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TGPSC Group III study materials
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TGPSC Group III practice questions

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Question 1General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which Schedule of the Constitution of India contains the anti-defection provisions that disqualify a legislator who voluntarily gives up membership of his or her political party?

  1. Tenth Schedule Correct answer.
  2. Ninth Schedule
  3. Eleventh Schedule
  4. Twelfth Schedule

Explanation

The Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1985, sets out the grounds of defection and the disqualification of members of Parliament and State Legislatures. Decisions under it are now subject to judicial review following the Kihoto Hollohan judgment.

Question 2General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee is required to keep Consumer Price Index inflation at which target?

  1. 5 per cent with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 per cent
  2. 4 per cent with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 per cent Correct answer.
  3. 6 per cent with a tolerance band of plus or minus 3 per cent
  4. 2 per cent with a tolerance band of plus or minus 1 per cent

Explanation

The flexible inflation targeting framework notified in 2016 fixes CPI inflation at 4 per cent, with a permitted band of 2 per cent to 6 per cent. If inflation stays outside the band for three consecutive quarters, the RBI must report to the Government explaining the reasons and remedial action.

Question 3General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the primary greenhouse gas responsible for the largest share of long-lived radiative forcing from human activity?

  1. Sulphur hexafluoride
  2. Methane
  3. Nitrous oxide
  4. Carbon dioxide Correct answer.

Explanation

Carbon dioxide accounts for the largest share of cumulative long-lived warming because of the sheer volume of fossil fuel and land-use emissions and its atmospheric residence time of centuries. Methane is far more potent per molecule but is present in much smaller concentrations and breaks down within decades.

Question 4General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

The Godavari river rises in which State and flows generally across the Deccan plateau towards the east?

  1. Madhya Pradesh
  2. Maharashtra Correct answer.
  3. Karnataka
  4. Telangana

Explanation

The Godavari originates at Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra and is therefore called the Dakshina Ganga, being the second longest river in peninsular India. It flows east through Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal.

Question 5General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which session of the Indian National Congress adopted the Purna Swaraj resolution demanding complete independence?

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

Explanation

At the Lahore session in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress declared complete independence as its goal and authorised the observance of 26 January 1930 as Independence Day. The tricolour was hoisted on the banks of the Ravi during that session.

Question 6General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which body prepares the estimates of revenue and expenditure placed before a State Legislature in India?

  1. The Comptroller and Auditor General
  2. The State Finance Commission
  3. The State Finance Department Correct answer.
  4. The Department of Economic Affairs

Explanation

The annual budget of a State is prepared by its Finance Department, which consolidates proposals from all departments into the Annual Financial Statement laid before the legislature. The Comptroller and Auditor General audits accounts after expenditure but does not prepare the budget.

Question 7General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

In the context of India's space programme, which launcher is designed primarily to carry heavy communication satellites of about four tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit?

  1. PSLV
  2. SSLV
  3. GSLV Mk III Correct answer.
  4. RLV-TD

Explanation

The GSLV Mk III, now called LVM3, is India's heavy-lift launcher built to place around four-tonne class satellites into geostationary transfer orbit, and it was also used for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The PSLV and SSLV serve lighter payloads to polar and low Earth orbits.

Question 8General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best describes the concept of fiscal deficit in government budgeting?

  1. The excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts
  2. The excess of the fiscal deficit over interest payments
  3. The total outstanding liabilities of the government at the end of a year
  4. The excess of total expenditure over total receipts excluding borrowings Correct answer.

Explanation

Fiscal deficit measures the gap between total expenditure and total receipts other than borrowings, and therefore indicates how much the government must borrow during the year. It is broader than revenue deficit because it includes capital expenditure as well.

Question 9General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which type of immunity is acquired after a person recovers from a natural infection, without any vaccine being administered?

  1. Naturally acquired passive immunity
  2. Artificially acquired active immunity
  3. Artificially acquired passive immunity
  4. Naturally acquired active immunity Correct answer.

