Q: According to Census 2001, which one of the following Indian States has the maximum population in India after Uttar Pradesh?
(a)West Bengal
(b)Maharashtra
(c)Bihar
(d)Tamil Nadu
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UPSC Prelims 2005 — GS Paper 1 Question Paper with Solutions
Complete 2005 UPSC CSE Prelims GS1 paper with 150 questions, answers, and detailed explanations. Attempt all questions with show/hide answers, or take the timed quiz.
150
Questions
54
Easy
91
Moderate
5
Difficult
Paper Analysis — 2005
The 2005 Civil Services Preliminary General Studies Paper, consisting of 150 objective questions, presented aspirants with a wide-angled snapshot of the UPSC syllabus. Science and Technology (34 questions) and Geography (30 questions) together contributed more than two-fifths of the paper, underscoring UPSC’s continuing emphasis on concept-driven, application-oriented topics such as biotechnology, satellite geography and climatology. Current Affairs came next with 28 questions that tested awareness of events from mid-2003 to early-2005, including the Asian Tsunami, India’s WTO negotiations and advances in space missions.
The overall difficulty skewed moderate (91 questions), with 54 easy sitters and only 5 truly difficult posers. Many aspirants reported that elimination techniques yielded dividends because options were often asymmetrically framed—for example, two obviously extreme statements plus two nuanced ones—allowing careful readers to narrow choices quickly. Indian Polity (10 questions) stayed largely factual, favouring articles and constitutional amendments rather than tricky doctrine. Economy (16 questions) mixed data-based queries on fiscal trends with conceptual items on WTO and monetary policy.
Notable surprises included a low count for Art and Culture (just 3 questions) and only single representatives from Ancient and Medieval History, reversing the heavier weighting seen in 2004. Environment & Ecology, though only 7 questions, punched above its weight by embedding contemporary twists like Kyoto Protocol mechanisms. Overall, the 2005 paper rewarded breadth over depth, privileging candidates who combined solid static preparation with a six-month current affairs window and quick reasoning under time pressure.
Subject-wise Distribution — 2005
| Subject | Questions | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Science & Technology | 34 | 22.7% |
| Geography | 30 | 20.0% |
| Current Affairs | 28 | 18.7% |
| Modern History | 20 | 13.3% |
| Indian Economy | 16 | 10.7% |
| Indian Polity | 10 | 6.7% |
| Environment & Ecology | 7 | 4.7% |
| Art & Culture | 3 | 2.0% |
| Ancient History | 1 | 0.7% |
| Medieval History | 1 | 0.7% |
| Total | 150 | 100% |
All Questions — UPSC Prelims 2005
Q: Itaipu Dam built on the River Parana is one of the largest dams in the world. Which one of the following two countries have this as a joint project?
(a)Brazil and Peru
(b)Paraguay and Ecuador
(c)Brazil and Paraguay
(d)Colombia and Paraguay
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. There are 25 High Courts in India 2. Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh have a common High Court. 3. National Capital Territory of Delhi has a High Court of its own. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)2 and 3
(b)1 and 2
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)3 only
Q: Which one of the following cities is not a former capital of the given country (Country given in the brackets)?
(a)Karachi (Pakistan)
(b)Auckland (New Zealand)
(c)Kyoto (Japan)
(d)Brisbane (Australia)
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Total land area of Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers 2. Ratio of land area to water area on Earth is approximately 1 : 4 3. Maximum percentage of Earth's water is in the Pacific Ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 3
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 only
(d)3 only
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Kyoto Protocol came into force in the year 2005 2. Kyoto Protocol deals primarily with the depletion of the Ozone layer. 3. Methane as a greenhouse gas is more harmful than carbon dioxide Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)1 and 3
(c)1 only
(d)3 only
Q: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a)Seikan Rail Tunnel — China
(b)Petronas Tower — Malaysia
(c)Appalachian Trail — United States of America
(d)Rogun Dam — Tajikistan
Q: Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Continents in the decreasing order of their percentage of Earth’s land?
(a)North America - Africa - South America - Europe
(b)Africa - North America - South America - Europe
(c)North America - Africa - Europe - South America
(d)Africa - North America - Europe - South America
Q: Match items in the List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Country) (A) Netherlands (B) Ukraine (C) Poland (D) Japan List II (Name of Parliament) 1. Diet 2. States General 3. Supreme Council 4. Sejm
(a)A–4 B–1 C–2 D–3
(b)A–2 B–3 C–4 D–1
(c)A–4 B–3 C–2 D–1
(d)A–2 B–1 C–4 D–3
Q: For which one of the following countries, is Spanish not an official language?
(a)Chile
(b)Colombia
(c)Republic of Congo
(d)Cuba
Q: Who among the following is not a recipient of the Bharat Ratna Award?
