General Knowledge and Current Affairs
What this domain tests
This section tests static polity, geography, economy, science, and current events, usually with a Punjab angle. The current-affairs window is normally the months before the paper, so link events to institutions and constitutional provisions rather than memorising isolated names.
Core rules
- The President appoints the Governor; the Governor appoints the Chief Minister and, on the CM's advice, ministers. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Assembly.
- Under Article 200, the Governor may assent, withhold assent, return a Bill, or reserve it for the President. If a Bill is reserved, Article 201 applies.
- The Attorney General advises the Union government; the Advocate General advises a State government.
- International bodies: UN, WHO, WTO, IMF, World Bank. The 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit admitted the African Union as a permanent member.
- Science milestones such as Chandrayaan-3's 2023 lunar landing are recurring factual anchors.
Worked example
A Punjab Bill is passed, returned by the Governor, and passed again. Under Article 200 the Governor may not withhold assent a second time; he must assent or reserve the Bill for the President. If reserved, Article 201 governs the President's decision. The reasoning turns on the stage of the Bill, not on the subject matter.
Traps that cost marks
- Mixing up Attorney General and Advocate General.
- Saying the Governor appoints the Chief Minister without noting the constitutional article.
- Trusting 'first', 'oldest', or 'largest' claims without a date.
- Using current affairs older than the exam's stated cut-off.
Exam focus
For every appointment or event, ask: which article, which body, and which date?