Explanation

Recovery from infection leaves the body with its own antibodies and memory cells, which is naturally acquired active immunity. Passive immunity involves receiving ready-made antibodies rather than producing them.

Question 10General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

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

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

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at about 23 degrees 30 minutes north latitude crosses eight States, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Rajasthan is the only State among the options that the line actually passes through.

Question 11General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which fundamental duty in Article 51A requires citizens to protect and improve the natural environment?

  1. Article 51A(j)
  2. Article 51A(b)
  3. Article 51A(e)
  4. Article 51A(g) Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 51A(g) casts a duty on every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. The duties were added by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.

Question 12General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

A rise in the repo rate by the RBI is most likely to have which immediate effect on the economy?

  1. An increase in the cost of borrowing for banks and their customers Correct answer.
  2. A fall in the interest paid on deposits
  3. A reduction in the cash reserve ratio
  4. An automatic rise in the value of the rupee against all currencies

Explanation

The repo rate is the rate at which banks borrow short-term funds from the RBI against government securities, so a hike raises banks' cost of funds and is usually passed on to borrowers. This is the main channel through which tighter monetary policy cools demand and inflation.

Question 13General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is a Kharif crop in Indian agriculture, sown with the onset of the south-west monsoon?

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

Explanation

Kharif crops are sown around June and harvested in autumn, and paddy is the leading example, along with maize, jowar, bajra, cotton and groundnut. Rabi crops are sown in winter and harvested in spring.

Question 14General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

The term demographic dividend refers to which of the following?

  1. The economic growth potential arising from a rising share of working-age population Correct answer.
  2. The migration of rural workers to cities in search of employment
  3. The increase in the dependency ratio caused by a growing elderly population
  4. The rise in a country's population growth rate after a fall in death rate

Explanation

A demographic dividend arises when fertility falls and a large share of the population enters the working ages, lowering the dependency ratio and raising saving and output per person, provided enough jobs and skills exist. It is a window of opportunity rather than an automatic benefit.

Question 15General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which Article of the Constitution provides for the establishment of a Finance Commission every fifth year or earlier?

  1. Article 324
  2. Article 263
  3. Article 356
  4. Article 280 Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 280 requires the President to constitute a Finance Commission at the expiry of every fifth year or earlier, mainly to recommend the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Union and the States and the principles governing grants-in-aid. The 15th Finance Commission's recommendations cover the period 2021-26.

Question 16General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is a characteristic of a semiconductor material used in electronic devices?

  1. Its conductivity rises with increasing temperature Correct answer.
  2. It conducts electricity only when kept below absolute zero
  3. Its conductivity always falls with increasing temperature
  4. It has zero resistance at room temperature

Explanation

In a semiconductor, rising temperature frees more electrons across the energy gap into the conduction band, so conductivity increases, unlike in metals where resistance rises with temperature. This negative temperature coefficient of resistance is a defining property of intrinsic semiconductors.

Question 17General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

The Basic Structure doctrine, which limits the amending power of Parliament, was laid down in which case?

  1. Shankari Prasad v. Union of India
  2. Minerva Mills v. Union of India
  3. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala Correct answer.
  4. Golaknath v. State of Punjab

Explanation

In Kesavananda Bharati in 1973, a thirteen-judge bench held that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot alter its basic structure. This doctrine was later applied to strike down clauses of the 42nd Amendment in the Minerva Mills case.

Question 18General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following pairs of Indian biosphere reserve and its State is correctly matched?

  1. Nokrek - Arunachal Pradesh
  2. Sundarbans - Andhra Pradesh
  3. Simlipal - Odisha Correct answer.
  4. Agasthyamalai - Karnataka

Explanation

Simlipal biosphere reserve lies in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and forms part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Correct matching of reserves to States is a common general studies item.