(a)Ustad Bismillah Khan
(b)Satyajit Ray
(c)Lata Mangeshkar
(d)Raj Kapoor
Q: Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (National Park/Wild-life Sanctuary) (A) Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary (B) Kangerghat National Park (C) Orang Sanctuary (D) Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary List II (State) 1. Orissa 2. Assam 3. Chhattisgarh 4. Goa 5. Tripura
(a)A–2 B–4 C–5 D–1
(b)A–4 B–3 C–2 D–1
(c)A–2 B–3 C–5 D–4
(d)A–4 B–1 C–2 D–3
Q: Which party was founded by Subhash Chandra Bose in the year 1939 after he broke away from the Congress?
(a)Indian Freedom Party
(b)Azad Hind Fauj
(c)Revolutionary Front
(d)Forward Bloc
Q: Who among the following is the President of the FICCI?
(a)Sunil Mittal
(b)Brijmohan Lal Munjal
(c)Onkar S. Kanwar
(d)Vivek Burman
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. During the year 2004, India’s foreign exchange reserves did not exceed the 125 billion U.S. Dollar mark 2. The series of index numbers of wholesale prices introduced from April, 2000 has the year 1993-94 as base year. 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
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Anhydrous sodium carbonate is commonly known as baking soda 2. Baking soda is used in fire extinguishers 3. Bleaching powder is manufactured in Hasenclever plant Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2 and 3
(c)3 only
(d)1 and 2
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. A geostationary satellite is at an approximate height of 10,000 km 2. FM transmission of music is of very good quality because the atmospheric or man-made noises which are generally frequency variations can do little harm. 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
Q: What is the order of magnitude of electric resistance of the human body (dry)?
(a)10² ohm
(b)10⁴ ohm
(c)10⁶ ohm
(d)10⁸ ohm
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. The axis of the earth’s magnetic field is inclined at 23 ½° to the geographic axis of the earth. 2. The earth’s magnetic pole in the northern hemisphere is located on a peninsula in northern Canada. 3. Earth’s magnetic equator passes through Thumba in South India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2 and 3
(c)2 only
(d)3 only
Q: Which one of the following is the landmark performance of Dr. V. Mohan Reddy, an Indian born doctor working in USA, during February, 2005
(a)Research on human stem cell which is likely to revolutionise treatment of deadly disease like cancer
(b)Successful open heart procedure called arterial switch performed on an infant
(c)Research on genetic engineering which can help in treatment of deadly disease like AIDS
(d)Successful brain surgery to revive the function of nearly dead brain of a premature born infant
Q: Pneumoconiosis afflicts the workers who work mainly in
(a)Tanneries
(b)Coal mining industry
(c)Distilleries
(d)Glass industry
Q: Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?
(a)Bimbisara
(b)Gautama Buddha
(c)Milinda
(d)Prasenjit
Q: Consider the following statements : The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for 1. the provincial autonomy 2. the establishment of Federal Court 3. All India Federation at the centre Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor General who established a regular police force in India on the British pattern 2. A Supreme Court was established at Calcutta by the Regulating Act, 1773. 3. The Indian Penal Code came into effect in the year 1860. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the battles fought in India in the 18th Century?
(a)Battle of Wandawash - Battle of Buxar - Battle of Ambur - Battle of Plassey
(b)Battle of Ambur - Battle of Plassey - Battle of Wandawash - Battle of Buxar
(c)Battle of Wandawash - Battle of Plassey - Battle of Ambur - Battle of Buxar
(d)Battle of Ambur - Battle of Buxar - Battle of Wandawash - Battle of Plassey
Q: Which countries played in the Lawn Tennis Davis Cup Final in the year 2004?
(a)Switzerland and United States of America
(b)Spain and United States of America
(c)Australia and Argentina
(d)Sweden and Belgium
Q: Where do the Sahariya tribals, who were recently in the news, live?
(a)Andhra Pradesh
(b)Assam
(c)Rajasthan
(d)Orissa
Q: Whose autobiography is the book “My Music, My Life”?
(a)Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
(b)Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
(c)Pandit Ravi Shankar
(d)Ustad Zakir Hussain
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. India is the only country in the world producing all the five known commercial varieties of silk. 2. India is the largest producer of sugar in the world. 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
Q: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a)Arjun : Indigenous produced Main Battle Tank (MBT)
(b)Phalcon : Cruise missile supplied by Russia to India
(c)Saras : Indigenously developed civilian passenger aircraft
(d)Operation Seabird : New Indian Naval Base at Karwar
Q: Match items in the List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Power Station) (A) Kothagudem (B) Raichur (C) Mettur (D) Wanakbori List II (State) 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Gujarat 3. Karnataka 4. Tamil Nadu
(a)A–4 B–2 C–1 D–3
(b)A–1 B–3 C–4 D–2
(c)A–4 B–3 C–1 D–2
(d)A–1 B–2 C–4 D–3
Q: For which one of the following, is Satara well-known?
