RRB NTPC CBT 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission was sent to India in March 1946 by British Prime Minister Clement Attlee to discuss the transfer of power from the British government to Indian leadership. The mission comprised three cabinet ministers: Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty).

Explanation

Adam Smith expressed this foundational economic thought in his landmark 1776 treatise, "The Wealth of Nations" (Book I, Chapter VIII, "Of the Wages of Labour"). He argued that true national prosperity depends on high wages and the material well-being of the working class, pointing out that a society cannot be considered flourishing or happy if the majority of its populace suffers in poverty and misery.

Explanation

The United Nations was established following the United Nations Conference on International Organization held in San Francisco. On 26 June 1945, representatives of 50 countries signed the UN Charter, and Poland signed it shortly after on 15 October 1945, bringing the total number of original founding member states to 51.

Explanation

S-waves, also known as Secondary or Shear waves, are seismic body waves where the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth perpendicular (transverse) to the direction in which the wave is traveling. This transverse particle displacement creates shear stress in the rocks through which the wave propagates, which is why S-waves can travel only through solid materials.

Explanation

Buzz Aldrin was the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 11 spaceflight mission. On July 20, 1969, he stepped onto the lunar surface approximately 19 minutes after mission commander Neil Armstrong, becoming the second person in history to walk on the Moon. Together, they explored the lunar surface at Tranquility Base for over two hours before returning to Earth.

Explanation

On 29th August 1947, the Constituent Assembly passed a resolution to set up a Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The committee was tasked with preparing a draft Constitution for independent India based on the reports and recommendations submitted by various other committees of the Assembly.

Explanation

The Bhimbetka rock shelters were discovered in 1957–58 by Indian archaeologist Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar. While travelling by train near Bhopal, he noticed the massive sandstone rock formations, which resembled pre-historic rock shelters he had studied in Europe. He subsequently led a team of archaeologists to explore the region, uncovering one of the most extensive complexes of prehistoric rock art in India.

Explanation

Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS) is located in Narora, Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh. Operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the facility consists of two Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that generate electricity for the northern power grid.

Explanation

A light-year is defined as the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year (365.25 days). Traveling at a speed of approximately 3 × 10⁸ meters per second, light covers about 9.46 × 10¹² kilometers in a year. Because interstellar space involves vast expanses, this unit is widely used in astronomy to express distances between celestial bodies such as stars, nebulae, and galaxies.

Explanation

The Ezra Cup is a famous polo tournament conducted in India. Instituted in 1880 by Sir David Ezra, a prominent leader of the Jewish community in Kolkata, it is hosted by the Calcutta Polo Club and is recognized as the world's first registered polo trophy.

Explanation

Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass located at an elevation of 3,978 meters on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas. It serves as the primary geographical connection between the lush, green Kullu Valley and the arid, high-altitude cold desert landscape of the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys in Himachal Pradesh.

Explanation

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) was conferred Maharatna status in October 2019. Maharatna status is awarded to premier Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) that meet specific financial criteria, including an average annual net profit of over ₹5,000 crore, average annual net worth of ₹15,000 crore, or average annual turnover of ₹25,000 crore over three consecutive years. This status gives the company enhanced operational and financial autonomy, enabling its board to make major equity investments without prior government approval.

Explanation

The Durand Cup is an annual football tournament in India that was first held in 1888 at Annandale, Shimla. Initiated by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, who was then the Foreign Secretary of British India, it is the oldest football tournament in Asia and the third oldest existing football competition in the world.

Explanation

The Mahabharata was originally composed by Sage Vyasa under the title Jaya Samhita (or simply Jaya), which translates to Victory. In its initial form, the epic comprised around 8,800 verses primarily detailing the triumph of the Pandavas over the Kauravas. Over time, as additional narratives and philosophical teachings were integrated, it expanded to 24,000 verses as Bharata, eventually evolving into the grand epic Mahabharata containing over 100,000 verses.

Explanation

The Battle of Haldighati was fought on 18 June 1576 between Maharana Pratap, the ruler of Mewar, and the Mughal forces led by Raja Man Singh I of Amber, representing the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Haldighati is a narrow mountain pass in the Aravalli Range near Gogunda in Rajasthan. Maharana Pratap mounted a fierce resistance against Mughal expansionism, making this one of the most prominent military engagements in medieval Indian history.

Explanation

Article 123 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session and the President is satisfied that circumstances exist requiring immediate action. An ordinance promulgated under this article possesses the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament. However, every such ordinance must be laid before both Houses of Parliament upon reassembly and ceases to operate at the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly, or earlier if disapproved by Parliament.

