RRB NTPC CBT 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Under Article 164(2) of the Constitution of India, the Council of Ministers of a State is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State (Vidhan Sabha). This core principle of parliamentary democracy ensures that the state executive remains directly accountable to the popular chamber comprising directly elected representatives of the people.

Explanation

Sangeet Natak Akademi was established as India's first national academy for performing arts—music, dance, and drama—by a resolution of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 1952. It was officially inaugurated on 28 January 1953 by the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, to preserve, promote, and develop the country's rich performing arts heritage.

Explanation

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai. Founded by Homi Jehangir Bhabha in January 1954 as the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay, it was renamed in 1967 in his honor. Operating under the Department of Atomic Energy, BARC conducts multidisciplinary research across nuclear science, reactor engineering, isotope application, and advanced technological fields.

Explanation

Vitamin A exists in three primary active forms in the human body, known collectively as retinoids: retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid. Retinol is the alcohol form used for transport and storage, retinal (retinaldehyde) is essential for vision as it forms the light-absorbing component of rhodopsin in the retina, and retinoic acid functions as a hormone-like signaling molecule required for cell differentiation, growth, and immune function.

Explanation

The 12th Five-Year Plan of India spanned from 2012 to 2017, concluding its official term on 31 March 2017. Centered around the theme of "Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth", it was the final five-year plan implemented in the country. Following its completion, the Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog, which transitioned Indian economic planning from traditional five-year plans to a structure consisting of a 15-year vision document, 7-year strategy paper, and 3-year action agenda.

Explanation

The Public Affairs Index 2020 (PAI-2020), released by the Bengaluru-based non-profit think tank Public Affairs Centre (PAC), evaluated governance performance across Indian states and Union Territories based on sustainable development indicators. Kerala secured the top position as the best-governed state among large states with a score of 1.388. The ranking assessed governance quality across three core pillars: equity, growth, and sustainability.

Explanation

The Dandi March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, commenced on 12th March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram. Mahatma Gandhi and his 78 designated followers marched 240 miles to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat. Gandhi reached Dandi on 5th April 1930 and officially broke the British salt monopoly on the morning of 6th April 1930 by picking up a lump of natural salt, which marked the culmination of the march and the formal launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Explanation

Dr. Vijay Bhatkar is widely recognized as the father of Indian supercomputing for his pioneering leadership in developing India's first indigenous supercomputer, PARAM 8000, in 1991. As the founding Executive Director of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), he led the national mission to build high-performance supercomputers after India was denied the import of Cray supercomputers. Under his leadership, C-DAC developed the entire PARAM series, establishing India's capability in advanced scientific computing.

Explanation

Marie Curie was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes and remains the only person to win them in two different scientific fields. She received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 alongside Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel for their research on radiation phenomena, and later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for her isolation of pure radium and the discovery of the elements radium and polonium.

Explanation

Hampi, located in Karnataka, served as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the Dravidian style of architecture. The monuments at Hampi, constructed primarily between the 14th and 16th centuries, showcase classic Dravidian features such as towering entrance gateways (gopurams), multi-pillared halls (mandapas), pushkaranis (temple tanks), intricate stone relief sculptures, and iconic structures like the monolithic Stone Chariot at the Vittala Temple complex.

Explanation

The S | P BSE SENSEX (Sensitive Index) is the benchmark stock market index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). First compiled in 1986, it tracks the performance of 30 financially sound, well-established, and market-dominant companies listed on the BSE representing key sectors of the Indian economy. These constituent companies are selected based on free-float market capitalization and liquidity.

Explanation

The Revolt of 1857, widely recognized as India's First War of Independence, officially broke out on 10 May 1857 at Meerut. The rebellion began when sepoys of the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry stationed in the Meerut cantonment refused to use the newly introduced Enfield rifle cartridges, broke into open mutiny, freed their jailed comrades, and killed several British officers before marching towards Delhi.

Explanation

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a chemical compound formed by the combination of carbon and oxygen atoms, rather than a structural modification of pure elemental carbon. Allotropes are distinct structural forms of the same single element in the same physical state.

Explanation

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, located in Hyderabad. Established in 1999, INCOIS provides ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies, and the scientific community. It is the premier institute responsible for providing Potential Fishing Zone advisories, Ocean State Forecasts, and Tsunami Early Warning services for India and the Indian Ocean region.

Explanation

Bleaching powder, chemically known as calcium hypochlorite, is a toxic chemical agent unsuitable for human consumption. In bread preparation, leavening agents such as yeast or baking powder (a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and a mild edible acid like tartaric acid) are used instead to release carbon dioxide gas and make the dough rise.

Explanation

Article 161 of the Constitution of India grants the Governor of a State the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends.

