UGC NET/JRF EXAM, Mass Communication and Journalism, June-2025

Total Questions: 28

1. Which of the following Indian film directors 5. is credited with directing the film the 'Lunch box' in 2013, which was premiered at the CANNES film festival?

Correct Answer: 3. Ritesh Batra
Solution:Ritesh Batra directed The Lunchbox (2013), a landmark Indian independent film that gained global acclaim for its subtle storytelling and emotional depth.

The film explores an accidental lunchbox delivery that leads to an unexpected exchange of handwritten notes between two lonely individuals, creating a delicate narrative of human connection.

The Lunchbox was screened at the Cannes Film Festival under the International Critics' Week category, where it received an exceptional response from critics and audiences.

Its success opened international doors for Indian indie cinema and highlighted Ritesh Batra as a powerful voice capable of blending simplicity with profound emotional resonance.

His direction is praised for minimalism, natural performances, and the ability to portray everyday life with authenticity.

2. Which of the following Indian film movements emphasize the use of social conscious themes, realistic storytelling and location shooting to create a new kind of cinema?

Correct Answer: 2. Parallel Cinema
Solution:This movement in Indian cinema emphasized realism, socially relevant themes, and a conscious departure from commercial formulas.

It focused on portraying actual social issues such as poverty, inequality, rural-urban contrasts, political oppression, and human struggles with a high degree of artistic honesty.

Films in this movement relied" on natural locations, nonglamorous characters, minimal background music, and deeper psychological narratives, making them completely distinct from mainstream Bollywood.

Emerging strongly between the 1950s and 1980s, it was driven by filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, and Ritwik Ghatak, who aimed to raise public awareness and spark social dialogue through cinema.

Parallel Cinema played a transformative role by introducing intellectual depth into filmmaking and aligning Indian cinema with global art-film standards.

3. Condensing a story by summarizing it to its core message is known as:

Correct Answer: 2. Boiling down
Solution:Boiling down refers to the process of reducing a long story or text to its essential message while retaining its core meaning. It involves trimming unnecessary details, descriptions, or examples and focusing only on the main theme, purpose, and central narrative elements.

Writers, editors, journalists, and screenwriters use this technique to make complex material more concise, clear, and impactful, especially when time or space is limited.

Even though the text becomes shorter, the fundamental idea must remain intact so that the audience understands the primary message without confusion.

This skill is particularly important in script summaries, abstracts, news reports, and storytelling where clarity and precision are required.

4. The first investigative story of its kind regarding the burglary at the Watergate, appeared in which newspaper?

Correct Answer: 3. The Washington Post
Solution:The Washington Post published the first major investigative reports on the Watergate burglary, written by reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

Their detailed coverage connected the break-in to political operatives linked with President Nixon's re-election committee.

The reporting was groundbreaking because it used confidential sources, hidden links, and persistent fact-checking to expose a growing web of political corruption.

Over time, these reports triggered congressional hearings, legal investigations, and eventually led to President Nixon's resignation, proving the power of investigative journalism in shaping democratic accountability.

5. With whom does the Gaffer closely work with during production?

Correct Answer: 3. Director of Photography
Solution:The Gaffer works closely with the Director of Photography (DoP) during a film or television production. The DoP is responsible for the overall visual look of a scene, including lighting styles, shadow placement, color tone, and camera exposure.

The Gaffer translates these creative decisions into practical lighting setups by managing lights, rigging, power distribution, and on-set illumination.

Their collaboration ensures that every frame has the intended mood, atmosphere, and visual accuracy. In professional productions, this teamwork is crucial for achieving cinematic consistency and high-quality visual storytelling.

6. Who gave the tagline 'Ek Kadam Swachchta Ki Aur' for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?

Correct Answer: 2. Spot boy
Solution:The tagline "Ek Kadam Swachchta Ki Aur" for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was coined by Bhagyashree Sheth, whose phrase captured the essence of the mission-motivating citizens to take small but meaningful steps toward cleanliness.

The tagline became widely recognized in government campaigns, public messages, and awareness drives across the country.

Its simplicity and emotional appeal helped connect the movement with ordinary citizens, reinforcing the idea that national cleanliness begins with individual responsibility and everyday action.

7. Which option from the following is used to adjust a camera's black level, white level and gamma?

Correct Answer: 4. Camera calibration
Solution:This option is used to adjust a camera's black level, white level, and gamma to ensure accurate image reproduction. Camera calibration involves fine-tuning the sensor response so that the camera records tones, brightness, and contrast in a controlled and predictable manner.

By adjusting black level, the camera defines how dark the darkest part of the image should be; by setting white level, it determines the brightest acceptable value; and gamma controls the mid-tone contrast curve.

Together, these settings help the camera capture a scene with proper tonal balance and color accuracy, especially in professional filmmaking and broadcast environments.

8. When the results of a study can be generalised across population, settings and time it is referred as?

Correct Answer: 4. External validity
Solution:External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized beyond the specific sample, setting, or time in which the research was conducted.

A study with high external validity means its findings apply broadly to other groups, situations, and real-world conditions. Researchers ensure this by using representative samples, realistic experimental conditions, and replicable procedures.

External validity is essential in social sciences, psychology, and communication studies because it determines how widely the conclusions of the research can be used to understand behavior or phenomena outside the study environment.

9. Walter Benjamin is associated with?

Correct Answer: 3. Frankfurt School
Solution:alter Benjamin is associated with the Frankfurt School, a prominent intellectual movement known for critical theory, cultural criticism, and studies on mass media and modernity.

Benjamin's writings explored how technological reproduction-like photography and filmtransformed art, culture, and human perception. His most influential work, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, analyzes how mass reproduction changes the "aura" of art.

His ideas remain foundational in media theory, cultural studies, and modern philosophical thought.

10. The study of body movements in communication is known as?

Correct Answer: 4. Kinesics
Solution:Kinesics is the study of body movementssuch as gestures, posture, facial expressions, and physical orientation-in communication. This helps understand how non-verbal signals convey emotions, attitudes, intentions, and social meanings.

It plays a crucial role in interpreting interpersonal interactions because body movements often communicate more information than spoken words. Researchers in communication, psychology, and anthropology use kinesics to study how people express themselves in both formal and informal contexts.