Welcome to “Set 24” of our UPSC MCQ Series, an in-depth compilation designed to sharpen your knowledge across crucial domains for the Civil Services Exam. This set covers a wide array of topics, ranging from significant British policies like the Subsidiary Alliance and socio-religious reform movements in Modern Indian History, to the foundational elements of the Indian Constitution including the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, and DPSPs. It also delves into key economic concepts, Five-Year Plans, and the roles of vital constitutional bodies. Furthermore, we explore major national schemes impacting healthcare, social welfare, agriculture, and digital governance. Prepare to assess your understanding of India’s past, present, and ongoing developmental initiatives.
Set 24
1151. The Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by:
A. Lord Wellesley
B. Lord Dalhousie
C. Lord Canning
D. Lord Hastings
Answer: A
Explanation: The Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance was a system devised by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805. Under this system, Indian rulers had to agree to the permanent stationing of a British force within their territory and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance, effectively surrendering their sovereignty.
1152. The main aim of the Wahabi Movement in India was:
A. Social reform
B. Anti-British resistance
C. Education
D. Economic upliftment
Answer: B
Explanation: The Wahabi Movement in India, led by Syed Ahmed of Rae Bareilly, was primarily a revivalist movement that aimed at purifying Islam. However, it also developed into a sustained anti-British resistance movement, particularly in the North-West Frontier region, seeking to overthrow foreign rule.
1153. The Deoband Movement primarily focused on:
A. Armed rebellion
B. Religious education
C. Urdu journalism
D. Hindu-Muslim unity
Answer: B
Explanation: The Deoband Movement, founded in 1866 at Darul Uloom, Deoband, in Uttar Pradesh, primarily focused on the revival and spread of traditional Islamic religious education and the moral upliftment of the Muslim community, resisting Western cultural influences.
1154. Raja Rammohan Roy was a strong supporter of:
A. Idol worship
B. Sati system
C. Western education
D. Purdah system
Answer: C
Explanation: Raja Rammohan Roy, a towering figure of the Indian Renaissance, was a strong advocate for social reforms and modernization. He was a vocal opponent of the Sati system, idol worship, and the purdah system, and a firm believer in the benefits of Western education for the intellectual and social regeneration of India.
1155. The Hunter Education Commission (1882) was appointed to review:
A. Higher education
B. Primary education
C. Muslim education
D. Technical education
Answer: B
Explanation: The Hunter Education Commission (1882), headed by Sir William Hunter, was appointed by Lord Ripon to review the progress of education in India since Wood’s Despatch of 1854, with a specific focus on the state of primary education in the country.
1156. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was formed in:
A. 1917
B. 1920
C. 1925
D. 1930
Answer: B
Explanation: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the first central trade union organization in India, was formed on October 31, 1920, in Bombay. Lala Lajpat Rai was its first president.
1157. The first Labour Minister of independent India was:
A. Jagjivan Ram
B. Gulzarilal Nanda
C. B.R. Ambedkar
D. V.V. Giri
Answer: A
Explanation: Jagjivan Ram was the first Labour Minister in the Interim Government of India (1946) and continued to hold the portfolio in the first cabinet of independent India formed in 1947 under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
1158. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India to be:
A. Federal, Secular, Socialist
B. Sovereign, Democratic, Federal
C. Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic
D. Democratic, Federal, Republic
Answer: C
Explanation: As it stands today, after the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, the Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.
1159. The word “Socialist” was added to the Preamble by:
A. 40th Amendment
B. 42nd Amendment
C. 44th Amendment
D. 46th Amendment
Answer: B
Explanation: The words “Socialist,” “Secular,” and “Integrity” were added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, during the Emergency.
1160. The “Right to Constitutional Remedies” is described as the heart and soul of the Constitution by:
A. Rajendra Prasad
B. Nehru
C. B.R. Ambedkar
D. G.V. Mavalankar
Answer: C
Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, famously described Article 32 (Right to Constitutional Remedies) as the “heart and soul of the Constitution” because it provides a mechanism for citizens to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.
1161. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) aim at:
A. Political democracy
B. Religious uniformity
C. Socio-economic justice
D. Bureaucratic neutrality
Answer: C
Explanation: The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs), enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution, are fundamental in the governance of the country. They aim at establishing a welfare state by securing socio-economic justice and laying down the goals and guidelines for the state to follow.
1162. Article 370, now repealed, provided special status to:
A. Nagaland
B. Jammu & Kashmir
C. Manipur
D. Mizoram
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted special autonomous status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir, was abrogated by a presidential order on August 5, 2019.
1163. The Constitution guarantees reservation in jobs and education for SC/ST under:
A. Article 14
B. Article 15(4)
C. Article 19
D. Article 23
Answer: B
Explanation: While Article 14 provides for equality before law, Article 15(4) and Article 16(4) specifically enable the state to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, including reservations in educational institutions and appointments in public services.
1164. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is mentioned in:
A. Part IX
B. Part X
C. Part XIV
D. Part XVI
Answer: C
Explanation: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions are mentioned in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution, specifically from Articles 315 to 323, dealing with “Services Under the Union and the States.”
