> UPSC: 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015

History Question Set 4




1.Theroyal title Kaisarawas derived from
A. Persian

B. Schythian

C.Chinese

D.Roman

Correct Ans
D.Roman

2.Which one of the following is correctly matched ?
A. Uraiyur : Spices

B. Korkai : Pearl

C. Vanji : Silk

D. Kanchi : Ivory
Correct Ans
B. Korkai : Pearl

3. Which one of the following was among the following item not imported from the Roman world ?
A.Silk

B. Female Slaves

C.Wine

D. Coral
Correct Ans
A. Silk

4.The ultimate ownership of land during the post –Gupta period lay with
A. the cultivator

B. the village community

C. the king

D. the joint family
Correct Ans
C. the king

5.Ghatiyantra was used in early India for
A. Manufacture of vessels of metal

B. Pouring of water in sacrificial ritulas

C. conducting Tantric rituals

D. irrigation from wells
Correct Ans
D. irrigation from wells

6.In ancient and early medieval India the uncultivated and untaxed land was called
A. Sita

B. Kharvataka

C. Khilakshetra

D. Sitadhyaksha
Correct Ans
C. Khilakshetra

7. The term devamatrika refers to

A. the divine mothers

B. one’s homeland

C. lady with divine qualities

D. country with rainfall
Correct Ans
D. country with rainfall

8. The term Brahmadeya occurs for the first time in
A. early Vedic texts

B. early Buddhist texts

C. Post Gupta Inscriptions

D. Pre Gupta Inscriptions
Correct Ans
D. Pre Gupta Inscriptions

9. Which one of the following evidence regarding Sati ?
A. Mathura inscription of Huvishka

B. Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta

C. Junagarh inscription of Skandagupta

D. Eran Pillar inscription of Bhanugupta
Correct Ans
D. Eran Pillar inscription of Bhanugupta

10.The Chalukya king Kumarapala is said to have instituted a Jaina reformation under the guidance of
A. Sthulabhadra

B. Mallinatha

C.Nayachandra
 
D. Hemachandra
Correct Ans
D. Hemachandra .





 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

History Question Set 3




1.THE Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat,the year would be :
A. 601

B. 300

C. 330

D. 407

Correct Ans
A. 601

2. Many of Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Budhism rather than Hinduism because :
A. Buddhism was in the ascendant at that time

B. they had renounced the policy to war and violence

C. caste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them

D. Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society
Correct Ans
C. caste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them

3. The Ashokan major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts :
A. I and IX

B. I and XI

C. II and III

D. II and XIV
Correct Ans
C. II and III

4. The concept of Eight fold path forms the theme of :
A. Dipavamsa

B. Divyavadana

C. Mahaparinibban

D. Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutra
Correct Ans
D. Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutra

5. Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food grains to be utilized during the crises in the country?
A. Sohagaura Copper plate

B. Rummindei Pillar- edict of Asoka

C. Prayaga Prashasti

D. Mehrauli Pillar inscription of Chandra
Correct Ans
A. Sohagaura Copper plate

6. From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman EMPIRE, THE Indian merchants relied more and more on the :
A. African trade

B. West – European trade

C. South –East Asian trade

D. Middle-Eastern trade
Correct Ans
C. South –East Asian trade

7. Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6 th century B.C. was :

A. Gandhar

B. Kamboj

C. Kashi

D. Magadh
Correct Ans
D. Magadh

8. The Indo-Laws Kingdom set up in north Afganistan in the beginning of the second century B.C. was :
A. Bacteria

B. Scythia

C. Zedrasia

D. Aria
Correct Ans
A. Bacteria

9.The term ‘Aryan’ denotes :
A. a ethnic grouph

B. a nomadic people

C. a speech grouph

D. a superior race
Correct Ans
C. a speech grouph

10. Which one of the following ports handled the North Indian trade during the Gupta Period
A. Tamralipti

B. Broach

C. Kalyan
 
D. Cambray
Correct Ans
A. Tamralipti.





 

