PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

The correct answer is London. Greenwich is a historic town located in southeast London, England. It is globally renowned for being the home of the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which serve as the international reference for time zones and geographical coordinates. Its historical significance in navigation and astronomy makes it a pivotal location.

• Options B, C, and D (Sydney, New York, and Delhi) are major global cities but are not where Greenwich is located. Greenwich is an integral part of London's cultural and scientific heritage.

The correct answer is Indus. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a large gravity dam currently under construction on the River Indus in northern Pakistan. This mega-project aims to generate substantial hydroelectric power, store water for irrigation purposes, and mitigate flood risks in the region. The Indus River is one of Asia's longest rivers and a vital water source for Pakistan.

• Options B, C, and D (Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab) are other significant rivers in Pakistan, but the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is specifically being built on the Indus River, making these choices incorrect.

The correct answer is Cancer. Projections from leading health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), indicate that the incidence and mortality rates of cancer are expected to rise most significantly by 2040. This anticipated increase is attributed to factors such as an aging global population, changing lifestyles, and improved diagnostic capabilities that detect more cases.

• Options B and C (Malaria and HIV) are serious global health challenges, but due to ongoing prevention, treatment, and control efforts, their projected rise in incidence by 2040 is not expected to surpass that of cancer. Option D is incorrect as a rise is expected.

The correct answer is H5N1 (Bird Flu). H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, commonly known as bird flu, which primarily affects various species of birds. While it can, in rare instances, transmit to humans and cause severe illness, its natural reservoir and primary host are avian populations.

• Option A, Swine Flu (H1N1), primarily affects pigs, though it can infect humans. Option C, Seasonal Flu, refers to common human influenza viruses. Option D, Spanish Flu, was a pandemic strain of H1N1 that predominantly affected humans in 1918. None of these primarily affect birds.

The correct answer is China. China is currently the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2). This high emission level is primarily due to its vast population, rapid industrialization, and significant reliance on coal as a primary energy source for its economic growth and development.

• Options A, C, and D (USA, Russia, and India) are also major global carbon emitters. However, China's total annual carbon emissions surpass those of any other single country, making it the leading contributor to global CO2 emissions.

The Malakand incident refers to the period in 2009 when militants gained significant control in the Malakand Division, including Swat Valley, posing a direct threat to the state. In response, the Pakistan Army launched a major military operation named Rah-e-Rast (Path of Rectitude). This operation successfully cleared the area of militants and restored government control.

• Zarb-e-Azb was a large-scale military operation launched in North Waziristan in 2014, much later than the Malakand incident.
• Sherdil is not a recognized major military operation name associated with the Malakand incident.
• Rah-e-Haq refers to earlier, smaller-scale operations conducted in Swat, but Rah-e-Rast was the decisive and comprehensive operation following the 2009 crisis.

The Dawn newspaper is one of Pakistan's oldest and most respected English-language newspapers. It was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, in 1941. Jinnah established Dawn to serve as a mouthpiece for the All-India Muslim League, articulating the Muslim perspective and advocating for the creation of a separate Muslim state.

• Mir Shakil ur Rehman is the CEO of the Jang Group of Newspapers, a different media conglomerate, not the founder of Dawn.
• Hameed Haroon is the current CEO of the Dawn Media Group, but he did not found the newspaper; he is a descendant of one of its early patrons.
• Zia Shahid is associated with other media ventures and is not connected to the founding of Dawn newspaper.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies.

• Geneva is the correct answer because the IEC's headquarters are indeed located in Geneva, Switzerland. This city is a hub for many international organizations, reflecting its neutral status and central European location.
• New York is incorrect; while it hosts the UN headquarters, it is not the IEC's base.
• London is incorrect; it is home to many international bodies but not the IEC.
• Paris is incorrect; it hosts UNESCO and other organizations, but not the IEC.

Tiananmen Square is a vast city square in the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen ('Gate of Heavenly Peace') located to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City.

• China is the correct answer. Tiananmen Square is a historically significant landmark located in Beijing, the capital city of China. It has been the site of many important events in Chinese history.
• Japan is incorrect; Japan is an island nation to the east of China and does not contain Tiananmen Square.
• South Korea is incorrect; South Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula and is not where Tiananmen Square is found.
• India is incorrect; India is a large country in South Asia, geographically distant from China and Tiananmen Square.

