HPAS PRE-2014 General Studies Previous Year Paper

HPAS PRE-2014

GENERAL STUDIES PAPER

Q1. The latitude that pass through Sikkim also pass through:

1. a) Himachal Pradesh
2. b) Jammu and Kashmir
3. c) Rajasthan
4. d) Bihar

ANSWER: (c)

Q2. Which of the following peaks are in Himachal Pradesh?

1. Abi gamin
2. Reo- Purjil

iii. Rangrik Range

1. Gya

The correct answer is:

1. a) Only (iv)
2. b) Only (i)
3. c) None of the above
4. d) All of the above

ANSWER: (d)

Q3. Which of the following is/are treated as artificial currency?

1. a) ADR
2. b) SDR
3. c) GDR
4. d) Both ADR & GDR

ANSWER: (b)

Q4. Disguised unemployment generally means:

1. a) Large number of people remain unemployed
2. b) Alternative employment is not available
3. c) Marginal productivity of labour is zero
4. d) Productivity of worker is low

ANSWER: (c)

Q5. In India, which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities:

1. a) Commercial Banks
2. b) Micro Finance Institutions
3. c) Regional Rural Banks
4. d) Co-operative Banks

ANSWER: (a)

Q6. Mars Orbitor Mission is called:

1. a) Pushpyan
2. b) Spaceyan
3. c) Mangalyan
4. d) Missionyan

ANSWER: (c)

Q7. Almost all major oil producers including Saudi Arabia have become dependent on high prices, with break- even levels usually over $ 90 per barrel to meet their fiscal obligations. Consider the following can be termed as explanations for the present decline in oil prices?

1. i) The world markets are flush with supplies for which there are not enough consumers.
2. ii) The global economic slowdown is the Principal culprit: with China’s national growth projected at around 7 % per year, increase in oil demand in negligible.

iii) Europe is also not expected to contribute to increased demand due to its sluggish growth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. a) (i) only
2. b) (ii) only
3. c) Both (i) and (ii)
4. d) All of these

ANSWER: (d)

Q8. Modi Government relaunched the Kisan Vikas Patra KVP) investment scheme to tap household savings for funding infrastructure development in the country.

Consider the following statements about this and pick the correct statement:

1. i) The saving instrument will be available in the denomination of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs.10,000 and Rs. 50,000.
2. ii) There will be no upper ceiling on investment.

iii) No tax benefits would be available on this investment.

Answer’s is/are:

1. a) (i) only
2. b) (ii) only
3. c) (i) and (iii) only
4. d) All of the above

ANSWER: (d)

Q9. Based upon the relations between India and Pakistan, Khurshid M. Kasuri, the Ex- foreign Minister of Pakistan has recently penned down a book. What is the title of the book:

1. a) India- Pakistan in War and Peace
2. b) Neither a Hawk nor a Dove
3. c) The Origins of War in South Asia: The Indo- Pakistan Conflicts Since 1947
4. d) India and Pakistan : A Political Analysis

ANSWER: (b)

Q10. Shanta Kumar Committee has submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India FCI) to Mr. Modi.

Read the following recommendations and find the incorrect ones:

1. i) FCI Procurement should focus on the Western belt, where farmers get the minimum support price.
2. ii) FCI should hand over the procurement of Wheat and Rice to four states which include Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

iii) Proposed uniform tax of minimum 3% and maximum 4% on Wheat and Rice and the same to be included in the minimum support price.

Answer is:

1. a) (i) and (ii)
2. b) (i) and (iii)
3. c) (ii) and (iii)
4. d) None of the above

ANSWER: (a)

Q11. Read the following statements regarding the recently released NTCA report on the status of Tigers in India, 2014.

2010. i) The report showed a 30 % increase in tiger population to 2226 from 1706 in 2010.
2011. ii) The largest increase was recorded in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Tamil Nadu.

iii) The Mudumalai-Bandipur- Nagarhole- Wayanad Complex holds the world’s largest tiger population currently estimated at over 570 tigers.

