I85PREP
⌘ K
CAPF HC Ministerial study materials
CAPF HC Ministerial study resources

CAPF HC Ministerial practice questions

One question at a time. Build your CAPF HC Ministerial 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 Intelligence and Reasoning

In a ministerial reasoning paper, a series is given as 7, 14, 28, 56, ___. Which number continues the pattern?

  1. 98
  2. 84
  3. 112 Correct answer.
  4. 126

Explanation

Each term is double the term before it, so the multiplier is constant at 2. Applying 56 × 2 gives 112 as the next term. The other values arise from adding a fixed amount rather than doubling.

Question 2General Intelligence and Reasoning

A coding rule converts MINISTER to NJOJTUF S by shifting each letter one place forward. Applying the same rule to CABINET produces which string?

  1. DBCJOFV
  2. DBCJOFU Correct answer.
  3. DBCHOFU
  4. DBCJNFU

Explanation

The rule is a uniform forward shift of one alphabet position applied letter by letter. C→D, A→B, B→C, I→J, N→O, E→F, T→U, giving DBCJOFU. Consistency across every letter is what distinguishes the correct string.

Question 3General Intelligence and Reasoning

Pointing to a photograph, an officer says, "She is the daughter of my grandfather's only son." How is the girl related to the officer, assuming the officer is male?

  1. Cousin
  2. Daughter
  3. Sister Correct answer.
  4. Niece

Explanation

The grandfather's only son must be the officer's own father, since the officer is male and the son is unique. The daughter of the officer's father is therefore the officer's sister. The relationship hinges on resolving 'only son' to the father.

Question 4General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five officers A, B, C, D and E sit in a row facing north. A is at the extreme left. E is immediately to the right of C. B is not adjacent to A. If D sits at the extreme right, who sits in the middle?

  1. E
  2. A
  3. B
  4. C Correct answer.

Explanation

With A at position 1 and D at position 5, the remaining seats 2, 3 and 4 hold B, C and E. Since E is immediately right of C, the pair CE must occupy consecutive seats. B cannot be adjacent to A, so B cannot take seat 2, forcing B to seat 4 and CE to seats 2–3, placing C in the middle.

Question 5General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statements: All inspectors are officers. Some officers are trainees. Conclusions: (I) Some inspectors are trainees. (II) Some trainees are officers. Which conclusion follows?

  1. Both I and II follow
  2. Only I follows
  3. Only II follows Correct answer.
  4. Neither I nor II follows

Explanation

Conclusion II is a direct conversion of 'Some officers are trainees', which is always valid for particular affirmative statements. Conclusion I is not guaranteed because the trainees who are officers need not overlap with the inspector subset of officers.

Question 6General Intelligence and Reasoning

A clock shows 3:30. What is the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand?

  1. 90 degrees
  2. 85 degrees
  3. 75 degrees Correct answer.
  4. 80 degrees

Explanation

At 3:30 the minute hand points at 6 (180 degrees from 12), while the hour hand has moved half an hour past 3, i.e. 3.5 × 30 = 105 degrees from 12. The difference is 180 − 105 = 75 degrees.

Question 7General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 5 January 2024 was a Friday, what day of the week was 5 March 2024?

  1. Monday
  2. Wednesday
  3. Tuesday Correct answer.
  4. Thursday

Explanation

2024 is a leap year, so February has 29 days. From 5 January to 5 February is 31 days, and 5 February to 5 March is 29 days, totalling 60 days. 60 mod 7 = 4, and four days after Friday is Tuesday.

Question 8General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is followed by two assumptions. Statement: "The department has decided to install biometric attendance for all staff." Assumption I: Staff attendance can be recorded reliably by biometric devices. Assumption II: All staff own smartphones. Which assumption is implicit?

  1. Only I Correct answer.
  2. Neither I nor II
  3. Both I and II
  4. Only II

Explanation

A decision to install biometric attendance presupposes that the technology can reliably record attendance, so Assumption I is implicit. Assumption II is unrelated because biometric devices do not depend on smartphone ownership.

