RRB NTPC CBT 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 2018 for his distinguished service and exceptional contributions to Indian cricket. He received the honor from President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on April 2, 2018. Under his captaincy, India won major international tournaments including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He was previously honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2007 and the Padma Shri in 2009.

Explanation

India possesses the world's fourth-largest railway network by route length, spanning over 67,000 kilometers. Managed by the state-owned Indian Railways, the network operates across 18 administrative zones and serves as one of the largest single-management railway systems globally.

Explanation

Panini was an ancient Indian scholar and philologist known as the father of linguistics. He composed the Astadhyayi, a foundational treatise on Sanskrit grammar consisting of around 4,000 sutras that systematically codified the rules of Sanskrit phonology, morphology, and syntax.

Explanation

Padma Lakshmi, an Indian-American television host, author, and activist, was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on March 7, 2019, on the eve of International Women's Day. In this role, she mobilizes support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a primary focus on fighting global inequality, ending discrimination, and empowering marginalized communities and women worldwide.

Explanation

Second-generation computers (1956–1965) replaced vacuum tubes with transistors, making systems smaller, faster, and more reliable. This generation marked the transition from low-level assembly language to high-level programming languages. FORTRAN (Formula Translation, introduced in 1957) and COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language, introduced in 1959) were developed and first used during this era to enable programmers to write portable, human-readable code.

Explanation

Bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are called the amphibians of the plant kingdom because they can live in terrestrial environments but are dependent on water for sexual reproduction. Their flagellated male gametes (spermatozoids) require a film of water to swim to the egg cell for fertilization to take place, mirroring the dual reliance on land and water seen in biological amphibians.

Explanation

Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, situated under Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy), specifically deals with the promotion of international peace and security. It directs the State to endeavor to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honorable relations between nations, foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and encourage the settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

Explanation

The Brihadisvara Temple, also known as Rajarajeswaram, is located in Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu. Built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, it is one of the largest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and stands as a premier example of Dravidian architecture. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Great Living Chola Temples.

Explanation

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was established on July 12, 1982, on the recommendations of the B. Sivaraman Committee. It serves as the apex development bank for coordinating the credit policy, operations, and financial activities of all institutions engaged in agriculture, rural development, cottage and village industries, and allied economic activities in rural India.

Explanation

A preamble is an introductory statement in a constitution that outlines the foundational principles, philosophy, objectives, and guiding values of the document. It sets out the purpose and vision of the constitution, reflecting the intentions of its framers and the aspirations of the nation. In the Indian Constitution, the Preamble serves as a guiding light, declaring the commitment to secure justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens.

Explanation

SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) operates by emitting high-frequency ultrasonic waves into water. These sound waves propagate efficiently through liquid, strike objects such as the seabed, icebergs, or submarines, and bounce back as echoes. By measuring the time taken for the echo to return and knowing the speed of sound in water, the device calculates the exact distance, direction, and speed of underwater objects. Ultrasonic waves are ideal for aquatic environments because electromagnetic radiation dissipates rapidly in water.

Explanation

Black soil, also known as Regur soil or black cotton soil, is derived from basaltic volcanic rocks of the Deccan Trap region. It is composed of extremely fine clayey material with a high moisture-retention capacity. Geochemically, black soil is naturally abundant in essential mineral nutrients including calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime, though it is typically deficient in phosphoric content, nitrogen, and organic matter.

Explanation

The Constituent Assembly took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days of continuous deliberation and debate to complete the drafting of the Constitution of India, which is approximately 3 years. The Constituent Assembly held its first session on December 9, 1946, and the final draft of the Constitution was formally adopted on November 26, 1949, and signed by the members of the Assembly.

Explanation

Fixed capital consists of durable physical assets used in the production of goods and services, such as tools, machinery, and buildings. These assets remain functional over long periods across multiple production cycles, enabling continuous operational activity without being consumed in a single use.

Explanation

A standard full-size ANSI QWERTY desktop keyboard typically features 104 keys. This design was standardized following the release of Windows 95, which added two Windows logo keys and one Menu key to the existing IBM 101-key Enhanced Keyboard layout. It includes a primary typing area with alphanumeric characters and modifier keys, a function key row (F1 through F12), a navigation cluster with directional arrows, and a 17-key numeric keypad.

Explanation

The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention was organized in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, from January 21 to 23, 2019. The theme of the event was "Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India," and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, attended as the Chief Guest.

Explanation

The Constitution of Denmark served no role as a source for the Indian Constitution. While the framers drew inspiration from numerous major world constitutions—such as those of the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, France, Canada, Australia, Soviet Union, South Africa, Germany, and Japan—along with the Government of India Act 1935, no provisions or principles were adopted from Denmark.

