I85PREP
⌘ K
BPSC CCE study materials
BPSC CCE study resources

BPSC CCE practice questions

One question at a time. Build your BPSC CCE understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was primarily directed against which system affecting indigo cultivators?

  1. The mahalwari settlement
  2. The ryotwari settlement
  3. The zamindari auction system
  4. The tinkathia system Correct answer.

Explanation

Under the tinkathia arrangement, tenants in Champaran were compelled to grow indigo on three kathas out of every twenty bighas of land and to accept low prices, which lay at the heart of the grievances Gandhi investigated in 1917. The other settlements were revenue arrangements of a different nature and were not the specific target of that movement.

Question 2General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which river forms the northern boundary of Bihar for a considerable stretch, separating it from Nepal?

  1. The Ganga
  2. The Kosi
  3. The Son
  4. The Gandak Correct answer.

Explanation

The Gandak, known in Nepal as the Narayani, descends from the Himalayas and enters Bihar near Valmiki Nagar, running along the northern edge of the state and forming part of the international border with Nepal. The other rivers either flow within Bihar or join it from the south.

Question 3General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Under the Constitution of India, the Governor of a state is appointed by which authority?

  1. The Chief Justice of India
  2. The President Correct answer.
  3. The State Legislature
  4. The Prime Minister

Explanation

Article 155 provides that the Governor of a state shall be appointed by the President, and Article 156 fixes the normal term at five years subject to the pleasure of the President. The appointment is made by warrant under the President's hand and seal, acting on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers.

Question 4General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the largest contributor to Bihar's Gross State Domestic Product by sector?

  1. Mining and quarrying
  2. Agriculture and allied activities Correct answer.
  3. Manufacturing
  4. Electricity and utilities

Explanation

Bihar's economy remains predominantly agrarian, with agriculture and allied activities such as livestock, forestry and fishing contributing the largest share of gross value added. Industry, including manufacturing and mining, accounts for a comparatively small portion of state output.

Question 5General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness, a condition in which vision is impaired in dim light?

  1. Vitamin K
  2. Vitamin C
  3. Vitamin D
  4. Vitamin A Correct answer.

Explanation

Vitamin A is required to form rhodopsin, the visual pigment in the retina's rod cells that enables sight in low light, so its deficiency impairs dark adaptation and can progress to xerophthalmia. The other vitamins listed serve unrelated roles in immunity, bone metabolism and clotting.

Question 6General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Buddhist council held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Ashoka is traditionally counted as which council?

  1. The Fourth Council
  2. The First Council
  3. The Third Council Correct answer.
  4. The Second Council

Explanation

The Third Buddhist Council is traditionally said to have been convened at Pataliputra during Ashoka's reign, associated with the elder Moggaliputta Tissa and the compilation of the Abhidhamma. The earlier councils are placed at Rajgir and Vaishali, and the fourth at Kundalvana in Kashmir.

Question 7General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Tropic of Cancer passes through which of the following districts of Bihar?

  1. Darbhanga
  2. Gaya Correct answer.
  3. Bhagalpur
  4. Purnia

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer crosses Bihar in its southern portion, passing through districts such as Gaya and Aurangabad. The other districts named lie further north or east and are not on that latitude.

Question 8General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

In the Indian Constitution, the Directive Principles of State Policy are contained in which Part?

  1. Part VI
  2. Part IV Correct answer.
  3. Part III
  4. Part V

Explanation

Part IV, comprising Articles 36 to 51, sets out the Directive Principles of State Policy, which guide governments in making laws and policies though they are not directly enforceable in courts. Part III contains fundamental rights, while Parts V and VI deal with the Union and the states respectively.

Question 9General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following was the capital of the ancient Magadha kingdom before the shift to Pataliputra?

  1. Vaishali
  2. Champa
  3. Mithila
  4. Rajgir Correct answer.

Explanation

Rajgir, known in ancient texts as Rajagriha and Girivraja, was the early capital of Magadha under the Haryanka rulers before Ajatashatru and later rulers shifted the seat of power to Pataliputra. The other cities were important centres of neighbouring regions rather than Magadha's capital.

