RRB NTPC CBT 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The Great Rann of Kutch is a vast seasonal salt marsh situated in the Thar Desert region of Gujarat. It consists of extensive hyper-saline mudflats and salt flats that dry up into a white crust of salt during the summer, rather than being a fresh water body.

Explanation

Venus rotates on its axis in a retrograde (clockwise) direction from east to west, unlike most planets in the Solar System which rotate counter-clockwise from west to east. Because of this retrograde rotation, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east on Venus.

Explanation

Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2018. The Government of India conferred this honor upon him in recognition of his extensive global contributions toward the eradication of leprosy and his relentless efforts to eliminate the social discrimination and stigma associated with the disease.

Explanation

Bt Cotton is the only genetically modified crop approved for commercial cultivation in India. In 2002, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, granted legal permission for its commercial production to effectively combat pest infestations, particularly by the bollworm complex.

Explanation

Michael Phelps is the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time, having won a record 23 Olympic gold medals in swimming across four Summer Olympic Games between 2004 and 2016. In total, he won 28 Olympic medals, making his count of gold medals the highest achieved by any individual athlete in any Olympic sport in history.

Explanation

Under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), the government targeted the formation of 10,000 clusters of 50 acres (20 hectares) each over a period of three years to bring 5 lakh acres under organic farming, rather than 2,00,000 clusters.

Explanation

The world's largest coral reef system is the Great Barrier Reef, located off the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) across an area of about 344,400 square kilometers, it comprises over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is so vast that it can be seen from space and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 due to its extraordinary biodiversity.

Explanation

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is the presiding officer and principal spokesperson of the House. While individual Members of Parliament represent their respective constituencies, the Speaker represents the collective voice, dignity, and full authority of the House itself. Under the Indian parliamentary democracy, the Speaker is vested with broad powers to interpret rules of procedure, maintain order and decorum, conduct house proceedings, nominate chairpersons of parliamentary committees, and safeguard the rights and privileges of the Lok Sabha.

Explanation

'The Indian Struggle' is a famous two-part book authored by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Originally published in London in 1935, the book details the history of the Indian independence struggle between 1920 and 1942, offering a comprehensive analysis of key national political events, the Indian National Congress strategies, and his vision for India's freedom.

Explanation

The Sepoy Mutiny, also known as the Indian Rebellion or the First War of Independence, began on 10 May 1857 in the garrison town of Meerut. It was a major uprising against the rule of the British East India Company, triggered by growing discontent among Indian sepoys over socio-religious grievances, economic exploitation, political annexations under the Doctrine of Lapse, and the immediate catalyst of the greased Enfield rifle cartridges.

Explanation

Kaziranga National Park, located in Assam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned globally for hosting the world's largest population of the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), containing roughly two-thirds of the entire global population of the species.

Explanation

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly into space on April 12, 1961. Travelling aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, he completed a single orbit around Earth in 108 minutes, initiating the era of human spaceflight.

Explanation

During photosynthesis, green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy. Using sunlight absorbed by chlorophyll, carbon dioxide and water are processed to form glucose and oxygen. The overall reaction is represented as 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. Oxygen is released as a byproduct during the light-dependent stage when water molecules are split through photolysis.

Explanation

Sunil Arora served as the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India from 2 December 2018 to 12 April 2021. During this tenure, he oversaw various state assembly elections and the 2019 Indian general election, holding the office as of October 2020.

Explanation

E. M. Forster wrote the novel 'A Passage to India', published in 1924. Set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement in the 1920s, the novel explores racial tensions, colonialism, and cultural misunderstandings through the central story of Dr. Aziz and Cyril Fielding.

Explanation

The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946 and adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949. Over this period, the assembly held 11 sessions spanning a total time of 2 years, 11 months and 17 days to draft the Constitution of India.

Explanation

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. It was created as a specialized statutory body for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests, and enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment. India became the third country in the world, after Australia and New Zealand, to set up a dedicated environmental tribunal.

Explanation

Khushi Chindaliya, a 17-year-old girl from Surat, Gujarat, was appointed as the Regional Ambassador for India by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Tunza Eco-Generation in September 2020. She was selected for her dedication to environmental protection and awareness, advocating for climate action and biodiversity conservation. In this role, she participated in global platforms to highlight India's efforts toward environmental sustainability. Her writings on environmental issues were also recognized by UNESCO.

Explanation

An Executive Support System (ESS) is a specialized management information system designed to assist senior executive-level decision-makers. It integrates summarized data from across various operational departments and external sources, enabling top managers to analyze, transform, and evaluate strategic enterprise data for long-term planning and high-level decision-making.

Explanation

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or August Kranti, was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942 at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay. Endorsed by the All-India Congress Committee during World War II, the movement demanded an immediate end to British rule in India under the famous call to action, "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro).

Explanation

Sedimentation is the physical process in which heavier insoluble solid particles suspended in a liquid settle to the bottom of a container under the influence of gravity. When a mixture of water and insoluble solid particles, such as sand or mud, is allowed to stand undisturbed, gravity acts on the denser suspended particles, causing them to sink and form a layer of sediment at the bottom.

Explanation

Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France won the women's doubles title at the 2020 Australian Open. They defeated the top-seeded pair of Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strýcová in straight sets (6–2, 6–1) in the final held at Melbourne Park. This was their second Australian Open women's doubles title as a team, following their victory in 2018.

Explanation

The Axis Powers were the military coalition that fought against the Allied forces in World War II, primarily led by Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany formed the core of this alliance, which was officially formalized through the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936 and the Tripartite Pact of September 1940.

