanagar, capital of the Vijayanagara empire. Virupaksha Temple is the main center of pilgrimage at Hampi and has been considered the most sacred over the centuries. It is fully intact among the surrounding ruins and is still used in worship. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known here as Virupaksha, as the consort of the local goddess Pampa who is associated with the Tungabhadra River. There is also a powerful Virupakshini amma temple (mother goddess) in a village called Nalagamapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, approximately 100 km from Tirupati."
12. Other than Venezuela, which one among the following from South America is a member of OPEC?
(a) Argentina
(b) Brazil
(c) Ecuador
(d) Bolivia
Answer (C)
"The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is a cartel of twelve developing countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. OPEC has maintained its headquarters in Vienna since 1965, and hosts regular meetings among the oil ministers of its Member Countries. Indonesia withdrew in 2008 after it became a net importer of oil, but stated it would likely return if it became a net exporter in the world again"
13. Under the administration of which- one of the following is the Department of Atomic Energy ?
(a) Prime Minister's Office
(b) Cabinet Secretariat
(c) Ministry of Power
(d) Ministry of Science and Technology
Answer (A)
"The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is a department directly under the Prime Minister of India with headquartered in Mumbai. The department is responsible for nuclear technology, including nuclear power and research.
Regulatory Board and Organization
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Mumbai, Maharashtra
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Mumbai, Maharashtra
Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Mumbai, Maharashtra
Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), Mumbai, Maharashtra
Public Sector
Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL), Hyderabad
Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), Mumbai
Uranium Corporation of India, Singhbhum
Research & Development Sector
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, following Research institutions affiliated to BARC
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Hyderabad
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu
Raja Ramanna Center for Advanced Technology, Indore
Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Calcutta
Aided Sector
Atomic Energy Education Society (AEES), Mumbai
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai
Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Calcutta
Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad
Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc or Matscience), Chennai
Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar
National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar
Industries and Mining Sector
Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad
Heavy Water Board (HWB), Hyderabad
14. Consider the following pairs :
Large Bank Country of origin
1. ABN Amro Bank : USA
2. Barclays Bank : UK
3. Kookmin Bank : Japan
Which ..of the above .pairs is/are correctly matched ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1 and 3
Answer (B)
"ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is a Dutch bank with headquarters in Amsterdam. It was established, in its current form, in 2009 following the acquisition and break up of ABN AMRO Group by a banking consortium consisting of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Santander and Fortis. Following the collapse of Fortis, the acquirer of the Dutch business, it was part nationalized by the Dutch Government along with Fortis Bank Nederland."
"Barclays plc is a major British multinational financial services firm. Barclays PLC is ranked as the 21st largest company in the world by Forbes Global 2000 (2010 list. According to Datamonitor, by market share, Barclays is the largest financial services provider globally with $3.7 trillion of assets. It is the second largest bank in the United Kingdom and the world based on asset size."
"KB Kookmin Bank or KB is the largest bank by both asset value and market capitalization in South Korea. The bank is led by Kang Chung-Won who previously worked for Seoulbank and oversaw its sale to competitor Hana Bank before moving to Kookmin."
15. Which among the following has the world's largest reserves of Uranium ?
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Russian Federation
(d) USA
Answer (A)
"Australia has the world's largest uranium reserves, 24% of the planet's known reserves. The majority of these reserves are located in South Australia with other important deposits in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Almost all the uranium is exported under strict International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards to satisfy the Australian people and government that none of the uranium is used in nuclear weapons. Australian uranium is consumed strictly for electricity production."
16. In the 'Individual Satyagraha', Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first Satyagrahi. Who was the second ?
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) C. Rajagopal.achari
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer (B)
"In October 1940, Gandhi selected Vinoba Bhave as the first Satyagrahi-civil resister-for the individual Satyagraha against the British, and Jawaharlal Nehru was the second. Gandhi personally went to Pavnar Ashram to seek his con­sent. During the talk Gandhi expressed his desire to see Vinoba free from the rest of his activities for the Satyagraha. Vinoba's reply was very characteristic of him. He said: "I carry no load on my head. I am as prepared to obey your call, here and now, even as I would be, if the Yamaraj-God of death-had sent for me."
Both Jamnalal Bajaj and Mahadev Desai, who accompa­nied Gandhi to Pavnar, were deeply touched by this rare example of voluntary obedience and dedication."
17. Consider the following statements :
The Cripps Proposals include the provision for
1. Full independence for India.
2. Creation of Constitution-making body.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?v (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
"In 1939, the Second World War broke out at that time; the political condition of India was very complicated. Deadlock continued in the sphere of Indian politics on September in 1939, the congress demanded that India be declared as an independent nation.
On the other hand, on the basis of Lahore resolution of 1940, the muslim league pressed their demand for the partition of India in the creation of separate muslim homeland. During the war period, the British govt. needed the cooperation of Indian¶s hence the British govt. tried vary actively to put an end to the deadlock in India politics for her own interest.
In this end, Sir Stappord Cripps a member of British cabinet came to India with some proposals. It is popularly known as µ¶Cripps mission¶¶. y A constitution-making body ( consisting of members elected by the Lower House of the Indian Legislature and the representatives of the Indian States nominated by their rulers) would be set up to draft a new constitution. y India would be given Dominion Status immediately after the termination of the war. y It envisaged a federation of British India and the Indian States as a dominion within the British Commonwealth. y Britain would accept the constitution framed by the constitution-making body, subject to the following conditions:
If any British Province did not wish to join the federation, it could retain its present position and the British Government would give it the same status as the rest of the Indian Union.
2. A treaty would be signed between the constitution-making body and the British Government covering all subjects regarding transfer of power, including the rights of the minorities.
Indian leaders were invited to participate in the Council of their country and the Commonwealth. y The power of Viceroy would remain as hitherto and he would be responsible for the defence of the country."
18. During the freedom struggle, Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman organizer of underground activity in
(a) Civil Disobedience Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) Quit India Movement
(d) Swadeshi Movement
Answer (C)
"Aruna Asaf Ali (July 16, 1909, Kalka, Haryana—July 29, 1996) (born Aruna Ganguli), was an Indian independence activist. She is widely remembered for hoisting the Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement, 1942. She was 87 years old at the time of her death.
19. With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat ?
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer (B)
"English traders frequently engaged in hostilities with their Dutch and Portuguese counterparts in the Indian Ocean. The Company achieved a major victory over the Portuguese in the Battle of Swally in 1612. The Company decided to explore the feasibility of gaining a territorial foothold in mainland India, with official sanction of both countries, and requested that the Crown launch a diplomatic mission. In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe was instructed by James I to visit the Mughal Emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (r. 1605 - 1627) to arrange for a commercial treaty which would give the Company exclusive rights to reside and build factories in Surat and other areas. In return, the Company offered to provide the Emperor with goods and rarities from the European market. This mission was highly successful as Jahangir sent a letter to James through Sir Thomas Roe."
20. In a dry cell (battery), which of the following are used as electrolytes ?
(a) Ammonium chloride and Zinc chloride
(b) Sodium chloride and Calcium chloride
(c) Magnesium chloride and Zinc chloride
(d) Ammonium chloride and Calcium chloride
Answer (A)
"The makeup of a standard dry cell is a zinc anode (negative pole), usually in the form of a cylindrical pot, with a carbon cathode (positive pole) in the form of a central rod. The electrolyte is ammonium chloride in the form of a paste next to the zinc anode. The remaining space between the electrolyte and carbon cathode is taken up by a second paste consisting of ammonium chloride and manganese dioxide, the latter acting as a depolariser. In some more modern types of so called 'high power' batteries, the ammonium chloride has been replaced by zinc chloride."
21. Which one of the following planets has largest number of natural satellites or moons ?
(a) Jupiter
(b) Mars
(c) Saturn
(d) Venus
Answer (A)
"Jupiter has 63 confirmed moons, giving it the largest retinue of moons with "reasonably secure" orbits of any planet in the Solar System. The most massive of them, the four Galilean moons, were discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei and were the first objects found to orbit a body that was neither Earth nor the Sun. From the end of the 19th century, dozens of much smaller Jovian moons have been discovered and have received the names of lovers, conquests, or daughters of the Roman god Jupiter, or his Greek predecessor, Zeus. The Galilean moons are by far the largest objects in orbit around Jupiter, with the remaining 59 moons and the rings together comprising just 0.003 percent of the total orbiting mass."
22. Consider the following statements :
1. Sweet orange plant is propagated by grafting technique
2. Jasmine plant is propagated by layering technique.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
' (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
"GRAFTING TRANSFORMS LOW QUALITY FRUIT TREES INTO THE BEST COMMERCIAL VARIETIE
Advantages of Grafting: Grafting fruit trees enables you to clone the commercial qualities of a particular fruit variety on another tree - whereas the quality of the fruit from trees grown from seed can be highly variable. Also, grafted trees come into production much earlier than trees grown from seeds - they usually bear fruit within 2-3 years, whereas in the case of trees grown from seed you have to wait 5-10 years before harvesting.
Layering is coaxing a shoot, stem or branch to form its own roots while still attached to the parent plant. (If you’ve ever grown strawberry plants, you’ve seen nature itself use this propagation method.) This process takes longer than cuttings or division—sometimes up to a year. But if you provide the right start-up conditions, the parent plant takes care of the rest, providing water and nutrients to its offspring. Once the new plant has rooted firmly, you simply dig it up and plant it in its new home.
Best candidates: Ground layering can be done on any plant with creeping stems or a flexible shoot that can be secured easily to the ground. Catmint, Russian sage, rosemary, thyme and yarrow are a few examples. You also can layer plants with vine-like growth, such as clematis, honeysuckle, jasmine or wisteria, as well as shrubs with low-growing or trailing branches, such as boxwood and roses."
23. Which one of the following types of waves are used in a night vision apparatus ?
(a) Radio waves
(b) Microwaves
(c) Infra-red waves
(d) None of the above
Answer (C)
"Infrared radiation light is electromagnetic radiation which has a wavelenght between 0.7 and 300 micrometer and a frequency range of 1 to 430 THz.
Infrared means below red, in Latin infra meaning "below". Red color has the longest wavelengths of visible light. Infrared light has a longer wavelength or a lower frequency than red light which is visible to humans. Infrared is not visible.
Infrared imaging is used extensively in military fields and for civilian purposes. Some of the Military applications are surveillance, homing and tracking. Non-military applications are remote temperature sensing and short-ranged wireless communication.
Sensor-equipped telescopes are used to penetrate dusty regions of space. Human beings at normal body temperature radiate wavelengths around 12µm (micrometers)."
24. In the context of genetic disorders, consider the following :
A woman suffers from colour blindness while her husband does not suffer from it. They have a son and a daughter. In this context, which one of the following statements is most probabl) correct ?
(a) Both children suffer from colour blindness.
(b) Daughter .suffers from colour blindness while son does not suffer from it.
(c) Both children do not suffer from colour blindness.
(d) Son suffers from colour blrndness while daughter does not suffer from it.
Answer (D)
"Color blindness always pertains to the cone photoreceptors in retinas, as the cones are capable of detecting the color frequencies of light.
About 8 percent of males, but only 0.5 percent of females, are color blind in some way or another, whether it is one color, a color combination, or another mutation. The reason males are at a greater risk of inheriting an X linked mutation is because males only have one X chromosome (XY, with the Y chromosome being significantly shorter than the X chromosome), and females have two (XX); if a woman inherits a normal X chromosome in addition to the one which carries the mutation, she will not display the mutation. Men do not have a second X chromosome to override the chromosome which carries the mutation. If 5% of variants of a given gene are defective, the probability of a single copy being defective is 5%, but the probability that two copies are both defective is 0.05 × 0.05 = 0.0025, or just 0.25%."
25. A person travels 12 km due North, then 15 km duo East, after that 15 km due West and then 18 km due South. How far is he from the starting point"?
(a) 6 km
(b) 12 km
(c) 33 kin
.(d) 60 km
Answer (A)
"From starting point he travels 12 Km North and then 15 Km East and then 15 Km west. Now he is 12 km North of the starting point as 15 km east and west are nullified. Further he travels 18 km South i.e, in the opposite direction from his original starrting point. Now his location is 18-12 = 6 km south from the starting point.
26. Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F are standing in a row. C and D are standing close to each other alongside E. B is standing beside A only. A is fourth from F. Who are standing on the extremes ?
(a) A and F
(b) B and D
(c) B and F
(d) None of the above
Answer (C) "Step 1: CD
Step 2: CDE
Step 3: BACDE
Step 4: BACDEF (A is fourth from F)
So, B and F are standing at the estremes.