1165. The maximum age for President of India is:
A. 65
B. 70
C. No maximum age
D. 75
Answer: C
Explanation: The Indian Constitution prescribes a minimum age of 35 years to be eligible for the office of President, but there is no maximum age limit specified for the President of India.
1166. Who administers the oath of office to the President of India?
A. Vice-President
B. Prime Minister
C. Chief Election Commissioner
D. Chief Justice of India
Answer: D
Explanation: The Chief Justice of India (or, in his absence, the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court available) administers the oath of office to the President of India.
1167. Which Article deals with the powers of the President to grant pardons?
A. Article 72
B. Article 73
C. Article 75
D. Article 80
Answer: A
Explanation: Article 72 of the Indian Constitution grants the President of India the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit, or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offense.
1168. The Rajya Sabha cannot initiate:
A. Ordinary bills
B. Money bills
C. Constitutional amendments
D. Impeachment of the President
Answer: B
Explanation: The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) cannot initiate a Money Bill. Money Bills can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and, once passed by it, are sent to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may or may not accept.
1169. The maximum strength of Rajya Sabha is:
A. 200
B. 245
C. 250
D. 275
Answer: C
Explanation: The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha is fixed at 250 members. Of these, 238 are representatives of the states and two Union Territories (elected indirectly), and 12 are nominated by the President for their special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, and social service. The current strength is 245.
1170. The Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog in:
A. 2014
B. 2015
C. 2016
D. 2017
Answer: B
Explanation: The Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) on January 1, 2015, through a resolution of the Union Cabinet.
1171. The composition of Finance Commission is laid out in:
A. Article 275
B. Article 280
C. Article 285
D. Article 290
Answer: B
Explanation: Article 280 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Finance Commission. The President constitutes a Finance Commission every five years or earlier, to recommend on the distribution of taxes between the Union and the states.
1172. The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 relates to:
A. Lokpal
B. Urban Local Bodies
C. Panchayati Raj
D. President’s Rule
Answer: C
Explanation: The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992, gave constitutional status to and strengthened the Panchayati Raj Institutions (rural local self-governance). It added a new Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.
1173. The Right to Vote in India is a:
A. Legal Right
B. Fundamental Right
C. Constitutional Duty
D. Directive Principle
Answer: A
Explanation: In India, the Right to Vote is a statutory or legal right, specifically derived from the Representation of the People Act, 1951, though it also has constitutional backing (e.g., Article 326 related to adult suffrage). It is not a fundamental right.
1174. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted in:
A. 2004
B. 2005
C. 2006
D. 2007
Answer: B
Explanation: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted by the Parliament of India in 2005. It aims to provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
1175. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was passed in:
A. 2011
B. 2012
C. 2013
D. 2015
Answer: C
Explanation: The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was passed by the Parliament of India in 2013. It aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s population.
1176. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana was launched in response to:
A. Demonetisation
B. COVID-19 pandemic
C. GST rollout
D. Fuel price crisis
Answer: B
Explanation: The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), a comprehensive relief package, was launched by the Government of India in March 2020 specifically in response to the economic disruptions caused by the nationwide lockdown and crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
1177. Mission Indradhanush is associated with:
A. Railway electrification
B. Universal immunization
C. Swachh Bharat
D. Electrification of villages
Answer: B
Explanation: Mission Indradhanush is a flagship program launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in December 2014. It aims to achieve universal immunization coverage, targeting children under 2 years of age and pregnant women who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.
1178. Which programme promotes solar pumps for farmers?
A. PM-KUSUM
B. PM-FBY
C. eNAM
D. Kisan Urja Mitra
Answer: A
Explanation: The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) scheme, launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, aims to provide financial and water security to farmers by enabling them to install grid-connected solar power plants and stand-alone solar pumps.
11179. The POSHAN Abhiyaan is aimed at:
A. Electrification
B. Malnutrition elimination
C. Primary education
D. Rural banking
Answer: B
Explanation: The POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), launched in 2018, aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia among young children, women, and adolescent girls, and low birth weight. Its overarching goal is to achieve malnutrition elimination in a phased manner.
1180. The first woman Defence Minister of India was:
A. Indira Gandhi
B. Sushma Swaraj
C. Nirmala Sitharaman
D. Pratibha Patil
Answer: A
Explanation: Indira Gandhi was the first woman to hold the portfolio of Defence Minister in India. She held the position on two occasions, once from November 1975 to December 1975, and again from January 1980 to January 1982, while simultaneously serving as Prime Minister. While Nirmala Sitharaman was the first full-time woman Defence Minister (2017-2019), Indira Gandhi was the first woman to hold the portfolio.
1181. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is declared by:
A. Ministry of Finance
B. Ministry of Agriculture
C. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
D. NITI Aayog
Answer: C
Explanation: The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops is recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and then declared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by the Prime Minister.
1182. The Panchayat Elections are conducted by:
A. Election Commission of India
B. State Election Commissions
C. Collector
D. Governor
Answer: B
Explanation: As per Article 243K of the Constitution, the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats are vested in a State Election Commission.
