States PCS: Punjab GK Questions for PPSC Examinations
For all Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) exams including PCS, Cooperative Inspector, Naib Tehsildar, and others.
11. Which script is also called Sarafi or Kothival in Punjab?
[A] Gurmukhi
[B] Kaithi
[C] Mahajani
[D] Devanagari
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mahajani]
Notes:
Mahajani, also known as Sarafi or Kothival, was a mercantile script used in Punjab and northwest India for accounting. It derives from Laṇḍā scripts and was utilized by merchants. Mahajani was officially added to Unicode in 2014 in the block U+11150–U+1117F.
12. Who is credited as an originator of the Khalsa Bole dialect?
[A] Guru Gobind Singh
[B] Nawab Kapur Singh
[C] Banda Singh Bahadur
[D] Bhagat Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Banda Singh Bahadur]
Notes:
Khalsa Bole, a coded dialect among Akali-Nihang Sikhs, emerged in the 17th-18th centuries during Sikh persecution. Banda Singh Bahadur is widely credited as a key originator. The dialect mixes Punjabi, Hindi, Persian and uses symbolic, martial language for secrecy and morale among Nihangs.
13. Who oversaw the construction of Hazuri Bagh in Lahore?
[A] Maharaja Ranjit Singh
[B] British Colonial Engineers
[C] Ranjit Singh’s Chief Architect
[D] Faqir Azizuddin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Faqir Azizuddin]
Notes:
Hazuri Bagh in Lahore was constructed in 1818 under the supervision of Faqir Azizuddin for Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The marble for the garden came from various Lahore mausoleums. Today, the garden is a significant historic site near Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque.
14. Who is popularly called the Dancing Lily of Punjab?
[A] Amrita Pritam
[B] Suraiya
[C] Rajkumari
[D] Chand Burke
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Chand Burke]
Notes:
Chand Burke (1932–2008), a Punjabi Christian actress, earned the title “Dancing Lily of the Punjab.” She started her film career in Lahore before Partition and later acted in Bollywood films including “Boot Polish” (1954). She was Ranveer Singh’s paternal grandmother.
15. 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.
16. Consider the following matches regarding the physiographic divisions of Punjab and their districts:
- Shiwalik Hills – Pathankot
- Kandi Region – Hoshiarpur
- Alluvial Plains – Fazilka
Which of the above is / are correctly matched?
[A] 1, 2 & 3
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] Only 1 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Shiwalik Hills extend in the northeast and include Pathankot. The Kandi Region, a submontane tract, covers Hoshiarpur. Alluvial Plains, formed by depositional activities of rivers, include southern districts like Fazilka.
17. Which mound near Rupnagar gave its name to a regional Harappan culture?
[A] Bara
[B] Harappa
[C] Kotla Nihang Khan
[D] Rupnagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bara]
Notes:
The mound at Bara near Rupnagar, Punjab revealed distinctive Late Harappan pottery called “Bara-ware,” defining the Bara culture. Excavations by the ASI in 1955 and 1971 established it as a regional variant of Harappan traditions in the Sutlej–Yamuna doab, dating to around 2000 BCE.
18. The Ranjit Sagar (Thein) Dam is built upstream of which barrage?
[A] Madhopur Barrage
[B] Harike Barrage
[C] Sutlej Barrage
[D] Hussainiwala Barrage
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Madhopur Barrage]
Notes:
Ranjit Sagar Dam, also called Thein Dam, is built upstream of Madhopur Barrage on the Ravi River, near the Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir border. It is the largest hydroelectric dam in Punjab and is used for power generation and irrigation.
19. Which was the Kuru Kingdom’s original capital before Hastinapura?
[A] Hastinapura
[B] Āsandīvat
[C] Indraprastha
[D] Salva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Āsandīvat]
Notes:
Āsandīvat (Assandh) was the original Kuru capital before shifting to Hastinapura and Indraprastha. The Kuru kingdom, prominent in Vedic times, played a central role in northern Indian history and culture. Later capitals reflect the political and geographical changes of the era.
20. Who was defeated by the Sikhs in the 1764 Battle of Sirhind?
[A] Zain Khan Sirhindi
[B] Bhikhan Khan
[C] Maharaja Ala Singh
[D] Ahmad Shah Durrani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Zain Khan Sirhindi]
Notes:
In 1764, the Sikhs defeated Afghan governor Zain Khan Sirhindi at the Battle of Sirhind, ending Afghan dominance in the region. The Sikhs captured the city, demolished its fort, and strengthened their power base in Punjab. Later, Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib was built on the site.