Question 19General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere by volume?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Nitrogen Correct answer.
  3. Argon
  4. Carbon dioxide

Explanation

Nitrogen makes up roughly 78 per cent of dry air by volume, while oxygen accounts for about 21 per cent. Argon and carbon dioxide are present only in small fractions, though carbon dioxide matters disproportionately for climate.

Question 20General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

The Green Revolution in India is most closely associated with which crop and scientist?

  1. Maize and Verghese Kurien
  2. Wheat and Norman Borlaug
  3. Cotton and C. Subramaniam
  4. Rice and M. S. Swaminathan Correct answer.

Explanation

M. S. Swaminathan is regarded as the leader of the Green Revolution in India, which used high-yielding wheat and rice varieties along with irrigation, fertiliser and credit to raise food output in the 1960s and 1970s. Norman Borlaug supplied the dwarf wheat germplasm on which the programme drew.

Question 21General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of stages in a typical water treatment plant for municipal supply?

  1. Filtration, coagulation, disinfection, sedimentation
  2. Sedimentation, coagulation, filtration, disinfection
  3. Coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection Correct answer.
  4. Disinfection, filtration, sedimentation, coagulation

Explanation

Chemical coagulants are added first to clump fine suspended particles, the flocs then settle in sedimentation tanks, remaining particles are removed by filtration, and finally chlorine or another disinfectant kills pathogens. Disinfection is deliberately the last step so that a residual protects the water in the distribution network.

Question 22General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following statements about the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is correct?

  1. The Speaker is a member of the Rajya Sabha by virtue of office
  2. The Speaker votes in the first instance on every bill
  3. The Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill Correct answer.
  4. The Speaker can be removed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister

Explanation

Under Article 110, the Speaker's certification determines whether a bill is a Money Bill, and that decision is final for the purposes of the Constitution. The Speaker presides over the House and exercises only a casting vote in the case of a tie.

Question 23General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the principal function of the Goods and Services Tax Council constituted under Article 279A?

  1. To disburse compensation to States for revenue loss on its own authority
  2. To recommend rates, exemptions and thresholds for GST to the Union and the States Correct answer.
  3. To adjudicate disputes between taxpayers and the GST authorities
  4. To audit the accounts of the Union and State governments

Explanation

The GST Council is a constitutional body chaired by the Union Finance Minister with State finance ministers as members, and its role is to make recommendations on rates, exemptions, thresholds and model laws. Decisions are taken by a weighted majority of three-fourths, with the Union holding one-third of the votes.

Question 24General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best explains why the ozone layer is important for life on Earth?

  1. It absorbs most ultraviolet radiation from the Sun before it reaches the surface Correct answer.
  2. It reflects radio waves for long-distance communication
  3. It traps infrared radiation and warms the troposphere
  4. It supplies oxygen for respiration in the lower atmosphere

Explanation

Stratospheric ozone absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-C radiation from the Sun, protecting living organisms from DNA damage. Its depletion by chlorofluorocarbons led to the Montreal Protocol, which phased out such substances.

Question 25General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

In the context of the Indian economy, what does the term financial inclusion primarily refer to?

  1. The regulation of foreign portfolio investment in Indian markets
  2. The provision of affordable financial services such as bank accounts, credit and insurance to the unserved Correct answer.
  3. The expansion of the stock exchange network to smaller towns
  4. The nationalisation of private banks to widen their reach

Explanation

Financial inclusion means ensuring that disadvantaged groups and low-income households can access basic financial services, including savings accounts, credit, insurance and remittances, at affordable cost. Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the Mudra loans pursue this objective.

Question 26General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which schedule of the Indian Constitution contains the anti-defection provisions that disqualify elected members who voluntarily give up membership of their party?

  1. Fourth Schedule
  2. Eleventh Schedule
  3. Tenth Schedule Correct answer.
  4. Ninth Schedule

Explanation

The Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1985, lays down grounds for disqualification of members of Parliament and State Legislatures on defection. It was later amended in 2003 to allow a split only if one-third of a legislature party broke away, and that provision was struck down in 2019. The presiding officer of the House decides such disqualification questions.

