RRB NTPC CBT 1 2020 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Carl Linnaeus, an 18th-century Swedish botanist, zoologist, and physician, is widely regarded as the father of taxonomy. He established the principles of modern biological classification and formalized binomial nomenclature, a system that assigns every species a two-part Latinized name consisting of its genus and species. His monumental work, Systema Naturae, laid the groundwork for modern scientific taxonomy.

Explanation

Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma was a legendary Indian classical musician and pioneer of the Santoor, a multi-stringed instrument originating from Jammu and Kashmir. He restructured the traditional folk instrument and modified its playing techniques to make it suitable for Hindustani classical music, bringing it onto national and international classical concert stages. For his monumental contributions to Indian classical music, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

Explanation

Under Article 168 of the Constitution of India, specified states possess a bicameral legislature comprising both a Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). Andhra Pradesh is one of the states in India with an operational bicameral legislature that includes a Legislative Council.

Explanation

Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of King Mohammed Adil Shah, the seventh ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty. Located in Vijayapura (formerly Bijapur) in northern Karnataka, it was completed in 1656 by the architect Yaqut of Dabul. The monument is celebrated for its imposing central dome, which is one of the largest free-standing domes in the world, and its famous Whispering Gallery, where even the softest sound echoes up to eleven times across the vast acoustic space.

Explanation

At the 65th Filmfare Awards held in Guwahati in February 2020, Gully Boy won the Filmfare Award for Best Film. Directed by Zoya Akhtar and starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, the film set a record by winning a total of 13 awards at the ceremony, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Film.

Explanation

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, when British troops under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering of civilians protesting against the arrest of nationalist leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal. Lord Chelmsford served as the Viceroy and Governor-General of India from 1916 to 1921, a period that also witnessed the passage of the Rowlatt Act, the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act 1919), and the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Explanation

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13th April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab, on the day of the Baisakhi festival. A large, peaceful crowd had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest the arrest and deportation of nationalist leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal under the repressive Rowlatt Act. Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer blocked the main entrance and ordered troops to open fire on the unarmed civilians, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

Explanation

The Tehri Hydro Power Complex is located in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand on the Bhagirathi River. It is a major multi-purpose power generation complex comprising the Tehri Dam—India's tallest dam—the Tehri Pumped Storage Plant, and the Koteshwar Hydro Electric Project, operated by THDC India Limited.

Explanation

Albert Einstein formulated the Theory of Relativity, which consists of Special Relativity (1905) and General Relativity (1915). Special Relativity established that the laws of physics are identical for all non-accelerating observers and that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant regardless of the motion of the light source, yielding the famous mass-energy equivalence equation E = mc². General Relativity extended this theory to accelerating reference frames, describing gravity not as a conventional force, but as the curvature of four-dimensional spacetime caused by mass and energy.

Explanation

Net National Product (NNP) measures the total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced by a nation's factors of production, adjusted for capital consumption. It is calculated by deducting depreciation—the physical wear and tear or loss in value of capital assets over time—from Gross National Product (GNP).

NNP = GNP - Depreciation

This adjustment gives a realistic picture of the actual net economic growth and production capacity available for consumption and investment.

Explanation

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Established by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha in January 1954 as the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), it was renamed BARC in 1967 to honor his monumental contributions to India's nuclear energy program.

Explanation

The output process involves retrieving processed data or results stored in a computer's physical memory and presenting them to the user or sending them to external devices such as monitors, printers, or storage media. It completes the computer's processing cycle by converting digital information into a usable, human-readable, or externally accessible format.

Explanation

The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757 at Palashi on the banks of the Hooghly River in Bengal. Sirajuddaulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, led his forces against the army of the British East India Company commanded by Robert Clive. The conflict arose due to the Nawab's opposition to the unrestrained commercial privileges and fortification activities of the British in Bengal.

Explanation

The photosphere is the visible, glowing outer surface layer of the Sun from which solar light and heat are emitted into space. It is a dense layer of plasma approximately 400 km thick with an average temperature of about 5,500 °C (5,800 K), responsible for producing the intense light observed from Earth.

Explanation

Indulal Yagnik, a prominent freedom fighter and socialist leader, smuggled the historic Tri-Color flag into British India after Madam Bhikaiji Cama unfurled it at the International Socialist Conference in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907. Designed by Madam Cama and Shyamji Krishna Varma, this early symbol of Indian independence featured horizontal stripes of green, saffron, and red. The flag brought back to India by Yagnik is preserved at the Kesari Maratha Trust Library in Pune, Maharashtra.

Explanation

Australia has hosted the Commonwealth Games five times, more than any other nation. The five editions held in Australia were the 1938 Games in Sydney, the 1962 Games in Perth, the 1982 Games in Brisbane, the 2006 Games in Melbourne, and the 2018 Games in Gold Coast.

Explanation

Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) is a form of primary memory (specifically semiconductor ROM) integrated into the computer's internal architecture to store permanent system instructions, firmware, and BIOS code directly accessible by the processor. Because it functions as main/internal memory, it is not classified as auxiliary (secondary) storage, which consists of external or supplementary non-volatile storage media used for storing large volumes of data and programs outside the primary memory unit.

