UPSC CAPF Archives

1. Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is :

Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is :

A Central Paramilitary Force

A force maintained by the state of Jammu and Kashmir

A regiment of the Indian Army

None of the above

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is C.

The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) is a regiment of the Indian Army. It is an infantry regiment primarily composed of soldiers from Jammu and Kashmir. Regiments of the Indian Army fall under the administrative and operational control of the Ministry of Defence. It is not a Central Paramilitary Force (under MHA) or a state-maintained force.

The JAK LI was formed in 1948 during the Indo-Pakistani War and was integrated into the Indian Army in 1972. It is known for its service in various operations, including counter-insurgency roles. As a regiment of the regular army, its personnel, training, and command structure are part of the Indian Army system.

2. According to Granville Austin, which of the following was / were the m

According to Granville Austin, which of the following was / were the most significant contributions of India to constitution-making?

Majority rule and minority rights

Consensus and Accommodation

Social revolution and Political Freedom

Asymmetrical Federal structure

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is B.

Granville Austin, in his seminal work “The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation,” highlights the working methods and spirit of the Constituent Assembly. He particularly emphasizes the Assembly’s ability to function by consensus and accommodation among its diverse members, representing various viewpoints and interests. This process of deliberation, negotiation, and compromise to build broad agreement, despite deep divisions, is what Austin considers a significant contribution to constitution-making.
While aspects of federalism (perhaps asymmetrical), social revolution, political freedom, majority rule, and minority rights are indeed addressed by the Indian Constitution, Austin focuses on the *process* by which these were debated and adopted, emphasizing the spirit of consensus and accommodation as key to the Assembly’s success and a notable aspect of India’s approach to drafting its fundamental law.

Austin describes the Constituent Assembly as a “microcosm of India” and argues that the method of reaching decisions through discussion, persuasion, and the search for consensus, rather than strict adherence to rules of procedure or simple majority votes on every issue, was crucial. This accommodative spirit allowed for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and helped build legitimacy for the final document.

3. Which of the following statements with regard to construction of railw

Which of the following statements with regard to construction of railways in colonial India by the British companies is/are NOT true ?

1. The companies were guaranteed a return of 5 per cent on their investment by Government of India
2. The railways were to be managed mainly by the Government
3. There was no system of preferential freight charges
4. The companies were to get the land free from the Government

1 and 3

2 and 3 only

4 only

2, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is B.

Let’s examine each statement regarding railway construction in colonial India by British companies:
1. The companies were guaranteed a return of 5 per cent on their investment by Government of India: This is TRUE. Under the ‘guarantee system’, private British companies were encouraged to invest in railways with a guaranteed minimum return, initially 5%, on their invested capital by the Indian government. This system proved costly for the Indian treasury.
2. The railways were to be managed mainly by the Government: This is NOT TRUE. Initially, the railways constructed under the guarantee system were managed by the private British companies themselves. Government management of railways became more prominent later, after the expiry or purchase of these companies’ contracts.
3. There was no system of preferential freight charges: This is NOT TRUE. There *was* a system of preferential freight charges which favored the export of raw materials and import of finished goods over the movement of domestic goods within India. This policy harmed Indian industries and promoted the colonial economic pattern.
4. The companies were to get the land free from the Government: This is TRUE. The land required for railway construction was provided free of cost by the Government of India to the companies.
The statements that are NOT true are 2 and 3.

The guarantee system was a key feature of early railway development in India. While it facilitated rapid construction, its financial terms were heavily skewed in favour of the British companies, leading to significant losses for the Indian government, especially when traffic was low or costs exceeded estimates. The structure of freight rates served colonial interests by facilitating trade with Britain rather than promoting internal Indian markets or industries.

4. Which one of the following is under the control of the Ministry of Def

Which one of the following is under the control of the Ministry of Defence ?

Indo-Tibetan Border Police

Rashtriya Rifles

National Security Guard

Sashastra Seema Bal

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is B.

Rashtriya Rifles (RR) is a counter-insurgency force of the Indian Army. As a part of the Indian Army, it is under the administrative and operational control of the Ministry of Defence.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) which are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Indian Army comprises various regiments and corps, and the Rashtriya Rifles is one such specialized force created specifically for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Northeast India. It draws personnel on deputation from various arms and services of the Indian Army.

5. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India can be removed from offic

The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India can be removed from office only by :

President on the advice of the Union Cabinet.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

President of India after an address in both Houses of Parliament.

President on the advice of Chief Justice of India.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is C.

Article 148(1) of the Constitution states that the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) “shall only be removed from office in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.” The removal process for a Supreme Court Judge is laid down in Article 124(4). This requires an address by both Houses of Parliament, supported by a special majority (a majority of the total membership of that House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting), presented to the President in the same session for proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The President then issues the order for removal.
Therefore, the CAG can be removed by the President only after such a joint address by both Houses of Parliament.

The method of removal of the CAG is designed to ensure the independence of the office from the executive. It is a difficult process, requiring broad political consensus across both houses of the legislature, similar to the impeachment process for a judge. Options A, B, and D describe incorrect procedures; removal is not solely on the advice of the Cabinet or Chief Justice, nor can the Chief Justice remove the CAG directly.

6. The following item consists of two statements, Statement I and Stateme

The following item consists of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement-I : India’s share of world manufacturing output steadily declined during the 19th and the 20th centuries.
Statement-II : There was no absolute decline in production in India during the colonial rule.

Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I

Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is NOT the correct explanation of Statement I

Statement I is true but Statement II is false

Statement I is false but Statement II is true

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is C.

