WBCS Preliminary Exam Preparation Series 1

Q1. Who among the following was the founder of the Indian National Army (INA) / Azad Hind Fauj?

(Source: WBCS Pattern)

• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Rash Behari Bose
• Mohan Singh
• Jawaharlal Nehru

✅ Ans: Mohan Singh

The concept and initial formation of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) was done by Mohan Singh in 1942. However, it was later significantly reorganized and led by Subhas Chandra Bose.

Q2. The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are enumerated in which Part of the Indian Constitution?

(Source: WBCS 2021)

• Part II
• Part III
• Part IV
• Part V

✅ Ans: Part IV

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are contained in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51) of the Constitution of India.

Q3. Which metal is typically stored under kerosene oil to prevent reaction with moisture and oxygen?

(Source: General Science)

• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Iron

✅ Ans: Sodium

Sodium is highly reactive and reacts vigorously with moisture and oxygen present in the air. To prevent this reaction, it is stored submerged in kerosene oil.

Q4. The main objective of the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) was:

(Source: Indian History)

• To introduce Dyarchy at the provincial level
• To expand the legislative councils and introduce separate electorates
• To abolish the system of dual government
• To establish a Public Service Commission

✅ Ans: To expand the legislative councils and introduce separate electorates

The Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909) significantly increased the size of the legislative councils and, most critically, introduced the system of separate electorates for Muslims, sowing the seeds of communal division.

Q5. Which of the following mountain passes connects Srinagar to Leh?

(Source: Indian Geography)

• Nathu La
• Zoji La
• Rohtang Pass
• Bara-lacha La

✅ Ans: Zoji La

Zoji La is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas in the Kargil district of Ladakh. It provides an important link between Srinagar and Leh.

Q6. Who was the founder of the Pala Dynasty in Bengal?

(Source: History (Ancient/Medieval))

• Dharmapala
• Devapala
• Gopala
• Mahipala I

✅ Ans: Gopala

Gopala founded the Pala dynasty in the 8th century AD after a period of anarchy in the region (Matsyanyayam).

Q7. The minimum age requirement for becoming the President of India is:

(Source: Indian Polity)

• 25 years
• 30 years
• 35 years
• 40 years

✅ Ans: 35 years

According to Article 58 of the Constitution, a person is eligible for election as President if he or she has completed the age of 35 years.

Q8. What is the primary function of Hemoglobin in the human body?

(Source: General Science (Biology))

• Blood clotting
• Transport of oxygen
• Fighting infection
• Maintaining water balance

✅ Ans: Transport of oxygen

Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, is responsible for binding and transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body tissues.

Q9. The term ‘Gross Domestic Product (GDP)’ refers to:

(Source: Indian Economy)

• The total value of all goods produced in a country
• The total value of final goods and services produced within the country’s boundaries in a year
• The income generated by nationals residing abroad
• The net value of goods and services adjusted for inflation

✅ Ans: The total value of final goods and services produced within the country’s boundaries in a year

GDP measures the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period.

Q10. Which famous slogan was coined during the Quit India Movement (1942)?

(Source: Indian National Movement)

• Swaraj is my birthright
• Do or Die
• Vande Mataram
• Inquilab Zindabad

✅ Ans: Do or Die

Mahatma Gandhi gave the call ‘Do or Die’ (Karenge ya Marenge) during the Quit India Movement in August 1942.

Q11. Which river is often called the ‘Sorrow of Bengal’?

(Source: Geography of West Bengal)

• Hooghly
• Teesta
• Damodar
• Subarnarekha

✅ Ans: Damodar

The Damodar River was historically known as the ‘Sorrow of Bengal’ due to its devastating floods in the plains of West Bengal. The construction of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) dams has largely controlled these floods.

Q12. Who was the last recognized ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty?

(Source: Ancient History)

• Ashoka
• Bindusara
• Brihadratha
• Samprati

✅ Ans: Bindusara

Brihadratha was the last Mauryan ruler, assassinated by his General Pushyamitra Shunga, who then founded the Shunga Dynasty around 185 BCE.

Q13. Which one of the following is NOT a fundamental right according to the Indian Constitution?

(Source: Indian Polity)

• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Right to Property
• Right against Exploitation

✅ Ans: Right to Property

The Right to Property was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978, and made a legal right under Article 300A.

Q14. The SI unit of pressure is:

(Source: General Science (Physics))

• Joule
• Newton
• Watt
• Pascal

✅ Ans: Pascal

The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal (Pa), which is defined as one Newton per square meter (N/m²).

Q15. The famous traveler Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of:

(Source: Medieval History)

• Alauddin Khilji
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• Ibrahim Lodi

✅ Ans: Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveler, arrived in India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who appointed him as the Qazi (judge) of Delhi.

