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Maharashtra Police PSI practice questions

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Question 1General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Public Service Commission for the Union?

  1. Article 324
  2. Article 315 Correct answer.
  3. Article 312
  4. Article 320

Explanation

Article 315 of the Constitution directs that there shall be a Public Service Commission for the Union and a Public Service Commission for each State. Article 320 then lists the functions of these commissions, while Article 312 deals with the creation of All India Services.

Question 2General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian States?

  1. Six
  2. Seven
  3. Nine
  4. Eight Correct answer.

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer crosses India through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. That makes a total of eight States through which the line passes.

Question 3General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' because of its frequent course changes and floods?

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

Explanation

The Kosi is called the Sorrow of Bihar because it shifts its channel across the north Bihar plains and causes severe floods. Its heavy silt load from the Himalayas makes its bed unstable and its course unpredictable.

Question 4General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was fought between the forces of the East India Company and which ruler?

  1. Siraj-ud-Daulah Correct answer.
  2. Tipu Sultan
  3. Shah Alam II
  4. Mir Qasim

Explanation

At Plassey, Robert Clive's Company forces defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, with the help of Mir Jafar's defection. The victory gave the Company effective political control over Bengal.

Question 5General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which Fundamental Duty was added to the Constitution by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002?

  1. To protect and improve the natural environment
  2. To develop scientific temper
  3. To safeguard public property
  4. To provide opportunities for education to children between six and fourteen years Correct answer.

Explanation

The 86th Amendment inserted Article 51A(k), making it a duty of parents and guardians to provide opportunities for education to their children aged six to fourteen. The same amendment introduced Article 21A on free and compulsory education.

Question 6General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Reserve Bank of India was nationalised in which year?

  1. 1969
  2. 1947
  3. 1935
  4. 1949 Correct answer.

Explanation

The RBI began operations in 1935 as a private shareholders' bank and was nationalised on 1 January 1949. Fourteen major commercial banks were separately nationalised in 1969, a different event.

Question 7General Knowledge and Current Affairs

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

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

Explanation

The liver is the largest gland in the human body and performs functions such as bile secretion, detoxification and storage of glycogen. The pancreas is a mixed gland but is much smaller in size.

Question 8General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The SI unit of electric resistance, the ohm, can be expressed in terms of which base units?

  1. Watt per ampere
  2. Coulomb per second
  3. Joule per second
  4. Volt per ampere Correct answer.

Explanation

By Ohm's law, resistance equals voltage divided by current, so the ohm is equivalent to one volt per ampere. The other options describe power, current or other quantities rather than resistance.

Question 9General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which State in India has the longest coastline?

  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Gujarat Correct answer.
  3. Tamil Nadu
  4. Maharashtra

Explanation

Gujarat has the longest coastline among Indian States, stretching over 1,600 km along the Arabian Sea. Its long coast is due to the indentations of the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat.

Question 10General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Panchayati Raj system was first introduced in which State after the Balwantrai Mehta Committee recommendations?

  1. Gujarat
  2. Andhra Pradesh
  3. Maharashtra
  4. Rajasthan Correct answer.

Explanation

Following the Balwantrai Mehta Committee report, Panchayati Raj was first inaugurated in Nagaur district of Rajasthan on 2 October 1959. Andhra Pradesh followed soon after.

Question 11General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct chemical formula of washing soda?

  1. NaHCO3
  2. NaCl
  3. Na2CO3·10H2O Correct answer.
  4. NaOH

Explanation

Washing soda is hydrated sodium carbonate, written as Na2CO3·10H2O. On heating it loses water of crystallisation to form soda ash.

Question 12General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Who among the following founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873?

  1. Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
  2. Jyotirao Phule Correct answer.
  3. B. R. Ambedkar
  4. Narayana Guru

Explanation

Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 in Maharashtra to promote social equality and reject caste and priestly domination. The organisation campaigned for education and widow remarriage.

Question 13General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A sum of money becomes Rs. 1,800 in 3 years and Rs. 2,400 in 6 years at simple interest. What is the principal amount?

  1. Rs. 1,200 Correct answer.
  2. Rs. 1,000
  3. Rs. 1,400
  4. Rs. 1,500

Explanation

Simple interest for the second three-year block is 2,400 minus 1,800, that is Rs. 600. In the first three years the same interest of Rs. 600 accrued, so the principal is 1,800 minus 600, which equals Rs. 1,200.

