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UPSSSC PET practice questions

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Question 1General Knowledge / General Studies

Which Article of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form?

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

Explanation

Article 17 of the Constitution abolishes untouchability and makes its practice in any form a punishable offence. It appears in Part III under the Right to Equality and is one of the few fundamental rights enforceable against private individuals as well as the State.

Question 2General Knowledge / General Studies

The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?

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

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer crosses India through eight states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. It passes roughly through the middle of the country and is often asked in Indian geography.

Question 3General Knowledge / General Studies

Which Mughal emperor is credited with building the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri?

  1. Shah Jahan
  2. Akbar Correct answer.
  3. Babur
  4. Humayun

Explanation

Akbar built the Buland Darwaza around 1575 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. It forms the monumental southern gateway of the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri and is among the tallest gateways in the world.

Question 4General Knowledge / General Studies

Which vitamin deficiency causes the disease beriberi?

  1. Vitamin D
  2. Vitamin B1 Correct answer.
  3. Vitamin A
  4. Vitamin C

Explanation

Beriberi results from a deficiency of thiamine, also called vitamin B1, which is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and nerve function. It causes weakness, nerve damage and, in severe cases, heart failure.

Question 5General Knowledge / General Studies

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

  1. Siraj-ud-Daulah Correct answer.
  2. Mir Qasim
  3. Alivardi Khan
  4. Mir Jafar

Explanation

Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey in 1757, largely because part of the Nawab's army under Mir Jafar did not fight. The victory established Company political power in Bengal.

Question 6General Knowledge / General Studies

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

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

Explanation

Nitrogen makes up roughly 78 per cent of the atmosphere by volume, while oxygen accounts for about 21 per cent. Argon and carbon dioxide are present only in small fractions.

Question 7General Knowledge / General Studies

Who was the first woman to become the Chief Minister of an Indian state?

  1. Sucheta Kripalani Correct answer.
  2. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
  3. Indira Gandhi
  4. Sarojini Naidu

Explanation

Sucheta Kripalani became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1963, making her the first woman to head an Indian state government. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1966, which is a different office.

Question 8General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the SI unit of electric current?

  1. Coulomb
  2. Ampere Correct answer.
  3. Volt
  4. Ohm

Explanation

The ampere is the SI base unit of electric current and is defined through the elementary charge. Volt measures potential difference, ohm measures resistance and coulomb measures charge.

Question 9General Knowledge / General Studies

The Panchayati Raj system was given constitutional status by which amendment to the Constitution of India?

  1. 73rd Amendment Correct answer.
  2. 42nd Amendment
  3. 44th Amendment
  4. 74th Amendment

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 inserted Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule, giving constitutional recognition to rural local self-government. The 74th Amendment dealt with urban local bodies.

Question 10General Knowledge / General Studies

Which river is known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar' because of its frequent destructive floods?

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

Explanation

The Kosi is called the Sorrow of Bihar because it shifts its course frequently across the north Bihar plains and causes severe floods. Its heavy silt load and unstable channels make its path unpredictable.

Question 11General Knowledge / General Studies

In which year was the Reserve Bank of India nationalised?

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

Explanation

The Reserve Bank of India was established in 1935 but was nationalised on 1 January 1949, when its ownership passed to the Government of India. The 1969 date refers to the nationalisation of fourteen major commercial banks.

Question 12General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following folk dances belongs to the state of Punjab?

  1. Ghoomar
  2. Bihu
  3. Garba
  4. Bhangra Correct answer.

Explanation

Bhangra is the energetic harvest dance of Punjab, traditionally performed during the Baisakhi season with the dhol. The other options belong to Gujarat, Assam and Rajasthan respectively.

Question 13General Knowledge / General Studies

Which part of the human body produces insulin?

  1. Pancreas Correct answer.
  2. Adrenal gland
  3. Liver
  4. Kidney

Explanation

Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It lowers blood glucose by promoting cellular uptake and storage of glucose as glycogen.

