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BPSC Special Teacher study materials
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BPSC Special Teacher practice questions

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Question 1General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Bihar's Special Teacher recruitment is conducted primarily to serve students in which category of schools?

  1. Government schools of the state Correct answer.
  2. Residential Navodaya schools
  3. Central Kendriya Vidyalayas
  4. Private unaided schools

Explanation

Special Teachers in Bihar are appointed under the state education department to strengthen teaching in government schools, particularly at the elementary and secondary stages. The cadre is state-controlled, so recruitment is done by Bihar's own agencies rather than central bodies. Private and central schools have their own separate recruitment systems.

Question 2General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which body is the constitutional head of the Bihar state executive?

  1. The Speaker of the Assembly
  2. The Governor Correct answer.
  3. The Chief Minister
  4. The Chief Secretary

Explanation

Under the Constitution the Governor is the constitutional head of a state, and the executive power of the state is vested in the Governor. The Chief Minister heads the Council of Ministers, which aids and advises the Governor. The Chief Secretary is an administrative officer and the Speaker presides over the Assembly.

Question 3General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Bihar Diwas is celebrated on which date each year?

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

Explanation

Bihar Diwas marks the day in 1912 when the province of Bihar and Orissa was carved out of Bengal during British rule. The state government observes it on 22 March with cultural and administrative programmes. The other dates listed are national holidays unrelated to Bihar's formation.

Question 4General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which river is traditionally regarded as the most sacred and is also the longest river flowing entirely within India?

  1. The Godavari
  2. The Yamuna
  3. The Narmada
  4. The Ganga Correct answer.

Explanation

The Ganga is the longest river whose course lies within India and is deeply revered in Indian religious tradition. It rises in the Gangotri glacier and flows through the northern plains before entering the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari is the longest river of peninsular India but is shorter overall.

Question 5General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Right to Education Act, which guarantees free and compulsory education to children, applies to children of which age group?

  1. 5 to 15 years
  2. 6 to 14 years Correct answer.
  3. 6 to 18 years
  4. 3 to 10 years

Explanation

The RTE Act, 2009 provides free and compulsory elementary education to every child aged six to fourteen years. This corresponds to the elementary stage covering Classes I to VIII. Extending it to other age groups would go beyond the statutory mandate.

Question 6General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is a Fundamental Duty listed in the Constitution of India?

  1. To pay taxes promptly
  2. To vote in every election
  3. To join the armed forces
  4. To protect and improve the natural environment Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 51A lists Fundamental Duties, and one of them requires citizens to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife. Voting, paying taxes and military service are civic responsibilities but are not enumerated as Fundamental Duties. Fundamental Duties are moral obligations and are non-justiciable.

Question 7General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness?

  1. Vitamin A Correct answer.
  2. Vitamin B12
  3. Vitamin C
  4. Vitamin D

Explanation

Vitamin A is essential for the formation of rhodopsin in the retina, and its deficiency impairs vision in dim light, producing night blindness. Prolonged deficiency can also lead to xerophthalmia. The other vitamins listed are linked to different deficiency disorders.

Question 8General Knowledge and Current Affairs

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

  1. Tamil Nadu
  2. Punjab
  3. Rajasthan Correct answer.
  4. Kerala

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at roughly 23.5 degrees north latitude crosses several Indian states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Rajasthan lies directly on this line. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Punjab lie entirely south or north of it.

Question 9General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which institution is the apex bank responsible for monetary policy in India?

  1. The Securities and Exchange Board of India
  2. The State Bank of India
  3. NITI Aayog
  4. The Reserve Bank of India Correct answer.

Explanation

The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank and is responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy, issuing currency and regulating banks. The State Bank of India is a commercial bank, while SEBI regulates securities markets. NITI Aayog is a policy think tank without monetary authority.

Question 10General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Nalanda Mahavihara, an ancient centre of learning in present-day Bihar, was patronised by which ruler among the following?

  1. Samudragupta
  2. Ashoka
  3. Harshavardhana Correct answer.
  4. Kanishka

Explanation

Harshavardhana is recorded as a notable royal patron of Nalanda, supporting its monastic community and endowing it with revenues. The monastery flourished for centuries under the patronage of several dynasties. The other rulers listed are associated with other centres or periods of Indian history.

Question 11General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was primarily directed against which practice?

  1. The partition of Bengal
  2. The land revenue settlement
  3. The salt tax
  4. The indigo cultivation system Correct answer.