The correct answer is:

1. a) i) and ii)
2. b) ii) and iii)
3. c) iii) only
4. d) None of the above

ANSWER: (d)

Q12. India has recently signed as agreement on transfer of sentenced persons with the Hong-Kong special administrative region. Which among the following statement/s is/are correct ones in this regard:

1. i) The agreement will mostly apply to Hong- Kong prisoners.
2. ii) Most of the Indian prisoners have been jailed for serious crimes like drug dealing.

iii) India has similar agreement with several other countries but none with Mainland China

The correct answer is:

1. a) i)
2. b) ii)
3. c) iii)
4. d) All of the above

ANSWER: (c)

Q13. Who among the following translated Kalhana’s Rajatarangini into English?

1. a) Sir Alexander Cunningham
2. b) Sir Aurel Stein
3. c) Jonaraja
4. d) Sirivara

ANSWER: (b)

Q14. What is the script of the earliest epigraphical rock inscriptions at Pathyar and Kanhiyara in Kangra?

1. a) Brahmi and Tankri
2. b) Kharoshthi and Tankri
3. c) Brahmi and Kharoshthi
4. d) Kharoshthi and Persian

ANSWER: (c)

Q15. Which Mughal ruler is said to have given the title of ‘Mian’ to the Rajput princes of Punjab Hill states who were held hostages in the royal court?

1. a) Akbar
2. b) Jahangir
3. c) Shah Jahan
4. d) Aurangzeb

ANSWER: (b)

Q16. Rulers of which of the following hill states were from a common ancestor?

1. a) Mandi, Mangal and Bhajji
2. b) Suket, Mandi and Bhagal
3. c) Mandi, Suket and Keonthal
4. d) Keonthal, Suket and Jubbal

ANSWER: (c)

Q17. Which Raja of Spiti invaded Kullu and made it a tributary?

1. a) Samudra Sena
2. b) Chet Sena
3. c) Hemant Sena

d)Rajendra Sena

ANSWER: (d)

Q18. The Raja of Bushahar princely state was assisted by three hereditary Wazir families.  One of them was Kohal. Where did it come from?

1. a) Kullu
2. b) Garhwal
3. c) Kinnaur
4. d) Jubbal

ANSWER: (b)

Q19. When was the Department of Public Relations created in Himachal Pradesh?

1. a) 1951
2. b) 1952
3. c) 1954
4. d) 1956

ANSWER: (c)

Q20. In which district of H.P. is Saryanj Sarma watershed project?

1. a) Una
2. b) Sirmaur
3. c) Bilaspur
4. d) Solan

ANSWER: (d)

Q21. When was ‘Beti Hai Anmol Yojna launched in Himachal Pradesh?

1. a) January 2009
2. b) July 2010
3. c) October 2011
4. d) December 2012

ANSWER: (b)

Q22. Which Raja of Mandi gave the Shivratri Fair the form of a cultural festival?

1. a) Suraj Sen
2. b) Bahu Sen
3. c) Bir Sen
4. d) Ban Sen

ANSWER: (a)

Q23. Find the mismatch in the following pairs:

1. a) Tieun Dhar – Chamba
2. b) Jakh Dhar- Hamirpur
3. c) Haripur Dhar – Sirmaur
4. d) Sanjhi Dhar – Shimla

ANSWER: (a)

Q24. What is Shingni- Mingni?

1. a) a variety of fish
2. b) a herbal – medicinal plant
3. c) a folk dance of Kinnaur
4. d) a folk song popular in Sirmarur

ANSWER: (b)

Q25. Who started the Ice Skating Rink at Shimla around 1920?

1. a) Peter T-Tung
2. b) Blessington
3. c) Daniel Wilson
4. d) William Hay

ANSWER: (b)

Q26. In which district of H.P. is Yunam-so Lake?

1. a) Lahaul- Spiti
2. b) Kinnaur
3. c) Chamba
4. d) Kullu

ANSWER: (a)

Q27. When did the number of member in the H.P. Vidhan Sabha increase from 36 to 41?

1. a) 1971
2. b) 1967
3. c) 1963
4. d) 1954

ANSWER: (d)

Q28. Which one of the following is a Pagoda style temple in H.P.?

