State and Union Territories of India

138

Q20. Which Schedule distributes subjects into Union, State and Concurrent Lists?

[SSC CGL Tier I (23 Aug 2021, Shift 1; 2020 cycle), 2021]

1. Third Schedule
2. Seventh Schedule
3. First Schedule
4. Fourth Schedule

Answer: (B) Seventh Schedule

Explanation: The Seventh Schedule specifies three legislative lists dividing responsibilities between Parliament and state legislatures. The First Schedule concerns States and Union Territories, while the Fourth addresses Rajya Sabha seat allocation. Thus legislative powers are tied to the Seventh.

Q19. Which statement about Indian States is incorrect?

[RRB NTPC CBT I (17 Feb 2021, Shift 2), 2021]

1. Mizoram’s capital is Kohima
2. Rajasthan is the largest State by area
3. Sikkim is the least populous State
4. Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014

Answer: (A) Mizoram’s capital is Kohima

Explanation: Kohima is Nagaland’s capital, whereas Mizoram’s capital is Aizawl. Rajasthan is the largest state by area and Sikkim the least populous according to Census 2011. Telangana officially came into existence on 2 June 2014.

Q18. Which was the most populous State according to Census 2011?

[UPPSC Combined State Exam GS I (24 Oct 2021), 2021]

1. Bihar
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Maharashtra
4. Uttar Pradesh

Answer: (D) Uttar Pradesh

Explanation: Uttar Pradesh had approximately 19.98 crore residents in Census 2011 and led all Indian states in total population. Maharashtra ranked second. Rajasthan, though the largest in area, was not the most populous State; area and population have different rankings.

Q17. How many Indian states border West Bengal?

[WBCS Preliminary Examination (2020), 2020]

1. Four
2. Six
3. Five
4. Three

Answer: (C) Five

Explanation: West Bengal shares interstate boundaries with Sikkim, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, making five states. It also has international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. These two categories—domestic states and neighbouring countries—must be counted separately.

Q16. Which action falls under Article 2 rather than Parliament’s powers under Article 3?

[UPPSC Civil Services GS I (2020), 2020]

1. Form a new State from an existing State
2. Alter a State’s area
3. Alter a State’s boundary
4. Admit a new State into the Union

Answer: (D) Admit a new State into the Union

Explanation: Article 3 deals with forming states by rearranging existing territory and changing areas, boundaries or names. Article 2 concerns admitting or establishing states. The difference matters when questions distinguish internal reorganisation from admission of a new State.

Q15. At which Indian National Congress session was Vande Mataram first sung?

[WBCS Preliminary Examination (2019), 2019]

1. 1920
2. 1906
3. 1896
4. 1922

Answer: (C) 1896

Explanation: Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, was sung at the 1896 Congress session in Calcutta. It later became India’s national song. This history differs from the adoption of Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem in 1950.

Q14. Among Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Assam, which has the longest border with West Bengal?

[WBCS Preliminary Examination (2019), 2019]

1. Jharkhand
2. Bihar
3. Odisha
4. Assam

Answer: (A) Jharkhand

Explanation: West Bengal shares borders with all four listed states, but Jharkhand has the longest adjoining interstate boundary among them. The state’s unusual north-south shape also brings it into contact with Sikkim and with three foreign countries.

Q13. On which date was Jana Gana Mana adopted as India’s National Anthem?

[SSC MTS (07 Aug 2019, Shift 1), 2019]

1. 24 January 1950
2. 26 January 1950
3. 2 October 1948
4. 15 August 1947

Answer: (A) 24 January 1950

Explanation: The Constituent Assembly adopted Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem on 24 January 1950, shortly before the Constitution came into force. Rabindranath Tagore wrote the original composition in Bengali; it was publicly performed in 1911.

Q12. What is the national aquatic animal of India?

[SSC GD Constable (15 Feb 2019, Shift 2), 2019]

1. Whale
2. Turtle
3. Seahorse
4. Ganges river dolphin

Answer: (D) Ganges river dolphin

Explanation: The Ganges river dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal and is associated with freshwater river systems, especially the Ganga-Brahmaputra network. Its conservation highlights river health, pollution control and habitat protection. The designation is distinct from the elephant’s heritage status.

Q11. Who proposed the resolution describing India’s tricolour and central navy-blue wheel in the Constituent Assembly?

[UPSC NDA General Ability Test (22 Apr 2018), 2018]

1. Jawaharlal Nehru
2. B. R. Ambedkar
3. Rajendra Prasad
4. Vallabhbhai Patel

Answer: (A) Jawaharlal Nehru

Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru moved the national flag resolution on 22 July 1947. The adopted flag consists of saffron, white and green bands with a navy-blue Ashoka Chakra at its centre. This was before India formally gained Independence in August.