ISRO Assistant Exam Previous Year Questions- Solved

1. The Kakrapar atomic power station is located in which state?
Ans: Gujarat

• The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) is located near Surat in the state of Gujarat
• Other important nuclear plants:
• Tarapur Atomic Power Station-Maharashtra
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant-Tamil Nadu
• Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant-Karnataka
• Narora Atomic Power Station-Uttar Pradesh
• Jaitapur- Maharashtra
• Kovvada-Andhra Pradesh

2. Who is the first Indian classical musician to perform at United Nations?
Ans: MS Subbulakshmi

In 1966, MS Subbulakshmi was invited by Secretary-General of the United Nations to give a special concert at the United Nations. This was the first performance by an Indian classical musician at the UN.

3. Google’s computer program Alpha Go is related to?
Ans: A board Game of China

• AlphaGo is a computer program that plays the board game Go. It was developed by Alphabet Inc.'s Google DeepMind in London.
• In October 2015, AlphaGo became the first computer Go program to beat a human professional Go player without handicaps on a full-sized 19×19 board

4. The World’s tallest Jain statue is located in which state?
Ans: Maharatsra

• Located in the Nashik District of Maharashtra, the ‘Statue of Ahimsa’ stands 128 feet tall (including its pedestal) and holds the Guinness record for world’s tallest Jain idol. 
• It is 1840 sq feet in size. The humongous idol was carved out of the Mangi Tungi hills in the Teharabad village of Baglan tehsil. It is a statue of Lord Rishabhdeva, the first Jain Tirthankar.
• Jainism’s last Tirthankara (spiritual teacher)-Lord Mahavir. 

5. The first Railway line was constructed in India during the period of:
Ans: Lord Dalhousie

The first train steamed off from Mumbai to Thane in. 1853, covering a distance of 34 km. It was opened in the year 1853

6. The fundamental Objective of Panchayat raj system is to ensure:
Ans: People’s participation in the development

• Local Government is a government of the local people. Being located nearest to the local people, local government institutions are under constant observation of the society. It is said that Local Government provides services to the individual from “cradle to the grave.” The Government of India has empowered the institutions by 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment
• Village panchayat also called gram panchayat is the grass root institution of the Panchayati Raj System. At the village level there is a Gram Panchayat having a chairperson known as Gram Pradhan or Sarpanch (Mukhia), a Vice-Chairman and some panches. The village panchayat or gram panchayat is the Executive of Gram Sabha. All members of each Gram Sabha are voters who elect the members of the Gram Panchayat by a secret ballot. In most of the States, a Village Panchayat has 5 to 9 members, 1/3 seats are reserved for women. Provision of reservation for SCs and STs is also there

7. India’s first greenfield airport is:
Ans: Hyderabad

8. Which state launched Dial 100 scheme for better handling crimes in the state?
Ans: Madhya Pradesh

• On the occasion of the Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the country's first 'Dial 100' service. The system has been set up at state level police control room. 
• On receiving call on Dial 100, first response vehicle will reach incident spot in 5 minutes in rural areas. Police personnel manning vehicle will ensure necessary action after reaching the spot and report to state control room. The service will function 24X7

9. The government has decided to withdraw the benefit of LPG subsidy for LPG consumers, self spouse having taxable income of more than---------
Ans: Rs. 10 lakhs

• The Government has decided to withdraw the benefit of LPG subsidy for LPG consumers, self of spouse, having taxable income of more than Rs 10 lakh during the previous financial year computed as per the Income Tax Act, 1961

Other information:

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana - Scheme for Providing Free LPG connections to Women from BPL Households. Under the scheme, Rs 8000 crore has been earmarked for providing five crore LPG connections to BPL households. The Scheme provides a financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL households. The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories. This Scheme would be implemented over three years, namely, the FY 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. 
• This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved to enhance of the target of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from five crore to eight crore with an additional allocation of Rs. 4,800 crore. The decision comes in the wake of huge response to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from the women particularly in rural areas and to cover such households not having LPG connection. The revised target of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will be achieved by 2020.

10. If Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal, what did Hamida Ban Begum built?
Ans: Humayun tomb

On January 27, 1556 AD, Mughal Emperor Humayun fell from the stairs of Sher Mandal, a library at Dinpanah and died in his fort at Delhi. Hazi Begum (Humayun’s wife) constructed a beautiful tomb near the fort of Dinpanah. The chief architect of Humayun’s tomb was Mirza Inayatullah.

11. The word Secular was inserted into the constitution by:
Ans. 42nd Constitutional amendment

Socialist, secular and integrity were the three new words added to the Preamble of the constitution through 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976

12. How many Squares are there on a chess board?
Ans: 64 squares

A chessboard is the type of checkerboard used in the board game chess, consisting of 64 squares (eight rows and eight columns). The squares are arranged in two alternating colors (light and dark).