27. Which one of the following is used as an explosive ?
(a) Phosphorus Trichloride
(b) Mercuric oxide
(c) Graphite
(d) Nitroglycerine
Answer (D)
"Nitroglycerin (NG), also known as nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, trinitroglycerine, 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane and glyceryl trinitrate, is a heavy, colorless, oily, explosive liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol. Since the 1860s, it has been used as an active ingredient in the manufacture of explosives, specifically dynamite, and as such is employed in the construction and demolition industries. Similarly, since the 1880s, it has been used by the military as an active ingredient, and a gelatinizer for nitrocellulose, in some solid propellants, such as Cordite and Ballistite"
28. Consider the following :
1. Camphor
2. Chicory
3. Vanilla
Which of the above is/are plant product(s) ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3
Answer (D)
"Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), a large evergreen tree found in Asia (particularly in Borneo and Taiwan) and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests. It also occurs in some other related trees in the laurel family, notably Ocotea usambarensis. It can also be synthetically produced from oil of turpentine. It is used for its scent, as an ingredient in cooking (mainly in India), as an embalming fluid, for medicinal purposes, and in religious ceremonies. A major source of camphor in Asia is camphor basil.
Common chicory, Cichorium intybus, is a bushy perennial herbaceous plant with blue, lavender, or occasionally white flowers. Various varieties are cultivated for salad leaves, chicons (blanched buds), or for roots (var. sativum), which are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and additive. It is also grown as a forage crop for livestock. It lives as a wild plant on roadsides in its native Europe, and in North America and Australia, where it has become naturalized.
Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. The main species harvested for vanillin is Vanilla planifolia. Although it is native to Mexico, it is now widely grown throughout the tropics. Madagascar is the world's largest producer. Additional sources include Vanilla pompona and Vanilla tahitiensis (grown in Tahiti and Niue), although the vanillin content of these species is much less than Vanilla planifolia. Vanilla grows as a vine, climbing up an existing tree (also called a tutor), pole, or other support. It can be grown in a wood (on trees), in a plantation (on trees or poles), or in a "shader", in increasing orders of productivity.
29. In the context of Indian wild life, the flying fox is a
(a) Bat
(b) Kite
(c) Stork
(d) Vulture
Answer (A)
:The Indian Flying-fox (Pteropus giganteus) is a species of bat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Greater Indian Fruit Bat lives in mainly forests. It is a very large bat with a wing span of between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4-5 feet). It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits such as mangoes and bananas and nectar. This bat is gregarious and lives in colonies which can number a few hundred. Their offspring has no specific name besides 'young'. They reproduce sexually and give live birth. They have one to two young. The Indian Flying-Fox lives in tropical forests and swamps, where there is a large body of water nearby."
30. During which Five Year Plan was the Emergency clamped, new elections took place and the Janata Party was elected ?
(a) Third
(b) Fourth
(c) Fifth
(d) Sixth
Answer (C)
"The Indian Emergency of 25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977 was a 21-month period, when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India, effectively bestowing on her the power to rule by decree, suspending elections and civil liberties. It is one of the most controversial times in the history of independent India.
On January 23, 1977, Indira Gandhi called fresh elections for March and released all political prisoners. The Emergency officially ended on March 23, 1977. The opposition Janata movement's campaign warned Indians that the elections might be their last chance to choose between “democracy and dictatorship.”
In the Lok Sabha elections, held in February, Indira and Sanjay both lost their Lok Sabha seats, as did most of their loyal followers. Many Congress Party loyalists deserted Indira, who herself lost her constituency seat. The Congress was reduced to just 153 seats, 92 of which were from four of the southern states. The Janata Party's 295 seats (of a total 542) gave it only a slim majority, but opposition candidates together represented more than two-thirds of the Lok Sabha. Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India.
Fifth plan (1974-1979) Stress was laid on employment, poverty alleviation, and justice. The plan also focused on self-reliance in agricultural production and defence. In 1978 the newly elected Morarji Desai government rejected the plan. Electricity Supply Act was enacted in 1975, which enabled the Central Government to enter into power generation and transmission. The Indian national highway system was introduced for the first time and many roads were widened to accommodate the increasing traffic. Tourism also expanded." 
31. Which one of the following is not a drug/pharma company ?
(a) Chevron
(b) Nicholas Piramal
(c) Pfizer
(d) Zydus Cadila
Answer (A)
"Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX Euronext: CHTEX) is an American multinational energy corporation. Headquartered in San Ramon, California, and active in more than 180 countries, it is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining, marketing and transport; chemicals manufacturing and sales; and power generation. Chevron is one of the world's six "supermajor" oil companies.
Piramal Healthcare is India's second largest Pharmaceutical Healthcare company with a presence in the cardio-vascular segment, the antibiotics and respiratory segments, pain management, neuro-psychiatry and anti-diabetics segments and biotechnology. It is based in Mumbai.[2] Nicholas Piramal India Ltd. is now known as Piramal Healthcare Ltd.
Pfizer Incorporated is a pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in sales in the world. The company is based in New York City, with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut. It produces Lipitor (atorvastatin, used to lower blood cholesterol); the neuropathic pain/fibromyalgia drug Lyrica (pregabalin); the oral antifungal medication Diflucan (fluconazole), the antibiotic Zithromax (azithromycin), Viagra (sildenafil) for erectile dysfunction, and the anti-inflammatory Celebrex (celecoxib) (also known as Celebra in some countries outside the USA and Canada, mainly in South America). Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
'Cadila Healthcare' is an Indian pharmaceutical company head quartered at Ahmedabad in Gujarat state of western India. The company is the fifth largest pharmaceutical company in India, It is a significant manufacturer of generic drugs. Cadila Pharma have developed a drug named Roserin which has reduced the cost of curing TB by 33%.
32. Who of the following is the author of the book "The Audacity of Hope" ?
(a) Al Gore
(b) Barack Obama
(c) Bill Clinton
(d) Hillary Clinton
Answer (B)
"While a Senate candidate, Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic Convention, entitled The Audacity of Hope that propelled him to national prominence. In the less than twenty minutes it took to deliver the speech, Obama was catapulted to sudden fame, with many analysts predicting that he might be well positioned to enter a future presidential race. In 2006, Obama released The Audacity of Hope, a book-length account that expanded upon many of the same themes he originally addressed in the convention speech."
33. A present group of nations known as G-8 started first as G-7, Which one among the following was not one of them ?
(a) Canada
(b) Italy
(c) Japan
(d) Russia
Answer (D)
"The Group of Eight (G8, and formerly the G6 or Group of Six and also the G7 or Group of Seven) is a forum, created by France in 1975, for governments of six countries in the world: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1976, Canada joined the group (thus creating the G7). In 1997, the group added Russia thus becoming the G8. In addition, the European Union is represented within the G8, but cannot host or chair.[1] "G8" can refer to the member states or to the annual summit meeting of the G8 heads of government. The former term, G6, is now frequently applied to the six most populous countries within the European Union. G8 ministers also meet throughout the year, such as the G7/8 finance ministers (who meet four times a year), G8 foreign ministers, or G8 environment ministers."
34. Consider the following statements :
1. The Baglihar. Power Project had been constructed within the parameters of the Indus Water Treaty.
2. The project was completely built by the Union Government with loans from Japan and the World Bank.
Which of the statements given above is/arc; correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (A)
"The Baglihar Project:
Negotiations between India and Pakistan during 1951-1960 held under the supervision of the World Bank resulted in the signing of the IWT on 19 September 1960. This is the only treaty between the two arch rivals that has worked effectively for over four decades and is, at times, cited by international funding institutions, as an illustration of cooperation between the two hostile neighbours. The Indus system of rivers comprises three eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - and three western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. The Baglihar Hydropower Project (BHP) is being undertaken on the River Chenab in Doda, 160 km north of Jammu. Apart from objecting to the project design of the BHP, Pakistan has expressed opposition to the Tulbul navigation project, Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project and the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project, all located in J&K.
The J&K government had sought counter-guarantees from the Centre for implementing major hydel power projects in the State. However, due to a delay in the sanctioning of such guarantees, the former Farooq Abdullah government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jai Prakash Industries Ltd, Siemens and Hydro Vevey Ltd for completing the 450 (Megawatt) MW Baglihar hydel power project. The MoU was signed on 11 April 1999. The total cost of the project is estimated at about Rupees 3,800 crore and the project is expected to be completed by December 2004. The J&K government has already provided Rupees 150 crores for the project and work on the BHP began in May 1999. On 29 August 2003, the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee promised his government's assistance for raising Rs. 2,200 crore for the completion of the BHP. Around Rs. 1,600 crore has already been allocated for the project by the J&K government and the remaining amount would be generated with the help of the Centre and financial institutions. Vajpayee also announced the sanctioning of the Rs. 665 crore Sea-II power project of 120 MW capacity to be undertaken in Kashmir by the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC)."
35. When Leander Paes won the "mixed doubles" at the US Open in the year 2008, who of the following was his partner ?
(a) Ana Ivanovic
(b) Cara Black
(c) Dinara Safina
(d) Jelena Jankovic
Answer (B)
"Grand Slam finals
Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Winner 2008 US Open Hard Cara Black Liezel Huber & Jamie Murray 7–6, 6–4
Runner-up 2009 Wimbledon Grass Cara Black Anna-Lena Grönefeld & Mark Knowles 7–5, 6–3
Runner-up 2009 US Open Hard Cara Black Carly Gullickson & Travis Parrot 6–2, 6–4
Winner 2010 Australian Open Hard Cara Black Ekaterina Makarova & Jaroslav Levinsky 7–5, 6–3
Winner 2010 Wimbledon Grass Cara Black Lisa Raymond & Wesley Moodie 6–4, 7–6
36. In the context of Indian news in recent times; . what is MCX-SX ?
(a) A kind of supercomputer
(b) Title of Moon Impact Probe
(c) Stock exchange
(d) Nuclear-powered submarine
Answer (C)
"MCX Stock Exchange Ltd (MCX-SX), India’s new stock exchange, appositely reflects how the world’s most evolved and hi-tech new-generation exchanges should look like in future. With cutting-edge technology, world-class services and cost optimisation, MCX-SX has altered the face of the Indian financial markets.
Within a year of its launch, MCX-SX has proved its mettle as the thought leader and innovator of the industry by introducing innovative services and pioneering market development initiatives. Recognised by the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India, MCX-SX currently has more than 600 members and trading terminals in 486 cities and towns across India."
37. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
(a) Barbora Spotakova : Javelin throw
(b) Pamela Jelimo : Weightligting
(c) Sanya Richards : Sprint
(d) Yelena Isinbayeva : Pole Vault
Answer (B) "Barbora Špotáková is a Czech javelin thrower. She is the current Olympic champion, as well as the world record holder.
Sanya Richards is a track and field athlete, who competes internationally for the United States. She won two Olympic gold medals in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She also won an individual bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, for the 400 m. She won a gold medal in the 2009 World Championships in Berlin in the 400 metres race.
Pamela Jelimo (born 5 December 1989) is a Kenyan athlete, specialising in the 800 metres. She won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot
Yelena Gadzhievna Isinbayeva is a Russian pole vaulter. She is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004 and 2008), was named Female Athlete of the Year by the IAAF in 2004, 2005 and 2008, and World Sportswoman of the Year by Laureus in 2007 and 2009. Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 2009."
38. India has recently landed its Moon Impact Probe on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one landed such probe on the Moon earlier ?
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) China
(d) Japan
Answer (D) "20th-21st century unmanned crash landings
Hiten (Japan):
At the end of its mission, the Japanese lunar orbiter Hiten was commanded to crash into the lunar surface and did so on 10 April 1993
SMART-1 (ESA):
At the end of its mission, the ESA lunar orbiter SMART-1 performed a controlled crash into the Moon, at about 2 km/sec. The time of the crash was 3 September 2006.
Chandrayaan-1 (India):
Chandrayaan-1 was India's first unmanned lunar probe. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in October 2008, and operated until August 2009.
Chang'e 1 (China):
The Chinese lunar orbiter Chang'e 1 executed a controlled crash onto the surface of the Moon on 1 March 2009, 2044 GMT, after a 16-month mission."
39. Who of the following is a football player ?
(a) Fernando Alonso
(b) Kimi Raikkonen
(c) Lewis Hamilton
(d) Nicolas Anelka
Answer (D) "Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari alongside Felipe Massa
Kimi-Matias Räikkönen, nicknamed Iceman, and occasionally described as "the fastest driver on the planet", is a Finnish World Rally Championship and former Formula One driver.
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British Formula One racing driver, currently racing for the McLaren team, and was the 2008 Formula One World Champion.
Nicolas Sebastien Anelka is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team. His club manager, Carlo Ancelotti, describes him as a quick player with good aerial ability, technique, shooting, and movement off the ball."
40. Consider the following pairs :
Famous place Country
1. Cannes : France
2. Davos : Denmark
3. Roland Garros : The Netherlands
Which of the pairs given above is/arc correctly matched ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (A)
"Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Communes of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department.
Davos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.
It is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range. At 1,560 meters (5,118 ft), it is the highest city in Europe.
