RRB NTPC CBT 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Galileo Galilei is widely regarded as the father of modern science due to his pioneering application of the scientific method, which combines systematic experimentation, quantitative observation, and mathematical reasoning. His astronomical discoveries using the telescope, including the four largest moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, provided strong empirical evidence supporting heliocentrism and laid the foundation for classical physics and modern observational astronomy.

Explanation

A Visual Display Unit (VDU) is a peripheral output device used to display visual data such as text, images, and video generated by a computer. It is commonly referred to as a monitor or display screen, providing the primary visual interface between the user and the computer system.

Explanation

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was formally launched on 28 August 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a National Mission for Financial Inclusion that aims to provide affordable access to financial services, including basic savings bank deposit accounts, credit, remittances, insurance, and pension, to every unbanked household across India.

Explanation

The Sarkaria Commission was set up in June 1983 by the Government of India under the chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. The commission's mandate was to examine and review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and the States in all spheres and recommend appropriate changes within the constitutional framework. It submitted its final report in 1988, making 247 recommendations to improve Center-State relations, particularly regarding the appointment and role of Governors, the deployment of armed forces, and the use of Article 356.

Explanation

The Indira Sagar Dam is a major multipurpose project built on the Narmada River at Narmadanagar in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. Laid by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, the dam creates one of India's largest water reservoirs by storage volume and plays a vital role in hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and regional water supply across the Narmada basin.

Explanation

Charles Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species' on November 24, 1859. This landmark work of scientific literature introduced the foundational theory that populations evolve over generations through a process of natural selection, laying the groundwork for modern evolutionary biology.

Explanation

DOS stands for Disk Operating System, a type of operating system that runs from a disk drive, such as a hard disk or floppy disk. It manages computer hardware, system resources, and file storage, providing a command-line interface for executing commands and running application software. Historically, MS-DOS was one of the most widely used disk operating systems for personal computers in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Explanation

The All India Muslim League adopted the famous Lahore Resolution, commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution, during its annual session held in Lahore from 22 to 24 March 1940. Drafted by Sikandar Hayat Khan and presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq, the resolution formally demanded the creation of independent states for Muslims in the north-western and eastern zones of British India, laying the official foundation for the demand for Pakistan.

Explanation

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a broadband technology that enables high-speed data transmission over existing traditional copper telephone lines. It works by transmitting digital data using higher frequencies than those used for voice calls, allowing simultaneous high-speed internet access and voice transmission on the same line without interference.

Explanation

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It is India's largest crude oil and natural gas company, contributing approximately 70% of the nation's domestic crude oil production and around 80% of its natural gas output. Established in 1956, ONGC carries out exploration and production activities across major offshore and onshore basins in India, including the Mumbai High field.

Explanation

The Protem Speaker presides over the first meeting of a newly constituted Lok Sabha. Appointed by the President of India under Article 95(1) of the Constitution, the Protem Speaker (usually the senior-most member of the House) is administered the oath of office by the President. The primary duties of the Protem Speaker are to preside over the initial sitting of the new House, administer the oath or affirmation to the newly elected Members of Parliament, and conduct the election of the permanent Speaker.

Explanation

Jean Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman and social activist, was the main visionary and co-founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva in 1863. Moved by the horrific suffering he witnessed at the Battle of Solferino in 1859, he wrote the book A Memory of Solferino proposing the creation of neutral national relief societies to assist wounded soldiers. His efforts led directly to the establishment of the Red Cross and the adoption of the First Geneva Convention in 1864, earning him the inaugural Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

Explanation

Carolus Linnaeus, an 18th-century Swedish botanist and zoologist, introduced binomial nomenclature, the formal system of naming species. In this system, every organism is assigned a two-part scientific name consisting of its genus name capitalized and species epithet in lowercase, both written in Latin. Linnaeus formalized this framework in his landmark publications Species Plantarum (1753) and Systema Naturae (1758), laying the foundation for modern biological taxonomy.

Explanation

Sikkim is a landlocked state located in the Himalayas, bounded by international borders on three sides—Nepal to the west, China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and northeast, and Bhutan to the east. To its south, Sikkim shares its land boundary exclusively with the Indian state of West Bengal.

Explanation

The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana) is a medicinal evergreen coniferous tree native to the temperate high-altitude forest ecosystems of the Eastern and Western Himalayas, prominently found in Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Its bark, needles, twigs, and roots yield taxol, a vital chemical compound widely used in manufacturing anti-cancer drugs. Due to extensive commercial harvesting and over-exploitation for taxol extraction, the species faces significant threats in its natural habitat.

Explanation

Under Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India, the President of India appoints the Chief Justice of India and other judges of the Supreme Court by warrant under his hand and seal. The appointments are made after consultation with the Collegium, consisting of the Chief Justice of India and senior judges of the Supreme Court.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census of India, Bihar is the third most populous state with a total population of 10,40,99,452 (approximately 10.41 crore), accounting for about 8.6% of the country's total population. It follows Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in overall population ranking.

