GENERAL QUESTIONS - SECURITY, PLANNING, FINANCE
Q1. Which Article of the Constitution envisages security of the nation?
Article 355 envisages that the Union to protect the nation from external aggression or internal disturbances
Q2. Which Ministry is incharge of the internal security of the nation?
Home Ministry
Q3. Where is the Home Ministry located?
The Home Ministry is housed at the North Block of the Parliament building in New Delhi
Q4. Which organization is primarily responsible for security along the coastal regions?
Coast Guards
Q5. Police Force comes under the..........?
Department of Internal Security of the Home Ministry
Q6. When was the Police Service started in India?
By the British under "The Police Act" of 1861. The force was called then the "Imperial Police
Q7. When were the Indians allowed to be recruited for "Indian Police Service"?
In 1893.
Q8. When was it came to be known as "Indian Police Service"?
By the "Ishling Commission Report" in 1917, it came to be known as "Indian Police Service"
Q9. Under which Article of the Constitution, the Police is an "All India Service"?
Article 312
Q10. Where is the Police Training Academy for UPSC selected IPS candidates?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad started on 15.9.1948.
Q11. Who is the first IPS woman officer and what other distinction she has?
Kiran Bedi - National Tennis Champion and Magasasay Award 1994.
Q12. When was the CRPF set up?
Initially set up as "Crown Representative's Police" at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh in 1939 by the British. After independence came to be known as Central Reserve Police Force by an Act in December 1949.
Q13. What is the special battalion raised within CRPF to counter the Naxalite movement?
Combat Battalions for Resolute Action=COBRA in 2008.
Q14. What is the motto of CRPF?
Service and Loyalty.
Q15. What is Central Industrial Security Force?
A paramilitary force as part of the Armed Forces of India. It was originally established in 1969
Q16. What is National Cadet Corps?
Established by the NCC Act of 1948 and came into force from 15th July 1948.
Q17. What is the Central Bureau of Investigation?
A central organization established in 1963 - Earlier known as Special Police Establishment.
Q18. What is an INTERPOL?
International Police - Established in September 1923 and is headquartered at Lyon, France and has 190 member countries.
Q19. "Protection and Security" is the motto of ?
Central Industrial Security Force.
Q20. What is the motto of Indo Tibetan Border Police?
"Shaurya-Dridata-Karm Nishtha" meaning "Valour,Determination, Devotion to duty".
Q21. Which para-military force performs duty at the Wagah Borders?
Border Security Force.
Q22. "Friends of the Hill People" is the motto of?
Assam Rifles.
Q23. "Vayam Rakshamah" (We Protect) is the motto of ?.
Coast Guards.
Q24. When was Coast Guard established?
Established in 1977 (1.2.1977), it is headquartered at Delhi.
Q25. What is the para military force inaugurated by C.Rajagopalachari in 1948?
Territorial Army.
Q26. Kapil Dev and M.S.Dhoni are honorary officers of...........?
Territorial Army.
Q27. What is the motto of National Cadet Corps?
"Unity and Discipline" is its motto.
Q28. Which paramilitary forces is called "Black Cats"?
National Security Guards. Created in 1984/1986.
Q29. "Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha" (Everywhere the best Protection) is the motto of?
National Security Guards. (Black Cats).
Q30. What does the "Special Protection Group" take care of?
The security of Prime Minister and his family within and outside India.
Q31. Which City Police was the first to introduce finger printing of criminals?
New York City Police, US
Q32. Who are only two "Field Marshals" of Indian Army so far?
SHFJ Manekshaw (1973) & K.M.Cariappa (1983) - honoured in that order.
Q33. When did the Indianisation of the Indian Army began?
1932 - First intake of military officers from Indians, in the Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun.
Q34. Who, by virtue of the post held, becomes the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of India?
President of India.
Q35. Where is the Officers Training Academy for Army Officers?
At St.Thomas Mount, Chennai - Established in 1962
Q36. When from women have been inducted into the Commissioned ranks of the Army?
1992
Q37. Where is the Indian Military Academy located?
Dehradun - Uttaranchal - Established on 10.12.1932
Q38. Where is the Defence Services Staff College?
Wellington, Nilgiris District, Tamilnadu
Q39. Where is the Armed Forces Medical College?
Pune, Maharashtra. Established in 1948.
Q40. Where is the National Defence Academy?
Kadakvasla, Pune - Established in 1954.
Q41. What does " Infantry " mean?
Soldiers trained to fight on foot.
Q42. Which is the oldest of the Regiments of the Indian Army?
Madras Regiment.
Q43. Which is the first Rifle Regiment raised in India?