Question 27General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India is required to maintain which target, and under which legal framework was it constituted?

  1. Credit growth of 15 per cent, under the Companies Act, 2013
  2. Inflation of 4 per cent with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 per cent, under the RBI Act as amended in 2016 Correct answer.
  3. Money supply growth of 12 per cent, under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003
  4. Exchange rate stability within a 5 per cent band, under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949

Explanation

The Finance Act, 2016 amended the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 to create a six-member Monetary Policy Committee chaired by the Governor. Its statutory mandate is to keep consumer price index inflation at 4 per cent, with flexibility of 2 per cent on either side. Failure to maintain the band for three consecutive quarters triggers a report to the Central Government.

Question 28General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best explains why the Indian summer monsoon generally advances from the south towards the north over the subcontinent?

  1. The northward migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone draws moist maritime air inland Correct answer.
  2. The Himalayan range deflects moist winds southwards along the west coast
  3. Western disturbances push the monsoon front from the north-west towards the peninsula
  4. The retreat of the easterly jet weakens the Tibetan high and reverses the wind flow

Explanation

During summer the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone shifts northwards over northern India, creating low pressure that pulls in moist air from the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The monsoon therefore reaches Kerala around the start of June and progresses northwards, aided by the tropical easterly jet and the Tibetan high. The Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea branches converge over the northern plains.

Question 29General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the principal function of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in relation to State finances?

  1. To prepare the annual budget of the State Government
  2. To audit the accounts of the State and report to the Governor for laying before the Legislature Correct answer.
  3. To sanction expenditure from the State Consolidated Fund
  4. To fix the borrowing limits of State Governments

Explanation

Under Article 149 and the CAG's Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service Act, 1971, the CAG audits the accounts of States and submits reports to the Governor, who causes them to be laid before the State Legislature. The CAG thus acts as the guardian of the public purse but cannot authorise spending. Appropriation of funds is the Legislature's function, and borrowing limits are set under Article 293 and FRBM rules.

Question 30General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following correctly describes the process of bio-magnification in an aquatic food chain?

  1. Increase in the total biomass of producers when nutrients are added to a lake
  2. Rapid growth of algae caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water
  3. Concentration of a persistent pollutant at successively higher trophic levels Correct answer.
  4. Breakdown of organic waste by bacteria consuming dissolved oxygen

Explanation

Bio-magnification is the progressive increase in the concentration of a persistent, fat-soluble substance such as DDT or methylmercury as it passes from producers to herbivores and then to carnivores. Because the pollutant is not excreted or metabolised, each higher trophic level accumulates a larger body burden. Top predators and humans therefore face the greatest exposure.

Question 31General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following was a major outcome of the Poona Pact of 1932?

  1. Dyarchy was introduced in the provinces
  2. The demand for a separate Muslim electorate was withdrawn
  3. Separate electorates were granted to the Depressed Classes in provincial legislatures
  4. Reserved seats for the Depressed Classes within the general electorate were accepted Correct answer.

Explanation

The Poona Pact, signed between Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar in September 1932, replaced separate electorates for the Depressed Classes with reserved seats within the general electorate, along with provisions for educational grants. It followed Gandhi's fast against the Communal Award of Ramsay MacDonald, which had granted separate electorates. The pact influenced the reservation framework later adopted in the Constitution.

Question 32General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following statements about the National Green Tribunal is correct?

  1. It can hear only civil cases and is bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
  2. It can award compensation but cannot order restitution of damaged environment
  3. It is a statutory body with appellate and original jurisdiction over environmental matters, guided by principles of sustainable development Correct answer.
  4. It functions as a constitutional court under Article 32 for environmental petitions

Explanation

The National Green Tribunal was established by the NGT Act, 2010, and has original and appellate jurisdiction over cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. It applies the principles of sustainable development, precautionary principle and polluter pays, and is not bound by the procedure laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure. It can order relief, compensation and restitution.

