PPSC Past Papers 2025

The construction of the Mangla Dam, a vital multi-purpose dam on the Jhelum River in Pakistan, commenced in 1962. This massive project was undertaken as part of the Indus Waters Treaty to manage water resources for irrigation and power generation. While the dam was completed and inaugurated in 1967, the question specifically asks for the year construction began. Therefore, 1962 is the correct answer, marking the initiation of this significant engineering feat. Options 1966, 1999, and 2000 are incorrect as they fall outside the period of the dam's initial construction phase.

The One Unit Scheme in Pakistan was established in 1955. This administrative policy aimed to merge the four provinces of West Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, and Balochistan) into a single province, creating parity with East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The primary objective was to simplify governance, reduce regional disparities, and foster national integration. The scheme remained in effect until 1970. 1947 marks Pakistan's independence, 1962 saw a new constitution, and 1971 was the year of East Pakistan's secession, making these options incorrect for the establishment of the One Unit Scheme.

The Faraizi Movement was a significant socio-religious reform movement initiated by Haji Shariat Ullah in Bengal during the early 19th century. Its core objective was to purify Islam among the Muslim population by urging them to strictly adhere to the 'faraiz' (obligatory duties) of Islam and reject un-Islamic customs and practices that had crept into their lives. Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a philosopher and poet who envisioned Pakistan. Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement. Sir Aga Khan was a spiritual leader and advocate for Muslim rights, but none of them founded the Faraizi Movement.

Stonehenge, the world-renowned prehistoric monument, is located in Wiltshire, England. This iconic megalithic structure, consisting of a ring of standing stones, is believed to have been constructed between 3000 BC and 2000 BC. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a significant archaeological landmark, attracting millions of visitors annually. While Scotland, Wales, and Ireland also boast rich histories and ancient sites, Stonehenge specifically is situated within the geographical boundaries of England, making it the correct answer. Its purpose remains a subject of ongoing archaeological and historical debate.

Pakistan conducted its first nuclear test, codenamed Chagai-I, on May 28, 1998, at Ras Koh Hills in the Chagai District of Balochistan. This event marked Pakistan's entry into the exclusive club of nuclear powers, a response to India's nuclear tests earlier that month. Option A is correct as it precisely states this historic date. Option B, August 14, 1947, is Pakistan's Independence Day. Option C, October 12, 2000, refers to a military coup. Option D, June 10, 2002, is an unrelated date, making these distractors incorrect.

The magnificent Wazir Khan Mosque, a 17th-century architectural marvel, was commissioned by Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, renowned for his patronage of art and architecture. Built in Lahore, it is celebrated for its intricate tile work and frescoes. Option C is correct because Shah Jahan's reign (1628-1658) was a golden age for Mughal architecture, including the Taj Mahal. Akbar (Option A) was an earlier emperor, Jahangir (Option B) was Shah Jahan's father, and Aurangzeb (Option D) was his son; while all were Mughal emperors, they were not responsible for commissioning the Wazir Khan Mosque.

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games were famously held in Beijing, China. This marked a significant moment as China hosted the global event for the first time, showcasing its rapid development and culture. Option B is the correct answer. Athens, Greece (Option A) hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics. London, UK (Option C) was the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Sydney, Australia (Option D) hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics. Each of these cities hosted the games in different years, making them incorrect for the 2008 event.

Dal Lake is a prominent and picturesque lake located in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically in Srinagar, the summer capital of the union territory. It is renowned for its houseboats, shikaras, and floating gardens, making it a major tourist attraction. Option C is the correct answer. Himachal Pradesh (Option A), Uttarakhand (Option B), and Sikkim (Option D) are other Indian states known for their natural beauty and lakes, but Dal Lake is uniquely situated in Jammu and Kashmir, distinguishing it from lakes in these other regions.

At the Tokyo Olympics, officially the 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021 due to the pandemic, the United States (US) won the most medals overall. The US consistently performs strongly in the Olympics across various sports. Option C is correct. China (Option A) finished second in the overall medal count, while Japan (Option B) performed exceptionally well as the host nation but did not top the overall medal tally. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) (Option D) also had a strong showing but did not surpass the US in total medals.