Explanation

Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) is a prominent coniferous tree species native to the Himalayan region and widely found in the mountain forests of India. It forms extensive forests in the sub-tropical and temperate vegetation zones of the Indian Himalayas, particularly at elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 meters in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Explanation

In February 2021, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Indian economist and environmental expert Ligia Noronha as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Prior to this appointment, she served as Director of UNEP's Economy Division in Nairobi, leading initiatives on climate mitigation, green economy transitions, trade, and sustainable finance. She succeeded fellow Indian development economist Satya Tripathi in this leadership role.

Explanation

The UJALA scheme (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) was launched in January 2015 by the Government of India to promote energy efficiency across the country. Implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Ministry of Power, the scheme provides energy-efficient LED bulbs to domestic consumers at subsidized prices to help reduce electricity consumption, lower consumer electricity bills, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Explanation

Rajgir, anciently known as Rajagriha or Girivraja, was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha. Surrounded by five hills that provided natural strategic defense, it served as the administrative and political center during the reign of early Magadhan rulers such as Bimbisara and Ajatashatru of the Haryanka dynasty, prior to the capital being shifted to Pataliputra.

Explanation

Murlen National Park is located in the Champhai district of Mizoram, near the Indo-Myanmar border. Established in 1991, the park is known for its dense semi-evergreen and sub-tropical pine forests, which are so thick that sunlight barely penetrates the forest floor in certain areas. It hosts a rich diversity of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, hoolock gibbons, Himalayan black bears, and various species of pheasants.

Explanation

On 24 February 2021, Ghana received a shipment of 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in Accra, delivered by UNICEF from the Serum Institute of India. This marked the first delivery of vaccines under the UN-backed COVAX initiative, a global effort co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, and CEPI to ensure equitable access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.

Explanation

Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It was the world's first artificial satellite, orbiting Earth for three months and transmitting radio signals back to ground stations, which marked the beginning of the Space Age and the space race.

Explanation

The Pataca (MOP) is the official legal tender currency of Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China. Introduced during the Portuguese administration in the late 19th century, the currency is issued under the authority of the Monetary Authority of Macao and is pegged to the Hong Kong Dollar at a rate of 1 HKD to 1.03 MOP.

Explanation

Khadi, a hand-spun and hand-woven natural fiber cloth, was promoted by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian freedom struggle as a central pillar of the Swadeshi movement. It symbolized self-reliance, economic independence, and national unity against British colonial rule, encouraging citizens to spin their own yarn using the charkha and boycott imported foreign textiles.

Explanation

Ravichandran Ashwin was named the Player of the Series in the four-match Test series between India and England concluded in March 2021. He delivered a dominant all-round performance throughout the series, taking 32 wickets at an average of 14.71 and scoring 181 runs, which included a century in the second Test at Chennai. His contributions helped India win the series 3-1 and qualify for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final.

Explanation

The Sun is a G2V main-sequence star located at the center of the Solar System. Positioned at an average distance of approximately 149.6 million kilometers (1 astronomical unit) from Earth, it is the closest star to our planet, supplying the light and heat energy necessary to sustain life on Earth.

Explanation

The Karla Caves are an ancient complex of Indian rock-cut Buddhist caves located at Karli near Lonavala in Maharashtra. Dating back from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE, the site features India's largest and best-preserved Buddhist Chaityagriha (prayer hall), famous for its grand arched entrance, intricate stone carvings, vaulted wooden roof, and grand pillars topped with sculptures of kneeling elephants.

Explanation

Bipin Chandra Pal founded the nationalist English-language newspaper 'Bande Mataram' in August 1906 in Calcutta. Established in the aftermath of the 1905 Partition of Bengal during the Swadeshi Movement, the publication served as a major organ of Indian nationalism, promoting radical self-reliance and complete independence (Purna Swaraj) from British rule.

Explanation

Systolic blood pressure represents the maximum pressure exerted on arterial walls when the heart beats and contracts to pump blood throughout the body. In a healthy adult at rest, normal systolic blood pressure is approximately 120 mmHg (millimeters of mercury), while the diastolic pressure during heart relaxation is about 80 mmHg.

Explanation

Under the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), launched by the Government of India in September 2018, eligible families receive an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year. This scheme provides cashless and paperless access to secondary and tertiary healthcare services across empaneled public and private hospitals nationwide.

Explanation

In October 2020, Northrop Grumman named its NG-14 Cygnus resupply spacecraft the "S.S. Kalpana Chawla" in honor of the first Indian-born woman in space. Kalpana Chawla was a NASA astronaut who lost her life alongside six crew members in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in February 2003. Northrop Grumman traditionally names each Cygnus spacecraft after an individual who made major contributions to human spaceflight.

