[Paper] Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services HPAS / HAS (Prelim) 2010 General Studies

Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services

HPAS / HAS (Prelim) 2010

General Studies Paper

1. Given below ( in list I ) are the names of some authors who have written about
the Himalayan region and ( in list –II) the titles of their works. Identify the
correct match.
List I .............................List-II
a) Visakhadutta.......... i) Bachitra Natak
b) Guru Govind Singh......... ii) Si- yu- Ki
c) Hiven Tsang.......... iii) Kinner Desh
d) Rahul Sanskritayan.......... iv) Mudrarakshasa
Select from the codes given below:

a) a-i, b-iv, c-iii, d-ii
b) a-iv, b-I, c-iii, d-ii
c) a-iv, b-I, c-ii, d-iii   
d) a-ii, b-iii, c-I, d-iv

2. Identify the correct chronological order of the following events.
i) Suket- Satyagraha
ii) Dhami Firing
iii) Pajhota Andolan
iv) Formation of Himalayan Hill states Regional Council
Select from the code given below:
a) iii, iv, ii, i
b) ii, iii, iv, i
c) 1, ii, iv, iii
d) Ii, iii, iv, I


3. Which district of Himachal Pradesh is the largest producer of fish?
a) Chamba
b) Kangra
c) Bilaspur
d) Shimla

4. Who built the Tabo Monastery ?
a) Rinchen Jango
b) Ye Sashoad
c) Sarjan Rinchain
d) Lama Norbu

5. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
a) Sheep breeding Farm – Tal ( Hamirpur District)
b) Wild Life sanctuary- Shilli ( Solan District)
c) Fruit Museum- Jarol ( Mandi District)
d) Akshay Urja Project – Dangar ( Bilaspur District)

6. Which princely state of Shimla Hill state signed the Stand Still Agreement with
British Govt. in 1947?
a) Bilaspur
b) Sirmaur
c) Chamba
d) Suket

7. Given blow ( in list I ) are the names of some players and ( in list II) the name of
games with which they are associated. Identify the correct match.
List I List
a) Novak Djokovic i) Badminton
b) Leonal Messi ii) Cricket
c) Hashim Amla iii) Tennis
d) Kasumatsuti iv) Football
Select from the codes given below:
a) a- iv, b- i, c- iii, d- ii
b) a- ii, b- i, c-iv, d- iii
c) a- iii, b- iv, c- ii, d- i
d) a- iii, b- ii, c- i, d- iv

8. What is the name of the student who designed the new symbol of Indian rupee?
a) Uday Kumar
b) Udit Kumar
c) Vijay Kumar
d) Ajay Kumar

9. The Tunisian revolution is called jasmine revolution because jasmine is national
a) anthem of Tunisia
b) flag of Tunisia
c) flower of Tunisia
d) fruit of Tunisia

10. Identify the correct chronological order of the following kings of Gupta dynasty.
(i) Samudargupta
(ii) Kumar Gupta-I
(iii) Chandragupta-II
(iv) Skandagupta
Select from the code given below:

a) i, iii, ii, iv
b) iii, iv, i, ii
c) i, iv, iii, ii
d) iv, i, iii, ii

11. The year 1761 was very bad for India because
i. the Marathas were defeated in the third battle of Panipat
ii. Shah Alam –II was defeated by the British
iii. Lally surrendered Pondicherry to the British
Which of the above statements are true ?
a) i and ii
b) i and iii
c) ii and iii
d) i, ii and iii

12. Who set up “Abhinav Bharat”?
a) B.G. Tilak
b) B.C. Pal
c) Lala Hardyal
d) V.D. Savarkar

13. Which of the following was not included in the Government of India Act- 1919?
a) Bicamearl legislature at the centre
b) Extension of Franchise
c) Extension of reservation for different communities
d) Dyarchy at the centre

14. Who acts as President of India when the offices of president as well as Vice president fall vacant?
a) Speaker of Lok Sabha
b) Chief Justice of India
c) Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
d) Chief of the Army Staff

15. What is the upper limit for the total number of minsters in the union council of
ministers ?
a) 15 percent of the total strength of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
b) 15 percent of the total strength of Lok Sabha
c) 10 percent of the total strength of Lok Sabha
d) There is no upper limit

16. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
Dam/ Lake River
a) Gobind Sagar : Sutlej
b) Kolleru Lake : Krishna
c) Ukai Reservoir: Tapti
d) Wular Lake : Jhelum

17. “ Use of white marble, long legs and slender frames, human beings as central
characters and prominence of kings, princess and places” were the characteristic
features of which one of the following ancient art forms of India?
a) Amaravati School of Art
b) Gandhara School of Art
c) Mathura School of Art
d) Pahari School of Art

18. In the Individual satyagraha Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first satyagrahi.
Who was the second ?
a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
c) C. Rajagopalachari
d) Sardar Vallabhabhai

19. Which of the following hill range passes from Himachal
a) Shivalik Hills
b) Khasi Hills
c) Sayadhari Hills
d) Arravali Hills
20. According to latest census poupulation of Himachal is around
a) 70,00,000
b) 60,00,000
c) 1,60,00,000
d) 80,00,000

21. In which district of Himachal Jwalaji shrine is located
a) Hamirpur
b) Una
c) Kangra
d) Kullu

22. Which one of the following hindi authors does not belong to Himachal
a) Yashpal
b) Chaderdhar Sharma Guleri
c) Shanta Kumar
d) Rahul Sanskrityan

23. Shigri glacier is in
a) Jammu and Kashmir
b) Himachal Pradesh
c) Uttrakhand
d) Uttar Pradesh

24. Which of the following power projects is not located in Himachal
a) Dehar power project
b) Giri power project
c) Rongtong power project
d) Farakka power project

25. Which constitutional amendment led to the reorganization of Punjab leading to
the formation of Haryana and creation of UT of Chandigarh
a) 18th amendment of 1966
b) 38th amendment of 1975
c) 58th amendment of 1987
d) 36th amendment of 1975

26. With reference to the Growth of Indian Economy, consider the following factors
(1) Lack of infrastructure development
(2) Lack of investment in education and skills development
(3) Lack of reform in labour markets
Which of the above is likely to adversely impact the growth of the Economy
a) 1 &2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 &3 only
d) All the three

27. Consider four phases of demographic transition
(1) first phase, reduction in mortality rates while birth rate continues to be
high
(2) second phase, reduction in birth rate but the reduction in death rate is
higher than reduction in birth rate.
(3) Third phase, birth rates and death rates are both low.
(4) Fourth phase the population level stabilizes with number of births and
deaths being low and equal.
India is at present moving towards which stage
a) 1 to 2 b) 2 to e c) at state 3 d) 3 to 4

28. With reference to sustainable agriculture in India, consider the following for
India’s export oriented crop.
(1) cultivate waste land for export oriented horti-crops.
(2) Use of agri-technologies like ultra high density plantations for higher
productivity.
(3) Use high-tech cultivation practices like green house cultivation of exotic
vegetables.
Which of the above can be considered for sustainable agriculture?
a) 1&2 b) 2&3 c) 1&3 d) All the above

29. Consider the following in the context of food inflation in India.
(1) Unruly weather conditions
(2) Hoarding and Trader Cartel
(3) Shift in income brackets with the growth of the middle class
Which of the above are the possible reasons for food inflation?
a) 1&2 only b) 2&3 only c) 1&3 only d) All the three

30. RBI monetary policy is aimed at controlling inflation by increasing Repo rate and
Reverse Repo rate. Which one of the following rates has been announced on 25th
January 2011?
(a) Repo rate 6% and Reverse Repo 5.25%
(b) Repo rate 6.25% and Reverse Repo 5.25%
(c) Repo rate 6.25% and Reverse Repo 5.50%
(d) Repo rate 6.25% and Reverse Repo 5.5%

31. In order to achieve inclusive growth, Government of India announced MNREGA
program. In January 2011 the wages rates under the scheme have been enhanced.
The details of North Indian States are given below; which one of the following is
not correct?
(a) In Himachal Pradesh Non scheduled Rs. 120 and scheduled Area
Rs. 150
(b) In Jammu & Kashmir Rs. 121
(c) In Punjab Rs. 135
(d) In Haryana Rs. 179

32. Definition of Poverty measurement accepted by the Planning Commission in
India is on the basis of
(1) Calories
(2) Health
(3) Education
Which one of the above is the most appropriate?
a) 1 only b) 1&2 only c) 1& 3 only d) All the three

