UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

UPSC

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS 1

1. (The figures are only approximate) From the above table it follows that the maximum addition of population took place during the period?

a) 1941-51

b) 1951-61

c) 1961-71

d) 1956-66

2. The most important event to occur for the first time in the recent history of Europe is?

a) The appointment of a nonItalian as the Pope

b) Pope’s mission for the cause of world peace

c) Election of Pope by cardinals

d) None of these

3. Which of the following States in India has no Legislative Council?

a) Tamil Nadu

b) Bihar

c) West Bengal

d) Maharashtra

4. The most controversial provision in the 42nd Constitution Amendment is?

a) Supremacy of Parliament

b) Enumeration of ten Fundamental Duties

c) Term of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies

d) Primacy to the Directive Principles over the Fundamental Rights

5. Buyers‟ market denotes the place where?

a) The demand exceeds the supply

b) The supply exceeds the demand

c) The demand and supply are well balance

d) Commodities are available at competitive rates

6. The case of dispute in the presidential election is referred to?

a) Chief Election Commissioner

b) Supreme Court

c) Parliament

d) None of these

7. Which of the following is a dance- drama?

a) Kathakali

b) Bharatnatyam

c) Odissi

d) Manipuri

8. Panchayati Raj administration is primarily aimed?

a) To increase agricultural production

b) To ensure rural development

c) To work for the upliftment of Harijans

d) To arouse in the people of each area intensive and continuous interest in the community development programme

9. Panchayati Raj as introduced in 1959 operates at?

a) Samiti and block levels

b) Block and district levels

c) Samiti and district levels

d) Village, block and district levels

10. First Europeans, who started trade with India, were?

a) The Portuguese

b) The British

c) The French

d) The Dutch

11. The Home Rule movement was launched by?

a) Annie Besant

b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

c) Mahatma Gandhi

d) Lala Lajpat Rai

12. The cause for the immediate precipitation of the Sepoy Mutiny was?

a) Use of cartridges greased with cow fat

b) Doctrine of Lapse

c) The disparity between salaries of Native Sepoys and the British Soldiers

d) The Spread of Christianity

13. Gandhiji started Dandi March in 1930?

a) Against imposition of salt tax laws

b) Against the announcement of communal award

c) Against atrocities committed on Harijans

d) Against all of the above

14. Gandhiji‟s “Champaran Movement” was for?

a) The security of rights of Harijans

b) Civil disobedience movement

c) Maintaining the unity of Hindu society

d) Solving the problem of the Indigo workers

15. Who commented “the Cripps Mission was a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank”?

a) Mahatma Gandhi

b) Jawaharlal Nehru

c) Subhash Chandra Bose

d) Sardar Patel

16. “Khilafat” movement subsided because of the?

a) Concessions given to Muslims by the British

b) Amity achieved between Congress and Muslim League

c) Accession of Kamal Pasha on the throne of Turkey

d) None of the above

17. The aim of the Cripps Mission to India was to?

a) Appease the Indian public opinion

b) Appease the American people

c) Decentralise the power to States

d) None of the above

18. The Lucknow Congress Session of 1916 refers to?

a) Concession of separate electorates for the Muslims by the Congress Party

b) Merger of Muslim League into Congress

c) Selection of Muslim leader as the Congress President

d) None of the above

19. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, this inspiration was derived from?

a) American Revolution

b) French Revolution

c) Russian Revolution

d) None of the above

20. Rabindranath Tagore surrendered his title to the British because of?

a) Civil Disobedience Movement

b) Non-Cooperation Movement

c) Jallianwalah Bagh massacre

d) Partition of Bengal

21. Among the following who was the proponent of the „Bhakti Cult‟ from West Bengal?

a) Chaitanya Prabhu

b) Ramanujacharyulu

c) Ramanand

d) Kabir

22. The Interim Government at the Centre after independence was formed?

a) After the visit of Cripps Mission

b) Before the visit of Cripps Mission

c) After Mountbatten submitted his plan

d) After the visit of the Cabinet Mission

23. Who was the Prime Minister of U.K. at the time of India‟s Independence?

a) Lord Attlee

b) Winston Churchill

c) Lord Mountbatten

d) Harold Wilson

24. “Sufi Sect” originated and developed in?