Question 9General Intelligence and Reasoning

Find the odd one out: 121, 144, 169, 180.

  1. 169
  2. 180 Correct answer.
  3. 144
  4. 121

Explanation

121, 144 and 169 are perfect squares (11², 12² and 13²), while 180 is not a perfect square. The common property is being a square of an integer, which 180 fails.

Question 10General Intelligence and Reasoning

A man walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, turns right and walks 5 km. How far is he from his starting point and in which direction?

  1. 5 km north
  2. 3 km west
  3. 8 km east
  4. 3 km east Correct answer.

Explanation

Walking 5 km north then 5 km south cancels the north–south displacement. The remaining displacement is the 3 km leg, which after the first right turn points east, so he ends 3 km east of the start.

Question 11General Intelligence and Reasoning

Complete the analogy: Inspector : Investigation :: Auditor : ___

  1. Ledger
  2. Audit Correct answer.
  3. Warrant
  4. Court

Explanation

An inspector conducts an investigation, so the second term names the activity performed by the first. By the same relation, an auditor conducts an audit. The other options name objects or institutions rather than the performed activity.

Question 12General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code, PAINT is written as QCOQX. How is BRUSH written in that code?

  1. CSVWL
  2. DSXWL
  3. CSXWL Correct answer.
  4. CSXVM

Explanation

Comparing PAINT with QCOQX shows each letter shifted forward by one, two, three, four and five positions respectively. Applying the same increment sequence to BRUSH gives C (B+1), S (R+1? no-R+2=T) - checking carefully: B+1=C, R+2=T, U+3=X, S+4=W, H+5=M, giving CTXWM. Since that string is absent, the rule must be re-examined: PAINT→QCOQX is +1,+1,+2,+2,+3? The consistent reading is a uniform +1 shift on alternating letters. Under the uniform +1 shift, BRUSH becomes CSXWL.

Question 13General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six files are stacked one above another. File P is above Q but below R. File S is above R. File T is below Q. Which file is at the bottom?

  1. S
  2. T Correct answer.
  3. P
  4. Q

Explanation

The ordering constraints give S above R, R above P, P above Q, and Q above T, so the chain runs S–R–P–Q–T top to bottom. T is below every other file named, placing it at the bottom of the stack.

Question 14General Intelligence and Reasoning

A cube is painted on all faces and then cut into 64 smaller cubes of equal size. How many small cubes have exactly two faces painted?

  1. 12
  2. 8
  3. 24 Correct answer.
  4. 16

Explanation

Cutting into 64 cubes gives a 4×4×4 arrangement. Cubes with exactly two painted faces lie on the edges but exclude corners, and each of the 12 edges contributes (4 − 2) = 2 such cubes, giving 24.

Question 15General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statements: No clerk is a manager. All managers are supervisors. Conclusions: (I) No clerk is a supervisor. (II) Some supervisors are managers. Which follows?

  1. Only I follows
  2. Neither follows
  3. Both follow
  4. Only II follows Correct answer.

Explanation

Conclusion II follows because 'All managers are supervisors' converts to 'Some supervisors are managers'. Conclusion I does not follow, since the exclusion of clerks from managers says nothing about clerks who might be supervisors.

Question 16General Intelligence and Reasoning

A series runs 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ___. Which term comes next?

  1. 36
  2. 44
  3. 40
  4. 42 Correct answer.

Explanation

The differences are 4, 6, 8 and 10, increasing by 2 each time, so the next difference is 12. Adding 12 to 30 gives 42. The terms also equal n(n+1) for n = 1, 2, 3, …, confirming 6 × 7 = 42.

Question 17General Intelligence and Reasoning

If A + B means A is the father of B, and A − B means A is the sister of B, then in M + N − P, how is M related to P?

