Urdu MCQs for PPSC: Muhavare, Zarb-ul-Misal and Famous Urdu Authors
Urdu MCQs for PPSC are some of the easiest marks you can secure in any Punjab Public Service Commission test. Most questions come from three areas: muhavare (idioms), zarb-ul-misal (proverbs), and famous Urdu authors with their books. PPSC repeats these questions year after year, so a focused list saves you weeks of random reading.
In this guide, you will learn the difference between a muhavara and a zarb-ul-misal, memorize the most repeated examples with meanings, match top Urdu writers with their books and titles, and test yourself with solved MCQs. Every section follows the pattern PPSC examiners actually use.
What Do Urdu MCQs for PPSC Cover?
PPSC Urdu questions usually test six topics: muhavare, zarb-ul-misal, authors and their books, titles (alqabat) of poets and writers, Urdu grammar (wahid-jama, tazkeer-o-tanees, mutazad alfaz), and “firsts” in Urdu literature. The first four topics produce the largest share of repeated questions, so this article focuses on them. If you master these, you cover most of what appears in clerk, assistant, educator and other general-ability papers.
Muhavara vs Zarb-ul-Misal: The Key Difference
Many candidates lose marks because they mix up these two terms. PPSC often asks, “Which of the following is a zarb-ul-misal?” so you need a clear rule.
A muhavara (idiom) is a phrase that gives a figurative meaning instead of a literal one. It usually ends in a masdar (infinitive) such as “karna,” “hona,” or “banana,” and it changes form with tense. For example, “naak mein dam karna” becomes “us ne naak mein dam kar diya.”
A zarb-ul-misal (proverb) is a complete saying that carries a lesson drawn from experience. It never changes form. For example, “jis ki lathi us ki bhains” stays the same in every sentence.
Quick rule: If the phrase ends in “-na” and you can conjugate it, it is a muhavara. If it is a complete, fixed saying with a moral, it is a zarb-ul-misal.
Most Repeated Urdu Muhavare for PPSC
These idioms appear again and again in Urdu MCQs for PPSC. Learn the meaning, then try using each one in a sentence of your own.
| Muhavara | Roman Urdu | Meaning |
| آنکھ کا تارا | Aankh ka tara | Very dear, beloved |
| دال میں کچھ کالا ہونا | Daal mein kuch kala hona | Something suspicious |
| ناک میں دم کرنا | Naak mein dam karna | To harass or pester |
| الٹی گنگا بہانا | Ulti Ganga bahana | To act against the norm |
| آسمان سر پر اٹھانا | Aasman sar par uthana | To create an uproar |
| ہوائی قلعے بنانا | Hawai qilay banana | To make impossible plans |
| گھی کے چراغ جلانا | Ghee ke chiragh jalana | To celebrate with joy |
| آنکھیں بچھانا | Aankhein bichhana | To welcome warmly |
| دو کشتیوں میں پاؤں رکھنا | Do kashtiyon mein paon rakhna | To support two sides at once |
| چکنا گھڑا ہونا | Chikna ghara hona | Shameless; advice has no effect |
Exam tip: PPSC often gives four meanings that look similar. Focus on the emotional tone of the idiom. “Aankhein bichhana” is about welcome, not about sight.
For a longer list, practice our Urdu Muhavare MCQs.
Most Repeated Zarb-ul-Misal for PPSC
Proverbs test whether you understand the lesson behind the words. These ten appear most often in PPSC papers.
| Zarb-ul-Misal | Roman Urdu | Meaning |
| ناچ نہ جانے آنگن ٹیڑھا | Naach na jaane aangan terha | Blaming circumstances for one’s own lack of skill |
| جس کی لاٹھی اس کی بھینس | Jis ki lathi us ki bhains | Might is right |
| دور کے ڈھول سہانے | Door ke dhol suhane | Distant things look attractive |
| اونٹ کے منہ میں زیرہ | Oont ke munh mein zeera | Far too little for the need |
| اب پچھتائے کیا ہوت جب چڑیاں چگ گئیں کھیت | Ab pachtaye kya hot jab chiriyan chug gayin khet | Regret is useless after the damage is done |
| گھر کی مرغی دال برابر | Ghar ki murghi daal barabar | Undervaluing what you already have |
| بندر کیا جانے ادرک کا سواد | Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swad | An ignorant person cannot appreciate value |
| ایک انار سو بیمار | Ek anaar sau beemar | One thing, many seekers |
| تھوتھا چنا باجے گھنا | Thotha chana baje ghana | Empty vessels make the most noise |
| آپ بھلا تو جگ بھلا | Aap bhala to jag bhala | Be good and the world treats you well |
Practice more with our Urdu Zarb-ul-Misal MCQs.