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Geography Question Set 2




1.Which one of the following types of coal contains a higher percentage of carbon than the rest ?
A. Bituminous Coal

B. Lignite

C. Peat

D. Antharacite

Correct Ans
D. Anthracite

2. Which one of the following scholars suggested the earth’s origin from gases and dust particles ?
A. Jame’s Jeans

B. H.Alfven

C. F.Hoyle

D. O. Schmidt
Correct Ans
D. O. Schmidt

3. Which of the following weather conditions is indicated a sudden fall in barometer reading ?
A. Stromy

B. Calm weather

C. Cold and dry weather

D. Hot and sunny winter
Correct Ans
A. Stromy

4.Who among the following was the first to State that the earth was spherical ?
A. Aristotle

B. Copernicus

C. Ptolemy

D. Strabo
Correct Ans
A. Aristotle

5. If the stars are seen to rise perpendicular to the horizon by an observer, he is located on the :
A. Equator

B. Tropic of Cancer

C. South Pole

D. North Pole
Correct Ans
A. Equator

6. Volcanicm cruptions do not occur in the :
A. Baltic Sea

B. Black Sea

C. Caribbean Sea

D. Caspian Sea
Correct Ans
C. Caribbean Sea

7. Quartzite is metamorphosed from :

A. Limestone

B. obsidian

C. sandstone

D. shale
Correct Ans
C. sandstone

8. Sun’s halo is produced by the refraction of light in :
A. water vapour in Stratus clouds

B. ice crystals in Cirro- Cumulus clouds

C. ice crystals in Cirrus clouds

D.dust particles in Stratus clouds
Correct Ans
D. dust particles in Stratus clouds

9. Which of the following is not a lagoon ?
A. Ashtamudi lake

B. Chilka lake

C. Periyar lake

D. Pulicat lake
Correct Ans
A. Ashtamudi lake

10. Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system ?
A. The Earth is the densest of all the plantes in our solar system

B. The predominant element in the composition of Earth is silicon

C. The Sun contains 75 % of the mass of the solar system
 
D. The diameter of the Sun is 190 times that of the Earth
Correct Ans
A. The Earth is the densest of all the planets in our solar system .





 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

History Question Set 2




1.Which one of the following statements regarding Asokan stone pillars is incorrect?
A. These are highly polished

B. These are monolithic

C. The shaft of pillars is tapering in shape

D. These are parts of architectural structures

Correct Ans
D. These are parts of architectural structures

2. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left ?
A. Brahmi

B. Kharoshti

C. Sharada

D. Nandagiri
Correct Ans
B. Kharoshti

3. The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the :
A. Chhandogyopanishad

B. Mundakopanishad

C. Kathopanishad

D. Kenopanishad
Correct Ans
C. Kathopanishad

4. Milindpanho is in the form of a dialogue between the king Menander and Buddhist monk :
A.Nagarjuna

B. Nagasena

C. Nagabhatta

D. Kumarilabhatta
Correct Ans
B. Nagsena

5. Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka ?
A. Kalsi

B. Rummindei

C. Kalinga

D. Maski
Correct Ans
D. Maski

6.In the Mahayan Buddhism , the Bodhisatya Avalokiteswar was also known as :
A. Vajrapani

B. Manjushri

C. Padmapani

D. Maitreya
Correct Ans
C. Padmapani

7. The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called :

A. rupaka

B. dinara

C. karshapana

D. pana
Correct Ans
A. rupaka

8. Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?
A. Chaturvedimangalam

B. Manigram

C. Parishad

D. Ashtadikgaja
Correct Ans
B. Manigrama

9. The Badami rock inscription of Pulkesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat , the year would be :
A. 601

B. 300

C.330

D. 407
Correct Ans
A. 601

10. Many of the Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Budhism rather than Hinduism because :
A. Buddhism was in the ascendant at that time

B. they had renounced the policy of war and violence

C. caste-ridden Hindusm did not attract them
 
D. Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society
Correct Ans
C. caste-ridden Hindusm did not attract them .