Question 33General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best explains why the green revolution increased yields mainly in wheat-growing regions of north-west India?

  1. These regions had assured canal and tubewell irrigation and responsive high-yielding varieties Correct answer.
  2. These regions received the highest rainfall in the country
  3. These regions had the largest area under coarse cereals
  4. These regions were exempt from land ceiling laws

Explanation

The high-yielding dwarf varieties of wheat developed during the green revolution required assured irrigation and high doses of fertiliser to express their yield potential. Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh had canal networks and rapidly expanding tubewell irrigation, which suited these varieties. Rice later benefited in irrigated areas, while rainfed coarse cereal regions gained far less.

Question 34General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the correct order of the layers of the atmosphere from the Earth's surface upwards?

  1. Stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, exosphere
  2. Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere Correct answer.
  3. Troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, exosphere
  4. Troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

Explanation

The atmosphere is layered by temperature behaviour: the troposphere where temperature falls with height, the stratosphere containing the ozone layer where temperature rises, the mesosphere where it falls again, and the thermosphere and exosphere above. Most weather occurs in the troposphere. The boundaries are called the tropopause, stratopause and mesopause.

Question 35General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

A State Government wishes to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on a question of law arising from a Bill passed by its Legislature. Which constitutional provision applies?

  1. Article 136, which allows special leave to appeal
  2. Article 131, which deals with original jurisdiction in disputes between governments
  3. Article 226, which empowers High Courts to issue writs
  4. Article 143, under which the President may refer a question of law or fact to the Supreme Court Correct answer.

Explanation

Under Article 143 the President may refer to the Supreme Court any question of law or fact of public importance that has arisen or is likely to arise, and the Court may report its opinion after hearing. The reference is made by the President, so a State must route its request through the Union executive. The Court's advisory opinion is not a binding judgment between parties.

Question 36General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the main reason why lithium-ion batteries are preferred over lead-acid batteries in electric vehicles?

  1. They do not require any battery management electronics
  2. They can be discharged completely without any loss of capacity
  3. They use cheaper and more abundant raw materials
  4. They have higher energy density per unit weight and longer cycle life Correct answer.

Explanation

Lithium-ion cells store far more energy per kilogram than lead-acid cells, which reduces vehicle weight and extends range, and they tolerate many more charge-discharge cycles. They do, however, need sophisticated battery management systems to prevent overcharging and thermal runaway. Concerns about lithium, cobalt and nickel supply make the raw-material argument weak.

Question 37General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best describes the concept of the 'demographic window' that policymakers refer to in the context of India's population?

  1. The period when life expectancy exceeds seventy years
  2. The period when the working-age population grows faster than the dependent population Correct answer.
  3. The period when rural-to-urban migration peaks
  4. The period when the birth rate falls below the death rate

Explanation

The demographic window is the phase in a country's demographic transition when fertility has fallen but the large cohorts born earlier are still of working age, so the share of the population aged roughly 15 to 59 rises relative to children and the elderly. This lowers the dependency ratio and can boost savings and growth if enough productive jobs exist. The window closes as the population ages.

Question 38General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of events in the germination of a typical dicot seed?

  1. Enzyme activation, imbibition of water, plumule emergence, radicle emergence
  2. Plumule emergence, radicle emergence, imbibition of water, enzyme activation
  3. Imbibition of water, enzyme activation, radicle emergence, plumule emergence Correct answer.
  4. Radicle emergence, imbibition of water, enzyme activation, plumule emergence

Explanation

Germination begins with imbibition, the absorption of water by the seed, which hydrates tissues and activates enzymes that mobilise stored food. Respiration and cell division then resume, the radicle emerges first to anchor the seedling and absorb water, and the plumule follows to form the shoot. The radicle-first pattern is typical of dicots.

Question 39General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following statements about the Finance Commission's role in fiscal federalism is most accurate?

