General Studies II practice

30 prelims questions on governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations, drawn from 18 recent editions. Tap an option to check it.

Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT one of the six pillars of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0)?

   1. A Packaging and testing
   2. B Retail distribution
   3. C Design
   4. D Talent development

2. What is the maximum subsidy percentage provided for R&D projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0)?

   1. A 40%
   2. B 50%
   3. C 75%
   4. D 60%

3. Which Article of the Indian Constitution directs the State to make effective provision for securing the right to work, within the limits of its economic capacity?

   1. A Article 21
   2. B Article 41
   3. C Article 23
   4. D Article 39

4. In the case of Sanjit Roy vs State of Rajasthan (1983), the Supreme Court observed that payment of wages below the minimum wage is equivalent to:

   1. A Violation of the right to equality
   2. B Forced labour
   3. C An infringement of the right to form associations
   4. D Violation of the right to property

5. Which of the following is a primary argument cited by proponents for the implementation of simultaneous elections in India?

   1. A To increase the frequency of state-level legislative sessions
   2. B To eliminate the requirement for President's Rule in states
   3. C To reduce the impact of the Model Code of Conduct on development projects
   4. D To centralise all election-related expenditure under the Union government

6. 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

7. What is the primary funding structure for the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) for most states?

   1. A 50% Central and 50% State contribution
   2. B 60% Central and 40% State contribution
   3. C 75% Central and 25% State contribution
   4. D 100% Central funding

8. Which constitutional amendment extended the freeze on the number of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 census until the year 2026?

   1. A 84th Amendment Act
   2. B 106th Amendment Act
   3. C 101st Amendment Act
   4. D 42nd Amendment Act

9. What is the primary constitutional principle cited in Article 81(2) regarding the distribution of Lok Sabha seats among States?

   1. A Proportional representation based on the most recent census data
   2. B Reservation of seats based on the historical contribution of a State to the Union
   3. C The ratio between the number of seats and the population of a State shall be as far as practicable the same for all States
   4. D Equal number of seats for every State regardless of population

10. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the executive and the legislature in a parliamentary system as discussed in the context of electoral cycles?

    1. A The legislature is dissolved automatically at the end of every fiscal year.
    2. B The executive is elected for a fixed, unalterable term independent of the legislature.
    3. C The executive derives legitimacy from and remains continuously accountable to the legislative majority.
    4. D The executive is immune to motions of no confidence during its term.

11. What is the primary function of the Model Code of Conduct during the election period?

    1. A To regulate the total amount of public funds spent by the Election Commission.
    2. B To mandate the dissolution of state assemblies whenever the national parliament is dissolved.
    3. C To prevent the ruling executive from making opportunistic financial announcements or politically-motivated transfers.
    4. D To freeze all government administrative activities and public works.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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%

15. Which of the following best describes the core objective of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)?

    1. A Providing free healthcare services to senior citizens
    2. B Ensuring universal access to banking, credit, and insurance services
    3. C Promoting industrial growth in rural areas through tax incentives
    4. D Providing subsidized food grains to BPL families

16. The 'JAM' trinity, which has been instrumental in India's digital financial transformation, consists of which of the following?

    1. A Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Micro-insurance
    2. B Jan Dhan, Agriculture, and Market
    3. C Jan Dhan, Ayushman, and Micro-credit
    4. D Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile

17. Which Supreme Court judgment first recommended the creation of an independent, statutory National Tribunals Commission (NTC)?

    1. A Rojer Mathew (2019)
    2. B Madras Bar Association (2025)
    3. C L. Chandra Kumar (1997)
    4. D S.P. Sampath Kumar (1987)

18. According to the Supreme Court, why are tribunal decisions subject to the review of High Courts?

    1. A Because tribunals lack the power to interpret statutes.
    2. B Because the Finance Act of 2017 mandates such oversight.
    3. C Because tribunals are not constitutional bodies.
    4. D Because judicial review is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

19. 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

20. 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.

21. What is the primary constitutional requirement for passing a Bill to amend the Constitution of India?

    1. A Simple majority of the total membership of each House
    2. B Simple majority of the total membership of the Lok Sabha only
    3. C Absolute majority of the total membership and two-thirds majority of members present and voting
    4. D Two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House

22. 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.

23. According to the Anoop Baranwal judgment (2023), which of the following members was originally included in the selection panel for the Chief Election Commissioner?

    1. A The Chief Justice of India
    2. B The President of India
    3. C The Union Law Minister
    4. D The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

24. What is the primary focus of the 28nm semiconductor chips currently being targeted by the India Semiconductor Mission?

    1. A Legacy process nodes used in everyday electronics
    2. B High-end smartphone processors exclusively
    3. C Frontier-grade chips for advanced AI computing
    4. D Experimental quantum computing processors

25. Which of the following is a key change introduced in the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0)?

    1. A Exclusion of chip design talent from the scope
    2. B Reduction of capital subsidies to 30-40%
    3. C Increase in capital subsidies to 75%
    4. D Mandatory land provision by the Union government only

26. What is the primary mechanism for disbursing manufacturing-linked incentives under the India Semiconductor Mission?

    1. A Per-unit incentives disbursed after sales are completed
    2. B Upfront grants based on project proposals
    3. C Direct equity participation by the government in private firms
    4. D Tax holidays for the first ten years

27. Under the Indian Constitution, what is the primary requirement for passing a Constitutional Amendment Bill in Parliament?

    1. A A majority of the total membership and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in each House
    2. B A two-thirds majority of the total membership of both Houses
    3. C A simple majority of the total membership and a two-thirds majority of the total membership
    4. D A simple majority of the total membership of both Houses

28. Which of the following constitutional doctrines is frequently cited by legal experts when evaluating the validity of legislative amendments that seek to alter the fundamental framework of the Indian electoral system?

    1. A Doctrine of Severability
    2. B Doctrine of Harmonious Construction
    3. C Basic Structure Doctrine
    4. D Doctrine of Pith and Substance

29. Which of the following best describes the function of an OSAT facility within the semiconductor industry?

    1. A Semiconductor chip design and architecture
    2. B Assembly, packaging, and testing of semiconductor chips
    3. C Development of artificial intelligence software for chips
    4. D Raw silicon wafer extraction

30. Under the newly implemented Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G), what is the guaranteed number of employment days provided to registered households?

    1. A 150 days
    2. B 200 days
    3. C 125 days
    4. D 100 days