Supercooling, also known as undercooling, is the process of lowering the temperature of a liquid or a gas below its freezing point without it becoming a solid. For a liquid to crystallize and transition into a solid state, it typically requires a nucleation site, such as a seed crystal or a microscopic impurity, around which the solid structure can grow. In the absence of such nuclei, the liquid can remain in a metastable fluid state even as its temperature drops significantly below its formal freezing point. This state continues until either a nucleation event is triggered by a physical disturbance or the temperature reaches the homogeneous nucleation point, at which the liquid rapidly solidifies. This phenomenon is frequently observed in pure water and atmospheric water droplets in clouds.
502General Awareness
Alcohol is more volatile than water because ________ is lower than water
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Answer: (A) its boiling point
Explanation
Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance to vaporize and is inversely proportional to its boiling point. A liquid with a lower boiling point has a higher vapor pressure at a given temperature, meaning its molecules can more easily escape from the surface into the gas phase. Alcohol, specifically ethanol, has a boiling point of approximately 78.37° C, which is significantly lower than the 100° C boiling point of water. This difference is primarily due to the strength of intermolecular forces; while both substances exhibit hydrogen bonding, the bonding in water is more extensive and stronger, requiring more thermal energy to overcome. Consequently, because alcohol reaches its boiling point at a lower temperature and possesses weaker intermolecular attractions than water, it exhibits higher volatility.
503General Awareness
Which of the following is used to protect objects in computer systems, in the absence of more complete protection schemes?
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Answer: (C) passwords
Explanation
Passwords represent the most fundamental and widely used mechanism for providing access control and authentication in computer systems. They act as a basic security layer to protect objects, such as files, databases, or user accounts, by requiring the user to provide a specific secret string of characters before access is granted. In environments where more sophisticated or comprehensive protection schemes—like capability-based security, complex access control lists (ACLs), or multi-factor authentication frameworks—are not implemented or available, passwords serve as the primary and most accessible means of safeguarding resources against unauthorized use.
504General Awareness
Which one is not included in Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs)?
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Answer: (D) BOI
Explanation
Bank of India is a scheduled commercial bank that operates under the regulatory framework of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. It is characterized by its ability to accept demand deposits, provide liquidity through current and savings accounts, and participate directly in the clearing and settlement system of the country. These core banking functions differentiate it from Non-Banking Financial Institutions, which do not have a banking license and are restricted from accepting demand deposits or issuing checks drawn on themselves.
505General Awareness
Which method will be employed to test the hardness of water?
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Answer: (C) Formation of lather with soap
Explanation
Water hardness is primarily caused by the presence of dissolved calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions. A simple and effective method to test for hardness is the formation of lather with soap. Soap molecules, which are typically sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids like stearic acid, react with these divalent cations to form an insoluble, greyish-white precipitate known as scum. The chemical reaction can be represented as:
2C₁₇H₃₅COONa + Ca²⁺ → (C₁₇H₃₅COO)₂Ca ↓ + 2Na⁺
Because the soap is consumed in this precipitation process, lather does not form until all the calcium and magnesium ions have been removed from the solution. In contrast, soft water, which lacks these minerals, produces a rich lather immediately upon the addition of soap. The ease and volume of lather formation are direct indicators used to identify and compare the hardness levels of different water samples.
506General Awareness
Who is the first Indian Gold Medal Winner in individual category in Olympic games?
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Answer: (A) Abhinav Bindra
Explanation
Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal. Other options like Leander Paes and R.V.S. Rathore won bronze and silver medals respectively, but not gold.
507General Awareness
Which is the warmest layer of the atmosphere?
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Answer: (A) Thermosphere
Explanation
The thermosphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere where temperatures rise most significantly with increasing altitude. Located above the mesosphere, it extends from about 80 kilometers to 600 kilometers above the surface. The high temperatures in this region are primarily due to the absorption of highly energetic solar radiation, such as X-rays and short-wave ultraviolet rays, by the sparse molecules of oxygen and nitrogen. This intense solar energy causes the kinetic temperature of the individual gas particles to reach extremely high levels, often exceeding 1,500°C during periods of peak solar activity. Because these molecules are moving at very high speeds due to the absorbed radiation, the thermosphere is classified as the hottest atmospheric layer.