Explanation

The Champaran Satyagraha was launched against the tinkathia system, which forced peasants to grow indigo on a portion of their land for European planters. It was Mahatma Gandhi's first major satyagraha in India and led to an official inquiry into the grievances. The salt tax relates to the Dandi march and the Bengal partition to the Swadeshi movement.

Question 12General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which Article of the Constitution provides for the establishment of a Finance Commission?

  1. Article 356
  2. Article 280 Correct answer.
  3. Article 324
  4. Article 370

Explanation

Article 280 mandates the President to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to recommend the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the states. Article 324 deals with the Election Commission, Article 356 with President's Rule and Article 370 with special provisions for Jammu and Kashmir. Each article therefore addresses a distinct constitutional subject.

Question 13General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A teacher notices that a student understands concepts quickly but performs poorly in written tests. Which action best reflects sound pedagogical practice?

  1. Assign extra homework as a penalty
  2. Diagnose the writing skill gap and provide targeted practice Correct answer.
  3. Ignore the discrepancy since understanding is present
  4. Reduce the weightage of written tests

Explanation

A mismatch between comprehension and written performance usually indicates a skill gap in expression, structuring or writing fluency. The teacher should diagnose the specific difficulty and provide scaffolded practice in writing. Penalising the student or ignoring the issue does not address the learning need.

Question 14General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct order of the stages of a typical lesson plan?

  1. Presentation, evaluation, practice, introduction
  2. Evaluation, presentation, introduction, practice
  3. Introduction, presentation, practice, evaluation Correct answer.
  4. Practice, introduction, evaluation, presentation

Explanation

A standard lesson plan moves from setting the context through introduction, then presenting new content, followed by guided and independent practice, and finally evaluation of learning. This sequence reflects the progression from readiness to consolidation. Any other order places assessment before teaching or practice before presentation, which is illogical.

Question 15General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best describes the concept of inclusive education?

  1. Exempting disadvantaged children from assessment
  2. Providing home-based instruction to all learners
  3. Separate special schools for children with disabilities
  4. Educating all children together in the same classroom with appropriate support Correct answer.

Explanation

Inclusive education means that children with disabilities and other diverse needs learn alongside their peers in regular classrooms, with adaptations and support as required. It emphasises participation rather than segregation. Separate schools reflect exclusion or segregation, not inclusion.

Question 16General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act guarantees a minimum number of days of wage employment per rural household in a financial year. What is that number?

  1. 50 days
  2. 100 days Correct answer.
  3. 75 days
  4. 150 days

Explanation

MGNREGA guarantees at least one hundred days of unskilled manual wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do so. The Act also provides for unemployment allowance if work is not provided within the stipulated time. The other figures do not match the statutory guarantee.

Question 17General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?

  1. Coal
  2. Solar energy Correct answer.
  3. Petroleum
  4. Natural gas

Explanation

Solar energy is renewable because it is continuously replenished by sunlight and does not deplete with use. Coal, natural gas and petroleum are fossil fuels formed over millions of years and are finite. Their extraction and combustion also emit greenhouse gases.

Question 18General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about the Panchayati Raj system in India is correct?

  1. It applies only to urban local bodies
  2. It was abolished after the 42nd Amendment
  3. It was given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment Act Correct answer.
  4. It was introduced by the Government of India Act, 1935

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions by adding Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. It mandated a three-tier structure in states with a population above a prescribed threshold. Urban local bodies are covered separately by the 74th Amendment.

Question 19General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In a classroom, a teacher uses a project where students measure local rainfall over a month and present the data. Which learning approach does this best exemplify?

  1. Rote memorisation
  2. Standardised test drilling
  3. Lecture-based instruction
  4. Activity-based and experiential learning Correct answer.

Explanation

Collecting local data and presenting it engages students in hands-on, experiential learning connected to real life. This aligns with activity-based pedagogy recommended in the National Curriculum Framework. Rote methods and lecture-based instruction do not involve learners in gathering and interpreting data.

Question 20General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the primary function of the Election Commission of India?

  1. Conducting elections to Parliament and state legislatures Correct answer.
  2. Appointing judges to the Supreme Court
  3. Approving amendments to the Constitution
  4. Framing the annual Union Budget

Explanation

The Election Commission is a constitutional body under Article 324 responsible for superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, the office of President and Vice-President. Budget framing is a government function, judges are appointed by the President on the advice of the collegium, and constitutional amendments are passed by Parliament.

Question 21General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following pairs of Indian festival and the state most closely associated with it is correct?