Question 10General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Kosi river is popularly called the 'sorrow of Bihar' mainly because it causes damage through which process?

  1. Deep incision into a rocky plateau
  2. Sudden salinisation of farmland
  3. Frequent shifting of its channel and flooding Correct answer.
  4. Formation of a large inland delta

Explanation

The Kosi carries a heavy silt load from the Himalayas and deposits it on the flat plains, raising its bed and forcing the channel to shift over wide distances, which produces repeated and extensive flooding. This unstable, wandering behaviour, rather than salinity or rock erosion, gives it the title.

Question 11General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

A state government wishes to reserve seats for backward classes in state-run educational institutions. Which constitutional provision primarily enables this?

  1. Article 25
  2. Article 21A
  3. Article 15(4) Correct answer.
  4. Article 19(1)(a)

Explanation

Article 15(4), inserted by the First Amendment, permits the state to make special provision for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, which is the basis for reservation in educational institutions. The other articles protect speech, elementary education and religious freedom.

Question 12General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following best explains why Bihar's per capita income has remained below the national average despite growth in recent years?

  1. A decline in remittances from outside the state
  2. A complete absence of agricultural output
  3. Rapid population growth combined with a low industrial base Correct answer.
  4. Excessive dependence on mineral exports

Explanation

Per capita income is total output divided by population, so a fast-growing population and a limited industrial and service base keep the ratio low even when aggregate growth is strong. Agriculture dominates employment but has low productivity, which reinforces the gap with richer states.

Question 13General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The process by which a plant loses water vapour mainly through stomata is called

  1. Guttation
  2. Transpiration Correct answer.
  3. Translocation
  4. Imbibition

Explanation

Transpiration is the loss of water as vapour from aerial parts of plants, chiefly through stomatal pores, and it drives the upward movement of water and minerals in the xylem. The other terms describe transport of solutes, exudation of liquid droplets and absorption of water by dry materials.

Question 14General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following pairs correctly matches a Bihar festival or fair with its location?

  1. Sonepur Mela - Saran district Correct answer.
  2. Chhath Puja - Bodh Gaya
  3. Rajgir Mahotsav - Bhagalpur
  4. Pitrapaksha Mela - Darbhanga

Explanation

The Sonepur fair, held near the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak in Saran district, is one of Asia's largest cattle fairs and begins around Kartik Purnima. The other pairings place well-known events in districts where they do not occur.

Question 15General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Chief Minister of a state is appointed by the Governor under which constitutional article?

  1. Article 167
  2. Article 163
  3. Article 165
  4. Article 164 Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 164 provides that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other ministers on the Chief Minister's advice. Articles 163, 165 and 167 deal respectively with the council of ministers' aid and advice, the Advocate-General and the duties of the Chief Minister.

Question 16General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of soil types found from the Himalayan foothills southwards into the Bihar plain?

  1. Newer alluvium, then older alluvium, then terai soils
  2. Laterite soil, then black soil, then terai soils
  3. Bhabar and terai soils, then older alluvium, then newer alluvium Correct answer.
  4. Black soil, then red soil, then laterite soil

Explanation

At the foot of the hills, coarse porous bhabar deposits give way to the moist terai belt, and further south the plain is built of older alluvium on higher ground and newer alluvium along the rivers. Black, red and laterite soils belong to other climatic regions and are not typical of this north-to-south sequence.

Question 17General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

In the context of the Indian economy, 'repo rate' refers to the rate at which

  1. banks lend to each other overnight without collateral
  2. the Reserve Bank lends short-term funds to banks against government securities Correct answer.
  3. the government borrows through treasury bills
  4. banks lend to their most creditworthy customers

Explanation

The repo rate is the policy rate at which the Reserve Bank provides short-term liquidity to commercial banks against eligible collateral, usually government securities, under repurchase agreements. Changes in it transmit to lending and deposit rates across the economy.