Explanation

APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment) was launched on June 19, 1981, aboard the Ariane 1 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), it was India's first experimental three-axis stabilized geostationary communication satellite, laying the groundwork for the indigenous Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) network.

Explanation

A scalar quantity is a physical quantity that possesses magnitude only and is completely specified by a numerical value along with a unit, requiring no direction for its description. Mass measures the total amount of matter present in an object, expressed in standard units like kilograms (kg), and remains constant regardless of direction or spatial orientation.

Explanation

The 49th parallel north latitude line serves as the international boundary between the United States and Canada. Established through the Anglo-American Convention of 1818 and extended by the Oregon Treaty of 1846, this line demarks the border stretching from the Lake of the Woods in the east to the Strait of Georgia on the Pacific coast, forming one of the longest peaceful, undefended borders in the world.

Explanation

The Grey Revolution is associated with the growth and development of the fertiliser industry in India. It aimed at increasing agricultural productivity by promoting balanced fertiliser usage alongside the growth achieved through the Green Revolution.

Explanation

The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, was formally inaugurated on 12 March 1954 by the Government of India. It is headquartered at Rabindra Bhavan on Ferozeshah Road in New Delhi, an iconic complex that also houses the Lalit Kala Akademi and the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Explanation

The Indradhanush framework was launched by the Ministry of Finance in August 2015 as a seven-pronged plan to revamp the functioning of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India. The seven components of this strategy include Appointments, Bank Boards Bureau (BBB), Capitalisation, De-stressing Public Sector Banks, Empowerment, Framework of Accountability, and Governance Reforms. The primary goal of the initiative is to improve the governance, operational efficiency, and financial health of state-run banks to resolve non-performing assets and support economic growth.

Explanation

Lichens are widely used as natural bioindicators to monitor air pollution, particularly concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide, and atmospheric heavy metals. Since lichens lack roots and a protective cuticle, they absorb water and nutrients directly from the air through their entire surface. This direct exposure makes them exceptionally sensitive to airborne pollutants. High levels of air pollution disrupt their physiological processes and lead to reduced growth or mortality, making lichen abundance and species composition a reliable measure of regional air quality.

Explanation

The Fundamental Duties of citizens were incorporated into Part IV-A (Article 51A) of the Constitution of India by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. This addition was made upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee to emphasize the civic duties and moral obligations of citizens alongside their fundamental rights. Initially, ten Fundamental Duties were added through this amendment.

Explanation

Fire blight is a severe bacterial disease caused by Erwinia amylovora that primarily affects plants in the Rosaceae family, particularly apples and pears. The bacterium infects blossoms, leaves, shoots, and fruits, causing infected tissues to rapidly blacken, wilt, and die, giving the branches a scorched appearance as if burned by fire.

Explanation

In information technology and networking, NIU stands for Network Interface Unit. It is a hardware component or circuit board that serves as an interface between a computer system and a communication network. The unit handles the physical and data link layer operations required to process and convert data between the internal format of the computer and the signals transmitted across the network, enabling seamless communication and data transfer.

Explanation

Robert B. Wilson, along with Paul R. Milgrom, was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2020 for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats. Wilson developed the foundational theory for auctions of objects with a common value—a value which is uncertain beforehand but ultimately identical for all bidders. His insights showed that rational bidders tend to place bids below their own best estimate of the common value to avoid the winner's curse.

Explanation

India's first atomic power station, the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) located in Palghar district, Maharashtra, was commissioned on October 28, 1969. It was constructed under a 123 Agreement between India, the United States, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with General Electric supplying its initial boiling water reactors.

Explanation

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, launched 'Green Good Deeds' as a nationwide societal movement in 2018. The initiative aims to sensitize citizens, especially students and teachers, about climate change, global warming, and environmental protection. It encourages individuals and organizations to adopt small, positive daily actions, known as 'Green Good Behaviour', to fulfill their environmental responsibilities. The movement gained global recognition and was officially included in the agenda of the BRICS Environment Ministerial.

Explanation

In the 2019 Human Development Report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Norway topped the Human Development Index (HDI) with a score of 0.954. The index evaluates country performance across three core dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to education, and a decent standard of living measured by gross national income per capita. Norway achieved the highest overall ranking through high life expectancy, strong schooling metrics, and exceptional living standards.

Explanation

The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) is a rural development programme launched on 11 October 2014. The scheme is rooted in Mahatma Gandhi's vision of Gram Swaraj, which emphasizes self-reliance, moral values, community participation, and holistic development of villages. Under SAGY, Members of Parliament adopt Gram Panchayats to guide their social, economic, and infrastructure progress, turning them into model villages.