a) Christianity

b) Islam

c) Hinduism

d) Zoroastrianism

25. The worship of idols started in India in?

a) Pre-Aryan period

b) Gupta period

c) Mauryan period

d) Kushan period

26. Which of the following Muslim rulers enforced price control system?

a) Alauddin Khilji

b) Mohd. Tughlaq

c) lltutmish

d) Balban

27. The earnings of the kings in the Medieval age were mostly derived from?

a) Offerings made at the temples

b) Land revenue

c) Trade

d) Industrial production

28. “Mansabdars” in Mughal period were?

a) Landlords and Zamindars

b) Officials of the state

c) Those who had to give revenue

d) Revenue collectors

29. The purpose of Mohammad Ghazni‟s attack on India was?

a) To plunder the wealth of India

b) To spread Islam in India

c) To rule over the territories of India

d) None of these

30. Who led the extremists before the arrival of Gandhiji on the political scene for freedom struggle?

a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

b) Dadabhai Naoroji

c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

d) Subhash Bose

31. The French supremacy in India came to an end with the?

a) Battle of Wandiwash

b) Battle of Plassey

c) Battle of Buxar

d) Battle of Panipat

32. Indian National Congress took the stand during Second World War that?

a) It would support axis powers

b) It would support allied powers

c) It would cooperate with the British if India is promised dominion status after the war

d) It would cooperate with the British if India is granted complete Independence

33. The great philosopher Shankara advocated?

a) Dvaita

b) Advaita

c) Hinduism

d) Altruism

34. The planets nearest to Sun are?

a) Mercury and Mars

b) Earth and Mercury

c) Mercury and Venus

d) Mercury and Uranus

35. The crop which grows in alluvial soil and needs 150 cm rainfall is?

a) Wheat

b) Rice

c) Groundnut

d) Sugarcane

36. “Golan Heights” belonging to country “A” were captured by a country “B”. Which of the following are “A” and “B” respectively?

a) Syria and Israel

b) Israel and Syria

c) Syria and Egypt

d) Egypt and Israel

37. The extinctive type of lions are mostly found in?

a) Gujarat

b) Maharashtra

c) Assam

d) Uttar Pradesh

38. India spent most of its foreign exchange reserves in 1977-78 for?

a) Import of chemicals and fertilisers

b) Import of crude petroleum

c) Import of newsprint

d) Combating inflation

39. Which of the following projects is administered by more than one State?

a) Nagarjuna Sagar Project

b) Kosi Project

c) Hirakud Project

d) Tungbhadra Project

40. Line demarcating the boundary between India and China is?

a) Durand Line

b) McMohan Line

c) Strafford Line

d) Radcliffe Line

41. The oldest mountains are?

a) Himalayas

b) Aravalis

c) Satpura

d) Vindhyas

42. “Laterite Soil” is found in India in?

a) Western Ghats

b) Eastern Ghats

c) Deccan Plateau

d) Satpura region in Madhya Pradesh

43. Which of the following crops helps in nitrogen fixation?

a) Rice

b) Wheat

c) Maize

d) Beans

44. The winter rain in Madras is caused by?

a) South-West Monsoons

b) North-East Monsoons

c) Intense land and sea breezes

d) Cyclonic winds in the Bay of Bengal

45. Richter scale is used to measure?

a) Earthquakes

b) Ocean depth

c) Intensity of wind

d) Temperature of the body

46. The sea territory of India extends up to?

a) 4 nautical miles

b) 12 nautical miles

c) 200 nautical miles

d) None of these

47. India‟s population according to 1971 Census was approximately?

a) 50 crores

b) 54 crores

c) 62 crores

d) 70 crores

48. Which of the following fertiliser plants is not in the public sector?

a) Gorakhpur

b) Nangal

c) Kota

d) Bhatinda

49. India earns maximum foreign exchange by the export of which of the following commodities?

a) Iron

b) Tea

c) Jute

d) Sugar

50. Maximum number of workers are employed in which of the following industries in India?

a) Sugar

b) Textiles

c) Jute

d) Iron and Steel

51. You are asked to import ostrich, platypus and koala bear. Which country would you select to go where you get all these three?