(a)Thermal power plant
(b)Wind energy plant
(c)Hydro-electric plant
(d)Nuclear Power plant
Q: Which one of the following companies has started a rural marketing network called ‘e-chaupals’?
(a)ITC
(b)Dabur
(c)Proctor and Gamble
(d)Hindustan Lever
Q: Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
(a)Rourkela Steel Plant, the first integrated steel plant in the Public Sector of India was set up with the Soviet Union collaboration
(b)Salem Steel Plant is a premier producer of stainless steel in India.
(c)Maharashtra Elektrosmelt Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Steel Authority of India Ltd.
(d)Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a unit of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.
Q: Match items in the List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Person) (A) V.R.S. Natrajan (B) A.K. Puri (C) V. Thulasidas (D) Jogdish Khattar List II (Organization) 1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited 2. Air India 3. Maruti Udyog Limited 4. Bharat Earth Movers Limited 5. Indian Space Research Organization
(a)A 2 B 3 C 5 D 1
(b)A 4 B 1 C 2 D 3
(c)A 2 B 1 C 5 D 3
(d)A 4 B 3 C 2 D 1
Q: Which one of the following is the correct statement?
(a)The modern Kochi was a Dutch colony till India’s independence.
(b)The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.
(c)The modern Kochi was first a Dutch colony before the Portuguese took over from them.
(d)The modern Kochi never became a part of the British colony.
Q: Which one of the following was probed by the Liberhan Commission?
(a)Cricket match fixing
(b)Best Bakery Case
(c)Tehelka tapes Case
(d)Demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya
Q: Which one of the following airports in India is the first to be owned by a public limited company?
(a)Dabolim Airport, Goa
(b)Cochin airport
(c)Hyderabad airport
(d)Bangalore airport
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Champaner - Pavagadh Archaeological Park 2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station, Mumbai 3. Mamallapuram 4. Sun Temple (Konark Temple) Which of the above are included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)1, 3 and 4
(c)2 and 4
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Q: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a)Bahamas — Nassau
(b)Costa Rica — San Jose
(c)Nicaragua — Belmopan
(d)Dominican Republic — Santo Domingo
Q: Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given towns of Pakistan while moving from the North towards the South?
(a)Islamabad - Gujrawala - Peshawar - Multan
(b)Peshawar - Gujrawala - Multan - Islamabad
(c)Peshawar - Islamabad - Gujrawala - Multan
(d)Islamabad - Multan - Peshawar - Gujrawala
Q: Where are the Balearic Islands located?
(a)Mediterranean Sea
(b)Black Sea
(c)Baltic Sea
(d)North Sea
Q: Which one of the following countries does not border Lithuania?
(a)Poland
(b)Ukraine
(c)Belarus
(d)Latvia
Q: Match List-I (Distinguished Person) with List-II (Achievement/Known as) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (A) Guenter Grass (B) Trevor Huddleston (C) Dicky Dolma (D) Kim Campbell List II 1. First woman Prime Minister of Canada 2. Nobel Prize winner for literature 3. Leading campaigner against apartheid in South Africa 4. Youngest woman to climb the Mt. Everest 5. American violinist
(a)A 5 B 3 C 2 D 1
(b)A 2 B 3 C 4 D 1
(c)A 5 B 3 C 4 D 2
(d)A 2 B 1 C 3 D 5
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The Charter of the United Nations Organization was adopted at Geneva, Switzerland in June 1945. 2. India was admitted to the United Nations Organization in the year 1945. 3. The Trusteeship Council of the United Nations Organization was established to look after the affairs of territories detached from Japan and Italy after the Second World War or such territories not under the control of a country at that time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3
(d)3 only
Q: Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Distinguished Person) (A) B.V. Rao (B) C.K. Prahlad (C) John Kurien (D) Kiran Karnik List II (Area of Work) 1. Automobiles Manufacture 2. Fisheries Economy 3. Information Technology and Software 4. Poultry Farming 5. Management Science
(a)A 2 B 5 C 1 D 3
(b)A 4 B 3 C 2 D 5
(c)A 2 B 3 C 1 D 5
(d)A 4 B 5 C 2 D 3
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The Parliament cannot enlarge the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India as its jurisdiction is limited to that conferred by the Constitution. 2. The officers and servants of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the concerned Chief Justice and the administrative expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. 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
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Article 301 pertains to the Right to Property. 2. Right to Property is a legal right but not a Fundamental Right. 3. Article 300 A was inserted in the Constitution of India by the Congress Government at the Centre by the 44th Constitutional Amendment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)2 only
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Who among the following invented Lasers?
