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. Which of the following non-native plant species poses an invasive threat to the wetlands of Punjab?
[A] Parthenium hysterophorus
[B] Lantana camara
[C] Eupatorium odoratum
[D] Waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)]
Notes:
Waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) rapidly invades Punjab’s wetlands, disrupting ecosystems by blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen.
2. Who was chairman of Southern Punjab Railway at its 1895 establishment?
[A] George Stephenson
[B] James J. Hill
[C] Bradford Leslie
[D] Robert Stephenson
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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.
3. Jesuit Antoni de Montserrat served at the court of which Mughal emperor?
[A] Jahangir
[B] Shah Jahan
[C] Akbar
[D] Babur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Akbar]
Notes:
Antoni de Montserrat, a 16th-century Catalan Jesuit, served at Akbar’s court, wrote “Mongolicae Legationis Commentarius,” learned Persian, participated in court missions, mapped northern India and the Himalayas, and significantly influenced early European perceptions of Asia and the Mughal Empire.
4. Which city was the capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Sikh Empire?
[A] Chandigarh
[B] Amritsar
[C] Lahore
[D] Patiala
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Correct Answer: C [Lahore]
Notes:
Lahore was capital of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh from 1799 to 1849. It acted as the empire’s political, economic, and cultural hub before British annexation of Punjab in 1849.
5. Under which Kushan ruler did Vanaspara serve as a Satrap?
[A] Kanishka I
[B] Vāsishka
[C] Huvishka
[D] Vasudeva I
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kanishka I]
Notes:
Vanaspara served as a Satrap under Kanishka I, as shown by inscriptions like the Sarnath Bala Bodhisattva statue. Kanishka I was a prominent Kushan emperor, reigning circa 127–150 CE, known for expanding the empire and promoting Buddhism.
6. Who founded the princely state of Pataudi?
[A] Raja Man Singh
[B] Nawab Faiz Talab Khan
[C] Maharaja Ranjit Singh
[D] Shivaji Maharaj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nawab Faiz Talab Khan]
Notes:
Pataudi State was founded in 1804 by Nawab Faiz Talab Khan, an Afghan Pashtun, after aiding the British during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Located in present-day Haryana, it comprised one town and 40 villages. The state merged with India in 1948.
7. Who is known as Deenbandhu, the agrarian reformer and Unionist Party co-founder?
[A] Bhagat Singh
[B] Sir Chhotu Ram
[C] Lala Lajpat Rai
[D] Master Tara Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sir Chhotu Ram]
Notes:
Sir Chhotu Ram co-founded the Unionist Party and was Punjab Revenue Minister (1937-45). He led significant agrarian reforms, helped enact farmer-friendly laws, and is celebrated as Deenbandhu for championing peasants’ rights in Punjab. Key figure in rural welfare and education, he is widely honored in Haryana and Punjab.
8. Which Punjab folk art features mud wall and floor paintings during major festivals?
[A] Phulkari Embroidery
[B] Chowk-poorana
[C] Warli Painting
[D] Mandana Art
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chowk-poorana]
Notes:
Chowk-poorana is a Punjabi folk art mainly by women, made during festivals using mud, cow dung, and natural colors to paint motifs like trees, flowers, and peacocks on floors and walls. It symbolizes prosperity and is unique to Punjab, distinct from other regional painting traditions.
9. Who authored Dakhni Oankar in the Guru Granth Sahib?
[A] Guru Arjan Dev
[B] Guru Nanak
[C] Guru Tegh Bahadur
[D] Guru Gobind Singh
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Correct Answer: B [Guru Nanak]
Notes:
Dakhni Oankar, with 54 stanzas, was composed by Guru Nanak after discourse with Chatur Das at Omkareshwar in South India. It appears in Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 929-938, showcasing Sikh philosophy and dialogue with Hindu priests.
10. Bhangra folk dance is originally associated with which Punjab region?
[A] Doaba
[B] Majha
[C] Malwa
[D] Puadh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Majha]
Notes:
Bhangra originated in Punjab’s Majha region, particularly in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Lahore districts. It is traditionally performed during the Vaisakhi harvest festival, reflecting the agricultural spirit and cultural pride of the region. Its energetic movements symbolize the joy of the harvest.