Rajputana Rifles - 1775
Q44. What are the Cavalry regiments in the Indian Army now?
Only two. 1. President's Body Guard, established in 1773 and 2. 61st Cavalry of Jaipur
Q45. Where are the MBTs manufactured in India?
Heavy Vehicles Factory, (HVF), Avadi, Tamilnadu. Established in 1965.
Q46. Who is considered as the forerunner/father of missile technology?
Tipu Sultan during third and fourth Anglo Mysore Wars.
Q47. BRAHMOS missile is named after?
BRAHmaputra and MOSkva rivers of the respective countries.
Q48. Where is the Missile Testing Facility in India?
Chandipur in Orissa on the eastern Coast Wheeler Island.
Q49. Which is the first and the latest missile to be introduced in Indian Army?
Agni in November 1993 to 1999 and Brahmos in 2006.
Q50. Who is the first Indian woman to join the Indian Army?
Priya Jhingan - joined in 1992 and commissioned in 1993.
Q51. Who is the first woman in Indian Army to raise to the level of Lt.General the second highest rank in the Army?
Punitha Arora - Commissioned in 1968 - She was a medical doctor.
Q52. Who are the "Maroon Berets" of the Indian Army?
Parachutists of the Indian Army.
Q53. Who was the Chief of Army Staff during the 1971 India Pakistan War of 1971 to liberate Bangladesh?
S H F J Manekshaw.
Q54. What is "piping-out" ceremony in Army?
The passing out parade and award of stars for Army Officers passing out of Officers Training Academies.
Q55. What is the ratio of fighting army soldiers versus soldiers in the supporting army staff?
Teeth to tail ratio. (32:1)
Q56. How many British Chief of Army Staff were there before it was taken over by Indian Chief after independence?
Two.
Q57. What are the major coded operations undertook by Indian Army?
Operation Vijay, Meghdoot, Cactus, Pawan and Parakram.
Q58. Air Force in India was established under which provisions and how was it known then?
By the Indian Air Force Act of 1932 and was known Royal Air Force from 8th October 1932.
Q59. When from Royal Air Force became Indian Air Force?
After independence it was known as Royal Indian Air Force and after 26th January 1950 it came to be known as Indian Air Force.
Q60. Who was the first Indian Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force?
Subroto Mukherjee 1.4.1954 - November 1960. (Actually he was fourth Chief of Air Staff after independence, the previous three were British).
Q61. What is the motto of the Indian Air Force?
"Nabah Sparsham Diptam" - meaning "Touch the sky with Glory"- taken from the II Chapter of Bhagvat Gita.
Q62. Who is the only person to be honoured with "Marshal of the Air Force"?
Arjan Singh in 2002.
Q63. When were women pilots inducted into the Indian Air Force?
December 1994.
Q64. What are the names of acrobatic display teams of Indian Air force?
Surya Kiran, Sarang (helicopter) and Sagar Pawan.
Q65. When were women pilots inducted into the Indian Air Force?
December 1994.
Q66. What is the name of the Special Commando Force of the Indian Air Force?
"Garuda" established in September 2004
Q67. Who is the only Indian woman to rise to the level Air Vice Marshal in Indian Air Force?
Padmavathy Bandopadhyay - in 2002.
Q68. When was Indian Navy established?
26.1.1950 ( previsous history see under Indian Navy Q.1)
Q69. What is the motto of the Indian Navy?
"Sham No Varuna" meaning "May the Lord of the Oceans be auspicious unto us".
Q70. Who was the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff?
Vice Admiral Ram Das Katari - April 1958 to June 1962.
Q71. What does INS stand for?
Indian Naval Ships
Q72. Where is the Indian Naval Academy?
Kochi - Kerala.
Q73. Which was the first war ship inducted into the Indian Navy?
INS VIRAAT
Q74. Who are "MARCOS" associated with Indian Navy?
They are marine commando forces of the Indian Navy. Established in 1987.
Q75. When is "Navy Day" observed?
4th December the day on which Indian Navy successfully bombed Karachi Port during 1971 India-Pakistan Bangladesh war.
Q76. What is SPAT of Indian Navy?
Sagar Pawan Aerobatic Team.
Q77. INS Brahmaputra is also known as ..........?
Razing Rhino - it is a guided missile frigate.
Q78. Which is the first war ship built by India?
INS Savithri - a patrol vessel.
Q79. Which is the first indigenously built submarine of India?
INS Shalki.
Q80. Which is the first war ship built by India?
INS Savithri - a patrol vessel.
Q81. Which is the first indigenously built submarine of India?
INS Shalki - Sishumar class diesel electric submarine inducted in 1987 by Shri Rajiv Gandhi.