Explanation

The Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award was instituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, to honor individuals or communities from rural areas who demonstrate extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wildlife. The award commemorates Amrita Devi Bishnoi and 363 other members of the Bishnoi community who sacrificed their lives in 1730 at Khejarli village, Rajasthan, to protect Khejri trees from being felled. It carries a cash prize along with a citation.

Explanation

Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) was awarded the Eat Right Campus certification with a five-star rating by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Recognized on World Food Safety Day, 7 June 2019, it was among the initial group of seven campuses in the country honored for maintaining high standards in food safety, hygiene, nutrition, and sustainable kitchen waste management across all campus mess and food establishments.

Explanation

Black soil, also known as Regur or black cotton soil, covers most of the Deccan Plateau, particularly the lava-covered basaltic region of the Deccan Trap. It was formed by the weathering of ancient fissure volcanic basalt rocks. This soil is rich in essential nutrients like calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime, and possesses a high moisture-retention capacity, making it highly suitable for growing cotton.

Explanation

The Thousand Pillar Temple (Veyisthambala Gudi), also known as the Rudreswara Temple, located in Hanamkonda, Telangana, was constructed in 1163 AD by King Rudra Deva of the Kakatiya dynasty. Built in the characteristic Kakatiya architectural style, this star-shaped Trikutalayam is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Surya.

Explanation

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, operates Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh. Due to its location in Visakhapatnam (commonly known as Vizag), the enterprise is fondly called 'Vizag Steel'. It is India's first shore-based integrated steel plant.

Explanation

Vitamin K plays a fundamental role in blood coagulation by acting as an essential cofactor for gamma-glutamyl carboxylase. This enzyme modifies specific glutamic acid residues in clotting proteins—such as prothrombin (Factor II) and Factors VII, IX, and X—into gamma-carboxyglutamate. This modification enables these clotting factors to bind calcium ions, which is required for their activation and attachment to phospholipid membranes during the blood clotting cascade.

Explanation

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was designed and built by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering. Completed in 1945, ENIAC was the world's first general-purpose, fully electronic digital computer. Unlike earlier electromechanical computers that relied on moving mechanical parts and relays, ENIAC operated entirely electronically using approximately 18,000 vacuum tubes to process calculations at electronic speeds.

Explanation

The Sangai Festival is an annual cultural festival organized by the Tourism Department of Manipur every year from November 21 to 30. The festival is named after the Sangai deer, a rare brow-antlered deer found exclusively at the Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, which is also the state animal. The grand event showcases the state's rich art, culture, traditions, indigenous sports, music, and cuisine to promote tourism.

Explanation

Under the Subsidiary Alliance system, introduced by Governor-General Lord Wellesley in 1798, Indian rulers entering into an alliance with the British were not permitted to maintain their own independent armed forces. Instead, they were protected by the East India Company and had to pay for the maintenance of the British subsidiary force stationed in their territory. If an Indian ruler failed to make the required payments, a portion of their territory was ceded to the Company as a penalty.

Explanation

Mica is a major rock-forming mineral group composed of elements such as potassium, aluminium, magnesium, iron, and silica. It accounts for approximately 4% of the Earth's crust. Mica is commonly present in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is widely utilized in electrical and electronic manufacturing due to its excellent insulating properties and thermal resistance.

Explanation

The Mauryan Empire (Q) was established by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE and lasted until 185 BCE. The Gupta Kingdom (P) flourished during the classical period of India from approximately 319 CE to 543 CE. The Delhi Sultanate (S) ruled across northern India from 1206 CE to 1526 CE. The Mughal Empire (R) was founded by Babur in 1526 CE following the First Battle of Panipat and lasted until the mid-19th century.

Explanation

The Vindhya Range is a complex, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands, and plateau escarpments in west-central India. Traditionally and geographically, it serves as the physical dividing boundary between Northern India (the Gangetic plains) and Southern India (the Deccan Plateau).

Explanation

The United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed 17th June as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in December 1994. The day is observed globally to raise awareness about land degradation, desertification, and drought management, as well as to promote the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Explanation

In January 2021, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, announced that the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23 January will be celebrated every year as Parakram Diwas (Day of Valour) to honor his selfless service, indomitable spirit, and inspiring contribution to India's freedom struggle.

Explanation

The Economic Survey is an annual financial document published by the Ministry of Finance in Parliament, usually presented a day before the Union Budget. It is prepared by the Economics Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the guidance of the Chief Economic Advisor. The document provides a detailed review of the country's economic developments, sector-wise performance, policy initiatives, and future outlook over the preceding financial year.

Explanation

China was selected as the host country for the 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Extraordinary Congress in Paris on June 4, 2019. China previously hosted the prestigious quadrennial continental football championship in 2004.

Explanation

The Moplah Rebellion, also known as the Malabar Rebellion, occurred in the Malabar region of Kerala from August 1921 to 1922. It was an armed uprising led by the Muslim Mappila peasants against British colonial authority and local feudal landlords (Jenmis). Closely linked with the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements, the revolt was eventually suppressed by the British army by early 1922.