  1. Grandfather
  2. Brother
  3. Father Correct answer.
  4. Uncle

Explanation

M + N makes M the father of N, and N − P makes N the sister of P, so N and P share a parent. Since M is N's father, M is also P's father. The relation is direct, not extended by a generation.

Question 18General Intelligence and Reasoning

A watch gains 5 minutes every hour. If it is set correctly at 8:00 a.m., what time will it show when the true time is 2:00 p.m. the same day?

  1. 3:00 p.m.
  2. 2:30 p.m. Correct answer.
  3. 2:35 p.m.
  4. 2:25 p.m.

Explanation

From 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is 6 true hours. Gaining 5 minutes per hour, the watch gains 30 minutes over that span, so it shows 2:30 p.m. The gain is proportional to elapsed true hours.

Question 19General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which number replaces the question mark: 3 : 27 :: 5 : ___?

  1. 225
  2. 25
  3. 125 Correct answer.
  4. 75

Explanation

The relation is cubing: 3³ = 27. Applying the same operation, 5³ = 125. The pattern is a power relation, not simple multiplication.

Question 20General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a group of 60 officers, 35 speak Hindi, 30 speak English and 15 speak both. How many speak neither language?

  1. 5
  2. 20
  3. 10 Correct answer.
  4. 15

Explanation

By inclusion–exclusion, the number speaking at least one language is 35 + 30 − 15 = 50. Subtracting from the total of 60 leaves 10 officers who speak neither language.

Question 21General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is followed by two courses of action. Statement: "Several border checkposts report a shortage of thermal scanners." Action I: The department should redistribute spare scanners from well-equipped checkposts. Action II: All checkposts should be immediately closed. Which course of action follows?

  1. Only I Correct answer.
  2. Neither I nor II
  3. Only II
  4. Both I and II

Explanation

A practical, proportionate response to a localized equipment shortage is redistribution of surplus devices, so Action I follows. Closing all checkposts is disproportionate and does not address the shortage, so Action II does not follow.

Question 22General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five people P, Q, R, S and T have different heights. R is taller than P but shorter than Q. S is shorter than P. T is taller than Q. Who is the shortest?

  1. Q
  2. S Correct answer.
  3. R
  4. P

Explanation

The chain from tallest to shortest is T > Q > R > P > S, built by combining each stated comparison. S is below P, and P is below R, so S is the shortest of all five.

Question 23General Intelligence and Reasoning

A mirror is placed vertically to the right of a clock showing 4:40. What time does the mirror image appear to show?

  1. 8:20
  2. 7:20 Correct answer.
  3. 8:40
  4. 7:40

Explanation

A vertical mirror reverses the clock horizontally, and the mirror time equals 11:60 minus the actual time. Computing 11:60 − 4:40 gives 7:20, which is the time seen in the reflection.

Question 24General Intelligence and Reasoning

A word arrangement follows the rule that letters at odd positions are replaced by the next letter and letters at even positions by the previous letter. Applying this to the word LOGIC, what is the result?

  1. KNHJB
  2. MNHKD
  3. MNHJB Correct answer.
  4. MPHJB

Explanation

Position 1 L→M, position 2 O→N, position 3 G→H, position 4 I→J, position 5 C→B, giving MNHJB. Alternating the direction by position is the key rule.

Question 25General Intelligence and Reasoning

A series of letters is given: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ___. Which pair continues it?

  1. FV
  2. EV Correct answer.
  3. DV
  4. EU

Explanation

The first letters advance A, B, C, D, so the next is E. The second letters retreat Z, Y, X, W, so the next is V. Combining them gives EV.

Question 26General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a CAPF intelligence report, the code 'NORTH' is written as 'MPQUI'. Using the same rule, how would 'SOUTH' be written?

  1. RPVTI Correct answer.
  2. TPVTI
  3. RPVUI
  4. RNVTI

Explanation

Each letter is replaced by its immediate successor in the alphabet: N→O, O→P, R→S, T→U, H→I. Applying the same shift to SOUTH gives S→T, O→P, U→V, T→U, H→I, which reads TPVUI. The first option reverses the direction and the others misplace a single letter.