13. How many spokes are there in the Chakra of the Indian National Flag?
Ans: 24

The Ashoka Chakra is a depiction of the dharmachakra; represented with 24 spokes. It is so called because it appears on a number of edicts of Ashoka, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at the centre of the Flag of India (adopted on 22 July 1947)

14. The function of Haemoglobin in the body is:
Ans: Transport of oxygen

• One type of cells are the red blood cells (RBC) which contain a red pigment called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin binds with oxygen and transports it to all the parts of the body and ultimately to all the cells. It will be difficult to provide oxygen efficiently to all the cells of the body without haemoglobin. 
• The presence of haemoglobin makes blood appear red.

15. The first Indira Gandhi award for International Justice and harmony was given to:
Ans: Yasser Araft

16. The absorption of ink by blotting paper involves:
Ans: Capillary action

Some other examples of Capillary action:

• The rise of sap in trees and plants
• The rise of kerosene or oil in the wick of an oil lamp or stove
• The absorption of ink in a blotting paper
• Sandy soil is gets drier earlier than clay:

17. Ozone hole refers to:
Ans: Decrease in the thickness of ozone layer in the stratosphere

• The ozone hole is not technically a “hole” where no ozone is present, but is actually a region of exceptionally depleted ozone in the stratosphere over the Antarctic that happens at the beginning of Southern Hemisphere spring

18. 65th Dadasaheb Phalke Award was given to:
Ans: Vindoh Khanna

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema. It is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

19. NITI Aayog is a:
Non-constitutional body

Constitutional Bodies

• Election Commission 
• Union Public Service Commission 
• State Public Service Commission 
• Finance Commission 
• National Commission for SC’s
• National Commission for ST’s
• Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities 
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India 
• Attorney General of India 10. Advocate General of the State

Non – Constitutional Bodies

• NITI Aayog 
• National Human Rights Commission 
• State Human Rights Commission
• Central Information Commission
• State Information Commission 
• Central Vigilance Commission
• Central Bureau of Investigation 
• Lokpal and Lokayuktas

20. Master Control Facility (MCF) of ISRO is located at:
Ans: Hasan

• The Master Control Facility (MCF) is a facility set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the city of Hassan in the Indian state of Karnataka.Established in 1982, this facility is responsible for monitoring and controlling geostationary and geosynchronous satellites launched by ISRO. 
• This was the only Master Control Facility of ISRO till another one was established in Bhopal in 2005.

21. Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana was launched on:
Ans: 28th August 2014

• Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana(P.M.J.D.Y), Prime Minister's People Money Scheme is India's National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely Banking Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.
• This financial inclusioncampaign was launched by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 28 August 2014
• He had announced this scheme on his first Independence Day speech on 15 August 2014.

22. Which of the following state is a member of seven sisters?

• The 7 Sister States also known as "Paradise Unexplored" is a name given to the neighboring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura in northeastern India. 
• These states cover an area of about 250,000 km2, or about seven (7) percent of India's total area. 

23. A blind folded woman holding a balance in her hand is symbol for:
Ans: Justice

24. Who among the following is not a member of SAARC?
SAARC-South Asian Association for Regional cooperation

• Established-1985
• Its Secretariat is headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration
• 1st SAARC Summit was held on 8th Dec 1985
• Present secretary general-Amjad B. Hussain of Pakistan
• Official language- English
• SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2015.
• Members: At present there are 8 members.
• Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are founder members of SAARC.
• In 2007, Afghanistan was granted full membership.

Observes:

• There are 9 states having observer status of SAARC. They are Australia, China, the European Union (EU), Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea and the United States.
• The authorization of withdrawal of funds from the consolidated fund of India must come from:
• Ans: Parliament of India
• Consolidated Fund of India is related to all revenues received by the government and expenses made by it, excluding the exceptional items. No amount from the “Consolidated Fund of India” can be withdrawn without the authorization from Parliament

25. Repo rate is decided by which of the following organizations?
Ans: RBI

• Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (Reserve Bank of India in case of India) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. Repo rate is used by monetary authorities to control inflation.

26. Which Indian leader declared for the first time that India’s goal was swarajya?
Ans: Lokmanya Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak was the first to embraceSwaraj as the national goal.