Question 14General Knowledge / General Studies

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 is best described by which of the following statements?

  1. It allowed detention without trial to suppress revolutionary activity Correct answer.
  2. It provided for compulsory primary education
  3. It introduced separate electorates for Muslims
  4. It abolished the zamindari system in Bengal

Explanation

The Rowlatt Act empowered the government to arrest and detain persons without trial, which provoked nationwide protest and contributed to the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Gandhi called for a hartal against it in April 1919.

Question 15General Knowledge / General Studies

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that absorbs most ultraviolet radiation?

  1. Troposphere
  2. Stratosphere Correct answer.
  3. Mesosphere
  4. Thermosphere

Explanation

The ozone layer lies mainly in the stratosphere, roughly 15 to 35 kilometres above the surface. Ozone there absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation and also warms the stratosphere.

Question 16General Knowledge / General Studies

The term 'Green Revolution' in India is chiefly associated with which agricultural scientist?

  1. William Gaud
  2. Norman Borlaug
  3. M. S. Swaminathan Correct answer.
  4. Verghese Kurien

Explanation

M. S. Swaminathan led the Indian programme that introduced high-yielding wheat and rice varieties in the 1960s, raising foodgrain output sharply. Verghese Kurien is linked to the White Revolution in milk production.

Question 17General Knowledge / General Studies

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

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

Explanation

Article 280 requires the President to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to recommend the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the states. It is a key instrument of fiscal federalism.

Question 18General Knowledge / General Studies

A sum of money doubles itself in 8 years at simple interest. What is the annual rate of interest?

  1. 10 per cent
  2. 8 per cent
  3. 12.5 per cent Correct answer.
  4. 15 per cent

Explanation

For simple interest, doubling means the interest earned equals the principal, so SI = P. Using SI = P x R x T / 100 with T = 8 gives 100 = 8R, so R = 12.5 per cent per year.

Question 19General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is a Kharif crop in India?

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

Explanation

Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the monsoon around June and harvested in autumn, and rice is the leading example. Wheat, mustard and gram are rabi crops grown in the winter season.

Question 20General Knowledge / General Studies

The 'Doctrine of Lapse' was used most extensively by which Governor-General of India?

  1. Lord Cornwallis
  2. Lord Wellesley
  3. Lord Dalhousie Correct answer.
  4. Lord Curzon

Explanation

Lord Dalhousie applied the Doctrine of Lapse in the mid-nineteenth century, annexing states such as Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur when a ruler died without a natural heir. The policy contributed to resentment before 1857.

Question 21General Knowledge / General Studies

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

  1. NaHCO3
  2. Na2CO3.10H2O Correct answer.
  3. CaOCl2
  4. NaCl

Explanation

Washing soda is hydrated sodium carbonate, written as Na2CO3.10H2O. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and bleaching powder is represented by CaOCl2.

Question 22General Knowledge / General Studies

Consider the difference between the motions of the Earth. Which statement correctly distinguishes rotation from revolution?

  1. Rotation causes day and night, while revolution causes seasons Correct answer.
  2. Rotation causes seasons, and revolution also causes seasons
  3. Both rotation and revolution cause only tides
  4. Rotation causes seasons, while revolution causes day and night

Explanation

Rotation is the spin of the Earth on its axis and produces day and night. Revolution is the orbital movement around the Sun, and combined with the tilt of the axis it produces the seasons.

Question 23General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following pairs of classical dance and its state of origin is correctly matched?

  1. Kuchipudi - Kerala
  2. Kathakali - Tamil Nadu
  3. Sattriya - Manipur
  4. Odissi - Odisha Correct answer.

Explanation

Odissi originated in Odisha and is one of the eight classical dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Kathakali belongs to Kerala, Kuchipudi to Andhra Pradesh and Sattriya to Assam.

Question 24General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following statements about the Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution is correct?

