We only solved the Forensic Part of the Assistant Forensics Officer Recruitment Paper by Punjab Police for Civilian Support Staff in Punjab Bureau of Investigation PBI 2021.
There were a total of 100 questions, but only the first 70 questions were from forensics and the rest of them were from general knowledge. This section contains only the first 30 MCQs, the rest of them are available at:
Note: Some of the questions in AFO of PBI 2021 were in the Punjabi language (no English versions were available for those questions). So, you must know how to read and write the Punjabi language. You can download the GK part of the Assistant Forensic Officer paper from here.
1. In a DNA profile, null alleles arise as a result of:
- Allele drop out
- Allele drop in
- Low pH
- High pH
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) Allele drop out
Explanation:
-> Null alleles: Also called silent alleles, is a nonfunctional allele caused by a failure in amplification during PCR reaction which could be due to a genetic mutation.
-> Allelic dropout (ADO): is a common phenomenon, that usually occurs when DNA is inadequate. It happens when one allele may be preferentially amplified over other (or one allele has insufficient amplification). It was first described in 1991 with the term “partial amplification failure”.
-> Allelic Drop-in (ADI): is seen when a small number of low STR alleles appear that are not derived from the donor sample to the profile. It occurs because of sporadic contamination events.
2. The cephalic index value for brachycephalic type of skull is:
- 80 – 85
- 65 – 70
- 75 – 80
- 70 – 75
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) 80 – 85
Explanation: Cephalic index equals to the maximum transverse breadth of the skull divided by the maximum transverse length of the skull multiplied by 100.
-> Dolichocephalic (long-headed) has 70–74.9 CI. Common races are Aryans, Aborigines, Negroes.
-> Mesaticephalic (medium-headed) has 75–79.9 CI. Common races are Europeans, and Chinese.
-> Brachycephalic (short-headed) has 80–84.9 CI. Common race is Mongolian.
Reference: Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Anil Aggrawal
3. Sample surveys are types of
- Secondary data
- Tertiary data
- Manipulated data
- Primary data
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) Primary data
Explanation:
-> Primary data: data collected by researchers directly from main sources. Eg: interviews, surveys, experiments, etc.
-> Secondary data: data that is collected by someone other than the primary user. Eg: censuses, information collected by government departments, organizational records, etc.
-> Tertiary data: based on a collection of primary and secondary sources. Eg: textbooks, manuals, encyclopedias, etc.
4. CBRN stands for
- Chemical, Behavior, Radiological and Nuclear
- Climate, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
- Critical, Behavior, Radiological and Nuclear
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Explanation:
-> CBRN specialist adds passive protection against CBRN materials or weapons to prevent contamination, weapons of mass destruction, mitigation, and any dangers related to these chemicals.
5. According to the Trademarks Act, 1999, Infringing marks are:
- Confusingly similar to genuine marks
- Substantially indistinguishable from a genuine mark
- Unique marks
- Genuine marks
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) Confusingly similar to genuine marks
Explanation: A registered trademark is called to be infringed by a person,
(1) who is not a registered proprietor or a person, and (2) using it as a permitted use, either as marks which are identical with or deceptively similar to the trademark.
6. In firearm cases, forensic pathologists deal with
- Internal ballistics
- Transition ballistics
- Terminal ballistics
- External ballistics
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (3) Terminal ballistics
Explanation:
-> Transition ballistics is also called External ballistics
-> Terminal ballistics deals with the impact of the projectile over the surface.
-> The duty of a forensic pathologist is to examine and document injuries and their probable cause. That’s why terminal ballistics is the correct answer.
7. A piece of glass is immersed in a liquid whose refractive index at 25°C is 1.520. The Becke line is plainly visible. This particular type of glass is known to have a refractive index of less than 1.520. The temperature is raised to 45°C at which the Becke line disappears, indicating that the glass and the liquid are now at the same refractive index. The bottle label indicates that the refractive index of the liquid drops 0.0003 units for every degree increase in temperature. What is the refractive index of this piece of glass?
- 1.517
- 1.514
- 1.523
- 1.526
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (2) 1.514
Explanation:
-> Temperature difference when Becke line disappeared= 20°C (45−25)
-> Decrease Refractive index unit= Rf drop at each °C x Number of °C decrease= 0.0003 × 20 =0.006.