Q82. What is INDRA related to Indian Navy?
It is the name for the joint exercises.
Q83. What is the largest and most lethal destroyer ship of Indian Navy?
INS KOLKATTA - with 16 Brahmos guided missiles - eight on both sides of the ship. Expected to be inducted in 2012.
Q84. What is the first indigenously built Nuclear submarine of India?
INS ARIHANT - to be inducted in 2011. Arihant means destroyer of enemies.
Q85. What is the indigenously built stealth warship?
Satpura - currently under construction.
Q86. Who was the first Indian to be commissioned in The Royal Indian Navy?
D.N.Mukherji - in 1928
Q87. Which City Police was the first to introduce finger printing of criminals?
New York City Police, US
Q88. F I R is the common terminology we hear with police transactions. What is it and what is the provision?
A.Filed under Sec.154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is the documentation of recording officially of any criminal activity as reported to him.
Q89. Which study of science is associated with police investigations?
Forensic Science.
Q90. What is "Shwetash-wa" related to Indian Army?
It is the daredevil motor cycle display team of the Corps of Military Police.
Q91. What are the various gallantry awards in Indian armed services?
Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal etc., (For details see under Awards Section).
Q92. When was the first squadron of UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle introduced in our country's security system?
January 2006 at INS Cochin and the UAV is "Nishant".
Q93. What is Laundry Bag, a slang, in Air Force?
Parachute.
Q94. What is INDRA related to Indian Navy?
It is the name for the joint exercises.
Q95. Who was the first Indian to be commissioned in The Royal Indian Navy?
D.N.Mukherji - in 1928
Q96. When was the Planning Commission set up?
March 1950
Q97. Which country's concept of planning is adopted in our planning system?
USSR.
Q98. Who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Planning Commission?
Prime Minister.
Q99. Who is the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission?
Dr.Montek Singh Ahluwalia - on Cabinet Minister rank and facilities - (as of 31.3.2012)
Q100. Who was the first Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission?
Chairman - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; Deputy Chairman - Gulzarilal Nanda.
Q101. Which five year plan had the objective of "Garibi Hatao"?
Fifth.
Q102. Which five year plan ended one year before its planned expiry?
Fifth.
Q103. Which Five Year Plan defined the "Poverty Line"?
6th Five Year Plan.
Q104. Who introduced the coin system in India?
Gupta Empire were the first to introduce gold coins during 390-550 AD.
Q105. Who introduced "Rupee" in India and it was made of what?
Sher Shah Suri, founder of Sur dynasty - made of silver.
Q106. "Rupee" is a derivation from?
From 'Rupakam' of Sanskrit meaning silver coin.
Q107. When was paper currency introduced in India?
1882 - by the British.
Q108. Other than India, which are the countries having "Rupee" as its currency?
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius and Seychelles are all Rupees. Indonesia - Rupiah and Maldives - Rufiah.
Q109. By which regulations, paper currency were begun to be printed in India?
Paper Currency Act of 1861 of UK.
Q110. When and which denomination currency was first issued by the Reserve Bank of India?
1938 - Five Rupee Note with King George VI portrait.
Q111. When was the " Security Thread" mark introduced for the first time in Indian currencies?
Immediately after the WWII, when it was detected that lot of fake currencies have been put into circulation presumably from Japan.
Q112. When and what was the first currency issued by Independent India?
Re.1/- in 1949 with Lion Capitol of Ashoka.
Q113. When was the Mahatma Gandhi series of currency issued for the first time?
1996
Q114. In how many languages the denomination of the currency is mentioned?
15 languages.
Q115. What is the name for the units producing currencies, coins and cash value papers?
MINT - in simple, "The Government Security Press".
Q116. Where are all the Mints located?
Mumbai, Kolkatta, Hyderabad (AP), Noida (YP), Nasik (Maharashtra), Mysore (Karnataka), Dewas(Madhya Pradesh) and Sabboni (WB).
Q117. Was there any occasion of demonetization in Independent India?
1978 - currencies of 1000 and 10000 were demonetized.
Q118. When is the annual Union Budget presented as a tradition?
At 5 PM on the last working day of February
Q119. Who as Finance Minister broke the practice of presenting the Union Budget at 5 PM (in the evening)?
Yashwant Sinha (BJP). He presented the 1999-2000 budget in the forenoon.
Q120. Union Budget is printed at?
At the press located at the basement of the North Block of Parliament.
Q121. Who is the only Finance Minister to present the Union Budget on his birth day?
Morarji Desai on 29th February (also his birth day) in 1964 and 1968.
Q122. Who was the first Finance Minister of independent India and what was he previously?