Explanation

Hindustan Newsprint Limited (HNL) was a subsidiary of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited and was never granted Maharatna status by the Government of India. Maharatna status is conferred only upon select Central Public Sector Enterprises that meet specific eligibility criteria, including holding Navratna status, listing on the Indian stock exchange, and maintaining a high average annual net profit, net worth, and turnover over three consecutive years.

Explanation

The Nile River is widely recognized as the longest river in the world, spanning a total length of approximately 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles). Flowing northward through northeastern Africa, its basin encompasses eleven countries, including Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The river originates from two main tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, which merge at Khartoum before draining into the Mediterranean Sea.

Explanation

Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) in Venezuela is the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall on land, with a total height of 979 meters (3,212 feet) and a single continuous plunge of 807 meters (2,647 feet). Located in Canaima National Park in the Bolívar State of Venezuela, the waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyán-tepui mountain into the Churún River.

Explanation

The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire through the passage of the Indian Air Force Act 1932. It raised its first operational flight on 1 April 1933 with four Westland Wapiti biplanes. In recognition of this foundation, 8 October is observed every year as Air Force Day in India.

Explanation

India conducted its first peaceful nuclear explosion, code-named Operation Smiling Buddha, on 18 May 1974 at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. This successful test made India the sixth country in the world to conduct a nuclear test and the first outside the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The operation was assigned the code name Smiling Buddha because it was carried out on the day of Buddha Purnima.

Explanation

Under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), loans are categorized into three stages based on the growth and funding requirements of the micro unit or entrepreneur: Shishu (loans up to ₹50,000), Kishor (loans above ₹50,000 and up to ₹5 lakh), and Tarun (loans above ₹5 lakh and up to ₹10 lakh). The Kishor category specifically caters to entrepreneurs who have already started their enterprise and require additional financial assistance to expand or scale up their business operations.

Explanation

'The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money' was written by the English economist John Maynard Keynes and published in 1936. This seminal work laid the foundation for modern macroeconomics, introducing major concepts such as aggregate demand, the consumption function, liquidity preference theory of interest rates, and the role of government intervention through fiscal policy during economic downturns.

Explanation

The First Battle of Panipat was fought on 21 April 1526 between the invading forces of Babur and the Lodi Dynasty under Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi. Babur used effective field fortifications, gunpowder firearms, and the tactical Tulughma doctrine to defeat Ibrahim Lodi's vastly larger army, marking the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.

Explanation

Article 326 of the Constitution of India mandates that elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and to the Legislative Assemblies of every State shall be conducted on the basis of adult suffrage. Under this article, every citizen of India who is not less than 18 years of age has the right to be registered as a voter, unless disqualified on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime, or corrupt and illegal practice. The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988.

Explanation

The Battle of the Hydaspes was fought in 326 BCE on the banks of the Jhelum River, known as the Hydaspes to the ancient Greeks. Alexander the Great launched a surprise river-crossing maneuver during a severe storm, effectively outflanking the enemy forces and overcoming their war elephant defense. His tactical brilliance resulted in a decisive victory, securing Macedonian control over the Punjab region.

Explanation

Article 50 of the Constitution of India, contained in Part IV under the Directive Principles of State Policy, directs the State to take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State. This provision ensures the independence of the judiciary, preventing executive interference in judicial functioning and upholding the doctrine of separation of powers.

Explanation

The National Skill Development Mission was officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 15, 2015, on World Youth Skills Day. Formulated under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the mission provides an overarching institutional framework to coordinate, scale up, and expedite skill training efforts across various sectors and states in India.

Explanation

Entomophily is a form of plant pollination in which pollen grains are transferred from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower by insects such as bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies. Flowers adapted for entomophilous pollination typically possess brightly colored petals, sweet fragrances, and nectar to attract insect pollinators.

Explanation

A naturally occurring inorganic element or compound of a metal found in the Earth's crust is called a mineral. Metals with low reactivity occur in native form, whereas reactive metals combine with elements like oxygen, sulfur, and chlorine to form various metallic compounds naturally present in soil and rocks.

Explanation

Hawa Mahal, located in Jaipur, Rajasthan, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad, the five-story palace constructed of red and pink sandstone features 953 small windows (jharokhas) decorated with intricate latticework, designed to allow royal women to observe street life and festivals while remaining unseen from the outside.

Explanation

Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynaecologist, and Nadia Murad, an Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist, were jointly awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their courageous efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. Denis Mukwege dedicated his life to treating thousands of victims of wartime sexual violence at Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Nadia Murad survived captivity by ISIS and spoke out globally against human trafficking and sexual abuse.

Explanation

On March 9, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art campus of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Operating under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Ministry of Culture, the institute was established over a 25-acre campus at Knowledge Park II. It features modern amenities, an archaeological museum, an open-air theatre, and advanced research facilities to support students and scholars in the field of archaeology.

Explanation

The Tax Reforms Committee was set up by the Government of India in August 1991 under the chairmanship of Dr. Raja J. Chelliah. The committee was tasked with recommending measures to reform both direct and indirect tax structures as part of the post-1991 economic liberalization process. Its key recommendations included lowering personal income and corporate tax rates, rationalizing and reducing customs duties, simplifying tax laws, and broadening the tax base through measures such as the introduction of service tax.

Explanation

Manipur is the only home of the Sangai deer (Rucervus eldii eldii), an endangered subspecies of Eld's deer. It is found exclusively in its natural habitat at Keibul Lamjao National Park, located in the southeastern part of Loktak Lake in Manipur. Known as the brow-antlered deer, the Sangai is adapted to living on phumdis—floating mats of soil, vegetation, and organic matter unique to Loktak Lake—and is designated as the state animal of Manipur.