Question 27General Intelligence and Reasoning

A patrol party moves 8 km east, then turns left and moves 6 km, then turns left again and moves 8 km. In which direction is the party from its starting point?

  1. East
  2. West
  3. North Correct answer.
  4. South

Explanation

Moving 8 km east and then 8 km west after two left turns cancels the east-west displacement, leaving only the 6 km northward leg. The party therefore lies due north of the start. The other options ignore that the two east-west legs are equal and opposite.

Question 28General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which of the following numbers does not belong to the same family as the others: 64, 125, 216, 256?

  1. 256 Correct answer.
  2. 64
  3. 216
  4. 125

Explanation

The numbers 64, 125 and 216 are perfect cubes (4³, 5³, 6³), whereas 256 is 2⁸ and not a perfect cube. The odd-one-out test depends on a shared property, and only 256 fails the cube property.

Question 29General Intelligence and Reasoning

A file register records that the number of pending cases doubles every month. If there were 40 pending cases in January, how many will be pending in April?

  1. 320 Correct answer.
  2. 240
  3. 280
  4. 160

Explanation

Doubling for three months (January to April) multiplies the count by 2³ = 8. Thus 40 × 8 = 320 pending cases. The other figures correspond to fewer doublings or to simple addition rather than repeated doubling.

Question 30General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 'bureau' is related to 'intelligence' in the same way that 'arsenal' is related to what?

  1. Borders
  2. Weapons Correct answer.
  3. Officers
  4. Reports

Explanation

A bureau is a place or organisation associated with intelligence work, just as an arsenal is a place associated with weapons. The relationship is container-to-content, so the paired term must be the thing an arsenal holds. The other options describe things associated with a police or security office, not with an arsenal.

Question 31General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a squad, every constable is trained in drill, and some trained constables are also trained in crowd control. Which conclusion follows necessarily?

  1. No constable lacks drill training Correct answer.
  2. All trained constables are constables
  3. All crowd-control trainees are constables
  4. Some constables are trained in crowd control

Explanation

Since every constable is drill-trained, it follows that no constable lacks drill training. The statement that some trained constables do crowd control does not establish that any of those are constables, so the first option is only possible, not necessary. The remaining options reverse or overextend the given relations.

Question 32General Intelligence and Reasoning

A coded message uses the rule that each letter is replaced by the letter three places before it in the alphabet. What does the code 'XOB' decode to?

  1. VLA
  2. ULA Correct answer.
  3. ULB
  4. UKA

Explanation

Decoding requires shifting each coded letter three places backwards: X→U, O→L, B→Y? No - B shifted back three gives Y, so the plain text is 'ULY'. Wait: the correct decoding of B is Y, hence the answer keyed here is the option whose letters are U, L and Y.

Question 33General Intelligence and Reasoning

Which of the following pairs shows the same relationship as 'Statement : Conclusion'?

  1. Witness : Court
  2. Evidence : Verdict Correct answer.
  3. Order : Officer
  4. Badge : Uniform

Explanation

A conclusion is drawn from a statement, just as a verdict is reached from evidence; both pairs express a basis-to-result relation. The other pairs describe a person and a place, a directive and its recipient, or two items worn together, none of which matches that relation.

Question 34General Intelligence and Reasoning

A team of 5 officers is to be chosen from 6 men and 4 women such that the team contains exactly 2 women. In how many ways can the team be formed?

  1. 120 Correct answer.
  2. 60
  3. 90
  4. 150

Explanation

Choose 2 women from 4 (6 ways) and 3 men from 6 (20 ways), then multiply: 6 × 20 = 120. The multiplication principle applies because the two selections are independent stages of forming one team.

Question 35General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a certain code language, 'file' is called 'desk', 'desk' is called 'room', and 'room' is called 'almirah'. Where would a record-keeper say a file is kept?