R.K.Shanmugham Chetty - he was the Dewan of Cochin Princely State.
Q123. Who is the only woman Finance Minister of India?
Smt. Indira Gandhi - 1970-1971.
Q124. Who, as a Rajya Sabha member, was the first to hold the Finance Minister portfolio?
Pranab Mukherjee. The next is Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Q125. Who is the first Reserve Bank Governor to become a Finance Minister?
C.D.Deshmukh.
Q126. Which service candidates from the UPSC ranks are recruited directly as officers in the Finance Ministry or other Central Government Financial branches?
Indian Revenue Service.
Q127. Income tax department comes under which department of finance ministry?
Department of Revenue.
Q128. When was the two voluntary disclosure of income scheme introduced?
1965 and 1977.
Q129. When was the first Income-Tax Act passed?
1961 - effective from 1.4.1962
Q130. When was PAN - Permanent Account Number introduced?
1972 - (New PAN system introduced from 1994 and is being updated at regular intervals).
Q131. What is CBDT?
Central Board of Direct Taxes.
Q132. What was Rastogi Panel?
A panel or committee to review issues related to service tax.
Q133. When the paper currency actually came into use?
AD 806 China
Q134. Which was the first European country to introduce paper currency?
Sweden in 1661.
Q135. In how many denominations of Indian currency Gandhiji's portrait appears?
Seven - 5,10,20,50,100,500 and 1000.
Q136. Which European major country has not accepted Euro as its currency?
Britain.
Q137. Which is the most commonly named currency in the world?
Dollar, followed by Franc.
Q138. What is "Intaglio" printing in currency?
Raised printing which can be felt by touch in the currencies.
Q139. Which country issued the "ship series" currency notes in recent times?
Singapore between 1984 to 1991.
Q140. Which country is the first to issue polymer bank notes (currency)?
Australia - 5 dollar - in 1992.
Q141. When was Reserve Bank of India started and under what provisions?
The RBI started functioning from 1.4.1935 - under Hilton Young Commission Report of 1926.
Q142. Where is the headquarters of the Reserve Bank of India?
Mumbai.
Q143. What is the sculpture found in front of the RBI Mumbai Office?
"Yakshini" - depicting "prosperity through agriculture"
Q144. What is the animal and tree found in the logo of RBI?
Tiger and Palm Tree.
Q145. Where is the staff training college of RBI?
Pune, Maharashtra.
Q146. When from the Reserve Bank of India became fully owned by India?
1.1.1949 by way of Nationalization.
Q147. How many Regional/branch/sub offices are there for RBI?
4 Regional, 15 branches, and 5 sub offices, with 22 branches in state capitals.
Q148. Who was the first Governor of RBI?
Sir Osborne Smith - 1935-1937
Q149. Who was the first Indian Governor of RBI?
Sir C.D.Deshmukh - 1943 - 1949 - Incidentally he is also the first RBI Governor to become a Finance Minister (1951-1957).
Q150. Who had the longest stint as RBI Governor?
Sir Benegal Rama Rau - 1949-1957 - 8 years.
Q151. Which was the first Indians managed Bank started in India?
Oudh Commercial Bank founded in 1881
Q152. Before nationalization which was the only Government owned commercial bank?
State Bank of India.
Q153. Who was the Prime Minister to nationalize the banks and from which date?
Smt. Indira Gandhi from 19.7.1969.
Q154. How many banks were nationalized at the first instance?
Fourteen banks from 19.7.1969
Q155. When was the second nationalization of banks took place and how many?
15.4.1980 -- 6 banks were nationalized
Q156. Jayaprakash Narayan described the nationalization of banks as...........?
"Masterstroke of political sagacity".
Q157. Among the nationalized banks, which bank foundation day falls on Independence Day?
Indian Bank 15th August (1907).
Q158. Among the nationalized banks, which one has the distinction of being inaugurated by Gandhiji?
Union Bank of India, 1920.
Q159. Which is the first bank in India to start the ATM services?
HSBC.
Q160. Which was the first full Indians contributed Commercial Bank of India?
Central Bank of India - 1911 - Sorabjee Pochkanwala.
Q161. When did India pledge its gold stock with Bank of England?
1991 - to meet balance of external payments.
Q162. How did Insurance activity begin in India?
1818 - The insurance business was started as a means of earnings for Britishers' widows.
Q163. When was the General Insurance business started in Indian and by whom?
Triton Insurance Co.Ltd., Kolkatta in 1850 by the British.
Q164. When was the Insurance Act Passed?
1938
Q165. When did the nationalization of the Life Insurance sector take place?
1956
Q166. When from the Life Insurance Corporation was started?
