Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) Previous Years Questions and Answers

1 .

Consider the following statements :

(1) The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.

(2) The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

2 only

C)

Both 1 and 2

D)

Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 only

Note :

The Montagu Chelmsford reforms did not grant franchise to women. So, statement 1 is not correct.

The GoI Act of 1935, provided for separate electorates for women on communal basis. However, women could contest from general seats also. So, statement 2 is correct.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

2 .

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

A)

The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.

B)

The Viceroy’s Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.

C)

The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.

D)

Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.

Correct Answer : The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.

Note :

The Quit India resolution was passed on 8th August in 1942 in Bombay Session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi.

Viceroy’s executive council was expanded in 1945 as part of Wavell plan, so option B is incorrect.

Congress ministries resigned in 1939 , in opposition to the British decision to unilaterally announce India’s participation in Second World War. So option C is not correct.

Cripps offer came in march 1942, which promised full dominion status for India after the Second World War. So option D is not correct.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

3 .

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

A)

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

B)

Jawaharlal Nehru

C)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

D)

Sarojini Naidu

Correct Answer : Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Note : Gandhiji wrote the book ‘Songs from Prison’

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

4 .

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

A)

Paragana - Sarkar - Suba

B)

Sarkar - Paragana - Suba

C)

Suba - Sarkar - Paragana

D)

Paragana - Suba - Sarkar

Correct Answer : Paragana - Sarkar - Suba

Note : During the medieval period a group of villages comprised a Paragana, above it was the Sarkar, and a Suba was a province above the Sarkar.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

5 .

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

A)

Annie Besant

B)

Debendranath Tagore

C)

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

D)

Sarojini Naidu

Correct Answer : Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Note : In 1856, the Government took charge of the Hindu Female School, later renamed as Bethune School. The Managing Committee of the school was then formed and Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the celebrated social reformer responsible for the eradication of the custom of Sati and a relentless supporter of women's emancipation was made the Secretary.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

6 .

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

A)

Leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement

B)

Members of the Interim Government in 1946

C)

Members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Asembly

D)

Officers of the Indian National Army

Correct Answer : Officers of the Indian National Army

Note : All the three were officers in the Indian National Army, who became famous during the INA trials held in the Red Fort , Delhi in 1945.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

7 .

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?

(1) The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State

(2) The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire.

(3) Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

A)

1 and 2

B)

2 only

C)

2 and 3

D)

3 only

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 only

Note :

The Nizam of Arcot emerged as an independent state after the weakening of the Mughal empire in the first half of eighteenth century. It was a protectorate of the Hyderabad state, but it did not emerge out of it. So 1 is wrong.

Mysore kingdom emerged as a powerful state under the Wodeyar dynasty, which initially served as a vassal of Vijaynagar empire. So 2 is correct.

Rohilkhand state arose in the modern districts of Rampur, Bareilly etc. under the declining Mughal empire in 1721. Ahmad Shah Durrani started invading India from 1748. Hence 3 is also wrong.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

8 .

Which one of the following statements is correct ?

A)

Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Wagora river.

B)

Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.

C)

Pandu-lena Cave Srines lie in the gorge of Narmada river.

D)

Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.

Correct Answer : Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Wagora river.

Note :

Ajanta caves lie in the Basaltic gorge of Waghora river. So option A is correct.

Sanchi stupa is in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, Chambal doesn’t pass through Raisen district. So option B is wrong.

Pandu – lena caves lie in Nashik district on the north face of a hill called Trirasmi, so C is incorrect. Amravati Stupa lies on the bank of Krishna river, not Godavari river.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

9 .

Consider the following statements :

1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.

2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A)

1 only

B)

2 only

C)

Both 1 and 2

D)

Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 2 only

Note :

21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO not UNICEF. So 1 is wrong.

Member of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan , Dhirendranath Datta proposed legislation in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan to allow members to speak in Bengali and authorise its use for official purposes. So 2 is correct.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

10 .

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.

2. It is the only circular temple built in India.

3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.

4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was te inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A)

1 and 2

B)

2 and 3 only

C)

1 and 4

D)

2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 1 and 4

Note :

Chausath Yogini temple was built by King Devpala of Kacchapaghata dynasty in 11th century. So 1 is correct

Chausath Yogini temple near Jabalpur is also circular in design. So 2 is incorrect

It was not meant to promote Vaishnavism as it is dedicated to Yoginis i.e. female masters of Yoga. So 3 is incorrect.

Option 4 is correct as there is much similarity between the design of both the buildings , so some claim that it inspired the design of Parliament building.

Year : 2021

Category : General Studies

UPSC Previous Years (Prelims & Mains) Questions