Explanation

The United States and Israel officially withdrew from UNESCO on January 1, 2019. Both countries had filed formal notices of their intent to leave in October 2017, citing anti-Israel bias within the organization and unresolved grievances following UNESCO's decision to grant full membership to Palestine in 2011.

Explanation

RAM (Random Access Memory) is classified as primary storage because it is directly accessible by the Central Processing Unit (CPU) via the system bus. It holds the data, instructions, and operating system code that the CPU is actively executing, enabling high-speed read and write operations necessary for running applications in real time.

Explanation

As of 2021, nuclear power accounts for approximately 3% of India's total electricity generation supply, with an installed capacity of around 6,780 MW across 22 operational reactors. Thermal power, particularly coal, continues to dominate the national power generation mix.

Explanation

The Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is native to the tropical wet evergreen forests of India, particularly in the Western Ghats and the Northeastern region. On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, it is classified as Vulnerable due to population decline driven by habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and hunting.

Explanation

The Rail Sahyog portal was launched by the Ministry of Railways in September 2018 as a web-based platform to facilitate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from corporate entities and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). The portal enables funding and creation of basic passenger amenities at railway stations across India, including the construction of toilets, provision of dustbins, setting up plastic bottle crushing machines, installation of benches for passengers, and setting up drinking water and Wi-Fi facilities.

Explanation

The Indravati River originates in the Eastern Ghats of the Kalahandi district in Odisha and flows through Chhattisgarh before joining the Godavari River as a major left-bank tributary. It belongs entirely to the Godavari river basin in Peninsular India rather than the Ganga drainage system.

Explanation

Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India and a strong champion of agrarian interests, authored the book "Economic Nightmare of India: Its Cause and Cure", published in 1981. In this major work, he presented a detailed critique of India's post-independence, capital-intensive, and urban-biased industrial policy. He advocated for a Gandhian economic model focused on agriculture, rural development, small-scale industries, and labor-intensive production to tackle unemployment and poverty.

Explanation

Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde (B. M. Hegde) is a distinguished cardiologist, medical scientist, author, and former Vice-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education. In 2021, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honor, for his exceptional and distinguished contributions to the field of medicine. He is widely recognized for his holistic approach to healthcare, medical ethics advocacy, and extensive contributions to medical literature and education.

Explanation

In January 2019, the Chennai Traffic Police inducted a road safety robot named Roodeo into its fold to assist officers with traffic management and help pedestrians cross roads safely. Developed by young students at SP Robotics Maker Lab, the robot features an LED screen to display road safety messages, interactive arms to signal traffic, and can be operated wirelessly through an application. With this launch, Chennai became the second city in India to deploy robots for urban traffic control.

Explanation

In January 2019, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh declared the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival as a state festival. Held at Seijosa in the Pakke Kessang district, it is the state's only wildlife conservation festival. The event recognizes the conservation efforts of the indigenous Nyishi tribe in protecting hornbills and preserving the ecosystem of the Pakke Tiger Reserve.

Explanation

The proposed Chutka Nuclear Power Plant is planned to be set up at Chutka village located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. Developed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the project has a total planned capacity of 1,400 MW consisting of two indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). The site relies on water drawn from the Bargi Dam reservoir on the Narmada River for cooling.

Explanation

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It acts as the phonebook of the Internet by translating human-friendly domain names, such as www.example.com, into numerical IP addresses, such as 192.0.2.1, which computers and network devices use to identify and communicate with each other.

Explanation

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established on 15 August 1969, superseding the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR). Consequently, ISRO completed 50 years of its establishment on 15 August 2019 and celebrated its Golden Jubilee.

Explanation

India's first National Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank was established at the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), a facility under the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. Inaugurated in August 2018, this biobank cryopreserves biological material, including DNA, cell lines, gametes, and embryos of endangered and protected wild species at extremely low temperatures (-196 °C) using liquid nitrogen. The repository supports long-term wildlife conservation through assisted reproduction, evolutionary biology research, and species recovery programs.

Explanation

Nirmala Sitharaman became the first full-time female Defence Minister of India when she assumed charge in September 2017 under the Cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although Indira Gandhi had previously held the defence portfolio in 1975 and 1980–1982, she held it concurrently while serving as the Prime Minister.

Explanation

Alfalfa is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae, scientifically known as Medicago sativa. It is widely cultivated as an important forage crop for livestock across the globe.

Explanation

The Prime Minister of India is appointed by the President under Article 75 of the Constitution and holds office during the pleasure of the President. The removal of the Prime Minister occurs through political mechanisms, primarily when the Council of Ministers loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha via a no-confidence motion, forcing the Prime Minister to resign. There is no constitutional provision or procedure for impeaching the Prime Minister.