(a)Theodore Maiman
(b)Denis Papin
(c)Willam Moton
(d)Fancis Crick
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Articles 371A to 371I were inserted in the Constitution of India to meet regional demands of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. 2. Constitution of India and the United States of America can envisage a dual policy (the Union and the States) but a single citizenship. 3. A naturalized citizen of India can never be deprived of his citizenship. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)1 and 3
(c)3 only
(d)1 only
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Part IX of the Constitution of India contains provisions for Panchayats and was inserted by the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992. 2. Part IX A of the Constitution of India contains provisions for municipalities and Article 243Q envisages two types of municipalities – a Municipal Council and a Municipal Corporation – for every state. 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
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Lord Mountbatten was the Viceroy when Shimla Conference took place. 2. Indian Navy Revolt, 1946 took place when the Indian sailors in the Royal Indian Navy at Bombay and Karachi rose against the Government. 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
Q: Which one of the following territories was not affected by the Revolt of 1857?
(a)Jhansi
(b)Chittor
(c)Jagdishpur
(d)Lucknow
Q: Which one of the following places did Kunwar Singh, a prominent leader of the Revolt of 1857, belong to?
(a)Bihar
(b)Madhya Pradesh
(c)Rajasthan
(d)Uttar Pradesh
Q: Which one of the following pairs are correctly matched? Movement / Satyagraha Person Actively Associated With 1. Champaran Rajendra Prasad 2. Ahmedabad Mill Workers Morarji Desai 3. Kheda Vallabhbhai Patel Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Who among the following was not associated with the formation of U.P. Kisan Sabha in February 1918?
(a)Indra Narain Dwivedi
(b)Gauri Shankar Misra
(c)Jawaharlal Nehru
(d)Madan Mohan Malviya
Q: Who among the following drafted the resolution on fundamental rights for the Karachi Session of Congress in 1931?
(a)Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(b)Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(c)Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(d)Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Q: In October 1920, who of the following headed a group of Indians gathered at Tashkent to set up a communist party of India?
(a)H.K. Sarkar
(b)P.C. Joshi
(c)M.C. Chagla
(d)M.N. Roy
Q: At which Congress Session was the Working Committee authorized to launch a programme of Civil Disobedience?
(a)Bombay
(b)Lahore
(c)Lucknow
(d)Tripuri
Q: In which one of the following provinces was a Congress Ministry not formed under the Act of 1935?
(a)Bihar
(b)Madras
(c)Orissa
(d)Punjab
Q: Consider the following statements: On the eve of the launch of Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi 1. asked the Government servants to resign. 2. asked the soldiers to leave their posts. 3. asked the Princes of the Princely States to accept the sovereignty of their own people. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Where were the Ghadar revolutionaries, who became active during the outbreak of the World War I, based?
(a)Central America
(b)North America
(c)West America
(d)South America
Q: What was Komagata Maru?
(a)A political party based in Taiwan
(b)Peasant communist leader of China
(c)A naval ship on voyage to China
(d)A Chinese village where Mao Tse Tung began his Long March
Q: Who among the following was a proponent of Fabianism as a movement?
(a)Annie Besant
(b)A.O. Hume
(c)Michael Madhusudan Dutt
(d)R. Palme Dutt
Q: Recently, to which of the following countries did India offer to build a Buddha Temple?
(a)China
(b)Myanmar
(c)Thailand
(d)Vietnam
Q: Which one of the following is not an ASEAN member?
(a)Cambodia
(b)China
(c)Laos
(d)Philippines
Q: Consider the following: 1. Disputes with mobile cellular companies 2. Motor accident cases 3. Pension cases For which of the above are Lok Adalats held?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Second World Buddhist Summit was held in Bangkok in November–December, 2004 2. World Punjabi Conference was held in Jalandhar in December, 2004 3. 4th Meeting of the SAARC, Trade Ministers was held in Islamabad in November, 2004 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. The Parliament of Russia is called Federal Assembly. 2. The Council of the Federation in the Russian Parliament is the lower house 3. The name of the upper house in the Russian Parliament is State Duma. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)1 only
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Great Britain comprises England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 2. England covers less than 60% of the total area of the United Kingdom. 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
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. During the process of osmosis, the solvent travels from the concentrated solution to the dilute solution. 2. In the reverse osmosis, external pressure is applied to the dilute solution. 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
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) has been established by the International Development Association (IDA) to provide further assistance to low-income countries facing high level of indebtedness. 2. Singapore Regional Training Institute (STI) is one of the institutes that provide training in macroeconomics analysis and policy, and related subjects as a part of programme of the IMF Institute. 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
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Sensex is based on 50 of the most important stocks available on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 2. For calculating the Sensex, all the Sensex stocks are assigned proportional weightage. 3. New York Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)2 only
(b)1 and 3
(c)2 and 3
(d)None
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. The Headquarters of the International Organization for Standardization are located in Rome 2. ISO 9000 relates to the quality management system and standards. 3. ISO 14000 relates to environmental management system standards. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)3 only
(c)2 and 3
(d)None
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. In the First Round Table Conference Dr. Ambedkar demanded electorates for the depressed classes. 2. In the Poona Pact, special provisions for representation of the depressed people in the local bodies and civil services were made. 3. The Indian National Congress did not take part in the Third Round Table Conference. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar founded the Bethune School at Calcutta with the main aim of encouraging education for women. 2. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was the first graduate of the Calcutta University. 3. Keshav Chandra Sen’s campaign against Sati led to the enactment of a law to ban Sati by the then Governor General. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act?
