Log in to practise this subject
These are sample questions with their answers. Log in to attempt them, track your accuracy, earn coins and save every session to your history.
Sample questions
A free sample. Log in for your full daily practice.
1.Who is known as the 'Father of Utilitarianism' and formulated the principle of 'the greatest happiness for the greatest number'?
- AJohn Stuart Mill
- BJeremy Bentham
- CDavid Hume
- DImmanuel Kant
Explanation
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) is regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism. He introduced the principle that actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they produce the opposite, emphasizing 'the greatest happiness for the greatest number'.
2.A municipal corporation decides to allocate a prime land parcel for a commercial project after a private firm offers a higher price than the stipulated market rate. Which ethical conflict does this illustrate?
- AConflict between public interest and private profit
- BConflict of interest
- CMisuse of discretion
- DAll of the above
Explanation
The decision pits public interest against private profit, shows a conflict of interest for the officials involved, and reflects misuse of discretionary power. All three aspects are present.
3.In terms of per‑capita renewable electricity generation (kWh per person) in 2022, which country ranked highest?
- AIceland
- BGermany
- CUnited States
- DAustralia
Explanation
Iceland, powered almost entirely by geothermal and hydroelectricity, generates the highest renewable electricity per capita, exceeding 30,000 kWh per person annually.
4.The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) influences the Indian Ocean primarily at:
- ASouthern Indian Ocean latitudes below 45°S
- BEquatorial latitudes
- CNorthern Indian Ocean near the Bay of Bengal
- DWestern Indian Ocean near Madagascar
Explanation
The ACC, the world’s strongest current, circulates around Antarctica and merges with the southern branch of the Indian Ocean gyre, affecting waters south of about 45°S.
5.Which analytical framework integrates the three pillars of sustainable development (economic, social, environmental) into a single index for cross‑country comparison?
- AHuman Development Index (HDI)
- BEcological Footprint Analysis
- CAdjusted Net Savings (ANS)
- DSustainable Development Index (SDI)
Explanation
The Sustainable Development Index (SDI) aggregates indicators from economic, social, and environmental dimensions, allowing comparative assessment of sustainable development performance across nations.
6.What is the difference between a gene and a genome?
- AA gene is a single unit of heredity, while a genome is the complete set of genes in an organism
- BA gene is the complete set of genes in an organism, while a genome is a single unit of heredity
- CA gene is a type of protein, while a genome is a type of DNA
- DA gene is a type of DNA, while a genome is a type of protein
Explanation
A gene is a single unit of heredity that carries information from one generation to the next, while a genome is the complete set of genes in an organism. The genome includes all of the genetic material in an organism, including genes, non-coding DNA, and other genetic elements.
7.In the context of population genetics, the term "effective population size" (Ne) refers to:
- AThe total number of individuals in a population
- BThe number of breeding individuals that contribute genes to the next generation
- CThe number of individuals after a bottleneck event
- DThe census size multiplied by the mutation rate
Explanation
Effective population size is the size of an idealized population that would show the same amount of genetic drift as the observed population; it is often less than the actual census size and reflects only those individuals that reproduce.
8.Which of the following statements is true about the set of rational numbers?
- AIt is closed under subtraction but not under addition.
- BIt is dense in the real numbers.
- CIt contains irrational numbers.
- DIt is finite.
Explanation
Between any two real numbers there exists a rational number; hence the rationals are dense in the reals. They are closed under both addition and subtraction, contain no irrationals, and are infinite.
9.Regarding the town planning of the Harappan Civilization, consider the following statements:
1. The cities were generally divided into two parts: a fortified Citadel on the west and a Lower Town on the east.
2. Burnt bricks of a standard ratio (4:2:1) were used almost universally across all major Harappan sites.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Both statements are correct. Harappan cities typically followed a grid pattern division where the Citadel (built on high mud-brick platforms) was on the west, housing public buildings, and the Lower Town was on the east, meant for residential purposes. The burnt bricks used in construction had a highly standardized ratio of 4:2:1 (length:breadth:thickness), which is a unique feature of this civilization compared to contemporary Egypt or Mesopotamia.
10.What is the primary difference between the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990?
- AThe former applies to the whole of India, while the latter applies only to Jammu and Kashmir
- BThe former empowers the armed forces to arrest and detain persons, while the latter empowers them to search and seize property
- CThe former requires a notification by the state government, while the latter requires a notification by the central government
- DThe former applies to the army, while the latter applies to the air force and navy
Explanation
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, applies to certain states in the northeast, while the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990, applies specifically to Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the differing internal security concerns in these regions.
Log in to practise this subject
These are sample questions with their answers. Log in to attempt them, track your accuracy, earn coins and save every session to your history.