Previous Year Questions

QUESTION ID:2

The President, along with the Council of Ministers, ___________ to visit India next week.

Select the most appropriate option to complete the above sentence. 

QUESTION ID:3

An electricity utility company charges ₹ 7 per kWh (kilo watt-hour). If a 40-watt desk light is left on for 10 hours each night for 180 days, what would be the cost of energy consumption? If the desk light is on for 2 more hours each night for the 180 days, what would be the percentage-increase in the cost of energy consumption?

QUESTION ID:4

In the context of the given figure, which one of the following options correctly represents the entries in the blocks labelled (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), respectively?

QUESTION ID:5

A bag contains Violet (V), Yellow (Y), Red (R), and Green (G) balls. On counting them, the following results are obtained:

(i) The sum of Yellow balls and twice the number of Violet balls is 50.

(ii) The sum of Violet and Green balls is 50.

(iii) The sum of Yellow and Red balls is 50.

(iv) The sum of Violet and twice the number of Red balls is 50.

Which one of the following Pie charts correctly represents the balls in the bag?

QUESTION ID:6

“His life was divided between the books, his friends, and long walks. A solitary man, he worked at all hours without much method, and probably courted his fatal illness in this way. To his own name there is not much to show; but such was his liberality that he was continually helping others, and fruits of his erudition are widely scattered, and have gone to increase many a comparative stranger’s reputation.                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ” (From E.V. Lucas’s “A Funeral”)

Based only on the information provided in the above passage, which one of the following statements is true? 

QUESTION ID:7

For the clock shown in the figure, if O * = O Q S Z P R T, and X * = X Z P W Y O Q , then which one among the given options is most appropriate for P* ?

QUESTION ID:8

Consider a five-digit number 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆𝑇 that has distinct digits 𝑃, 𝑄, 𝑅, 𝑆, and 𝑇, and satisfies the following conditions:

                                                           𝑃 < 𝑄

                                                       𝑆 > 𝑃 > 𝑇

                                                         𝑅 < 𝑇

If integers 1 through 5 are used to construct such a number, the value of 𝑃 is:

QUESTION ID:9

A business person buys potatoes of two different varieties P and Q, mixes them in a certain ratio and sells them at ₹ 192 per kg.

The cost of the variety P is ₹ 800 for 5 kg.

The cost of the variety Q is ₹ 800 for 4 kg.

If the person gets 8% profit, what is the P:Q ratio (by weight)?

QUESTION ID:10

Three villages P, Q, and R are located in such a way that the distance PQ = 13 km, QR = 14 km, and RP = 15 km, as shown in the figure. A straight road joins Q and R. It is proposed to connect P to this road QR by constructing another road. What is the minimum possible length (in km) of this connecting road?

Note: The figure shown is representative.

QUESTION ID:11

The rate of solvolysis for the following tertiary halides in 80% aqueous ethanol at 25 °C follows the order

QUESTION ID:12

The CORRECT order of boiling points for the hydrogen halides is 

QUESTION ID:13

The bond order in 𝑁₂ ²⁻ species is

QUESTION ID:14

The standard enthalpy of the reaction,

C (graphite) + H₂O (g) → CO (g) + H₂ (g) is found to be +131.3 kJ mol^-1 and the ∆_𝑓𝐻 ⁰ value for CO (g) is ‒110.5 kJ mol^-1 .

The value of ∆_𝑓𝐻 ⁰ (in kJ mol^-1 ) for H₂O (g) is

(The standard enthalpies of formation of elements in their reference states are zero at all temperatures) 

QUESTION ID:15

The temperature dependence of reaction rates is generally given by the Arrhenius equation. A plot of ln 𝑘_𝑟 against 1/𝑇 is a straight line from which the preexponential factor ‘A’ and the activation energy ‘𝐸_𝑎’ can be determined.

The CORRECT option regarding this plot is

QUESTION ID:16

The isothermal expansion of one mole of an ideal gas from 𝑉_𝑖 to 𝑉_𝑓 at temperature, T occurs in two ways.

