Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: Nicotine is an alkaloid produced in the leaves of the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum).

1. Tobacco leaves contain about 0.6–3% nicotine by dry weight – the highest among the options.
2. Tea contains caffeine (theine), not nicotine in any significant amount; lime soda and buttermilk have none.

Yaad rakhein: Nicotine → Nicotiana (tobacco); Caffeine → tea, coffee.

Answer: (C) Tobacco

Concept: The Global Hunger Index 2022 ranked 121 countries.

1. India was ranked 107; among neighbours only Afghanistan (109) was ranked below India.
2. Other neighbours did better: Sri Lanka 64, Myanmar 71, Nepal 81, Bangladesh 84, Pakistan 99.

Yaad rakhein: GHI 2022: India 107, Afghanistan 109 of 121.

Answer: (A) Afghanistan

Concept: Methane forms when organic matter decays without oxygen (anaerobic decomposition).

1. In marshes, decaying plants produce methane – so it is called marsh gas.
2. In coal mines it collects as fire-damp and can cause explosions.
3. NO₂, ozone and steam are not typical gases of these places.

Yaad rakhein: Marsh gas = fire-damp = Methane (${\text{CH}}_4$).

Answer: (C) Methane

Concept: Panthi is a folk dance of the Satnami community of Chhattisgarh, performed in praise of Guru Ghasidas.

1. Radheshyam Barle, a Panthi exponent from Chhattisgarh, received the Padma Shri in 2021.
2. Karma is also from Chhattisgarh/Jharkhand and Diwari from Bundelkhand, but Barle is known for Panthi.

Yaad rakhein: Barle – Panthi – Chhattisgarh – Padma Shri 2021.

Answer: (D) Panthi

Concept: Economic planning in India was institutionalised soon after the Constitution came into force.

1. The Planning Commission was set up on 15 March 1950 by a Cabinet resolution, chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru.
2. First Five-Year Plan – 1951; Industrial Policy Resolutions – 1948 and 1956; first National Agricultural Policy – 2000.

Yaad rakhein: 1950 Planning Commission → 1951 First Plan → 2015 NITI Aayog.

Answer: (D) The Planning Commission was set up

Concept: Phyla are compared by the number of known species.

1. Arthropoda is the largest phylum – about two-thirds of all named animal species (insects, spiders, crabs) belong to it.
2. Mollusca is the second largest phylum; Annelida and Platyhelminthes are much smaller.

Yaad rakhein: Largest – Arthropoda; second – Mollusca.

Answer: (D) Arthropoda

Concept: Article 166 deals with the conduct of business of the Government of a State.

1. Article 166(1): all executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor.
2. Art. 163 – Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor; Art. 164 – appointment of CM and ministers; Art. 165 – Advocate-General.

Yaad rakhein: Union parallel: Art. 77 (President) ↔ State: Art. 166 (Governor).

Answer: (A) Article 166(1)

Concept: Satyashodhak Samaj was founded on 24 September 1873 in Pune.

1. It was established by Jyotiba (Jyotirao) Phule to fight caste discrimination and promote education of lower castes and women.
2. Ambedkar founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha; M.G. Ranade co-founded the Prarthana Samaj.

Yaad rakhein: Phule – Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) – book 'Gulamgiri'.

Answer: (B) Jyotiba Phule

Concept: Platyhelminthes are called flatworms because their body is flattened from top to bottom.

1. Their body is dorsoventrally flattened and unsegmented; they are acoelomate and bilaterally symmetrical (e.g., tapeworm, planaria, liver fluke).
2. Arthropods and annelids are segmented; molluscs have a soft body with a shell, not flattened.

Yaad rakhein: Platy = flat, helminth = worm.

Answer: (D) Platyhelminthes

Concept: Amir Khusro (1253–1325) was a poet, musician and disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.

1. Because of his sweet, eloquent poetry he was called Tuti-e-Hind ('Parrot of India').
2. He is credited with popularising qawwali and Hindavi poetry; Tansen was a court musician of Akbar.

Yaad rakhein: Tuti = parrot → Amir Khusro.

Answer: (D) Amir Khusro

Concept: A joint sector industry is jointly owned and run by the government and private parties.

