RRB NTPC CBT 1 2026 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Under Article 324(4) of the Constitution of India, before each general election to the House of the People or to a State Legislative Assembly, the President may appoint Regional Commissioners after consultation with the Election Commission to assist the Commission in the performance of its functions.

Explanation

The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) agreement is a bilateral defence pact between India and Russia designed to facilitate reciprocal military logistics support. It enables the armed forces of both nations to access each other's military bases, ports, and airfields for refuelling, maintenance, replenishment of supplies, and administrative support during joint exercises, training programs, port calls, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Explanation

John Dalton introduced the concept of atomic mass as a central principle of his atomic theory in 1803. He proposed that each element is composed of atoms possessing a distinct and characteristic mass. Dalton established a system of relative atomic masses by assigning hydrogen a base value of 1 and determining the relative weights of other element atoms using the fixed mass ratios in which elements combine to form compounds.

Explanation

Harisena was the court poet, minister, and military officer (Sandhivigrahika) of the Gupta Emperor Samudragupta. He composed the Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar Inscription) in classical Sanskrit using the Champu style, which combines prose and verse. Inscribed on an Ashokan pillar at Prayagraj, this eulogy provides a detailed historical account of Samudragupta's reign, his extensive military conquests across Aryavarta and Dakshinapatha, and his personal virtues.

Explanation

The Lilatilakam is an anonymous 14th-century Sanskrit treatise that codifies the grammar and poetics of Manipravalam, a literary style combining Sanskrit and medieval Malayalam (Kerala-bhasha). Divided into eight chapters (silpas), it serves as the earliest known work systematically detailing the linguistic structure, rhetorical rules, and poetic principles of Malayalam as a distinct language. Its historical and grammatical insights provided essential textual evidence demonstrating the antiquity and independent literary tradition of Malayalam, which played a key role in establishing its official status as a Classical Language of India.

Explanation

Tantia Tope (Ramachandra Panduranga) was the commander-in-chief of Nana Sahib's army during the Revolt of 1857. He led the military operations at Kanpur against the British forces and organized the defense of the city. Following the fall of Kanpur, he became famous for his exceptional guerrilla warfare tactics, continuing the resistance across Central India alongside other rebel leaders.

Explanation

The Farazi Movement was founded in East Bengal by Haji Shariatullah in 1818 to advocate for socio-religious reforms and protect Muslim peasants from the exploitation of landlords and indigo planters. Following his death, his son Muhsinuddin Ahmad, popularly known as Dadu Mian, took over the leadership. Between 1838 and 1848, they mobilized the agrarian peasantry and spearheaded Bengal's first major no-tax campaign, urging cultivators to refuse paying illegal cesses on the principle that all land belongs to God.

Explanation

Article 173(b) of the Constitution of India specifies the age qualification for membership of the State Legislature. According to this article, a person must be at least 25 years of age to be eligible for election as a member of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha).

Explanation

In March 1997, the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India signed a landmark agreement to discontinue the practice of issuing ad hoc Treasury Bills with effect from April 1, 1997. Prior to this reform, the Central Government automatically issued ad hoc Treasury Bills directly to the RBI to replenish its cash balances whenever they fell below a specified threshold. To manage temporary, short-term cash flow mismatches following the discontinuation of ad hoc Treasury Bills, the system of Ways and Means Advances (WMA) was introduced.

Explanation

According to data published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) through its Financial Tracking Service (FTS) for 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) contributed approximately US1.46 billion in global humanitarian assistance. This placed the UAE as the third-largest donor globally, ranking behind only the United States and the European Union.

Explanation

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The ₹3,984.86 crore project is designed to accommodate ISRO's Next Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLV) capable of lifting heavier payloads, support future human spaceflight missions including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and crewed lunar landings, and serve as a standby facility for the existing Second Launch Pad.

Explanation

The Eastern Himalayan region exhibits greater altitudinal variations because its mountain ranges rise abruptly from the low-lying alluvial plains of Assam and West Bengal to high peak elevations over a much narrower horizontal width of around 150 km. This sudden uplift creates sharp topographical gradients, leading to a dramatic gain in elevation across short distances and producing a compressed transition through tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, and alpine climatic and vegetation zones.

