Q1. NITI Aayog was established on:

Answer: B) 1 January 2015

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission. Its chairman is the Prime Minister.

Q2. The first communist government in India was formed in:

Answer: B) Kerala

Kerala became the first state in India (and one of the first places in the world) to democratically elect a communist government in 1957, led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

Q3. The author of 'Oru Deshathinte Katha' is:

Answer: B) S.K. Pottekkatt

S.K. Pottekkatt wrote 'Oru Deshathinte Katha' (The Story of a Land). He won the Jnanpith Award in 1980.

Q4. The term of the Rajya Sabha members is:

Answer: C) 6 years

Rajya Sabha members serve a term of 6 years. One-third of members retire every 2 years. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is never fully dissolved.

Q5. Which is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust?

Answer: C) Oxygen

Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust (~46% by weight). Silicon is second (~28%), followed by Aluminium (~8%) and Iron (~5%).

Q6. The Dandi March started on:

Answer: A) 12 March 1930

The Dandi March (Salt March) started on 12 March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram and ended at Dandi on 6 April 1930, covering 385 km in 24 days.

Q7. The Headquarters of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is at:

Answer: C) The Hague

The ICJ is located at The Hague, Netherlands. It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

Q8. Sree Narayana Guru's famous Aruvippuram installation was of:

Answer: B) A Shiva Linga

In 1888, Sree Narayana Guru installed a Shiva Linga at Aruvippuram, challenging the caste monopoly on temple rituals. This was a landmark event in Kerala's social reform movement.

Q9. The process of converting water vapour into liquid water is called:

Answer: B) Condensation

Condensation is the process where water vapour cools and converts into liquid water. The reverse (liquid to vapour) is evaporation.

Q10. Article 356 of the Indian Constitution deals with:

Answer: B) President's Rule in a State

Article 356 provides for President's Rule (State Emergency) when the constitutional machinery of a state fails. The President can assume all executive powers of the state.

Q11. The book 'Malabar Manual' was written by:

Answer: A) William Logan

William Logan wrote the 'Malabar Manual' (1887), a comprehensive historical and administrative account of the Malabar district. It remains an important reference for Kerala history.

Q12. The hardest natural substance is:

Answer: C) Diamond

Diamond is the hardest known natural substance, scoring 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is a crystalline form of carbon.

Q13. The southernmost tip of mainland India is:

Answer: B) Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) is the southernmost point of mainland India. Indira Point (Great Nicobar Island) is the southernmost point of India including islands.

Q14. Who is known as the 'Iron Man of India'?

Answer: C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is known as the 'Iron Man of India' for his role in integrating 562 princely states into the Indian Union after independence.

Q15. Which disease is caused by the deficiency of Vitamin D?

Answer: C) Rickets

Rickets (in children) and Osteomalacia (in adults) are caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is obtained from sunlight and helps in calcium absorption.

Q16. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution was amended by the:

Answer: A) 42nd Amendment

The 42nd Amendment (1976) added 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble. The original Preamble did not contain these words.

Q17. If in a code language, 'CHAIR' is written as 'DIBJS', how is 'TABLE' written?

Answer: A) UBCMF

Each letter is shifted by +1: C→D, H→I, A→B, I→J, R→S. So T→U, A→B, B→C, L→M, E→F = UBCMF.

Q18. The State Human Rights Commission Chairman is appointed by:

Answer: B) Governor

The Governor appoints the Chairman and members of the State Human Rights Commission on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Chief Minister.

Q19. Which Travancore ruler is credited with the development of Thiruvananthapuram as a modern city?

Answer: B) Swathi Thirunal

Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1829-1847) was a scholar-king who modernised Travancore, established English education, and was a renowned composer of Carnatic and Hindustani music.

Q20. The number of Schedules in the Indian Constitution currently is:

Answer: C) 12

The Indian Constitution currently has 12 Schedules. Originally it had 8 Schedules; the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th were added by various amendments.