Q1. Who is known as the 'Father of Modern India'?

Answer: B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is known as the Father of Modern India. He founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828) and led the movement to abolish Sati.

Q2. The philosopher who founded the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and was born in Kerala is:

Answer: D) Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kaladi, Kerala in the 8th century CE. He established the Advaita (non-dualism) school of Vedanta philosophy and founded four mathas across India.

Q3. The princely state that merged with Travancore in 1949 to form Travancore-Cochin state was:

Answer: D) Cochin

The princely states of Travancore and Cochin merged on 1 July 1949 to form the Travancore-Cochin state. Malabar was part of Madras Presidency and was added to form Kerala in 1956.

Q4. The coastal town in Kerala renowned for its laterite cliffs and beach is:

Answer: B) Varkala

Varkala is famous for its distinctive laterite cliff (Varkala Formation) adjacent to the Arabian Sea. The cliff is a geological monument recognized by the National Trust.

Q5. The first Indian to win the Nobel Prize was:

Answer: B) Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for 'Gitanjali'. C.V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

Q6. Which Five Year Plan introduced the Mahalanobis Model focusing on heavy industrialisation?

Answer: B) Second Five Year Plan

The Second Five Year Plan (1956-61) was based on the Mahalanobis Model emphasising rapid industrialisation, particularly heavy industry and infrastructure like steel plants.

Q7. The Indus Valley Civilisation site of Lothal is located in which state?

Answer: B) Gujarat

Lothal is in Gujarat. It was a major Indus Valley Civilisation city with an ancient dockyard — one of the earliest known docks in the world.

Q8. Who wrote 'Discovery of India'?

Answer: B) Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru wrote 'The Discovery of India' in 1946 while imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort during the Quit India Movement.

Q9. The Panchayati Raj system in India was introduced based on the recommendation of:

Answer: B) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system. Rajasthan was the first state to implement it in 1959.

Q10. The slogan 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind' is associated with:

Answer: C) Sree Narayana Guru

Sree Narayana Guru proclaimed 'Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam Manushyanu' (One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind), promoting social equality and ending caste discrimination in Kerala.

Q11. The Vembanad Lake is spread across how many districts?

Answer: B) 3

Vembanad Lake spans three districts: Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam. It is the longest lake in India and a designated Ramsar site.

Q12. Aruvippuram Prathishta (idol installation) by Sree Narayana Guru took place in the year:

Answer: B) 1888

Sree Narayana Guru installed a Shiva Linga at Aruvippuram in 1888, defying the caste system which reserved temple rituals for Brahmins. He declared: 'We are not installing a Brahmin Shiva; this is our Shiva.'

Q13. The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with:

Answer: B) Distribution of powers between Union and States

The Seventh Schedule contains three lists: Union List (currently 100 subjects), State List (61 subjects), and Concurrent List (52 subjects), distributing legislative powers between Centre and States.

Q14. pH value of pure water is:

Answer: B) 7

Pure water has a pH of 7, which is neutral. pH below 7 is acidic, above 7 is alkaline/basic. This is one of the most basic chemistry facts tested in PSC.

Q15. The gas used in fire extinguishers is:

Answer: C) Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) is used in fire extinguishers because it is heavier than air, doesn't support combustion, and creates a blanket that smothers the fire.

Q16. Ayyankali founded the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham in which year?

Answer: C) 1907

Ayyankali founded the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (Association for the Protection of the Poor) in 1907 at Venganoor, fighting for Dalit rights in Travancore.

Q17. The concept of 'Judicial Review' in the Indian Constitution is borrowed from:

Answer: B) USA Constitution

Judicial Review — the power of courts to examine the constitutionality of legislative acts — was borrowed from the Constitution of the United States of America.

Q18. Which river is known as the 'Ganga of the South'?

Answer: C) Godavari

The Godavari River (1,465 km) is called 'Dakshin Ganga' or 'Ganga of the South'. It is the longest peninsular river in India, originating at Nashik, Maharashtra.

Q19. Total number of bones in an adult human body:

Answer: A) 206

An adult human body has 206 bones. A newborn baby has approximately 270 bones, many of which fuse together during growth.

Q20. The Eravikulam National Park in Idukki is famous for:

Answer: B) Nilgiri Tahr

Eravikulam National Park in Idukki, Kerala is famous for the Nilgiri Tahr (an endangered mountain goat) and the Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once every 12 years.