Davos has a dual claim to fame as the host to the World Economic Forum (WEF), an annual meeting of global political and business elites (often referred to simply as Davos), and the home of the second largest ski resort in Switzerland (after Les portes du soleil, shared with France), The city is also famous for its various luxury shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Roland Garros Airport, formerly known as Gillot Airport, is located in Sainte-Marie on Réunion, The airport is 7 kilometres (3.8 NM) eastof Saint-Denis; it is named for the French aviator Roland Garros who was born in Saint-Denis." Réunion is a French island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and about 200 kilometres (110 NM) southwest of Mauritius 
41. Among the following, which one is not a football club ?
(a) Arsenal
(b) Aston Villa
(c) Chelsea
(d) Monte Carlo
Answer (D) "Arsenal Football Club, known as Arsenal or The Arsenal, or by their nickname The Gunners) is an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, who play in the Premier League
Monte Carlo is one of Monaco's administrative areas. The official capital is the city of Monaco, which is coterminous with the country itself." Monte Carlo is widely known for its casino
42. The marine animal called dugong which is vulnerable to extinction is a/an:
(a) Amphibian
(b) Bony fish
(c) Shark
(d) Mammal
Answer (D)
"The dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. It is also the only sirenian in its range, which spans the waters of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific, though the majority of dugongs live in the northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay. The dugong is the only strictly-marine herbivorous mammal, as all species of manatee utilize fresh water to some degree."
43. The Dul Hasti Power Station is based on which one of the following rivers ?
(a) Beas
(b) Chenab
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Answer (B)
"Dulhasti is an 390MW hydroelectric power plant in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, India built by NHPC. The power plant is built on the swift-flowing Chenab River in the Doda region, a rugged, mountainous section of the Himalayas, and several hundred kilometers from larger cities."
44. Consider the following statements :
1. V.K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in New Delhi.
2. The first recipient of the V.K. Krishna Menon Award is the Chief Justice of India, KG. Balakrishnan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
"Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishan has been chosen for an award, constituted in the memory of former defence minister V K Krishna Menon, for his contributions to social justice and fighting against corruption in the judicial system. The UK-based V K Krishna Menon Foundation has announced to give first V K Krishna Menon Award to Justice Balakrishnan, who will receive the award on November 1 at India House here.
"Justice Balakrishnan has been chosen for the award for his contributions to social justice through consistently upholding the rights and interests of the common people in India," secretary of the foundation, Krishnan Kutty Menon, said in a statement."
45. Which one of the following is the country's administrative capital/new federal administrative centre of Malaysia ?
(a) Kota Bharu
(b) Kuala Terongganuv (c) Putrajaya
(d) Taiping
Answer (C)v "Putrajaya is a planned city, located south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur] due to the overcrowding and congestion there. Nevertheless, Kuala Lumpur remains as Malaysia's national capital (as the seat of Parliament) as well as the country's commercial and financial centre. Putrajaya was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad who was in power then. In 2001, Putrajaya was made a Federal Territory, increasing the number of federal territories to three. Kuala Lumpur and Labuan are the other two."
46. Elephant Pass, which is frequently in the news, is mentioned in the context of the affairs of which one of the following ?
(a) Bangladesh
(b) India
(c) Nepal
(d) Sri Lanka
Answer (D)
"Elephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war.
Elephant Pass controls access to the Jaffna Peninsula, therefore it is referred to as the Gateway to Jaffna. It is very crucial as it is on the isthmus connecting the peninsula to the Sri Lankan mainland, as well as to territory in the Southern Jaffna peninsula. Elephant Pass connects the militarily significant town of Chavakacheri in the Jaffna peninsula to the Sri Lankan mainland."
47. Consider the following countries :
1. Brunei Darussalam
2. East Timor
3. Laos
Which of the above is/are member/members of ASEAN ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (C)
"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN in English, the official language of the bloc), is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam."
48. Consider the following countries :
1. Switzerland
2. Malta
3. Bulgaria
Which of the above are members of European Union?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (B)
"The European Union is composed of 27 sovereign Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom."
49. Consider the following countries :
1. Australia
2. Namibia
3. Brazil
4. Chile
Through which of the above does the Tropic of Capricorn pass ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer (D)
"Places located along the Tropic of Capricorn
Argentina
Australia
Botswana
Brazil
Chile
Madagascar
Mozambique
Namibia
Paraguay
South Africa
50. In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core is mainly made up of which one of the following ?
(a) Aluminium
(b) Chromium
(c) Iron
(d) Silicon
Answer (C)

"Earth's Core: Earth's Core is thought to be composed mainly of an iron and nickel alloy. This composition is assumed based upon calculations of its density and upon the fact that many meteorites (which are thought to be portions of the interior of a planetary body) are iron-nickel alloys. The core is earth's source of internal heat because it contains radioactive materials which release heat as they break down into more stable substances." 
51. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
City --------------- River
(a) Berlin --------------- Rhine
(b) London -------------- Thames
(c) New York ------------ Hudson
(d) Vienna --------------- Danube
Answer (A)
"The Rhine flows from the Swiss Alps to the Netherlands, and is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. Larger cities located along Rhine
Basel, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Neuss, Duisburg, Arnhem (Nederrijn), Nijmegen (Waal), Utrecht (Kromme Rijn) and Rotterdam (Nieuwe Maas).
The Spree is a river that flows through the Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin states of Germany, and in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic. It is a left bank tributary of the River Havel and is approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi) in length.
The River Thames is a major river flowing through southern England. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Windsor, Kingston Upon Thames and Richmond.
The Hudson River is a 315-mile (507 km) river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. It rises at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, flows past Albany, and finally forms the border between New
Danube: The Danube is Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is notable for being classified as an international waterway.
Countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Romania
Cities: Ulm, Ingolstadt, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Mohács, Vukovar, Backa Palanka, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Vidin, Rousse, Galati
52. Match List I with List II and select the correct Answer using the code given below the lists :
List I List II
(Famous Temple) (State)
A. Vidyashankara temple 1. Andhra Pradesh
B. Rajarani temple 2. Karnataka
C. Kandariya Mahadeo 3. Madhya Pradesh
D. Bhimesvara Temple 4. Orissa
Codes:
A B C D
(a) 2 4 3 1
(b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 1 4 3 2
(d) 1 3 4 2
Answer (A)
"Sringeri is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centers in Karnataka, and is home to the Sarada Peetham established by the revered spiritual leader Aadi Sankaracharya.
The Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri was built in memory of Guru Vidyashankara or Vidyathirtha by Vidyaranya, with the aid of the Vijayanagar rulers in the 14th century.
Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. It is made from the wonderful red and gold sandstone, which is locally known as Rajarani and this is what gives the temple its name of ‘Raja Rani’.
The Kandariyâ Mahâdeva Temple is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple in the medieval temple group found at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is considered one of the best examples of temples preserved from the medieval period in India
Draksharama is one of the Pancharama Kshetras in South India. It is located approximately 28 km southwest of the city of Kakinada, in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.
The Siva deity is known as Bhimesvara Swamy. The temple is situated on the eastern bank of Godavari River. The consort of Lord Bhimesvara is Manikyamba. According to local belief the Siva linga at the temple was installed and established by the god Surya. Maha Shivaratri, Devi Navaratrulu, Karthika Masam, and Dhanurmasam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple."
53. Consider the following statements :
1. In the world, the tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade wind belt.
2. In India, the East Himalayan region gets high rainfall from north-east winds.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (A)
"Deserts are most common in the western margins of the continents in the tropics .
--because of the cold ocean currents along the western margin of the continents--- the air that blows over the cold ocean currents becomes cold and there by the moisture is sucked , this makes the region devoid of moisture and rainfall.
--the prevailing winds in the tropics are tropical easterly winds ,the tropical easterly winds become dry by the time they reach the western margins of the continents and so they bring no rainfall
Around September, with the sun fast retreating south, the northern land mass of the Indian subcontinent begins to cool off rapidly. With this air pressure begins to build over northern India, the Indian Ocean and its surrounding atmosphere still holds its heat. This causes the cold wind to sweep down from the Himalayas and Indo-Gangetic Plain towards the vast spans of the Indian Ocean south of the Deccan peninsula. This is known as the Northeast Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon."
54. Match List I with List II and select the correct Answer using the code given below the lists :
List I (Geographic feature) List II (Country)
A. Great Victoria Desert 1. Australia
B. Grand Canyon 2. Canada
C. Lake Winnipeg 3. New Zealand
D. Southern Alps 4. USA
Code :
A B C D
(a) 1 2 4 3
(b) 1 4 2 3
(c) 3 2 4 1
(d) 3 4 2 1
Answer (B)
"The Great Victoria is the biggest desert in Australia and consists of many small sandhills, grassland plains, areas with a closely packed surface of pebbles (called desert pavement or gibber plains) and salt lakes.
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area.
Lake Winnipeg is a large (24,514 square kilometers (9,465 sq mi)) lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, about 55 kilometres (34 mi) north of the city of Winnipeg.
The Southern Alps is a mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand. It forms a natural dividing range along the entire length of the South Island. The term "Southern Alps" generally refers to the entire range, although separate names are given to many of the smaller ranges that form part of it. The range is often known in New Zealand as the Main Divide, as it effectively separates the more heavily populated eastern side of the island from the west coast. Politically, the peaks of the Southern Alps form the boundary of the Canterbury and West Coast Regions."
55. Consider the following statements :
1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.
2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.
Which of the statements given abova is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (d)

India's population growth during the 20th Century can be classified into four phases:
1901-1921: Stagnant population
1921-1951: Steady growth
1951-1981: Rapid high growth
1981-2001: High growth with definite signs of slowing down.
There is no doubt that India has entered the fifth phase of demographic transition in the 21st Century, which is usually characterised by rapidly declining fertility.
It has been assumed by the policy-makers that the medium-term objective of bringing down the total fertility rate (TFR) to the replacement level of 2.1 by 2010 will be achieved. It is envisaged that if the NPP is fully implemented, the population should be 1,013 million by 2002 and 1,107 million by 2010. It will no doubt require a Herculean effort on part of the government and the people to achieve the much cherished goal of a stable population.
There is no doubt that India's population has been growing consistently, but between 1951 and 1981, the growth rate was very high -- rising from 1.96 per cent per annum during 1961 to 2.22 per cent in 1981. Thereafter, the rate of growth, though still hi gh, has shown signs of decline. In 1981-94, the annual average rate of growth came down to 2.14 per cent and during 1991-2001, it fell further to 1.93 per cent. In absolute terms, in 1991-2001, India added nearly 180.6 million persons, which was larger t han the addition during the 1981-91 decade of 163.1 million by 17.5 million.
Density of population Census year Density (per sq. km) 1 2
1901 77
1911 82
1921 81
1931 90
1941 103
1951 117
1961 142
1971 177
1981 216
1991 267
2001 324
56. Which one of the following rivers does not originate in India ?
(a) Beas
(b) Chenab
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Answer (D)
"The Beas River is the second easternmost of the rivers of the Punjab, a tributary of Indus River. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km (290 miles) to the Sutlej River in South Punjab of India.
The Chenab River is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi located in the upper Himalayas in the Lahul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh, India. In its upper reaches it is also known as the Chandrabhaga. It flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, forming the boundary between the Rechna and Jech interfluves (Doabs in Persian). It is joined by the Jhelum River at Trimmu and then by the Ravi River Ahmedpur Sial. It then merges with the Sutlej River near Uch Sharif, Pakistan to form the Panjnad or the 'Five Rivers', the fifth being the Beas River which joins the Satluj near Ferozepur, India. The Chenab then joins the Indus at Mithankot, Pakistan. The total length of the Chenab is approximately 960 kilometres. The waters of the Chenab are allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and Northeastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region.
After the partition of India in August 1947, the waters of the Ravi River, along with five other rivers of the Indus system (Beas, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus), divided India and Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty, which was facilitated by the World Bank. Subsequently, Indus Basin Project has been developed in Pakistan and many Inter Basin Water Transfers, Irrigation, Hydropower and multipurpose projects have been built in India.
The Ravi River originates in the Himalayas in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It follows a north-westerly course and is a perennial river. It is the smallest of the five Punjab rivers that rises from glacier fields at an elevation of 14,000 feet (4,300 m), on the southern side of the Mid Himalayas.
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.
The Sutlej is sometimes known as the Red River. It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River. Its source is near Lake Rakshastal in Tibet near Mount Kailas, and it flows generally west and southwest entering India through the Shipki La pass in Himachal Pradesh. In Pakistan,it waters the ancient and historical former Bahawalpur state."
57. Cape Canaveral, the site from which space shuttled are launched is located on the coast of
(a) Florida
(b) Virginia
(c) North Carolina
(d) South Carolina
Answer (A)
"Cape Canaveral is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River. It is part of a region known as the Space Coast, and is the site of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station."