Path I: a reversible isothermal expansion;

Path II: free expansion against zero external pressure

The CORRECT option for the values of ∆𝑈, 𝑞 and 𝑤 for Path I and Path II is

QUESTION ID:17

The CORRECT statement(s) regarding the given molecules is(are)

QUESTION ID:18

The CORRECT statement(s) about [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻, [Ni(CO)₄] and [NiCl₄] ²⁻ is(are) (Given: Atomic number of Ni: 28)

QUESTION ID:19

Consider the two 𝑝𝐾_𝑎values of valine as 2.32 and 9.62. The isoelectric point (pI) of this amino acid is ______. (rounded off to two decimal places)

QUESTION ID:20

A few species are given in Column I. Column II contains the hybrid orbitals used by the central atom of the species for bonding.

The CORRECT match for the species to their central atom hybridization is (Given: Atomic numbers of B: 5; C: 6; O: 8; F: 9; P: 15; Cl: 17; I: 53)

QUESTION ID:21

For product formation from only one type of reactant (e.g. 𝐴 → product), the CORRECT match for the order of the reaction (given in Column I) with the halflife expression (given in Column II) is ([𝐴]₀ is the initial concentration and 𝑘_𝑟 is the rate constant)

QUESTION ID:22

The CORRECT statement(s) for the given reactions is(are)

QUESTION ID:23

Addition of a few drops of concentrated HCl to an aqueous solution of CoCl₂ forms a dark blue complex X.

The CORRECT statement(s) for this reaction is(are) (Given: Atomic number of Co: 27)

QUESTION ID:24

The CORRECT statement(s) regarding biomolecules is(are)

QUESTION ID:25

Energy of the transition from 𝑛_ℎ = 4 to 𝑛_𝑙 = 2 for hydrogen atom is E × 10³ cm^-1 . Given: Rydberg constant for hydrogen: 1.097 x 10⁷ 𝑚⁻¹ . Value of E is ______________. (rounded off to two decimal places)

QUESTION ID:26

A non-volatile solute has a molecular weight of 180 g mol^-1 . Assume that the solute does not associate or dissociate in water, and the boiling-point constant (ebullioscopic constant) of water is 0.51 K kg mol^-1 . The amount (in g) of solute added to 500 g of water to elevate the boiling point by 0.153 K is ______. (answer in integer)

QUESTION ID:27

The standard potentials (𝐸 ⁰ ) for the Fe³⁺/Fe and Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ couples are −0.04 V and +0.76 V, respectively.

Given: Faraday constant = 96500 C mol^-1 .

The value for 𝐸 ⁰ (Fe²⁺/Fe), in V, is ____________. (rounded off to two decimal places)

QUESTION ID:28

Zinc is essential for the function of

QUESTION ID:29

Which one of the following molecules captures CO₂ in the C₄ cycle?

QUESTION ID:30

Which one of the following methods separates biomolecules based on their hydrodynamic volumes?

QUESTION ID:31

Which one of the following restriction endonucleases is a blunt cutter?

QUESTION ID:32

Which one of the following DNA repair systems requires DNA glycosylases?

QUESTION ID:33

Which one of the following ion channels opens to repolarize the neuronal membrane when an action potential is generated? 

QUESTION ID:34

Which one of the following is the most sensitive immunoassay?

QUESTION ID:35

Which of the following statements about antibodies is/are correct?

QUESTION ID:36

Which one of the following molecules does NOT contain phosphoanhydride bond(s)?

QUESTION ID:37

For an enzyme that follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics, a competitive inhibitor 

QUESTION ID:38

Fӧrster Resonance Energy Transfer does NOT depend on the

QUESTION ID:39

Phospholipid vesicles prepared in 50 𝑚𝑀 KCl were diluted in water. Based on this information, statements P and Q are made.

P: The diluted vesicles will develop membrane potential.

Q: There is a K ⁺ concentration difference across the vesicular membrane.

Which one of the following options is correct?

QUESTION ID:40

Peptide-binding cleft in MHC-I is formed by

QUESTION ID:41

Which of the following peptides do/does NOT absorb ultraviolet light above 250 𝑛𝑚 wavelength?

QUESTION ID:42

Which of the following is/are peptide hormone(s)?

QUESTION ID:43

Which of the following is/are heteropolysaccharide(s)?

QUESTION ID:44

The equilibrium dissociation constant of acetic acid is 1.74 × 10⁻⁵ 𝑀. The 𝑝𝐾_𝑎 of acetic acid (rounded off to one decimal place) is _____ .

