Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
1
Which language is traditionally called the 'Lashkari' language because it developed in the military camps of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire?
Answer:
Urdu
The word 'Urdu' itself comes from the Turkish word for 'Army' or 'Camp'. The language developed as a mix of local Prakrits with Persian, Arabic, and Turkish influences among the soldiers of the ruling dynasties, eventually becoming the literary and national language of Pakistan.
2
The 'National Language Authority' (Muqtadira Qaumi Zaban) is located in which city?
Answer:
Islamabad
Now known as the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), it is headquartered in Islamabad. Its primary role is to develop and standardize Urdu for use in all fields of life.
3
Which ethnic group has a significant diaspora in East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania?
Answer:
Punjabi and Khoja/Ismaili communities
Many Punjabi and Gujarati-speaking communities (including Memons, Khojas, and Ismailis) from the regions that are now part of Pakistan migrated to East Africa during the British colonial era for trade and infrastructure projects.
4
The 'Lasi' dialect is spoken in which district of Balochistan?
Answer:
Lasbela
Lasi is a dialect spoken in the Lasbela district. It is linguistically a bridge between Sindhi and Balochi, reflecting the geographic location of the district between the two provinces.
5
Which language is used as the 'Medium of Instruction' in the Majority of government primary schools in rural Punjab?
Answer:
Urdu
While Punjabi is the mother tongue, Urdu is the primary medium of instruction in government schools in Punjab. This has been a point of debate, with many activists calling for the introduction of Punjabi at the primary level to improve learning outcomes.
6
The 'Parkari' and 'Wadiyari' are dialects of which language family in Sindh?
Answer:
Indo-Aryan (Koli group)
These are languages/dialects spoken by the Koli and Bhil communities in Lower Sindh. They are part of the broader Indo-Aryan family and represent the linguistic diversity of the scheduled caste Hindu communities in Pakistan.
7
Which group is often called 'The Rangers of the Desert' in the context of ethnic volunteers in the 1965 war?
Answer:
Hurs (Sindh)
The Hurs are a Sufi community in Sindh who are followers of the Pir Pagara. They are known for their martial traditions and played a crucial role as ethnic volunteers in defending the desert borders of Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.
8
The 'Kho' people speak which language?
Answer:
Khowar
The Kho people are the dominant ethnic group of Chitral, and their language is Khowar. They have a rich tradition of folk music and poetry.
9
Which language was the medium of instruction in the famous ancient university of 'Taxila'?
Answer:
Sanskrit / Pali
Taxila was a world-renowned center of learning where Sanskrit (the language of the Vedas) and Pali (the language of Buddhist scriptures) were the primary media of instruction and scholarly discourse.
10
In which province is the 'Dhatki' language spoken?
Answer:
Sindh
Dhatki is a major language of the Tharparkar and Umerkot districts in Sindh. It is spoken by both Muslims and Hindus and is part of the Rajasthani language group.