RRB Technician Grade I (Signal) 2024, 2025 PYQs

Concept: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of the NSO reports the unemployment rate (usual status) separately for rural and urban areas.

1. PLFS 2018–19: overall unemployment rate $5.8\%$; rural $5.0\%$; urban $7.7\%$.
2. Urban unemployment is always reported higher than rural because of fewer self-employment/agricultural fall-back options.
3. $5.2\%$ and $6.8\%$ are close to other years' figures (PLFS 2017–18 urban was $7.8\%$, 2019–20 urban $6.9\%$), not 2018–19.

Trick: PLFS 2018–19 → "5.8 overall, 5.0 rural, 7.7 urban".

Answer: (A) 7.7

Concept: Article 43A (Part IV, Directive Principles) says the State shall take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings and industries.

1. It was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
2. Article 42 – just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief; Article 44 – Uniform Civil Code; Article 45 – early childhood care and education.
3. Articles 45B, 44C and 42A do not exist.

Yaad rakhein: 43 = living wage, 43A = workers in management, 43B = co-operative societies.

Answer: (D) Article 43A

Concept: After the Revolt of 1857, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, 1858, ending the rule of the East India Company and transferring power directly to the British Crown.

1. The post of Secretary of State for India was created and the Governor-General became the Viceroy (Lord Canning first).
2. Pitt's India Act 1784 only set up a Board of Control over the Company; the Charter Act of 1853 was the last charter renewal; "Regulating Act of 1813" is a mix-up (Regulating Act is 1773, Charter Act is 1813).

Yaad rakhein: 1857 revolt → 1858 Act → Company out, Crown in.

Answer: (A) Government of India Act of 1858

Concept: The Goldman Environmental Prize ("Green Nobel") honours grassroots environmental activists from six continental regions every year.

1. For 2024 (Asia), it was awarded to Alok Shukla of Chhattisgarh for leading the community campaign that saved the Hasdeo Aranya forests from coal mining.
2. Jadav Payeng ("Forest Man of India"), Medha Patkar (Narmada Bachao Andolan) and Maneka Gandhi are well-known environmentalists but not 2024 Goldman winners.

Yaad rakhein: Goldman 2024 → Alok Shukla → Hasdeo Aranya (Chhattisgarh).

Answer: (B) Alok Shukla

Concept: In August 2024, ISRO announced Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as the prime astronaut for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the ISS, with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as backup.

1. Ax-4 was a joint ISRO–NASA–Axiom Space mission; Shukla later flew to the ISS on it in June 2025, becoming the first Indian on the ISS.
2. Sharmila Bhattacharya, Ashwin Vasavada and Kamlesh Lulla are Indian-origin NASA scientists, not astronauts.

Trick: Shukla = Gaganyaan astronaut-designate + Axiom-4 pilot.

Answer: (D) Shubhanshu Shukla

Concept: After the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) was dissolved by the Indian Olympic Association in April 2008 (following a sting operation and India's failure to qualify for the Beijing Olympics), Hockey India was formed in 2009 as the new national governing body.

1. Hockey India is recognised by FIH and the Government of India.
2. 'Indian Hockey', 'Hockey Association' and 'National Hockey Federation' are not real national bodies.

Trick: IHF (old, till 2008) → Hockey India (new, 2009).

Answer: (B) Hockey India

Concept: Simlipal National Park (and Tiger Reserve, Biosphere Reserve) lies in Mayurbhanj district of northern Odisha, on the eastern coast of India.

1. On the map, point C is in the Odisha region near the Bay of Bengal coast — this is Simlipal.
2. A lies in Rajasthan (Ranthambore/Sariska area), B in central India (Madhya Pradesh – Kanha/Pench area), D near the Maharashtra coast (Sanjay Gandhi/Tadoba area).

Trick: Simlipal = Odisha = east coast, just below West Bengal.

Answer: (C) C

Concept: The quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) bulletin of NSO/MoSPI reported the urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15+ (CWS) at 6.7% for January–March 2024.

1. It was 6.5% in Oct–Dec 2023; female urban UR was 8.5% and male 6.1% in Jan–Mar 2024.
2. Figures like 48–67% are labour force participation or worker-population ratios, not unemployment rates.

Trick: Urban UR in PLFS quarterly bulletins has stayed around 6–7% since 2023.

Answer: (B) 6.7%

Concept: The Tattvarthasutra (Tattvartha-adhigama-sutra), written in Sanskrit by Acharya Umaswati/Umaswami (c. 2nd–5th century CE), is the earliest systematic exposition of Jain philosophy and is accepted by both Digambara and Shvetambara sects.

1. Its opening line 'Samyag-darshana-jnana-charitrani moksha-margah' gives the three jewels of Jainism.
2. Svayambhu Stotra is by Samantabhadra; Atthapahuda and Pravachanasara are by Kundakunda.

Trick: Umaswami → Tattvarthasutra = 'Jain Bible' accepted by all sects.

Answer: (C) Tattvarthasutra

Concept: Capital expenditure creates assets (roads, railways, buildings) or reduces liabilities (loan repayment); it has a high multiplier and directly adds to GDP growth. Revenue expenditure (salaries, pensions, subsidies, interest) is for day-to-day running and creates no asset.

1. Revenue expenditure does affect the asset–liability position (it is financed partly by borrowing but creates no asset) — so B and C are loosely worded, and A is wrong.
2. Capital expenditure → asset creation → productive capacity → GDP.

Trick: Capex builds, Revex runs.

Answer: (D) Capital expenditure directly contributes to GDP growth.