1. Oil India Limited was formed in 1959 as a joint venture between the Government of India and Burmah Oil Company (private).
2. Dabur and TISCO (Tata Steel) are private sector; NALCO is a public sector undertaking.

Yaad rakhein: Joint = Government + private → Oil India (GoI + Burmah Oil).

Answer: (C) Oil India Limited

Concept: Chapter V of Part VI of the Constitution deals with the High Courts in the States.

1. Article 214: 'There shall be a High Court for each State.'
2. Art. 124 – Supreme Court; Art. 245 – extent of laws made by Parliament and State Legislatures; Art. 275 – grants-in-aid from the Union.

Yaad rakhein: SC starts at Art. 124; HC starts at Art. 214 (difference 90).

Answer: (A) Article 214

Concept: Celsius and Fahrenheit are related by $\frac{C}{5}=\frac{F-32}{9}$ (water freezes at $0^{\circ }\text{C}={32}^{\circ }\text{F}$, boils at ${100}^{\circ }\text{C}={212}^{\circ }\text{F}$).

1. $F-32=59-32=27$
2. $C=\frac{5}{9}\times 27=15$
3. So ${59}^{\circ }\text{F}={15}^{\circ }\text{C}$.

Yaad rakhein: Subtract 32, then take $\frac{5}{9}$: $27\times \frac{5}{9}=15$. Also $-{40}^{\circ }$ is the same on both scales.

Answer: (C) ${15}^{\circ }\text{C}$

Concept: NITI Aayog's National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023 compares poverty headcount in states and UTs (NFHS-5, 2019–21).

1. Among the options, Puducherry has the lowest share of multidimensionally poor people (under 1%).
2. Lakshadweep, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir have higher headcount ratios than Puducherry.

Yaad rakhein: MPI 2023 – lowest poverty: Kerala (state), Puducherry (UT).

Answer: (D) Puducherry

Concept: Under Article 154, the executive power of the State is vested in the Governor.

1. The Governor is the constitutional (nominal) chief executive head of the State; all executive action is taken in his name.
2. The Chief Minister is the real executive head; the President and PM are heads at the Union level.

Yaad rakhein: State: Governor (nominal) + CM (real); Union: President + PM.

Answer: (B) Governor

Concept: India's first National Sports Policy came in the 1980s, after the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.

1. A resolution on the National Sports Policy was laid in both Houses of Parliament for the first time in 1984.
2. It was later revised as the National Sports Policy 2001.

Yaad rakhein: Sports Policy: 1984 first, 2001 revised.

Answer: (C) 1984

Concept: Fundamental Duties were not in the original Constitution; they were added on a committee's advice during the Emergency.

1. The Swaran Singh Committee (1976) recommended them; the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 inserted Part IV-A (Article 51A).
2. Ashok Mehta Committee – Panchayati Raj (1977); Nehru Committee – constitution draft (1928).

Yaad rakhein: Duties – Swaran Singh – 1976 – 42nd Amendment.

Answer: (D) Swaran Singh Committee

Concept: Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (1926–2004) of Odisha is credited with reviving Odissi.

1. He was a legendary Odissi dancer and guru, awarded the Padma Vibhushan (2000).
2. Bharatanatyam – e.g., Rukmini Devi Arundale; Kathak – Birju Maharaj; Manipuri – Guru Bipin Singh.

Yaad rakhein: Kelucharan Mohapatra – Odissi; Birju Maharaj – Kathak.

Answer: (C) Odissi

Concept: The 67th National Film Awards (for films of 2019) were presented in October 2021.

1. B Praak won Best Male Playback Singer for 'Teri Mitti' from the film Kesari.
2. Savani Ravindra won Best Female Playback Singer at the same awards.

Yaad rakhein: 67th NFA – B Praak – 'Teri Mitti' (Kesari).

Answer: (A) B Praak

Concept: Those Pricey Thakur Girls (2013) is a novel about the five Thakur sisters of Delhi.

1. It was written by Anuja Chauhan, also known for The Zoya Factor and Battle for Bittora.
2. Anita Nair wrote Ladies Coupé; Pratibha Ray wrote Yajnaseni; Preeti Shenoy wrote Life Is What You Make It.

Yaad rakhein: Anuja Chauhan – Zoya Factor, Thakur Girls.

Answer: (A) Anuja Chauhan