-> Rf of liquid and glass= 1.520−0.006= 1.514
8. The Rule of Haase defines the
- Calculation of sex of a foetus
- Calculation of age of a foetus
- Calculation of age of an adult skeleton
- Calculation of sex of an adult skeleton
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (2) Calculation of age of a foetus
Explanation: Haase’s Rule is a method of calculating the age of the fetus with the length of the fetus measured from crown to heel in centimeters.
9. The hara-kiri method of suicide involves stabbing into the
- Chest
- Abdomen
- Neck
- Wrist
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (2) Abdomen
Explanation:
-> Harakiri (seppuku): suicidal disembowelment connected with Japanese Samurai warriors.
● Victim (majorly male) self-made a stab wound into the left side of the abdominal, tailing it towards the right and then turning it upwards producing an L-shaped cut (or sometimes ‘+’ sign cuts).
● Sudden evisceration of the internal organs causes an immediate decrease in intra-abdominal pressure and cardiac arrest resulting in collapse and death.
-> Jigai Ritual: a traditional method of female suicide. It is the female version of seppuku
● Female victim cut her jugular vein (throat) using a knife called a tantō.
More and Pictorial overview: History of Japenese Culture
10. ‘Nothing is immutable’ is defined by
- Locard’s theory
- The law of individuality
- The principle of comparison
- The law of progressive change
Answer
Answer: (4) The law of progressive change
11. Who among the following individuals is credited with developing the voiceprint technique?
- David Gray
- Ashlee Kopp
- Lawrence A Farwell
- Lawrence Kersta
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) Lawrence Kersta
Explanation: In 1962 Lawrence G. Kersta, a Bell Laboratories Physicist published an article entitled, “Voiceprint Identification” and is considered the pioneer of voiceprint techniques.
12. Which of the following branches of forensic science involve investigating and analyse the failure of construction and material used in it?
- Forensic palynology
- Forensic entomology
- Forensic archaeology
- Forensic engineering
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) Forensic engineering
Explanation:
-> Forensic Palynology: for diatoms and pollens
-> Forensic Entomology: insects
-> Forensic Archaeology Vs Anthropologist: A forensic anthropologist is an expert in the body (bones) and building their biological profiles. Whereas, a forensic archaeologist is an expert in the context (environment of burial and wider landscape) and excavation.
13. The linkage theory is interrelated with the:
- Principle of exchange
- Law of probability
- Principle of comparison
- Principle of analysis
Answer
Answer: (1) Principle of exchange
14. Which of the following types of evidence can be packaged in a mylar bag?
- Biological fluids
- Firearms
- Documents
- Explosive residues
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) Explosive residues
Explanation:
-> For explosive residue, fire debris, or flammables, common collection means are airtight containers of metal or glass or heat-sealed or resealable nylon or Mylar bags.
-> Ziplock storage bags are not suitable for shipping or storing explosives residue evidence.
-> Inflammable volatile liquids found in open cans must be collected in a clean, sterile, leak-proof glass vial with an airtight seal to prevent any loss.
Source: Crime Scene Management within Forensic science by Singh and Sharma.
15. Reports of government experts are admissible under:
- Section 292 of IPC, 1860
- Section 293 of CrPC, 1974
- Section 293 of IPC, 1860
- Section 292 of CrPC, 1974
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (2) Section 293 of CrPC, 1974
Explanation:
-> Section 292 of IPC: Defines what is obscene material, and punishment if such obscene material is up for sale, circulation, import-export, or advertisement.
-> Section 293 of IPC: Sale, etc., of obscene objects to youngsters below 20 years.
-> Section 292 of CrPC: Evidence of officers of the Mint.
-> Mint is the place designated by law, where money is coined by the authority of the government.
16. Tissue bridges are seen in:
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Stab wounds
- Abrasions
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) Lacerations
Explanation:
-> Laceration is the result of a blunt-trauma mechanism.
-> Contusion (bruises): develop when tiny blood vessels (capillaries) burst, causing blood to leak into the surrounding tissues.
-> Stab wounds: develops when the weapon penetrates the skin causing deep wounds with a shorter length.
-> Abrasions develop when skin is rubbed against a rough surface.
17. Which of the following reagents is typically used to detect nitrate or nitrite containing explosives?
- Luminol reagent
- Teichmann reagent
- Ninhydrin reagent
- Griess reagent
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) Griess reagent
Explanation:
-> Griess test was developed in 1879 by Peter Griess.
