NPSC Police Constable Exam key terms

A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea, such as 'constable', 'Kohima', or 'courage'. It can act as the subject or object of a sentence.

A word that expresses an action or a state of being, such as 'run', 'arrest', or 'is'. Every complete sentence needs at least one finite verb.

A word that describes or limits a noun, such as 'brave' in 'a brave officer' or 'three' in 'three rounds'. It usually comes before the noun or after a linking verb.

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often telling how, when, or where. Examples include 'quickly', 'very', and 'yesterday'.

A short word placed before a noun or pronoun to show position, direction, or time, such as 'in', 'under', 'across', or 'during'. It begins a phrase.

The words 'a', 'an', and 'the' used before nouns. 'A' and 'an' are indefinite; 'the' is definite and points to a specific person or thing already known.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens: past, present, or future. Each tense also has simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Voice shows whether the subject performs or receives the action. In active voice the subject acts ('The police caught him'); in passive voice the object becomes the subject ('He was caught').

Direct speech quotes a speaker's exact words inside quotation marks. Indirect speech reports the meaning without quotes, usually changing pronouns, tenses, and time words.

A word used in place of a noun to avoid repetition, such as 'he', 'they', 'who', or 'myself'. The noun it replaces is called its antecedent.

A word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in the same context, such as 'brave' and 'courageous'. Questions often ask you to pick the closest match.

A word with the opposite meaning to another word, such as 'guilty' and 'innocent'. Antonym questions test whether you understand a word's exact sense.

A fixed group of words whose meaning cannot be worked out from the individual words, such as 'to turn a deaf ear' meaning to ignore. Idioms must be learnt as whole units.

A verb combined with a preposition or adverb that creates a new meaning, such as 'give up' or 'look into'. The particle cannot usually be separated from the verb's meaning.

A single word that replaces a whole phrase, such as 'philanthropist' for 'a person who helps others'. These questions test precise vocabulary rather than general meaning.

Questions that ask you to find a wrongly spelt word or an incorrect part of a sentence. Common traps include doubled consonants, silent letters, and confused pairs like 'principal' and 'principle'.

The supreme law of India, adopted on 26 November 1949 and enforced on 26 January 1950. It sets out fundamental rights, duties, and the structure of government.

Basic rights guaranteed to citizens in Part III of the Constitution, including equality, freedom of speech, and protection of life. They can be enforced in court through writs.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Constitution that direct governments to promote welfare, such as fair wages and public health. They are not enforceable in court but guide law-making.

The system of local self-government at village, block, and district levels, given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment in 1992. It reserves seats for women and Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

Nagaland became the 16th state of India on 1 December 1963 under the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. Before that it was administered as part of Assam and later as a separate Union territory area.

A special constitutional provision for Nagaland that protects Naga customary law, land, and resources. It bars Parliament from legislating on these matters without the state assembly's consent.

The traditional unwritten rules of Naga villages and tribes governing land, marriage, inheritance, and social conduct. Courts recognise these customs, and Article 371A shields them from ordinary legislation.

The traditional governing body of a Naga village, headed by a chairman or gaon bura, handling local disputes and community matters. It works alongside modern elected bodies in rural administration.

An annual cultural festival held in the first week of December at Kisama near Kohima. It showcases Naga music, dance, crafts, and food, and is named after the hornbill bird.

A heritage village near Kohima that hosts the Hornbill Festival each December. It displays traditional Naga morungs (bachelor dormitories) and is a centre for tribal cultural display.

The capital city of Nagaland, situated in the southern part of the state. It was the site of a major 1944 battle in the Second World War and today holds the state government and high court.

The indigenous communities of Nagaland, including the Angami, Ao, Konyak, Sema, Lotha, and others. Each tribe has its own language, dress, and customs, and over a dozen are officially recognised.

A colonial-era administrative district covering the Naga-inhabited hills, later divided into several units. Its creation in the nineteenth century began the region's integration into British India.

A number expressed as a part of one hundred, written with the % sign. To find a percentage of a quantity, multiply the quantity by the percentage and divide by 100.

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind, such as 3:5. A proportion states that two ratios are equal, allowing you to find an unknown value by cross-multiplication.

The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values. Also called the arithmetic mean, it is used to summarise data and to solve problems about totals and missing numbers.

Simple interest is calculated only on the original principal. Compound interest is calculated on the principal plus previously earned interest, so it grows faster over time.

Profit is the selling price minus the cost price; loss is the reverse. Both are usually expressed as a percentage of the cost price unless the question states otherwise.

The relationship that distance equals speed multiplied by time. Problems often involve trains, boats, or two moving objects, and units must be converted consistently, such as km/h to m/s.

A reasoning question that asks you to find the same relationship between two pairs of items, such as 'doctor is to hospital as teacher is to school'. Identify the link first, then apply it.

A question giving a sequence of numbers, letters, or figures with a pattern, asking for the next term. Check differences, multiples, squares, or alternating rules before answering.

A question where words or numbers are written in a secret pattern, and you must decode the rule to read or produce another word. Letter shifts and reverse alphabets are common tricks.

A question listing several items where all but one share a common property. You must identify the item that does not fit the shared category or pattern.

A reasoning problem where a person moves in given directions and you must find the final position or distance. Drawing a rough diagram with north at the top prevents most errors.

A reasoning question that describes family links in words and asks how two people are related. Sketching a family tree with clear symbols makes the relationship easier to trace.

A qualifying check of height, chest, and weight before the physical efficiency test. Candidates must meet the minimum measurements set for their category, and shortfall usually means disqualification.

A set of timed physical events such as running, long jump, and shot put that candidates must pass. It tests endurance, speed, and strength, and is usually held after the written exam.

A PST measurement taken around the chest, recorded both at rest and after full expansion. The difference between the two readings, called expansion, must meet the minimum required.

The minimum height and corresponding weight fixed for each category of candidate in the PST. Relaxations are often allowed for hill-area and tribal candidates, so check the current notification.

A PET event where the candidate runs up and jumps from a take-off board into a sand pit. Distance is measured from the board to the nearest landing mark, and fouls are not counted.

A PET event where the candidate pushes a heavy metal ball from the shoulder as far as possible. The throw must stay within the sector, and stepping out of the circle is a foul.