27. Zero hour in parliament refers to the time:
Ans: To ask unscheduled Questions

• - A zero Hour is the the hour after the Question Hour in the two houses of Parliament. During this hour, the members raise matters of importance, particularly those which they feel, cannot be delayed.
• Zero Hour is an informal tool available to the members to raise the matters without any prior notice. It starts after question hour and lasts until the regular business is taken up. 
• Thus, the time gap between the end of zero hour and beginning of regular business (agenda) of the house is called Zero hour. It is not mentioned in any rule book but is there is existence since 1962 by convention

28. The five year plan in the country is finally approved by the:
Ans: National Development Council

29. Which statutory official in India can participate in Lok Sabha discussions but cannot Vote?
Ans: Attorney General

• Article 76 Provides for an Attorney General of India. Attorney General is Indian government’s chief legal advisor and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of India.
• Attorney general has right of audience in all courts within the territory of India. He has also the right to speak and take part in proceedings of both the houses of parliament including joint sittings. However, he cannot vote in parliament. 

30. Habeas Corpus is:
Ans: An order from the court to produce the person held under illegal detention

The courts can issue various special orders known as writs.

• Habeas corpus:  A writ of habeas corpus means that the court orders that the arrested person should be presented before it. It can also order to set free an arrested person if the manner or grounds of arrest are not lawful or satisfactory.
• Mandamus: This writ is issued when the court finds that a particular office holder is not doing legal duty and thereby is infringing on the right of an individual. 
• Prohibition:  This writ is issued by a higher court (High Court or Supreme Court) when a lower court has considered a case going beyond its jurisdiction. 
• Quo Warranto: If the court finds that a person is holding office but is not entitled to hold that office, it issues the writ of quo warranto and restricts that person from acting as an office holder.
• Certiorari:  Under this writ, the court orders a lower court or another authority to transfer a matter pending before it to the higher authority or court.

31. Electrical Current is measured by:
Ans: Ammeter
The current through the resistor is measured by connecting an ammeter in series with it. The potential difference across the two ends of the resistor is measured by connecting the voltmeter in parallel with it

32. The smallest particle of a substance capable of independent existence and retaining the properties of the original substance is called:
Ans: Atom

• The word ‘atom’ has been derived from the Greek word ‘a-tomio’ which means ‘uncutable’ or ‘non-divisible’
• A molecule will be diatomic if there are two atoms, for example, chlorine (Cl2 ), carbon monoxide, CO; will be triatomic if there are three atoms, for example, water (H2 O) or carbon dioxide, (CO2 ), will be tetratomic and pentatomic if there are four and five atoms respectively. In general, a molecule having atoms more than four will be called polyatomi
• The atomic theory of matter was first proposed on a firm scientific basis by John Dalton, a British school teacher in 1808. His theory, called Dalton’s atomic theory, regarded the atom as the ultimate particle of matter
• Most elements can interact with one or more other elements to form compounds. A compound is a substance that consists of two or more different elements chemically united in a definite ratio

33. Who is the present chairman of ISRO?
Ans: Dr Kailasavadivoo Sivan

• The Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation is the highest-ranked official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the space agency of India. The Indian National Committee for Space Research(INCOSPAR) was found in 1962 with Vikram Sarabhai as its chairman.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation in its modern form was created by Vikram Sarabhai in 1969.Since then there have been seven chairmen of the Indian Space Research Organisation, with Prof. Satish Dhawan serving the longest term of 12 years as the Chairman.
• Dr Kailasavadivoo Sivan is an Indian space scientist and the chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organization. He is the former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and Liquid Propulsion centre

34. The Science of nature of heavenly bodies is known as:
Ans: Cosmology
Largest gland in the human body is:
Ans: Liver

• Liver is the largest gland in human body. It is also the largest (internal) organ in our body and can weigh up to 1.5 kg for a human adult. That is, about 1/50th of the body weight is because of liver. It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity.
• Jaundice: The liver is affected, skin and eyes turn yellow due to the deposit of bile pigments.
• The longest bone in the human body is the femur

35. The age of tree is determined by:
Ans: Growth rings
The only guaranteed method is knowing when the tree was planted, but tree growth rings are also highly accurate - to a point - in determining the age of a tree. These growth rings can be counted when the tree is either alive or dead, in addition to various other non-invasive methods to roughly predict a tree's age.

35. An individual residing in rural areas wishes to get guaranteed 100 days employment in a government sector, he can get it through:
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) act was enacted in the year 2005. It is the largest work guarantee programme in the world.
The main aim of MGNREGA is providing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work

36. India's first female Foreign secretary:
Ans: Chokila Iyer

Chokila Iyer is India's first female Foreign secretary. She took charge on 14 March 2001 replacing Mr. Lalit Mansingh.

37. The strength of an earthquake can be measured by a device called:
Sesimograph

• The study of seismic waves provides a complete picture of the layered interior. An earthquake in simple words is shaking of the earth. It is a natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.
• The point where the energy is released is called the focus of an earthquake, alternatively, it is called the hypocentre. The energy waves travelling in different directions reach the surface. The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called epicentre. It is the first one to experience the waves 
• An instrument called ‘seismograph’ records the waves reaching the surface. 

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