Statement I: India’s share of world manufacturing output steadily declined during the 19th and the 20th centuries, particularly during the colonial period. This is historically accurate, largely due to the de-industrialization process where traditional Indian industries (like textiles) declined because of competition from British manufactured goods, discriminatory policies, and lack of state support.
Statement II: There was no absolute decline in production in India during the colonial rule. This statement is generally false, especially concerning traditional manufacturing and handicrafts. While some new sectors might have emerged or grown (e.g., jute, tea, railways), the decline in traditional industries was absolute, not just relative to world production. Historians debate the extent of overall economic decline, but the notion of *no* absolute decline in *production* broadly (especially in key traditional sectors) during certain phases of colonial rule is incorrect.

The process of de-industrialization led to a significant decline in India’s contribution to world manufacturing. While colonial rule introduced railways and some modern industries, these did not compensate for the destruction of traditional livelihoods and industries. The economic impact of colonial rule is a subject of historical debate, but the decline of traditional manufacturing is widely accepted, and this decline was absolute in many sectors, leading to loss of employment and impoverishment for artisans.

7. Which one of the following is NOT a Central Paramilitary Force under t

Which one of the following is NOT a Central Paramilitary Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs ?

Central Industrial Security Force

Central Reserve Police Force

Ladakh Scouts

Border Security Force

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is C.

Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMFs), now often referred to as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), are primarily under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). These include the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG), and Assam Rifles (AR).
Ladakh Scouts is a regiment of the Indian Army, which falls under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), not the MHA.

Assam Rifles is a unique force administered by the MHA but under the operational control of the MoD (Indian Army). NSG is a special force primarily for counter-terrorism operations, also under MHA. The others listed (BSF, CRPF, CISF) are standard CAPFs under MHA. Regiments like Ladakh Scouts are integral parts of the Indian Army structure.

8. The setting up of the Inter-State Council in 1990 was meant to :

The setting up of the Inter-State Council in 1990 was meant to :

substitute the National Development Council.

strengthen the federal provisions of the Constitution.

be an institutional interface between the Judiciary and the Government.

provide membership to local customary bodies.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2015

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The correct option is B.

The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India through a Presidential Order on May 28, 1990. Article 263 empowers the President to establish such a council to inquire into and advise upon disputes between states, investigate and discuss subjects in which some or all states, or the Union and one or more states, have a common interest, and make recommendations upon any such subject for the better coordination of policy and action. These functions are aimed at promoting coordination and resolving issues between states and between the Union and states, thereby strengthening the cooperative federal structure envisioned by the Constitution.

The Sarkaria Commission (Commission on Centre-State Relations) recommended the establishment of a permanent Inter-State Council. The Council consists of the Prime Minister as Chairman, Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies, Administrators of Union Territories without Legislative Assemblies, and six Union Cabinet Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister. The National Development Council (NDC) is primarily involved in planning and approving Five Year Plans, though it also plays a role in centre-state coordination, it is distinct from the Inter-State Council which focuses specifically on dispute resolution and policy coordination among governments. The Inter-State Council is not an interface between the judiciary and the government, nor does it provide membership to local customary bodies.

9. If GOLD is coded as EMJB, then code NMPR stands for what ?

If GOLD is coded as EMJB, then code NMPR stands for what ?

ONQT

ROTS

PORK

PORT

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2014

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Analyze the coding pattern from GOLD to EMJB. The letter positions in the alphabet are G(7), O(15), L(12), D(4) and E(5), M(13), J(10), B(2). Comparing the positions: 7->5 (-2), 15->13 (-2), 12->10 (-2), 4->2 (-2). The pattern is a uniform shift of -2 for each letter. The question asks what the code NMPR stands for, meaning NMPR is the encoded word. To find the original word, apply the reverse pattern, which is a shift of +2 to each letter of NMPR. N(14)+2=P(16), M(13)+2=O(15), P(16)+2=R(18), R(18)+2=T(20). The original word is PORT. This matches option D.

Identify the letter-by-letter transformation rule (e.g., constant shift) used to encode the word. Apply the inverse rule to the given code to decode it.

Coding/decoding questions often involve simple arithmetic operations on letter positions in the alphabet. Pay attention to whether you are encoding (applying the rule) or decoding (applying the inverse rule).

10. Consider the following statements describing the functions of plants :

Consider the following statements describing the functions of plants :

1. Photosynthesis is a process to convert light energy from the Sun into chemical energy i.e., Carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using sun light
2. Fermentation or Zymology is a metabolic process that converts carbohydrate to alcohols and carbon dioxide

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2014

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Both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct descriptions of biological processes that are functions of plants.

Statement 1 is correct. Photosynthesis is the primary metabolic process in most plants (and other photoautotrophs) where light energy is converted into chemical energy in the form of glucose and other carbohydrates using carbon dioxide and water.
Statement 2 is correct. Fermentation is a metabolic process that can occur in plants, particularly under anaerobic or low-oxygen conditions (e.g., in flooded roots or germinating seeds). Alcoholic fermentation, as described, converts carbohydrates into ethanol and carbon dioxide. While not as central a function as photosynthesis, it is a metabolic pathway found in plants. Zymology is the study of fermentation. The description of the process is accurate.

Photosynthesis is essential for the survival of autotrophic plants, forming the base of most food webs. Fermentation in plants can serve various purposes, such as generating ATP under anaerobic conditions, regenerating NAD+ for glycolysis, or producing secondary metabolites. While alcoholic fermentation producing ethanol and CO2 is common (e.g., in yeast), some plants also perform this process. Other types of fermentation exist (e.g., lactic acid fermentation), but the statement specifically describes alcoholic fermentation. Both statements accurately describe processes that are functions of plants.