RRB NTPC CBT 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) was established on 24th December, 2003. It is an international non-profit organization focused on promoting and protecting human rights globally.

Explanation

China's 'artificial sun' refers to the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), located at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science. It operates on the principle of nuclear fusion, replicating the energy-generating process of real stars where light atomic nuclei like hydrogen isotopes fuse together under extreme temperature and pressure to form helium, releasing vast amounts of clean energy. The reactor uses magnetic confinement in a doughnut-shaped tokamak to sustain ultra-hot plasma required for controlled fusion.

Explanation

Nanaji Deshmukh (Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh) was a social reformer posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2019 for his lifelong service in rural development. Through the Deendayal Research Institute, he pioneered integrated village development models focused on rural self-reliance, agriculture, health, and education. He also established Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya in Madhya Pradesh, India's first rural university, to empower village communities.

Explanation

Prairies are temperate grasslands located in North America, primarily across Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. The temperate grasslands found in Argentina and neighboring South American countries are known as the Pampas.

Explanation

MCB stands for Miniature Circuit Breaker. It is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect low-voltage electrical circuits from damage caused by overload or short-circuit conditions. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and must be replaced, an MCB can be reset manually or automatically to resume normal operation.

Explanation

The Bering Strait is a narrow waterway located between Russia and Alaska (United States) that connects the Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Bering Sea of the Pacific Ocean in the south. It serves as the sole marine gateway linking the Arctic and Pacific maritime realms.

Explanation

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two main functions: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the host in the network, thereby enabling data packets to be routed to and from the correct computer across the global network.

Explanation

A radial drainage pattern develops when streams flow outward in all directions from a central high point, such as a dome, peak, or volcanic cone. The drainage network radiates from the elevated crest like spokes on a bicycle wheel, making it the pattern characteristic of dome-like structures.

Explanation

The Government of India constituted the Second Commission on Centre-State Relations in April 2007 under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India. The commission was set up to review the working of existing arrangements between the Union and the States, examine the changes that had taken place since the Sarkaria Commission submitted its report, and suggest measures to improve Centre-State relations across financial, administrative, and constitutional matters. It submitted its report to the government in April 2010.

Explanation

SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtiKa) is an Earth observation satellite launched by ISRO on 25 February 2013 using the PSLV-C20 rocket. Developed as a joint mission between ISRO and the French Space Agency (CNES), it is designed for oceanographic studies. Its primary payloads—the Ka-band altimeter (AltiKa) and the Argos-3 data collection system—are used to perform precise altimetric measurements to monitor sea surface topography, ocean circulation, wave heights, and climate change.

Explanation

The Right to Information (RTI) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 11 May 2005 and by the Rajya Sabha on 12 May 2005, completing its passage through the Parliament of India in May 2005. It subsequently received the assent of President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on 15 June 2005 and came into force on 12 October 2005.

Explanation

The Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) of 1956 classified industries into three distinct categories, designated as Schedule A, Schedule B, and Schedule C. Schedule A comprised 17 industries whose development was the exclusive responsibility of the State. Schedule B consisted of 12 industries that were to be progressively state-owned, with private enterprise acting as a supplement to the State's efforts. Schedule C included all remaining industries, which were left open to the private sector under the framework of state policy and licensing regulations.

Explanation

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that share the same atomic number, meaning they have an identical number of protons in their atomic nuclei. However, they differ in their mass numbers because their nuclei contain different numbers of neutrons. For instance, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon; both have an atomic number of 6, but their mass numbers are 12 and 14 due to having 6 and 8 neutrons respectively.

Explanation

The Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. Originally commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, the Great Stupa at Sanchi is recognized as one of India's oldest stone structures.

Explanation

Uranus is classified as an ice giant rather than a terrestrial planet. It is an outer Jovian planet composed primarily of heavy elements like water, ammonia, and methane ices surrounding a small core, with a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium, lacking a solid silicate rocky surface.

Explanation

Womesh Chandra Bannerjee (W.C. Bannerjee) presided over the inaugural session of the Indian National Congress, which was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay from December 28 to December 31, 1885. A eminent barrister from Calcutta, he was chosen as president of this historic gathering, which brought together 72 delegates from various parts of India to lay the foundation for the national political movement.

Explanation

The Idukki Hydroelectric Project, located in Kerala, is constructed across the Periyar River. It is one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in South India, with an installed capacity of 780 MW. The project consists of three major dams: the Idukki Arch Dam, built across the Periyar River between the Kuravan and Kurathi hills, along with the Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams, which together create a massive reservoir.

Explanation

On February 9, 2021, India and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the Lalandar (Shahtoot) Dam on the Maidan River, a tributary of the Kabul River basin in Afghanistan. The agreement was signed during a virtual summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The dam aims to provide clean drinking water to over 2 million residents of Kabul city, enable irrigation for surrounding regions, and rebuild critical infrastructure in the country as part of India's bilateral development partnership with Afghanistan.

