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NPSC Police Constable Exam study materials
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NPSC Police Constable Exam practice questions

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Question 1General English

In a police report, choose the sentence in which the article and noun agree correctly.

  1. The constable arrested an constable from another station.
  2. The constable arrested a suspect near the bus stand. Correct answer.
  3. The constable arrested an suspect near the bus stand.
  4. The constable arrested a hour later near the bus stand.

Explanation

The indefinite article 'a' is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, and 'suspect' begins with the /s/ sound. 'An' is used only before vowel sounds, so it cannot precede 'suspect' or 'constable'.

Question 2General English

A sub-inspector writes: 'Neither the driver nor the passengers ______ injured in the collision.' Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

  1. is
  2. was
  3. were Correct answer.
  4. has

Explanation

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. The nearest subject is 'passengers', which is plural, so the plural past verb 'were' is required to match the past context of the collision.

Question 3General English

Which sentence uses the past perfect tense correctly in a statement recorded at a police station?

  1. The witness said that he has seen the thief before the alarm rang.
  2. The witness said that he sees the thief before the alarm rang.
  3. The witness said that he saw the thief before the alarm rang.
  4. The witness said that he had seen the thief before the alarm rang. Correct answer.

Explanation

The past perfect ('had seen') expresses an action completed before another past action ('rang'). Because the seeing happened earlier than the ringing, the earlier event takes 'had' plus the past participle.

Question 4General English

Choose the option that correctly changes this sentence into the passive voice: 'The police recovered the stolen motorcycle.'

  1. The stolen motorcycle is recovered by the police.
  2. The stolen motorcycle was recovered by the police. Correct answer.
  3. The stolen motorcycle recovered the police.
  4. The stolen motorcycle had recovered by the police.

Explanation

To form the passive, the object becomes the subject and the verb becomes a form of 'be' plus the past participle. Since the active verb 'recovered' is simple past, the passive uses 'was recovered'.

Question 5General English

In the sentence 'The inspector spoke to the constable who had filed the report', the underlined-type clause 'who had filed the report' functions as which of the following?

  1. A principal clause
  2. A noun clause acting as object
  3. An adjective clause qualifying 'constable' Correct answer.
  4. An adverb clause of time

Explanation

A relative clause beginning with 'who' describes the noun immediately before it and so works like an adjective. Here it tells us which constable is meant, qualifying the noun 'constable'.

Question 6General English

Which option gives the correct indirect (reported) form of: The officer said to the crowd, 'Leave the area at once.'

  1. The officer told that the crowd left the area at once.
  2. The officer said the crowd to leave the area at once.
  3. The officer asked the crowd that they leave the area at once.
  4. The officer told the crowd to leave the area at once. Correct answer.

Explanation

An imperative in direct speech becomes an infinitive in reported speech, and 'said to' changes to 'told' when an object follows. So 'said to the crowd' becomes 'told the crowd to leave'.

Question 7General English

Choose the word that best fills the blank: 'The accused was released ______ bail after the hearing.'

  1. at
  2. with
  3. on Correct answer.
  4. in

Explanation

The fixed legal expression is 'released on bail', where 'on' marks the condition of release. Prepositions in such set phrases must be learnt as collocations rather than guessed.

Question 8General English

Which sentence uses the correct preposition after the verb?

  1. The constable insisted to checking every vehicle.
  2. The constable insisted on checking every vehicle. Correct answer.
  3. The constable insisted for checking every vehicle.
  4. The constable insisted at checking every vehicle.

Explanation

The verb 'insist' is followed by the preposition 'on' before a gerund. The fixed pattern is 'insist on doing something', so 'insisted on checking' is correct.

Question 9General English

Select the option in which the phrasal verb is used with its correct meaning: 'The police decided to look ______ the matter immediately.'

  1. into Correct answer.
  2. up
  3. for
  4. after

Explanation

'Look into' means to investigate something, which fits the police context of examining a matter. The other particles form phrasal verbs with different meanings and do not suit 'the matter' here.

Question 10General English

Which option gives the correct spelling for a document listing items seized by police?

