Q1. Who started Bhoodan Movement in India ?
(a) Gandhiji
(b) Jayaprakash Narayan
(c) Vinoba Bhave
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru
(UPSC Prelims 1980)
Answer: (c) Vinoba Bhave
Explanation: The Bhoodan Movement was initiated by Vinoba Bhave in 1951, aiming to persuade landowners to voluntarily donate land to the landless, promoting non-violent land redistribution.
Q2. To ensure the efficiency, economic condition; etc. there are Control Boards for each major project except one for which a statutory corporation has been set up. That project is
(a) Farakka Project
(b) Bhakra Nahgal Project
(c) Damodar Valley Project
(d) Ramgangq Project
(UPSC Prelims 1980)
Answer: (c) Damodar Valley Project
Explanation: The Damodar Valley Project is managed by a statutory corporation, unlike other major projects which are overseen by Control Boards, making it an exception in administrative structure.
Q3. The Bhilai Steel Plant was set up with the collaboration of the U.S.S.R., the Rourkela Steel Plant with the collaboration of West Germany, the Durgapur Steel Plant was constructed with the collaboration of
(a) Britain
(b) Japan
(c) U.S.A.
(d) Romania
(UPSC Prelims 1980)
Answer: (a) Britain
Explanation: The Durgapur Steel Plant was built with British collaboration, forming part of India’s early industrial development under the Second Five-Year Plan.
Q4. 1980 Republic Day award ‘Padma Vibhushan’ was awarded to an exponent of Hindustani classical music who is
(a) Vani Jairam
(b) Bismillah Khan
(c) Ravi Shankar
(d) Rai Krishna Dass
(UPSC Prelims 1980)
Answer: (b) Bismillah Khan
Explanation: Bismillah Khan, the legendary shehnai maestro, received the Padma Vibhushan in 1980 for his contribution to Indian classical music, especially in popularizing the shehnai.
Q5. Who was the second President of the Indian Republic ?
(a) Dr. Zakir Hussain
(b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(d) V. V Giri
(UPSC Prelims 1980)
Answer: (b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Explanation: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan served as the second President of India from 1962 to 1967, known for his philosophical scholarship and statesmanship.
Q6. Who designed the city of Chandigarh ?
(a) Le Corbusier
(b) Jacob Epstein
(c) Rodhin Auguste
(d) Ferdinand M. V. De Lesseps
(UPSC Prelims 1980)
Answer: (a) Le Corbusier
Explanation: The modern city of Chandigarh was designed by Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect, blending urban planning with modernist architecture.
Q7. Put the following mass communication media in the sequence in which they came to India ?
- Radio
- Television
- Films
- Printing
(a) 1, 3, 2, 4
(b) 1, 4, 3, 2
(c) 2, 4, 3, 1
(d) 4, 3, 1, 2
Answer: (d) 4, 3, 1, 2
Explanation: The correct sequence is Printing, Films, Radio, and Television. Printing arrived during the colonial era, followed by films in the early 20th century. Radio broadcasting began in the 1920s, and television was introduced in the 1950s, making it the most recent medium.
Q8. Which of the following events is not correctly matched?
(a) Liberation of Goa – 1961
(b) Death of Jawaharlal Nehru – 1966
(c) Indo-China War – 1962
(d) First General Elections – 1950
(UPSC Prelims 1983)
Answer: (d) First General Elections – 1950
Explanation: India’s first general elections were held in 1951–52, not in 1950. The other events are correctly matched, making this the inaccurate pairing.
Q9. One day before her death, Mrs. Indira Gandhi
(a) Inaugurated India’s first air defence-guided missile school in Berhampur (Orissa)
(b) Laid the foundation stone of an ordnance factory in Bolangir (Orissa)
(c) Addressed a public meeting in Patna
(d) None of the above
(UPSC Prelims 1985)
Answer: (a) Inaugurated India’s first air defence-guided missile school in Berhampur (Orissa)
Explanation: On the day before her assassination in October 1984, Indira Gandhi inaugurated India’s first air defence-guided missile school in Berhampur, Orissa, marking a significant step in defense modernization.
Q10. Find the correct order of the inception
(1) IRDP
(2) Nationalization of 14 banks
(3) Cooperative Banking
(4) Land reforms
(a) 3, 4, 2, 1
(b) 4, 3, 2, 1
(c) 3, 2, 4, 1
(d) 4, 2, 3, 1
(UPSC Prelims 1987)
Answer: (b) 4, 3, 2, 1
Explanation: Chronological order:
- Land reforms began post-independence (1950s)
- Cooperative banking developed to support rural credit
- Nationalisation of 14 banks occurred in 1969
- IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme) launched in 1978