Explanation

Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, an Anglo-Indian teacher at Hindu College in Calcutta, initiated the Young Bengal Movement in the late 1820s. He inspired his students to think freely, question traditional socio-religious orthodoxy, and embrace modern radical ideals of liberty, equality, and rationalism. His followers, known as the Derozians, carried forward his reformist zeal through public debates and publications.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added Part IX titled "The Panchayats" to the Constitution of India, granting constitutional status and financial powers to rural local self-government institutions. Under Article 243H, state legislatures are authorized to confer powers on Panchayats to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees. Additionally, Article 243I provided for the constitution of a State Finance Commission every five years to review the financial position of Panchayats and recommend principles for tax distribution and grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of the State, thereby strengthening local governance.

Explanation

On 21 October 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind) at the Cathay Cinema Hall in Singapore. Subhash Chandra Bose served as the Head of State, Prime Minister, and Minister for War. The provisional government was recognized by nine Axis-aligned nations and served as the political authority for the Indian National Army.

Explanation

Echinoderms are characterized by radial symmetry, a unique water vascular system, and an endoskeleton made of calcareous ossicles. All living species of the phylum Echinodermata reside in ocean environments, making them exclusively marine animals. They are free-living benthic organisms found across various depths of saltwater habitats, ranging from shallow coastal intertidal zones to deep ocean trenches.

Explanation

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of two main primary functional components: the Control Unit (CU) and the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The Control Unit directs and coordinates all operations within the computer system by fetching instructions, decoding them, and managing the flow of data. The Arithmetic Logic Unit performs all arithmetic calculations such as addition and subtraction, along with logical operations like comparisons and boolean functions.

Explanation

David Hare collaborated closely with Raja Ram Mohan Roy to promote modern Western education, science, and English literature in India. Together with Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Sir Hyde East, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Hindu College in Calcutta in 1817 (which later became Presidency College). He also founded the Calcutta School Book Society in 1817 and the Calcutta School Society in 1818 to publish and distribute secular educational textbooks in Bengali and English.

Explanation

Tamarind contains tartaric acid as its main organic acid, not ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid, widely known as Vitamin C, is found in citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, as well as in amla and guava.

Explanation

The Sarkaria Commission was set up in June 1983 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, under the chairmanship of Justice Ranjit Singh Sarkaria, a retired judge of the Supreme Court. Its primary mandate was to review and examine the working of existing arrangements between the Union and the States in all spheres, and to suggest appropriate changes and measures to ensure a balanced distribution of powers and smoother functioning of federal relations in India.

Explanation

Farming in India is primarily carried out in small, scattered, and informal landholdings that operate outside government registration and regulation. Agricultural workers and small farmers generally lack formal employment contracts, fixed working hours, guaranteed regular wages, and social security benefits such as pensions or health insurance, making agriculture a classic example of the unorganised sector.

Explanation

The Rafale is a twin-engine multi-role fighter aircraft designed and built by the French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation. In September 2016, the Ministry of Defence signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France for the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft to bolster the combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force.

Explanation

In 2019, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai published "We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World". The book combines her personal experience of being displaced in Pakistan with the moving stories of several refugee girls she met during her visits to refugee camps worldwide, drawing global attention to the humanitarian crisis faced by displaced young women.

Explanation

The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was enacted during the tenure of Lord Canning, who served as the Governor-General of India. Drafted following the intense crusade for social reform led by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the bill was introduced during Lord Dalhousie's administration and formally passed into law by Lord Canning on July 26, 1856, providing legal legalisation and legal rights to remarried Hindu widows.

Explanation

Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Fedora are open-source operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Known as Linux distributions (or distros), they bundle the Linux kernel with package management systems, user interfaces, and software applications to provide complete operating environments for desktops and servers.

Explanation

The Sundarbans, located in the delta region formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in West Bengal and Bangladesh, is the largest contiguous halophytic mangrove forest ecosystem in the world. Characterized by salt-tolerant tree species equipped with specialized aerial roots like pneumatophores for respiration in waterlogged soil, it thrives in tidal, estuarine conditions and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site.

Explanation

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a price safety net guaranteed by the Government of India to agricultural producers. Announced at the beginning of the sowing season for major crops based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), it ensures that farmers receive a guaranteed baseline price for their produce, protecting them from market fluctuations and distress sales.

Explanation

The Sahitya Akademi confers its annual awards for outstanding literary works published in 24 Indian languages. In addition to the 22 official languages enumerated in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Akademi officially recognizes English and Rajasthani to promote literary activities and recognize literary excellence in these languages.

Explanation

Hirakud Dam is constructed across the Mahanadi River, about 15 kilometres from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha. Inaugurated in 1957, it is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India's independence and features one of the longest human-made dams in the world.