33. Referring to Microfinance institutions, consider the following
(1) High interest rate leading to suicides
(2) Promoters of Microfinance institutions growing rich
(3) Offering of small credit for consumption and of small loan for
microenterprises
Which one of the above led the Malegam committee to recommend for
interest rate cap for Micro finance institutions.
a) 1 only b) 2 only c) 3 only d) All the three

34. The success of financial inclusion by micro finance institutions depends upon
(1) Low cost human resources to Microfinance institutions
(2) Quick delivery of micro credit to the poor
(3) Availability of cheaper loans from banks to Microfinance institutions
Which of the above are important for the success of micro finance
companies?
a) 1 &2 only b) 2&3 only c) 1 & 3 only d) all the three

35. Which one of the following does not refer to the fiscal deficit in India
a) The difference between the government’s total expenditure and its total
receipts.
b) The elements of the fiscal deficit are the revenue deficit and capital deficit.
c) The fiscal deficit involves government financing excess expenditure by
raising taxes.
d) The fiscal deficit involves financing by borrowing from the Reserve Bank
of India and market borrowing.

36. Considering the contributions of three sectors Primary, Secondary and Tertiary to
National Income of India and the number of labour employed by them, Identify
which one of the following is not true?
a) Primary sector is contributing lowest to the National Income but employ
second largest number of people after services ( Tertiary sector)
b) Tertiary ( Service) sector is largest contributor to the national Income and
employ second largest number of labour after Primary sector.
c) Secondary sector is second largest contributor to the national Income and
employ third largest number of labour.
d) Primary sector is contributing lowest to the National Income but employ
largest number of labour in the country.

37. In the context of bilateral trade negotiations between India and European Union,
what is the difference between European Commission and European Council?
1. European Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations whereas
European Council participate in the legislation of matters pertaining to
economic policies of the European Union.
2. European Commission comprises the Heads of State or government of
member countries whereas the European Council comprises of the
persons nominated by European Parliament
Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?
a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 only d) Neither 1 nor 2

38. When the Reserve Bank of India announces an increase of the Cash Reserve
Ratio, what does is mean?
a) The commercial banks will have less money to lend
b) The Reserve Bank of India will have less money to lend
c) The Union Government will have less money to lend
d) The commercial banks will have more money to lend

39. Five year plans are finally approved by the
a) President
b) Prime minister
c) National Development council
d) Planning commission

40. India’s population growth is chracterised by
a) An increase in rate of death
b) An increase in the ratio of males
c) An increase in the rate of growth
d) An increasing number of old people and infants

41. The main aim of the community development programmes is the
a) Setting up of co-operative societies
b) Setting up of cottage industries
c) Setting up of agro based industries
d) All round upliftment of the rural people

42. Land reforms provide
a) Incentives to landowners to invest in technological inputs in land
b) Encouragement to actual tillers
c) Finance for irrigation and good seeds for landholdings
d) All of the above

43. Which of the following best defines free trade?
a) Imports are discouraged
b) There are no restrictions on exports and imports
c) There are no duties levied on export
d) Imported goods are made duty free

44. States earn maximum revenue through
a) Land revenue
b) Custom duties
c) Commercial taxes
d) Excise duties on intoxicants

45. The most important competitor to the Indian jute industry is
a) China
b) Bangladesh
c) Nepal
d) Japan

46. Stratospheric ozone Depletion is usually reported maximum in
a) January
b) March
c) July
d) September

47. Which of the following is sedentary cycle?
a) Carbon cycle
b) Water cycle
c) Phosphorus cycle
d) Nitrogen cycle

48. Pyramid of energy is
a) Sometimes inverted
b) Always upright
c) Rarely upright
d) Always inverted

49. Excessive intake of …… leads to decline of intelligence quotient
a) Aluminum
b) Lead
c) Silver
d) Iron

50. When is International Biological Diversity Day celebrated ?
a) May 22
b) June 5
c) December 2
d) April 22

51. In terms of global distribution, among different taxonomic groups of plants which
is reported maximum in India.
a) Gymnosperms
b) Angiosperms
c) Fungi
d) Algae

52. Where was the conference of parties ( COP -16) on climate change held?
a) Cancun, Mexico
b) Kyoto, Japan
c) Bali, Indonesia
d) Copenhagen, Denmark