a) Japan

b) Australia

c) New Zealand

d) Canada

52. At which place will you find maximum sunlight in December?

a) Kanyakumari

b) Pune

c) Calcutta

d) Leh

53. The number of States having common boundary with the State of Madhya Pradesh?

a) 5

b) 6

c) 7

d) 8

54. The crop which is sown with the commencement of Monsoon is?

a) Rabi Crop

b) Kharif Crop

c) Cash Crop

d) None of these

55. Black Pagoda is in?

a) Egypt

b) Konark

c) Madurai

d) None of these

56. Which among the following States depends primarily on thermal power?

a) Kerala

b) West Bengal

c) Tamil Nadu

d) Karnataka

57. Which among the following States possesses oil resources based on geographical location?

a) Kerala

b) Nagaland

c) Assam

d) Meghalaya

58. In which of the following States the yield of forest wealth per acre is highest?

a) Uttar Pradesh

b) Madhya Pradesh

c) Kerala

d) Assam

59. The maximum percentage of the tribal population in India constitutes?

a) Bhils

b) Santhals

c) Mundas

d) Nagas

60. The great Indian Bustard is found in?

a) Madhya Pradesh

b) Rajasthan

c) Assam

d) Nagaland

61. The cutting of forests leads to?

a) Soil erosion and incontrollable floods

b) Desilting and denaturation

c) Increase of rainfall and humidity

d) None of these

62. Underground Railways are being built in India at?

a) Bombay

b) Calcutta

c) Hyderabad

d) Madras

63. The construction of Marmugao port has been fast in recent years because of?

a) Increased Imports

b) Exporting iron ore from hinterland

c) Decreasing the congestion caused due to heavy traffic at the Bombay port

d) All factors listed above

64. Allocation for power sector during the 6th Five-Year Plan (1978-83) is?

a) 23%

b) 28%

c) 33%

d) 38%

65. Gondwana hills are located in?

a) Punjab

b) Jammu and Kashmir

c) Madhya Pradesh

d) Nagaland

66. „Jhum Cultivation‟ is connected with?

a) Tribal people

b) Delta cultivation

c) Dry farming

d) Hilly people

67. The Supersonic jets tend to cause?

a) Destruction of ozone layer

b) Sound pollution

c) Nervous system breakdown

d) All of the above

68. It has been found recently that the acidity of the soil increases because of?

a) Leaching away of bases

b) Increased use of ammonia

c) Increased use of urea

d) Increased use of rock phosphate

69. China attacked Vietnam because?

a) Of armed provocations and encroachment against Chinese territory

b) Of Vietnam’s alliance with U.S.S.R.

c) Of Vietnam’s involvement in Kampuchea

d) Of Paracel Islands dispute

70. “Socialistic Pattern” comes through?

a) Free Economy

b) Mixed Economy

c) Public Sector

d) None of these

71. Which of the following has not declared itself as an Islamic Republic?

a) Pakistan

b) Iran

c) Algeria

d) Saudi Arabia

72. Which head of state has based his foreign policy largely on Human Rights?

a) President Zia-ur-Rahman of Bangladesh

b) President Jimmy Carter of U.S.A.

c) President Anwar Sadat of Egypt

d) President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania

73. “Chipko movement” in Uttar Pradesh relates to?

a) Prevention of felling green trees

b) Prevention of felling of old trees by unauthorised persons

c) Prevention of felling of dead trees by governmental agencies

d) Planting frees on private plots

74. What is a Scheduled Bank?

a) A bank having Rs. 1000 crore deposits

b) A bank included in the Second Schedule of the RBI

c) A bank having Rs. 10 crore deposits

d) A bank having Rs. 100 crore deposits

75. Which of the following cows gives maximum milk yield?

a) Jersey

b) Holstein

c) Red Sindhi

d) Sahiwal

76. China intends to purchase from U.K.?

a) Hunters

b) Harriers

c) Sabers

d) Jaguars

77. The sculpture with the three faces of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh known as “Trimurti” appears in?