  1. inventory Correct answer.
  2. inventery
  3. inventary
  4. inventry

Explanation

The noun is 'inventory', formed from 'invent' plus '-ory'. The middle syllable is spelled 'or', and the other options misspell this standard word.

Question 11General English

Choose the correctly spelled word to complete: 'The court found the evidence ______ and acquitted the accused.'

  1. insufficeint
  2. insuficient
  3. insufficent
  4. insufficient Correct answer.

Explanation

The adjective 'insufficient' is built from 'in-' plus 'sufficient', which has double 'f' and a single 'c'. The other spellings drop or misplace letters from this standard form.

Question 12General English

Which word is the closest synonym of 'apprehend' as used in a police report?

  1. warn
  2. understand
  3. arrest Correct answer.
  4. release

Explanation

In law-enforcement usage, 'apprehend' means to seize or arrest a person suspected of a crime. Although it can also mean to understand, the police context makes 'arrest' the intended sense.

Question 13General English

Choose the option that is the antonym of 'acquit' in a courtroom report.

  1. convict Correct answer.
  2. pardon
  3. release
  4. defend

Explanation

'Acquit' means to declare a person not guilty, so its opposite in legal usage is 'convict', meaning to declare guilty. The other options do not express the opposite verdict.

Question 14General English

In the sentence 'The witness's statement was recorded verbatim', the word 'verbatim' means:

  1. in summary form
  2. word for word Correct answer.
  3. under oath
  4. in a different language

Explanation

'Verbatim' is an adverb meaning exactly as spoken, word for word. It does not refer to summarising, swearing an oath, or translation.

Question 15General English

Which option correctly substitutes the underlined phrase in: 'The thief escaped, and the police were unable to find him anywhere.'

  1. The thief escaped, so the police could not find him anywhere.
  2. The thief escaped, but the police could not find him anywhere. Correct answer.
  3. The thief escaped, for the police could not find him anywhere.
  4. The thief escaped, or the police could not find him anywhere.

Explanation

The two clauses contrast or qualify each other: the escape happened despite the search. The conjunction 'but' expresses this contrast correctly, whereas 'so', 'or' and 'for' express result, alternative and reason.

Question 16General English

Choose the sentence in which the modifier is placed correctly.

  1. Walking down the street, the constable noticed a suspicious man. Correct answer.
  2. Walking down the street, it was noticed that a man was suspicious.
  3. Walking down the street, a suspicious man was noticed by the constable.
  4. Walking down the street, the man was suspicious to the constable.

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence must describe the subject of the main clause. Only in the first option is the constable, the person actually walking, the subject of the main clause.

Question 17General English

Which sentence uses the correct comparative or superlative form?

  1. Of the two suspects, the tallest one was released first.
  2. Of the two suspects, the more tall one was released first.
  3. Of the two suspects, the taller one was released first. Correct answer.
  4. Of the two suspects, the most tall one was released first.

Explanation

When comparing exactly two people or things, the comparative form ('taller') is used, not the superlative ('tallest'). Short adjectives form the comparative with '-er' rather than 'more'.

Question 18General English

Identify the sentence that contains no grammatical error.

  1. Each of the constables has submitted a report. Correct answer.
  2. Each of the constables have been submitted a report.
  3. Each of the constables has been submitted a report.
  4. Each of the constables have submitted a report.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is 'each', which is singular, so the singular verb 'has' is required. The phrase 'of the constables' does not change the number of the subject.

Question 19General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence with the right form of the word in brackets: 'The officer acted with great ______ (cautious) while entering the building.'

  1. cautious
  2. cautiously
  3. cautiousnessly
  4. caution Correct answer.

Explanation

After 'with great', a noun is needed, and the noun form related to 'cautious' is 'caution'. 'Cautious' is an adjective and 'cautiously' is an adverb, so neither fits after the adjective 'great'.

Question 20General English

Choose the correct question tag: 'The constable has already filed the FIR, ______?'

  1. hasn't he Correct answer.
  2. isn't he
  3. didn't he
  4. has he

Explanation

A positive statement takes a negative tag, and the tag repeats the auxiliary of the main verb. The auxiliary here is 'has', so the correct tag is 'hasn't he'.