Explanation

Synovial fluid is a viscous, slippery fluid located within the cavities of synovial (freely movable) joints. Secreted by the synovial membrane that lines the joint capsule, it acts as a lubricant to minimize friction between the articulating cartilage surfaces of bones during movement, buffers mechanical shocks, and delivers nutrients to the surrounding avascular cartilage.

Explanation

Poverty is a primary push factor that compels unskilled workers to migrate from rural or economically depressed regions to urban centers and industrial areas. Due to a lack of local job opportunities, low wages in traditional sectors like agriculture, and basic subsistence challenges, unskilled workers migrate in search of steady employment, higher income, and improved livelihoods to sustain their families.

Explanation

Abul Fazl ibn Mubarak was the grand vizier and court historian of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He authored the Akbarnama, the official three-volume history of Akbar's reign. The third volume of this monumental work is the Ain-i-Akbari (Administration of Akbar), which provides a detailed administrative, statistical, geographical, and cultural account of the Mughal Empire during the 16th century.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi founded the Satyagraha Sabha in Bombay in February 1919 to organize nationwide opposition and peaceful resistance against the repressive Rowlatt Act. Members of the Sabha took a solemn pledge to disobey the unjust laws and court arrest as part of the country's first all-India satyagraha movement.

Explanation

The Great Victoria Desert is the largest desert in Australia, stretching over approximately 348,750 square kilometers. It spans the arid regions of southern and western Australia, lying across both Western Australia and South Australia. Characterized by sandhills, salt lakes, grassland plains, and dry stony surfaces, it receives very low and irregular annual rainfall.

Explanation

Power alcohol is a biofuel mixture containing absolute ethyl alcohol (100% pure ethanol) and petrol, typically in an 80:20 ratio of petrol to ethanol, along with a small amount of a suitable co-solvent like benzene or ether to maintain homogeneity. It is used as an efficient motor fuel in internal combustion engines to boost octane performance and promote cleaner combustion.

Explanation

Ben Stokes was named the Player of the Match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 final held at Lord's, London, on 14 July 2019. He scored an unbeaten 84 runs off 98 balls during England's chase to tie the match, and added 8 crucial runs in the subsequent Super Over to help England secure their maiden World Cup victory.

Explanation

In the Human Development Report 2019 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in December 2019, India was ranked 129th out of 189 countries. India's Human Development Index (HDI) value increased from 0.431 in 1990 to 0.647, placing the nation in the medium human development category.

Explanation

In Brazil, coffee plantations or large agricultural estates are known as fazendas. These massive plantations played a central role in Brazil's economy and social structure, establishing the country as the world's leading producer and exporter of coffee since the 19th century.

Explanation

The United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945, following the end of World War II. Its founding charter was drafted at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco and signed on June 26, 1945. The organization officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the UN Charter was ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and a majority of other signatory states.

Explanation

Anand Bhavan is a historic house museum located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, constructed by Indian nationalist leader Motilal Nehru in the 1930s to serve as the residence of the Nehru family. Although it is a site of national historical significance closely associated with the Indian independence movement, it is not designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explanation

The Brahmaputra River originates in the Angsi Glacier near Mount Kailash in Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo. Upon entering India through Arunachal Pradesh, it is called the Siang or Dihang River, and takes the name Brahmaputra in Assam. When the river crosses the border into Bangladesh, it is known as the Jamuna River, which eventually merges with the Padma River.

Explanation

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is a world-renowned Indian classical musician and maestro of the bansuri (bamboo flute) in the Hindustani classical tradition. For his outstanding contributions to music, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 1992, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2000.

Explanation

On 29 July 2016, Afghanistan officially joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as its 164th member, following Liberia's accession earlier that same month. This brought the total membership of the WTO to 164 members.

Explanation

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The term "acquired" indicates that the condition is contracted during a person's lifetime rather than inherited genetically. "Immune deficiency" refers to the severe weakening of the body's immune system caused by HIV destroying CD4 T-cells, while "syndrome" denotes a complex group of signs, symptoms, and opportunistic infections resulting from this immune failure.

Explanation

Article 22(2) of the Constitution of India guarantees protection against arbitrary arrest and detention. It explicitly mandates that every person who is arrested and detained in custody must be produced before the nearest magistrate within twenty-four hours of such arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the magistrate's court. No person can be detained beyond this period without specific judicial authorization from a magistrate.

Explanation

C++++ is a non-existent name and not a recognized computer programming language. While C, C++, and C# are legitimate programming languages within the C family, C++++ does not exist in computer science or software development.

Explanation

Rafael Nadal won his 13th French Open men's singles title in October 2020 at Roland Garros. Known as the "King of Clay", he holds the record for the highest number of French Open titles won by any player in tennis history. His victory in October 2020 also marked his 20th career Grand Slam men's singles title.