The Indian National Army (INA) was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists during World War II in Southeast Asia. Its aim was to secure Indian independence from British rule.

• Mohan Singh is the correct answer. Captain Mohan Singh, an officer of the British Indian Army, was instrumental in founding the first Indian National Army in 1942 after the fall of Singapore.
• Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was a prominent officer in the INA but not its founder.
• Subhas Chandra Bose later reorganized and led the INA, becoming its most famous leader, but he was not the original founder.
• The option 'None of these' is incorrect as Mohan Singh is the correct founder.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collection of infrastructure projects under construction throughout Pakistan, aiming to upgrade Pakistan's infrastructure and strengthen its economy.

• ML-1 is the correct answer. The Main Line 1 (ML-1) is a major railway line in Pakistan, stretching from Karachi to Peshawar. It is a crucial component of the CPEC railway projects, undergoing significant upgrades, including sections near Havelian, to improve connectivity and speed.
• ML-5 (Khunjerab) is not a recognized primary CPEC railway line designation in the same context as ML-1.
• Taxila-Khunjerab Line refers to a proposed or conceptual route but ML-1 is the established and actively upgraded CPEC railway line.
• 'None of these' is incorrect as ML-1 is the specific CPEC railway line.

Al-Hilal was an Urdu-language weekly newspaper established by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It played a significant role in promoting nationalist and anti-British sentiments in India.

• Abul Kalam Azad is the correct answer. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad founded the newspaper Al-Hilal in 1912. He used it as a powerful medium to propagate his nationalist views, advocate for Hindu-Muslim unity, and criticize British policies, making it a significant voice in the Indian independence movement.
• Zafar Ali Khan was associated with the newspaper 'Zamindar', not Al-Hilal.
• Allama Iqbal was a renowned poet and philosopher, not the founder of Al-Hilal.
• Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement and associated with 'Comrade' and 'Hamdard' newspapers, but not Al-Hilal.

The Lahore Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940, by the All-India Muslim League, was a landmark statement that called for the creation of independent states for Muslims in British India.

• 2 is the correct answer. The Lahore Resolution, while often interpreted as a demand for a single Muslim state, actually called for the creation of 'independent states' in the North-Western and Eastern zones of British India where Muslims were in a majority. This implied two distinct Muslim-majority regions that would form separate entities.
• The resolution did not explicitly demand 1, 3, or 4 states, but rather 'states' in the plural, referring to the two main Muslim-majority areas.

The Unionist Party was a political party in British India, primarily active in the Punjab Province. It represented the interests of the landed gentry and rural population, advocating for inter-communal harmony.

• Sir Fazl-i-Hussain is the correct answer. Sir Fazl-i-Hussain was a prominent political leader who founded the Unionist Party in Punjab in 1923. He played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the province during the British Raj.
• Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan was a later leader of the Unionist Party and served as Premier of Punjab, but he was not its founder.
• Ch. Khaliquzzaman was a leader of the All-India Muslim League, not the Unionist Party.
• Ch. Rehmat Ali is known for coining the name 'Pakistan' and was not associated with the founding of the Unionist Party.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was a strong advocate for education and frequently visited institutions to inspire the youth.

• Islamia College Peshawar is the correct answer. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah frequently visited Islamia College Peshawar, recognizing its importance as a center of Muslim education in the North-West Frontier Province. He held the institution in high regard and even bequeathed a portion of his property to it.
• Dhaka University, while significant, was not the institution he most frequently visited.
• Govt. College Lahore was an important educational institution, but not his most frequent destination.
• Delhi was a major political center, but the question refers to an educational institution he frequently visited.

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was a Pakistani politician who served as the 15th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2002 to 2004. He was the first Prime Minister from Balochistan.

• 2-Dec-20 is the correct answer. Ex-Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali passed away on December 2, 2020, at the age of 76, due to cardiac arrest.
• The other dates, 15-Nov-19, 10-Jan-21, and 5-Mar-18, are incorrect as they do not correspond to the actual date of his demise. This question tests specific factual knowledge about a historical event.

Gilgit-Baltistan is an administrative territory of Pakistan, located in the northern part of the country. Its political status has been a subject of ongoing discussion and development.