Question 14General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In a code language, if POLICE is written as QPMJDF, how would CRIME be written?

  1. DSJNF Correct answer.
  2. DSJMF
  3. CSJNF
  4. DSKNF

Explanation

Each letter of POLICE is shifted one place forward in the alphabet to give QPMJDF. Applying the same rule to CRIME shifts each letter forward by one, producing DSJNF.

Question 15General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct expansion of the term 'FDI' used in economic policy discussions?

  1. Foreign Direct Investment Correct answer.
  2. Federal Development Index
  3. Financial Deposit Insurance
  4. Foreign Debt Instrument

Explanation

FDI stands for Foreign Direct Investment, meaning investment by a firm or individual in a business located in another country, usually to gain a lasting interest. It is distinct from portfolio investment, which is short-term and does not confer control.

Question 16General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which body advises the President of India on questions of law and is constituted under Article 143?

  1. Election Commission of India
  2. Attorney General of India
  3. Law Commission of India
  4. Supreme Court under its advisory jurisdiction Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 143 empowers the President to refer questions of law or fact of public importance to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion. The Court is not bound to give an opinion, and such opinions are not binding on the President.

Question 17General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The 'Project Tiger' conservation programme was launched in which year?

  1. 1973 Correct answer.
  2. 1980
  3. 1972
  4. 1970

Explanation

Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect tiger habitats after a sharp decline in tiger numbers. It was initiated during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with the tiger as the national animal.

Question 18General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following pairs of Indian dance form and its State of origin is correctly matched?

  1. Odissi - West Bengal
  2. Kathakali - Tamil Nadu
  3. Kuchipudi - Kerala
  4. Sattriya - Assam Correct answer.

Explanation

Sattriya is a classical dance form that originated in the Vaishnava monasteries of Assam. The other options pair dances with the wrong States.

Question 19General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is a Kharif crop in India?

  1. Gram
  2. Mustard
  3. Wheat
  4. Rice Correct answer.

Explanation

Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the monsoon and harvested in autumn, and rice is a typical Kharif crop. Wheat, mustard and gram are Rabi crops grown in the winter season.

Question 20General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In a certain code, if 'water' is called 'air', 'air' is called 'fire', 'fire' is called 'earth', and 'earth' is called 'water', then what do we breathe?

  1. Air
  2. Fire Correct answer.
  3. Earth
  4. Water

Explanation

We breathe air, and in the given code the word 'air' is replaced by 'fire'. Therefore the coded answer for what we breathe is fire.

Question 21General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which Article of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability?

  1. Article 14
  2. Article 15
  3. Article 19
  4. Article 17 Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 17 abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 gives it effect. Articles 14 and 15 guarantee equality and prohibit discrimination but do not specifically abolish untouchability.

Question 22General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Chief Minister of a State is appointed by which authority?

  1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
  2. The Chief Justice of the High Court
  3. The President
  4. The Governor Correct answer.

Explanation

Under Article 164, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor, and other ministers are appointed on the Chief Minister's advice. The Governor normally appoints the leader of the majority party in the Assembly.

Question 23General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following substances is used as a moderator in a nuclear reactor to slow down neutrons?

  1. Graphite Correct answer.
  2. Plutonium
  3. Uranium-235
  4. Boron

Explanation

Graphite is used as a moderator because light carbon atoms slow down fast neutrons through collisions without absorbing many of them. Heavy water is another common moderator.

Question 24General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The 'Chipko Movement' of the 1970s was primarily associated with which issue?

  1. Protection of forests from commercial felling Correct answer.
  2. Promotion of organic farming
  3. Rehabilitation of dam-displaced people
  4. Rights of industrial workers

Explanation

The Chipko Movement began in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, where villagers hugged trees to prevent them from being felled by contractors. It became a landmark in Indian environmental activism.

Question 25General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In a class of 40 students, the average marks are 60. If the top scorer's marks are excluded, the average of the remaining students falls to 59. What are the top scorer's marks?

  1. 99 Correct answer.
  2. 90
  3. 80
  4. 95

Explanation

Total marks of all 40 students are 40 multiplied by 60, that is 2,400. The remaining 39 students have a total of 39 multiplied by 59, that is 2,301. The difference, 99, is the top scorer's marks.

