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. Which state or UT does NOT border Punjab?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
Punjab borders Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chandigarh; Uttarakhand is not adjacent.
3. During British rule in Punjab, what was the main duty of a Zaildar in the Zail system?
[A] Maintaining law and order in cities
[B] Overseeing judicial proceedings
[C] Collecting land revenue and representing colonial authority in villages
[D] Supervising railway construction
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Collecting land revenue and representing colonial authority in villages]
Notes:
A Zaildar was a revenue official in colonial Punjab, managing 2–100 villages (a Zail), collecting land revenue, and acting as a key intermediary between villagers and British authorities. The system, below the Tehsil, ended in 1952.
4. The Markanda River is a tributary of which river?
[A] Yamuna River
[B] Sutlej River
[C] Ghaggar River
[D] Ghaghara River
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ghaggar River]
Notes:
Markanda River, originating in the Shivalik hills, is a tributary of the Ghaggar River. It flows through Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Historically, it is associated with the ancient Sarasvati and was called Aruna. Its basin is divided into Khadir (flood-prone) and Bangar (higher) regions.
5. Which Punjabi poet from Dera Baba Nanak gave the slogan “Jai Mitarta”?
[A] Jaswant Singh Rahi
[B] Prof Mohan Singh
[C] Amrita Pritam
[D] Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jaswant Singh Rahi]
Notes:
Jaswant Singh Rahi, a noted Punjabi poet and freedom fighter from Dera Baba Nanak, coined “Jai Mitarta.” He was a key figure in Punjab’s literary and political history and received several literary honors.
6. Which Punjab freedom fighter led the 1946 Harsha Chhina Mogha Morcha?
[A] Comrade Achhar Singh Chhina
[B] Bhagat Singh
[C] Jagbir Singh Chhina
[D] Master Tara Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jagbir Singh Chhina]
Notes:
Jagbir Singh Chhina played a key role in the 1946 Harsha Chhina Mogha Morcha and later advised Punjab CM Pratap Singh Kairon. He established schools, advocated power projects, and contributed to flood control and development in Punjab. Awarded Tamra Patras, he is officially recognized as a freedom fighter.
7. Which Amritsar-born leader protested the Rowlatt Act and co-founded Jamia Millia Islamia?
[A] Master Tara Singh
[B] Bhagat Singh
[C] Lala Lajpat Rai
[D] Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew]
Notes:
Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, born in Amritsar (1888), led Punjab protests against the Rowlatt Act, was arrested before Jallianwala Bagh massacre, co-founded Jamia Millia Islamia, was a Congress leader, and won the Stalin Peace Prize. Kitchlu Nagar, Ludhiana, and Kitchlu Chowk, Amritsar, are named after him.
8. Identify the Sikh artist based on the following information:
- He is the first Punjabi artist to feature on the Billboard Social 50 chart.
- He is the first turbaned Sikh at Madame Tussauds.
- He is brand ambassador for Punjab’s Pro Kabaddi League and founded the NGO Saanjh Foundation.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Diljit Dosanjh
[B] Gurdas Maan
[C] B Praak
[D] Jass Manak
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Diljit Dosanjh]
Notes:
Diljit Dosanjh is known for being the first Punjabi artist on the Billboard Social 50 chart in 2020, and the first turbaned Sikh at Madame Tussauds in 2019. He served as the brand ambassador for Punjab’s Pro Kabaddi League and launched the Saanjh Foundation in 2013, a notable NGO, distinguishing him from other Punjabi artists.
9. Who was the first woman Sahitya Akademi Awardee for Punjabi literature in 1956?
[A] Surjit Patar
[B] Amrita Pritam
[C] Amrita Sher-Gil
[D] Navtej Bharati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Amrita Pritam]
Notes:
Amrita Pritam was the first female winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award for Punjabi literature in 1956 for her book Sunehade. She was a renowned Punjabi poet, novelist, and recipient of Jnanpith and Padma Vibhushan. Her notable works include “Pinjar” and the poem “Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu”.
10. Which script is officially used for the Dogri language?
[A] Perso-Arabic
[B] Gurmukhi
[C] Shahmukhi
[D] Devanagari
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Devanagari]
Notes:
Dogri, spoken mainly in Jammu, is officially written in Devanagari. It became a Scheduled Language in 2003 and is one of five official languages of Jammu and Kashmir. Recognized by Sahitya Akademi in 1969, Dogri has a rich literary heritage and is associated with the Dogra community.