  1. Garba - Odisha
  2. Bihu - Assam Correct answer.
  3. Pongal - Punjab
  4. Onam - Tamil Nadu

Explanation

Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam, celebrated with dance and music, especially the Bohag Bihu in spring. Onam belongs to Kerala and Pongal to Tamil Nadu, while Garba is associated with Gujarat. Each festival has a distinct regional identity.

Question 22General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A student consistently disrupts class by talking loudly during instruction. Which response is most consistent with classroom management principles?

  1. Publicly humiliating the student to set an example
  2. Ignoring the behaviour entirely
  3. Establishing clear rules and applying consistent, private consequences Correct answer.
  4. Removing the student from school permanently

Explanation

Effective classroom management relies on clear expectations, consistency and respectful correction that preserves the student's dignity. Private, proportionate consequences are more likely to change behaviour than public humiliation. Permanent exclusion and total neglect are disproportionate or ineffective responses.

Question 23General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system as generally organised in Indian states?

  1. Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad Correct answer.
  2. Zila Parishad, Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti
  3. Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad, Gram Panchayat
  4. Gram Panchayat, Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti

Explanation

The three-tier structure proceeds from the village level Gram Panchayat, through the intermediate Panchayat Samiti at the block level, to the district-level Zila Parishad. This hierarchy reflects the ascending administrative levels. Any other ordering misplaces one tier relative to the others.

Question 24General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The National Education Policy 2020 proposes replacing the existing 10+2 structure with which framework?

  1. 6+4+2
  2. 4+4+4+4
  3. 5+3+3+4 Correct answer.
  4. 8+2+2

Explanation

NEP 2020 proposes a 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure covering ages three to eighteen, corresponding to foundational, preparatory, middle and secondary stages. This replaces the earlier 10+2 arrangement. The other combinations do not match the policy's stated stage divisions.

Question 25General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about the Buddhist councils held in ancient Bihar is correct?

  1. The Fourth Council was held at Nalanda under Harsha
  2. The Second Council was held at Rajgriha under Ajatashatru
  3. The First Council was held at Vaishali under Kanishka
  4. The Third Council was held at Pataliputra under Ashoka Correct answer.

Explanation

The Third Buddhist Council is traditionally associated with Pataliputra during the reign of Ashoka, where the Abhidhamma Pitaka was compiled. The First Council was held at Rajgriha under Ajatashatru and the Second at Vaishali. The Fourth Council is linked to Kanishka in Kashmir, not Harsha at Nalanda.

Question 26General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which session of the Indian National Congress, held at a venue in present-day Bihar, first adopted the resolution demanding 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence)?

  1. The Calcutta session of 1928
  2. The Lucknow session of 1916
  3. The Karachi session of 1931
  4. The Lahore session of 1929 Correct answer.

Explanation

The Purna Swaraj resolution was adopted at the Lahore session of the Congress in December 1929, where Jawaharlal Nehru presided and the tricolour was unfurled on the banks of the Ravi. The session fixed 26 January 1930 as the first Independence Day. Bihar's connection to the freedom movement is better associated with sessions held at Patna and with leaders such as Rajendra Prasad, but the Purna Swaraj demand itself belongs to Lahore.

Question 27General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the main constitutional function of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India?

  1. To audit the accounts of the Union and the states and report on them to Parliament and legislatures Correct answer.
  2. To advise the President on the appointment of judges of the Supreme Court
  3. To conduct elections to the office of the President of India
  4. To prepare the annual Union Budget for presentation in Parliament

Explanation

Article 148 establishes the CAG as an independent constitutional officer who audits all receipts and expenditure of the Union and state governments and reports the results to Parliament and state legislatures. The office acts as the guardian of the public purse and is often called the watchdog of public finances. The other functions listed belong to the Finance Ministry, the executive, and the Election Commission respectively.

Question 28General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A teacher in a Bihar government school is asked to use the state's 'Mission Daksh' programme. What is the primary purpose of this initiative?

  1. To train teachers in the use of digital tablets for online examinations
  2. To provide free bicycles to girl students in secondary schools
  3. To improve foundational literacy and numeracy among school children through remedial teaching Correct answer.
  4. To supply cooked midday meals to students in primary classes

Explanation

Mission Daksh was launched by the Bihar government to strengthen foundational learning in government schools, focusing on basic reading, writing and arithmetic through structured remedial classes and periodic assessment. It targets children who have fallen behind in foundational skills, in line with the goals of NIPUN Bharat under NEP 2020. The scheme does not deal with bicycles, tablets, or midday meals.

Question 29General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The ruins of Vikramashila, an ancient Buddhist monastic university of the Pala period, are located in which district of Bihar?