Explanation

The third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was held in Guwahati, Assam, in January 2020. Maharashtra topped the medal tally by winning a total of 256 medals, which included 78 gold, 77 silver, and 101 bronze medals.

Explanation

Sarojini Naidu presided over the Kanpur session of the Indian National Congress in 1925, becoming the first Indian woman to serve as the President of the Congress. Known as the Nightingale of India, she was a prominent freedom fighter, poet, and political activist who later became the first female Governor of an Indian state (United Provinces) in independent India.

Explanation

In January 2019, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling launched the "One Family One Job" scheme in Sikkim. The initiative aimed to provide a government job to at least one member of every family in the state that did not have any member currently employed in the government sector.

Explanation

The Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1575 AD at Fatehpur Sikri. It was established as a meeting place for religious leaders, scholars, and theologians to gather and discuss theological and spiritual matters. Initially open only to Sunni Muslims, Akbar later allowed scholars of various faiths—including Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity—to participate in these discussions, which eventually influenced the formulation of his syncretic philosophy, Din-i Ilahi.

Explanation

Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel served as the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) from July 6, 2018 to July 5, 2023. Prior to taking over as the head of the statutory tribunal established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, he served as a judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Explanation

Shelter belts consist of rows of trees and shrubs planted perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction in dry, arid, and desert regions. They act as windbreaks to reduce wind velocity at ground level, which stops topsoil from blowing away, traps shifting sands, and helps control soil erosion and desertification.

Explanation

Janjira Fort, also known as Murud-Janjira Fort, is located on an island in the Arabian Sea off the coastal town of Murud in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Built towards the end of the 15th century by the Sidis of Janjira, it is renowned as one of the strongest marine forts in India, remaining undefeated throughout its history despite numerous siege attempts by the Marathas, Mughals, and the British.

Explanation

Bronchioles are fine branches of air passages inside the lungs that belong to the respiratory system. Their primary function is to direct inhaled air into the alveoli for gas exchange, making them a respiratory structure rather than a component of the excretory system.

Explanation

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced into the Indian Constitution through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016. It received Presidential assent on September 8, 2016, and officially came into force on July 1, 2017, subsuming multiple central and state indirect taxes into a unified national tax regime.

Explanation

Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Municipal Solid Waste Management rules, blue dustbins are designated for collecting dry and non-biodegradable waste such as plastic, paper, glass, metal, and rubber. These materials do not decompose naturally through biological processes and are segregated into blue bins so they can be processed separately for recycling and safe disposal.

Explanation

Radha Krishna Mathur assumed office as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh on 31 October 2019 following the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. He served in this post until February 2023, making him the incumbent Lieutenant Governor as of December 2020. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Chief Information Commissioner of India and as the Defence Secretary of India.

Explanation

Cyclone Pabuk originated in the Gulf of Thailand in early January 2019 before making landfall over southern Thailand and moving toward the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Named by Laos after a giant freshwater cat-fish in the Mekong River, it was a rare tropical storm that struck Thailand during the winter season and became the earliest-forming storm on record in both the Northwestern Pacific and North Indian Ocean basins.

Explanation

Spao (or Spawo) dance is a traditional warrior folk dance originating from the Ladakh region of India. In the Ladakhi language, the word 'Spao' translates to 'warrior'. Associated with the legendary hero Ling Gyalam Kesar from central Asian and Himalayan epics, the dance features performers wielding traditional weapons such as swords, quivers, and bows and arrows to celebrate heroic acts, valor, and local heritage during major festivals and cultural gatherings.

Explanation

UNESCO designated Rio de Janeiro as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020 in partnership with the International Union of Architects (UIA). This title recognizes cities that use architecture, urban design, and cultural heritage to promote sustainable development and address global urban challenges. Rio de Janeiro was the first city to receive this designation under the joint UNESCO-UIA initiative.

Explanation

The Kalapani region is a territorial dispute between India and Nepal located at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and Tibet. Under Indian administration as part of the Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, it is claimed by Nepal as part of Darchula district. The dispute stems from differing interpretations of the origin of the Kali River, which was established as Nepal's western border under the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. Disagreements escalated in 2020 when Nepal officially published a revised political map including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura within its territory.

Explanation

The Asiatic Society was founded by Sir William Jones, an Anglo-Welsh philologist and scholar, on 15 January 1784 at Fort William in Calcutta. The primary objective of the society was to initiate and promote Oriental studies, focusing on the history, antiquities, arts, sciences, and literature of Asia.