Explanation

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, established in June 1945 by the UN Charter. It is located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, making it the only principal UN organ situated outside New York. The court's primary functions are to settle legal disputes between sovereign states in accordance with international law and to provide advisory opinions on legal matters referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.

Explanation

The 29 bones of the human head consist of 8 cranial bones that protect the brain, 14 facial bones that form the structural framework of the face, 6 auditory ossicles (three in each middle ear: malleus, incus, and stapes) responsible for transmitting sound vibrations, and 1 hyoid bone located in the neck beneath the mandible that supports the tongue.

Explanation

The Sangai Festival is an annual cultural festival organized by the Manipur Tourism Department every year from November 21 to 30. Named after the Sangai deer—the brow-antlered deer found exclusively in Manipur's Keibul Lamjao National Park and recognized as the state animal—the festival showcases the rich heritage, traditional arts, indigenous sports, and cuisine of Manipur to promote the state as a major tourism destination.

Explanation

Manabendra Nath Roy (M. N. Roy) was a prominent Indian revolutionary and political theorist who co-founded the Communist Party of Mexico in 1917 and the Communist Party of India at Tashkent in 1920. He attended the Second Congress of the Communist International (Comintern) in Moscow in 1920, where he debated Vladimir Lenin on the Colonial Question and was subsequently elected to the Presidium and Executive Committee of the Comintern.

Explanation

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary political association of sovereign states, mostly comprising former territories of the British Empire. Formally established in its modern form by the London Declaration in 1949, member countries cooperate on common goals such as democracy, international development, peace, and governance, while remaining completely independent equal partners.

Explanation

According to demographic data published by NITI Aayog based on the Sample Registration System (SRS), India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stood at 2.3 children per woman in 2016. This reflected a continuous downward trend in the national birth rate toward the replacement fertility level of 2.1.

Explanation

The Equator, designated at 0° latitude, is the longest parallel of latitude because the Earth is an oblate spheroid that bulges around its middle. It circles the globe at its maximum circumference of approximately 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles). As one moves away from the Equator toward either the North or South Pole, the circumference of the parallel lines of latitude progressively decreases until shrinking to a single point at each pole.

Explanation

Garadi is the most popular folk dance of Puducherry. According to mythology, it traces its origin to the Ramayana, symbolizing the victory celebration of Lord Rama over Ravana by Sugreev's Vanara army. Dancers adopt monkey-like postures while holding sticks topped with flags. A key feature of this dance is the ten iron rings, known as Anjali, worn on each leg of the dancers, which produce a rhythmic chiming sound as they move to the beat of large drums called Ramadolus. It is performed during major festivals across the union territory, especially during the annual Car Festival at the Villanur Temple.

Explanation

Xylem is a specialized complex vascular tissue in plants responsible for the upward conduction of water and dissolved mineral nutrients from the roots to the stems and leaves. It consists of tracheids, vessel elements, xylem parenchyma, and xylem fibers, which work together through capillary action and transpirational pull to transport water throughout the plant body.

Explanation

The All India Khilafat Conference was held in Delhi in November 1919. It brought together Indian Muslim leaders and Congress leaders to protest against the British government's treatment of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate following World War I. Mahatma Gandhi was elected as the President of the conference, where delegates resolved to boycott British goods and adopt non-cooperation if the Khilafat demands were not addressed.

Explanation

RDRAM stands for Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory. Developed by Rambus Inc. in the late 1990s, it is a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) technology designed to provide high memory transfer rates over a narrow bus using high clock frequencies.

Explanation

Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XIII gives a detailed account of the Kalinga War, which was fought in the eighth year of his reign (c. 261 BCE). It records the vast destruction, loss of life, and suffering caused by the conflict, expressing Ashoka's deep remorse. This profound transformation led him to renounce military conquest (Digvijaya) in favor of conquest through righteousness (Dhammavijaya), marking a pivotal turning point in Mauryan history and Ashoka's patronage of Buddhism.

Explanation

Silvassa served as the administrative headquarters and capital of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Located near the Gujarat border on the banks of the Daman Ganga River, it was chosen as the administrative centre of the region following its liberation from Portuguese rule in 1954 and subsequent integration into the Union of India in 1961.

Explanation

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is headquartered in Turin, Italy. Formally established by the UN General Assembly in 2001, UNSSC serves as an inter-agency learning institution dedicated to executive education, leadership development, and knowledge management for staff across the entire United Nations system and partner organizations.

Explanation

National Waterway-2 (NW-2) comprises a stretch of the Brahmaputra River covering a distance of 891 km between Sadiya and Dhubri in Assam. Declared as a National Waterway in September 1988, it is managed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and serves as a vital inland water transport route connecting the northeastern region.