Explanation

In 1856, Lord Dalhousie annexed the kingdom of Awadh on the grounds of alleged misgovernance and deposed its last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, exiling him to Calcutta. Contrary to British assumptions that the ruler was unpopular, Wajid Ali Shah was widely revered by his subjects as a benevolent ruler and patron of the arts. His forced departure caused widespread grief and emotional distress across the region, leading contemporaries and folk mourners to describe the tragic event by stating that "the life has gone out of the body" to reflect the loss of Lucknow's cultural and political spirit.

Explanation

Footloose industries are those that are not tied to a specific location near raw materials or markets because their raw materials and finished products are lightweight, compact, and high in value. The transport costs for inputs and outputs form a negligible part of total production costs. Computer chip manufacturing relies on advanced technology and skilled labor rather than heavy weight-losing raw materials, making it a classic example of a footloose industry that can operate efficiently at almost any location with appropriate infrastructure.

Explanation

PARAM 8000 is India's first supercomputer, launched in August 1991. It was indigenously built by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune under the leadership of Dr. Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar. The supercomputer was developed after India faced an export embargo on Cray supercomputers from the United States.

Explanation

Ernest John Henry Mackay was a British archaeologist renowned for his extensive excavations in the Indus Valley civilization. After taking over charge of the field excavations at Mohenjo-daro from 1926 to 1931, he published his official report detailing the structural remains, artifacts, and stratigraphy of the site in a two-volume work titled "Further Excavations at Mohenjo-daro" in 1938.

Explanation

Robert Hooke discovered the cell in 1665 while examining a thin slice of cork under a compound microscope. He observed small, hollow, box-like structures in the cork tissue that reminded him of the small rooms occupied by monks in a monastery, leading him to coin the term "cell" in his publication Micrographia.

Explanation

Individuals with AB+ blood group have both A and B antigens on the surface of their red blood cells as well as the Rh factor, meaning their plasma contains no anti-A, anti-B, or anti-Rh antibodies. Consequently, their immune system will not produce an antibody response against introduced red blood cells of any standard ABO or Rh blood group during a blood transfusion.

Explanation

Lord Ripon introduced the Resolution on Local Self-Government in 1882, which established local bodies such as rural district boards and urban municipal committees with a majority of non-official and elected members. This initiative decentralized administrative authority and laid the foundation for representative local governance in India, earning Lord Ripon the title of the Father of Local Self-Government in India.

Explanation

Bile is a digestive fluid continuously synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes, the primary functional cells of the liver. It aids in the breakdown and emulsification of fats into smaller droplets during digestion. Once produced by the liver, bile travels through the biliary tract system to be stored and concentrated until it is released into the duodenum of the small intestine to assist in fat digestion and nutrient absorption.

Explanation

Lime water is a dilute aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide, which has the chemical formula Ca(OH)₂. It is produced when calcium oxide reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide, a compound that sparingly dissolves in water. In chemistry, lime water is widely used as a reagent to detect carbon dioxide gas, with which it reacts to form a milky white precipitate.

Explanation

Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated in India on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India officially adopted the Constitution, which subsequently came into effect on 26th January 1950. The Government of India declared 26th November as Constitution Day in 2015 to promote constitutional values among citizens and pay tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Explanation

World Environment Day 2018 was hosted by India with the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution". The global initiative urged governments, industries, communities, and individuals to reduce the production and heavy reliance on single-use plastics, which severely damage marine life, pollute oceans, and pose threats to human health.

Explanation

On 23 April 2019, ahead of World Malaria Day, Malawi became the first country in the world to roll out the RTS,S (Mosquirix) malaria vaccine in a landmark pilot programme to immunise children under two years of age. Coordinated by the World Health Organization, this historic initiative aimed to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy in real-world settings to significantly reduce severe malaria cases and childhood mortality across sub-Saharan Africa.

Explanation

Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British Civil Service officer, founded the Indian National Congress in December 1885. He mobilized educated Indian leaders to create an all-India platform for civic and political dialogue with the British administration. The first session of the Congress was subsequently organized at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay from 28 to 31 December 1885.

Explanation

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship skill development scheme of the Government of India, launched in 2015 under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Implemented through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the programme aims to enable Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training and certify prior learning to enhance employability and secure better livelihoods.

Explanation

Sir Joseph Noel Paton painted "In Memoriam" in 1858 to commemorate the plight and courage of British women and children during the 1857 Indian Rebellion, particularly referencing the traumatic events surrounding the Siege of Kanpur. The artwork struck a deep emotional chord in Victorian Britain, portraying British women huddled together in distress as they awaited rescue.

Explanation

Jim Corbett National Park, located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and is India's oldest national park. In 1973, it became the first protected area in the country to be brought under Project Tiger, officially declaring it as a tiger reserve.

Explanation

Google is a technology company best known for its internet search engine. While Google develops a popular web browser called Google Chrome, Google itself is not a web browser.

Explanation

Myopia, or short-sightedness, occurs when the eye lens develops excessive curvature, which increases its converging power and reduces its focal length. Because the lens bends light rays too sharply, parallel rays coming from distant objects focus at a point in front of the retina rather than directly on it, causing distant objects to appear blurry.