Q16. The Tropic of Cancer does NOT pass through which Indian state?

(Source: Indian Geography)

• Gujarat
• Madhya Pradesh
• Odisha
• West Bengal

✅ Ans: Odisha

The Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. It does not pass through Odisha.

Q17. Who founded the ‘Tattwabodhini Sabha’ in 1839?

(Source: Socio-Religious Movements)

• Ram Mohan Roy
• Debendranath Tagore
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
• Keshab Chandra Sen

✅ Ans: Debendranath Tagore

Debendranath Tagore established the Tattwabodhini Sabha in 1839 to promote a rational and systematic study of the Vedas and to propagate the ideas of the Brahmo Samaj.

Q18. The phenomenon responsible for the blue color of the sky is:

(Source: General Science (Physics))

• Reflection
• Refraction
• Dispersion
• Scattering

✅ Ans: Scattering

The sky appears blue due to the scattering of sunlight by the molecules of gases and other particles in the atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering). Blue light is scattered more effectively than red light.

Q19. The idea of a ‘Welfare State’ in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in the:

(Source: Indian Polity (Key Concepts))

• Preamble
• Fundamental Rights
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Seventh Schedule

✅ Ans: Directive Principles of State Policy

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) aim at securing social and economic justice and establishing India as a Welfare State.

Q20. Which of the following is the highest peak in West Bengal?

(Source: Geography of West Bengal)

• Sandakphu
• Phalut
• Tiger Hill
• Ghum Hill

✅ Ans: Sandakphu

Sandakphu (3,636 meters) is the highest peak in West Bengal, located on the border of India and Nepal in the Darjeeling district.

Q21. Who among the following was known as the ‘Frontier Gandhi’?

(Source: Indian National Movement)

• Sardar Patel
• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
• Lala Lajpat Rai
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale

✅ Ans: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was known as the ‘Frontier Gandhi’ (Badshah Khan) for his commitment to non-violence and his work among the Pashtun people of the North-West Frontier Province.

Q22. Which acid is typically found in the stomach that aids in digestion?

(Source: General Science (Biology))

• Sulphuric Acid
• Nitric Acid
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Acetic Acid

✅ Ans: Hydrochloric Acid

The stomach secretes Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), which helps kill bacteria and provides the acidic medium necessary for the activation of pepsin, an enzyme for protein digestion.

Q23. The purpose of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is to:

(Source: Economy/GK)

• Provide loans for infrastructure development
• Stabilize global currency exchange rates
• Supervise and liberalize international trade
• Finance reconstruction after major conflicts

✅ Ans: Supervise and liberalize international trade

The WTO is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade, aiming to lower barriers to trade.

Q24. Which Mughal Emperor abolished the Jizya tax?

(Source: Medieval History)

• Babur
• Akbar
• Jahangir
• Shah Jahan

✅ Ans: Akbar

Emperor Akbar abolished the Jizya (a tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects) in 1564, as part of his policy of religious tolerance. However, it was later re-imposed by Aurangzeb.

Q25. The power of Judicial Review in the Indian Constitution is adopted from the Constitution of:

(Source: Indian Polity)

• Canada
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Ireland

✅ Ans: United States of America

The concept of Judicial Review, which allows the judiciary to examine the validity of legislative and executive actions, is largely borrowed from the Constitution of the USA.

Q26. In the context of the atmosphere, which gas has the highest concentration (excluding water vapor)?

(Source: Indian Geography/Environment)

• Oxygen
• Argon
• Nitrogen
• Carbon Dioxide

✅ Ans: Nitrogen

Nitrogen constitutes approximately 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, followed by Oxygen at around 21%.

Q27. Who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India?

(Source: WBCS 2020)

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
• Sardar Patel

✅ Ans: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for preparing the final draft of the Indian Constitution.

Q28. Photosynthesis mainly takes place in which part of the plant?

(Source: General Science (Biology))

• Roots
• Stem
• Leaves
• Flowers

✅ Ans: Leaves

Leaves contain chloroplasts, which possess the chlorophyll necessary to trap sunlight, making them the primary site for photosynthesis.

Q29. Which institution is known as the ‘lender of last resort’ in India?

(Source: Indian Economy)

• State Bank of India (SBI)
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• NABARD
• Ministry of Finance

✅ Ans: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) acts as the ‘lender of last resort’ for commercial banks in the country, providing funds when they cannot meet their obligations from other sources.

Q30. The famous Sun Temple of Konark was built by which dynasty?

(Source: History/Art & Culture)

• Eastern Ganga Dynasty
• Chalukya Dynasty
• Chola Dynasty
• Kalinga Dynasty

✅ Ans: Eastern Ganga Dynasty

The Konark Sun Temple (Black Pagoda) was constructed by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in the 13th century.

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