(a)Lord Dufferin
(b)Lord Ripon
(c)Lord Curzon
(d)Lord Hardinge
Q: Where is the volcanic mountain, Mount St- Helens located?
(a)Chile
(b)Japan
(c)Philippines
(d)United States of America
Q: Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a)The Western Ghats are relatively higher in their northern region
(b)The Anaimudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats
(c)Tapti river lies to the south of Satpura.
(d)The Narmada and the Tapi river valleys are said to be old rift valleys.
Q: Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of the following?
(a)Chambal Project
(b)Kosi Project
(c)Damodar Valley Project
(d)Bhakra Nangal Project
Q: Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given hills starting from the north and going towards the south?
(a)Nallamalai Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Javadi Hills – Anaimalai Hills
(b)Anaimalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Nallamalai Hills
(c)Nallamalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Anaimalai Hills
(d)Anaimalai Hills – Nallamalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills
Q: Which one of the following is not a Biosphere Reserve?
(a)Agasthyamalai
(b)Nallamalai
(c)Nilgiri
(d)Panchmarhi
Q: Assertion (A): The same face of the Moon is always presented to the Earth. Reason (R): The Moon rotates about its own axis in 23½ days which is about the same time that it takes to orbit the Earth.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Assertion (A): Existence of human life on Venus is highly improbable. Reason (R): Venus has extremely high level of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Assertion (A): All the proteins in our food are digested in small intestine only. Reason (R): The protein-digesting enzymes from pancreas are released into small intestine.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Assertion (A): Amoeba reproduces by fission. Reason (R): All unicellular organisms reproduce by asexual methods.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Assertion (A): Wind patterns are clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Reason (R): The directions of wind patterns in the northern and the southern hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis Effect.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Assertion (A): The main constituent of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas is methane. Reason (R): Methane can be used directly for burning in homes and factories where it can be supplied through pipelines.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Assertion (A): The person with diabetes insipidus feels thirsty. Reason (R): A person with diabetes insipidus suffers from excess secretion of vasopressin.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Vigyan Rail is a Science Exhibition on wheels organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2. Vigyan Prasar is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. 3. EDUSAT, the ISRO’s educational satellite was launched from French Guyana in 2004. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)None
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is liquefied under extremely cold temperatures and high pressure to facilitate storage or transportation in specially designed vessels. 2. First LNG terminal in India was built in Hassan. 3. Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) are separated from LPG and these include ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 3
(c)2 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Which is Krishnan’s hometown?
(a)Ahmedabad
(b)Cuttack
(c)Bhopal
(d)Cannot be determined
Q: Which College is situated in Inder’s hometown?
(a)Commerce
(b)Medical
(c)Economics
(d)Commerce or Medical
Q: Who studies in Bhopal?
(a)Gopal
(b)Harsh
(c)Gopal or Inder
(d)Inder or Harsh
Q: If Inder studies in Ahmedabad, then which one of the following is the correct combination of Person–Hometown–Place of Study?
(a)Gopal – Ernakulam – Delhi
(b)Jai – Ahmedabad – Ernakulam
(c)Krishnan – Delhi – Ernakulam
(d)Harsh – Bhopal – Delhi
Q: Left pan of a faulty balance weighs 100 gram more than its right pan. A shopkeeper keeps the weight measure in the left pan while buying goods but keeps it in the right pan while selling his goods. He uses only 1 kg weight measure. If he sells his goods at the listed cost price, what is his gain?
(a)200 1/11 %
(b)100/11 %
(c)100/9 %
(d)200/9 %
Q: On a railway route between two places A and B, there are 10 stations on the way. If 4 new stations are to be added, how many types of new tickets will be required if each ticket is issued for a one-way journey?
(a)14
(b)48
(c)96
(d)108
Q: Aryan runs at a speed of 40 metre/minute. Rahul follows him after an interval of 5 minutes and runs at a speed of 50 metre/minute. Rahul’s dog runs at a speed of 60 metre/minute and starts along with Rahul. The dog reaches Aryan and then comes back to Rahul, and continues to do so till Rahul reaches Aryan. What is the total distance covered by the dog?
(a)600 metres
(b)750 metres
(c)980 metres
(d)1200 metres
Q: A big rectangular plot of area 4320 m² is divided into 3 square-shaped smaller plots by fencing parallel to the smaller side of the plot. However some area of land was still left as a square could not be formed. So, 3 more square-shaped plots were formed by fencing parallel to longer side of the original plot such that no area of the plot was left surplus. What are the dimensions of the original plot?
