General Studies I practice

30 prelims questions on heritage, history, geography and society, drawn from 21 recent editions. Tap an option to check it.

Questions

1. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025, what percentage of tertiary-educated youth in India are classified as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training)?

   1. A 14.8%
   2. B 74.7%
   3. C 40.1%
   4. D 29.4%

2. According to the PLFS 2025, which of the following statements accurately describes the trend in India's Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) between 2019-20 and 2025?

   1. A The AAPP is the only reliable metric for assessing female labour participation regardless of baseline levels.
   2. B The overall FLFPR for those aged 15 and above increased from 30% to 40%.
   3. C The rural FLFPR remained stagnant while urban participation declined.
   4. D The urban FLFPR increased at a faster rate than the rural FLFPR.

3. According to the proposal discussed in April 2026, to what number would the Lok Sabha seats be increased upon the implementation of the delimitation process?

   1. A 543
   2. B 850
   3. C 1000
   4. D 600

4. Which of the following landmark Supreme Court judgments is associated with the introduction of the 'creamy layer' concept for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)?

   1. A Indra Sawhney case
   2. B Davinder Singh case
   3. C Kesavananda Bharati case
   4. D Maneka Gandhi case

5. What is the primary objective of 'sub-categorization' within reservation lists as recognized by the Supreme Court?

   1. A To abolish reservation for the General Category
   2. B To increase the total percentage of reservation beyond 50%
   3. C To ensure benefits reach communities crowded out by relatively less backward groups
   4. D To implement income-based reservation for all categories

6. The Women's Reservation Act, 2023, seeks to provide what percentage of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies?

   1. A 30%
   2. B 33%
   3. C 50%
   4. D 25%

7. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the April-June 2026 quarter, what was the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above?

   1. A 4.8%
   2. B 5.4%
   3. C 4.3%
   4. D 6.7%

8. The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, mandates that the reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies shall come into effect after:

   1. A The next general election
   2. B A delimitation exercise based on the first Census conducted after the Act's commencement
   3. C The approval of the Supreme Court of India
   4. D A unanimous resolution passed by all State Legislative Assemblies

9. Which of the following best describes the government's current stance on the 'creamy layer' for SC/ST reservations?

   1. A It has already implemented a creamy layer for STs but not for SCs.
   2. B It supports the immediate implementation of an income-based creamy layer.
   3. C It argues that the creamy layer principle is not applicable to SCs and STs based on judicial precedents.
   4. D It believes the creamy layer is a constitutional requirement for all reserved categories.

10. In the context of the Population Census 2027, which of the following statements regarding the enumeration process is correct?

    1. A The Population Enumeration phase is scheduled to commence nationwide in August 2027.
    2. B The census will only enumerate Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as per historical precedent.
    3. C Caste enumeration is restricted to residents of Union Territories only.
    4. D The 2027 Census questionnaire is expected to include 28 questions, including caste details for all residents.

11. Which ministry is designated as the nodal ministry for the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?

    1. A Ministry of Tribal Affairs
    2. B Ministry of Rural Development
    3. C Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
    4. D Ministry of Panchayati Raj

12. Which method has the Union government decided to adopt for the enumeration of castes in the 2027 Census?

    1. A State-specific caste survey methodology
    2. B Mandatory self-declaration via Aadhar-linked portals
    3. C Direct verification using Central OBC lists
    4. D Open-column method

13. Which legislation provides the primary legal framework for the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes in India?

    1. A The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
    2. B The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
    3. C The River Boards Act, 1956
    4. D The National Water Policy, 2002

14. Which of the following statements regarding Article 17 of the Indian Constitution is correct?

    1. A It provides a comprehensive definition of untouchability to ensure legal certainty.
    2. B It abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form, including enforcement of disabilities.
    3. C It is enforceable only against State actors and government institutions.
    4. D It was introduced through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.

15. The Supreme Court judgment in 'Sukanya Shantha v Union of India (2024)' primarily addressed which of the following?

    1. A The regulation of religious rituals in private temples.
    2. B The constitutional validity of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
    3. C Caste-discriminatory provisions in prison manuals and the broader interpretation of Article 17.
    4. D The reservation policy for Scheduled Castes in private educational institutions.

16. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, what is the approximate Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India?

    1. A 2.4
    2. B 2.0
    3. C 3.0
    4. D 1.5

17. Which body is responsible for upholding the recommendations regarding the flow of water in the Cauvery river dispute as mentioned in the recent proceedings?

    1. A Cauvery Water Management Authority
    2. B Central Water Commission
    3. C Cauvery Water Regulation Committee
    4. D Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal

18. Which of the following best describes the 'creamy layer' concept in the context of Indian reservation policy?

    1. A A criteria used to exclude the socially and economically advanced members of a reserved category from reservation benefits.
    2. B A policy mandating the reservation of seats in the private sector for backward classes.
    3. C A legal framework for the horizontal reservation of women in public employment.
    4. D A mechanism to provide additional reservation to the most marginalized sections of society.

19. Which of the following constitutional provisions is most frequently cited by critics when challenging the validity of state-level anti-conversion laws?

    1. A Article 370 and Article 371
    2. B Article 356 and Article 360
    3. C Article 14 and Article 21
    4. D Article 324 and Article 326

20. Which of the following Supreme Court cases established that a second marriage by a Hindu man after converting to Islam, without dissolving the first marriage, is void?

    1. A Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India
    2. B Shah Bano Begum v. Mohd. Ahmed Khan
    3. C Shayara Bano v. Union of India
    4. D Lily Thomas v. Union of India

21. Which of the following statements regarding the Census 2027 questionnaire is correct?

    1. A It includes new data fields for parental details and specific identification documents like Aadhaar.
    2. B It is being conducted exclusively through paper-based enumeration across all states simultaneously.
    3. C It contains exactly 29 questions as per the 2011 standard.
    4. D It mandates the declaration of caste for all respondents without exception.

22. Which section of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, restricts the authority of States to impose taxes or cesses on mineral rights?

    1. A Section 9D
    2. B Section 9A
    3. C Section 9C
    4. D Section 9B

23. According to the India Time Use Survey (2025), what is the primary reason cited by women for remaining outside the labour force?

    1. A Childcare and domestic responsibilities
    2. B Preference for self-employment
    3. C Lack of safe transport infrastructure
    4. D Lack of educational qualifications

24. Which of the following activities shows the highest gender disparity in participation among adolescents aged 15-17 years?

    1. A Cooking
    2. B Shopping
    3. C Farm work
    4. D School attendance

25. Which of the following statements regarding the Census 2027 enumeration process is correct?

    1. A Identity documents like Aadhaar and passport are mandatory for all respondents to provide.
    2. B The Census 2027 questionnaire contains the same number of questions as the 2011 Census.
    3. C The Census 2027 follows an extended de facto pattern of counting individuals present at a location.
    4. D Self-enumeration is available to all citizens across India via a web portal.

26. Which of the following statements regarding the Census 2027 notification is correct?

    1. A The reference date for the population count is uniform across all states and union territories.
    2. B The 2011 Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) was conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
    3. C The Census 2027 exercise excludes the collection of digital identity documents like Aadhaar.
    4. D The Census 2027 questionnaire contains 40 questions, including 13 new data fields.

27. Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which entry primarily deals with land?

    1. A Entry 18 of the State List
    2. B Entry 1 of the Union List
    3. C Entry 25 of the Concurrent List
    4. D Entry 54 of the Union List

28. What is the primary definition of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the context of urban planning?

    1. A The ratio of a building’s total built-up area to the total area of the plot
    2. B The percentage of land reserved for public green spaces in a residential project
    3. C The ratio of commercial floor space to residential floor space in a mixed-use zone
    4. D The ratio of the total population to the total land area of a city

29. Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which entry typically covers land, including land for mineral extraction?

    1. A Entry 18 of the Concurrent List
    2. B Entry 18 of the State List
    3. C Entry 54 of the Union List
    4. D Entry 18 of the Union List

30. Which body is primarily responsible for the regulation and implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award as modified by the Supreme Court?

    1. A Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal
    2. B Cauvery Water Management Authority
    3. C Central Water Commission
    4. D National Water Development Agency