Question 18General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Battle of Buxar in 1764 was fought between the British East India Company and a combined force that included which rulers?

  1. Siraj-ud-Daula and the French
  2. Haidar Ali and the Nizam
  3. Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II Correct answer.
  4. Tipu Sultan and the Marathas

Explanation

At Buxar the Company's forces under Hector Munro defeated the allied armies of Mir Qasim of Bengal, Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. The victory consolidated British power in northern India and led to the treaties of Allahabad.

Question 19General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

A patient suffering from prolonged diarrhoea develops muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely responsible?

  1. Hypokalaemia Correct answer.
  2. Hypercalcaemia
  3. Hypochloraemia
  4. Hypernatraemia

Explanation

Prolonged diarrhoea causes loss of potassium in the stools, and low serum potassium impairs neuromuscular and cardiac function, producing weakness, cramps and arrhythmias. The other disturbances do not characteristically follow diarrhoeal losses in this pattern.

Question 20General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The 'Bihar Diwas' is observed on which date, marking the separation of Bihar from Bengal?

  1. 15 November
  2. 26 January
  3. 22 March Correct answer.
  4. 1 April

Explanation

Bihar was carved out of the Bengal Presidency by the British in 1912, with the separation taking effect on 22 March, and the date is now commemorated as Bihar Diwas. The other dates mark unrelated national or state occasions.

Question 21General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following statements about the 'Doctrine of Lapse' is correct?

  1. It transferred revenue collection from zamindars to village communities.
  2. It allowed the Company to annex states where a ruler died without a natural heir. Correct answer.
  3. It required Indian rulers to maintain British troops at their own cost.
  4. It prohibited the Company from entering into treaties with Indian rulers.

Explanation

Formulated in the time of Lord Dalhousie, the doctrine held that a dependent state whose ruler died without a natural heir would lapse to the Company, and adopted sons would not be recognised for succession. It was used to annex Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur among others.

Question 22General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following best describes the role of the Bihar Legislative Council in the state's legislature?

  1. It is dissolved whenever the Assembly is dissolved.
  2. It has the power to override the Legislative Assembly on money bills.
  3. It elects the Chief Minister of the state.
  4. It is the upper house and cannot vote on the annual budget demands. Correct answer.

Explanation

Bihar has a bicameral legislature, and the Legislative Council is the permanent upper house that reviews legislation but, like other legislative councils, has only limited powers over money bills and cannot vote on the Assembly's demands for grants. It is not subject to dissolution but undergoes periodic partial renewal.

Question 23General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

A farmer in the diara land of Bihar's rivers faces a distinctive risk. Which combination best describes the character of diara cultivation?

  1. Terrace farming on hill slopes with irrigation channels
  2. Permanent orchards on upland laterite soils
  3. Seasonal cultivation of fertile riverbed land exposed after floods, with uncertain tenure Correct answer.
  4. Plantation cropping on reclaimed saline coastal land

Explanation

Diara refers to the fertile, periodically exposed land along rivers such as the Ganga, where cultivation depends on the flood cycle and rights are often insecure because the land itself shifts with the channel. The other descriptions correspond to entirely different agro-ecological settings.

Question 24General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Consider the constitutional position of the Finance Commission. Which statement is accurate?

  1. It is constituted every five years to recommend devolution of taxes between the Union and the states. Correct answer.
  2. It is constituted by the Supreme Court to settle revenue disputes.
  3. It is a permanent body chaired by the President.
  4. It has the power to impose taxes on the states.

Explanation

Article 280 requires the President to constitute a Finance Commission at the expiry of every fifth year or earlier, with a mandate to recommend the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Union and the states and the principles governing grants-in-aid. It is an advisory body, not a permanent tribunal or a taxing authority.

Question 25General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following explains why the Chhotanagpur plateau's fringe in south Bihar has different soil and vegetation from the Ganga plain?