58. At which one of the following places do two important rivers of India originate; while one of them flows towards north and merges with another important river flowing towards Bay of Bengal, the other one flows towards Arabian Sea ?
(a) Amarkantak
(b) Badrinath
(c) Mahabaleshwar
(d) Nasik
Answer (A) "Amarkantak (The one with the voice of God) is a pilgrim town and a nagar panchayat in Anuppur District in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Also called "Teerthraj" (the king of pilgrimages), Amarkantak region is a unique natural heritage area and is the meeting point of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum.
As well as the

Narmada

, the Son River, initially referred to as Jwalawanti of Johila, the

Mahanadi

and the Amadoh, which is a major early tributary of the Godavari, all rise from the Amarkantak plateau.The river Mahanadi traverses Cuttack district in an east-west direction. Just before entering Cuttack city, it gives off a large distributary called the Kathjori. The city of Cuttack stands on the spit separating the two channels. The Kathjori then throws off many streams like the Kuakhai, Devi and Surua which fall into the Bay of Bengal after entering Puri district.
The Narmada ,also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India and flows westwards over a length of 1,312 km (815.2 mi) before draining through the Gulf of Cambey (Khambat) into the Arabian Sea, 30 km (18.6 mi) west of Bharuch city of Gujarat."
59. Who of the following scientists proved that the stars with mass less than 1.44 times the mass of the Sun end up as White Dwarfs when they die ?
(a) Edwin Hubble
(b) S. Chandrashekhar
(c) Stephen Hawking
(d) Steven Weinberg
Answer (B)
"Chandrasekhar's most notable work was the astrophysical Chandrasekhar limit. The limit describes the maximum mass of a white dwarf star, ~1.44 solar masses, or equivalently, the minimum mass, above which a star will ultimately collapse into a neutron star or black hole (following a supernova). The limit was first calculated by Chandrasekhar in 1930 during his maiden voyage from India to Cambridge, England for his graduate studies. In 1999, NASA named the third of its four "Great Observatories'" after Chandrasekhar. This followed a naming contest which attracted 6,000 entries from fifty states and sixty-one countries. The Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched and deployed by Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999. The Chandrasekhar number, an important dimensionless number of magnetohydrodynamics, is named after him. The asteroid 1958 Chandra is also named after Chandrasekhar. American astronomer Carl Sagan, who studied Mathematics under Chandrasekhar, at the University of Chicago, praised him in the book The Demon-Haunted World: "I discovered what true mathematical elegance is from Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar."
60. Which one of the following brings out the publication called "Energy Statistics" from time to time?
(a) Central Power Research Institute
(b) Planning Commission
(c) Power Finance Corporation Ltd.
(d) Central Statistical Organization
Answer (D)
"At international level, UN has set up a “City Group” on Energy Statistics, which is popularly known as “OSLO Group” and India is one of the members of the group. India was the host for organizing the second meeting of OSLO Group at New Delhi in February, 2007. In this meeting India offered to develop the chapter on “Data Collection Strategies”, of the proposed “Revised UN Manual on Energy Statistics”. I am happy to note that the Economic Statistics Division of CSO, has completed the job successfully, which was discussed in the 3rd meeting of “OSLO Group” held at Vienna during February 4-6, 2008. Once this Handbook is fully developed, it will improve the data comparability across the countries. The present issue, “Energy Statistics 2007”, is the 15th issue in the series. The objective of this publication is to meet the information needs of national and international policy makers, administrators and researchers concerned with the energy sector. Time series data relating to production, availability, consumption and price indices of major sources of energy in India for 37 years (from 1970-71 to 2006-07) have been presented in this publication." 61. Where is the headquarters of Animal Welfare Board of India located ?
(a) Ahmedabad
(b) Chennai
(c) Hyderabad
(d) Kolkata
Answer (B)
"The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare in the country. Established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (No. 59 of 1960), the Animal Welfare Board of India was started under the stewardship of Late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, well known humanitarian. From ensuring that animal welfare laws in the country are diligently followed, to provide grants to Animal Welfare Organizations and advising the Government of India on animal welfare issues, the Board has been the face of the animal welfare movement in the country for the last 47 years.
Contact
ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA,
13/1, Third Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai- 600 041.
Phone : 044-24454935, 24454958 Fax: 044-24454330
E-mail : awbi@md3.vsnl.net.in"
62. Consider the following statements regarding Indian Planning :
1. The Second Five-Year Plan emphasised on the establishment of heavy industries.
2. The Third Five-Year Plan introduced the concept of import substitution as a strategy for industrialisation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
"Second plan (1956-1961)
This plan functioned on the basis of a nude model. The Mahalanobis model was propounded by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the year 1953.[citation needed] The second five-year plan focused on industry, especially heavy industry. Unlike the First plan, which focused mainly on agriculture, domestic production of industrial products was encouraged in the Second plan, particularly in the development of the public sector.
Five Year Plans over the years, Pant explains
Express News Service
New Delhi, September 18: PLANNING Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant explained the vision, success and failures of the Five Year Plans while delivering the fifteenth L.K. Jha Memorial Lecture today.
He said the First Five Year Plan coped with Partition and post-independence blues and it was only the second plan which set the stage for the essential long term issues. The late economist, L.K. Jha, was one of framers of this plan which emphasised on rapid industrialisation and raising the low savings rate in the country.
‘‘The Third Five Year Plan introduced the concept of import substitution as a strategy for industrialisation,’’ he said. However, the plan’s expectations of raising growth rate to 5.6 per cent were shattered due to one of the most difficult periods in economic history. The country was hit by a severe drought which almost brought the economy to its knees. The IMF and World Bank lent money but on stiff conditions."
63. Consider the following statements :
1. The National' School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
2. The highest honour conferred by the Sahitya Akademi on a writer is by electing him its Fellow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
"The National School of Drama is one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of its constituent units in 1959. In 1975, it became an independent entity and was registered as an autonomous organization
The Three fellowships by Sahitya Akademi are:-
1.Sahitya Akademi Honorary Fellowship
2.Anand Fellowship
3.Premchand Fellowship
Sahitya Akademi Honorary Fellowship
The highest honour conferred by the Akademi on a writer is by electing him as its Fellow. This honour is reserved for `the immortals of literature' and limited to twenty-one only at any given time.
Anand Fellowship
Sahitya Akademi in 1996, instituted a Fellowship in the name of the great scholar and aesthete Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy to be offered to scholars from Asian countries to pursue literary projects of their choice.
Premchand Fellow
Sahitya Akademi has also instituted a Fellowship named after Premchand during his 125th Birth Anniversary in 2005. This Fellowship would be given to scholars doing research on Indian literature or to creative writers from the countries of the SAARC region other than India.
64. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements :
1. The Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are created by the Prime Minister on the advice of the Cabinet Secretary.
2. Each of the Ministries is assigned to a Minister by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
"Administrative Set-up
The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 are made by the President of India under Article 77 of the Constitution for the allocation of business of the Government of India. The Ministries/Departments of the Government are created by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister under these Rules. The business of the Government are transacted in the Ministries/Departments, Secretariats and offices (referred to as 'Department') as per the distribution of subjects specified in these Rules. Each of the Ministries is assigned to a Minister by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. Each department is generally under the charge of a Secretary to assist the Minister on policy matters and general administration.
Cabinet Secretariet
The Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board."
65. A person has 4 coins each of different denomination. What is the number of different sums of money the person can form (using one or more coins at a time) ?
(a) 16
(b) 15
(c) 12
(d) 11
Answer (B)
The total number of combinatios are 2⁴ = 16. But this also includes the possibility of not choosing any coin. So the different sums of money (using one or more coins at a time) is 16-1 = 15.
66. How many numbers lie between 300 and 500 in which 4 comes only one time ?
(a) 99
(b) 100
(c) 110
(d) 120
Answer (A)
Let us write the numbers in which 4 comes only one time:
For 300-399: 304, 314, 324, 334, 340, 341, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 354, 364, 374, 384, 394 = 18
For 400-499: The numbers in which 4 comes more than once are
404, 414, 424, 434, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447,448,449, 454, 464, 474, 484, 494 = 21. So the numbers in which 4 comes only once is 100-19 = 81
500: No number is having 4
So total numbers having 4 only once is 18+81 = 99
67. How many letters of the English alphabet (capitals) appear same when looked at in a mirror ?
(a) 9
(b) 10
(c) 11
(d) 12 Answer (C)
Each of the 11 letters A, H, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X and Z appears same when looked at in a mirror. They are called symmetric letters. Other letters in the alphabet are asymmetric letters.
68. How many three-digit numbers can be generated from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 such that the digits are1 in ascending order ?
(a) 80
(b) 81
(c) 83
(d) 84
Answer (D)
We have to write the various combinations:
Let us start with 1
123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129 = 7
134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 = 6
145, 146, 147, 148, 149 = 5
156, 157, 158, 159 = 4
157, 168, 169 = 3
178, 179 = 2
189 = 1
Total three-digit numbers starting with 1 are = 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 = 28
Now start with 2
234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239 = 6
245, 246, 247, 248, 249 = 5
256, 257, 258, 259 = 4
267, 268, 269 = 3
278, 279 = 2
289 = 1
Total three-digit numbers starting with 2 are = 6+5+4+3+2+1 = 21
Similarly three-digit numbers starting with 3 are = 5+4+3+2+1 = 15
three-digit numbers starting with 4 are = 4+3+2+1 = 10
three-digit numbers starting with 5 are = 3+2+1 = 6
three-digit numbers starting with 6 are = 2+1 = 3 three-digit numbers starting with 7 are = 1 (789 only)
three-digit numbers starting with 8 are 0
three-digit numbers starting with 9 are 0
Now add them
28+21+15+10+6+3+1+0+0 = 84
69. There are four persons A, B, C, D; and A has some coins. A gave half of the coins to B and 4 more besides. B gave half of the coins to C and 4 more besides. C gave half of the coins to D and 4 more besides. Both B and D end up with same number of coins. How many coins did A have originally ?
(a) 96
(b) 84
(c) 72
(d) 64
Answer (C)
Suppose A has x coins
The coins with B will be (x/2 + 4)
The coins with C will be (x/2 + 4)/2 +4 = x/4 + 2 +4 = x/4 + 6
The coins with D will be (x/4 + 6)/2 + 4 = x/8 + 3 +4 = x/8 + 7
Both B and D ended up with the same number of coins
D does not give his coins to anybody so the coins with D are x/8 + 7
The coins left with B after giving to C will be: (x/2 + 4)/2 -4 = x/4 + 2 -4 =x/4 - 2
So, x/4 - 2 = x/8 +7.
Solving this, x/4 - x/8 = 7 +2;
x/8 = 9;
x = 72
70. While adding the first few continuous natural numbers, a candidate missed one of the numbers and wrote the answer as 177. What was the number missed ?
(a) 11
(b) 12
(c) 13
(d) 14
Answer (C)
Two things are clear. One the numbers will have to be added at most till 14 and the sum of the total numbers will be 177 + one of the given options i.e, 11 or 12 or 13 or 14. So we have to start adding numbers till we get 177+11=188 or 177+12= 189 or 177+13=190 or 177+14=191.
Let us begin
1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10=55
11+12+13+14+15+16+17+18+19=135
Total is 55+135=190
190-177 is 13
So the number missed is 13.
Please note the counting technique; Counting the units from 1 to 10 is 45 and counting the tenth from 11 to 19 is 10*9=90. So, 90+45 is 135.
71. Four metal rods of lengths 78 cm, 104 cm, 117 cm and 169 cm are to be cut into parts of equal length. Each part must be as long as possible. What is the maximum number of pieces that can be cut ?
(a) 27
(b) 36
(c) 43
(d) 480
Answer (B)
This is question of H.C>F type
Let us break all the rods into factors
78= 2*39=2*3*13=6*13
104=2*52=2*2*26=2*2*2*13=8*13
117=3*39=3*3*13=9*13
169=13*13
Now you can see the larges length that can be cut from all the four rods is 13 cm.
Now count all the parts:
6+8++9+13=36
72. In an examination, there are three subjects A, B and C. A student has to pass in each subject. 20% students failed in A, 22% students failed in B and 16% failed in C. The total number of students passing the whole examination lies between
(a) 42% and 84%
(b) 42% and 78%
(c) 58% and 78%
(d) 58% and 84%
Answer (B)
Here we have to find the possible range
The case in which maximum students have passed will be the situation in which The same students have failed in all the subjects i.e, 16% who failed in C also failed in B. and the students who failed in C and B also failed in A. So the maximum number of failed students will be 22% only. so the students who ahve passed in this situation is 100%-22%=78%.
Similarly the situation in which minimum number of students have passed will be when the all the students have failed individually in A, B and C. So total number of failed students will be 20%+16%+22%=58%. So total sudents passed in this situation will be 100%-58%=42%.
