BPSC Prelims (Combined Competitive Exam)
39th BPSC Prelims 1994: Previous-Year Questions
86 questions from this paper, sorted by subject, with their options. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.
Modern History 16 questions
Where in India did the British setup their first factory in 1613?
- AGoa
- BHooghly in Bengal
- CAmarkot
- DSurat
Consider: Assertion (A): The first war of Independence in 1857 failed to secure freedom from the British Government. Reason (R): The leadership of Bahadur Shah Zafar did not have popular support and most of the Indian rulers of important States shied away from the struggle.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- C(A) is true, and (R) is false.
- D(A) is false, but (R) is true.
Who founded Ramosi Krishak Jatha in Maharashtra?
- AJustice Ranade
- BGopal Krishna Gokhale
- CVasudev Balwant Phadke
- DJyotiba Phule
Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?
- ALord Ripon
- BLord Lytton
- CLord Curzon
- DLord Minto
Who in America started to issue the newspaper ‘The Free Hindustan’?
- ARam Nath Puri
- BG.D. Kumar
- CLala Hardayal
- DTarak Nath Das
‘Nai-Dhobi Band’ was a form of social boycott in 1919 which–
- Awas started by the farmers of Pratapgarh district
- Bwas a movement started by saints for the emancipation of the people lower classes
- Cwas a step against contractors of lower castes by landlords
- Dwas a movement against contractors by lower castes
In which working Committee did the Congress adopt the policy of abolishing land ownership?
- AWorking Committee, 1937
- BWorking Committee, 1942
- CWorking Committee, 1945
- DWorking Committee, 1946
What was the cause of the outbreak of Ghadar Revolution–
- AArrest of Lala Har Dayal
- BKomagata Maru incident
- CBeginning of first World War
- DHanging of Kartar Singh Sarabha
In which conference could the Home-Rule supporters demonstrate their political power successfully?
- ALucknow Conference of Congress in 1916
- BAll India Trade Union Conference held at Bombay in 1920
- CFirst U.P. Farmers Association held in 1918.
- DJoint A.I.T.U.C and N.T.U. Sabha at Nagpur in 1938.
Champaran Satyagraha was related to:
- AEzaredari
- BTinkathia
- CJenmis
- DNone
Who participated in ‘Satyagraha’ started by Gandhiji at Ahmedabad in 1917-18?
- ACultivators class
- BIndustrial workers
- CPublic
- DMiddle Class
What was the aim of Eka Movement in Oudh?
- ATo stop to giving rent to the Government
- BTo protect the rights of landlords
- CEnd of satyagraha
- DTransformation of rent into cash.
In which city was the conference of Khilafat Committee in 1920 held that requested Gandhiji to assume the leadership of Non-Cooperation Movement?
- ALucknow
- BLahore
- CAllahabad
- DKarachi
The result of whose brain is I.N.A. and who founded it?
- ASubhas Chandra Bose
- BMohan Singh
- CChandra Shekhar Azad
- DBhagat Singh
The Regulating Act was passed in –
- A1773
- B1774
- C1785
- D1793
Who was the author of ‘Indian Unrest’?
- ADadabhai Naoroji
- BAnnie Besant
- CLala Lajpat Rai
- DValentine Chirol
Ancient History 11 questions
Indus Civilization existed in:
- APrehistoric age
- BProto-historic age
- CHistoric age
- DPost-historic age
Gayatri Mantra is found in which book?
- AUpanishad
- BBhagavad Gita
- CRig Veda
- DYajurveda
In which phase was the concept of untouchability clearly put?
- ARigvedic phase
- BLater Vedic phase
- CLater Gupta phase
- DDharmashastra phase
Boghaz-Koi is important because:
- AIt was an important trading centre between Central Asia and Tibet
- BInscriptions were found which mentioned the names of Vedic Gods and goddesses
- COriginal texts of the Vedas were composed here
- DNone of the above
‘Ajivaka’, sect was founded by:
- AAnand
- BRahulabhadra
- CMakkhali Gosala
- DUpali
Who contributed the most to the development of the Bhagavata sect?
- APersian
- BIndo-Greek people
- CKushan
- DGupta
The inscription which proves Chandragupta’s sway over western India is:
- AKalinga Rock Inscription
- BGirnar Rock Inscription of Ashoka
- CJunagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman
- DSopara Rock Inscription of Ashoka
The only pillar on which Ashoka declares himself as the emperor of Magadha –
- AMinor pillar of Maski
- BRummindei pillar
- CQueen pillar
- DBhabru pillar
Which ruling dynasty donated the maximum villages to temples and Brahmins?