(a)160 m × 27 m
(b)240 m × 18 m
(c)120 m × 36 m
(d)135 m × 32 m
Q: Match List-I (Atomic Power Plants/Heavy Water Plants) with List-II (State) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists : List-I (A) Thal (B) Manuguru (C) Kakrapar (D) Kaiga List-II (State) 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Gujarat 3. Maharastra 4. Maha 5. Karnataka
(a)2 1 4 5
(b)3 5 2 1
(c)2 5 4 1
(d)3 1 2 5
Q: Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given substances in the decreasing order of their densities?
(a)Steel > Mercury > Gold
(b)Gold > Mercury > Steel
(c)Steel > Gold > Mercury
(d)Gold > Steel > Mercury
Q: Of which one of the following games is Shanmugham Venkatesh an outstanding player?
(a)Table tennis
(b)Hockey
(c)Football
(d)Basketball
Q: 2 men and 1 woman board a bus in which 5 seats are vacant. One of these five seats is reserved for ladies. A woman may or may not sit on the seat reserved for ladies but a man can not sit on the seat reserved for ladies. In how many different ways can the five seats be occupied by these three passengers?
(a)15
(b)36
(c)48
(d)60
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India has 20 parts. 2. There are 390 Articles in the Constitution of India in all. 3. Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules were added to the Constitution of India by the Constitution (Amendments) Acts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Who among the following was the Chairman of the Union Constitution Committee of the Constituent Assembly?
(a)B. R. Ambedkar
(b)J. B. Kripalani
(c)Jawaharlal Nehru
(d)Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
Q: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a)Southern Air Command – Thiruvananthapuram
(b)Eastern Naval Command – Visakhapatnam
(c)Armoured Corps Centre and School – Jabalpur
(d)Army Medical Corps Centre and School – Lucknow
Q: Which one of the following pairs are correctly matched? Publication — Group 1. Sportstar — The Hindu publication group 2. Business-world — ABP group 3. The Week — Malayala Manorama publication group 4. Reader’s Digest — Indian Express publication group Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a)1, 2, 3 and 4
(b)1, 2 and 3
(c)2 and 4
(d)1 and 3
Q: Which one of the following pairs are correctly matched? Enterprise — Industrial Group 1. VSNL — Bharti Group 2. Mundra Special Economic Zone Ltd — Adani Group 3. CMC Ltd — Tata Group 4. IPCL — Reliance Group Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)3 and 4
(c)1, 2 and 4
(d)2, 3 and 4
Q: In which country is Bandung, where the Conference of African and Asian nations was held which led to establishing Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), situated?
(a)Thailand
(b)Egypt
(c)Indonesia
(d)Philippines
Q: Match items in the List-I (Businesswoman) with List-II (Company) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-I (Businesswoman) A. Zia Mody B. Anuradha J. Desai C. Villoo Morawala Patell D. Meena Kaushik List-II (Company) 1. Venkateshwara Hatcheries 2. AZB & Partners 3. Quantum Market Research 4. Avestha Gengraine Technology 5. Biocon India
(a)A-4 B-1 C-5 D-3
(b)A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1
(c)A-4 B-3 C-5 D-1
(d)A-2 B-1 C-4 D-3
Q: A square is divided into 9 identical smaller squares. Six identical balls are to be placed in these smaller squares such that each of the three rows gets at least one ball (one ball in one square only). In how many different ways can this be done?
(a)27
(b)36
(c)54
(d)81
Q: There are 6 persons – A, B, C, D, E and F. They are to be seated in a row such that B never sits anywhere ahead of A. In how many different ways can this be done?
(a)60
(b)72
(c)120
(d)None of the above
Q: For which one of the following items is Tirupur well-known as a huge exporter to many parts of the world?
(a)Gems and Jewellery
(b)Leather goods
(c)Knitted garments
(d)Handicrafts
Q: Which one of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched? Project — Company
(a)Integrated Steel Plant at Jaipur (Orissa) — Steel Authority of India
(b)Power Plant at Jamnagar (Gujarat) — Essar Power
(c)Nabinagar Power Plant (Bihar) — Indian Railways
(d)Kayamkulam Power Plant (Kerala) — National Thermal Power Corporation
Q: Virtual water trade is being looked at by experts as a solution to the world’s water crisis. What does virtual water (VW) imply?
(a)Volume of heavy water required to replace ordinary water.
(b)Volume of water required to produce a commodity or service.
(c)Volume of water saved by using rainwater harvesting.
(d)Volume of water utilized by an effective flood control.
Q: Consider the following statements concerning the Indian Railways: 1. The Headquarters of the North Western Railway are located at Jodhpur. 2. ‘Indrail pass’ – a travel-as-you-please ticket has been created especially for freedom fighters and sportspersons who have represented India in any game/sport. 3. Fairy Queen is a train using the world’s oldest working engine and the Indian Railways conduct a journey of wildlife and heritage sites on it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 2
(d)None
Q: 300 persons are participating in a meeting, out of which 120 are foreigners and the rest are Indians. Out of the Indians there are 110 men who are not judges; 160 are men judges, and 35 are women judges. There are no foreign judges. How many Indian women attended the meeting?