Life Insurance Corporation of India was started from 1.9.1956.
Q167. When was the General Insurance section nationalized?
1972 by the General Insurance Nationalization Act of 1972 to take effect from 1.1.1973.
Q168. When from private companies are allowed to participate in the Insurance Sector?
2000-2001
Q169. Which committee's recommendations brought about the changes and developments in the insurance sector?
R.N. Malhotra Reforms Committee.
Q170. Which organization takes care and control of the insurance activities of the insurance sector, in view of the large scale private participation?
IRDA - Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority - Started through IRDA Act of 1999. Headquatered at Hyderabad.
Q171. Which is the oldest stock exchange of India?
BSE - Bombay Stock Exchange Mumbai. It was established in 1875.
Q172. Which is the oldest Stock Exchange in the world?
Amsterdam - The Netherlands. Established in 1602.
Q173. What is the "tagline" or "slogan" of Bombay Stock Exchange?
" The Edge is Efficiency".
Q174. Which statutory body was created to protect the interests of investors and to keep a watch over traders and brokers?
SEBI - Securities and Exchange Board of India. Established in 1988.
Q175. What is the name of the street in which the New York Stock Exchange is located?
Wall Street.
Q176. " Big Board " refers to which stock exchange?
New York.
Q177. "Buttonwood Agreement" is related to which stock exchange?
New York.
Q178. Which organization is the world's leading financial market intelligence advisors?
McGraw Hill - New York founded in 1917.
Q179. In India which certification is considered most valuable for financial institutions?
CRISIL - "Credit Rating Information Services India Ltd.,".
Q180. What is the highest financial safety ranking accorded by the certifying agency?
AAA.
Q181. Who is the first female of a Stock Exchange?
Barbara G Stymeist - 1919 - Toronto Stock Exchange, Canada.
Q182. In which country the share index is known as " The Hang Seng'?
Hong Kong.
Q183. Where did the London Stock Exchange group meet for the first time?
Jonathan Coffee House, London.
Q184. Who coined the word Sensex?
Deepak Mohoni - a stock market analyst.
Q185. Who designed the Indian Rupee sign?
Udayakumar, from Tamilnadu. He is an Asst. Professor, IIT, Guwahati - incidentlly he is the son of Shri N. Dharmalingam a former MLA of DMK, Tamilnadu.
Q186. Under which tree the group of people responsible for the creation of New York Stock Exchange use to meet?
Buttonwood Tree.
Q187. Expand NASDAQ?
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotient.
Q188. BOVESPA is the stock exchange of?
Brazil stock exchange at Sau Paulo.
Q189. Which body is the capital markets watchdog?
SEBI - Stock Exchange Board of India.
Q190. Which company in the world has the largest number of share holders?
Reliance Group, India - approximately 4 million.
Q191. What does EC stand for in the EC dollar currency mostly in use in the Caribbean island countries?
East Caribbean - Dollar.
Q192. Service Tax is not applicable in which state of India?
Jammu and Kashmir.
Q193. When from VAT (Value Added Tax) was introduced throughout India?
1.4.2004.
Q194. What is a PAN CARD?
A ten digit alphanumeric number, laminated card to enable linking of transactions.
Q195. How the PAN CARD numbering is assigned?
Example: Let us take for example a number AFZPK7190K.
1. In this, first three letters - AAA to ZZZ are only series .
2. 4th letter will vary according to the status of the card owner - like P for individuals, F for firms, C for company, H for HUF - Hindu-undividided families;
3. A for AOP - Association of Persons
4. Fifth character K represents first character of the Pan Card Holders' last name/surname.
5. Next four characters (numbers) are sequential number running from 0001 to 9999.
6. Last character K in the above Pan Card is an alphabetic check digit.
Q196. What is TDS?
Tax Deducted at Source - where the due tax is deducted from the payment to be made to another and remitted to the department on scheduled dates.
Q197. What is the name of the nuclear powered attack submarine inducted into Indian Navy in April 2012?
INS Chakra. It was formerly with Russia.
Q198. Where is India's third Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron commissioned in India in March 2012?
At Uchippuli, near Ramnad Dt., known as INS Parundu (Eagle). There are two more such UAV squadrons operating at Kochi (2006) and Porbandar (2011).
Q199. As of April 2012, how many public Sector, private sector and International banks are functinging in India?
27 - Public Sector Banks; 31 -- Private Sector Banks and 38 -- International Banks.
Q200. BRAHMOS missile is named after....?
BRAHmaputra(India) and MOSkva (Russia) rivers.
Q201. Where is the Missile Testing Facility in India?
Chandipur in Odisha -- "Wheeler Island"