The iconic Petronas Twin Towers, once the tallest buildings in the world, are located in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. These towers are a symbol of Malaysia's economic growth and architectural ambition. Option A is the correct answer. Bangkok (Option B) is the capital of Thailand, Singapore (Option C) is a city-state, and Jakarta (Option D) is the capital of Indonesia. While these are all major Southeast Asian cities, none of them are home to the Petronas Twin Towers, making them incorrect distractors.

The correct author of the book Modern Muslims of India and the Birth of Pakistan is S.M. Ikram. His work provides a comprehensive historical account of the Muslim community in India and the events leading to the creation of Pakistan.

• Ayesha Jalal is a renowned historian, but her most famous work related to Pakistan's creation is The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan.
• K.K. Aziz was a prolific historian and author on various aspects of Pakistan's history and politics, but not specifically this book.
• Muhammad Iqbal was a philosopher, poet, and politician who envisioned the idea of a separate Muslim state, but he was not the author of this historical text.

The headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This city serves as the permanent base for the intergovernmental organization that represents the collective voice of the Muslim world.

• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the capital of Saudi Arabia, but not the OIC headquarters.
• Istanbul, Turkey, is a major cultural and economic hub in the Islamic world, but it does not host the OIC headquarters.
• Cairo, Egypt, is another significant city in the Arab and Islamic world and hosts the Arab League headquarters, but not the OIC.

Among the given options, the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) is widely recognized for its strong focus on science and technology across various disciplines in Pakistan. NUST offers a broad range of engineering, IT, natural sciences, and applied sciences programs.

• PIEAS (Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences) is highly specialized, primarily in nuclear engineering and related fields.
• UET (University of Engineering and Technology) campuses are also focused on engineering, but NUST encompasses a broader spectrum of science and technology.
• BZU (Bahauddin Zakariya University) is a general university offering a wide array of subjects, not exclusively focused on science and technology.

The risk of injury is generally the highest in Gymnastics. This sport involves extreme flexibility, strength, balance, and high-impact maneuvers, placing immense stress on the body. Gymnasts frequently experience both acute traumatic injuries and chronic overuse injuries due to repetitive, high-intensity training and complex movements.

• Rugby involves high-impact collisions and carries a significant risk of acute injuries, but the overall chronic injury burden and specific types of severe injuries can be higher in gymnastics.
• Tennis involves quick movements and repetitive actions, leading to some overuse injuries, but generally less severe than gymnastics.
• Basketball also involves dynamic movements and contact, with risks of sprains and strains, but typically not as high as the extreme physical demands of gymnastics.

Haripur City is named after Hari Singh Nalwa. He was a renowned general of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and founded the city in 1822. The city's name directly honors his contribution and legacy in the region.

• Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder and ruler of the Sikh Empire, but Haripur was not named directly after him.
• Gulab Singh was the founder of the Dogra dynasty and the first Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, not associated with the naming of Haripur.
• Sher Singh was a successor to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, but he did not found or name Haripur.

The old name of Myanmar is Burma. The country was officially known as the Union of Burma until 1989 when the ruling military junta changed its name to the Union of Myanmar. However, the name Burma is still widely used by many.

• Siam is the historical name for modern-day Thailand.
• Ceylon is the former name of Sri Lanka.
• Malaya refers to the Malay Peninsula, which is a geographical region and part of modern-day Malaysia, not the old name of Myanmar.

The correct answer is Choke the drain. Polythene bags are non-biodegradable materials that do not decompose naturally. When discarded improperly, they accumulate in drainage systems, blocking the flow of water. This blockage, commonly referred to as choking the drain, leads to severe issues such as waterlogging, flooding, and unsanitary conditions, especially during rainfall.

• Protect the drain is incorrect because polythene bags cause harm, not protection.
• Remove the drain is false; they block, rather than remove, the drainage infrastructure.
• Clean the drain is also incorrect as they introduce waste and obstruct cleanliness.