1. a) Hateshwari Devi in Jubbal Valley
2. b) Hidimba Temple in Manali Valley
3. c) Lakshna Devi in Bharmaur
4. d) Shakti Devi in Chhatrari

ANSWER: (b)

Q29. Which district of H.P. occupies top position in the production of ginger?

1. a) Srmaur
2. b) Bilaspur
3. c) Una
4. d) Mandi

ANSWER: (a)

Q30. Identify the correct order of density of population among the following districts of Himachal Pradesh according to 2011 census data in descending order):

1. a) Bilaspur, Una, Solan, Mandi
2. b) Una, Bilaspur, Solan, Mandi.
3. c) Una, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan
4. d) Bilaspur, Solan, Una, Mandi

ANSWER: (b)

Q31. What was the annual growth rate in the economy of Himachal Pradesh during the 2012-13 fiscal?

5. a) 5.7 %
6. b) 5.9 %
7. c) 6.1 %
8. d) 6.6 %

ANSWER: (c)

Q32. Polworth, Corriedole, Blackpace and Bingi are varieties of:

1. a) Vegetables
2. b) Spices
3. c) Sheep
4. d) Buffaloes

ANSWER: (c)

Q33. Name the site where Harappan ploughed field has been found:

1. a) Harappa
2. b) Banawali
3. c) Rakhigarhi
4. d) Kalibanga

ANSWER: (d)

Q34. Who among the following is the author of Milind Panho?

1. a) Nagasen
2. b) Ashwaghosh
3. c) Dharmpal
4. d) Devardhi

ANSWER: (a)

Q35. Name the place where Jaina texts were finally compiled?

1. a) Pawagarh
2. b) Kalinga
3. c) Shravanbelgola
4. d) Vallabhi

ANSWER: (c)

Q36. Find out among the following the author of Muasir-i-Alamgiri:

1. a) Alberuni
2. b) Barni
3. c) Mustaid Khan
4. d) Sams-i-Siraj

ANSWER: (c)

Q37. The temples located in the region between the Vindhyas and the Krishna river are known as:

1. a) Dravid Style
2. b) Nagar Style
3. c) Vakataka Style
4. d) Hybrid Style

ANSWER: (d)

Q38. Which of the following Marathas was given a Manasab of 7000/7000 by Aurangzeb?

1. a) Shivaji
2. b) Sambhaji
3. c) Rajaram
4. d) Shahuji

ANSWER: (b)

Q39. Who abolished Duel Government in Bengal?

1. a) Sir John Shore
2. b) Lord Curzon
3. c) Robert Clive
4. d) Warren Hastings

ANSWER: (d)

Q40. Sidhu and Kanhu were associated with which one of the following?

1. a) The Kol uprising
2. b) The Munda rebellion
3. c) The Khasi rising
4. d) The Santhal rebellion

ANSWER: (d)

Q41. Match List I with List II:

List I

1. a) Dadabhai Naoroji
2. b) Dayanand Saraswati
3. c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
4. d) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

List II

1) Satyarth Prakash

2) Anand Math

3) Poverty and Un-British Rule of India

4) Gita Rahasya

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

1. a) b) c) d)
2. a) 2) 3) 4) 1)
3. b) 3) 1) 4) 2)
4. c) 3) 4) 1) 2)
5. d) 4) 2) 1) 3)

ANSWER: (b)

Q42. Who was the head of the Boundary Commission which demarcated the boundaries   of India and Pakistan ?

1. a) Radcliffe
2. b) Mc Mahon
3. c) Simon
4. d) None of the above

ANSWER: (a)

Q43. What is local name of shifting cultivation in Malaysia?

1. a) Jhum
2. b) Kumri
3. c) Podu
4. d) Ladang

ANSWER: (d)

Q44. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Towns: Rivers

1. a) Ayodhya : Saryu
2. b) Surat : Tapti
3. c) Bareilly : Ganga
4. d) Kurnool : Tungabhadra

ANSWER: (Question is not correct)

Q45. Tropic of Cancer does not passes through:

1. a) Tripura
2. b) Mizoram
3. c) Manipur
4. d) Chhattisgarh

ANSWER: (c)

Q46. Which is the second most spoken language in India?