• 2009 is the correct answer. In 2009, the Government of Pakistan enacted the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, which granted the region a provincial-like status, including an elected legislative assembly and a chief minister, significantly enhancing its autonomy.
• The years 2015, 2018, and 2020 are incorrect. While there have been subsequent discussions and proposals regarding its status, the initial grant of provincial-like status occurred in 2009.

The Tughlaq Dynasty was a significant Muslim dynasty of Turkic origin that ruled over the Delhi Sultanate. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, originally Ghazi Malik, founded the dynasty in 1320 AD, marking the end of the Khilji dynasty's rule. He established a stable administration and initiated several reforms.

• Ghiyasuddin Balban was a powerful ruler of the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty, which preceded the Khilji and Tughlaq dynasties, making him incorrect.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq was Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq's son and successor, known for his controversial administrative experiments, but he was not the founder.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq was a later ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty, known for his public works and administrative reforms, but he also did not found the dynasty.

The Delhi Muslim Proposals were a set of demands made by Muslim leaders in 1927, aiming to secure Muslim rights in a future independent India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a prominent leader of the All-India Muslim League, presented these proposals. They outlined conditions for joint electorates, including a one-third representation for Muslims in the Central Legislature and separation of Sindh from Bombay.

• Liaqat Ali Khan was a close associate of Jinnah and later Pakistan's first Prime Minister, but he did not present these specific proposals.
• Allama Iqbal was a visionary poet and philosopher who advocated for a separate Muslim state, but he was not the presenter of the Delhi Proposals.
• Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar was a leader of the Khilafat Movement and a prominent figure in the Indian independence struggle, but not the one who presented the Delhi Proposals.

North Waziristan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, is historically known for its distinct tribal population. The two main and most prominent tribes inhabiting this region are the Wazir and Dawar. These tribes have a long history and cultural heritage deeply rooted in the area.

• Afridi and Shinwari are primarily associated with the Khyber Agency (now Khyber District), not North Waziristan.
• Mehsud and Orakzai are significant tribes, but Mehsud are predominantly found in South Waziristan, and Orakzai in the Orakzai Agency (now Orakzai District).
• Khattak and Mohmand are other major Pashtun tribes; Khattak are widespread, and Mohmand are mainly in the Mohmand Agency (now Mohmand District), not North Waziristan.

Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, commonly known as Aga Khan III, was the 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community. He was a significant figure in the 20th century, advocating for Muslim rights and contributing to various social and educational causes. He is buried in Aswan, Egypt, in a mausoleum overlooking the Nile River, a site that has become a pilgrimage destination for his followers.

• Cairo is the capital of Egypt, but not the specific burial site of Aga Khan III.
• Karachi is a major city in Pakistan with a large Ismaili population, but it is not where Aga Khan III is interred.
• Istanbul is a historical city in Turkey, unrelated to the burial place of Aga Khan III.

The correct answer is World Environment Day. Celebrated annually on June 5th, World Environment Day is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.

• Earth Day is observed on April 22nd.
• World Water Day is observed on March 22nd.
• International Biodiversity Day (or World Biodiversity Day) is observed on May 22nd.

Each of these important environmental days has a distinct date, making them incorrect options for June 5th.

The correct answer is New Zealand. The Commonwealth of Nations was formally established by the Statute of Westminster in 1931. This statute recognized the independence of the self-governing Dominions within the British Empire. The original Dominions included Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland.

• China and Japan were never part of the British Commonwealth.
• Therefore, 'None of these' is incorrect as New Zealand is a founding member.

New Zealand's inclusion as a founding member alongside Australia and Canada is historically accurate regarding the Commonwealth's formation.

United Nations Day is an annual observance that marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. This pivotal event officially established the United Nations as an international organization dedicated to maintaining international peace and security, fostering friendly relations among nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights. Therefore, 24th October is celebrated globally as UN Day.

• 21st September is observed as the International Day of Peace, not UN Day.
• 10th December is recognized as Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• 5th June is celebrated as World Environment Day, focusing on environmental protection.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974, following the 1973 oil crisis. Its primary role is to ensure reliable, affordable, and clean energy for its member countries. The headquarters of the IEA are located in Paris, France.

• Rome is home to organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
• Geneva hosts numerous international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), but not the IEA.
• Vienna is the headquarters for organizations such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but not the IEA.