So, the total number of students passing the whole examination lies between 42% and 78%.
73. There is a family of 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F. There are two married couples in the family. The family members are lawyer, teacher, salesman, engineer, accountant and doctor. D, the salesman is married to the lady teacher. The doctor is married to the lawyer. F, the accountant is the son of B and brother of E. C, the lawyer is the daughter-in-law of A. E is the unmarried engineer. A is the grandmother of F. How is E related to F ?
(a) Brother
(b) Sister
(c) Father
(d) Cannot be established (cannot be determined)
Answer (A)
Couple 1 D ->Salesman married to lady teacher
Couple 2 Doctor married to lawyer
F, the son of B is accountant and F and E are brother. But still we dont know who is B
C is lawyer so she belongs to couple 2 and is married to Doctor. Further she is daughter in law of A. So A beongs to Couple 1
E is unmarried engineer. ...Wait.
The question has already declared that F and E are brother. No need to go any further.
74. How many times are an hour hand and a minute hand of a clock at right angles during their motion from 1.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. ?
(a) 9
(b) 10
(c) 18
(d) 20
Correct Answer: C
The continuous movement of the hour hand brings about something analogous to the "sidereal day" problem. Most of the time, there are 2 occurances per hour of 90 degrees between the hands. But after 2 PM, for example, there is an occurance before 2:30, and the next occurance is 3 PM. There is then one occurance after 3 PM, the next one being after 4 PM. The same thing happens again at 8 and 9. So it seems that a total of 44 is probably right. Another way to 'visualize' that 'twice per hour' can't always work is to see that occurances of 90 degrees must be farther apart than 30 minutes, because both hands are advancing, not just the minute hand. For some hours, the first occurance will be late enough in the hour that the next occurance is in the next hour.
The correct answer should be 16 i.e, 9*2 -2;
18-2=16. However, 18 is the nearest correct answer.
75. There are 240 balls and n number of boxes B1, B2, B3, ... , Bn. The balls are to be placed in the boxes such that should contain 4 balls more than B2, B2 should contain: 4 balls more than B3, and so on. Which one of the following cannot be the possible value of n ?
(a) 4
(b) 5
(c) 6
(d) 7
Answer (D)
Out of the four options the balls should get divided insuch a way that no ball is left out. Let us see by trial and error.
1. If there are four boxes then B4 contains n ball;B3 contains n+4 balls;B2 contains n+8 balls; B1 contains n+12 balls;So, n+n+4+n+8+n+12=240; or 4n+24=240; or 4n=216; or n=54;
Let us check of for 5 boxes; B5->n balls;B4->n+4 balls;B3->n+8 balls;B4->n+12 balls;B5->n+16 balls; So, n+n+4+n+8+n+12+n+16=240;or 5n+40=240; or 5n=240-40; or 5n=200; So, n=40;
Now let us check for 6 boxes; B6->n balls; B5->n+4 balls; B4->n+8 balls; B3->n+12 balls; B2->n+16 balls; B1->n+20 balls; So, n+n+4+n+8+n+12+n+16+n+20=240; or 6n+60=240; or 6n=240-60; or 6n=180; or n=30;
Now let us check for 7 boxes; B7->n balls; B6->n+4 balls; B5->n+8 balls; B4->n+12 balls; B3->n+16 balls; B2->n+20 balls; B1->n+24 balls So, n+n+4+n+8+n+12+n+16+n+20+n+24=240; or 7n+84=240; or 7n=240-84; or 7n=156;or n=156/7; orn=22.28; So, the balls can not placed in 7 boxes in the desired manner.
76. In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statements :
1. The Shourya missile flies with a speed of more than 8 Mach.
2. The range of Shourya missile is more than 1600 km.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (D)
"The Shaurya missile (Sanskrit: Valour) is a canister launched hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for use by the Indian Armed Forces. It has a range of between 750 to 1900 km and is capable of carrying a payload of one-tonne conventional or nuclear warhead. It gives the potential to strike in the short-intermediate range against any adversary. The Shaurya missile provides India with a significant second strike capability.
DRDO scientists admit that given Shaurya's limited range at present, either the silos will have to be constructed closer to India's borders or an extended range version will have to be developed.
Shaurya can reach a velocity of Mach 6 even at low altitudes. On November 12, the missile reached a velocity of Mach 5 as it crossed a distance of 300 km"
77. WiMAX is related to which one of the following ?
(a) Biotechnology
(b) Space technology
(c) Missile technology
(d) Communication technology
Answer (D)
"WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications protocol that provides fixed and fully mobile Internet access. The current WiMAX revision provides up to 40 Mbit/s with the IEEE 802.16m update expected to offer up to 1 Gbit/s fixed speeds. The name "WiMAX" was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to promote conformity and interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL"
The bandwidth and range of WiMAX make it suitable for the following potential applications:
1. Providing portable mobile broadband connectivity across cities and countries through a variety of devices.
2. Providing a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for "last mile" broadband access.
3. Providing data, telecommunications (VoIP) and IPTV services (triple play).
78. For outstanding contribution to which one of the following' fields is Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize given ?
(a) Literature
(b) Performing Arts
(c) Science
(d) Social Service
Answer (C)
"The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology is awarded annually by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, medicine and Physics. The purpose of the prize is to recognize outstanding Indian work in science and technology. It is the highest award for science in India. The award is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. It was first awarded in 1958.
Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years is eligible for the Prize. The Prize is awarded on the basis of contributions made through work done primarily in India during the five years preceding the year of the Prize."
79. In making the saffron spice, which one of the following parts of the plant is used ?
(a) Loaf
(b) Petal
(c) Sepal
(d) Stigma
Answer (D)
"Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus, a species of crocus in the Iridaceae. A C. sativus flower bears three stigmas, each the distal end of a carpel. Together with their styles—stalks connecting stigmas to their host plant—stigmas are dried and used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, long the world's most expensive spice by weight,is native to Southwest Asia."
80. In the year 2008, which one of the following conducted a complex scientific experiment in which sub-atomic particles were accelerated to nearly the speed of light ?
(a) European Space Agency
(b) European Organization for Nuclear Research
(c) International Atomic Energy Agency
(d) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Answer (B)
"The Large Hadron Collider was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with the intention of testing various predictions of high-energy physics, including the existence of the hypothesized Higgs boson and of the large family of new particles predicted by supersymmetry. It is funded by and built in collaboration with over 10,000 scientists and engineers from over 100 countries as well as hundreds of universities and laboratories. On 10 September 2008, the proton beams were successfully circulated in the main ring of the LHC for the first time"
81. A very big refugee camp called Dadaab, recently in the news, is located in
(a) Ethiopia
(b) Kenya
(c) Somalia
(d) Sudan
Answer (B)
"Dadaab is a semi-arid town in the North Eastern Province in Kenya. Dadaab features a UNHCR base that serves refugee camps around the town: Hagadera, Ifo and Dagahaley. The international humanitarian organization CARE is UNHCR's lead implementing partner responsible for managing the camp. Much of the town's economy is based on services for refugees.
Dadaab hosts many people that have fled the civil war in Somalia to the north, including both Somalis and members of Somalia's various ethnic minority groups such as the Bantu."
82. Consider the following names :
1. Ike
2. Kate
3. Gustav
Which of the above are the names of hurricanes that had occurred very recently ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (C)
"Hurricane Ike was the third costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. It was the ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Ike was blamed for at least 195 deaths. Of these, 74 were in Haiti, which was already trying to recover from the impact of three storms earlier that year: Fay, Gustav, and Hanna
Hurricane Gustav was the second most destructive hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm was the seventh tropical cyclone, third hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season."
83. In the context of alternative sources of energy, ethanol as a viable bio-fuel can be obtained from:
(a) Potato
(b) Rice
(c) Sugarcane
(d) Wheat
Answer (C)
"Ethanol has enjoyed a long pedigree, and it can be produced from many sources, including sugars and starches derived from such crops as sugar cane, maize and wheat. Indeed, Brazil obtains a significant proportion of its fuel needs from ethanol sourced from agriculture.
Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials and it is made mostly from sugar and starch crops. With advanced technology being developed, cellulosic biomass, such as trees and grasses, are also used as feedstocks for ethanol production."
84. Consider the following famous names :
1. Amrita Sher-Gil
2. Bikash Bhattacharjee
3. N.S. Bendre
4. Subodh Gupta
Who of the above is/are well known as artist( s) ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer (D)
"Amrita Sher-Gil was an eminent Indian painter, sometimes known as India's Frida Kahlo
Bikash Bhatacharjee was an Indian painter from Kolkata in West Bengal. Through his paintings, he depicted the life of the average middle-class Bengali - their aspirations, superstitions, hypocrisy and corruption, and even the violence that is endemic to Kolkata.
Narayan Shridhar Bendre was born in 1910 in Indore. He got his early art education in the State Art School, Indore. Later he obtained his Government Diploma in Art from Bombay in 1933. Being an enthusiastic traveler he visited many places and captured them on his canvas throughout his career, often with different stylistic means.
Subodh Gupta (born in 1964) is an artist based in New Delhi. He was born in Khagaul, Patna. He studied at the College of Art, Patna in 1983 - 1988, before moving to New Delhi where he currently lives and works. Trained as a painter, he went on to experiment with a variety of media. His work encompasses sculpture, installation, painting, photography, performance and video."
85. NAMA-11 (Nama-11) group of countries frequently appears in the news in the context of the affairs of which one of the following ?
(a) Nuclear Suppliers Group
(b) World Bank
(c) World Economic Forum
(d) World Trade Organization
Answer (D)
"The Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations are based on the Doha Declaration of 2001 that calls for a reduction or elimination in tariffs, particularly on exportable goods of interest to developing countries.
NAMA covers manufacturing products, fuels and mining products, fish and fish products, and forestry products. These products are not covered by the Agreement on Agriculture or the negotiations on services.
The WTO considers the NAMA negotiations important because NAMA products account for almost 90% of the world's merchandise exports"
86. In the latter half of the year 2008, which one of the following countries pulled out of Commonwealth of Independent States ?
(a) Azerbaijan
(b) Belarus
(c) Georgia
(d) Kazakhstan
Answer (C)
"Georgia to pull out of CIS - Saakashvili 12 Aug 2008
MOSCOW, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Tuesday he would pull his country out of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) grouping ex-Soviet states, Russian news agencies reported.
"We are leaving the CIS for good and propose that other countries leave this body run by Russia," Interfax news agency said Saakashvili told a big rally in his support outside Georgia's parliament."
87. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :
List I (Persons in news) List II (Countries they belong to)
A. Luisa Dias Diogo 1. Kenya
B. Mwai Kibaki 2. Mozambique
C. Rupiah Banda 3. Zambia
4. Zimbabwe
Code :
A B C
(a) 1 2 3
(b) 2 1 3
(c) 2 1 4
(d) 1 2 4
Answer (B)
"Luísa Días Diogo was Prime Minister of Mozambique from February 2004 to January 2010
Emilio Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.
Rupiah Bwezani Banda is a Zambian politician who has been the fourth President of Zambia since 2008."
88. Consider the following regions :
1. Eastern Himalayas
2. Eastern Mediterranean region
3. North-western Australia
Which of the above is/are Biodiversity Hotspot(s) ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (B)
Region wise List of 34 Biodiversity hotspots
North and Central America
1. California Floristic Province
2. Caribbean Islands
3. Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands
4. Mesoamerica
------------------------ South America
5. Atlantic Forest
6. Cerrado
7. Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests
8. Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
9. Tropical Andes
------------------------- Europe and Central Asia
10. Caucasus
11. Irano-Anatolian
12. Mediterranean Basin
13. Mountains of Central Asia
-------------------------- Africa
14. Cape Floristic Region
15. Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
16. Eastern Afromontane
17. Guinean Forests of West Africa
18. Horn of Africa
19. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
20. Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany
21. Succulent Karoo
----------------------- Asia-Pacific
22. East Melanesian Islands
23. Himalaya
24. Indo-Burmav
25. Japan
26. Mountains of Southwest China
27. New Caledonia
28. New Zealand
29. Philippines
30. Polynesia-Micronesia
31. Southwest Australia
32. Sundaland
33. Wallacea
34. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
89. With reference to the evolution of living organisms, which one of the following sequences is correct ?
(a) Octopus - Dolphin - Shark
(b) Pangolin — Tortoise — Hawk
(c) Salamander - Python — Kangaroo
(d) Frog - Crab - Prawn
Not clear. 90. The Panda belongs to the same family as that of
(a) Bear
(b) Cat
(c) Dog
(d) Rabbit
Answer (A)
"For many decades the precise taxonomic classification of the Giant Panda was under debate because it shares characteristics of both bears and raccoons. However, molecular studies suggest that the Giant Panda is a true bear and part of the Ursidae family, though it differentiated early in history from the main ursine stock. The Giant Panda's closest ursine relative is the Spectacled Bear of South America. The Giant Panda has been referred to as a living fossil."