508General Awareness
The Siachin Glacier's melting waters are the main source of which of the following rivers :
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Answer: (D) Nubra
Explanation
The Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas, is the primary source of the Nubra River. Meltwater from the glacier's snout, situated at an altitude of approximately 3,600 metres, flows out to form the river, which then travels through the Nubra Valley in the Ladakh region. As the second-longest glacier in the world's non-polar regions, the Siachen Glacier provides a massive and continuous volume of water that sustains the Nubra River before it eventually joins the Shyok River as a major tributary.
509General Awareness
Thomas Cup is associated with which of the following sports?
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Answer: (D) Badminton
Explanation
The Thomas Cup is the premier international badminton competition for men, representing the world men's team championships. Established in 1948-1949, the tournament was named after Sir George Alan Thomas, a legendary British badminton player who proposed the idea of a global team event modeled after the Davis Cup in tennis. The competition is organized every two years by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). It serves as a global benchmark for national team excellence in badminton, with countries like Indonesia, China, and Malaysia historically dominating the event.
510General Awareness
The famous work 'Anandmath' was written by
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Answer: (B) Sri Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Explanation
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee authored the celebrated Bengali novel Anandmath, published in 1882. The novel is set against the historical backdrop of the Sannyasi Rebellion and the catastrophic Bengal famine of 1770. It holds immense significance in Indian history as it featured the song Vande Mataram, which became a rallying cry for Indian nationalists during the struggle for independence from British rule. The work is regarded as a masterpiece of political fiction and played a pivotal role in awakening the national consciousness in the late 19th century.
511General Awareness
Who introduced the term 'Hindu rate of growth' ?
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Answer: (B) Raj Krishna
Explanation
The term Hindu rate of growth was coined by the Indian economist Raj Krishna in 1978. He used the expression during a presentation at the Delhi School of Economics to describe the sluggish annual growth rate of the Indian economy, which averaged around 3.5 percent from the 1950s through the 1970s. The phrase was intended to highlight the stagnation caused by the restrictive regulatory environment and socialist policies of the era, implying that the low growth had become a persistent and seemingly unchangeable feature of the Indian economic landscape before the liberalization reforms of the late 20th century.
512General Awareness
The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has been set up for
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Answer: (A) Funding Infrastructure projects in emerging economics for sustainable development
Explanation
The New Development Bank (NDB) was established by the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) following the 6th BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza in 2014. According to the Agreement on the NDB, the bank is designed to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries (EMDCs). While the founding members were the five BRICS nations, the bank mandate specifically targets the infrastructure needs of the developing world to foster global growth. It focuses on financing projects in sectors such as renewable energy, transport, water supply, and urban development, aiming to provide an alternative to traditional multilateral lenders like the World Bank.
513General Awareness
Which Governor General decided to make English as the medium of instruction in India?
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Answer: (D) Lord William Bentinck
Explanation
Lord William Bentinck enacted the English Education Act of 1835, which officially made English the medium of instruction for higher education in India. This landmark decision was based on the recommendations of Thomas Babington Macaulay, who presented his famous Minute on Indian Education in the same year. Bentinck supported the Anglicist viewpoint in the debate against the Orientalists, concluding that government funds should be primarily used for the promotion of Western sciences and literature. The policy aimed to create a class of English-educated Indians who could serve in the colonial administration and act as intermediaries between the British rulers and the Indian public.
514General Awareness
Who among the following is a renowned campaigner against manual scavenging who was recently conferred with the prestigious Magsaysay award?
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Answer: (B) Bezwada Wilson
Explanation
Bezwada Wilson, the national convener of the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), was conferred with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2016. Born into a Dalit family in Karnataka that was traditionally engaged in manual scavenging, Wilson dedicated his life to the total eradication of this dehumanizing practice. His grassroots movement has been instrumental in organizing manual scavengers to demand their constitutional rights and in pushing for the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act. The Magsaysay foundation recognized him for his moral energy and incredible skills in leading a movement to assert the inalienable right to a life of human dignity.
515General Awareness
An indifference curve measures ________ level of satisfaction derived from different combinations of commodity X and Y.
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Answer: (A) same
Explanation
An indifference curve is a graphical representation of various combinations of two commodities that provide a consumer with an identical level of total utility or satisfaction. According to the principle of ordinal utility, a consumer is indifferent between any two points on the same curve because each bundle of goods yields the exact same level of well-being. This consistency in satisfaction means that as a consumer moves along the curve, they are willing to substitute one good for another—following the marginal rate of substitution—without experiencing any change in their overall level of contentment.