Question 21General English

Which sentence uses the modal verb that best expresses a legal obligation?

  1. Every driver could carry a valid licence.
  2. Every driver would carry a valid licence.
  3. Every driver must carry a valid licence. Correct answer.
  4. Every driver might carry a valid licence.

Explanation

'Must' expresses strong obligation, which suits a legal requirement. 'Might', 'could' and 'would' express possibility, ability or condition, none of which conveys a legal duty.

Question 22General English

In the sentence 'Had the patrol team arrived earlier, the accident would have been prevented', the opening clause is best described as:

  1. an imperative clause
  2. a conditional clause with inversion Correct answer.
  3. a relative clause
  4. a noun clause of result

Explanation

The clause expresses an unreal past condition, normally introduced by 'if'. Dropping 'if' and placing 'had' first is inversion, which is a formal way of writing a third conditional.

Question 23General English

Choose the option that correctly combines the two sentences using 'although': 'The thief was masked. The constable recognised him.'

  1. Although the thief was masked, so the constable recognised him.
  2. Although the thief was masked, but the constable recognised him.
  3. The thief was masked, although the constable recognised him.
  4. Although the thief was masked, the constable recognised him. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Although' introduces a concessive clause and is not paired with 'but' or 'so' in the same sentence. Option 0 places the contrast correctly without adding a second conjunction.

Question 24General English

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?

  1. The suspect was questioned; and he refused to answer.
  2. The suspect was questioned; however, he refused to answer. Correct answer.
  3. The suspect was questioned; he refused, to answer.
  4. The suspect was questioned; however he refused to answer.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses, and a conjunctive adverb like 'however' after it must be followed by a comma. Option 0 follows this pattern correctly.

Question 25General English

Choose the sentence in which the apostrophe is used correctly.

  1. The suspect's statements were recorded by the clerks'.
  2. The suspects statements were recorded by the clerk.
  3. The suspects's statements were recorded by the clerk.
  4. The suspects' statements were recorded by the clerk. Correct answer.

Explanation

For a plural noun ending in 's', the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the 's'. Thus 'suspects' becomes 'suspects'' for the statements belonging to several suspects.

Question 26General English

In a police report, choose the option that correctly changes the active sentence into the passive voice: 'The constable sealed the evidence room.'

  1. The evidence room was sealed by the constable. Correct answer.
  2. The evidence room is sealed by the constable.
  3. The evidence room has sealed by the constable.
  4. The evidence room was sealing by the constable.

Explanation

The active sentence is in the simple past ('sealed'), so the passive must use 'was/were + past participle': 'was sealed'. The doer is introduced with 'by the constable'.

Question 27General English

A constable writes: 'The suspect, ______ had been absconding for a week, surrendered at the station.' Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

  1. whom
  2. whose
  3. who Correct answer.
  4. which

Explanation

The relative pronoun refers to 'the suspect' and acts as the subject of 'had been absconding', so the subject form 'who' is required. 'Whom' would be correct only if the pronoun were the object of a verb or preposition.

Question 28General English

Which option gives the correct plural form for the sentence: 'Three ______ were deployed at the checkpoint.'

  1. woman constables
  2. women constables Correct answer.
  3. woman constable
  4. women constable

Explanation

In a compound noun where the first word is 'woman', both elements normally change to the plural: 'women constables'. The second element is the head noun and must also be plural.

Question 29General English

Choose the option that correctly reports the constable's words: 'The constable said, "I am checking the lock-up."'

  1. The constable said that he has checked the lock-up.
  2. The constable said that he was checking the lock-up. Correct answer.
  3. The constable said that he will check the lock-up.
  4. The constable said that he is checking the lock-up.

Explanation

When the reporting verb is in the past ('said'), the present continuous 'am checking' shifts back to the past continuous 'was checking'. The pronoun 'I' also changes to 'he' to match the speaker.

Question 30General English

In a statement recorded by police, which option uses the article correctly: 'The constable found ______ one-rupee coin near the gate.'