 

Friday, February 13, 2015

Political Science Quesition Set 1




1. Who among the following have the right to vote in the elections to both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha?
A. Elected members of the Lower House of the Parliament

B. Elected members of the Upper House of the Parliament

C. Elected members of the Upper House of the State Legislature

D. Elected members of the Lower House of the State Legislature

Correct Ans
D. Elected members of the Lower House of the State Legislature

2. Which one of the following is part of the electoral college for the President but does not forum for his impeachment ?
A. Lok Sabha

B. Rajya Sabha

C. State Legislative Councils

D. State Legislative Assemblies
Correct Ans
D. State Legislative Assemblies

3. Which one of the following statements w.r.t. the duties of Prime Minister is correct?
A. Is free to choose his minister only from among those who are members of either House of the Parliament

B. Can choose his cabinet colleagues after due counseling by the President of India. in this regard

C. Has fully discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet

D. Has only limited power in the choice of his cabinet colleagues because of the discretionary powers vested with the President of India.
Correct Ans
C. Has fully discretion in the choice of persons who are to serve as ministers in his cabinet

4. Which one of the following statements about a Money Bill is not correct ?
A. A Money Bill can be tabled in either House of Parliament

B. The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the final authority to decide whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not

C. The Rajya Sabha must return a Money Bill Passed by the Lok Sabha and send it for consideration within 14 days

D. The President cannot return a Money Bill to the Lok Sabha for reconsideration
Correct Ans
A. A Money Bill can be tabled in either House of Parliament

5. The S peaker can ask a member of the House to stop speaking and let another member speak. This phenomenon is known as :
A. decorum

B. crossing the floor

C. interpellation

D. yielding the floor
Correct Ans
D. yielding the floor

6. The primary function of the Finance Commission in India is to :
A. distribution revenue between the Centre and the State

B. Prepare the annual Budget

C. advise the President on financiala matters

D. allocate funds to various ministeries of the Uniion and State Governments
Correct Ans
C. advise the President on financiala matters

7. Which Article of the constitution provides that it shall be the endeavour of every state to provide adequate facility for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education?

A. Article 349

B. Article 350

C. Article 350-A

D. Article 351
Correct Ans
C. Article 350-A

8. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of India ?
A. It lists the distribution of powers between the union and the states

B. It contains the languages listed in the Constituion

C. It allocates seats in the Council of States

D. non of the above
Correct Ans
C. It allocates seats in the council of States

9. Which one of the following duties is not performed by Comptroller and Auditor general of India ?
A. To audit and report on all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India

B. To audit and report on all expenditure from the contingency Funds and Public Accounts

C. To audit and report on all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss accounts

D. To control the recipt and issue of public money, and to ensure that the public revenue is lodged in the exchequer
Correct Ans
D. To control the recipt and issue of public money, and to ensure that the public revenue is lodged in the exchequer

10.The constitution of India recognizes :
A. only religious minorities

B. only linguistic minorities

C. religious and linguistic minorities
 
D. religious, linguistic and ethnic minorities
Correct Ans
C. religious and linguistic minorities .





 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Geography Question Set 1




1.The grouphof small pieces of rock revolving round the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter are called :
A. meteors

B. comets

C. meteorites

D. asteroids

Correct Ans
D. asteroids

2.Diamond ring is a phenomenon observed :
A. at the start of a total solar eclise