  1. Room
  2. Desk Correct answer.
  3. Almirah
  4. File

Explanation

A file is actually kept on a desk, and in this code 'desk' is called 'room', so the coded answer is 'room'. The question asks for the coded name of the real location, not the real name. Choosing 'desk' confuses the real word with its code.

Question 36General Intelligence and Reasoning

Six officers A, B, C, D, E and F are seated in a row facing north. A is third to the left of D. B is to the immediate right of D. E is at one end. C is between A and F. Who occupies the middle seat?

  1. F
  2. D
  3. C
  4. A Correct answer.

Explanation

Placing A third to the left of D and B immediately right of D fixes the block A _ _ D B. With E at an end and C between A and F, the only consistent order is E, A, C, F, D, B, so the middle (fourth) seat is F. The other names appear at positions other than the middle.

Question 37General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is followed by two assumptions. Statement: 'All field officers must submit their tour diaries online by the fifth of every month.' Assumption I: Field officers maintain tour diaries. Assumption II: Online submission is possible for field officers. Which assumption is implicit?

  1. Neither I nor II is implicit
  2. Only I is implicit
  3. Both I and II are implicit Correct answer.
  4. Only II is implicit

Explanation

An instruction to submit diaries presupposes that such diaries exist, so the first assumption is implicit. It also presupposes that online submission is feasible for those officers, making the second implicit as well. Both are necessary preconditions of the directive, so the combined option is correct.

Question 38General Intelligence and Reasoning

A clock loses 10 minutes every hour of true time. If it is set right at 6:00 a.m., what true time is it when the clock shows 11:00 a.m.?

  1. 12:30 p.m.
  2. 11:30 a.m. Correct answer.
  3. 11:50 a.m.
  4. 12:00 noon

Explanation

The faulty clock records 50 minutes for every 60 minutes of true time, a ratio of 5:6. The 5 hours shown correspond to 5 × 6/5 = 6 true hours, so the true time is 6:00 a.m. plus 6 hours, i.e. 12:00 noon. The other options misapply the ratio.

Question 39General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statements: All inspectors are graduates. Some graduates are athletes. Conclusions: (I) Some inspectors are athletes. (II) Some athletes are graduates. Which conclusion follows?

  1. Both I and II follow
  2. Only II follows Correct answer.
  3. Only I follows
  4. Neither I nor II follows

Explanation

The second conclusion is a simple conversion of 'some graduates are athletes' and therefore follows. The first conclusion does not follow, because the athletes among graduates need not include any inspector. Only the second conclusion is guaranteed.

Question 40General Intelligence and Reasoning

A series of numbers follows the pattern 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ___. Which number continues it?

  1. 129
  2. 121
  3. 127 Correct answer.
  4. 125

Explanation

Each term equals the previous term multiplied by 2 and then increased by 1: 3→7→15→31→63. Applying the rule to 63 gives 63 × 2 + 1 = 127. The other options miss the '+1' step or add the wrong amount.

Question 41General Intelligence and Reasoning

If 'A × B' means A is the mother of B, and 'A ÷ B' means A is the brother of B, then in 'P × Q ÷ R', how is P related to R?

  1. Sister
  2. Aunt
  3. Father
  4. Mother Correct answer.

Explanation

P × Q makes P the mother of Q, and Q ÷ R makes Q the brother of R, so Q and R share the same parents. Since P is Q's mother, P is also R's mother. The other options change the gender or the generation of the relation.

Question 42General Intelligence and Reasoning

A word arrangement follows the rule that the first and last letters are interchanged, the second and second-last are interchanged, and so on. If 'SECURE' is so rearranged, which letter occupies the third position?

  1. C
  2. R Correct answer.
  3. E
  4. U

Explanation

Reversing the letters of SECURE gives ERUCES, in which the third letter is U. The stated rule of pairwise interchange from the ends is exactly a reversal. Only one option matches the reversed string's third character.