QUESTION ID:45

The DNA double helix measures 0.34 𝑛𝑚/𝑏𝑝. The diameter of a nucleosome core particle is 11 𝑛𝑚. If the ratio of wrapped DNA length to nucleosome diameter is 4.51, the length of DNA around the nucleosome (to the nearest integer) is _____ 𝑏𝑝.

QUESTION ID:46

E. coli is grown exclusively in a medium containing ¹⁵NH₄Cl as the sole nitrogen source. Subsequently, the cells were shifted to a medium containing ¹⁴NH₄Cl. The molar ratio of hybrid DNA (¹⁵N¹⁴N) to light DNA (¹⁴N¹⁴N) after four generations (rounded off to two decimal places) will be _____ .

QUESTION ID:47

Correctly match the names of the plant taxonomists (Group I) with the titles of the books they authored (Group II). 

QUESTION ID:48

Which one of the following mature cell types is live but usually lacks nucleus?

QUESTION ID:49

Correctly match the carnivorous plants (Group I) with the organs (Group II) they modify to trap the prey.

QUESTION ID:50

Which one of the following commercially important carbohydrates is naturally produced only by the members of the plant kingdom?

QUESTION ID:51

Which one of the following agents causes the necrotic ring spot disease in stone fruits?

QUESTION ID:52

Identify the correct statement(s) with respect to plant disease.

QUESTION ID:53

Which of the following molecular approaches can be used to generate complete knock-out of a target gene in plants?

QUESTION ID:54

If an egg cell of a diploid plant species has 10 chromosomes, the expected number of chromosomes in a double trisomic somatic cell of this species would be _______________ (Answer in integer).

QUESTION ID:55

In the history of photosynthetic research, the empirical reaction of photosynthesis was first proposed for green plants (equation 1), followed by another reaction for purple sulfur bacteria (equation 2), leading to a generalized equation for photosynthesis(equation 3)

where H₂A in equation 3 is a generalized electron donor. Which one of the following statements is DISPROVEN by equation 3?

QUESTION ID:56

Consider a diploid plant species where the cells in the epidermis (the outermost single cell layer) always divide in the anticlinal orientation. If one such cell within the central zone of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) spontaneously becomes tetraploid at the seedling stage, which one of the following cellular arrangements would be most likely observed if the meristem is examined at the adult stage?

QUESTION ID:57

Correctly match the photosynthetic pathways (Group I) with their first stable products (Group II) in respective plants (Group III) 

QUESTION ID:58

The following table summarizes the flowering time behavior (days to flower) and the transcript levels in four genotypes of a plant species.

Which one of the following genetic pathways best explains the observations shown in the table? 

QUESTION ID:59

Correctly match the economically important specialized metabolites (Group I) with their broad chemical classes (Group II). 

QUESTION ID:60

Correctly match the following Arabidopsis genes (Group I) and the biological processes they primarily regulate (Group II).

QUESTION ID:61

Correctly match the enzymes used as selectable markers (Group I) and the chemicals used for their selection (Group II).

QUESTION ID:62

Which of the following sequential reactions correctly represent(s) the flow of electrons from NADH to O₂ in plant mitochondrial electron transport chain?

QUESTION ID:63

If rabbits are introduced in an isolated grassland for the first time, which of the following growth curves (shown using dashed line) is/are theoretically possible population dynamics over time?

QUESTION ID:64

Which of the following reactions in plants is/are catalyzed by the malic enzymes?

QUESTION ID:65

In a genetic cross between a true-breeding tall parent bearing red flowers and a true-breeding dwarf parent bearing white flowers, only tall plants with red flowers are obtained in the F1 population. Considering these two traits segregate independently, if one tall individual is selected from the F2 population, the probability that it would be genotypically homozygous for plant height and make red flowers is __________ (Round off to two decimal places).

QUESTION ID:66

Which one of the following metabolites is associated with bacterial stringent response? 

QUESTION ID:67

India is aiming to be free of tuberculosis by 2025. One of the key approaches for this program is DOTS. Which one of the following options is the full form of DOTS? 

QUESTION ID:68

Correctly match the bacterial type in Column I with their corresponding environmental niche in Column II.

QUESTION ID:69

Robert Koch used a meat-infused nutrient medium for which one of the following purposes?