1183. The District Planning Committee is mandated under:
A. Article 243ZD
B. Article 243G
C. Article 280
D. Article 324
Answer: A
Explanation: The District Planning Committee (DPC) is mandated by Article 243ZD of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 74th Amendment Act. It is responsible for consolidating the plans prepared by Panchayats and Municipalities in the district and preparing a draft development plan for the district as a whole.
1184. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) aims at:
A. Irrigation
B. Insurance
C. Fertilizer subsidy
D. Rural roads
Answer: A
Explanation: The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched with the motto ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’ (Water to Every Field) and ‘Per Drop More Crop’. Its primary aim is to ensure access to assured irrigation for every farm and improve water use efficiency.
1185. The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture is part of:
A. Atmanirbhar Bharat
B. National Action Plan on Climate Change
C. Doubling Farmers Income
D. NITI Aayog agenda
Answer: B
Explanation: The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is one of the eight missions outlined under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It aims at making Indian agriculture more resilient to climate change.
1186. The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 2019 replaces:
A. CPA 1985
B. CPA 1999
C. CPA 2002
D. CPA 2011
Answer: A
Explanation: The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 2019 was enacted to provide better protection of consumer interests and replaces the older Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
1187. MPLADS stands for:
A. Members’ Public Law Assistance Scheme
B. Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
C. Multi-Purpose Legislative Authority Scheme
D. Monthly Parliamentary Leadership Allocation
Answer: B
Explanation: MPLADS stands for Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme. It is a scheme formulated by the Government of India under which Members of Parliament can recommend works of developmental nature in their constituencies.
1188. One Nation, One Ration Card is implemented under:
A. NFSA
B. PDS Reforms Act
C. Direct Benefit Transfer
D. UIDAI Scheme
Answer: A
Explanation: The “One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC)” plan is implemented under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. It allows beneficiaries, particularly migrant workers, to claim their subsidized food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country by using their existing ration card with Aadhaar authentication.
1189. The TRAI regulates:
A. Insurance
B. Telecom sector
C. Real estate
D. Banking
Answer: B
Explanation: TRAI stands for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. It is a statutory body established in 1997 to regulate the telecommunications sector in India.
1190. The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was launched in:
A. 1995
B. 1997
C. 1998
D. 2000
Answer: C
Explanation: The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in 1998 by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with the objective of providing adequate and timely credit support to farmers.
1191. The Ujjwala Yojana provides:
A. Solar power
B. Free LPG connections
C. Drinking water
D. Internet to villages
Answer: B
Explanation: The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched in 2016, aims to provide free LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, thereby promoting cleaner cooking fuel.
1192. The first education policy of independent India came in:
A. 1955
B. 1968
C. 1986
D. 1992
Answer: B
Explanation: The first National Policy on Education of independent India was formulated in 1968, based on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1964-66).
1193. NEP 2020 replaces which education structure?
A. 9+2+1
B. 10+2
C. 5+3+3+4
D. 6+3+3+4
Answer: B
Explanation: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 replaces the existing 10+2 school education structure with a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure.
1194. The Atal Pension Yojana is focused on:
A. Corporate workers
B. Government employees
C. Unorganized sector
D. Students
Answer: C
Explanation: The Atal Pension Yojana (APY), launched in 2015, is a government-backed pension scheme primarily focused on providing social security to workers in the unorganized sector. It encourages them to save for their retirement.
1195. The National Commission for Women was formed in:
A. 1990
B. 1992
C. 1995
D. 1999
Answer: B
Explanation: The National Commission for Women (NCW) is a statutory body of the Government of India, generally concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting women. It was established in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
1196. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established in:
A. 1993
B. 1995
C. 2000
D. 2005
Answer: A
Explanation: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a statutory public body constituted on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
1197. Which body reviews the functioning of the Constitution?
A. Law Commission
B. NITI Aayog
C. National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution
D. Constituent Assembly
Answer: C
Explanation: The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) was set up by the Government of India in 2000 under the chairmanship of Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah to suggest possible amendments to the Constitution. This body specifically reviews the functioning of the Constitution.
1198. The first woman Chief Minister in India was:
A. Sucheta Kriplani
B. Jayalalithaa
C. Sheila Dikshit
D. Vasundhara Raje
Answer: A
Explanation: Sucheta Kriplani holds the distinction of being the first woman Chief Minister in India. She served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967.
1199. The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) was launched in:
A. 2004
B. 2005
C. 2006
D. 2008
Answer: B
Explanation: The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), aimed at improving the delivery of government services to citizens and businesses, was conceptualized and its roadmap approved in 2005, with formal approval and widespread implementation beginning in 2006. Thus, 2005 marks the effective launch of its foundational framework.
1200. UIDAI was established to:
A. Oversee GST
B. Monitor MNREGA
C. Implement Aadhaar
D. Regulate mobile networks
Answer: C
Explanation: UIDAI stands for the Unique Identification Authority of India. It was established in 2009 by the Government of India to implement the Aadhaar project, which involves issuing unique identification numbers (Aadhaar) to all residents of India.