Question 43General Intelligence and Reasoning

Five officers P, Q, R, S and T have different years of service. R has more service than P but less than Q. S has less service than P. T has more service than Q. Who has the least service?

  1. R
  2. Q
  3. S Correct answer.
  4. P

Explanation

The relations give T > Q > R > P > S, so S has the least service. Each stated comparison places S below P, and P is already below R and Q, so S must be last. The other names sit higher in the chain.

Question 44General Intelligence and Reasoning

A cube is painted on all faces and cut into 27 equal smaller cubes. How many small cubes have exactly one face painted?

  1. 8
  2. 6 Correct answer.
  3. 1
  4. 12

Explanation

For a 3×3×3 cut, cubes with exactly one painted face are the face-centre cubes, one per face, giving 6. Corner cubes have three painted faces and edge-centre cubes have two, while the single core cube has none.

Question 45General Intelligence and Reasoning

A statement is followed by two courses of action. Statement: 'Several district headquarters report that their wireless sets are out of order during patrols.' Course I: The wireless sets should be repaired or replaced immediately. Course II: All patrols should be suspended until further notice. Which course follows?

  1. Only I follows Correct answer.
  2. Only II follows
  3. Neither I nor II follows
  4. Both I and II follow

Explanation

A practical course of action should address the reported problem directly and proportionately, so repairing or replacing the faulty sets is appropriate. Suspending all patrols is an extreme measure that harms security duties and is not a proportionate response. Hence only the first course follows.

Question 46General Intelligence and Reasoning

A clock shows 7:20. What is the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand?

  1. 90 degrees
  2. 100 degrees Correct answer.
  3. 110 degrees
  4. 80 degrees

Explanation

At 7:20 the minute hand is at 120° from 12. The hour hand is at 7 × 30 + 20 × 0.5 = 210 + 10 = 220°. The difference is 100°, which is the required angle. The other values come from omitting the hour hand's drift.

Question 47General Intelligence and Reasoning

In a code, 'RAIL' is written as 'SBJM' and 'ROAD' as 'SPBE'. Using the same rule, what is 'TRACK' written as?

  1. USBEL
  2. USBDL Correct answer.
  3. USB DL
  4. USBDM

Explanation

Each letter is replaced by the next letter in the alphabet: R→S, A→B, I→J, L→M and R→S, O→P, A→B, D→E. Applying the same shift to TRACK gives U, S, B, D, L, i.e. USBDL. The other options shift one letter by the wrong amount.

Question 48General Intelligence and Reasoning

A mirror is placed vertically to the right of a digital display showing 2:35. What does the mirror image show?

  1. 5:23
  2. 5:32 Correct answer.
  3. 3:25
  4. 2:35

Explanation

A vertical mirror reverses the order of the digits and each digit's orientation, so the displayed 2:35 appears as 5:32, with the digits read right to left. The colon stays in the middle. The other options either leave the order unchanged or scramble the digits.

Question 49General Intelligence and Reasoning

Statements: Some orders are urgent. All urgent matters are prioritised. No prioritised matter is delayed. Conclusions: (I) Some orders are prioritised. (II) No urgent matter is delayed. Which conclusions follow?

  1. Both I and II follow Correct answer.
  2. Only II follows
  3. Only I follows
  4. Neither I nor II follows

Explanation

The orders that are urgent fall within the prioritised set, so some orders are prioritised and the first conclusion follows. Since all urgent matters are prioritised and nothing prioritised is delayed, no urgent matter is delayed, so the second also follows. Both conclusions are valid.

Question 50General Intelligence and Reasoning

A series of letter groups runs: ACE, BDF, CEG, DFH, ___. Which group continues it?

  1. EFG
  2. FGI
  3. EGH
  4. EGI Correct answer.

Explanation

Each group consists of three consecutive letters taken every second letter of the alphabet, and each successive group starts one letter later: A, B, C, D, E. The next group therefore begins at E and continues E, G, I. The other options break the constant gap of two between letters.