Question 26General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Under the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, which authority is empowered to appoint the Director General of Police of the State?

  1. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs
  2. The Governor of Maharashtra
  3. The State Government acting through the Home Department Correct answer.
  4. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra

Explanation

The Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 provides that the State Government appoints the Director General and Inspector General of Police for the State. In practice the appointment is processed through the Home Department and the cabinet, with the Governor's formal role being limited in this context. The Union Home Ministry has no direct power to appoint a State police chief.

Question 27General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Maharashtra Police is organised into administrative units called ranges, each headed by a senior officer. Which rank normally heads a police range in Maharashtra?

  1. Police Naik
  2. Superintendent of Police
  3. Assistant Commissioner of Police
  4. Special Inspector General of Police Correct answer.

Explanation

A police range in Maharashtra is a cluster of districts placed under a Special Inspector General of Police, who supervises the Superintendents of Police of those districts. The Superintendent of Police heads a district, not a range. The Assistant Commissioner and Police Naik are far lower in the hierarchy.

Question 28General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Maharashtra government launched the 'Maha Police Cyber' initiative to strengthen responses to digital crime. Which body coordinates cyber crime investigation at the district level in Maharashtra?

  1. The District Consumer Forum
  2. The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
  3. The Cyber Police Station under the district police Correct answer.
  4. The District Planning Committee

Explanation

Cyber crime in Maharashtra is handled by dedicated cyber police stations attached to district and commissionerate police units, which register FIRs and investigate offences under the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Consumer forums and planning committees have no role in criminal investigation. The electricity regulator deals with tariffs and licensing.

Question 29General Knowledge and Current Affairs

In the Indian Constitution, 'police' and 'public order' are placed in which list of the Seventh Schedule?

  1. Concurrent List
  2. Residuary powers
  3. State List Correct answer.
  4. Union List

Explanation

Entries 1 and 2 of the State List cover public order and police respectively, which is why State governments control their police forces. The Union List deals with subjects such as defence and central forces. Concurrent List subjects are shared, and residuary powers rest with Parliament.

Question 30General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct expansion of the term 'FIR' as used in Indian criminal procedure?

  1. Formal Investigation Record
  2. First Information Report Correct answer.
  3. Filed Inquiry Register
  4. Final Incident Report

Explanation

An FIR is the First Information Report, the earliest record of information about a cognizable offence given to the police and recorded under the criminal procedure law. It sets the investigation in motion and is not a final or formal document prepared after inquiry. The other expansions are invented terms.

Question 31General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 deals with which category of offences?

  1. Environmental pollution by industries
  2. Corporate tax evasion
  3. Traffic violations on national highways
  4. Drug trafficking and possession of banned substances Correct answer.

Explanation

The NDPS Act, 1985 is the principal law against the production, possession, sale and transport of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It provides stringent penalties and special provisions for investigation and trial. Traffic, tax and pollution matters fall under entirely different statutes.

Question 32General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the highest civilian award of India, conferred for exceptional service and achievement?

  1. Padma Bhushan
  2. Bharat Ratna Correct answer.
  3. Param Vir Chakra
  4. Padma Shri

Explanation

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India, instituted in 1954 and given for exceptional service towards the advancement of art, literature, science and public affairs. The Padma awards come below it in the order of precedence. The Param Vir Chakra is a military decoration for gallantry.

Question 33General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Maharashtra government's 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' provides direct financial assistance to which group of beneficiaries?

  1. Senior citizens above 80
  2. Eligible women in the State Correct answer.
  3. Unemployed youth
  4. Farmers owning more than ten acres

Explanation

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a Maharashtra scheme giving monthly financial assistance to eligible women in the State. It is designed to improve women's economic independence and household welfare. It is not targeted at unemployed youth, senior citizens or large farmers.

Question 34General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which city in Maharashtra is known as the 'Orange City' and hosts the headquarters of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court?

  1. Aurangabad
  2. Kolhapur
  3. Nashik
  4. Nagpur Correct answer.

Explanation

Nagpur is popularly called the Orange City because of its orange cultivation and trade, and it is the seat of a permanent Bench of the Bombay High Court. Nashik is known for grapes and the Kumbh Mela, Kolhapur for its temple and chappals. Aurangabad is associated with the Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Question 35General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following pairs of Indian national park and its State is correctly matched?