Explanation

Kerala is the largest producer of natural rubber in India, accounting for over 70% of the country's total output. The state's warm and humid tropical climate, annual rainfall exceeding 200 cm, well-drained acidic laterite soils, and well-established plantation infrastructure provide ideal agro-climatic conditions for rubber cultivation.

Explanation

The 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held from 17 to 19 December 2025 in New Delhi, India. Co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, the summit was organized around the theme "Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being". It brought together global leaders, policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners from over 100 countries to advance the implementation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 and concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.

Explanation

In the Prayaga Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar Inscription) composed by his court poet Harishena, Samudragupta is described as being equal to the deities Dhanada (Kubera), Varuna, Indra, and Antaka (Yama). Dhanada, also known as Kubera, is the Hindu deity of wealth and guardian of treasures, representing Samudragupta's immense wealth, prosperity, and grand patronages.

Explanation

Arthur Symons, a prominent British poet and literary critic, wrote the introductory essay for Sarojini Naidu's debut poetry collection, The Golden Threshold, published in London in 1905. In his introduction, Symons praised the lyrical beauty and bird-like quality of her verse, describing her work as expressing the temperament of an Eastern woman through Western language and form. Having met Naidu in London in 1896, Symons was deeply impressed by her talent and persuaded her to publish her poems, which helped establish her literary reputation internationally.

Explanation

Article 108 of the Constitution of India provides for the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in certain cases. When a bill passed by one House is rejected by the other, or the Houses disagree on amendments, or more than six months elapse without the bill being passed by the other House, the President may summon a joint sitting to resolve the deadlock. The joint sitting is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Explanation

Defence, foreign affairs, and citizenship are core subjects listed in List I (Union List) of the Seventh Schedule under the Indian Constitution. These matters are of national importance and require a uniform legislative policy across the entire country, which gives the Parliament of India exclusive power to enact laws regarding them.

Explanation

The 'Blue Skies 2025' campaign was launched in August 2025 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to address the escalating air quality crisis in major urban and industrial hubs across India. Serving as a key framework aligned with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), its primary objective is to reduce urban air pollution through targeted action plans in non-attainment cities. The initiative focuses on achieving substantial reductions in particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations through City-Specific Action Plans, real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring, deployment of smog towers, and AI-assisted traffic control to curb vehicular emissions.

Explanation

The Census Act, 1948 provides the legal framework for conducting the decennial census of population in India. Enacted shortly after independence, this statutory law empowers the Central Government to declare its intention to conduct a census, appoint census officers, and lay down rules for collecting population data. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, carries out the nationwide census under the authority of this Act.

Explanation

The Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG) reforms introduced in 1991 aimed to open up the Indian economy by systematically reducing tariff rates, abolishing import licensing, and eliminating quantitative restrictions on foreign trade. The primary objective was to facilitate the seamless flow of goods, services, capital, and technology across international borders. Consequently, a rise in trade restrictions runs directly counter to the fundamental principles and outcomes of economic liberalisation.

Explanation

Europe lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, with its southernmost landmass located at approximately 35° N latitude. Since the Equator is defined as 0° latitude, it is situated thousands of kilometers south of Europe and does not intersect any part of the continent.

Explanation

Computers are widely utilized in educational institutions to automate and streamline academic operations. Tasks such as storing student records, generating academic progress report cards, designing question papers, and managing attendance fall directly under education administration, as they facilitate efficient administrative workflow and record-keeping in schools and universities.

Explanation

During India's planned development era from 1951 to 1991, particularly under the Mahalanobis strategy starting with the Second Five-Year Plan, policymakers prioritized heavy industrialization to achieve rapid economic self-reliance. This strategic shift diverted substantial capital investment, budgetary support, and foreign exchange allocations away from rural development and agricultural infrastructure toward urban industrial projects. Stagnant agricultural productivity restricted rural income growth, limited the domestic market demand for industrial goods, and generated food security crises in the mid-1960s, creating a long-term structural imbalance between the agrarian and industrial production sectors.