Explanation

In May 2019, the environment ministers of the G7 nations met in Metz, France, right before the publication of the United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services global assessment report on the state of the planet. During this meeting held under France's G7 presidency, the ministers discussed alarming findings regarding biodiversity loss and adopted the Metz Charter on Biodiversity to spur international action against environmental degradation and climate change.

Explanation

Lysosomes are single membrane-bound organelles containing powerful hydrolytic digestive enzymes such as proteases, lipases, and nucleases. These enzymes are synthesized by the rough endoplasmic reticulum and packaged into lysosomes by the Golgi apparatus. Lysosomes serve as the primary waste disposal and recycling center of eukaryotic cells, breaking down cellular debris, foreign pathogens, macromolecules, and damaged organelles through intracellular digestion.

Explanation

A scanner is an input device that feeds data into a computer by optically scanning physical documents, images, or printed text and converting them into a digital format for processing and storage.

Explanation

Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and antiquarian in the East India Company, brought the ruins of Vijayanagara at Hampi to light in 1800. As an employee of the East India Company, he prepared the first survey map of the site and collected initial information through oral traditions and historical manuscripts preserved by local priests. He later became the first Surveyor General of India in 1815.

Explanation

Kolkata Metro Rail, India's first underground urban mass transit system, commenced commercial service on 24 October 1984. The initial trial run took place between Esplanade and Bhowanipore (now Netaji Bhavan), covering a distance of 3.4 kilometers.

Explanation

Vitamin B12, chemically known as cobalamin, is a complex organometallic compound that contains a central cobalt atom bound within a corrin ring. It is an essential nutrient required for proper red blood cell formation, neurological function, myelin sheath maintenance, and DNA synthesis in the human body.

Explanation

The thickness of the ozone layer in the atmosphere is measured in Dobson Units (DU). One Dobson Unit corresponds to a layer of pure ozone that would be 0.01 millimeters thick at standard temperature (0 °C) and pressure (1 atm). A typical total column ozone thickness in Earth's atmosphere is around 300 Dobson Units, equivalent to a 3-millimeter thick layer of pure ozone at standard conditions.

Explanation

Tulughama was a tactical military maneuver adopted by Babur from the Uzbeks and effectively deployed during the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. Under this strategy, the main army was divided into central, right, left, and flanking divisions. The specialized flanking units swept around the enemy's line to launch a surprise attack from the rear and sides, effectively encircling and trapping the opposing forces. Coupled with artillery tactics, this strategy played a decisive role in Babur's victory and the establishment of Mughal rule in India.

Explanation

Dholavira is an ancient Harappan site located on Khadirbet island in the Great Rann of Kutch in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is one of the most prominent archaeological sites of the Indus Valley Civilization in India, renowned for its sophisticated water management system, massive stone fortifications, and unique three-tiered town planning comprising the Citadel, Middle Town, and Lower Town.

Explanation

The Second Schedule of the Constitution of India contains provisions relating to the emoluments, allowances, privileges, and salaries of key constitutional post-holders. These include the President of India, Governors of States, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council of States and State Legislative Councils, Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

Explanation

Kazakhstan has been the world's leading producer of uranium since 2009. In 2019, Kazakhstan produced approximately 22,808 tonnes of uranium, accounting for over 42% of the total global uranium supply, primarily mined through its state-owned company Kazatomprom using in-situ recovery (ISR) technology.

Explanation

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty established for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, it provides the framework for national action and international cooperation to preserve wetland ecosystems and their ecological functions.

Explanation

The Quit India Movement, launched by Mahatma Gandhi at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on 8 August 1942, is widely known as the August Kranti (August Revolution). The movement demanded an immediate end to British colonial rule in India under the famous banner of "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro). In commemoration of this landmark event, the venue of the declaration, Gowalia Tank Maidan, was subsequently renamed August Kranti Maidan.

Explanation

Cysteine is an amino acid that contains a sulfur atom in its side chain in the form of a thiol or sulfhydryl group (-SH). This sulfur atom enables cysteine to form disulfide bonds with other cysteine residues, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the three-dimensional tertiary structure and biological activity of proteins.

Explanation

Carolus Linnaeus, an 18th-century Swedish botanist and zoologist, introduced binomial nomenclature in his landmark works Species Plantarum (1753) and Systema Naturae (1758). This system assigns every organism a two-part scientific name consisting of its genus and species, such as Homo sapiens. By standardizing the naming system globally, Linnaeus established a universal language for biological classification, for which he is recognized as the father of modern taxonomy.

Explanation

Sucrose is a non-reducing disaccharide carbohydrate formed by the condensation of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule linked by a glycosidic bond. Its chemical formula is C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁, which indicates that each sucrose molecule contains 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms.

Explanation

Muhammad Husayn al-Kashmiri was a master of the Nasta'liq script at the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Renowned for the exceptional beauty, grace, and precision of his calligraphic artistry, Emperor Akbar honored him with the prestigious title 'Zarrin Qalam', which translates to 'Golden Pen'.