91. Consider the following statements:
1. India does not have any deposits of Thorium.
2. Kerala's monazito sands contain Uranium.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither I nor 2
Answer (B)
"There are two sets of estimates that define world thorium reserves, one set by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the other supported by reports from the OECD and the International Atomic Energy Agency (the IAEA). Under the USGS estimate, Australia and India have particularly large reserves of thorium. India and Australia are believed to possess about 300,000 tonnes each; i.e. each country possessing 25% of the world's thorium reserves
The coastal belt of Karunagappally, Kerala, is known for high background radiation (HBR) from thorium-containing monazite sand.
Monazite sands comprise of phosphate minerals of elements such as cerium which occur as small brown crystals in the Kerala sands (these monazite sands are mined for both cerium and radioactive thorium oxide)."
92. Which one among the following South Asian countries has the highest population density ?
(a) India
(b) Nepal
(c) Pakistan
(d) Sri Lanka
Answer (A)
India: 362 (2010) person/sq.km.
Pakistan : 213 (2010)
Nepal: 199 (2009)
Srilanka: 308 (2009)
93. Consider the following statements :
1. The discussions in the Third Round Table Conference eventually led to the passing of the Government of India Act of 1935.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 provided for the establishment of an All India Federation to be based on a Union of the provinces of British India and the Princely States.
Which of the statements given above is/arc correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
"Third Round Table Conference 1932 : Proved fruitless as most of the national leaders were in prison. The discussions led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.
Constitutional developments were put in place within India proper during the 1920s. Initially, the provinces of British India were granted a measure of responsible government. Further proposals envisaged the eventual establishment of a self-governing Dominion; not dissimilar from those previously established in other parts of the Empire, such as, Canada and Australia. Similar to those countries, a federal framework was passed into law in the Government of India Act of 1935. This allowed for the voluntary accession of the princely states, either in union with adjacent existing provinces of British India or, as separate self-governing units within the federation.
In preparation for the new federation, and as a consequence of constitutional developments in those states, Burma and Aden were separated from the Indian Empire as distinct Crown Colonies in 1937. A number of states and protectorates contiguous to those colonies thereafter ceased to be the responsibility of the Government of India and came under the supervision of the local colonial authorities."
94. Consider the following:
1. Fringe Benefit Tax
2. Interest Tax
3. Securities Transaction Tax
Which of the above is/are Direct Tax/Taxes ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (C)
"A Direct tax is a kind of charge, which is imposed directly on the taxpayer. Alternatively, it can be said that a direct tax is one that is taken away from one's salary or wages. When the tax is imposed by the government upon the property, then it is called property tax, which is also a direct tax. Some of the examples of direct taxes include capital gains tax, personal income tax, tax on corporate income, and tax incentives.
Direct Tax
- Income Tax
- FBT (Fringe Benefit Tax)
- Transfer Pricing
- New IT Return Forms
Indirect Tax
- Vat
- Service Tax
- Custom Excise
- Entry Tax
Finance Act, 2005 has introduced a new tax in the form of Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT). FBT is a tax payable by the employer on benefits (provided/ deemed) that employees (past or present) receive as a consideration of their employment. FBT is leviable on every employer excluding individuals/ Hindu Undivided Family and certain institutions enjoying certain exemptions.
Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a tax being levied on all transactions done on the stock exchanges.Securities Transaction Tax is applicable on purchase or sale of equity shares, derivatives, equity oriented funds and equity oriented Mutual Funds.
The Interest Tax Act, 1974 Bare Act
CHARGE OF TAX.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, there shall be charged on every scheduled bank for every assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 1975, a tax in this Act referred to as interest-tax in respect of its chargeable interest of the previous year at the rate of seven per cent of such chargeable interest :
Provided that the rate at which interest-tax shall be charged in respect of any chargeable interest accruing or arising after the 31st day of March, 1983 shall be three and a half per cent of such chargeable interest.
Both Interest tax and Securities transaction tax are paid by the actual users hnece they are direct tax.
95. In India, who is the Chairman of the National Water Resources Council ?
(a) Prime Minister
(b) Minister of Water Resources
(c) Minister of Environment and Forests
(d) Minister of Science and Technology
Answer (A)
"National Water Resources Council
National Water Resources Council was set up by the Government of India in March 1983. The Prime Minister is the Chairman, Union Minister of Water Resources is the Vice-Chairman, and Minister of State for Water Resources, concerned Union Ministers/ Ministers of State, Chief Ministers of all States & Lieutenant Governors/ Administrators of the Union Territories are the Members. Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources is the Secretary of the Council.
National Water Board
The Government of India constituted a National Water Board in September, 1990 under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources to review the progress achieved in implementation of the National Water Policy and to report the progress to the National Water Resources Council from time to time."
96. Consider the following statements :
1. There are no east flowing rivers in Kerala.
2. There are no west flowing rivers in Madhya Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
There are 44 rivers in Kerala, all but three originating in the Western Ghats.
Out of this 41 are westward-flowing rivers of Kerala state in southern India. These rivers all originate in the Western Ghats range and flow westward into the Kerala Backwaters or into the Arabian Sea. Length in kilometers is in parentheses.
Three rivers, the Kabani, Bhavani and Pambar rise in Kerala and flow eastwards, Kabini into Karnataka and the other two into Tamil Nadu.
The Narmada ,also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India and flows westwards over a length of 1,312 km (815.2 mi) before draining through the Gulf of Cambey (Khambat) into the Arabian Sea, 30 km (18.6 mi) west of Bharuch city of Gujarat.[1] It is one of only three major rivers in peninsular India that runs from east to west (largest west flowing river) along with the Tapti River and the Mahi River. It is the only river in India that flows in a rift valley flowing west between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges although the Tapti River and Mahi River also flow through rift valleys but between different ranges. It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh (1,077 km (669.2 mi)), Maharashtra, (74 km (46.0 mi))– (35 km (21.7 mi)) border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and (39 km (24.2 mi) border between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and in Gujarat (161 km (100.0 mi)).
Narmada - The Lifeline of Madhya Pradesh
Earlier known as Reva and Mahakalasuta, the Narmada is also referred to as the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh. Originating in Amarkantak, the highest peak of the Vindhya Range, it flows westward through Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat before finally ending its journey in the Gulf of Khambat. The 1300km long Narmada is the fifth longest river in India, and the oldest.
97. In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta ?
(a) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(c) Kcshab Chandra Sen
(d) Raja Rammohan Roy
Answer (D)
"Hindu School is a school in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. It is located on College Street, in the vicinity of Hare School, College Square, Presidency College and Calcutta University.
"Hindu College, the school's predecessor, was established in 1817 by Raja Rammohan Roy, David Hare, Radhakanta Deb and other educationists of that time. In 1855, the pathsala part of Hindu College became Hindu School and the other part (mahapathshala) became Presidency College. The date of establishment of the Hindu College, 1817, is considered the establishment date of both Hindu school and Presidency College."
98. Who of the following Prime Ministers sent Cripps Mission to India ?
(a) James Ramsay MacDonald
(b) Stanley Baldwin
(c) Neville Chamberlain
(d) Winston Churchill
Answer (D)
"The Cripps mission was an attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing politician and government minister in the War Cabinet of Prime Minister Winston Churchill."
99. Who of the following is the author of a collection of poems called "Golden Threshold" ?
(a) Aruna Asaf Ali
(b) Annie Besant
(c) Sarojini Naidu
(d) Vijayalakshmi Pandit
Answer (C)
"Book Summary of The Golden Threshold
A collection of poems by Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was known as Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India) and was a child prodigy, freedom fighter and poet. Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of a state in India. She is also well acclaimed for her contribution to poetry. Her poetry had beautiful words that could also be sung. Her collection of poems was published in 1905 under the title The Golden Threshold."
100. During the Indian Freedom Struggle, why did Rowlatt Act arouse popular indignation ?
(a) It curtailed the freedom of religion
(b) It suppressed the Indian traditional education
(c) It authorized the government to imprison people without trial
(d) It curbed the trade union activities
Answer (C)
"The Rowlatt Act was a law passed by the British in colonial India in March 1919, indefinitely extending "emergency measures" (of the Defence of India Regulations Act) enacted during the First World War in order to control public unrest and root out conspiracy. Passed on the recommendations of the Rowlatt commission, named for its president, British judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt, this act effectively authorized the government to imprison for a maximum period of two years, without trial, any person suspected of terrorism living in the Raj. The Rowlatt Act gave British imperial authorities power to deal with revolutionary activities." 
101. Which one of the following began with the Dandi March ?
(a) Home Rule Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) Quit India Movement
Answer (C)
"The Salt Satyagraha, which began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of nonviolent protest against the British salt tax in colonial India, and triggered the wider Civil Disobedience Movement. This was the most significant organized challenge to British authority since the Non-cooperation movement of 1920-22, and directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence by the Indian National Congress on January 26, 1930."
102. Anekantavada is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following ?
(a) Buddhism
(b) Jainism
(c) Sikhism
(d) Vaishnavism
Answer (B)
"Anekantavada is one of the most important and fundamental doctrines of Jainism. It refers to the principles of pluralism and multiplicity of viewpoints, the notion that truth and reality are perceived differently from diverse points of view, and that no single point of view is the complete truth."
103. With which one of the following movements is the slogan "Do or die" associated?
(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) Quit India Movement
Answer (D)
"The call for determined, but passive resistance that signified the certitude that Gandhi foresaw for the movement is best described by his call to Do or Die, issued on 8 August at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, since re-named August Kranti Maidan (August Revolution Ground)."
104. Who of the following founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association ?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) N.M. Joshi
(d) J.B. Kripalani
Answer (A)

Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association 1920 M.K. Gandhi
"Gandhian Perspective on Industrial Relations (A Study of Textile Labour Association, Ahmedabad, 1918-48)."
105. In the context of the Indian freedom struggle, 16 October 1905 is well known for which one of the following reasons ?
(a) The formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made in Calcutta town hall
(b) Partition of Bengal took effect
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji declared that the goal of Indian National Congress was Swaraj
(d) Lokmanya Tilak started Swadeshi Movement in Poona
Answer (B)
"The decision on the Partition of Bengal was announced on 19 July 1905 by then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The partition took effect on 16 October 1905. Due to the high level of political unrest generated by the partition, the eastern and western parts of Bengal were reunited because of Hindu pressure in 1911."
106. Consider the following statements :
1. Infant mortality rate takes into account the death of infants within a month after birth.
2. Infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths in a particular year per 100 live births during that year.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (D)
"Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths (one year of age or younger) per 1000 live births. Currently, the most common cause is pneumonia. Other causes of infant mortality include: malnutrition, malaria, congenital malformation, infection and SIDS."
107. If a Panchayat is dissolved, elections are to be held within:
(a) 1 month
(b) 3 months
(c) 6 months
(d) 1 year
Answer (C)
"Duration of Village Panchayats. – (1) Every Village Panchayat unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting after each ordinary election and no longer.
(2) Where a Village Panchayat is dissolved before the expiration of the said period of five years, election to constitute such Village Panchayat shall be completed in accordance with the provisions of Section 214 as soon as may be, and in any case before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of such dissolution; Provided that where a Village Panchayat is dissolved within six months before the expiration of the said period of five years, it shall not be necessary to hold any election to such Village Panchayat."
108. Consider the following statements :
1. The Governor of Punjab is concurrently the Administrator of Chandigarh.
2. The Governor of Kerala is concurrently the Administrator of Lakshadweep.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (A)
"Since 1985 the Governor of Punjab has acted as the administrator of Chandigarh. His official residence is Raj Bhavan, Punjab in Chandigarh.
The Administrator of Lakshadweep is the Head of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. He is also the Chairman of Lakshadweep Development Corporation (a U.T. Administration public sector undertaking) and SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Recreational Tourism and Sports). He functions ex-officio as the Inspector General of Lakshadweep Police."
109. Consider the following pairs:
Organization Location of Headquarters
1. Asian Development Bank : Tokyo
2. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation : Singapore
3. Association of South East Asian Nations : Bangkok
Which of the above pairs is/are correct matchd?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Answer (B)
"Asian Development Bank

Motto	Fighting poverty in Asia and the Pacific
Formation	22 August 1966
Type	Regional organization
Legal status	Treaty
Purpose/focus	Crediting
Headquarters	Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Region served	Asia-Pacific
Membership	67 countries
President	Haruhiko Kuroda
Main organ	Board of Directors

"The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

Headquarters	Singapore
Type	Economic forum
Member Economies	21
APEC Chair	Japan
Executive Director	Muhamad Noor Yacob
Establishment	1989

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Motto: "One Vision, One Identity, One Community" "10 countries, 1 identity"
Anthem: "The ASEAN Way"
Seat of Secretariat : Jakarta Formation:
Bangkok Declaration: 8 August 1967
Charter: 16 December 2008
110. With reference to the United Nations, consider the following statements :
1. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of UN consists of 24 member States.