  1. Bandipur National Park - Kerala
  2. Navegaon National Park - Maharashtra Correct answer.
  3. Kaziranga National Park - West Bengal
  4. Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve - Madhya Pradesh

Explanation

Navegaon National Park lies in the Gondia district of Maharashtra and forms part of the Navegaon-Nagzira tiger landscape. Tadoba is in Maharashtra rather than Madhya Pradesh. Bandipur is in Karnataka and Kaziranga in Assam.

Question 36General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following rivers flows through Maharashtra and is often called the 'Ganga of the Deccan'?

  1. Narmada
  2. Krishna
  3. Tapi
  4. Godavari Correct answer.

Explanation

The Godavari rises near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district of Maharashtra and is called the Ganga of the Deccan because of its length and cultural importance. The Krishna also flows through Maharashtra but does not carry this title. The Tapi and Narmada flow westwards and are not given this name.

Question 37General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The 'Samruddhi Mahamarg', a major expressway in Maharashtra, connects Nagpur with which city?

  1. Mumbai Correct answer.
  2. Nanded
  3. Pune
  4. Solapur

Explanation

The Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg links Nagpur with Mumbai through the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. It is one of the longest access-controlled expressways in India. Pune, Solapur and Nanded are not its terminal cities.

Question 38General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the correct expansion of 'NCRB', the body that publishes annual crime statistics used in police administration?

  1. National Centre for Regional Borders
  2. National Criminal Review Board
  3. National Crime Records Bureau Correct answer.
  4. National Committee on Rural Banking

Explanation

The National Crime Records Bureau, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, compiles and publishes crime statistics such as 'Crime in India'. It also maintains fingerprint and other records used by police forces. The other expansions are invented and do not exist.

Question 39General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A police officer in Maharashtra is required to maintain law and order during a procession. Which of the following best describes the legal basis for imposing reasonable restrictions on the route and timing of the procession?

  1. The fundamental right to assemble is absolute and cannot be regulated
  2. Restrictions require prior approval of the Election Commission
  3. Reasonable restrictions may be imposed under the law to preserve public order Correct answer.
  4. Only the judiciary can impose conditions on assemblies

Explanation

Article 19(1)(b) guarantees the right to assemble peaceably and without arms, but Article 19(3) permits the State to make laws imposing reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order. Police therefore regulate routes and timings through lawful orders. The right is not absolute, and the Election Commission has no role outside election periods.

Question 40General Knowledge and Current Affairs

During investigation of a cognizable offence, a police officer wishes to search a premises without a warrant. Under Indian criminal procedure, such a search is generally permissible when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that evidence may be concealed or removed. This power reflects which principle of police work?

  1. The complete immunity of police action from judicial review
  2. The balancing of investigative necessity with safeguards against misuse Correct answer.
  3. The transfer of investigation to the complainant
  4. The requirement of a magistrate's prior sanction for every search

Explanation

Criminal procedure allows certain searches without warrant when delay would defeat the purpose, but it surrounds this power with safeguards such as recording of grounds, witnesses and later judicial scrutiny. The principle is a balance between effective investigation and protection of citizens' rights. It is neither a blanket immunity nor a transfer of investigation.

Question 41General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about the Maharashtra Police Complaints Authority is most consistent with its purpose?

  1. It inquires into complaints of serious misconduct against police personnel Correct answer.
  2. It appoints the Director General of Police
  3. It decides appeals against convictions
  4. It tries criminal cases against police officers

Explanation

A police complaints authority exists to provide an independent mechanism for inquiring into allegations of serious misconduct by police personnel, thereby strengthening accountability. It is not a criminal court and does not conduct trials or hear criminal appeals. Appointment of the DGP is a separate function of the State Government.

Question 42General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Consider a situation where a person is arrested without a warrant. Under Indian constitutional law, which of the following is a guaranteed safeguard?

  1. The person loses the right to consult a lawyer
  2. The person can be detained indefinitely for interrogation
  3. The person must be released unconditionally within 24 hours
  4. The person must be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 22(2) requires that an arrested person be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, excluding travel time. Article 22(1) also guarantees the right to be informed of the grounds of arrest and to consult a legal practitioner. Detention beyond this period requires lawful judicial authorisation.