  1. They were included by the 42nd Amendment on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee Correct answer.
  2. They apply only to citizens holding public office
  3. They were part of the original Constitution of 1950
  4. They are enforceable directly by writs in the Supreme Court

Explanation

Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, which drew on the idea of duties from the Soviet Constitution. They are moral obligations and are not directly enforceable by courts.

Question 25General Knowledge / General Studies

The Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun. Which statement about tides is correct?

  1. Spring tides occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in a straight line Correct answer.
  2. Neap tides are higher than spring tides
  3. Spring tides occur at the first and third quarters of the Moon
  4. Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are in line with the Earth

Explanation

Spring tides occur at new moon and full moon, when the Sun, Moon and Earth are nearly in a straight line and their gravitational effects combine. Neap tides occur at the quarters, when the pulls act at right angles and the range is smallest.

Question 26General Knowledge / General Studies

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

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

Explanation

The liver is the largest gland in the human body and also the largest internal organ, weighing roughly 1.5 kg in adults. It secretes bile, which helps in the digestion of fats, and performs many metabolic functions. The pancreas is a gland too but is much smaller.

Question 27General Knowledge / General Studies

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

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

Explanation

The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757 between Robert Clive of the East India Company and Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. The Nawab's defeat established Company political power in Bengal. Mir Qasim and Shah Alam II were involved in the later Battle of Buxar in 1764.

Question 28General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct order of the planets of the solar system, starting from the Sun?

  1. Venus, Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune
  2. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Correct answer.
  3. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus
  4. Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus

Explanation

The eight planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The four inner planets are rocky, while the four outer ones are gas and ice giants. Any list that places Earth before Venus or swaps Jupiter and Saturn is incorrect.

Question 29General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the highest peak located entirely within India?

  1. Nanda Devi Correct answer.
  2. Kanchenjunga
  3. K2
  4. Mount Everest

Explanation

Nanda Devi, in Uttarakhand, is the highest mountain peak lying wholly within Indian territory. Kanchenjunga is higher but lies on the India-Nepal border, so it is not entirely within India. K2 lies in Pakistan-occupied territory and Everest is in Nepal.

Question 30General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following pairs of Indian dance form and state is correctly matched?

  1. Kathakali - Tamil Nadu
  2. Kuchipudi - Karnataka
  3. Sattriya - Manipur
  4. Odissi - Odisha Correct answer.

Explanation

Odissi is the classical dance form that originated in Odisha and is known for its tribhanga posture and lyrical style. Kathakali belongs to Kerala, Kuchipudi to Andhra Pradesh and Sattriya to Assam. Correct pairing requires matching each dance with its state of origin.

Question 31General Knowledge / General Studies

A sum of money becomes 1.5 times of itself in 5 years at simple interest. What is the annual rate of interest?

  1. 10 percent Correct answer.
  2. 12 percent
  3. 8 percent
  4. 15 percent

Explanation

For simple interest, if a sum becomes 1.5 times itself, the interest earned equals half the principal. Using SI = P x R x T / 100, we get 0.5P = P x R x 5 / 100, so R = 0.5 x 100 / 5 = 10 percent per annum.

Question 32General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct chemical name of baking soda?

  1. Sodium carbonate
  2. Calcium carbonate
  3. Sodium chloride
  4. Sodium bicarbonate Correct answer.

Explanation

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, with the formula NaHCO3. It is a mild base used in cooking and as an antacid. Sodium carbonate is washing soda, calcium carbonate is limestone and sodium chloride is common salt.

Question 33General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the SI unit of pressure?

  1. Watt
  2. Joule
  3. Newton
  4. Pascal Correct answer.

Explanation

The SI unit of pressure is the pascal, defined as one newton per square metre. Pressure equals force divided by area, so its unit derives from the units of force and area. The newton is a unit of force, the joule of energy and the watt of power.

Question 34General Knowledge / General Studies

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

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

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at about 23.5 degrees north passes through eight Indian states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. It passes roughly through the middle of the country. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Punjab lie outside its path.