Explanation

Uttar Pradesh covers a total geographical area of approximately 240,928 km², which accounts for about 7.33% of India's total land area. It ranks fourth in size among all Indian states, placing its land area below that of the top three largest states in the country.

Explanation

Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form. It declares that the enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law. To enforce this Fundamental Right under Part III of the Constitution, Parliament enacted the Untouchability (Offences) Act in 1955, which was later amended and renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.

Explanation

RISAT-2B (Radar Imaging Satellite-2B) is an earth observation satellite launched by ISRO in May 2019 aboard PSLV-C46. It is equipped with an indigenously developed X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, which provides high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging capability. The microwave signals transmitted by the X-band SAR can penetrate clouds and atmospheric obstructions, making it crucial for agriculture monitoring, forestry, disaster management, and surveillance operations.

Explanation

EMISAT (Electronic Intelligence Satellite) is an advanced reconnaissance satellite jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under Project Kautilya. Launched on April 1, 2019, aboard PSLV-C45 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, its primary objective is to intercept and analyze electronic signals, identify ground-based radar locations, and provide critical signal intelligence along India's borders.

Explanation

A nibble is a unit of digital information that consists of 4 bits.

Number of bits = Number of nibbles × 4

Substituting 10 nibbles into the formula: 10 × 4 = 40 bits

Explanation

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), headquartered in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Established in 1958 originally as the Central Public Health Engineering Research Institute (CPHERI), it was renamed NEERI in 1974 to encompass a wider domain of environmental science, engineering, and sustainable development research.

Explanation

Jabalpur is located along the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh, famous for the Dhuandhar Falls and Marble Rocks at Bhedaghat. The Jhelum River is a major river of northern India that originates from Verinag in Jammu and Kashmir and flows through the Kashmir Valley, passing through Srinagar.

Explanation

Kento Momota of Japan won the Men's Singles title at the 2019 All England Open Badminton Championships by defeating Denmark's Viktor Axelsen 21-11, 15-21, 21-15 in the final. With this victory, he became the first Japanese player to win the Men's Singles title in the history of the tournament.

Explanation

Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) operates major thermal power stations across West Bengal and Jharkhand, including the Mejia Thermal Power Station, Bokaro Thermal Power Station, Chandrapura Thermal Power Station, Durgapur Thermal Power Station, and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station. Established in 1948 as India's first multipurpose river valley project, DVC is a major power utility generating both thermal and hydroelectric power to meet the industrial and domestic energy demands of the region.

Explanation

Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India, tax rates are structured into four primary standard slabs: 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. There are also special rates such as 0% for essential items, 0.25% for rough precious stones, and 3% for gold and silver, but 10% does not exist as a tax rate slab under the GST system.

Explanation

Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist and founder of Grameen Bank, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 jointly with Grameen Bank. He pioneered the concepts of microcredit and microfinance, establishing a system of small, collateral-free loans to help low-income individuals, particularly women, escape poverty and achieve economic independence.

Explanation

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics, a raster-graphics file format that supports lossless data compression. It was created as an open, non-patented replacement for GIF to efficiently display digital graphics, photographs, and images with transparent backgrounds on the web.

Explanation

Osmium is a transition metal with the chemical symbol Os and atomic number 76. It is the densest naturally occurring element, with a density of approximately 22.59 g/cm³, slightly higher than that of iridium. Its remarkably high density is caused by the lanthanide contraction, which leads to a small ionic radius and an exceptionally tightly packed hexagonal close-packed crystal lattice structure.

Explanation

In May 2019, the Antonov AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force was formally fleet-certified by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) to fly on blended aviation fuel containing up to 10% indigenous bio-jet fuel. The bio-jet fuel technology was developed by CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) using non-edible tree-borne oils, primarily Jatropha oil sourced from Chhattisgarh. In January 2020, both engines of an AN-32 were successfully operated on this 10% bio-jet fuel blend during an operational flight in Leh.

Explanation

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, were awarded to Paris, France, during the 131st IOC Session in Lima, Peru, in September 2017. This marked the third time Paris hosted the Summer Olympic Games, having previously hosted them in 1900 and 1924.

Explanation

The Child Marriage Restraint Act, popularly known as the Sarda Act after its sponsor Harbilas Sarda, was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council of India on September 28, 1929. The legislation fixed the minimum age of marriage for girls at 14 years and for boys at 18 years, marking a significant reformative step toward curbing child marriage in colonial India.

Explanation

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. Constructed in an intricate fusion of the Chera and Dravidian styles of architecture, the temple features the presiding deity, Lord Vishnu, reclining on the sacred serpent Anantha in the 'Ananthasayana' posture.