a) Ajanta caves

b) Ellora caves

c) Kalva caves

d) Elephanta caves

78. During Aurangzeb‟s reign, which of the following were not included in his government?

a) Rajputs

b) Pathans

c) Marathas

d) All of these

79. What was the important reason for the fall of Vijayanagar Empire?

a) Unity among the Muslim rulers

b) Internal instability and weakness of Princes

c) Moplah’s rebellion

d) Economic bankruptcy

80. “Inquilab Zindabad” slogan was given by?

a) Chandra Shekhar Azad

b) Subhash Chandra Bose

c) Bhagat Singh

d) Iqbal

81. “Red Shirts” movement aimed at?

a) To throw out Britishers from India

b) To promote Communist organisational activities

c) To promote trade union activities

d) All of the above

82. Which of the following was not the outcome of Jallianwalah Bagh massacre?

a) Suspension of Gen. Dyer

b) Change in Gandhiji’s outlook towards Britishers

c) Temporary peace in Punjab

d) Renunciation of British titles and positions by many Indians

83. “Bijanti” government is compared to the Chola‟s for?

a) Rural democracy

b) Administrative system

c) Land revenue collection system

d) Display of wealth

84. Who evolved the national consciousness as a formal concept?

a) B.G. Tilak

b) Mahatma Gandhi

c) Jawaharlal Nehru

d) Surendranath Bannerjee

85. Why could British only succeed in trade and commerce in India?

a) Because of government backing

b) Quality of merchandise

c) Naval superiority

d) All of the above

86. Which is not the Indo-Aryart language?

a) Gujarati

b) Tamil

c) Oriya

d) Marathi

87. Who participated the least in the Indian National Movement?

a) Capitalists

b) Landlords and Merchants

c) Princes of States

d) Government officials

88. The name Pahlavi Dynasty in Iran is derived from the?

a) Language

b) King

c) Religion

d) River

89. Which of the following throws light?

a) Archaeological excavations

b) The script on copper sheets

c) Rock edicts

d) All of the above

90. The Prime Minister of Interim Government of India after Independence was?

a) Gandhi

b) Nehru

c) Jinnah

d) Rajgopalachari

91. Swadeshi movement started during?

a) Anti-Bengal partition movement

b) Non-Cooperation Movement

c) Civil Disobedience Movement

d) None of the above

92. Aim of Swaraj Parly was to?

a) Enter the Legislative Councils by contesting elections in order to wreck the legislatures from within

b) Boycott the foreign goods

c) Launch a non-cooperation movement against the British

d) Adopt Swadeshi in piece goods on a vast scale

93. Which of the following countries did not suffer imperial aggression?

a) Ethiopia

b) Somalia

c) Mauritania

d) Liberia

94. Swaraj Party was founded by?

a) Motilal Nehru

b) Jawaharlal Nehru

c) B.G. Tilak

d) C. Rajagopalachari

95. Which party was in power in U.K. when India became independent?

a) Labour

b) Conservative

c) Liberal

d) None of these

96. What is the likely impact of decrease of population on economy?

a) Increase in per capita income

b) Decrease in per capita income

c) Increase in investment

d) Decrease in savings

97. Which State is the biggest producer of cashewnuts?

a) Tamil Nadu

b) Assam

c) Kerala

d) Punjab

98. Which of the following States has no Panchayati Raj setup?

a) Nagaland

b) Assam

c) Kerala

d) West Bengal

99. Unemployment insurance will result in?

a) Maintenance of consumption level

b) Decrease in consumption level

c) Decrease in savings

d) Increase in savings

100. From the graph it follows that?

1. India generally produces more rice than wheat

2. Production of wheat increases marginally around 4 percent

3. India exports more sugar than wheat

4. The cultivable area under sugar is higher than under rice

a) Only 1 and 3 are correct

b) Only 1 and 2 are correct

c) Only 1 and 4 are correct

d) Only 2 and 4 are correct