History, Geography, Culture & Miscellaneous Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for XAT: 9+ Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

    Solve 9+ History, Geography, Culture & Miscellaneous Current Affairs previous year questions for XAT with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

    Chapter Roadmap: Current Affairs - History, Geography & Culture

    Chapter Roadmap

    1. Indian History, Geography & Culture
    Focus: Ancient capitals, Modern policies, River systems, Cultural festivals.
    2. Miscellaneous Current Affairs & Defence Updates
    Focus: Defence commissions, Awards, Global indices, Space missions.

    Topic Hero: Indian History, Geography & Culture

    Core Focus Areas

    Geographic Anchors
    Locating historic capitals and tracing major river systems.
    Historical Chronology
    Ordering significant battles and understanding administrative policies.
    Cultural Milestones
    Recognizing regional festivals and recent record-breaking cultural events.

    History, Geography, Culture & Miscellaneous Current Affairs: Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Explanations (5 Problems)

    Question 1 · General Knowledge (GK) MCQ

    Which of the following governors-general of India introduced the policy of “doctrine of lapse?"

    1. A.

      Lord Wellesley

    2. B.

      Lord Curzon

    3. C.

      Lord Mountbatten

    4. D.

      Lord Dalhousie

    5. E.

      Lord Reading

    Correct Answer:

    D

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a modern Indian history question focusing on administrative policies of Governor-Generals.

    Step 1: Recall the "Doctrine of Lapse".

    It was an annexation policy devised by Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General from 1848 to 1856).

    Step 2: Understand the policy.

    Under this doctrine, if an Indian ruler died without a natural male heir, his kingdom would "lapse" and become part of British India. Adopted sons were not recognized as heirs.

    Step 3: Identify the Governor-General.

    Lord Dalhousie applied this to states like Satara, Jhansi, and Awadh.

    Answer: Option D.

    Question 2 · General Knowledge (GK) MCQ

    Arrange the following famous battles in the order of their occurrence: (a) Battle of the Hydaspes (b) First Battle of Tarain (c) Battle of Khanwa (d) Battle of Talikota (e) Battle of Buxar

    1. A.

      (a)-(c)-(d)-(b)-(e)

    2. B.

      (a)-(e)-(b)-(c)-(d)

    3. C.

      (a)-(b)-(c)-(d)-(e)

    4. D.

      (a)-(c)-(b)-(d)-(e)

    5. E.

      (a)-(b)-(d)-(c)-(e)

    Correct Answer:

    C

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a historical chronology question requiring the ordering of famous battles in Indian history.

    Step 1: Determine the date of each battle.

    (a) Battle of the Hydaspes: 326 BC (Alexander the Great vs Porus).

    (b) First Battle of Tarain: 1191 AD (Prithviraj Chauhan vs Ghori).

    (c) Battle of Khanwa: 1527 AD (Babur vs Rana Sanga).

    (d) Battle of Talikota: 1565 AD (Vijayanagara Empire vs Deccan Sultanates).

    (e) Battle of Buxar: 1764 AD (British vs Mughal/Nawab alliance).

    Step 2: Arrange in chronological order.

    326 BC → 1191 AD → 1527 AD → 1565 AD → 1764 AD.

    Sequence: (a) - (b) - (c) - (d) - (e).

    Answer: Option C matches this sequence.

    Question 3 · General Knowledge (GK) MCQ

    Which shipyard built INS Tushil, a stealth guided missile-frigate, commissioned on Dec 9, 2024?

    1. A.

      Honkong United Dockyards, Hong Kong

    2. B.

      Guangzhou Shipyard International, China

    3. C.

      Yantar Shipyard, Russia

    4. D.

      Naval Group Shipyard, France

    5. E.

      Navantia Shipyard, Spain

    Correct Answer:

    C

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a "Defence Current Affairs" question focusing on naval commissions and indigenous/foreign collaboration details.

    Step 1: Identify the ship. INS Tushil is a stealth-guided missile frigate.

    Step 2: Recall the project details. INS Tushil is part of the Project 11356 frigate series.

    Step 3: Determine the origin. These frigates are built under a technology transfer agreement. The lead ships are built in Russia, and subsequent ones in India.

    Step 4: Specific Shipyard. INS Tushil was built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. It was commissioned in December 2024.

    Answer: C

    Question 4 · General Knowledge (GK) MCQ

    Which of the following years is NOT a leap year?

    1. A.

      1900

    2. B.

      2000

    3. C.

      1896

    4. D.

      1924

    5. E.

      2024

    Correct Answer:

    A

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a calendar logic question testing the rules for identifying leap years.

    Step 1: Recall the rules for a leap year.

    A year is a leap year if:

    1. It is divisible by 4.
    2. HOWEVER, if it is divisible by 100, it is NOT a leap year, UNLESS...
    3. It is also divisible by 400, in which case it IS a leap year.

    Summary Rule:

    • Divisible by 400 Leap Year
    • Divisible by 100 but not 400 Not a Leap Year
    • Divisible by 4 but not 100 Leap Year
    • Not divisible by 4 Not a Leap Year

    Step 2: Test each option.

    • Option A (1900): Divisible by 4? Yes. Divisible by 100? Yes. Divisible by 400? No (). Result: NOT a leap year.
    • Option B (2000): Divisible by 400? Yes (). Result: Leap Year.
    • Option C (1896): Divisible by 4? Yes. Divisible by 100? No. Result: Leap Year.
    • Option D (1924): Divisible by 4? Yes. Divisible by 100? No. Result: Leap Year.
    • Option E (2024): Divisible by 4? Yes. Divisible by 100? No. Result: Leap Year.

    Step 3: Identify the exception.

    The question asks which year is NOT a leap year. Only 1900 fits this criterion.

    Answer: A

    Question 5 · General Knowledge (GK) MCQ

    From which location, India test- red the new generation Agni Prime missile in 2021?

    1. A.

      Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram(Thumba), Kerala

    2. B.

      Gan(Addu Atoll), Maldives

    3. C.

      Satish Dhawan Space Centre(Sriharikota), Andhra Pradesh

    4. D.

      APJ Abdul Kalam island, Odisha

    5. E.

      LAPAN Rocket Launcher Station, Pameungpeuk, Garut, Indonesia

    Correct Answer:

    D

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a current affairs question regarding India's defence missile tests.

    Step 1: Identify the missile.

    Agni-Prime (Agni-P) is a new generation ballistic missile.

    Step 2: Recall the test details.

    The first successful test flight of Agni-Prime was conducted on June 28, 2021.

    Step 3: Identify the location.

    It was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at APJ Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island) off the coast of Odisha.

    Answer: Option D.

    More previous year questions (pyqs) in this unit

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    History, Geography, Culture & Miscellaneous Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for XAT: 9+ Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

    Solve 9+ History, Geography, Culture & Miscellaneous Current Affairs previous year questions for XAT with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample question

    A question from this chapter

    Question 1

    Which of the following governors-general of India introduced the policy of “doctrine of lapse?"

    Question 2

    Arrange the following famous battles in the order of their occurrence: (a) Battle of the Hydaspes (b) First Battle of Tarain (c) Battle of Khanwa (d) Battle of Talikota (e) Battle of Buxar

    Question 3

    Which shipyard built INS Tushil, a stealth guided missile-frigate, commissioned on Dec 9, 2024?

    Question 4

    Which of the following years is NOT a leap year?

    Question 5

    From which location, India test- red the new generation Agni Prime missile in 2021?

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