  1. It has the power to direct States to reduce their fiscal deficits
  2. It decides the tax rates that States may levy on goods and services
  3. It recommends the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and States and grants-in-aid Correct answer.
  4. It settles disputes between the Union and States over water sharing

Explanation

Article 280 requires the President to constitute a Finance Commission every fifth year or earlier to recommend how net tax proceeds should be divided between the Union and States, the principles governing grants-in-aid, and measures to augment local body finances. It is an advisory body whose recommendations are placed before Parliament with an explanatory memorandum. It does not set tax rates or command States.

Question 40General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the most appropriate description of a 'heat wave' as defined by the India Meteorological Department for the plains?

  1. Maximum temperature at least 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 to 6.4 degrees from normal Correct answer.
  2. Maximum temperature above 30 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days
  3. Minimum temperature above 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity
  4. Maximum temperature above 45 degrees Celsius for a single day

Explanation

The IMD declares a heat wave in the plains when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius and departs from normal by 4.5 to 6.4 degrees; a severe heat wave requires a departure above 6.4 degrees. The thresholds are lower for coastal and hilly areas. High humidity with high temperature produces the separate category of heat index discomfort.

Question 41General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following was the significance of the Government of India Act, 1935, for the constitutional development of India?

  1. It created the Supreme Court of India
  2. It provided for provincial autonomy and a federal structure that was never fully implemented Correct answer.
  3. It introduced universal adult franchise for the first time
  4. It abolished the office of the Governor-General

Explanation

The Act of 1935 abolished dyarchy in the provinces, granting provincial autonomy with elected ministries responsible to legislatures, and proposed an all-India federation that the princely states never joined. It also introduced a federal court and extended separate electorates. Many administrative features of the Constitution, including the federal list scheme, drew on this Act.

Question 42General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best explains why the western coast of India receives heavy rainfall while the Deccan interior remains in a rain-shadow during the south-west monsoon?

  1. The interior receives cold air from the Himalayas that suppresses convection
  2. The monsoon winds lose all moisture over the Arabian Sea
  3. The Western Ghats force moist westerly winds to rise, causing orographic rainfall on the windward side Correct answer.
  4. The Deccan plateau lies at a higher latitude than the coast

Explanation

Moist winds from the Arabian Sea strike the Western Ghats and are forced to ascend, cooling and condensing to give heavy orographic rainfall on the windward western slopes. After crossing the crest, the descending air warms and dries, producing a rain-shadow over the leeward Deccan interior. Places such as Mahabaleshwar and Agumbe contrast sharply with Pune and Bellary.

Question 43General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the primary purpose of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016?

  1. To nationalise sick industrial units
  2. To guarantee repayment of all loans by the Government
  3. To provide a time-bound resolution of insolvency for firms and individuals and maximise asset value Correct answer.
  4. To regulate the issue of initial public offerings

Explanation

The IBC created a unified framework under which creditors can initiate resolution of a defaulting firm within a time-bound process, with the National Company Law Tribunal adjudicating and insolvency professionals managing the estate. The objective is to maximise the value of assets and promote entrepreneurship and credit availability. If no resolution plan is approved in time, the firm goes into liquidation.

Question 44General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following correctly matches a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its State in India?

  1. Hampi with Karnataka
  2. Konark Sun Temple with Odisha Correct answer.
  3. Khajuraho with Rajasthan
  4. Sanchi Stupa with Bihar

Explanation

The Konark Sun Temple, a thirteenth-century monument built under Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, is in Puri district of Odisha and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other pairs misplace famous sites. Knowing the correct State for each monument is a standard requirement in Indian art and culture questions.

Question 45General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best describes the difference between 'primary deficit' and 'revenue deficit' in government budgeting?

  1. Primary deficit is the excess of capital expenditure over capital receipts, while revenue deficit includes interest receipts
  2. Primary deficit excludes defence spending, while revenue deficit excludes grants to States
  3. Primary deficit is measured only for States, while revenue deficit is measured only for the Union
  4. Primary deficit is fiscal deficit minus interest payments, while revenue deficit is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts Correct answer.