QUESTION ID:70

A penicillin sensitive Escherichia coli population is exposed to a lethal dose (200 µg/ml) of penicillin. Assuming density-independent mortality, which one of the following relationships would describe the number of surviving bacteria (N) over time (T)?

QUESTION ID:71

A bacterium obtains energy from a chemical source by the oxidation of reduced 𝑁𝑂₂ ⁻, with 𝐶𝑂₂ as the principal carbon source. Which one of the following nutritional groups does this bacterium belong to?

QUESTION ID:72

The origin of the Escherichia coli chromosome on the genetic map is shown below.

Bidirectional replication is a feature of this system and both replication forks move at the same rate. Which one of the following sequences of replication of the genes is correct?

QUESTION ID:73

Which of the following sites is/are the location(s) of ATP generation through oxidative phosphorylation in Escherichia coli? 

QUESTION ID:74

The adaptive immune response in an animal involves the generation of antibodies against an invading bacterial pathogen. The following graph represents antibody titer levels in a mammal exposed twice to the pathogen.

Which one of the following options correctly pairs antibodies to peak I and peak II in the graph? 

QUESTION ID:75

Carl Woese established that short subunit rRNA sequences can be used to reveal evolutionary relationships between various organisms. Based on this, which one of the following options is the established phylogenetic arrangement of the three domains of life?

QUESTION ID:76

Correctly match the viruses listed in Column I with the nature of their corresponding genetic materials listed in Column II.

QUESTION ID:77

A culture of lac+ Escherichia coli is grown in a medium lacking lactose or any other β-galactoside. The response of the lac operon upon induction by lactose can be monitored by measuring the levels of lac mRNA, β-galactosidase enzyme and permease enzyme. Which one of the following profiles correctly captures the on-off response to lactose?

QUESTION ID:78

Which option(s) correctly match(es) the structures in a bacterial cell (Column I) with their corresponding functions (Column II).

QUESTION ID:79

Which of the following statements regarding micro-organisms is/are correct?

QUESTION ID:80

Which of the following is/are example(s) of animal-microbe mutualism?

QUESTION ID:81

Which of the following reactions is/are catalyzed by aldolase?

QUESTION ID:82

Which option(s) correctly match(es) the Antibiotic with their corresponding Target? 

QUESTION ID:83

The doubling time of Escherichia coli is 30 minutes in a culture medium containing glucose and yeast extract. Phage T7 has a life cycle of 20 minutes and a burst size of 200 phage per infected E. coli cell. Phage absorption is instantaneous and occurs at 1 multiplicity of infection (MOI). Bacteria infected with multiple or single phage give the same burst. 5000 plaque forming units of T7 phage are added to a culture of 2 × 10⁷ E. coli cells.

Assuming normal division, the E. coli culture will lyse completely by _____ full cycles of bacterial division. (Answer in integer)

QUESTION ID:84

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnosis test was performed on a bacterial sample targeting a specific gene. There are 3 copies of this gene in the bacterial genome. Prior to DNA extraction, the bacteria were incubated to allow one cycle of growth. 3072 amplicon copies were obtained after 9 cycles of the PCR. Assume 100% efficiency at each step.

The initial bacterial count in the sample was _______. (Answer in integer)

QUESTION ID:85

Which one of the following is a “brood parasite” ?

QUESTION ID:86

During the development of a mammalian embryo, “yolk sac” is formed by which one of the following?

QUESTION ID:87

The animals belonging to which one of the following phyla are characterized by “segmented body” ?

QUESTION ID:88

Which one of the following is a “post-zygotic” isolating mechanism of speciation?

QUESTION ID:89

Desmosomes are 

QUESTION ID:90

The “foramen of Panizza” is found in which one of the following groups of animals?

QUESTION ID:91

Imagine a population of diploid species in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The population has two alleles for a gene which are ‘a’ and ‘A’. The number of individuals with ‘aa’ genotype in this population is 1 in 10000. The frequency of the allele ‘A’ in the population is ______ (up to two decimal places) 

QUESTION ID:92

A PCR was setup to amplify a 500 nucleotides-long DNA. The dNTPs in the reaction mixture were radiolabeled. The percentage (%) of radiolabeled singlestranded DNA after three cycles will be ______ (up to one decimal place)

QUESTION ID:93

Match the molecules in Column-I with their properties/functions mentioned in Column-II

QUESTION ID:94

Match the following human diseases in Column-I with their causal organism in Column-II

QUESTION ID:95

Match the molecules in Column-I with their correct property/function in Column-II 

QUESTION ID:96

What would be the number of genotypes and phenotypes, respectively, from a cross between genotypes AaBBCcDd and AaBBCcDd ? Assume independent assortment and simple dominant-recessive relationship in each gene pair. 