  1. The plain is formed of volcanic basalt while the fringe is alluvial.
  2. The plain is a glaciated region while the fringe is wind-deposited.
  3. The fringe is a coastal plain formed by marine deposition.
  4. The plateau fringe consists of older crystalline rocks with residual soils, unlike the alluvium of the plain. Correct answer.

Explanation

The southern fringe of Bihar belongs to the peninsular plateau, where ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks weather into residual soils such as red and lateritic types, supporting different vegetation. The Ganga plain, by contrast, is built of transported alluvium laid down by rivers.

Question 26General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which ancient university of Bihar was a major centre of Buddhist learning and attracted scholars from across Asia?

  1. Odantapuri
  2. Vikramashila
  3. Nalanda Correct answer.
  4. Telhara

Explanation

Nalanda Mahavihara, located in present-day Nalanda district, flourished from the 5th century CE and hosted students and monks from China, Korea, Tibet and Southeast Asia. Its extensive ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other institutions were also in Bihar but were distinct foundations, some founded later.

Question 27General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Barabar Caves, the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, are located in which district of Bihar?

  1. Nalanda
  2. Jehanabad Correct answer.
  3. Nawada
  4. Gaya

Explanation

The Barabar Caves are situated in the Barabar hills of Jehanabad district and date to the Mauryan period, associated with Ashoka. They contain inscriptions of Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha. They are not in the other listed districts.

Question 28General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which river forms the western boundary of Bihar for a considerable stretch, separating it from Uttar Pradesh?

  1. Kosi
  2. Son
  3. Gandak Correct answer.
  4. Ghaghara

Explanation

The Gandak river, also called Narayani, flows south from Nepal and forms part of the western boundary of Bihar with Uttar Pradesh before joining the Ganga near Hajipur. The Son flows from the south, the Kosi from the north-east, and the Ghaghara joins the Ganga in Bihar but does not form the western boundary.

Question 29General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Under the Indian Constitution, which article guarantees the right to constitutional remedies for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights?

  1. Article 226
  2. Article 14
  3. Article 21
  4. Article 32 Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 32 allows a person to move the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, and Dr. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution. Article 226 gives similar power to High Courts, while Articles 14 and 21 are themselves Fundamental Rights.

Question 30General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct chemical name for common table salt?

  1. Sodium chloride Correct answer.
  2. Sodium bicarbonate
  3. Potassium nitrate
  4. Calcium carbonate

Explanation

Common table salt is sodium chloride, formed from sodium and chlorine ions. Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda, calcium carbonate is chalk or limestone, and potassium nitrate is saltpetre. Each has different uses and properties.

Question 31General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the primary cause of the greenhouse effect that leads to global warming?

  1. Depletion of the ozone layer
  2. Release of chlorofluorocarbons that destroy ozone
  3. Formation of acid rain from sulphur dioxide
  4. Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases Correct answer.

Explanation

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trap outgoing infrared radiation, warming the lower atmosphere. Ozone depletion and acid rain are separate environmental problems, though CFCs also act as greenhouse gases. The dominant driver of modern global warming is the enhanced greenhouse effect from human emissions.

Question 32General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the largest gland in the human body?

  1. Salivary gland
  2. Liver Correct answer.
  3. Thyroid
  4. Pancreas

Explanation

The liver is the largest gland and internal organ in the human body, weighing about 1.5 kg in adults. It performs many metabolic functions, including bile production. The pancreas, thyroid and salivary glands are much smaller.

Question 33General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct chronological order of the founding of the Indian National Congress and the partition of Bengal?

  1. Founding of the Congress, then the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, then partition of Bengal
  2. Founding of the Congress, then partition of Bengal Correct answer.
  3. Both occurred in the same year
  4. Partition of Bengal, then founding of the Congress

Explanation

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, while the partition of Bengal was announced in 1905 and implemented in October 1905. Therefore the Congress came first. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred later, in 1919.

Question 34General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Chief Election Commissioner of India is appointed by which authority?