Explanation

Clause 3.32 of Section VII (Part III) of the Flag Code of India, 2002 stipulates that when the Indian National Flag is displayed in a straight line along with the flags of other countries, it must be placed on the extreme right. This position is determined from the perspective of an observer standing in the center of the row facing the audience. The flags of foreign nations then proceed from left to right in alphabetical order based on the English spellings of their country names.

Explanation

The services sector is the largest sector of the Indian economy, contributing over 50% of the country's total Gross Value Added (GVA). In 2018-19, the GVA at current prices for the services sector was estimated at ₹92.26 lakh crore, which accounted for approximately 54.3% of India's total GVA. This sector encompasses key components such as trade, hotels, transport, financial services, real estate, professional services, public administration, and defense.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census of India, the total population was approximately 121.06 crore. Out of this, the urban population stood at 37.71 crore, representing 31.16% of the total population, while the rural population stood at 83.35 crore, representing 68.84%. Rounding these percentages yields an urban to rural population ratio of approximately 31:69.

Explanation

Mahendragiri Hills form a major mountain peak in the Eastern Ghats, located in the Gajapati district of Odisha, standing at an elevation of approximately 1,501 meters above sea level.

Explanation

ASHA stands for Accredited Social Health Activist. Instituted in 2005 under the National Rural Health Mission by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, an ASHA is a trained female community health worker selected from within the local village. She acts as a crucial interface between the rural community and the public health system, raising health awareness, mobilizing communities towards local health planning, and facilitating access to maternal, neonatal, and primary healthcare services.

Explanation

Girish Karnad, a renowned Indian playwright, actor, and director, was awarded the Padma Shri in 1974 by the Government of India for his outstanding contributions to Indian theater and cinema. He was later conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and received the prestigious Jnanpith Award in 1998 for his literary work.

Explanation

The Bretton Woods Conference, officially known as the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, was held in July 1944 in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Delegates from 44 Allied nations gathered to establish a framework for international economic cooperation and rebuild the post-World War II global economy. The landmark agreement resulted in the creation of two complementary international financial institutions: the International Monetary Fund (IMF), created to secure financial stability and facilitate balance-of-payments management, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which became part of the World Bank to finance post-war reconstruction and economic development.

Explanation

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is a flagship scheme implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Launched in December 2008, the programme aims to communicate the excitement of creative pursuit of science to young minds, attract talent to scientific studies at an early age, and build the required human resource pool to strengthen and expand the national Science and Technology system and research base.

Explanation

Kailash Satyarthi founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement) in 1980. It is a child rights organization dedicated to liberating children from child labor, trafficking, and bonded servitude, as well as ensuring their access to education and rehabilitation. For his decades of pioneering work through this movement, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 alongside Malala Yousafzai.

Explanation

DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It is a measure of spatial image or print resolution, specifically representing the number of individual dots that can be placed in a line within the span of one inch (2.54 cm). A higher DPI value indicates greater detail and higher clarity in printed or scanned digital images.

Explanation

The standard range of audible sound frequencies for a healthy human ear is from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). Sound waves within this frequency range stimulate the hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear, converting mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses that the brain perceives as sound.

Explanation

The Narasimham Committee was constituted by the Government of India in 1991 under the chairmanship of former RBI Governor M. Narasimham to suggest reforms for the Indian banking sector. A second committee under the same chairmanship was set up in 1998 to review the progress of banking sector reforms. The recommendations led to major structural changes, including the reduction of CRR and SLR, deregulation of interest rates, entry of private sector banks, and the introduction of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) norms.

Explanation

Basadis (or Bastis) are traditional Jain monastic establishments, shrines, or temples, particularly prevalent in South India, especially Karnataka. These complexes served as centers of Jain worship, residences for ascetics, and seats of religious learning and spiritual practice.

Explanation

Enzymes are specialized protein molecules produced by living organisms that act as biological catalysts or biocatalysts. They significantly increase the rate of biochemical and metabolic reactions in living cells by lowering the activation energy required for reactions to occur, all while remaining chemically unchanged at the end of the process.

Explanation

Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy was appointed as the Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Secretary of the Department of Defence R | D in August 2018. A distinguished aerospace scientist known for his significant contributions to missile systems, navigation technologies, and avionics, he had previously served as the Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri.

Explanation

Priyanka Dubey is an award-winning Indian investigative journalist who authored the book 'No Nation for Women: Reportage on Rape from India, the World's Largest Democracy', published in 2018. The book offers an extensive, ground-level investigation into gender-based violence, systemic rape culture, and patriarchal structures in India, compiled over six years of field reporting.