QUESTION ID:97

Nucleosomes are made up of DNA and histones. Histones undergo various kind of modifications by different groups of proteins. They are known as histone writers, readers and erasers. Which of the following is/are histone writer(s)?

QUESTION ID:98

The expression of a gene is regulated by a transcription factor. Which of the following techniques can be used to identify the region in its promoter where the transcription factor binds?

QUESTION ID:99

Which of the following animals in India are included under “critically endangered” threat category as per the Red Data List of IUCN?

QUESTION ID:100

Which of the following statements in relation to cell movement during gastrulation in Sea urchin is/are correct? 

QUESTION ID:101

Which of the following genetic disorders is/are caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions?

QUESTION ID:102

The mother and the father of five children are carriers (heterozygous) of an autosomal recessive allele that causes cystic fibrosis. The probability of having exactly three normal children among five is ______ (up to two decimal places)

QUESTION ID:103

An enzyme, which follows Michaelis-Menten equation, catalyzes the reaction A→B. When enzyme and substrate concentrations are 15 nM and 10 µM, respectively, the reaction velocity is 5 µMs⁻¹ . If K_m for the substrate A is 5 µM, the kinetic efficiency of the enzyme will be _______×10⁶ M⁻¹s ⁻¹ (in integer)

QUESTION ID:104

Which of the following contains the phytonutrient allicin?

QUESTION ID:105

Which mold is responsible for the characteristic blue marbling in blue-veined cheese?

QUESTION ID:106

Which genus of bacteria does NOT have cell wall? 

QUESTION ID:107

Which of the following pigment does NOT have pro-vitamin A activity?

QUESTION ID:108

Identify the analysis that must be performed FIRST to judge ‘cleanliness’ of spice/herb powders.

QUESTION ID:109

If there is a delay in oil extraction after bran is separated from the brown rice, the quality of rice bran oil deteriorates. Identify the suitable CAUSE and EFFECT for the deterioration in oil quality. 

QUESTION ID:110

Among the following, which is/are the process(es) that lead to generation of new fats from existing ones?

QUESTION ID:111

The true density and bulk density of wheat grains are 1280 kg/m³ and 740 kg/m³ , respectively. The porosity of the grains is ____. (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

QUESTION ID:112

Identify the gas composition (in percent) suitable for packaging cured meat under MAP conditions.

QUESTION ID:113

Which of the following sequence of events occurs during formation of egg-white gel?

Assume: P_N: Native protein; P_D: Denatured protein; P_A: Aggregated protein; P_G: Protein gel →: forward reaction; ↔: reversible reaction; ∆: heating; ∇: cooling 

QUESTION ID:114

In canning and retorting of foods, which of the following is the correct expression of Ball process time (B)?

Assume: t_p = processor’s process time; t_c = come-up time

QUESTION ID:115

Which of the following is the most suitable flexible packaging laminate for dry fruits?

QUESTION ID:116

Identify the CORRECT sequence of operations for dressing of poultry. 

QUESTION ID:117

Which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE for a package of gammairradiated (7.5 kGy) whole chicken? 

QUESTION ID:118

Match the following food products in Column I with their corresponding processes in Column II.

QUESTION ID:119

Which of the following is/are inhibitor(s) of enzymatic browning in peeled potatoes?

QUESTION ID:120

Match the following enzymes in Column I with their applications in Column II.

QUESTION ID:121

The F₁₂₁ value of a known microorganism with Z value of 11 °C is 2.4 min for 99.9999% inactivation. For a 12D inactivation of the said microorganism at 143 °C, the F value (in min) is _____. (rounded off to 3 decimal places) 

QUESTION ID:122

In a typical grinding operation, 80% of the feed material passes through a sieve opening of 4.75 mm; whereas, 80% of the ground product passes through 0.5 mm opening. If the power required to grind 2 tonnes/h of the feed material is 3.8 kW, the work index of the material is _______. (rounded off to 2 decimal places)