  1. no article
  2. a Correct answer.
  3. the
  4. an

Explanation

The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that follows, not the letter. 'One' begins with the consonant sound /w/, so 'a one-rupee coin' is correct.

Question 31General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'The witness insisted that she ______ the man's face clearly.'

  1. has seen
  2. saw Correct answer.
  3. sees
  4. see

Explanation

After 'insisted that' reporting a past event, the verb in the clause is normally backshifted to the past: 'saw'. The past form also keeps the sequence of tenses consistent with 'insisted'.

Question 32General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence with a suitable conjunction: '______ the constable blew the whistle, the crowd refused to disperse.'

  1. Although Correct answer.
  2. Because
  3. So that
  4. Unless

Explanation

The two clauses contrast: the whistle was blown but the crowd still did not disperse, so a concessive conjunction such as 'although' is needed. 'Because' would wrongly suggest the refusal was a result of the whistle.

Question 33General English

Choose the option in which the phrasal verb 'call off' is used correctly in a policing context.

  1. The inspector decided to call off the suspect at the gate.
  2. The inspector decided to call off the constable to the scene.
  3. The inspector decided to call off the report in the register.
  4. The inspector decided to call off the search after the body was found. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Call off' means to cancel or abandon an activity, so cancelling a search fits perfectly. The other options use the verb with meanings it does not carry.

Question 34General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The seized items ______ in the malkhana before the inspection began.'

  1. has been kept
  2. have kept
  3. had been kept Correct answer.
  4. were keeping

Explanation

The keeping happened before another past event ('began'), so the past perfect passive 'had been kept' is required. The items receive the action, so a passive form is needed.

Question 35General English

Identify the option that correctly transforms the sentence into a simple sentence: 'The constable ran fast and caught the pickpocket.'

  1. Running fast, the constable caught the pickpocket. Correct answer.
  2. The constable ran fast and he caught the pickpocket.
  3. The constable ran fast, so he caught the pickpocket.
  4. The constable ran fast because he caught the pickpocket.

Explanation

A simple sentence contains one finite clause; the participle phrase 'Running fast' replaces the first clause while keeping the meaning. The main clause 'the constable caught the pickpocket' remains the only finite clause.

Question 36General English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'No sooner ______ the alarm than the patrol van arrived.'

  1. did the constable ring
  2. had the constable rung Correct answer.
  3. the constable rang
  4. the constable had rung

Explanation

After the negative opener 'No sooner', the auxiliary comes before the subject, and the earlier action takes the past perfect: 'had the constable rung'. The 'than' clause then follows in the simple past.

Question 37General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The officer spoke to the crowd ______ to prevent a stampede.'

  1. so as Correct answer.
  2. so that
  3. for
  4. in order

Explanation

'So as to' followed by a bare infinitive expresses purpose: 'so as to prevent'. 'In order' needs 'to' after it, and 'so that' needs a clause with a subject and modal.

Question 38General English

Read the sentence: 'The constable who arrested the suspect submitted a detailed report to the inspector.' Which option correctly identifies the grammatical role of the clause 'who arrested the suspect'?

  1. It is a noun clause acting as the object of 'submitted'.
  2. It is an adjectival (relative) clause modifying 'the constable'. Correct answer.
  3. It is an adverbial clause of reason modifying 'submitted'.
  4. It is a principal clause carrying the main statement.

Explanation

The clause begins with the relative pronoun 'who' and describes 'the constable', so it functions as an adjective qualifying that noun. Removing it still leaves a complete main clause: 'The constable submitted a detailed report'.

Question 39General English

Which option correctly completes the sentence: 'Scarcely had the constable reached the spot ______ the miscreants fled.'

  1. when Correct answer.
  2. that
  3. than
  4. then

Explanation

The paired structure 'scarcely ... when' (like 'hardly ... when') marks one event following immediately after another. 'No sooner' is the correlative that pairs with 'than', not 'scarcely'.

Question 40General English

Choose the option that correctly rewrites the sentence in formal reported speech: 'The inspector said to the constable, "Did you verify the alibi?"'