1. a) Urdu
2. b) Hindi
3. c) Bengali
4. d) Telugu

ANSWER: (c)

Q47. Great Salt Lake is located in:

1. a) Australia
2. b) Tunisia
3. c) Canada
4. d) U.S.A.

ANSWER: (d)

Q48. Which of the following is correct order of rivers from north to south?

1. a) Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Satluj
2. b) Jhelum, Ravi, Chenab, Satluj
3. c) Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab, Satluj
4. d) Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj

ANSWER: (a)

Q49. Which one of the following has lowest sex ratio in India?

1. a) Punjab
2. b) Haryana
3. c) Dadar and Nagar Haveli
4. d) Daman and Diu

ANSWER: (d)

Q50. Diego Garcia Island is located in:

1. a) Pacific Ocean
2. b) Atlantic Ocean
3. c) Indian Ocean
4. d) Arctic Ocean

ANSWER: (c)

Q51. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. i) Recorded temperature decreases from North to South India
2. ii) Rainfall increase from West to East in Northern plains of India
3. a) Only i)
4. b) Only ii)
5. c) Both i) and ii)
6. d) Neither i) nor ii)

ANSWER: (b)

Q52. Which of the following is largest coal producer?

1. a) China
2. b) U.S.A
3. c) India
4. d) Australia

ANSWER: (a)

Q53. According to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution was to remain a dead- letter?

1. a) Article 360
2. b) Article 356
3. c) Article 352
4. d) Article 32

ANSWER: (b)

Q54. The elected members of the State Legislative Assembly participate in the elections of:

1) The President of India

2) The Vice- President of India

3)  Members of the Rajya Sabha

4) Members of Legislative Council

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. a) 1), 2) and 3)
2. b) 1), 3) and 4)
3. c) 1), 2) and 4)
4. d) 1), 2), 3) and 4)

ANSWER: (b)

Q55. Which of the following are the exclusive committee of the Rajya Sabha?

1) Committee on Subordinate Legislation

2) Committee on Government Assurances

3) Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

4) Committee on Public Undertaking

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

1. a) 1) and 3)
2. b) 1) and 2)
3. c) 1), 2) and 3)
4. d) 1), 2), 3) and 4)

ANSWER: (b)

Q56. The tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner of India is:

1. a) Five years
2. b) Five years or 65 years of age whichever is earlier
3. c) Six years or 65 years of age whichever is earlier
4. d) Six years or 70 years of age whichever is earlier

ANSWER: (c)

Q57. Which of the Commissions/ Committees has recommended that there should be a Minister for Panchayati Raj?

1. a) Ashoka Mehta Committee
2. b) M. Singhvi Committee
3. c) V.K Rao Committee
4. d) Second Administrative Reforms Commission

ANSWER: (a)

Q58. Which of the following amendments to the Indian Constitution has made the Right to Education a Fundamental Right?

1. a) 84^th
2. b) 86th
3. c) 91^st
4. d) 92 nd

ANSWER: (b)

Q59. Which of the following statements are correct about the National Human Rights Commission?

1) The National Human Rights Commission is an independent body.

2) It is not a constitutional body.

3) It is a statutory body.

4) It is a multi- member body.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

1. a) 1) and 3)
2. b) 1), 2) and 3)
3. c) 1), 2) and 4)
4. d) 1), 2), 3) and 4)

ANSWER: (b)

Q60. What is the correct sequence of the following four stages in the public policy formulation process?

1) Making policy decisions

2) Putting public problems on policy agenda

3) Identifying public proposals to deal with the problem

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

1. a) 1), 2), 3) and 4)
2. b) 3), 2), 4) and 1)
3. c) 1), 3), 2) and 4)
4. d) 2), 4), 3) and 1)

ANSWER: (b)

Q61. The responsibility for law and order vests with the Police Commissioner in the cities of:

1) Chandigarh

2) Delhi

3) Mumbai

4) Kolkata

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Codes:

1. a) 1), 2) and 3)
2. b) 1), 3) and 4)
3. c) 2), 3) and 4)
4. d) 1), 2), 3) and 4)

ANSWER: (c)

Q62. Which one of the following functions does not figure in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution 73rd Amendment)?