B. at the end of a total solar eclise

C. only along the peripheral regions of the totality trail

D. only in the central regions of the totality trail
Correct Ans
B. at the end of a total solar eclilpse

3. Which one of the following layers of the atmosphere is responsible for the deflection of radio waves ?
A. Troposphere

B. Stratosphere

C. Mesosphere

D. Ionosphere
Correct Ans
D. Ionosphere

4. A meteor is :
A. a rapidly moving star

B. a piece of matter which has entered the earth’s atmosphere from outer space

C. part of a constellation

D. a comet without a tail
Correct Ans
B. a piece of matter which has entered the earth’s atmosphere from outer space

5. Willy Willy is :
A. a type of tree grown in temperate regions

B. a wind that blows in a desert

C. a tropical cyclone of the north-west Australia

D. a kind of common fish found near Lakshadweep islands
Correct Ans
C. a tropical cyclone of the north-west Australia

6. Which one of the following factors is responsible for the change in the regular direction of the ocean currents in the Indian Ocean?
A. Indian Ocean is half an ocean

B. Indian Ocean has Monsoon drift

C. Indian Ocean is a land locked ocean

D. Indian Ocean has greater variation in salinity
Correct Ans
B. Indian Ocean has Monsoon drift

7.In the earth’s direction of rotation is reversed, what should be the IST when it is noon at the International Date Line ?

A. 06.30 hrs

B. 05.30 hrs

C. 18.30 hrs

D. 17.30 hrs
Correct Ans
A. 06.30 hrs

8.Which one of the following stars is nearest to the Earth?
A. Polaris

B. Alpha Centauri

C. Sun

D. Sirius
Correct Ans
C. Sun

9.Which one of the following conditions is most relevant for the presence of life on Mars?
A. Atmospheric composition

B. Thermal condition

C. Occurrence of ice cape and frozen water

D. Occurrence of ozone
Correct Ans
C. Occurrence of ice cape and frozen water

10.Estuaries possess distinct blooms of excessive growth of pigmented dinofagellates. These blooms are called
A. red tides

B. sea tides

C. black tides
 
D. sea flowers
Correct Ans
A. red tidess .





 

Monday, February 9, 2015

History Question Set 1



1.The world 'Hindu'as reference to the people of Hind was first used by :
A. the Greek

B. the Romans

C. the Chinese

D. the Arabs

Correct Ans
D. the Arabs

2.The Nagara, the Dravida the Vesara are :
A. the three main racial groupsof the Indian Subcontinent.

B. the three main linguistic divisions into which the languages of India can be classifieds

C. the three main styles of Indian temple architecture

D. the three main musical gharanas prevalent in India
Correct Ans
C. the three main styles of Indian temple architecture

3.In Sankrit plays written during the Gupta period women and shudras speak :
A. Sanskrit

B. Prakrit

C. Pali

D. Sauraseni
Correct Ans
B. Prakrit

4.The name by which Ashoka Is generally referred to his inscriptions is :
A. Chakravarti

B. Dharmadeva

C. Dharmakirti

D. Priyadarsi
Correct Ans
D. Priyadarsi

5.The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by :
A. Mahayana Buddhism

B. Jainism

C. Himayana Buddhism

D. The lokayata school
Correct Ans
B. Jainism

6.The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is
A. Sindhu

B. Shutudri

C. Saraswati

D. Ganga
Correct Ans
A. Sindhu

7. Who amount the following was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas

A. Lopamudra

B. Gargi

C. Leelavati

D. Savitri
Correct Ans
A. Lopamudra

8.The 'Yavanpriya' mentioned in ancient Snaskrit texs denoted :
A. a fine variety of Indian muslim

B. ivory

C. damsels sent to the Greek court for dance performance

D. pepper
Correct Ans
D. pepper

9.According to ancient Indian cosmogonic ideas the sequential order of the cycle of four acons (yugas)is :
A. Dvapara, Krita, Treta, kali

B. Krita, Dvapara, Treta, kali

C. Krita, Treta, Dvapara, kali

D. Treta, Dvapara, kali, Krita
Correct Ans
C. Krita, Treta, Dvapara, kali

10.Which one of the following is not a part of early jains literature?
A. Therigatha

B. Acarangasutra

C. Sutrakritanga
 
D. Brihatkalpasutra
Correct Ans
A. Therigatha.