-> Used for the detection of nitric oxide by the formation of nitrite
-> Griess reagent:
● 0.2% N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride,
● 2% sulfanilamide, dissolved in
● 5% phosphoric acid.
-> All other tests in the option are for the detection of blood.
18. The middle value in a set of observed values is:
- Mode
- Range
- Median
- Mean
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (3) Median
Explanation:
-> Mode represents the value that appears most frequently in a data set.
-> Range is the difference between the highest and lowest values in a group interval.
-> Mean is the average or the most value in a collection of numbers.
19. Intoxilyzer is a frequently used instrument for the measurement of alcohol in drunken driving cases associated with:
- Infrared spectroscopy
- UV spectroscopy
- Atomic absorption spectroscopy
- Raman spectroscopy
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) Infrared spectroscopy
Explanation: Intoxilyzer is a type of breathalyzer that measures a person’s blood-alcohol level using infrared spectroscopy.
20. The Gustafson’s method is applicable for:
- Sex determination using dental tissues
- Age estimation using dental tissues
- Sex determination using long bones
- Age estimation using long bones
Answer
Answer: (2) Age estimation using dental tissues
21. If a dried semen stain is found at the crime scene, then the expert can examine the stain using:
- Blue light ALS with an orange filter
- Blue light ALS with a green filter
- Red light ALS with a green filter
- Red light ALS with a blue filter
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) Blue light ALS with an orange filter
Explanation:
-> Semen: exciting light at 450nn (blue) and orange filter results in strong fluorescent from yellow to orange.
-> Urine: exciting light at 450nm (blue) and the orange filter appears to be a white stain.
22. Which of the following patterns at the point of origin of fire indicates the possibility of interior fire?
- O pattern
- L pattern
- V pattern
- T pattern
Answer
Answer: (3) V Pattern
23. In which of the following tests are cardio-cuffs or sensitive electrodes attached to the subject to measure physiological responses such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, change in sweat gland activity and blood flow?
- Brain mapping
- Narco-analysis
- ESDA
- Polygraph test
Answer
Answer: (4) Polygraph test
24. Forensic engineers are involved in the investigation and reconstruction of
- Firearm cases
- Drug trafficking cases
- Traffic accident cases
- Suicide cases
Answer
Answer: (3) Traffic accident cases
25. Ninhydrin reagent is used to develop latent fingerprints, where it reacts with
- Salts found in sweat
- Carbohydrates found in sweat
- Amino acids found in sweat
- Fatty acids found in sweat
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (3) Amino acids found in sweat
Explanation: Amino acids react with ninhydrin reagent to produce a dark purple product known as Ruhemann’s purple
26. The degree of accuracy in sexing the adult skeleton remains using pelvis alone is
- 80%
- 95%
- 100%
- 60%
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (2) 95%
Explanation: Accuracy of adult sex determination:
-> Entire skeleton: 100%
-> Pelvis + Skull: 98%
-> Pelvis: 95%-> Skull: 90%
-> Long bones (like femur and humerus): 80%
27. Which of the following agencies in India is actively involved towards CBRN disaster management?
- National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)
- Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (4) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Explanation: The Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act on December 23, 2005, which called for the establishment of a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) led by the Prime Minister, and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) led by respective Chief Ministers to spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to disaster management in India.
28. Requested writing should include all of the following, EXCEPT:
- Collected by copying the questioned document
- Supplied with the same type of writing instrument and paper used in the questioned document
- Some words and phrases that are present in the questioned document
- Long passages
Answer
Answer: (1) Collected by copying the questioned document
29. Which of the following techniques is used for facial recognition?
- Video-superimposition
- Video comparator
- NGS
- ESDA
Answer and Explanation
Answer: (1) Video-superimposition
Explanation:
-> Video Comparator: Video Spectral Comparator is used for the analysis of inks, secret writings, hidden features, and other alterations using imaging spectrums.
-> Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is used to determine the order of nucleotides in entire genomes or targeted regions of DNA or RNA.
-> ESDA (Electrostatic Detection Apparatus): to reveal indentations or impressions on paper.
30. Hammer head against gypsum board will create
- Striation marks
- Saw and drill marks
- Extractor marks
- Compression marks
Answer
Answer: (4) Compression marks
Jump to Part 2 of Assistant Forensics Officer Paper Q31 to Q50