1. a) Libraries
2. b) Cultural Activities
3. c) Fire services
4. d) Family welfare

ANSWER: (c)

Q63. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana was launched on:

1. a) 15th August, 2014
2. b) 1st January, 2015
3. c) 26th January, 2015
4. d) 28th August, 2014

ANSWER: (d)

Q64. Earth Summit 2012 for sustainable development was held in:

1. a) New Delhi, India
2. b) Rio- de- Janeiro, Brazil
3. c) Johannesburg, South Africa
4. d) New York, USA

ANSWER: (b)

Q65. According to Planning Commission estimates for 2011-12; which of the following states have maximum percentage of population below poverty line?

1. a) Chhattisgarh
2. b) Bihar
3. c) Jharkhand
4. d) Odisha

ANSWER: (a)

Q66. The World Investment Report WIR) is published by:

1. a) International Monetary Fund IMR)
2. b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD)
3. c) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT)
4. d) Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development OECD)

ANSWER: (b)

Q67. SEBI was established in the year:

1. a) 1988
2. b) 1990
3. c) 1991
4. d) 1985

ANSWER: (a)

Q68. ‘NITI’ in NITI Ayog stands for:

1. a) National Institution for Transforming India
2. b) National Institute of Transforming India
3. c) National Initiative for Transforming India
4. d) National Institution for Translating India

ANSWER: (a)

Q69. Annual Summit 2015 of BRICS nations will be held in:

1. a) New Delhi, India
2. b) Fortaleza, Brazil
3. c) Ufa in Bash kortonstan, Russia
4. d) Durban, South Africa

ANSWER: (c)

Q70. As per population census 2011, what is the percentage of urban population in Himachal Pradesh and India respectively:

15. a) 15.05 and 35.60
16. b) 10.03 and 31.16
17. c) 10.03 and 35.60
18. d) 12.65 and 31.16

ANSWER: (b)

Q71. Recently the Government of India has decided to revise the base year for estimating the GDP from:

1. a) 2001-02 to 2010-11
2. b) 2004-05 to 2013-14
3. c) 2004-05 t0 2011-12
4. d) 2001-02 to 2011-12

ANSWER: (c)

Q72. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) was established in the year:

1. a) 1950
2. b) 1951
3. c) 1947
4. d) 1948

ANSWER: (a)

Q73. How many Biosphere Reserves are there in India?

1. a) 12
2. b) 18
3. c) 26
4. d) 32

ANSWER: (b)

Q74. The UN Convention on Biodiversity was ratified by Indian Government in the year:

1. a) 1992
2. b) 1993
3. c) 1994
4. d) 1997

ANSWER: (c)

Q75. Apart from carbon dioxide, which of the following gases also has a role in climate change?

1. a) Methane
2. b) Nitrogen dioxide
3. c) Sulphur dioxide
4. d) Helium

ANSWER: (a)

Q76. At present which country is the maximum emitter of carbon dioxide?

1. a) USA
2. b) China
3. c) Russia
4. d) France

ANSWER: (b)

Q77. As per the IPCC 4th Assessment Report, the average sea level during the period 1961-2003 increased approximately at the rate of:

1. a) 1.8 cm per year
2. b) 5.9 mm per year
3. c) 4.1 mm per year
4. d) 1.8 mm per year

ANSWER: (d)

Q78. In India, the forest cover percentage of the total geographical area of the country is approximately?

1. a) 18 %
2. b) 29 %
3. c) 21 %
4. d) 31%

ANSWER: (c)

Q79. Driving force for an ecosystem is:

1. a) Solar energy
2. b) Vegetation
3. c) producers
4. d) biomass

ANSWER: (a)

Q80. Which of the following has the maximum biodiversity?