  1. The President Correct answer.
  2. The Parliament
  3. The Prime Minister
  4. The Chief Justice of India

Explanation

Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. The appointment is made on the advice of the Council of Ministers, but the formal appointing authority is the President. Parliament has enacted laws on the appointment process, but it does not appoint the CEC directly.

Question 35General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the main objective of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)?

  1. To provide subsidized food grains to urban households
  2. To offer skill training only to urban youth
  3. To give direct cash transfers to farmers
  4. To provide guaranteed wage employment in rural areas Correct answer.

Explanation

MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, guarantees at least 100 days of unskilled wage employment per rural household in a financial year. It is a demand-driven rural employment scheme. The other options describe different programmes such as the public distribution system or farmer income support.

Question 36General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The ruins of the ancient city of Vaishali, an important centre of early Buddhism and the site of the second Buddhist council, are located in which district of Bihar?

  1. Muzaffarpur
  2. Vaishali Correct answer.
  3. Patna
  4. Saran

Explanation

Vaishali district contains the archaeological remains of the ancient city of Vaishali, including the Ashokan pillar and the Relic Stupa. The second Buddhist council is traditionally associated with Vaishali. The site is not in Muzaffarpur, Saran or Patna districts.

Question 37General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the four varnas in the traditional Brahmanical social order, from highest to lowest?

  1. Vaishya, Brahmana, Kshatriya, Shudra
  2. Kshatriya, Brahmana, Vaishya, Shudra
  3. Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra Correct answer.
  4. Brahmana, Vaishya, Kshatriya, Shudra

Explanation

The traditional varna order places Brahmana first, followed by Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. This hierarchy is described in ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Purusha Sukta. The other options disturb this order.

Question 38General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was launched by Mahatma Gandhi primarily to address the grievances of which group?

  1. Textile mill workers
  2. Tea plantation labourers
  3. Indigo cultivators Correct answer.
  4. Salt producers

Explanation

The Champaran Satyagraha was Gandhi's first major movement in India, undertaken in 1917 on behalf of peasants forced to grow indigo under the oppressive tinkathia system. It was not about mill workers, salt producers or tea labourers. The movement led to an inquiry and reforms.

Question 39General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following statements about the Bihar Legislative Council is correct?

  1. It is dissolved every five years along with the Assembly
  2. Its members are directly elected by the people
  3. It is a permanent body that cannot be dissolved Correct answer.
  4. It has more members than the Legislative Assembly

Explanation

The Legislative Council is the upper house of a state legislature and is a permanent body, with one-third of its members retiring every two years. It is not dissolved like the Assembly. It is smaller than the Assembly, and most of its members are elected indirectly by MLAs, local bodies and graduates or teachers.

Question 40General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Under the Indian Constitution, the power to declare a state of emergency on grounds of war or external aggression is vested in which authority?

  1. The President Correct answer.
  2. The Supreme Court
  3. The Parliament
  4. The Prime Minister

Explanation

Article 352 empowers the President to proclaim a national emergency if the security of India is threatened by war, external aggression or armed rebellion. The proclamation must be approved by Parliament within one month. The Prime Minister advises, Parliament approves, and the Supreme Court reviews, but the formal power rests with the President.

Question 41General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct order of the states of India from west to east along the Nepal border?

  1. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Bihar
  2. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
  3. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal Correct answer.
  4. West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand

Explanation

Along the Nepal border, moving from west to east, the Indian states are Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. This sequence follows the geography of the Himalayan foothills and the Ganga plain. The other options reverse or misplace the states.

Question 42General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

A farmer in the Kosi region of Bihar wants to reduce the risk of crop failure caused by the river's shifting course. Which of the following measures would be most directly useful?

  1. Deepening wells for irrigation
  2. Increasing the use of chemical fertilizers
  3. Switching to a single cash crop
  4. Constructing embankments and spurs to control the river's course Correct answer.

Explanation

The Kosi is known for shifting its channel and causing floods, so embankments and spurs are engineering measures to confine and stabilize the flow. Fertilizers, monocropping or wells do not address the river's shifting course. These structural measures are part of flood management in the Kosi basin.

