States PCS: Punjab GK Questions for PPSC Examinations
For all Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) exams including PCS, Cooperative Inspector, Naib Tehsildar, and others.
1. Who was chairman of Southern Punjab Railway at its 1895 establishment?
[A] George Stephenson
[B] James J. Hill
[C] Bradford Leslie
[D] Robert Stephenson
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bradford Leslie]
Notes:
Bradford Leslie chaired the Southern Punjab Railway in 1895. The SPR connected Delhi to Samasata, facilitating direct access between Delhi and Karachi, operated by North Western State Railway, and was later merged into Indian Railways.
2. Who was known as “Pearl” and “Rose of India” in Punjab royalty?
[A] Princess Karamjit Singh of Kapurthala
[B] Maharani Jind Kaur
[C] Maharani Rajinder Kaur
[D] Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Princess Karamjit Singh of Kapurthala]
Notes:
Princess Karamjit Singh of Kapurthala (1915–2002) was titled “Pearl of India” and “Rose of India”, was multilingual, and recipient of Empire of India Medal (1944). She inspired designers like Mollie Parnis and Mainbocher, and is recognized for her prominence in Punjab’s royal heritage.
3. Which Mughal official was responsible for ordering the execution of Guru Gobind Singh’s two younger sons during the Saka Sirhind in 1704?
[A] Firoz Khan
[B] Wazir Khan
[C] Zakariya Khan
[D] Saif Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Wazir Khan]
Notes:
Wazir Khan, the Nawab of Sirhind, ordered the execution of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, at Sirhind in 1704. Their refusal to convert led to their martyrdom, commemorated annually at Fatehgarh Sahib during the Shaheedi Jor Mela.
4. Who crafted the famous gold throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh between 1820 and 1830?
[A] Raja Ravi Varma
[B] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
[C] Ustad Ahmad Lahori
[D] Hafez Muhammad Multani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Hafez Muhammad Multani]
Notes:
The gold throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was made by Hafez Muhammad Multani around 1820-1830. It consists of wood, resin, and gold sheets, with a symbolic lotus base. Seized by the British in 1849, it is now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
5. Budki Nadi originates from which hills in Punjab?
[A] Satpura Hills
[B] Aravalli Hills
[C] Vindhya Hills
[D] Shivalik Hills
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Shivalik Hills]
Notes:
Budki Nadi is a seasonal rivulet in Punjab originating from the Shivalik Hills. It flows southwest to the Sutlej River. The Sugh Rao tributary joins it, and the Sirhind Canal intersects its path, necessitating an elevated superpassage for flood flow, completed in 1882.
6. The Chautang River is a remnant of which ancient river?
[A] Ghaggar River
[B] Drishadvati River
[C] Yamuna River
[D] Sarasvati River
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Drishadvati River]
Notes:
Chautang River, seasonal in Haryana, is considered a remnant of the ancient Drishadvati. It joins the Ghaggar system, aligns with the Western Yamuna Canal, and passes near key Indus Valley sites. The canal by Firuz Tughluq utilized its paleochannel.
7. Who co-founded Lakshmi Insurance Company with Lala Lajpat Rai?
[A] Motilal Nehru
[B] Chittaranjan Das
[C] Bhagat Singh
[D] K. Santanam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [K. Santanam]
Notes:
K. Santanam, a barrister and close aide of Lala Lajpat Rai, co-founded Lakshmi Insurance Company, precursor to LIC. He was pivotal in the Punjab freedom movement, served as defense counsel post-Jallianwala Bagh, and held top regional Congress and municipal positions. He later led Indian Life Offices Association.
8. Consider the following pairs regarding eminent exponents and their respective Hindustani Gharanas:
- Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan – Patiala Gharana
- Pandit Bhimsen Joshi – Kirana Gharana
- Ustad Amir Khan – Indore Gharana
Which of the above pairs is / are correctly matched?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
All pairs are correctly matched. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was a doyen of the Patiala Gharana; Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was renowned for his association with the Kirana Gharana; and Ustad Amir Khan founded and was associated with the Indore Gharana. Each contributed significantly to the propagation and evolution of their respective gharanas in Hindustani classical music.
9. Consider the following pairs of pioneers in Indian academic and research domains:
- P.C. Mahalanobis – Father of Indian Statistics
- Meghnad Saha – Father of Indian Nuclear Physics
- Birbal Sahni – Father of Indian Paleobotany
Which of the above pairs is / are correctly matched?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1 & 3]
Notes:
P.C. Mahalanobis is regarded as the father of Indian statistics and Birbal Sahni is considered the father of Indian paleobotany. Meghnad Saha is known for his contributions to astrophysics, not nuclear physics. Therefore, only pairs 1 and 3 are correct.
10. Damsal Dam is located in which district of Punjab?
[A] Amritsar
[B] Ludhiana
[C] Hoshiarpur
[D] Patiala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hoshiarpur]
Notes:
Damsal Dam, an earth-fill dam, is situated in Mehingrowal of Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. It controls floods and irrigates 1,920 ha. The dam is maintained by Kandi Area Dam Maintenance Division, Hoshiarpur, and is about 20 km from Hoshiarpur town in northern India.