Famous Urdu Authors and Their Books
“Who wrote this book?” is the single most common format in Urdu MCQs for PPSC. Memorize this table in pairs: book first, then author.
| Book | Author | Genre |
| Bang-e-Dara | Allama Muhammad Iqbal | Poetry (his first Urdu collection) |
| Diwan-e-Ghalib | Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib | Poetry |
| Bagh-o-Bahar | Mir Amman | Dastan |
| Fasana-e-Ajaib | Rajab Ali Baig Suroor | Dastan |
| Mirat-ul-Uroos | Deputy Nazir Ahmad | Novel (widely called the first Urdu novel) |
| Umrao Jaan Ada | Mirza Hadi Ruswa | Novel |
| Aag ka Darya | Qurratulain Hyder | Novel |
| Raja Gidh | Bano Qudsia | Novel |
| Udas Naslain | Abdullah Hussain | Novel |
| Khuda ki Basti | Shaukat Siddiqui | Novel |
| Shahab Nama | Qudratullah Shahab | Autobiography |
| Aab-e-Hayat | Muhammad Hussain Azad | Literary history |
| Musaddas-e-Hali | Altaf Hussain Hali | Poetry |
| Naqsh-e-Faryadi | Faiz Ahmad Faiz | Poetry (his first collection) |
| Chiragh Talay | Mushtaq Ahmad Yousufi | Humour |
See the complete list on our Urdu Famous Books and Authors page.
Titles (Alqabat) of Urdu Poets and Writers
PPSC also asks which title belongs to which writer. These are the most repeated:
Allama Iqbal is called Shair-e-Mashriq (Poet of the East). Mir Taqi Mir is known as Khuda-e-Sukhan (God of Poetry). Maulvi Abdul Haq holds the title Baba-e-Urdu. Akbar Allahabadi is called Lisan-ul-Asr (Voice of the Age). Josh Malihabadi is known as Shair-e-Inqilab (Poet of Revolution). Wali Deccani is remembered as the father of Urdu poetry, often called Baba-e-Rekhta.
Solved Urdu MCQs for PPSC (Practice Test)
Test yourself before you check the answers.
1. The muhavara “Aankh ka tara” means:
A) Enemy B) Very dear C) Clever D) Blind
Answer: B) Very dear
2. Who wrote “Bang-e-Dara”?
A) Ghalib B) Faiz C) Allama Iqbal D) Hali
Answer: C) Allama Iqbal
3. Which of the following is a zarb-ul-misal?
A) Naak mein dam karna B) Jis ki lathi us ki bhains C) Aankhein bichhana D) Ghee ke chiragh jalana
Answer: B) Jis ki lathi us ki bhains
4. “Umrao Jaan Ada” was written by:
A) Mirza Hadi Ruswa B) Nazir Ahmad C) Premchand D) Mir Amman
Answer: A) Mirza Hadi Ruswa
5. Who is known as Baba-e-Urdu?
A) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan B) Maulvi Abdul Haq C) Muhammad Hussain Azad D) Hali
Answer: B) Maulvi Abdul Haq
6. “Door ke dhol suhane” means:
A) Music sounds sweet B) Distant things look attractive C) Travel is pleasant D) Noise is harmful
Answer: B) Distant things look attractive
7. “Raja Gidh” is a novel by:
A) Qurratulain Hyder B) Bano Qudsia C) Ashfaq Ahmed D) Umera Ahmed
Answer: B) Bano Qudsia
8. Which book is widely regarded as the first Urdu novel?
A) Mirat-ul-Uroos B) Bagh-o-Bahar C) Fasana-e-Ajaib D) Aab-e-Hayat
Answer: A) Mirat-ul-Uroos
9. Khuda-e-Sukhan is the title of:
A) Ghalib B) Mir Taqi Mir C) Dagh Dehlvi D) Momin
Answer: B) Mir Taqi Mir
10. “Oont ke munh mein zeera” means:
A) Too much B) Far too little for the need C) Tasty food D) Wasting resources
Answer: B) Far too little for the need
How to Prepare Urdu MCQs for PPSC in 7 Days
Spend the first two days on muhavare and zarb-ul-misal, learning ten new items each session and revising the old ones. Use days three and four for authors and books, and make flashcards with the book name on one side and the author on the other. Cover titles and “firsts” on day five. On day six, solve our 100 Most Repeated Urdu MCQs under timed conditions. On day seven, revise only the questions you got wrong. This method works because PPSC rewards accurate recall, not long reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Urdu MCQs come in a PPSC test?
It depends on the post. General ability papers usually include a small Urdu section, while Urdu lecturer and subject specialist posts test the language in depth. Always check the official syllabus on the PPSC website for your specific post.
What is the difference between muhavara and zarb-ul-misal?
A muhavara is an idiomatic phrase that changes with tense, such as “naak mein dam karna.” A zarb-ul-misal is a fixed, complete saying that carries a moral lesson, such as “jis ki lathi us ki bhains.”
Which is the first Urdu novel?
Most exams accept Mirat-ul-Uroos by Deputy Nazir Ahmad as the first Urdu novel.
What is the fastest way to memorize Urdu authors and books?
Learn them in pairs, group them by genre (poetry, novel, dastan), and revise with timed MCQ practice instead of reading long lists.
Final Words
Urdu MCQs for PPSC follow a predictable pattern, and that is your advantage. Master the muhavare, zarb-ul-misal, authors and titles in this guide, then practice daily with timed quizzes on MCQsDrive. Consistent revision turns Urdu into your highest-scoring section.