  1. The inspector asked the constable whether he verified the alibi.
  2. The inspector said the constable did he verify the alibi.
  3. The inspector asked the constable that did he verify the alibi.
  4. The inspector asked the constable if he had verified the alibi. Correct answer.

Explanation

A reported yes/no question uses 'if' or 'whether' with statement word order, and the past simple 'verified' backshifts to the past perfect 'had verified'. The auxiliary 'did' disappears in the reported form.

Question 41General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Nagaland Police Constable recruitment is conducted by which body?

  1. Nagaland Public Service Commission
  2. Staff Selection Commission
  3. Nagaland State Police Recruitment Board Correct answer.
  4. Union Public Service Commission

Explanation

Recruitment to the Nagaland Police, including constable posts, is handled by the Nagaland State Police Recruitment Board, which issues notifications and conducts the selection process. The NPSC handles civil services and other state gazetted posts, not police constable recruitment.

Question 42General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which Article of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to constitutional remedies?

  1. Article 21
  2. Article 32 Correct answer.
  3. Article 19
  4. Article 14

Explanation

Article 32 empowers citizens to move the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of fundamental rights, which is why it is called the right to constitutional remedies. Dr B.R. Ambedkar described it as the heart and soul of the Constitution.

Question 43General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Tropic of Cancer passes through which Indian state?

  1. Himachal Pradesh
  2. Kerala
  3. Punjab
  4. Mizoram Correct answer.

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at roughly 23.5 degrees north latitude crosses eight Indian states, and Mizoram is one of them. The other states include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Tripura.

Question 44General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Who was the first Chief Minister of Nagaland after it attained statehood in 1963?

  1. Vizol Koso
  2. Hokishe Sema
  3. P. Shilu Ao Correct answer.
  4. S.C. Jamir

Explanation

P. Shilu Ao became the first Chief Minister of Nagaland when the state was created on 1 December 1963. He headed the government in the initial years of statehood following the 1963 Assembly elections.

Question 45General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Battle of Kohima during the Second World War was fought between Allied forces and which army?

  1. German Wehrmacht
  2. Italian Royal Army
  3. Ottoman Army
  4. Imperial Japanese Army Correct answer.

Explanation

In 1944 the Allied forces, mainly British and Indian troops, halted the Japanese advance into India at Kohima and Imphal. The battle is often called the Stalingrad of the East because of its decisive impact on the Burma campaign.

Question 46General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which body prepares and presents the Union Budget in India?

  1. NITI Aayog
  2. Comptroller and Auditor General
  3. Ministry of Finance Correct answer.
  4. Reserve Bank of India

Explanation

The Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance prepares the Union Budget, which the Finance Minister presents in Parliament. The Reserve Bank manages monetary policy while NITI Aayog is a policy think tank.

Question 47General Knowledge and Current Affairs

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

  1. To safeguard public property
  2. To protect and improve the natural environment Correct answer.
  3. To develop scientific temper
  4. To abide by the Constitution

Explanation

Article 51A(g) makes it a fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. Fundamental duties were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.

Question 48General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which river is known as the sorrow of Bihar due to frequent floods?

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

Explanation

The Kosi river shifts its course frequently and causes severe flooding in north Bihar, earning it the name sorrow of Bihar. It carries heavy silt from the Himalayas, which raises its bed and causes breaches.

Question 49General Knowledge and Current Affairs

The Hornbill Festival, a major cultural event, is held annually in which state?

  1. Manipur
  2. Nagaland Correct answer.
  3. Assam
  4. Arunachal Pradesh

Explanation

The Hornbill Festival is held every December at Kisama near Kohima in Nagaland and showcases the culture of the state's tribes. It is named after the hornbill, a bird deeply associated with Naga tradition.

Question 50General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Which Indian institution is responsible for conducting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures?

  1. Law Commission of India
  2. NITI Aayog
  3. Ministry of Home Affairs
  4. Election Commission of India Correct answer.

Explanation

The Election Commission of India, established under Article 324, conducts elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President. It functions as an autonomous constitutional authority.