  1. Gaya district
  2. Muzaffarpur district
  3. Bhagalpur district Correct answer.
  4. Nalanda district

Explanation

Vikramashila Mahavihara was founded by the Pala king Dharmapala and its excavated remains lie at Antichak in Bhagalpur district, near the banks of the Ganga. It was one of the great centres of Buddhist learning alongside Nalanda, and the Tibetan scholar Atisha studied and taught there. The site is distinct from Nalanda and Bodh Gaya.

Question 30General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A science teacher wants Class 8 students to understand why the same quantity of water heats up faster in a shallow pan than in a deep vessel on the same stove. Which explanation should the teacher guide students toward?

  1. The shallow pan exposes a larger surface area relative to its volume, so heat is absorbed and distributed more quickly Correct answer.
  2. The shallow pan receives more heat because it is closer to the flame irrespective of the water depth
  3. The deep vessel loses heat because its greater mass increases the boiling point of water
  4. The shallow pan contains water of lower specific heat capacity than the deep vessel

Explanation

For the same volume of water, the shallow pan spreads the liquid over a wider surface, so the same heat input raises the temperature faster and evaporation from the exposed surface also increases. Specific heat capacity is a property of the substance, not of the container, so water has the same value in both vessels. This is a useful application of the relation between heat supplied, mass and temperature change.

Question 31Mathematics

A teacher writes the number 4,05,720 on the blackboard using the Indian place-value system. What is the place value of the digit 5 in this numeral?

  1. Five thousand Correct answer.
  2. Five lakh
  3. Fifty thousand
  4. Five hundred

Explanation

In the Indian system the numeral 4,05,720 is grouped as 4 lakh, 05 thousand, 7 hundred, 2 tens, 0 ones. The digit 5 sits in the thousands place, so its place value is 5 × 1000 = 5000.

Question 32Mathematics

Which of the following fractions is equivalent to the decimal 0.375?

  1. 3/4
  2. 1/3
  3. 7/20
  4. 3/8 Correct answer.

Explanation

The decimal 0.375 means 375/1000, which simplifies by dividing numerator and denominator by 125 to give 3/8. Checking: 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375 exactly.

Question 33Mathematics

A primary teacher asks learners to find the HCF of 36 and 48 by prime factorisation. Which value should they obtain?

  1. 6
  2. 12 Correct answer.
  3. 144
  4. 24

Explanation

Writing 36 = 2² × 3² and 48 = 2⁴ × 3, the HCF is the product of the lowest powers of common primes: 2² × 3 = 12. The HCF must divide both numbers, and 12 does so exactly.

Question 34Mathematics

A shopkeeper sells an article for ₹450 after allowing a discount of 10% on the marked price. What is the marked price?

  1. ₹405
  2. ₹550
  3. ₹500 Correct answer.
  4. ₹495

Explanation

If the marked price is M, the selling price is 0.90M. Setting 0.90M = 450 gives M = 450 ÷ 0.90 = 500. A 10% discount on ₹500 is ₹50, leaving ₹450.

Question 35Mathematics

A rectangle has length 12 cm and breadth 5 cm. What is the length of its diagonal?

  1. 17 cm
  2. 60 cm
  3. 13 cm Correct answer.
  4. 7 cm

Explanation

The diagonal of a rectangle with sides a and b is √(a² + b²). Here 12² + 5² = 144 + 25 = 169, and √169 = 13 cm.

Question 36Mathematics

What is the sum of the interior angles of a regular hexagon?

  1. 720° Correct answer.
  2. 1080°
  3. 360°
  4. 540°

Explanation

For a polygon with n sides the interior angles sum to (n − 2) × 180°. With n = 6 this gives 4 × 180° = 720°, and each interior angle of a regular hexagon is 120°.

Question 37Mathematics

A class of 40 students has 24 girls. What is the ratio of boys to girls in simplest form?

  1. 24 : 16
  2. 3 : 5
  3. 3 : 2
  4. 2 : 3 Correct answer.

Explanation

The number of boys is 40 − 24 = 16, so the ratio boys : girls is 16 : 24. Dividing both terms by 8 gives 2 : 3.

Question 38Mathematics

The mean of five numbers is 18. If one number is removed and the mean of the remaining four becomes 16, what number was removed?

  1. 24
  2. 20
  3. 18
  4. 26 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total of five numbers is 5 × 18 = 90, and the total of the remaining four is 4 × 16 = 64. The removed number is 90 − 64 = 26.

Question 39Mathematics

Which of the following numbers is a perfect square as well as a perfect cube?