Question 43General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following is the primary objective of community policing initiatives such as 'Mohalla Committees' in Maharashtra?

  1. Collecting fines from traffic offenders
  2. Replacing formal investigation with informal settlement
  3. Building trust and cooperation between police and local residents Correct answer.
  4. Conducting recruitment of constables

Explanation

Community policing aims to build mutual trust and cooperation between the police and citizens so that local problems and tensions are addressed early. Mohalla Committees have historically helped in maintaining communal harmony and sharing information. Such initiatives do not replace formal investigation, collect fines or handle recruitment.

Question 44General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A candidate preparing for the Maharashtra PSI examination must know the role of the State Human Rights Commission. Which of the following best describes its function?

  1. It punishes offenders for human rights violations
  2. It commands the district police force operationally
  3. It frames the annual State budget
  4. It inquires into complaints of violation of human rights and recommends remedial action Correct answer.

Explanation

The State Human Rights Commission is a statutory body that inquires into complaints of human rights violations and recommends action to the government or concerned authority. It does not itself punish offenders or command police operations. Framing the budget is a function of the government.

Question 45General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following best explains why forensic evidence is given weight in criminal investigation?

  1. It is always conclusive and dispenses with witness testimony
  2. It provides objective, scientifically testable links between persons, places and objects Correct answer.
  3. It replaces the need for a charge sheet
  4. It can be created only by the investigating officer

Explanation

Forensic evidence is valued because it offers objective and scientifically testable connections, such as fingerprints or DNA, between persons, places and objects. Courts still evaluate it alongside other evidence, and it does not dispense with witnesses or the charge sheet. It is collected and examined by trained experts, not created by the investigating officer.

Question 46General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which of the following offences is classified as an offence against the human body?

  1. Cheating
  2. Defamation
  3. Criminal trespass
  4. Voluntarily causing hurt Correct answer.

Explanation

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 reorganises offences into thematic chapters, and voluntarily causing hurt falls under offences affecting the human body. Cheating relates to property and deception, defamation relates to reputation, and criminal trespass relates to property. This classification helps officers register cases under the correct chapter.

Question 47General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Maharashtra Police Housing and Welfare Corporation primarily serves which purpose?

  1. Recruiting sub-inspectors
  2. Constructing residential quarters and welfare facilities for police personnel Correct answer.
  3. Prosecuting criminal cases in court
  4. Managing traffic signals in cities

Explanation

The corporation was set up to address the housing needs of police personnel by constructing residential quarters and related welfare facilities. Recruitment, prosecution and traffic management are functions of other police wings. Housing is a major welfare concern because of the frequent transfers of police staff.

Question 48General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about the 'Dial 112' emergency response system in Maharashtra is accurate?

  1. It provides a single number for police, fire and medical emergencies Correct answer.
  2. It is operated by the judiciary
  3. It is available only in Mumbai
  4. It handles only fire emergencies

Explanation

Dial 112 is an integrated emergency response number that connects callers to police, fire and medical services through a central control room. It is available across the State and is not restricted to Mumbai. It is an executive emergency service and has no judicial role.

Question 49General Knowledge and Current Affairs

A police station receives information about a non-cognizable offence. Which of the following is the legally correct course of action?

  1. Enter the information in the station diary and obtain a magistrate's order before investigating Correct answer.
  2. Ignore the complaint because no FIR is possible
  3. Arrest the accused without any complaint
  4. Register an FIR and begin investigation immediately without any order

Explanation

For a non-cognizable offence, the police record the information in the station diary and cannot investigate without the order of a magistrate. An FIR and immediate investigation are appropriate for cognizable offences. Ignoring the complaint or making an arrest without basis would be improper.

Question 50General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which of the following statements about the National Investigation Agency is correct in the context of policing in States?

  1. It is a judicial body that tries terror cases
  2. It is a central agency empowered to investigate specified offences such as terrorism across States Correct answer.
  3. It can investigate only offences committed in Delhi
  4. It replaces the State police forces entirely

Explanation

The NIA is a central investigating agency created to investigate specified offences, particularly terrorism-related crimes, and it can operate across States with the consent and cooperation of State police. It does not replace State police forces, which retain their general law-and-order role. It investigates rather than tries cases.