516General Awareness
Who among the following was the first to make use of artillery in warfare in medieval India?
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Answer: (A) Babur
Explanation
Babur is credited with the first significant and decisive use of field artillery in Northern India. During the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, he effectively utilized gunpowder and cannons, referred to as topkhana, to defeat the numerically superior forces of the Delhi Sultanate. He employed the Rumi method of warfare, which involved chaining carts together to create a protective barrier for his gunners. This tactical innovation was guided by his expert Ottoman master gunners, Ustad Ali and Mustafa. The use of mobile artillery and matchlock muskets provided the Mughals with a technological advantage that fundamentally changed the nature of military engagements in the Indian subcontinent.
517General Awareness
Person who is colour-blind cannot distinguish between
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Answer: (B) Red and green
Explanation
Colour blindness is a vision deficiency caused by the impairment or absence of photopigments in the cone cells of the retina, which are responsible for detecting specific wavelengths of light. The most common form of this condition is red-green colour blindness, which arises when the red-sensing (L-cones) or green-sensing (M-cones) are dysfunctional or missing. This defect prevents the eye from properly discriminating between the overlapping spectral sensitivities of red and green light, causing them to appear as similar or indistinct hues. This condition is primarily an X-linked recessive genetic disorder, making it significantly more prevalent in males than in females.
518General Awareness
During the motion of a projectile fired from the earth surface,
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Answer: (D) horizontal component of its velocity remains constant
Explanation
In projectile motion near the Earth's surface, the object is subject only to the force of gravity, which acts vertically downward. Because gravity does not have a horizontal component, there is no net force and thus no acceleration acting in the horizontal direction. According to the kinematic equation vₓ = uₓ + aₓ t, since the horizontal acceleration aₓ is zero, the horizontal component of velocity vₓ remains constant throughout the entire flight of the projectile. This constant value is equal to the initial horizontal velocity u cos θ, where u is the initial speed and θ is the angle of projection.
519General Awareness
Which of the following waves cannot be polarised?
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Answer: (D) Ultrasonic
Explanation
Ultrasonic waves are longitudinal mechanical waves that consist of compressions and rarefactions traveling through a medium. Polarization is a property specific to transverse waves, where the vibrations occur in a plane perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth along the same axis as the direction of the wave's travel. Since there is no oscillation occurring perpendicular to the direction of propagation, it is impossible to filter or restrict these vibrations into a particular plane. Therefore, longitudinal waves such as ultrasonic waves cannot be polarized.
520General Awareness
Of the following commonly used materials, the one that is not an alloy is
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Answer: (D) Copper
Explanation
Copper is a pure chemical element represented by the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a fundamental substance found in the periodic table as a transition metal. An alloy is defined as a metallic substance formed by the combination of two or more elements, typically to enhance specific properties like strength or corrosion resistance. Because copper consists entirely of a single type of atom in its basic metallic form, it is classified as a pure metal rather than a mixture or an alloy.
521General Awareness
"Himayat" is a training cum-placement programme for unemployed youth in the State of
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Answer: (C) Jammu and Kashmir
Explanation
Himayat is a placement-linked skill training initiative specifically launched for the unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, it is implemented under the framework of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY). The program focuses on school and college dropouts as well as other unemployed youth in the state, providing them with vocational training in various high-demand sectors like retail, information technology, and hospitality. After the completion of the training period, the scheme ensures job placements for the candidates, aiming to provide sustainable livelihoods and foster economic empowerment within the region.
522General Awareness
"Agha Khan Cup" is associated with the game of
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Answer: (D) Hockey
Explanation
The Agha Khan Cup is one of the oldest and most prestigious field hockey tournaments in India. Established in 1896, the competition is traditionally held in Mumbai at the Gymkhana Grounds. It has a long and storied history in the development of Indian hockey, attracting the nation top domestic clubs and institutional teams. Throughout the 20th century, it served as a critical platform for identifying national talent, maintaining its status as a premier event in the Indian field hockey calendar.
523General Awareness
Absolute Zero is defined as
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Answer: (A) The temperature at which all molecular motion ceases
Explanation
Absolute zero is the fundamental lower limit of the thermodynamic temperature scale, reaching 0 Kelvin or -273.15°C. According to the kinetic theory of gases, temperature is a direct manifestation of the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in a substance, governed by the relation Eₖ = ³⁄₂ k_B T. As the temperature of a system is lowered, the thermal motion of its constituent particles slows down. At the theoretical point of absolute zero, the system reaches its minimum possible internal energy. In this state, the kinetic energy of the molecules effectively becomes zero, and all classical molecular motion, including translation, rotation, and vibration, is considered to cease.