The correct answer is 81%. This question refers to a specific projection or report regarding Pakistan's weapon imports for the year 2025. According to various defense analyses and reports on global arms trade, Pakistan is projected to import a significant percentage of its weapons, with 81% being the specific figure cited in certain contexts for that period.

• The options 65%, 20%, and 10% are incorrect figures for the projected weapon imports by Pakistan in 2025, based on the specific data point this question references.

The correct answer is All of these. An NGO, or Non-Governmental Organization, is a diverse entity that operates independently of government influence to address a wide array of public concerns. Their work commonly spans across various critical sectors, including social causes (e.g., poverty alleviation, education), environmental causes (e.g., conservation, climate action), and humanitarian causes (e.g., disaster relief, human rights).

• Options like Social causes, Environmental causes, or Humanitarian causes individually are too narrow, as NGOs typically engage in multiple interconnected areas to achieve their missions.

The correct answer is Decline in cryptocurrency. The term "Crypto Winter" refers to a prolonged period in the cryptocurrency market characterized by significantly falling prices, reduced trading volumes, and a general loss of investor confidence. It is analogous to a bear market in traditional financial markets, where assets experience a sustained downturn.

• Boost in cryptocurrency is the opposite of a crypto winter.
• A regulatory crackdown can be a contributing factor to a decline but is not the definition of "Crypto Winter" itself.
• None of these is incorrect as "Decline in cryptocurrency" accurately defines the term.

The correct answer is the Mauryan Era. The Dharmajika Stupa, a prominent Buddhist monument located in Taxila, Pakistan, is historically attributed to the Mauryan Empire. It is widely believed to have been originally constructed during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, a significant patron of Buddhism, who ruled during the Mauryan period (c. 322–185 BCE).

• The Achaemenid Era predates the stupa's construction.
• The Greek Era (Indo-Greek kingdoms) and Kushan Era followed the Mauryan period, with later additions or renovations to the stupa, but not its initial building.

The correct answer is 31-May-18. President Mamnoon Hussain signed the 25th Constitutional Amendment Bill into law on May 31, 2018. This landmark legislation officially merged the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), integrating the region into Pakistan's mainstream political and administrative structure.

• The dates 28-May-18, 29-May-18, and 30-May-18 are incorrect as the bill was signed on the last day of May 2018, marking a significant constitutional change.

The phrase Sat Sri Akal is a fundamental greeting in Sikhism, meaning "Truth is the eternal God."

• The correct option, Truth is the eternal God, accurately reflects the spiritual essence and literal translation of this sacred salutation, emphasizing the timeless nature of truth and divinity in Sikh philosophy.
• Option A, "God is great," is a common religious phrase but not the precise meaning of Sat Sri Akal.
• Option C, "Victory to the king," is unrelated to the spiritual context of the greeting.
• Option D, "None of these," is incorrect because the correct meaning is provided.

This greeting encapsulates a core tenet of Sikh faith, acknowledging the ultimate reality of truth.

Venice is famously known as the "Bride of the Sea" due to its unique geographical relationship with the Adriatic Sea and its historical maritime power.

• The correct option, Venice, earned this romantic moniker because of its annual "Marriage of the Sea" ceremony, symbolizing its dominion over the waters and its reliance on the sea for prosperity and defense.
• Option B, "Amsterdam," is known for its canals but not this specific title.
• Option C, "Mumbai," is a major port city but lacks the historical and ceremonial association.
• Option D, "Istanbul," while historically significant for its maritime location, is not traditionally called the "Bride of the Sea."

This title highlights Venice's profound connection to its aquatic environment.

Farooq Abdullah, a prominent Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, is known for making controversial statements regarding the region's governance.

• The correct option, Farooq Abdullah, indeed made a statement suggesting that Kashmir was running better under China than India, sparking significant debate. This reflects his critical stance on India's handling of Kashmir.
• Option B, "Mehbooba Mufti," another former Chief Minister, has also been critical but is not associated with this specific quote.
• Option C, "Narendra Modi," is the current Prime Minister of India and would not make such a statement.
• Option D, "Burhan Wani," was a militant commander and not a political figure making such policy comparisons.

Abdullah's statement underscored his perspective on regional autonomy and governance.