UPSC Prelims GS Mini Mock Test 1: answers & solutions

The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution were inspired by the constitution of which country?

• United States
• Canada
• Australia
• Ireland

Answer: Ireland. The DPSP were borrowed from the Irish Constitution, which took the idea from Spain. The USA inspired Fundamental Rights; Canada the quasi-federal structure.

Who presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament?

• Vice-President of India
• President of India
• Speaker of the Lok Sabha
• Prime Minister

Answer: Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Under Article 118(4), the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting called under Article 108.

A Money Bill can be introduced only in:

• the Rajya Sabha
• the Lok Sabha
• either House of Parliament
• a joint sitting of both Houses

Answer: the Lok Sabha. Article 109: a Money Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, on the President's recommendation; the Rajya Sabha can only make recommendations within 14 days.

The Harappan site of Lothal, known for its dockyard, is in present-day:

• Gujarat
• Rajasthan
• Haryana
• Punjab

Answer: Gujarat. Lothal is in Ahmedabad district, Gujarat. Kalibangan is in Rajasthan, Rakhigarhi in Haryana and Ropar in Punjab.

Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon at:

• Bodh Gaya
• Sarnath
• Kushinagar
• Lumbini

Answer: Sarnath. The first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) was at Sarnath. He was born at Lumbini, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and died at Kushinagar.

The construction of the Qutub Minar in Delhi was begun by:

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak
• Iltutmish
• Alauddin Khalji
• Ghiyasuddin Balban

Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak. Qutb-ud-din Aibak began it around 1199; Iltutmish added storeys and completed it, and Firoz Shah Tughlaq later repaired the top.

The Permanent Settlement of Bengal (1793) was introduced by:

• Lord Wellesley
• Warren Hastings
• Lord Dalhousie
• Lord Cornwallis

Answer: Lord Cornwallis. Lord Cornwallis fixed land revenue permanently with the zamindars of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1793.

The Tropic of Cancer does NOT pass through which of these states?

• Jharkhand
• Tripura
• Odisha
• Mizoram

Answer: Odisha. It passes through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram — not Odisha.

Consider the following statements: 1. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by the members of the Lok Sabha. 2. The Speaker vacates office as soon as the Lok Sabha is dissolved. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: 1 only. Statement 1 is correct (Article 93). Statement 2 is wrong: under Article 94 the Speaker stays in office until just before the first meeting of the newly elected House.

Which of these was among India's first Ramsar sites, designated in 1981?

• Wular Lake
• Loktak Lake
• Sambhar Lake
• Chilika Lake

Answer: Chilika Lake. Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were designated in 1981. Wular, Loktak and Sambhar were added in 1990.

The repo rate is the rate at which:

• the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks
• commercial banks park surplus funds with the RBI
• banks lend to their most creditworthy customers
• the government borrows from the public

Answer: the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks. Repo is the rate at which the RBI lends to banks against government securities. Parking funds with the RBI relates to the reverse repo / standing deposit facility.

The Goods and Services Tax Council is chaired by:

• the Prime Minister
• the Union Finance Minister
• the Governor of the RBI
• the President of India

Answer: the Union Finance Minister. Under Article 279A, the Union Finance Minister chairs the GST Council; state finance ministers are members.

The Montreal Protocol (1987) is an international agreement to phase out:

• carbon dioxide emissions from coal
• single-use plastic waste in oceans
• ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs
• trade in endangered wildlife

Answer: ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs. The Montreal Protocol controls ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, halons, etc.). Wildlife trade is covered by CITES; carbon emissions by the UNFCCC framework.

Which blood components help the blood to clot?

• Red blood cells
• White blood cells
• Lymphocytes
• Platelets

Answer: Platelets. Platelets (thrombocytes) gather at a wound and start the clotting process along with clotting factors in plasma.

Deficiency of iodine in the diet causes:

• Rickets
• Goitre
• Beriberi
• Night blindness

Answer: Goitre. Iodine is needed for thyroid hormones; a lack causes goitre. Rickets is from vitamin D, beriberi from vitamin B1 and night blindness from vitamin A deficiency.

Kathakali is a classical dance form of:

• Tamil Nadu
• Odisha
• Kerala
• Andhra Pradesh

Answer: Kerala. Kathakali is from Kerala. Bharatanatyam is from Tamil Nadu, Odissi from Odisha and Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is appointed by:

• the President
• the Prime Minister
• the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
• the Chief Justice of India

Answer: the President. Article 148: the CAG is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

Which strait separates India from Sri Lanka?

• Strait of Malacca
• Palk Strait
• Strait of Hormuz
• Bab-el-Mandeb

Answer: Palk Strait. The Palk Strait lies between Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka.

Consider the following statements about the Rajya Sabha: 1. It is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution. 2. One-third of its members retire every second year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: Both 1 and 2. Both are correct: under Article 83(1) the Rajya Sabha is not subject to dissolution, and one-third of its members retire every second year.

Who founded the Servants of India Society in 1905?

• Gopal Krishna Gokhale
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Mahadev Govind Ranade
• Dadabhai Naoroji

Answer: Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded it in Pune in 1905 to train Indians for public service.