Explanation

The primary deficit shows how much of the fiscal deficit is due to current spending other than interest payments, so it equals fiscal deficit minus interest payments. The revenue deficit captures the shortfall between revenue expenditure and revenue receipts, indicating borrowing for consumption. Together they reveal whether borrowing finances capital creation or merely running costs.

Question 46General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

A candidate argues that the office of the Governor should act only on the advice of the State Council of Ministers. Which constitutional position is most consistent with settled interpretation?

  1. The Governor has complete discretion in all matters and need not act on any advice
  2. The Governor's discretion is unlimited because Article 163 does not mention it
  3. The Governor must always follow the Chief Minister's advice without exception
  4. The Governor acts on ministerial advice except in matters where the Constitution expressly confers discretion, such as reserving a Bill for the President Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 163 provides that the Governor acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers except where the Constitution requires him to exercise functions in his discretion, and Article 200 allows him to reserve a Bill for the President's consideration. Courts have read the discretionary area narrowly rather than as a general licence. The Supreme Court has emphasised that the Governor is not an independent centre of power.

Question 47General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following explains why the efficiency of a silicon solar photovoltaic cell is limited even under full sunlight?

  1. Silicon absorbs only ultraviolet light and reflects all visible light
  2. Solar cells cannot convert any energy unless connected to a battery
  3. Photons with energy below the band gap are not absorbed, and excess energy of high-energy photons is lost as heat Correct answer.
  4. Silicon has a band gap larger than the energy of all visible photons

Explanation

A solar cell converts photons whose energy exceeds the semiconductor band gap into electron-hole pairs, but photons below the gap pass through, and the surplus energy of photons above the gap is dissipated as heat through thermalisation. These spectral losses, along with recombination and reflection, cap the practical efficiency of a single-junction silicon cell. Silicon's band gap of about 1.1 electron volts is well matched to the visible spectrum.

Question 48General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'circular economy' as used in Indian environmental policy?

  1. An economy that depends entirely on renewable electricity
  2. An economy that grows only through government spending
  3. A system that keeps materials in use through reuse, repair and recycling rather than linear take-make-dispose Correct answer.
  4. A system in which all waste is incinerated for energy recovery

Explanation

The circular economy model aims to close material loops by designing out waste, extending product life through repair and remanufacture, and recycling materials back into production. India's Extended Producer Responsibility rules for plastics and e-waste and the waste-to-wealth initiatives reflect this approach. It is a resource-efficiency concept, not a fiscal or energy-mix concept.

Question 49General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following statements about the Election Commission of India is correct?

  1. It is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament in 1951
  2. It conducts elections only to the Lok Sabha and not to State Legislatures
  3. Its decisions are appealable directly to the Supreme Court under Article 32
  4. It is a constitutional body whose Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in the manner provided for a Supreme Court judge Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 324 establishes the Election Commission as a constitutional authority, and the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only by impeachment on grounds and in the manner applicable to a Supreme Court judge, giving independence from the executive. The Commission conducts elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President. Its orders are generally not subject to direct appeal, though they are open to judicial review.

Question 50General Studies and General Abilities (current affairs, Indian polity, economy, science and technology, environment, history, geography, society)

Which of the following is the most likely consequence of a sustained depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar?

  1. Imports become cheaper and exports become costlier
  2. Foreign exchange reserves automatically increase
  3. Imports become costlier and exports become more competitive abroad Correct answer.
  4. Domestic inflation falls immediately

Explanation

When the rupee depreciates, more rupees are needed to buy a dollar, so imported goods and services cost more in domestic currency while Indian goods become cheaper in foreign currency. This can improve export competitiveness but also raises imported inflation, particularly for oil and electronics. Reserves do not automatically rise, as the effect depends on capital flows and intervention.