53. How may biodiversity hotspots are located in India ?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 6

54. The countries that agreed to a protocol to UNFCC for reducing the Green- house
gases below the level of 1990 are known as ………….. parties.
a) Annex -1
b) Members of protocol
c) Kyoto nations
d) LTER

55. Who had coined the term hotspots in respect of biodiversity?
a) Norman Myers
b) Eugene Odum
c) Richard Lewontin
d) Raymond F. Dasmann

56. Excessive release of the pollutant carbon monoxide ( CO) into the air may
produce a condition in which oxygen supply in the human body decreases. What
causes this condition?
a) When inhaled into the human body, CO is converted into CO2 .
b) The inhaled CO has much higher affinity for hemoglobin as compared to
oxygen
c) The inhaled CO destroys the chemical structure of hemoglobin.
d) The inhaled CO adversely affects the respiratory centre in the brain.

57. Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight as compared to other
three?
a) Sand desert
b) Paddy crop land
c) Land covered with fresh snow
d) Prairie land

58. King Cobra is the only snake that makes its own nest. Why does it make its nest?
a) It is a snake eater and the nest helps attract other snakes.
b) It is a viviparous snake and needs a nest to give birth to its offspring.
c) It is an oviparous snake and lays its eggs in the nest and guards the nest
until they are hatched.
d) It is a large, cold blooded animal and needs a nest to hibernate in the cold
season.

59. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles produce one of the following as “exhaust” ?
a) NH3
b) CH4
c) H2O
d) H2 O2

60. Which bacterial strain , developed from natural isolates by genetic manipulations,
can be used for treating oil spills?
a) Agrobacterium
b) Clostridium
c) Nitrosomonas
d) Pseudomons

61. Consider the following:
1. Bluetooth device
2. Cordless phone
3. Microwave oven
4. Wi-Fi device
Which of the above can operate between 2.4 and 2.5 GHz range of radio
frequency band?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 and 4 only
c) 1,2 and 4 only
d) 1,2,3 and 4

62. Which one of the following is not biodegradable?
a) Woollen Mat
b) Silver foil
c) Leather bag
d) Jute basket

63. An Atomic clock is based on transitions in
a) Sodium
b) Cesium
c) Magnesium
d) Aluminum

64. A concave lens always forms an image which is
a) real and erect
b) virtual and erect
c) real and inverted
d) virtual and inverted

65. The latest nuclear power reactor of India recently attained critically at
Rawathbhata. Rawathbhata is a place in
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Orissa
d) Rajasthan

66. Which of the following metals is used for generation of Nuclear Energy by most
of the nuclear power plants?
a) Platinum
b) Uranium
c) Nickel
d) None of these

67. Match list 1 with list II and select the correct answer using the code given below
the lists
List I List II
Name of warhead ( type)
a) Tejas 1. Air –to air missile
b) Arjun 2. Ship-based missile
c) Dhanus 3. Main battle tank
d) Astra 4. Light combat aircraft
Code:
A B C D
a) 4 3 2 1
b) 1 2 3 4
c) 4 2 3 1
d) 1 3 2 4

68. Consider the following statements:
1. A person with myopia can see distant objects distinctly but cannot see
nearby objects
2. A person with hyper-metropia cannot see distant objects clearly
3. A person with presbyopia can see nearby objects without corrective glasses
Which of the statements given above is / are not correct?
a) 1,2 and 3 b) 1 and 2 c) 2 and 3 only d) 3 only

69. In terms of comparative position among mega diverse countries, India tops in
which of the following?
a) Birds
b) Reptiles
c) Amphibians
d) Fishes

70. What is the primary source of food for marine life?
a) Sea grass
b) Zooplankton
c) Sea Weed
d) Phytoplankton

71. Which of the following are absent in mother’s milk?
a) Vitamin C and Iron
b) Vitamin C and Phosphorus
c) Vitamin A and Iron
d) Calcium and Iron

72. The correct sequence of the different layers of the atmosphere from the earth
surface up wards is ?
a) Troposphere-- Stratosphere – Ionosphere – Mesosphere
b) Stratosphere --Troposphere – Ionosphere – Mesosphere
c) Stratosphere – Troposphere – Mesosphere --Ionosphere
d) Troposphere-- Stratosphere – Mesosphere --Ionosphere

