70. When was the first population census taken in India?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (14 March, Shift 1) — 2021]
(A) 1882
(B) 1911
(C) 1951
(D) 1872
Answer: (D) 1872
Explanation: The first population enumeration under colonial rule dates to 1872. The subsequent census in 1881 established the more consistent decennial sequence. Many competitive examinations distinguish the first attempted enumeration from the first synchronous census.
69. Which institution issued the world’s first blockchain-based bond known as bond-i?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (11 January, Shift 1) — 2021]
(A) Swiss National Bank
(B) World Bank
(C) Reserve Bank of India
(D) State Bank of India
Answer: (B) World Bank
Explanation: The World Bank issued bond-i in 2018 using blockchain technology to manage elements of the bond lifecycle. The initiative demonstrated potential applications of distributed ledgers in capital markets. It was not issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
68. At which conference were the World Bank and International Monetary Fund created?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (7 March, Shift 1) — 2021]
(A) Atlantic Conference
(B) UN Conference on Trade and Employment
(C) Conference on Financing for Development
(D) Bretton Woods Conference
Answer: (D) Bretton Woods Conference
Explanation: Delegates from 44 Allied countries met at Bretton Woods in July 1944 to develop a new framework for international monetary cooperation. The conference produced the agreements establishing the IMF and the IBRD, later associated with the World Bank.
67. Which organisation deals principally with international trading rules?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (9 February, Shift 2) — 2021]
(A) International Monetary Fund
(B) World Health Organization
(C) International Labour Organization
(D) World Trade Organization
Answer: (D) World Trade Organization
Explanation: The WTO administers multilateral agreements governing trade in goods, services and intellectual property. It also hosts negotiations and a dispute-settlement system. The IMF focuses on monetary stability, whereas the WHO and ILO have distinct health and labour mandates.
66. Which international institution is headquartered in Washington, DC?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (4 March, Shift 2) — 2021]
(A) European Central Bank
(B) OECD
(C) International Monetary Fund
(D) International Labour Organization
Answer: (C) International Monetary Fund
Explanation: The IMF is headquartered in Washington, DC, as is the World Bank Group. The OECD operates from Paris, the ILO from Geneva and the European Central Bank from Frankfurt. Headquarter questions require distinguishing organisations with different economic mandates.
65. Which two institutions are known as the Bretton Woods twins?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (22 February, Shift 1) — 2021]
(A) IMF and World Bank
(B) United Nations and World Bank
(C) IMF and WTO
(D) IMF and United Nations
Answer: (A) IMF and World Bank
Explanation: The IMF and IBRD emerged from the Bretton Woods conference of 1944 and are known as the Bretton Woods twins. The former supports the international monetary system while the latter provides longer-term financing for reconstruction and development.
64. Which of the following is NOT a function of the International Monetary Fund?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (24 July, Shift 2) — 2021]
(A) Creating new business models to make member states wealthy
(B) Lending to countries facing payment difficulties
(C) Helping states improve economic management
(D) Monitoring members’ economic policies
Answer: (A) Creating new business models to make member states wealthy
Explanation: The IMF promotes international monetary cooperation and provides crisis financing and policy surveillance. It is not a commercial enterprise incubator with a mandate to invent wealth-generating business models. Its activities are oriented toward macroeconomic and external financial stability.
63. Which headquarters pairing is incorrectly matched?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (10 February, Shift 1) — 2021]
(A) Amnesty International—New York
(B) OPEC—Vienna
(C) IMF—Washington, DC
(D) WHO—Geneva
Answer: (A) Amnesty International—New York
Explanation: Amnesty International is headquartered in London, not New York. The remaining pairings are accurate: OPEC operates from Vienna, the IMF from Washington, DC, and the World Health Organization from Geneva. The IMF and OPEC have directly relevant economic roles.
62. Which state has the lowest population density among Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Mizoram?
[UPPSC Prelims (24 October) — 2021]
(A) Himachal Pradesh
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) West Bengal
(D) Mizoram
Answer: (B) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest density among these states under Census 2011, reflecting its mountainous landscape and extensive forest cover. West Bengal is densely populated, while Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram also have lower densities than the national average.
61. Which state had the greatest population according to Census 2011?
[UPPSC Prelims (24 October) — 2021]
(A) Bihar
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (D) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Uttar Pradesh ranked first among Indian states in Census 2011, with nearly 200 million residents. Maharashtra came second and Bihar third. The distinction between absolute population and percentage population growth is essential for interpreting such rankings.