(a)35
(b)45
(c)55
(d)60
Q: There are 6 persons: A, B, C, D, E and F. (i) A has 3 items more than C (ii) D has 2 items less than B (iii) E has 6 items less than F (iv) C has 2 items more than E (v) F has 3 items more than D Which one of the following figures CANNOT be equal to the total number of items possessed by all the 6 persons?
(a)41
(b)47
(c)53
(d)58
Q: Ten identical particles are moving randomly inside a closed box. What is the probability that at any given point of time all ten particles will be lying in the same half of the box?
(a)1/2
(b)1/5
(c)2/11
(d)1/512
Q: An equilateral triangular plate is to be cut into a number of identical small equilateral triangular plates. Which one of the following can be a possible value of n?
(a)196
(b)216
(c)256
(d)296
Q: There are 10 identical coins and each one of them has ‘H’ engraved on one face and ‘T’ engraved on the other face. These 10 coins are lying on a table and each one of them has the ‘H’ face as the upper face. In one attempt, exactly four (neither more nor less) coins can be turned upside down. What is the minimum number of attempts in which the ‘T’ faces of all the 10 coins can be brought to be the upper faces?
(a)4
(b)7
(c)8
(d)Not possible
Q: Which one of the following states border Uttar Pradesh? 1. Punjab 2. Rajasthan 3. Chhattisgarh 4. Jharkhand Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a)1, 2, 3 and 4
(b)2, 3 and 4
(c)1 and 4
(d)1 and 3
Q: Which one of the following cities is the seat of Parliament of South Africa?
(a)Pretoria
(b)Durban
(c)Johannesburg
(d)Cape Town
Q: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? British Prime Minister — Political Party
(a)John Major — Conservative Party
(b)James Callaghan — Labour Party
(c)Harold Wilson — Conservative Party
(d)Margaret Thatcher — Conservative Party
Q: Match items in the List-I with those in the List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-I (Location) A. Kakinada B. Dundigal C. Margao D. Bhadrachalam List-II (Known For / In News For) 1. Skybus Metro rail test-run 2. TIC paper board unit 3. Bio-diesel plant 4. Indian Air Force Academy
(a)A-2 B-1 C-4 D-3
(b)A-3 B-4 C-1 D-2
(c)A-2 B-4 C-1 D-3
(d)A-3 B-1 C-4 D-2
Q: In which one of the following countries is Tamil a major language?
(a)Myanmar
(b)Indonesia
(c)Mauritius
(d)Singapore
Q: Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Indian cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall?
(a)Kochi – Kolkata – Delhi – Patna
(b)Kolkata – Kochi – Patna – Delhi
(c)Kochi – Kolkata – Patna – Delhi
(d)Kolkata – Kochi – Delhi – Patna
Q: Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-I (City) A. Washington D.C. B. Berlin C. Paris D. Madrid List-II (River) 1. River Manzanares 2. River Seine 3. River Spree 4. River Potomac
(a)A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1
(b)A-4 B-1 C-2 D-3
(c)A-2 B-1 C-4 D-3
(d)A-4 B-3 C-2 D-1
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of the United States of America came into force in the year 1810. 2. All revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives of the US Congress. 3. George W. Bush is the only President in the history of the United States of America whose father was also the President of the United States of America. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 2
(d)2 and 3
Q: Which one of the following diseases of milching animals are infectious? 1. Foot and Mouth disease 2. Anthrax 3. Black Quarter 4. Cowpox Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2, 3 and 4
(c)1 and 4
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Q: Under which one of the Ministries of the Government of India does the Food and Nutrition Board work?
(a)Ministry of Agriculture
(b)Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(c)Ministry of Human Resource Development
(d)Ministry of Rural Development
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Dengue is a protozoan disease transmitted by mosquitoes. 2. Retro-orbital pain is not a symptom of Dengue. 3. Skin rash and bleeding from nose and gums are some of the symptoms of Dengue. Which one of the following statements is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2
(b)3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1 and 3
Q: Who among the following is not a member of the Investment Commission formed in December, 2004?
(a)Ratan Tata
(b)Deepak Parekh
(c)Ashok Ganguly
(d)Kumaramangalam Birla
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Silent Valley National Park is in the Nallamalai range. 2. Pathrakkadavu Hydroelectric Project is proposed to be built near the Silent Valley National Park. 3. The Kunthi river originates in Silent Valley’s rainforests. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 3
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: In which one of the following countries did hundreds of people die in the year 2004 as a result of flooding and mudslides triggered by Tropical Storm Jeanne?