Question 35General Knowledge / General Studies

Who among the following founded the Servants of India Society in 1905?

  1. Gopal Krishna Gokhale Correct answer.
  2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  3. Annie Besant
  4. Lala Lajpat Rai

Explanation

The Servants of India Society was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905 to train national missionaries for the service of the country. Gokhale was a moderate leader who favoured constitutional methods and social reform. Tilak, Besant and Lajpat Rai were associated with other movements.

Question 36General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the primary function of red blood cells in the human body?

  1. Transport of oxygen Correct answer.
  2. Clotting of blood
  3. Digestion of fats
  4. Producing antibodies

Explanation

Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs and carries it to the tissues. They also help carry a part of the carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Antibodies are produced by lymphocytes, clotting involves platelets and fat digestion needs bile and enzymes.

Question 37General Knowledge / General Studies

The Constitution of India provides for the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General under which Article?

  1. Article 324
  2. Article 280
  3. Article 148 Correct answer.
  4. Article 356

Explanation

Article 148 of the Constitution establishes the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The CAG audits the accounts of the Union and the states and is called the guardian of the public purse. Article 280 deals with the Finance Commission and Article 324 with the Election Commission.

Question 38General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct sequence of stages in the water cycle, starting from evaporation?

  1. Precipitation, evaporation, condensation, collection
  2. Collection, precipitation, evaporation, condensation
  3. Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection Correct answer.
  4. Condensation, evaporation, collection, precipitation

Explanation

In the water cycle, water evaporates from oceans and land, rises and cools to condense into clouds, then falls as precipitation and is finally collected in rivers, lakes and groundwater. This order reflects the movement of water from the surface to the atmosphere and back.

Question 39General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct full form of the abbreviation GDP used in economics?

  1. Global Domestic Product
  2. General Domestic Price
  3. Gross Development Programme
  4. Gross Domestic Product Correct answer.

Explanation

GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product, the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a given period. It measures the size of an economy and is usually expressed in current or constant prices.

Question 40General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following gases is mainly responsible for the greenhouse effect that warms the Earth's surface?

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

Explanation

Carbon dioxide traps outgoing infrared radiation and is the principal greenhouse gas linked to human activity, along with methane and water vapour. Nitrogen, oxygen and argon do not absorb infrared radiation effectively and are not greenhouse gases.

Question 41General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct statement about the Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution?

  1. They can be suspended by ordinary legislation
  2. They are available only to citizens of India in every case
  3. They apply to the armed forces without any restriction
  4. They are enforceable in the courts through writs Correct answer.

Explanation

Fundamental Rights are justiciable, meaning a person can move the Supreme Court under Article 32 or a High Court under Article 226 for their enforcement through writs. Some rights, such as the right to equality before the law, apply to all persons, not only citizens. Parliament cannot suspend them by ordinary law.

Question 42General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following statements about the difference between latitude and longitude is correct?

  1. Latitude is measured in degrees east and west of the prime meridian
  2. Longitude lines are parallel to each other while latitude lines converge at the poles
  3. Both latitude and longitude lines are parallel to each other
  4. Latitude lines are parallel to each other while longitude lines converge at the poles Correct answer.

Explanation

Lines of latitude are parallel circles running east-west, while lines of longitude are great circles that meet at the North and South Poles. Latitude is measured north or south of the equator, whereas longitude is measured east or west of the prime meridian.

Question 43General Knowledge / General Studies

A train travels 240 km in 3 hours and then 180 km in 2 hours. What is its average speed for the whole journey?

  1. 80 km per hour
  2. 75 km per hour
  3. 84 km per hour Correct answer.
  4. 90 km per hour

Explanation

Total distance is 240 + 180 = 420 km and total time is 3 + 2 = 5 hours. Average speed equals total distance divided by total time, which gives 420 / 5 = 84 km per hour. Averaging the two speeds directly would be wrong because the times differ.

