Q1. The Darfur genocide (2003–04), often cited as one of the 21st century’s earliest mass atrocities, occurred in which country?
a) Rwanda
b) South Sudan
c) Chad
d) Sudan
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
The Darfur genocide occurred in Sudan, when government-backed Janjaweed militias targeted ethnic African communities in the Darfur region, killing over 300,000 people and displacing millions (UN estimates).
Q2. Which of the following developments contributed to the fiscal constraints of Indian States in recent years?
- Rising share of cesses and surcharges in total central taxes
- Introduction of the GST regime
- Decline in flexibility of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)
Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
All three factors have weakened State fiscal autonomy:
- Cesses/surcharges are non-divisible and reduce shareable revenue.
- GST subsumed key State taxes, reducing fiscal independence.
- CSS are increasingly top-down, restricting design flexibility.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023:
- It mandates 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
- The reservation takes effect immediately after the Bill’s Presidential assent.
- The provision is valid for 15 years, subject to extension by Parliament.
- It includes reservation for women belonging to SC and ST categories within their respective quotas.
How many of the above statements are correct?
a) Only one
b) Only three
c) Only two
d) All four
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct – provides 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- Statement 2: Incorrect – implementation is conditional upon Census and delimitation.
- Statement 3: Correct – valid for 15 years, extendable by Parliament.
- Statement 4: Correct – includes sub-reservation for SC/ST women.
Q4. The 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) is chaired by which of the following?
a) Justice B.N. Srikrishna
b) Justice A.K. Mathur
c) Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar
d) Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
The Government constituted the 8th CPC (2025) under Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (Retd.) as Chairperson, with Prof. Pulak Ghosh (IIM-B) as part-time member and Pankaj Jain, IAS, as Member-Secretary.
Q5. “Knowledge diffusion, not mere accumulation, drives sustained economic growth.”
This insight aligns most closely with the views of:
a) David Ricardo
b) Robert Solow
c) Joel Mokyr
d) Milton Friedman
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- Robert Solow focused on exogenous technological progress.
- Joel Mokyr emphasised knowledge diffusion — how the spread and application of ideas, not just invention, sustain innovation and long-term productivity growth.