73. When a magnet is heated
a) It gains magnetism
b) Neither loses nor gains magnetism
c) None of the above is correct
d) It loses its magnetism

74. One-fifth of the cars in a parking lot are blue and a half of the blue cars are
convertibles. If one –quarter of the cars in a lot are blue, then what percent of the
cars in the lot are neither blue nor convertibles?
a) 30%
b) 40%
c) 50%
d) 60%

75. In which years, Nobel prizes were not awarded?
a) 1939, 1943 and 1944
b) 1940, 1941 and 1942
c) 1944, 1945 and 1950
d) 1930, 1935 and 1940

76. Name the Scientist who was awarded Nobel Prize twice, both times
independently?
a) George E. Smith
b) Paul Krugman
c) Linus Carl Pauling
d) Perrie Curie

77. Who discovered Oxygen
a) B.L. Lacetae
b) Paul Muller
c) Andre-Marie- Ampere
d) Joseph Priestly

78. Who was the first woman to go in space?
a) Frideta Seidlova
b) Valentina Tereshkova
c) Henry Sterling
d) Olaus Romer

79. The Critical angle for a transparent solid is 30o. Then the refractive index is
a) 2.5
b) 1.8
c) 1.5
d) 2

80. Bodies revolving around planets are called
a) Asteroids
b) Meteroites
c) Satellites
d) Space ships

81. Choose the odd term out while using a computer
a) Mouse
b) Keyboard
c) RAM
d) Tablet

82. The Chemical name of Vitamin C is
a) citric acid
b) ascorbic acid
c) oxalic acid
d) nitric acid

83. A gene is
a) a unit of heredity
b) a garment
c) a kind of vitamin
d) a type of body cell

84. Tibia is a bone found in
a) arm
b) skull
c) leg
14
d) face

85. In which section of the plant does photosynthesis takes place
a) roots
b) stem
c) leaves
d) flowers

86. Rain water helps to increase in soil the content of
a) Nitrogen
b) Phosphorus
c) Calcium
d) Potash

87. Who among the following was a great musician in the court of Akbar
a) Amir Khusro
b) Tansen
c) Ramdas
d) Abul Fazal

88. Arya Samaj was founded by
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
b) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
c) Swami Viveka Nand
d) Gopal Krishan Gokhale

89. The congress session which gave the call for complete independence for India
was held at
a) Bombay
b) Lucknow
c) Calcutta
d) Lahore

90. Khudai Khidmatgars were organized by
a) Maulana Azad
b) Abdul Gaffar Khan
c) Mohammad Iqbal
d) Liaqat Ali Khan

91. Diamond mines are located in
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Karnatka
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Gujrat

92. Of the following the busiest ocean trade route is
a) Suez Canal
b) Panama Canal
c) North Atlantic Route
d) Cape Route

93. Which one of the following towns is situated at the highest altitude?
a) Lahasa
b) Kathmandu
c) Gartola
d) Thimpu

94. Choose the correct capital and currency of Libya
a) Manila-pesco
b) Lagos-nyere
c) Tripoli-Dinar
d) Triploi-bahat

95. Chernobyl is known for
a) Coal mine Disaster
b) Tsunami
c) Nuclear reactor disaster
d) Earth quake

96. Indo US Nuclear deal was signed by
a) Manmohan Singh and George W Bush
b) Obama and Manmohan Singh
c) Manmohan Singh and Hillary Clinton
d) Hillary Clinton and Pranab Mukherjee

97. Who was the Man of World Cup Cricket 2011
a) MS Dhoni
b) Yuvraj Singh
c) Sachin Tendulkar
d) Virender Sehwag

98. In the month of April 2011, Anna Hazare went on fast unto death to press for
a) Lok Pal Bill
b) b) Anti Corruption Bill
c) Bill against Dowry
d) Bill for 50 % reservation for women in Loksabha

99. Who is the author of National Anthem of India
a) Sri Aurobindo
b) Rabinder Nath Tagore
c) Bankim Chander Chatterji
d) Mohammad Iqbal

100. Which one of the following artists is not Bharat Rattan
a) Lata Mangeshkar
b) Bhim Sen Joshi
c) Bissmillah Khan
d) Amzad Ali Khan