1. a) Mangroves
2. b) Coral reefs
3. c) Temperate regions
4. d) Tropical regions

ANSWER: (d)

Q81. At present the primary energy source in the world is:

1. a) Hydropower
2. b) Fossil Fuels
3. c) Nuclear power
4. d) Solar power

ANSWER: (b)

Q82. World Ozone Day is celebrated on:

1. a) June 19
2. b) August 19
3. c) September 16
4. d) November 19

ANSWER: (c)

Q83. The World’s highest ground based telescopic observatory is located in:

1. a) Colombia
2. b) India
3. c) Nepal
4. d) Switzerland

ANSWER: (b)

Q84. The hormone insulin is a:

1. a) Glycolipid
2. b) Fatty acid
3. c) Peptide
4. d) Sterol

ANSWER: (c)

Q85. The sensation of fatigue in the muscles after prolonged strenuous physical work is caused by:

1. a) a decrease in the supply of oxygen
2. b) minor wear and tear of muscles fibres
3. c) the depletion of glucose
4. d) the accumulation of lactic acid

ANSWER: (d)

Q86. Which one of the following agricultural practices is eco- friendly?

1. a) Organic farming
2. b) Shifting cultivation
3. c) Cultivation of high yielding varieties
4. d) Growing plants in glass – houses

ANSWER: (a)

Q87. According to the World Health Organization, the disease which causes the death of the largest number of people today is:

1. a) AIDS
2. b) Tuberculosis
3. c) Malaria
4. d) Ebola

ANSWER: (b)

Q88. The normal temperature of human body in Kelvin scale is:

1. a) 280
2. b) 290
3. c) 300
4. d) 310

ANSWER: (d)

Q89. The only snake that builds a nest is:

1. a) Chain viper
2. b) King cobra
3. c) Krait
4. d) Saw- scaled viper

ANSWER: (b)

Q90. Which one of the following does not contain silver?

1. a) Horn Silver
2. b) German Silver
3. c) Ruby Silver
4. d) Lunar Silver

ANSWER: (b)

Q91. Aluminium surfaces are often ‘anodized’, this means the deposition of a layer of:

1. a) Chromium oxide
2. b) Aluminium oxide
3. c) Nickel oxide
4. d) Zinc oxide

ANSWER: (b)

Q92. Which one of the following polymers is widely used for making bullet proof material?

1. a) Polyvinyl chloride
2. b) Polyamides
3. c) Polyethylene
4. d) Polycarbonates

ANSWER: (d)

Q93. When a CD compact disc use in audio and video systems) is seen in sunlight, rainbow like colours are seen. This can be explained on the basis of the phenomenon of :

1. a) Reflection and diffraction
2. b) Reflection and transmission
3. c) Diffraction and transmission
4. d) Refraction, diffraction and transmission

ANSWER: (d)

Q94. Which one of the following does a TV remote control unit use to operate a TV set?

1. a) Light Waves
2. b) Sound Waves
3. c) Micro Waves
4. d) Radio Waves

ANSWER: (d)

Q95. The working principle of a washing machine is:

1. a) Centrifugation
2. b) Dialysis
3. c) Reverse osmosis
4. d) Diffusion

ANSWER: (a)

Q96. A fuse is used in main electric supply as a safety device. Which one of the following statements about the fuse is correct?

1. a) It is connected in parallel with the main switch
2. b) It is made mainly from silver alloys
3. c) It must have a low melting point
4. d) It must have a very high resistance

ANSWER: (c)

Q97. A simple machine helps a person in doing:

1. a) Less work
2. b) the same amount of work with lesser force
3. c) the same amount of work slowly
4. d) the same amount of work much faster

ANSWER: (b)

Q98. Domestic electrical wiring is basically a:

1. a) Series connection
2. b) Parallel connection
3. c) Combinations of series and parallel connection
4. d) Series connection within each room and parallel connection elsewhere

ANSWER: (b)

Q99. The most widely used antacid is:

1. a) Cetrizine
2. b) Iproniazid
3. c) Chlorpheniramine
4. d) Zantac

ANSWER: (d)

Q100. Which of the following drugs reduces fever?

1. a) Analgesic
2. b) Antipyretic
3. c) Antibiotic
4. d) Tranquilizer

ANSWER: (b)