  1. 36
  2. 64 Correct answer.
  3. 16
  4. 27

Explanation

A number that is both a perfect square and a perfect cube must be a sixth power. Since 64 = 2⁶ = 8² = 4³, it satisfies both conditions.

Question 40Mathematics

A sum of money doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. In how many years will it become four times itself at the same rate?

  1. 16 years
  2. 32 years
  3. 24 years Correct answer.
  4. 20 years

Explanation

Doubling means the interest earned in 8 years equals the principal, so the rate is 100% ÷ 8 = 12.5% per year. Becoming four times requires interest of three times the principal, which takes 3 × 8 = 24 years.

Question 41Mathematics

Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 5. If 9 is subtracted from each, the new ratio becomes 12 : 23. What is the smaller number?

  1. 33 Correct answer.
  2. 27
  3. 39
  4. 45

Explanation

Let the numbers be 3x and 5x. Then (3x − 9)/(5x − 9) = 12/23, giving 23(3x − 9) = 12(5x − 9), so 69x − 207 = 60x − 108 and 9x = 99, hence x = 11. The smaller number is 3 × 11 = 33.

Question 42Mathematics

A train 150 m long crosses a pole in 9 seconds. How long will it take to cross a platform 300 m long?

  1. 24 seconds
  2. 27 seconds Correct answer.
  3. 18 seconds
  4. 30 seconds

Explanation

Crossing a pole uses only the train's own length, so speed = 150 ÷ 9 = 50/3 m/s. Crossing the platform requires covering 150 + 300 = 450 m, which takes 450 ÷ (50/3) = 27 seconds.

Question 43Mathematics

A can complete a piece of work in 12 days and B in 18 days. Working together, in how many days will they finish the work?

  1. 36/5 days Correct answer.
  2. 15 days
  3. 30/7 days
  4. 9 days

Explanation

A does 1/12 of the work per day and B does 1/18, so together they do 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36 per day. The time taken is 36/5 = 7.2 days.

Question 44Mathematics

The compound interest on ₹8000 for 2 years at 10% per annum, compounded annually, is:

  1. ₹800
  2. ₹1760
  3. ₹1600
  4. ₹1680 Correct answer.

Explanation

The amount after 2 years is 8000 × (1.1)² = 8000 × 1.21 = ₹9680, so compound interest is 9680 − 8000 = ₹1680. Simple interest for the same period would be only ₹1600.

Question 45Mathematics

A cone has a base radius of 7 cm and a height of 24 cm. What is its slant height?

  1. 31 cm
  2. 25 cm Correct answer.
  3. 23 cm
  4. 17 cm

Explanation

The slant height l of a cone satisfies l² = r² + h². Here 7² + 24² = 49 + 576 = 625, so l = 25 cm.

Question 46Mathematics

The value of sin 30° + cos 60° is:

  1. 1 Correct answer.
  2. √3/2
  3. 0
  4. 1/2

Explanation

The standard values are sin 30° = 1/2 and cos 60° = 1/2. Their sum is therefore 1.

Question 47Mathematics

If the roots of the quadratic equation x² − 7x + 12 = 0 are α and β, what is the value of α² + β²?

  1. 25 Correct answer.
  2. 24
  3. 37
  4. 49

Explanation

By Vieta's formulas, α + β = 7 and αβ = 12. Then α² + β² = (α + β)² − 2αβ = 49 − 24 = 25.

Question 48Mathematics

What is the probability of getting a sum of 9 when two fair dice are thrown together?

  1. 1/12
  2. 1/9 Correct answer.
  3. 5/36
  4. 1/6

Explanation

There are 36 equally likely outcomes. Sums of 9 occur as (3,6), (4,5), (5,4) and (6,3), giving 4 favourable outcomes, so the probability is 4/36 = 1/9.

Question 49Mathematics

A sum of ₹12,000 is divided between two teachers in the ratio 5 : 7. What is the difference between the two shares?

  1. ₹1000
  2. ₹2000 Correct answer.
  3. ₹2400
  4. ₹5000

Explanation

The total ratio parts are 5 + 7 = 12, so each part is 12000 ÷ 12 = ₹1000. The shares are ₹5000 and ₹7000, and their difference is ₹2000.

Question 50Mathematics

The average of the first 20 natural numbers is:

  1. 11
  2. 10
  3. 10.5 Correct answer.
  4. 20

Explanation

The sum of the first n natural numbers is n(n + 1)/2, which for n = 20 gives 210. Dividing by 20 gives an average of 10.5.