31. Which one of the following cities is not situated along river Rhine in

Which one of the following cities is not situated along river Rhine in Europe ?

Strasbourg (France)
Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Cologne (Germany)
Vienna (Austria)
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
Vienna is not situated along the river Rhine in Europe.
The river Rhine flows through several European countries including Switzerland, France, Germany, and The Netherlands.
Strasbourg (France), Rotterdam (The Netherlands), and Cologne (Germany) are all major cities located on the river Rhine. Vienna is the capital of Austria and is situated on the river Danube, another major European river, far to the east of the Rhine.

32. With reference to Lake Victoria, which of the following statements is/

With reference to Lake Victoria, which of the following statements is/are correct ?

  • 1. The lake is divided among four countries
  • 2. Its area is more than 50,000 sq. km
  • 3. It is situated in the African rift valley

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
Only statement 2 is correct regarding Lake Victoria.
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the principal reservoir of the Nile River.
Statement 1 is incorrect; Lake Victoria is divided among three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Statement 2 is correct; its surface area is approximately 68,800 square kilometers, which is well over 50,000 sq km. Statement 3 is incorrect; while located between the two branches of the East African Rift System, Lake Victoria itself is in a basin that was formed by the uplift of the rift margins, not within a rift valley depression.

33. Union Territories of ‘Dadra and Nagar Haveli’ and ‘Daman and Diu’ were

Union Territories of ‘Dadra and Nagar Haveli’ and ‘Daman and Diu’ were merged together in January 2020. Which one of the following cities was made capital of the merged Union Territory ?

Dadra
Diu
Daman
Silvassa
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
When the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged in January 2020, Daman was made the capital of the merged Union Territory.
The merger was effected by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019, passed by the Parliament of India.
Before the merger, Silvassa was the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman was the capital of Daman and Diu. After the merger, the combined Union Territory is known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, with its administrative headquarters located in Daman.

34. Which one of the following states is part of the Ganga Basin ?

Which one of the following states is part of the Ganga Basin ?

Himachal Pradesh
Sikkim
Assam
Odisha
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
Himachal Pradesh is part of the Ganga Basin.
The Ganga basin is the largest river basin in India, draining areas in several states of North and East India, as well as parts of Nepal and Bangladesh.
While Himachal Pradesh is known for rivers of the Indus system (Sutlej, Ravi, Beas), its southern slopes drain into the Yamuna River, which is a major tributary of the Ganga. Therefore, parts of Himachal Pradesh fall within the Ganga basin (specifically the Yamuna sub-basin). Sikkim is part of the Brahmaputra basin. Assam is primarily in the Brahmaputra basin. Odisha is drained by rivers like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, etc., and is not part of the Ganga basin.

35. Tosali is known in Indian History as the name of :

Tosali is known in Indian History as the name of :

the Jain brother of the Buddhist Upali.
a provincial centre in Mauryan Empire.
wife of Mahapadma Nanda.
a sacred river in Andhra Pradesh.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
Tosali is known in Indian History as a provincial centre in the Mauryan Empire.
Tosali was the capital of the Kalinga province during the Mauryan Empire.
After conquering Kalinga, Emperor Ashoka established Tosali as one of the major administrative headquarters of his vast empire. His famous rock edicts, specifically the Kalinga Edicts (Dhauli and Jaugada), are found near Tosali, emphasizing benevolent administration towards the newly conquered people. The exact location is believed to be near modern-day Dhauli in Odisha.

36. Which of the following do/does not represent a break between the Early

Which of the following do/does not represent a break between the Early Harappan cultures and the Mature Harappan civilization ?