Question 44General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct statement about the Rowlatt Act of 1919, apart from the fact that it was passed to curb revolutionary activity?

  1. It provided for trial of political prisoners by a jury
  2. It allowed detention without trial for a fixed period of two years only
  3. It gave the government powers to imprison persons without trial Correct answer.
  4. It was supported by the Indian National Congress

Explanation

The Rowlatt Act, formally the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, allowed the government to arrest and detain suspects without trial and to try cases without juries. It was widely opposed and led to the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Indians called it the Black Act.

Question 45General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following statements about the Indian monsoon is correct?

  1. The northeast monsoon is the main rainy season for the whole of India
  2. The southwest monsoon brings rain to most of India between June and September Correct answer.
  3. The monsoon has no relation to the differential heating of land and sea
  4. The monsoon winds blow from land to sea during summer

Explanation

The southwest monsoon, blowing from the Indian Ocean towards the land, brings the main rainy season to most of India from June to September. It results from differential heating of land and sea and the shift of the ITCZ. The northeast monsoon mainly affects Tamil Nadu in winter.

Question 46General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following is the correct sequence of events in the process of photosynthesis?

  1. Absorption of light, formation of glucose, splitting of water
  2. Absorption of light by chlorophyll, splitting of water, formation of glucose Correct answer.
  3. Formation of glucose, absorption of light, splitting of water
  4. Splitting of water, formation of glucose, absorption of light

Explanation

In photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs light energy, which drives the splitting of water to release oxygen and hydrogen. The energy and hydrogen are then used to fix carbon dioxide into glucose. This order reflects the light reactions followed by the Calvin cycle.

Question 47General Knowledge / General Studies

The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced which of the following features in British India?

  1. Complete independence for the provinces
  2. Provincial autonomy and a federal structure with dyarchy at the centre Correct answer.
  3. Dyarchy in the provinces and provincial autonomy at the centre
  4. Abolition of the office of the Governor-General

Explanation

The Government of India Act 1935 granted provincial autonomy, abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced dyarchy at the centre within a proposed federation. It also provided for a Federal Court and a Reserve Bank. The federation, however, never came into being.

Question 48General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following statements about the Panchayati Raj system is correct, other than the fact that it was given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment?

  1. It applies only to urban local bodies
  2. It fixes the term of a panchayat at ten years
  3. It provides for nominated members only in every panchayat
  4. It provides for a three-tier structure at village, block and district levels Correct answer.

Explanation

The 73rd Amendment created a three-tier structure of panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels, except in states with a population below twenty lakh. It also provides for elected members and a fixed term of five years. Urban local bodies are covered by the 74th Amendment.

Question 49General Knowledge / General Studies

Which of the following statements about the tides is correct, apart from the fact that they are caused by the Moon and the Sun?

  1. Tides occur only once in a lunar day
  2. Neap tides occur at new moon and full moon
  3. Spring tides occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in a straight line Correct answer.
  4. Spring tides occur when the Moon is at right angles to the Sun

Explanation

Spring tides occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned, that is at new moon and full moon, producing the highest high tides. Neap tides occur when the Moon and Sun are at right angles and their pulls partly cancel. Most coasts experience two high tides in a lunar day.

Question 50General Knowledge / General Studies

भारत में 'राष्ट्रीय आपातकाल' की घोषणा के संबंध में संविधान का कौन-सा अनुच्छेद प्रावधान करता है?

  1. अनुच्छेद 356
  2. अनुच्छेद 352 Correct answer.
  3. अनुच्छेद 360
  4. अनुच्छेद 368

Explanation

भारतीय संविधान के भाग XVIII में तीन प्रकार के आपातकाल का उल्लेख है। अनुच्छेद 352 युद्ध, बाह्य आक्रमण या सशस्त्र विद्रोह के कारण राष्ट्रीय आपातकाल की घोषणा से संबंधित है, जिसे राष्ट्रपति मंत्रिपरिषद की सलाह पर घोषित करते हैं।