Question 43General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following best explains why the Chhotanagpur plateau fringe in south Bihar has different soil and vegetation from the Gangetic plain?

  1. The plateau receives no rainfall
  2. The plateau is made of ancient crystalline rocks and has a higher elevation Correct answer.
  3. The plateau is formed of alluvium deposited by the Ganga
  4. The plateau has a colder climate throughout the year

Explanation

The Chhotanagpur plateau is composed of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks such as granite and gneiss, and its higher elevation gives it different drainage and soil. The Gangetic plain, by contrast, is formed of recent alluvium. This geological and topographic difference explains the contrast in soils and vegetation.

Question 44General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct meaning of 'fiscal deficit' in the context of government budgeting?

  1. The excess of total expenditure over total receipts excluding borrowings Correct answer.
  2. The excess of imports over exports
  3. The excess of money supply over currency in circulation
  4. The excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts

Explanation

Fiscal deficit is the gap between total government expenditure and total receipts other than borrowings, showing how much the government needs to borrow. The revenue deficit is revenue expenditure minus revenue receipts. Trade deficit refers to imports exceeding exports.

Question 45General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Consider the following statements about the Finance Commission of India: It is constituted every five years, and its recommendations are binding on the government. Which of these is correct?

  1. Neither statement is correct
  2. Only the second statement is correct
  3. Only the first statement is correct Correct answer.
  4. Both statements are correct

Explanation

Article 280 provides that the President constitutes a Finance Commission every five years or earlier. Its recommendations are advisory, not binding, although they are normally accepted. Therefore only the first statement is correct.

Question 46General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct order of the stages of the Indian monsoon withdrawal from north-west to south-east?

  1. Withdrawal begins in the Himalayan region and moves to the Deccan first
  2. Withdrawal occurs simultaneously across India
  3. Withdrawal begins in the south-east and progresses north-westwards
  4. Withdrawal begins in north-west India and progresses south-eastwards Correct answer.

Explanation

The south-west monsoon retreats from north-west India around September and progresses towards the south-east, ending over peninsular India by December. This is the reverse of its onset. The other options describe incorrect directions or timing.

Question 47General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

The Tropic of Cancer passes through which of the following states of India?

  1. Kerala
  2. Andhra Pradesh
  3. Rajasthan Correct answer.
  4. Tamil Nadu

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at about 23.5 degrees north latitude passes through Rajasthan and several other states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh lie south of it.

Question 48General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the Mauryan rulers?

  1. Ashoka, Bindusara, Chandragupta Maurya
  2. Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Bindusara
  3. Bindusara, Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka
  4. Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara, Ashoka Correct answer.

Explanation

Chandragupta Maurya founded the dynasty around 321 BCE, followed by his son Bindusara and then Ashoka. This order is standard in ancient Indian history. The other options reverse or misplace the rulers.

Question 49General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

Which of the following statements about the Permanent Settlement of 1793 in Bihar is correct?

  1. It abolished the zamindari system
  2. It fixed the land revenue permanently with zamindars Correct answer.
  3. It applied only to urban properties
  4. It introduced a temporary revenue settlement with peasants

Explanation

The Permanent Settlement, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793, fixed land revenue permanently with zamindars in Bengal and Bihar. It made zamindars the owners of land in exchange for a fixed payment. It did not abolish zamindari, which came later after independence.

Question 50General Studies (Indian and Bihar-specific history, geography, polity, economy, science and current affairs)

In the context of the Indian Constitution, which of the following is the correct meaning of the 'basic structure' doctrine?

  1. The Constitution can be amended only by a unanimous vote
  2. The President can suspend Fundamental Rights permanently
  3. Parliament cannot amend the Constitution in a way that destroys its essential features Correct answer.
  4. The Supreme Court can amend the Constitution

Explanation

The basic structure doctrine, established in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973, holds that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot destroy its essential features such as democracy, secularism and judicial review. It does not require unanimous amendment or allow the Supreme Court or President to amend the Constitution.