Explanation

Computers operate at electronic speeds, executing millions or billions of instructions per second (measured in gigahertz or FLOPS). This immense processing speed enables a computer system to process data and perform highly complex mathematical or logical calculations within seconds or microseconds.

Explanation

Ustad Zakir Hussain is a world-renowned tabla maestro and composer who played a pioneering role in bringing traditional Indian rhythm to global audiences. He is widely recognized for his cross-cultural collaborations with international legends across various genres, including founding the fusion ensemble Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin, co-creating the Grammy-winning Planet Drum project with Mickey Hart, and collaborating with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, George Harrison, and Béla Fleck.

Explanation

In State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu (2025), the Supreme Court of India held that under Article 200 of the Constitution, a Governor cannot exercise a pocket veto by sitting on bills indefinitely without taking action. The Court clarified that the expression "as soon as possible" in Article 200 imposes a constitutional obligation to act with expediency. A Governor must choose among granting assent, returning the bill with a message for reconsideration, or reserving it for the President within a reasonable time. Circumventing constitutional processes through indefinite inaction is impermissible in a parliamentary democracy.

Explanation

In December 2025, the Punjab government issued directives for the strict statewide implementation of the Safe School Vehicle Policy (also known as Surakshit School Vahan Policy) to ensure the safety of students commuting during dense winter fog. Under this policy implemented by the state transport department, mandatory directives were given to school managements and transport operators to maintain safe vehicle speeds, install proper reflectors, keep headlights and fog lights operational, and perform regular safety inspections.

Explanation

The Maldives is an archipelagic island nation located to the south of India's Lakshadweep archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Along with Sri Lanka, it forms India's immediate maritime boundary and is officially recognised as one of India's two southern island neighbours across the sea.

Explanation

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the nodal authority in India responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to information technology, cybersecurity, and online safety. Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, MeitY mandates digital platforms and social media intermediaries to proactively detect, prevent, and remove Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other harmful digital content involving minors. Additionally, MeitY oversees the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which prohibits processing children's personal data in ways detrimental to their well-being, bans targeted advertising aimed at children, and enforces parental consent mechanisms for digital services. The ministry also spearheads cyber hygiene awareness initiatives such as the Stay Safe Online campaign.

Explanation

Wheat is a primary Rabi crop in India, sown in the winter months from October to December and harvested in the spring between April and June. It requires a cool growing season with temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, followed by warm weather and bright sunshine during ripening. Moderate annual rainfall of 50 to 75 cm, well-distributed throughout the growing period, is optimal for its cultivation. Major wheat-producing states in India include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.

Explanation

Work done against the force of gravity in lifting an object of mass m through a height h is stored in the object as gravitational potential energy, calculated using the formula U = mgh.

Explanation

The cytoskeleton is a network of interlinked protein filaments—microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments—extending throughout the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. It serves as an internal structural framework that maintains the shape of the cell, provides mechanical resistance against deformation, anchors cell components in place, and facilitates cell movement and internal transport.

Explanation

Article 239(1) of the Constitution of India explicitly provides that every Union Territory shall be administered by the President, acting to such extent as he thinks fit, through an administrator appointed by him with such designation as he may specify.

Explanation

Article 41 of the Indian Constitution directs the State to make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education, and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement. In contrast, the provision for making securing just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief is enshrined under Article 42 of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Explanation

Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion to all persons in India, subject to public order, morality, and health. Enshrined under Part III of the Constitution, it establishes secular principles by ensuring that every individual has the individual liberty to follow and express their faith or beliefs without state interference.

Explanation

María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on 10 October 2025 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for her persistent efforts in promoting democratic rights for the Venezuelan people and her struggle for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. As a key Venezuelan opposition leader and co-founder of the vote-monitoring organization Súmate, she played a vital role in unifying opposition forces to advocate for free elections, judicial independence, and human rights despite severe political repression.

Explanation

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) was set up on April 2, 1990 under an Act of Parliament as the principal financial institution for promoting, financing, and developing the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India, as well as coordinating the functions of other institutions engaged in similar activities.

Explanation

During August 2025, several regions across northern, eastern, and northeastern India—including Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and parts of the Northeast—recorded severe rainfall deficits ranging between 30% and 70% below normal. Classified as Deficient to Large Deficient by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this shortfall occurred during a critical phase of the Southwest Monsoon. In key agricultural belts like the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the lack of moisture hindered the growth and maturation of rain-fed Kharif crops such as paddy, maize, and sugarcane, accelerating groundwater depletion and leading to localized water stress.

Explanation

The Brundtland Report, officially titled "Our Common Future", was published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) under the chairmanship of Gro Harlem Brundtland. It popularized the concept of sustainable development and provided its most widely cited definition: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Explanation

The Ipsos Global Consumer Confidence Index is a monthly survey tracking consumer optimism regarding personal finances, local economic performance, and job security across major economies. In its August 2025 release, the index indicated that overall global consumer sentiment held steady for the second consecutive month, showing a negligible change of -0.1 points to remain at 48.1. This period of stagnation reflected cautious household spending behavior amid evolving macroeconomic conditions and central bank monetary policies worldwide.

Explanation

Storm surge is an abnormal rise of sea level driven by the high-speed winds and low pressure of a tropical cyclone pushing ocean water onto land. As the storm reaches landfall, this massive wall of water causes severe coastal flooding, severe structural destruction, extreme coastal erosion, and the vast majority of fatalities associated with tropical cyclones in coastal regions.

Explanation

Large urban centers offer agglomeration economies where businesses, financial institutions, administrative bodies, and diverse populations concentrate in close proximity. This high density creates massive demand for commercial, financial, transport, personal, and professional services. Agglomeration reduces transaction costs, enhances market connectivity, and facilitates specialized service delivery, making tertiary activities the dominant economic sector in large Indian cities.

Explanation

Operation Twist is a monetary policy operation used by central banks to lower long-term interest rates and spur long-term private investment in the economy. This is executed through simultaneous Open Market Operations (OMOs) where the central bank buys long-term government securities while selling short-term securities or treasury bills of an equivalent amount. Because equal amounts are bought and sold simultaneously, the operation alters the yield curve shape without affecting total market liquidity, making it a liquidity-neutral tool.

Explanation

Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music, is renowned for his Sanskrit compositions set predominantly in vilambita laya (slow tempo). His kritis are characterized by a deeply meditative and contemplative mood, meticulously exploring the complete swaroopa (essence) of each raga through continuous, rich gamakas and elaborate melodic phrasing.

Explanation

A Punnett square is a visual grid diagram used in genetics to predict the probable genotypes and phenotypic ratios of offspring resulting from a cross between two parent organisms. By placing the possible gametes of each parent along the top and side of the square, all potential genetic combinations can be systematically mapped and their probabilities calculated.

Explanation

The Northeast Monsoon season, occurring during October and November, is commonly known as the retreating monsoon. During this period, the southwest monsoon winds weaken and withdraw from northern India due to the southward movement of the Sun. As a high-pressure system develops over northwestern India, cold, dry trade winds blow in a northeasterly direction from land to sea. As these winds cross the Bay of Bengal, they pick up moisture and bring significant winter rainfall to the Coromandel Coast, particularly Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

Bhadla Solar Park, located in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, spans over 14,000 acres and has a total operational capacity of 2,245 MW, making it the largest operational solar park in India.

Explanation

Majnu Shah was a prominent leader of the Madari Sufi fakirs who played a central role in the Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion against British rule in Bengal during the late 18th century. He organized nomadic fakirs and local peasants to carry out guerrilla attacks against the British East India Company and its revenue collectors, actively resisting British territorial control and economic exploitation across Bengal and Bihar until his death in 1787.

Explanation

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched SabhaSaar on 14 August 2025, on the eve of the 79th Independence Day. It is an artificial intelligence-powered voice-to-text platform designed to automatically process audio and video recordings of Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings into standardized, structured Minutes of Meetings (MoMs). Integrated with the BHASHINI language initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, SabhaSaar provides multilingual transcription and translation support, enabling efficient record-keeping, transparency, and streamlined governance across rural local bodies nationwide.