2. It is elected by a 2/3 majority of The General Assembly for a 3-year term.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
"The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations constitutes one of six principal organs of the United Nations responsible for the coordination of economic, social, and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions. ECOSOC has 54 members and holds one substantive session each July for a duration of four weeks
The Council has 54 member states which are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. Seats on the Council are based on geographical representation with fourteen allocated to African States, eleven to Asian States, six to Eastern European States, ten to Latin American and Caribbean States, and thirteen to Western European and other States."
111. In which one of the following places is the Shompen tribe found ?
(a) Nilgiri Hills
(b) Nicobar Islands
(c) Spiti Valley
(d) Lakshadweep Islands
Answer (B)
"The Shompen tribe is one of the two Mongoloid tribes that inhabit the Nicobar Islands in the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The sister Mongoloid tribe of the Shompen tribe at Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Nicobarese tribe. The Shompen tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is found particularly in the biggest of all the Nicobar Islands, that is, Great Nicobar."
112. Consider the following statements :
1. The Advocate General of a State in India is appointed by the President ot India upon the recommendation of the Governor of the concerned State.
2. As provided in Civil Procedure Code, High Courts have original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction at the State level.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (D)
"Article 165. Advocate-General for the State.—(1) The Governor of each State shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed a Judge of a High Court to be Advocate-General for the State
The Supreme Court has original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to all disputes between the Union and one or more states or between two or more states. The Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court to enforce Fundamental Rights.
The jurisdiction as well as the laws administered by a High Court can be altered both by the Union and State Legislatures. Certain High Courts, like those at Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, have original and appellate jurisdictions. Under the original jurisdiction suits, where the subject matter is valued at Rs.25,000 or more, can be filed directly in the High Court. Most High Courts have only appellate jurisdiction."
113. In India, the first Municipal Corporation was set up in which one among the following:
(a) Calcutta
(b) Madras
(c) Bombay
(d) Delhi
Answer (B)
"Chennai Corporation (also known as the Municipal Corporation of Chennai), formerly known as Madras Corporation, is the civic body that governs the city of Chennai (Madras), India.The Chennai Corporation is the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth of Nations outside the United Kingdom[2] and the oldest corporation in India. It is headed by a mayor, who presides over 155 councillors each of whom represents one of the 155 wards of the city."
114. With reference to Lok Adalats, consider the following statements:
1. An award made by a Lok Adalat is deemed to be a degree of a civil court and no appeal lies against thereto before any court.
2. Matrimonial/Family disputes are not covered under Lok Adalat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (A)
"The focus in Lok Adalats is on compromise. When no compromise is reached, the matter goes back to the court. However, if a compromise is reached, an award is made and is binding on the parties. It is enforced as a decree of a civil court. An important aspect is that the award is final and cannot be appealed, not even under Article 226 because it is a judgement by consent. All proceedings of a Lok Adalat are deemed to be judicial proceedings and every Lok Adalat is deemed to be a Civil Court.
Lok Adalat is very effective in settlement of money claims. Disputes like partition suits, damages and matrimonial cases can also be easily settled before Lok Adalat as the scope for compromise through an approach of give and take is high in these cases.
Lok Adalat is a boon to the litigant public, where they can get their disputes settled fast and free of cost."
115. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers shall be compulsorily the sitting members of Lok Sabha only.
2. The Union Cabinet Secretariat operates under the direction of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (D) "All Cabinet members are mandated by the constitution to be members of either House of the Parliament of India. In a departure from the norm the current Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, is a member of the Upper House, the Rajya Sabha. He remained so for the duration of his entire first term (2004–2009) too. Most, but not all, previous Prime Ministers have been elected members of the Lok Sabha.
The Cabinet Secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. The administrative head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary, who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. In the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 ‘Cabinet Secretariat' finds a place in the First Schedule to the Rules. The subjects allotted to this Secretariat are: (i) Secretarial assistance to Cabinet and Cabinet Committees; and (ii) Rules of Business."
116. Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not exceed fifteen percent of the total number of
(a) 90th
(b) 91st
(c) 92nd
(d) 93rd
Answer (B)
"ON July 7, the 91st Amendment to the Constitution, limiting the size of the Council of Ministers at the Centre and the States to no more than 15 per cent of the numbers in the Lok Sabha or the State Legislature, came into effect. Efficiency too does not seem the issue for even after the Amendment, there will be too many ministers at the Centre and in the big States to allow for good governance."
117. Consider the following statements :
1. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was set up during the Prime Ministership of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
2. The Members for CAT are drawn from both judicial and administrative streams.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (B)
"Parliament had enacted the Adminisitrative Tribunals Act, 1985 which came into force in July, 1985 and the Administrative Tribunals were established in November, 1985 at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Allahabad.
The eligibility conditions as per Sub-Section 2(b) of Section 6 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 as amended by the Administrative Tribunals (Amendment) Act, 2006 provides that-
A person shall not be qualified for appointment, as a Judicial Member unless he is or qualified to be a Judge of a High Court or he has for atleast two years held the post of a Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Legal Affairs or the Legislative Department including Member-Secretary, Law Commission of India or held a post of Additional Secret- to the Government of India in the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department at least for a period of five years."
118. With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements :
1. The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15th August 1947 was 18.
2. The number of Ministries at the Centre at present is 36.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (A)
"The government consists of a number of ministries /departments, number and character varying from time to time on factors such as volume work, importance attached to certain items, changes of orientation, political expediency etc. On 15 August 1947, the number of ministries at the Centre was 18.
List of Ministries/Union Government
1. Ministry of Agriculture
2. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
3. Ministry of Civil Aviation
4. Ministry of Coal
5. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
6. Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
7. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
8. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
9. Ministry of Culture
10. Ministry of Defence
11. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
12. Ministry of Earth Sciences
13. Ministry of Environment and Forests
14. Ministry of External Affairs
15. Ministry of Finance
16. Ministry of Food Processing Industries
17. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
18. Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
19. Ministry of Home Affairs
20. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
21. Ministry of Human Resource Development
22. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
23. Ministry of Labour and Employment
24. Ministry of Law and Justice
25. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
26. Ministry of Minority Affairs
27. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
28. Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
29. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
30. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
31. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
34. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
35. Ministry of Planning
36. Ministry of Power
37. Ministry of Railways
38. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
39. Ministry of Rural Development
40. Ministry of Science and Technology
41. Ministry of Shipping
42. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
43. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
44. Ministry of Steel
45. Ministry of Textiles
46. Ministry of Tourism
47. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
48. Ministry of Urban Development
49. Ministry of Water Resources
50. Ministry of Women and Child Development
51. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
52. Ministry of Mines
119. Consider the following statements:
1. The first telegraph line in India was laid between Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Diamond Harbour.
2. The first Export Processing Zone in India was set up in Kandla.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
"The postal and telecom sectors had a slow and uneasy start in India. In 1850, the first experimental electric telegraph Line was started between Kolkata and Diamond Harbor. In 1851, it was opened for the British East India Company.
India was one of the first in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia's first EPZ set up in Kandla in 1965. With a view to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000."
120. Which one of the following Union Ministries implements the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ?
(a) Ministry of Science and Technology
(b) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(c) Ministry of Environment and Forests
(d) Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Answer (C)
"The Cartagena Protocol (CP) was negotiated under the Convention of Biodiversity (CBD). The CBD was adopted in 1992 at the United Nations Conference for Environment and Development. The item of Bio diversity is with the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
121. In a carrom board game competition, m boys and n girls (m > n > 1) of a school participate in which every student has to play exactly one game with every other student. Out of the total games played, it was found that in 221 games one player was a boy and the other-player was a girl.
Consider the following statements :
1. The total number of students that participated in the competition is 30.
2. The number of games in which both players were girls is 78.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
122. There are three cans A, B and C. The capacities of A, B and C are 6 litres, 10 litres and 16 litres respectively. The can C contains 16 litres of milk. The milk has to be divided in them using these three cans only.
Consider the following statements :
1. It is possible to have 6 litres of milk each in can A and can B.
2. It is possible to have 8 litres of milk each in can B and can C.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
The capacities of the container A, B and C have been defined. Now we have to see that the milk can be divided between them or not.
Statement 1: Out of 16 litres of milk 6 litres can be poured in A and 6 litres in B and the balance 4 litres can remain in C; So this statement is correct;
Statement 2: Out of 16 litres milk in C 8 litres can be poured in B and the balance 8 litres will remain in C. So this statement is also correct.
123. Consider the following pairs:
1. Ashok Leyland : Hinduja Group
2. Hindalco : A.V. Birla Group Industries
3. Suzlon Energy : Punj Lloyd Group
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (A)
"Following the independence of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, persuaded Mr Raghunandan Saran, an industrialist, to enter automotive manufacture. The company began in 1948 as Ashok Motors, to assemble Austin cars. The company was renamed and started manufacturing commercial vehicles in 1955 with equity participation by British Leyland. Today the company is the flagship of the Hinduja Group, a British-based and Indian originated transnational conglomerate.
An industry leader in aluminium and copper, Hindalco Industries Limited, the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group is the world's largest aluminium rolling company and one of the biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia.

Suzlon was founded by Tulsi Tanti in 1995, when he was working in a family-owned textile company. In that year, India's shaky power grid and the rising cost of electricity offset any profits the company would make. With the help of some of his friends of Rajkot, he moved into wind energy production as a way to secure the textile company's energy needs, and founded Suzlon Energy. In 2001, Tanti sold off the textile business, so he could focus on the development of his wind energy business. In 2009, Suzlon is still actively run by Tulsi Tanti, now in the role of Chairman and Managing Director."
124. In the context of global economy, which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
(a) JP Morgan : Financial Services Chase
(b) Roche Holding : Financial Services AG
(c) WL Ross & Co : Private Equity Co. Firm
(d) Warburg Pincus : Private Equity Firm
Answer (B)
"J.P. Morgan is a leader in financial services, offering solutions to clients in more than 100 countries with one of the most comprehensive global product platforms available. We have been helping our clients to do business and manage their wealth for more than 200 years. Our business has been built upon our core principle of putting our clients' interests first.
J.P. Morgan is part of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a global financial services firm with assets of $2.1 trillion.
Roche was founded on October 1st, 1896. The founder, Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche, was among the first to recognize that the industrial manufacture of standardized medicines would be a major advance in the fight against disease.
WL Ross & Co. is acknowledged as one of the world's leading turnaround groups. We invest in and restructure financially distressed companies and look to create new, world-class enterprises.
Warburg Pincus, LLC is an American private equity firm with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia
125. Consider the following houses:
1. Christie's
2. Osian's
3. Sotheby's
Which of the above is/are' auctioneer/ auctioneers ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (D)
"Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house. The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766
Established in 2000, Osian's Auction House and Archive redefines the role and responsibility of the traditional art auction house. Osian's was conceived to function both as a corporate organization and as an institution for the arts. Moving away from the economics of patronage, Osian's Auction House and Archive has established a holistic and financially self-sufficient model for creating an independent arts infrastructure in India.
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.Sotheby's is a global company that engages in art auction, private sales and art -related financing activities.
126. In the context of C02 emission and Global Warming, what is the name of a market driven device under the UNFCC that allows developing countries to get funds/incentives from the developed countries to adopt, better technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions ?
(a) Carbon Footprint
(b) Carbon Credit Rating
(c) Clean Development Mechanism
(d) Emission Reduction Norm
Answer (C)
"The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is one of the "flexibility" mechanisms defined in the Kyoto Protocol (IPCC, 2007).[1] It is defined in Article 12 of the Protocol, and is intended to meet two objectives: (1) to assist parties not included in Annex I in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is to prevent dangerous climate change; and (2) to assist parties included in Annex I in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments (greenhouse gas (GHG) emission caps). "Annex I" parties are those countries that are listed in Annex I of the treaty, and are the industrialized countries. Non-Annex I parties are developing countries."
127. The concept of carbon credit originated from which one of the following ?
(a) Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro
(b) Kyoto Protocol
(c) Montreal Protocol
(d) G-8 Summit, Hciligendamm
Answer (B)
"The concept of carbon credits came into existence as a result of increasing awareness of the need for controlling emissions. The mechanism was formalized in the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement between more than 170 countries, and the market mechanisms were agreed through the subsequent Marrakesh Accords. The mechanism adopted was similar to the successful US Acid Rain Program to reduce some industrial pollutants."
128. Who among the following is the founder of World Economic Forum ?
(a) Klaus Schwab
(b) John Kenneth Galbraith
(c) Robert Zoellick
(d) Paul Krugman
Answer (A)
"The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Geneva-based non-profit foundation best known for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The WEF was founded in 1971 by Klaus Martin Schwab, a German-born business professor at the University of Geneva. Originally named the European Management Forum, it changed its name to the World Economic Forum in 1987 and sought to broaden its vision further to include providing a platform for resolving international conflicts."