- AGupta Dynasty
- BPala Dynasty
- CRashtrakuta
- DPratihara
Why was ‘Uraiyur’ famous in Sangam Era?
- AAn important trade centre of spices
- BAn important trade centre of cotton
- CAn important centre of foreign trade
- DAn important centre of domestic trade
Name the source that is silent about the trade routes of ancient India:
- ASangam Literature
- BMilindpanho
- CJataka Tales
- DAll of the above
Medieval History 10 questions
Muhammad Ghori granted first Iqta in India to –
- ATajuddin Yalduz
- BQutbuddin Aibak
- CShamsuddin Iltutmish
- DNasir-ud-din Qubacha
During the regime of which Sultan was the Khalisa land developed on a large scale?
- AGhiyasuddin Balban
- BAlauddin Khilji
- CMuhammad-Bin-Tughluq
- DFiruz Shah Tughluq
What was the chief characteristic of the financial system of the Vijayanagara Empire?
- ASurplus rent
- BLand Revenue
- CIncome from seaports
- DMonetary system
Zawabits were concerned with :
- AState laws
- BLaws regulating mansab system
- CLaws regulating mint house
- DAgricultural taxes
Coins-Tanka, Shashgani and Jital of Sultanate period was made of which of the following metals-
- ASilver, Copper
- BGold, Silver, Copper
- CSilver, Zinc, Copper
- DGold, Zinc, Copper
Who composed ‘Barahmasa’?
- AAmir Khusrau
- BImami
- CMalik Muhammad Jayasi
- DRaskhan
The main reason for Babur’s victory in the battle of Panipat was –
- AHis horse riding force
- BHis skilled warfare
- CTulghuma system
- DInternal disputes among Afghans
Zabti system was introduced by –
- AGhiyasuddin Tughluq
- BSikandar Lodi
- CSher Shah
- DAkbar
What was the root of the dispute between the Shah of Iran and Mughal rulers?
- AKabul
- BQandahar
- CKunduz
- DGhazni
Saranjami system was related to –
- ALand revenue system of Maratha
- BTaluqdari system
- CQutb Shahi administration
- DNone of the above
Bihar Special GK 7 questions
When did Chhotanagpur Tribal Revolt occur?
- A1807-1808
- B1820
- C1858-1859
- D1889
Bihar was separated from Bengal in—
- A1910
- B1912
- C1921
- D1947
What was the purpose of Barhiyataal resistance in Munger?
- ADemand of Bakast land restoration
- BMuslim peasants might not be exploited
- CAbolition of Zamindari custom
- DBeginning of class struggle
In 1930 and 1932 in which district did the Barahi Congress successfully make the British rule functionless?
- AMadhubani
- BBhagalpur
- CGaya
- DMunger
Patna High Court was set up in –
- A1916
- B1917
- C1918
- D1971
The expansion of forest in Bihar is on the area of:
- A28 lakh hectare
- B29 lakh hectare
- C30 lakh hectare
- D31 lakh hectare
A steel factory in Bihar -
- Ais in Darbhanga
- Bis in Gaya
- Cis in Hazaribagh
- Dis in Jamshedpur
Indian Polity 14 questions
The Constitution of India was adopted by the
- AGovernor General
- BBritish Parliament
- CConstituent Assembly
- DParliament of India
- ENone of the above
India has people’s sovereignty because the Preamble of the Constitution begins with the words :
- ADemocratic India
- BRepublic of People
- CDemocracy of People
- DWe, the People of India
The Democracy of India is based on the fact that –
- AThe Constitution is written
- BFundamental rights have been provided
- CPublic enjoys the rights to choose and change the Government
- DDirective principles of state policy have been provided here
Under which Article of the Constitution of India, Fundamental Rights have been provided to citizens?
- AArticles 112 to 115
- BArticles 12 to 35
- CArticles 222 to 235
- DNone of these
The concept of welfare state included in the Constitution of India in the:
- ADirective Principles of State Policy
- BFourth Schedule of the Constitution
- CFundamental Rights
- DPreamble of the Constitution
Which Article of the Indian Constitution directs state Government to organize village Panchayats?
- AArticle 32
- BArticle 40
- CArticle 48
- DArticle 51
The President of India can be removed from his post by –
- AThe Prime Minister of India
- BLok Sabha
- CChief Justice of India
- DParliament
What should be the interval between the two consecutive sessions of Parliament?
- AFour Month
- BSix Month
- C1 Year
- DFixed by the President
So long as the representation in Lok Sabha is concerned, which states rank second and third?