  • Large-scale burning at some sites
  • Abandonment of certain settlements
  • A shift in the course of the Hakra river

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3
3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
A shift in the course of the Hakra river (3) does not necessarily represent a “break” between the Early Harappan cultures and the Mature Harappan civilization in the same way that large-scale burning or abandonment at specific sites might.
The transition from Early Harappan cultures to the Mature Harappan civilization was a complex process involving both continuity and discontinuity across different regions.
Large-scale burning at sites (1) and abandonment of certain settlements (2) are often cited as evidence of stress, conflict, or regional decline, representing direct breaks in the occupation or life of those specific locations during the transition phase. The shift in the course of the Hakra river (3), while causing the abandonment of numerous settlements in the Ghaggar-Hakra valley, was an environmental factor that *caused* regional discontinuity. However, the overall Mature Harappan civilization emerged and flourished primarily in the Indus valley, arguably representing an evolution or adaptation rather than a complete break in the cultural trajectory, even though it caused regional shifts. Option 3 is often seen as a major environmental catalyst *behind* some of the regional discontinuities, rather than the “break” itself.

37. Which one of the following statements about the headman of the village

Which one of the following statements about the headman of the village panchayat in medieval India is not true ?

The office of the headman was always hereditary
The chief function of the headman was to supervise the preparation of village accounts
One of the duties of the headman was to ensure the proper working of the caste system
In eastern India, all marriages were held in the presence of the headman
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
The statement “In eastern India, all marriages were held in the presence of the headman” is not true about the headman of the village panchayat in medieval India.
Village headmen (known by various names like Muqaddam, Chaudhuri, Mandal, etc.) played a crucial role in medieval Indian village administration, acting as intermediaries between the state and the village community.
While the office of the headman often became hereditary (A), the state retained the power of appointment and dismissal. Headmen were responsible for revenue collection and keeping village accounts (B). They also played a role in maintaining social order and ensuring the proper functioning of the caste system within the village (C). However, mandatory presence of the headman at *all* marriages across vast regions like eastern India is not a well-documented, universal duty. Marriages were primarily social and religious ceremonies governed by caste rules and family customs, often involving caste elders rather than solely the village headman.

38. Damin-i-Koh is essentially associated with which of the following trib

Damin-i-Koh is essentially associated with which of the following tribes of India ?

Lushai
Khasi
Toda
Santhal
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
Damin-i-Koh is essentially associated with the Santhal tribe of India.
Damin-i-Koh (literally ‘skirt of the hills’) was a tract of land in the Rajmahal Hills area of present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The British government demarcated this area in the early 19th century and encouraged the Santhals to settle there by offering land and other incentives. This was part of a policy to bring land under cultivation and control the turbulent Paharia tribes inhabiting the hills. However, exploitation by landlords, moneylenders, and officials led to the Santhal rebellion in 1855-56.

39. In which year was the first All India Census attempted and from which

In which year was the first All India Census attempted and from which year did the Decennial Census become a regular feature ?

1861 and 1881 respectively
1776 and 1801 respectively
1872 and 1881 respectively
1881 and 1891 respectively
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
The first attempt at an All India Census was made in 1872, and the Decennial Census became a regular feature starting from 1881.
The census in India is conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The 1872 census was conducted under Lord Mayo and was not synchronous across the whole country. The first synchronous decennial census was conducted in 1881 under Lord Ripon, and it has been held regularly every ten years thereafter.

40. Which of the following statements in terms of Article 14 of the Consti

Which of the following statements in terms of Article 14 of the Constitution of India is/are correct ?

  • Article 14 would apply only when invidious discrimination is meted out to equals and similarly circumstanced without any rational basis
  • Article 14 guarantees equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
Both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct regarding Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
Article 14 states: “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”
Statement 1 describes the principle of ‘equal protection of the laws’, which allows for differential treatment of unequal persons if based on a reasonable classification, but prohibits arbitrary or invidious discrimination among equals. Statement 2 is a direct articulation of the twin concepts embodied in Article 14: ‘equality before the law’ (a negative concept preventing special privileges) and ‘equal protection of the laws’ (a positive concept requiring equal treatment under equal circumstances). Both concepts are applicable within India’s territory to all persons, citizens and non-citizens alike.