(a)Colombia
(b)Haiti
(c)Sudan
(d)Ghana
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Area-wise, Chhattisgarh is larger than West Bengal. 2. According to the 2001 Census, the population of West Bengal is larger than that of Chhattisgarh. 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
Q: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? Current Name — Old Name
(a)Harare — Salisbury
(b)Ethiopia — Abyssinia
(c)Ghana — Dutch Guiana
(d)Kinshasa — Leopoldville
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
(a)The First Meeting of the Parties (MOP-1) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was held in the Philippines in 2004.
(b)India is not a signatory to the Biosafety Protocol/Convention on Biological Diversity.
(c)The Biosafety Protocol deals with genetically modified organisms.
(d)The United States of America is a member of the Biosafety Protocol/Convention on Biological Diversity.
Q: Where was the world’s largest ever meet on HIV/AIDS held in July, 2004?
(a)Bangkok
(b)Singapore
(c)New York
(d)Rome
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Global Trust Bank has been amalgamated with the Punjab National Bank. 2. The second report of the Kelkar Committee dealing with direct and indirect taxes has maintained its original recommendations, including the abolition of exemptions relating to housing loans. 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
Q: Which one of the following are the correct statements on the basis of Census-2001?
(a)Bihar has the highest percentage of the Scheduled Castes of its population.
(b)The decadal growth of population of India (1991-2001) has been below 20 %.
(c)Mizoram is the Indian State with the least population.
(d)Pondicherry has the highest sex ratio among the Union Territories.
Q: The Constitution (98th Amendment) Act is related to:
(a)Empowering the Centre to levy and appropriate service tax
(b)The Constitution of the National Judicial Commission
(c)Readjustment of electoral constituencies on the basis of the Population Census 2001
(d)The demarcation of new boundaries between States
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. India is the second country in the world to adopt a National Family Planning Programme. 2. The National Population Policy of India, 2000 seeks to achieve replacement level of fertility by 2010 with a population of 111 crores. 3. Kerala is the first State in India to achieve replacement level of fertility. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Match items in List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-I (Lawn Tennis Tournament) A. French Open 2004 B. Wimbledon 2004 C. US Open 2004 D. Australian Open 2004 List-II (Winner of Women’s Singles) 1. Svetlana Kuznetsova 2. Anastasia Myskina 3. Maria Sharapova 4. Serena Williams 5. Justine Henin Harden
(a)5 1 4 2
(b)2 3 1 5
(c)5 3 1 2
(d)2 1 4 5
Q: Match items in List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List-I (Former Sportsperson) A. Wally Grout B. Eusébio C. Rod Laver D. Mark Spitz List-II (Game/Sport) 1. Swimming 2. Lawn Tennis 3. Cricket 4. Football 5. Basketball
(a)3 5 2 4
(b)2 4 3 1
(c)3 4 2 1
(d)2 5 3 4
Q: Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a)There is no definition of the Scheduled Tribe in the Constitution of India.
(b)North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country’s tribal population.
(c)The people known as Todas live in the Nilgiri area.
(d)Lotha is a language spoken in Nagaland.
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The forest cover in India constitutes around 20 % of its geographical area. Out of the total forest cover, dense forest constitutes around 40 %. 2. The National Forestry Action Programme aims at bringing one-third of the area of India under tree/forest cover. 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
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The Man Booker Prize is awarded to citizens of any of the countries of the British Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. 2. A leading London-based software company underwrites the Man Booker Prize presently. 3. The winner of the Man Booker Prize in the year 2004 is a South Asian. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 3
(c)2 and 3
(d)1, 2 and 3
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The number of post offices in India is in excess of 1.5 lakhs. 2. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was formed in the year 1997. 3. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established in the year 2000. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 3
(b)1 and 2
(c)1 only
(d)3 only
Q: Which one of the following pairs are correctly matched? Person — Award 1. Champa Devi Shukla — Goldman Environmental Prize 2. Dr. P. Sri Ramachandrudu — Vachaspati Puraskar 3. Ela Ramesh Bhatt — Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and Management 4. Upamanyu Chatterjee — Lalit Kala Ratna Award Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a)1 and 2
(b)1, 2 and 3
(c)3 and 4
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the 2005 GS paper compare with the 2004 paper in terms of difficulty?▼
While 2004 had a slightly tougher spread with more high-difficulty questions, the 2005 paper was largely moderate. Only 3% of questions were rated difficult and more than one-third were easy, making it marginally more scoring for well-prepared candidates.
Which sections were considered the safest scoring zones in 2005?▼
Indian Polity and Modern History offered the highest accuracy potential because most questions were direct and fact based. Additionally, Geography and basic Science (physics, chemistry fundamentals) contained many conceptual yet straightforward items that rewarded textbook knowledge.
What study strategy does the 2005 paper suggest for future aspirants?▼
Maintain broad coverage across the syllabus, but allocate extra hours to Science–Tech, Geography and Current Affairs. Focus on conceptual clarity that permits elimination, keep current events notes updated for at least the previous 18 months, and practice timed MCQs to handle moderate-level reasoning under speed constraints.