- ABihar and Maharashtra
- BMadhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
- CMadhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
- DBihar and Madhya Pradesh
Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by –
- AAll members of parliament
- BPublic directly
- CAll members of Lok Sabha
- DThe members of parties in majority
Judicial review means that the Supreme Court -
- Ahas final authority over all cases
- Bcan impeach the President
- Ccan review cases decided by the High Courts
- Dcan declare any state law invalid
Which High Court stated that the divorce, by saying ‘Talaq’ 3 times, is illegal?
- ACalcutta HC
- BAllahabad HC
- CBombay HC
- DPunjab HC
The Planning Commission is a—
- AMinistry
- BGovernment department
- CAdvisory body
- DAutonomous corporation
Panchayati Raj is a subject of -
- AOn the Concurrent List
- BOn the Union List
- COn the State List
- DOn the Residuary Powers List
Geography 28 questions
Area of India is 2.4% of the total area of the world but its–
- APopulation is 16% of the world population
- BPopulation is 17% of the world population
- CPopulation is 18% of the world population
- DPopulation is 28% of the world population
The expansion of India is between –
- A37° 17’ 53’’ North and 8° 6’ 28” South
- B37° 17’ 53” North and 8° 4’ 28” South
- C37° 17’ 53” North and 8° 28’ North
- DNone of the above
The snow-line in the Himalayas lies between
- A4300 to 6000 meters in East
- B4000 to 5800 meters in West
- C4500 to 6000 meters in West
- DNone of the above
Coastal line of India is –
- A6,200 km. long
- B6,100 km. long
- C5,985 km. long
- D6,175 km. long
Islands group Lakshadweep is -
- AAccumulation of coral reef
- BAccumulation of volcanic substances
- CSoil sedimentation
- DNone of the above-mentioned is true
The depth of Gangetic alluvial soil below the land surface is about –
- A6000 meters
- B600 meters
- C800 meters
- D100 meters
Near Mansarovar lake in Tibet, there is the source of the river –
- ABrahmaputra
- BSutlej
- CIndus
- DAll the above
River Damodar emerges from –
- ATibet
- BChotanagpur
- CNear Nainital
- DWestern slope of Somesar hills
Hundru Falls is formed on –
- AIndrawati
- BKaveri
- CSubarnarekha
- DNone of the above
The Indian monsoon is indicated by seasonal displacement because of –
- ADifferential temperature of land and sea
- BCold wind of middle Asia
- CExcess similarity of temperature
- DNone of the above
Soil conservation is a process in which—
- AInfertile soil is converted into fertile soil
- BSoil formation takes place
- CSoil erosion occurs
- DSoil is protected from damage
India is the best producer and consumer of
- ARice
- BTea
- COilseeds
- DPulses
Cash Crop does not consist –
- ASugarcane
- BCotton
- CJute
- DWheat
Most rich state in minerals in India is –
- ARajasthan
- BMadhya Pradesh
- CBihar
- DOdisha
Due to Partition, which industry of India was affected the most?
- ACotton and sugar industry
- BEngineering and cement industry
- CJute and cotton industry
- DPaper and iron industry
In India, in which industry are the maximum people employed?
- AJute industry
- BIron and steel industry
- CTextile industry
- DSugar industry
Where was the first fertilizer plant of India set up?
- ANangal
- BSindri
- CAluva
- DTrombay
The year is largest on –
- APluto
- BJupiter
- CNeptune
- DEarth
Regarding sedimentary rocks which of the following statements is true?
- AThese are such rocks whose structure depends on temperature and pressure
- BThese rocks are crystalline
- CThese rocks are deposited in layers
- DThese rocks cannot be formed in water
Mauna Loa is an example of
- AActive volcano
- BDormant volcano
- CDead volcano
- DPlateau in the volcano region
As per area which of the following is the largest continent?
- AEurope
- BAfrica
- CNorth America
- DSouth America
Clear sky nights are cooler than cloudy sky nights due to
- Acondensation
- Bradiation
- Cinduction
- Dconduction
The formal development of Terrarossa takes place in that part of land which consists of –
- ALimestone
- BCynite
- CGranite
- DSandstone
Common type of coal is –
- ABituminous
- BSub-bituminous
- CAnthracite
- DCoke
Tin is found-
- AIn Placer deposits
- BIn Metamorphic rocks
- CIn little silica Igneous rocks
- DIn all these
Radium is extracted from the mines of –
- ALimestone
- BPitchblende
- CRutile
- DHematite
Which of the following pair matching’s is correct?
- AMediterranean Sea Zone-Summer rain
- BEquatorial Zone-rain with thunder in the noon
- CMonsoon Zone-Heavy rain throughout the year
- DDesert zone- winter rain
India’s national mammal is—
- ACow
- BPeacock
- CLion
- DTiger