129. The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of
(a) 1 year
(b) 2 years
(c) 3 years
(d) 5 years
Answer (B)
"There are 15 members of the Security Council, consisting of 5 veto-wielding permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 10 elected non-permanent members with two-year terms."
130. From which one of the following did Kosovo declare its independence ?
(a) Bulgaria
(b) Croatia
(c) Macedonia
(d) Serbia
Answer (D)
"The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 at a meeting of the Assembly of Kosovo. The members of the Assembly, acting as "the democratically elected leaders of the people", unanimously declared Kosovo to be independent from Serbia."
131. Which one of the following pairs of countries fought wars over a region called Ogaden ?
(a) Eritrea and Sudan
(b) Ethiopia and Somalia
(c) Kenya and Somalia
(d) Ethiopia and Sudan
Answer (B)
"The Ogaden War was a conventional conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. In a notable illustration of the nature of Cold War alliances, the Soviet Union switched from supplying aid to Somalia to supporting Ethiopia, which had previously been backed by the United States, prompting the U.S. to start supporting Somalia. The war ended when Somali forces retreated back across the border and a truce was declared."
132. In the middle of the year 2008 the Parliament of which one of the following countries became the first in the world to enact a Climate Act by passing "The Climate Change Accountability Bill"?
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Germany
(d) Japan
Answer (B)
"The Climate Change Accountability Act was a Private Member's Bill in the 40th Parliament, originally tabled in October 2006 in the Canadian House of Commons as Bill C-377 of the 39th Parliament by Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. "
133. Which one among the following has the highest energy ?
(a) Blue light
(b) Green light
(c) Red light
(d) Yellow light
Answer (A)
"The light with the highest energy will be the one with the highest frequency - that will be the one with the smallest wavelength. In other words, violet light at the 380 nm end of its range.

134. In the context of independent India's economy, which one of the following was the earliest event to take place ?
(a) Nationalisation of Insurance companies
(b) Nationalisation of State Bank of India
(c) Enactment of Banking Regulation Act
(d) Introduction of First Five-Year Plan
Answer (C)
"Life insurance in India was completely nationalized on January 19, 1956, through the Life Insurance Corporation Act. All 245 insurance companies operating then in the country were merged into one entity, the Life Insurance Corporation of India.
The General Insurance Business Act of 1972 was enacted to nationalise the about 100 general insurance companies then and subsequently merging them into four companies. All the companies were amalgamated into National Insurance, New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance, which were headquartered in each of the four metropolitan cities.
The nationalisation of banks in India took place in 1969 by Mrs. Indira Gandhi the then prime minister. It nationalised 14 banks then.
Before the steps of nationalisation of Indian banks, only State Bank of India (SBI) was nationalised. It took place in July 1955 under the SBI Act of 1955. Nationalisation of Seven State Banks of India (formed subsidiary) took place on 19th July, 1960.
The following are the steps taken by the Government of India to Regulate Banking Institutions in the Country:
1949 : Enactment of Banking Regulation Act.
1955 : Nationalisation of State Bank of India.
1959 : Nationalisation of SBI subsidiaries.
1961 : Insurance cover extended to deposits.
1969 : Nationalisation of 14 major banks.
1971 : Creation of credit guarantee corporation.
1975 : Creation of regional rural banks.
1980 : Nationalisation of seven banks with deposits over 200 crore.
The Planning Commission was set up in March, 1950. The draft of the first five-year plan was published in July 1951 and it was approved in December 1951.
The first five-year plan laid stress on agricultural development and multipurpose projects. This plan completed its course on 21st march 1956." 135. Consider the following pairs :
Automobile Manufacturer Headquarters
1. BMW AG : USA
2. Daimler AG : Sweden
3. Renault S A. : France
4. Volkswagen AG : Germany
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4
Answer (B)
"Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (info) (BMW), (literally English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916.
Daimler AG, formerly DaimlerChrysler; FWB: DAI) is a German car corporation. It is the thirteenth-largest car manufacturer and second-largest truck manufacturer in the world.
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks, and, in the past, autorail vehicles. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's fourth largest automaker.
Volkswagen Group (previously known as VAG) is a German automobile manufacturing group.
136. Among the following Presidents of India, who was also the Secretary General of Non-Aligned Movement for some period ?
(a) Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
(b) Varahagiri Venkatagiri
(c) Giani Zail Singh
(d) Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma
Answer (C) "N. Sanjiva Reddy India Janata Party 1983
Zail Singh India Congress Party 1983 - 1986"
137. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists : List I (Person) List II (Organization)
A. Anil Agarwal 1. Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.
B. Gautam H. Singhania 2. Raymond Ltd.
C. Sanjay Dalmia 3. Vedanta Resources
D. Venugopal Dhoot 4. Videocon Group
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 1 2 4
(b) 4 1 2 3
(c) 3 2 1 4
(d) 4 2 1 3
Answer (C)
"Anil Agarwal (born 1954, Patna, Bihar, India) is an Indian businessman and the founder and Executive Chairman of the UK-based Vedanta Resources Corporation.
Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, Raymond, admits, "Yes, it will be a challenge to keep Park Avenue and Raymond as distinctly different brands and there is going to be some amount of cannibalisation. However, Park Avenue is meant for a younger audience and comprises daily wear while Raymond would have a different quality and address a higher age group.''
BEING born with a silver spoon, you would have expected him to be complacent in his old world family business. But Mr Sanjay Dalmia, GHCL Chairman, is far from satisfied with what he has achieved and in recent years has turned more aggressive than ever on the road to "becoming a major global player."
Venugopal Dhoot (born 30 Sep 1951 in Mumbai, India) is an Indian businessman. His father, the late Nandlal Madhavlal Dhoot, was an Indian industrialist who made his earlier fortune in the sugarcane and cotton industry. Nandlal Dhoot was the founder of Videocon Corporation and other businesses ventures such as Videocon Electronics."
138. To integrate cultural leaders into its meetings, which one of the following gives "Crystal Award"
(a) Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(b) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(c) World Health Organization
(d) World Economic Forum
Answer (D)
"Arts and culture provide inspiration to corporate leaders: Klaus Schwab
Crystal Award is to integrate cultural leaders into WEF annual meetings.
Bharatanatyam danseuse and director of the Ahmedabad-based Darpana Academy Mallika Sarabhai has been selected for the “Crystal award for 2009,” given by the World Economic Forum, for her two decades of work in the fields of women empowerment and social justice as well as arts and culture."
139. In India, which one of the following States has the largest inland saline wetland?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Haryana
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Rajasthan
Answer (D)
"The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake, sits 96 km south west of the city of Jaipur (Northwest India) and 64 km north east of Ajmer along National Highway 8 in Rajasthan."
140. Consider the following statements:
1. MMTC Limited is India's largest international trading organization.
2. Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited has been set up by MMTC jointly with the Government of Orissa.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (C)
"Subject : MMTC ACHIEVES RECORD LEVEL TOPLINE AND BOTTOMLINE
Date : January 16, 2009
MMTC Limited, the largest international trading company of India, has exhibited outstanding performance by achieving its record level turnover of Rs. 32,030 crores during April- December 2008
Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited located at Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex, Duburi, Jajpur Orissa, a joint venture of MMTC and Orissa Govt."
141. In which one of the following States has India's largest private sector sea port been commissioned recently ?
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Karnataka
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu
Answer (A)
"Navayuga Group, one of India's leading infrastructure developers, has unveiled the country's largest private sector port in Krishnapatnam in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh."
142. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
(a) Japan : Nikkei
(b) Singapore : Shcomp
(c) UK : FTSE
(d) USA : Nasdaq
Answer (B)
"Nikkei 225 is a stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).
Shanghai SE Composite Index
(Shanghai Stock Exchange:SHCOMP)
The FTSE UK Index Series is designed to represent the performance of UK companies, providing investors with a comprehensive and complementary set of indices that measure the performance of all capital and industry segments of the UK equity market.
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Systems"
143. Consider the following statements :
1. INS Sindhughosh is an aircraft carrier.
2. INS Viraat is a submarine.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (D)
"INS Sindhughosh (S55) is the lead ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines of the Indian Navy. The submarine was commissioned in April 1986.
INS Viraat (R22) is a Centaur-class aircraft carrier currently in service with the Indian Navy.
144. Consider the following statements:
1. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends the Minimum Support Prices for 32 crops.
2. The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched the National Food Security Mission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (D)
"The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices submits its recommendations on MSP for 26 crops included in its terms of reference.
NEW DELHI: With the release of the first instalment of funds this year, the National Food Security Mission has taken off, according to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. It aims at increasing production of rice by 10 million tonnes, wheat by eight million tonnes and pulses by two million tonnes in the next four years."
145. In India, the ports are categorized as major and non-major ports. Which one of the following is a non-major port ?
(a) Kochi (Cochin)
(b) Dahej
(c) Paradip
(d) New Mangalore
Answer (B)
"India has eleven major sea ports: Kandla, Bombay, Nhava Sheva, Marmagao, New Mangalore, and Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) on the west coast, and Calcutta-Haldia, Paradip, Vishakhapatnam, Madras, and Tuticorin on the east coast. The port at Nhava Sheva, located across the harbor from Bombay Port, was established in 1982 under the administration of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust as a separate port rather than an adjunct to Bombay. The eleven ports in India are the responsibility of the Ministry of State for Surface Transport
Dahej is a fair weather port situated on the southwest coast of Gujarat, in the Gulf of Cambay, at the junction of Guljaria and Ban Creek. It is an anchorage port. The Port is about 40 kilometers from Bharuch, which is the nearest railway station."
146. Among other things, which one of the following was the purpose for which the Deepak Parekh Committee was constituted ?
(a) To study the current socio-economic conditions of certain minority communities
(b) To suggest measures for financing the development of infrastructure
(c) To frame a policy on the production of genetically modified organisms
(d) To suggest measures to reduce the fiscal deficit in the Union Budget
Answer (B)
"The Deepak Parekh Committee on India Infrastructure Debt Fund (IIDF) has recommended a slew of regulatory changes to pave the way for foreign insurance and pension funds to invest in the proposed Debt Fund."
147. The brothers Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are:
(a) Dhrupad vocalists
(b) Kathak dancers
(c) Sarod macstros
(d) Tabla players
Answer (A)
"Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha, known as the Gundecha Brothers, are leading Dagarvani dhrupad singers. They always sing together."
148. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I (Famous person) List II (Well-known for)
A. Mandakini Amte 1. Theatre direction
B. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry 2. Social service and community leadership
C. Romila Thapar 3. Dance
D. Vanashree Rao 4. History writing
Codes:
A B C D
(a) 2 1 4 3
(b) 2 4 1 3
(c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 3 4 1 2
Answer (A)
"Prakash Amte, Son of Magsaysay awardee and legend Baba Amte, he and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte were awarded the Magsaysay Award for 'Community Leadership' in 2008 for their philanthropic work in the form of the Lok Biradari Prakalp amongst the Madia Gonds in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Trained at the National School of Drama, Neelam Mansingh Chowdhury's 17-year old `The Company' has been recreating Western classics for the theatre lovers of Punjab.
Romila Thapar (born 1931) is an Indian historian whose principal area of study is ancient India.
Kuchipudi maestro Guru Jayarama Rao and Vanashree Rao ,one of the most celebrated couple of this art form, have dedicated their lives to the study and practice of Kuchipudi dance."
149. With reference to Stree Shakti Puraskar, for which of the following is "Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award" given?
(a) Administrative skills
(b) Achievements in Scientific Research
(c) Achievements in Sports and Games
(d) Courage and valour
Answer (A) "Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, the Gond Maharani Kamalapti and Queen Durgawati, etc., were women rulers whose names have left an indelible imprint on Indian history for their outstanding rule.
Stree Shakti Puraskar : As a measure of recognition of achievements of individual women in the field of social development, the Government of India has instituted five national awards, known as 'Stree Shakti Puraskar'. These awards will be in the name of the following eminent women personalities from Indian history, who are famous for their personal courage and integrity :
1. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar
2. Kannagi
3. Mata Jijabai
4. Rani Gaidenlou Zeliang
5. Rani Lakshmi Bai
From the year 2007, another sub category of Stree Shakti Puraskar, named at the Rani Rudramma Devi has been added, which will be awarded to individual men and women for their outstanding administrative skill, leadership quality and courage. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh and a citation.
150. In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Sikkim
(d) Uttarakhand
Answer (B)
"Tabo Monastery was founded in 996 CE in the Spiti Valley, Himachel Pradesh, India by the great Tibetan Buddhist lotswa, Rinchen Zangpo, the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge."