SSC CGL Tier 1 2014 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

An aggregate fruit, also known as an etaerio, develops from a single flower that possesses a multicarpellary, apocarpous gynaecium. In this botanical arrangement, the flower contains multiple carpels that are entirely free from one another. Each individual, distinct carpel matures into a small fruitlet, such as an achene, follicle, or drupelet. Because these fruitlets arise from the same flower and remain clustered together on a common receptacle, the resulting structure is defined as an aggregate fruit. Examples include the custard apple (Annona) and raspberry (Rubus).

Explanation

The threshold frequency is defined as the minimum frequency of incident light required to cause the emission of electrons from a specific metal surface. According to Einstein's photoelectric equation, the maximum kinetic energy of an emitted electron is given by Kₘₐₓ = hν - Φ, where h is Planck's constant, ν is the frequency of incident radiation, and Φ is the work function of the metal. The work function represents the minimum energy binding an electron to the metal and is expressed as Φ = h₀, where ₀ is the threshold frequency. If the frequency of the incident photon is less than this threshold value, the energy of the photon (hν) is insufficient to overcome the work function of the material. Consequently, no electrons can be liberated from the surface, meaning photoelectric emission cannot occur regardless of the intensity of the light.

Explanation

Sir C. V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his pioneering work on the scattering of light and the discovery of the Raman Effect. In 1928, he observed that when a beam of monochromatic light passes through a transparent medium, a small portion of the light is scattered at wavelengths different from that of the incident beam. This shift in wavelength occurs because of the exchange of energy between the light photons and the molecules of the substance. This discovery provided experimental proof of the quantum nature of light and led to the development of Raman spectroscopy, which remains a fundamental technique for analyzing the molecular structure of materials.

Explanation

The Tesla (T) is the SI derived unit of magnetic flux density, which is commonly referred to in physics as the magnetic field. It measures the strength or intensity of a magnetic field at a specific point. One Tesla is defined as the magnetic field that exerts a force of 1 Newton on a charge of 1 Coulomb moving at a velocity of 1 meter per second perpendicular to the field lines. This is expressed by the Lorentz force formula F = qvB, where B represents the magnetic field in Teslas. In terms of other units, one Tesla is equivalent to one Weber per square meter (1 T = 1 Wb/m²) or one kilogram per ampere-second squared (1 kg⁻¹…⁻²). The unit was officially named after Nikola Tesla by the General Conference on Weights and Measures in 1960.

Explanation

Cast iron is an alloy of iron and carbon that contains more than 2% carbon by weight. In standard metallurgical practice, most commercial grades of cast iron contain carbon in the range of 2.5% to 4.5%. This high concentration of carbon distinguishes it from steel, which has less than 2% carbon. The specific range of 3 to 5% encompasses the eutectic point of the iron-carbon system at 4.3% carbon, where the alloy exhibits its lowest melting temperature and excellent fluidity, making it highly suitable for casting into complex shapes. This carbon exists either in the form of graphite flakes or combined as cementite, depending on the cooling rate and alloying elements.

Explanation

The biological damage to the human body caused by ionizing radiation, such as X-rays or gamma rays, is measured in Rems (Roentgen Equivalent Man). This unit represents the equivalent dose, which quantifies the health risk or biological impact rather than just the physical energy absorbed. It is calculated using the formula H = D × Q, where H is the dose equivalent in Rems, D is the absorbed dose measured in Rads, and Q is the quality factor representing the relative biological effectiveness of the radiation. For X-rays and gamma rays, the quality factor is typically 1, meaning the numerical value of the damage in Rems is equal to the absorbed dose in Rads. This measurement allows for a standardized assessment of the potential for cellular damage and long-term health consequences from radiation exposure.

Explanation

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy was first introduced in 1964 following the recommendations of the L.K. Jha Committee (Food-grain Prices Committee). This initiative led to the establishment of the Agricultural Prices Commission in 1965 to provide institutional support for fixing these prices.

Explanation

The Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi consists of 70 assembly segments or constituencies. This structure was established following the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991, and the subsequent Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991. These legislative frameworks transformed the previous Metropolitan Council into a full-fledged Legislative Assembly with 70 members elected through direct universal adult suffrage. The boundaries of these 70 constituencies are determined by the Delimitation Commission to ensure an equitable distribution of the population across the segments, and this number has remained constant through subsequent election cycles since the first assembly elections were held in 1993.

Explanation

Transition metal ions are characterized by the presence of partially filled d-orbitals. According to Crystal Field Theory, when ligands approach a central metal ion, the degenerate d-orbitals split into different energy levels, such as the t₂_g and e_g sets in an octahedral environment. The energy difference between these split d-orbitals, denoted as Δ, typically corresponds to the energy of photons in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. When white light falls on these ions, an electron can absorb a specific wavelength of light to jump from a lower-energy d-orbital to a higher-energy d-orbital. This electronic excitation is known as a d-d transition. Since the energy required for these transitions matches the visible light range, the ions absorb specific colors and transmit the complementary colors, which results in the characteristic colored appearance of transition metal complexes.

Explanation

Tundra ecosystems are found in the high latitudes of the Arctic and on high mountain tops, where environmental conditions are too harsh for tree growth. The defining characteristic of the tundra is the presence of permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen subsoil that prevents deep root penetration. This, combined with extremely low temperatures, a very short growing season, and minimal precipitation, restricts vegetation to low-growing plants. The flora primarily consists of mosses, lichens, grasses, and dwarf shrubs that are adapted to withstand strong winds and frozen ground. Because these factors inhibit the development of forests, the landscape remains a virtually treeless, open plain with very sparse plant cover.

Explanation

The flywheel in a steam engine acts as a mechanical energy reservoir that uses its high moment of inertia to store and release energy. During the power strokes of the engine, when the energy generated exceeds the load requirements, the flywheel absorbs this excess energy and increases its rotational speed slightly. Conversely, during the non-power strokes or periods where the load exceeds the energy supply, the flywheel releases its stored kinetic energy to the system. This continuous cycle of energy absorption and release serves to minimize the fluctuations in angular velocity, ensuring that the engine operates at a relatively constant and uniform speed throughout its entire cycle.

Explanation

The term edaphic is derived from the Greek word edaphos, which means soil or ground. In the study of ecology and environmental science, edaphic factors refer to the specific physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil that influence the growth and distribution of plants and other living organisms. These factors include soil texture, structure, acidity or alkalinity (pH), mineral composition, moisture content, and the presence of organic matter or humus. Because the soil acts as the primary medium for plant roots to anchor and absorb nutrients and water, these edaphic properties are fundamental in determining the type of vegetation and the overall productivity of a particular terrestrial ecosystem.

Explanation

Entrepreneurs benefit significantly during inflationary periods because the prices of the goods and services they sell typically rise faster than the costs of production. While selling prices increase immediately with market trends, production costs such as wages, interest on loans, and long-term rents often remain fixed or adjust much more slowly. This time lag results in expanded profit margins. Furthermore, entrepreneurs are often debtors who borrow capital to fund their business operations. Inflation reduces the real value of money, allowing them to repay their historical debts with currency that has lower purchasing power than when it was originally borrowed, effectively transferring wealth from lenders to these business owners.

Explanation

Ranchi is the capital city of Jharkhand and is recognized for its industrial importance and natural landscape rather than ancient religious architecture. Historically, it was not a center for Buddhist monastic activity or pilgrimage during the Mauryan, Shunga, or Gupta periods. Consequently, there are no archaeological remains or historical records of a stupa being located in this city. It lacks any documented ancient Buddhist reliquary structures that would classify it as a site of stupa construction.

Explanation

Xerophytes are plants specifically adapted to survive in environments with limited water availability or chronic water stress, such as deserts. These plants have evolved various physiological and structural mechanisms to conserve water, including thick waxy cuticles, reduced leaf surface area or spines to minimize transpiration, and specialized tissues for water storage. Some xerophytes also possess deep or extensive root systems to maximize water absorption from arid soils. These adaptations allow them to maintain metabolic functions even in high-temperature and low-moisture conditions characteristic of desert biomes.

Explanation

Coupling and repulsion represent the two physical arrangements of linked genes on homologous chromosomes. In the coupling phase, also known as the cis-configuration, the dominant alleles of two different loci are present on the same chromosome, while their corresponding recessive alleles are on the other homologous chromosome. In the repulsion phase, or trans-configuration, each chromosome carries one dominant and one recessive allele from the two loci. These phases occur because linkage prevents genes from assorting independently during meiosis, causing alleles that are physically close to each other to be transmitted to offspring as a single unit. This concept was originally established by Bateson, Saunders, and Punnett to explain deviations from Mendelian inheritance patterns in sweet peas.

Explanation

The freezing point of fresh water is the temperature at which it transitions from a liquid state to a solid state (ice) at standard atmospheric pressure. Under these conditions, the freezing point of pure water is defined as 0°C on the Celsius scale. This value serves as one of the primary reference points for the Celsius temperature scale, which was originally established based on the physical properties of water, representing the equilibrium point between the liquid and solid phases at 1 atmosphere of pressure.

Explanation

The family Composite, also known as Asteraceae, is characterized by a specific androecium arrangement where the stamens are both epipetalous and syngenesious. In this family, there are typically five stamens whose filaments are attached to the corolla tube. While the filaments remain free from one another, the anthers are fused together along their edges to form a protective cylinder around the style. This combined condition ensures that as the style grows through the anther tube, it pushes pollen out to be collected by pollinators, a mechanism central to the reproductive biology of the sunflower family.

Explanation

My Experiments with Truth is the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, detailing his life from childhood through 1921. Originally written in Gujarati and titled Satya Na Prayogo, it was published as a series of weekly installments in his journal Navjivan between 1925 and 1929. The work focuses on Gandhi's spiritual growth, his development of the concept of Satyagraha, and his experiences in South Africa and India. While Jawaharlal Nehru wrote several famous books during his periods of imprisonment, this particular work is the primary personal narrative of Mahatma Gandhi.

Explanation

Democratic centralism is the fundamental organizational principle of communist parties and states, originally formulated by Vladimir Lenin. It is defined by the dual concept of freedom of discussion and unity of action. Within this framework, party members are permitted to debate and discuss policy matters internally. However, once a decision has been reached through a majority vote or by higher party organs, it becomes binding on all members and must be implemented without dissent. This principle ensures that the party operates as a disciplined and unified body, centralizing political authority and administrative control to maintain a singular party line throughout the state apparatus.

Explanation

Article 1 of the Indian Constitution explicitly declares that India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States. This specific terminology was preferred by the Drafting Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, to underscore two fundamental principles of the Indian polity. Firstly, the Indian Union is not the result of an agreement or compact among sovereign states, unlike the historical formation of the American federation. Secondly, the constituent states do not have the right to secede from the Union. The use of this term signifies that while India is geographically and politically divided into various states for administrative convenience, the country remains an indestructible and integral whole, ensuring the permanent unity and territorial integrity of the nation.

Explanation

The Shadow Cabinet is a distinctive feature of the British parliamentary system, functioning as an essential component of the Westminster model. It is organized by the Official Opposition party and consists of a group of senior spokespeople who correspond to each member of the ruling government's Cabinet. Each shadow minister is responsible for scrutinizing the policies and actions of their counterpart in the government, offering alternative legislative proposals, and challenging the executive during parliamentary debates. This institution ensures that the opposition remains a government-in-waiting, prepared to assume administrative control and implement its own policies immediately should the incumbent government lose its majority or an election. It enhances democratic accountability by providing a structured and specialized critique of every government department.

Explanation

National Highway No. 1, which connects Delhi to Amritsar and the Indo-Pak border, is historically part of the Grand Trunk Road and is officially referred to as Sher Shah Suri Marg. Other stretches of the Grand Trunk Road, like NH 2, also belong to the route built by the emperor, but NH 1 is the primary designation for this name in common terminology.

Explanation

The acronym for the specialized judicial body established for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources is NGT, which stands for National Green Tribunal. This body was established on October 18, 2010, under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. There is no recognized statutory body or legal acronym designated as NOT standing for National Growth Tribunal in the Indian administrative or legal framework.

Explanation

In economic theory, an increase in the quantity supplied is specifically caused by an increase in the market price of the commodity, assuming all other factors remain constant. According to the Law of Supply, there is a direct or positive relationship between the price of a good and the quantity producers are willing to offer for sale. This relationship is represented graphically by an upward-sloping supply curve. When the price rises, the change is shown as a movement from a lower point to a higher point along the existing supply curve. This is often referred to as an expansion of supply or a movement up along the curve, distinguishing it from a shift of the entire curve which would be caused by changes in non-price determinants like technology or production costs.

Explanation

Firuz Shah Tughluq was the first Sultan of Delhi to impose Jizya as a separate tax on Brahmins, who had been traditionally exempted from it by earlier rulers. Driven by a desire to run the administration strictly according to Islamic law, he separated Jizya from the general land revenue known as Kharaj. When the Brahmins of Delhi protested against this move by gathering in front of his palace and starting a hunger strike, the Sultan refused to withdraw the order. Ultimately, the other Hindu citizens of Delhi agreed to pay the tax on behalf of the Brahmins to resolve the crisis. This policy was part of his broader administrative measures aimed at establishing an orthodox state and gaining the support of the Ulema.

Explanation

A dactylogram is the technical and scientific term for a fingerprint. The word originates from the Greek roots daktylos, meaning finger, and gramma, meaning something written or drawn. It refers to the impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. Because the patterns of these ridges are unique to each individual and remain permanent throughout a person's life, dactylograms are used as a fundamental tool in forensic science and biometric identification. The study and analysis of these fingerprints for identification purposes is known as dactyloscopy or dactylography.

Explanation

The Finance Commission is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Constitution of India. It is constituted by the President of India every five years, or earlier if deemed necessary, to define and regulate the financial relations between the Central Government and the State Governments. Its primary mandate is to make recommendations to the President regarding the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States, as well as the allocation of these funds among the States themselves. Additionally, it advises on the principles that should govern the grants-in-aid provided to the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India, ensuring an equitable and efficient transfer of central resources within the federal structure.

Explanation

The Ryder Cup is a premier biennial golf competition contested between teams from Europe and the United States. Named after Samuel Ryder, an English businessman who donated the trophy, the tournament held its first official event in 1927. The competition was originally played between Great Britain and the United States, but the eligibility criteria were expanded in 1979 to include players from the whole of continental Europe. It is unique in professional golf as a team-based match-play event where players compete for the trophy rather than prize money, with the hosting rights alternating between venues in the United States and Europe.

Explanation

The Rummindei Pillar, also known as the Lumbini Pillar, was erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 20th year after his coronation to commemorate his visit to the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The inscription on the pillar explicitly states Hida Budhe Jate Sakyamuni, which translates to Here Sakyamuni Buddha was born. This archaeological evidence identifies Lumbini, located in modern-day Nepal, as the nativity site of Siddhartha Gautama. Additionally, the inscription records that Ashoka exempted the village of Lumbini from the religious tax known as Bali and reduced the land revenue tax, Bhaga, to one-eighth of the produce as a mark of respect for the Buddha’s birthplace.

Explanation

The preparation of goods by a household for its own use is classified as own-account production in national income accounting. This term specifically refers to the production of goods that are consumed by the same units that produce them.

Explanation

The potato is native to the high-altitude regions of the Andes Mountains in South America, where it was cultivated by indigenous civilizations like the Incas for thousands of years. Following the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in the mid-16th century, Spanish explorers encountered the tuber and recognized its potential as a durable food source for sailors. Historical records indicate that the Spanish introduced the potato to Europe around 1570, with the first documented arrivals occurring in Seville. From the Iberian Peninsula, the crop gradually diffused across the rest of the European continent, eventually transforming European agriculture and demographics due to its high nutritional value and resilience.

Explanation

The polar vortex is a large scale cyclone of extremely cold air that permanently resides near the Earths North and South poles. Under normal conditions, this frigid air mass is contained within the Arctic circle by a strong band of winds known as the polar jet stream. In early 2014, a weakening of the jet stream caused it to dip significantly southward, allowing the dense Arctic air to spill into the mid-latitudes of North America. This distortion of the vortex brought record-breaking freezing temperatures and severe winter storms to much of the United States. The phenomenon is driven by atmospheric pressure changes that destabilize the boundary of the vortex, forcing the polar air mass out of its usual confinement.

Explanation

The Krishi Karman Award for the 2012-13 period was awarded to Odisha in Category II, which includes states with a total foodgrain production between 1 and 10 million tonnes. Odisha achieved a record-breaking foodgrain production of 10.21 million tonnes during this year, marking a significant milestone in the state's agricultural history. The recognition was based on the state's successful implementation of various schemes to enhance crop yield, such as the increased distribution of high-yielding variety seeds, improved soil health management, and the expansion of irrigation coverage. This performance allowed the state to secure the prestigious award for the second consecutive year.

Explanation

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was significantly amended in 1991, 1993, and 2002. The 1993 amendment (Act No. 50 of 1993) was a major overhaul that expanded the definitions of "consumer" and "complaint" and brought more services under the Act's purview.

Explanation

The octane number is a standard measure of the performance of an engine or aviation fuel. The scale is based on two reference hydrocarbons: n-heptane and iso-octane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane). In this rating system, n-heptane is a straight-chain alkane that produces severe knocking in internal combustion engines and is assigned an octane number of 0. Conversely, iso-octane is highly resistant to knocking and is assigned a value of 100. Straight-chain alkanes generally have the lowest octane numbers, and as the length of the carbon chain increases, the octane number typically decreases further. Because branched-chain alkanes and isomers burn more smoothly than linear ones, n-heptane has the minimum value among the listed compounds.

Explanation

The unit used to measure the intensity or level of sound and noise pollution is the decibel (dB). It is a logarithmic unit that expresses the ratio of a physical quantity, such as sound pressure or intensity, relative to a specified reference level. Because the human ear can perceive an extremely wide range of sound intensities, a linear scale would be cumbersome; the logarithmic scale allows this range to be compressed into a manageable set of numbers. On this scale, 0 dB represents the threshold of human hearing, while normal conversation typically occurs around 60 dB. Noise levels exceeding 85 dB over prolonged periods are generally considered harmful and constitute noise pollution.

Explanation

Secondary storage, also known as auxiliary or external memory, refers to non-volatile storage devices used to store data and programs permanently. Floppy disks are magnetic storage media that provide a way to store information outside the computer's primary memory. Unlike volatile primary memory, floppy disks retain data even when the power is turned off, making them a standard example of a secondary storage system used for data backup and portability.

Explanation

Cabbage is a biennial plant where the primary site for food storage is the leaves. The edible portion of the cabbage, known as the head, is actually an exceptionally large terminal bud. This bud consists of a short, thick central axis surrounded by numerous fleshy, overlapping leaves that are densely packed together. The plant stores accumulated nutrients, including water and carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis, within these leaf tissues to provide the energy required for the plant to flower and produce seeds in its second year of growth.

Explanation

Subhash Chandra Bose is recognized as the pivotal leader who reorganized and led the Azad Hind Fauj during the Indian independence movement. In 1943, he assumed the leadership of the force in Singapore, transforming it into a disciplined military organization. He established the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (Provisional Government of Free India) and motivated the troops with his charismatic leadership and the call for Total Mobilization. His efforts turned the army into a symbol of armed resistance against British colonial rule, leading the charge toward India’s eastern frontiers.

Explanation

In February 2014, the Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Smokeless Tobacco Control Act, 2014, making it the first state in India to enact a comprehensive law prohibiting the production, marketing, storage, advertising, and consumption of all forms of smokeless tobacco. This legislation specifically targeted products such as gutka, pan masala, and zarda. While other states had previously banned some of these products under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, the Assam act was a dedicated legislative measure designed to address the high incidence of oral cancer and tobacco-related health issues in the state by covering the entire supply chain and personal use.

Explanation

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) and Chloroform (CHCl₃) are well-documented compounds used in medical practice to induce anaesthesia. Nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, is an inhalation anaesthetic that provides both analgesic and sedative effects; it remains in use today, often in dentistry and as an adjunct to more potent general anaesthetics. Chloroform was a pioneering general anaesthetic widely utilized in the 19th and early 20th centuries to perform painless surgeries and assist in childbirth. Both chemicals function by depressing the central nervous system, thereby causing a temporary and reversible loss of sensation or consciousness in patients.

Explanation

In the Indian constitutional framework, local government is a subject listed under Entry 5 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule. This placement signifies that the State Legislatures have the exclusive power to legislate on the powers and functions of Panchayats and Municipalities. While the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts mandated the creation of these bodies, they did not grant them independent or sovereign powers. Instead, the amendments specify that State Legislatures may, by law, endow local bodies with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government. Therefore, local governments exercise delegated authority, meaning their functional jurisdiction and financial powers are derived from and governed by the statutes enacted by the State Government. They act as sub-state administrative units that perform specific tasks devolved to them by the higher level of government.

Explanation

Ecology is the branch of biology that focuses on the relationships and interactions between living organisms and their physical and biological environment. It investigates how organisms interact with abiotic factors such as sunlight, temperature, water, and soil, as well as biotic factors including other living species. Derived from the Greek words oikos meaning house and logos meaning study, the field examines these connections across various scales, from individual organisms and populations to communities, ecosystems, and the entire biosphere.

Explanation

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was famously described as the Father of Indian Unrest by Valentine Chirol, a prominent British journalist and author of the book Indian Unrest published in 1910. Tilak earned this title due to his role as a leading figure in the extremist wing of the Indian National Congress and his efforts to mobilize the masses against British colonial rule. He was the first political leader in India to demand Purna Swaraj or Complete Self-Rule, famously declaring that Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it. By utilizing traditional festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji Jayanti to foster national pride and using his newspapers, Kesari and Mahratta, to criticize colonial policies, Tilak transformed the independence movement into a popular grassroots struggle, which the British authorities perceived as the root of political instability and unrest in the country.

Explanation

John Locke, the seventeenth-century English philosopher often regarded as the Father of Liberalism, expressed this principle in his seminal work, the Second Treatise of Government. In Chapter VI, Section 57, Locke argued that the end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. He maintained that in all the states of created beings capable of laws, where there is no law, there is no freedom. This perspective is rooted in his belief that true liberty is not a state of license where anyone can do anything, but rather a condition where individuals are free from the arbitrary will and violence of others. Such freedom can only be achieved through a defined legal framework that protects individual rights and ensures that everyone follows a common set of rules.

Explanation

UNIX was originally developed at AT | T Bell Labs as a powerful time-sharing system designed to support multiple users simultaneously. Its architecture allows a single central processing unit to manage several user sessions by allocating CPU time and memory resources efficiently through a process known as multitasking. Each user interacts with the system via a terminal, and the UNIX kernel ensures that individual processes are isolated and protected from one another. This multi-user capability is a fundamental characteristic of UNIX, making it an ideal environment for server infrastructures and collaborative computing where resources are shared among many individuals at the same time.

Explanation

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, addresses unnatural offences, stating that whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal shall be punished. This specific provision has historically been the primary legal framework used to criminalize consensual acts between individuals of the same sex, directly impacting the LGBT community. At the time of this exam in 2014, the section was a subject of intense legal debate following the December 2013 Supreme Court judgment in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation, which overturned a previous High Court ruling and reinstated the criminal status of such consensual acts under this section.

Explanation

Pegging a currency is a monetary policy where the government or central bank fixes the exchange rate of the national currency against a specific anchor, such as another country's currency, a basket of currencies, or a commodity like gold. In a pegged exchange rate system, the monetary authority intervenes in the foreign exchange market to ensure that the currency maintains its value at a constant level relative to the anchor. This intervention involves the central bank buying or selling its own currency in exchange for the anchor currency to offset market fluctuations. The primary goal of pegging is to provide stability for international trade and minimize the risks associated with exchange rate volatility by preventing the currency from fluctuating according to market supply and demand.

Explanation

The Oilseeds Production Programme (OPP) was launched in 1986 under the umbrella of the Technology Mission on Oilseeds (TMO) by the Government of India. The program aimed to increase the production of various oilseed crops to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils and reduce the substantial foreign exchange expenditure on imports. It provided financial and technical assistance to farmers for quality seeds, distribution of seed mini-kits, plant protection measures, and the demonstration of modern cultivation techniques. By focusing on productivity improvements in major oilseed-growing states, the OPP played a crucial role in the Yellow Revolution, significantly enhancing the domestic availability of oilseeds like groundnut, mustard, and soybean.