524General Awareness
Nitrogen fixation is a process of
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Answer: (D) Conversion of molecular nitrogen to ammonia
Explanation
Nitrogen fixation is the biological or chemical process by which atmospheric molecular nitrogen is converted into ammonia or related nitrogenous compounds. This process is essential for making nitrogen available to plants as they cannot utilize atmospheric nitrogen gas directly.
525General Awareness
Which among the following is called as 'Land of the midnight Sun'?
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Answer: (A) Norway
Explanation
Norway is traditionally referred to as the Land of the Midnight Sun because a significant portion of its territory is located north of the Arctic Circle. This geographical positioning means that during the summer months, specifically around the summer solstice, the sun remains visible for a full 24 hours. This phenomenon occurs due to the tilt of the Earth's axis by approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane, which causes the North Pole to be inclined toward the sun during the northern summer. In regions like Nordkapp and the Svalbard archipelago, the sun does not set for several weeks or even months, making Norway the most iconic destination associated with this natural event.
526General Awareness
Among the following which one lays eggs and does not produce young ones directly?
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Answer: (A) Echidna
Explanation
The Echidna belongs to the order Monotremata, a unique group of primitive mammals known as monotremes that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Unlike most mammals which are viviparous, the female Echidna lays a single leathery-skinned egg into a temporary pouch on her abdomen. After approximately ten days, the offspring, known as a puggle, hatches from the egg. Despite this egg-laying characteristic, the Echidna is classified as a mammal because it possesses mammary glands that produce milk to nourish its young, has hair or spines, and is endothermic.
527General Awareness
The mountain range which divides the North and the South India is
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Answer: (C) Vindhyas
Explanation
The Vindhya Range is a complex, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, highlands, and plateau escarpments in central India. Geographically and historically, it is considered the traditional boundary between North India and South India. It runs nearly parallel to the Narmada River and separates the Indo-Gangetic Plain from the Deccan Plateau. This range has long served as a natural barrier, playing a significant role in the cultural and linguistic differentiation between the northern and southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
528General Awareness
Bronze is an alloy of
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Answer: (A) Copper | tin
Explanation
Bronze is a metallic alloy primarily composed of copper, with tin as the principal alloying element. The addition of tin enhances the physical properties of pure copper, significantly increasing its hardness, strength, and durability. While modern bronze may contain various other elements to achieve specific characteristics, the classical and most common formulation consists of approximately 88 percent copper and 12 percent tin. This combination creates a material that is much harder than pure copper and more resistant to corrosion, which led to its widespread use in the production of tools, weapons, and sculptures throughout history.
529General Awareness
In which of the following States is Dampa Tiger Reserve situated?
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Answer: (C) Mizoram
Explanation
Dampa Tiger Reserve is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the state of Mizoram, situated in the Mamit district along the western border of the state, adjacent to Bangladesh. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994 under the Project Tiger initiative. The reserve covers an area of approximately 500 square kilometers within the Lushai Hills and consists of a diverse landscape of tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. It is known for its rich biodiversity, providing a habitat for species such as the clouded leopard, slow loris, and various species of primates and birds.
530General Awareness
Japanese folk tradition and ritual, with no founder or single sacred scripture, is popularly known as ________
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Answer: (C) Shintoism
Explanation
Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan, centered on the worship of spirits known as kami that are believed to inhabit all things in nature, including mountains, rivers, and trees. Unlike many other organized religions, Shintoism has no historical founder, no central governing body, and no single mandatory sacred text. It is deeply integrated into the Japanese way of life through a collection of folk traditions, rituals, and local shrine practices that emphasize purity, harmony with nature, and the veneration of ancestors. These traditions have been passed down through generations via communal festivals and oral tradition rather than formal dogma.
531General Awareness
In IT the technique that is used to increase the bandwidth is
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Answer: (B) Memory Interleaving
Explanation
Memory interleaving is a design technique that increases the effective bandwidth of the main memory by dividing it into multiple independent modules or banks. By distributing memory addresses across these different banks, the system can initiate multiple memory accesses simultaneously or in an overlapping manner. While one memory bank is busy completing a data request, the CPU can initiate a second request to another bank without waiting for the first bank to finish its cycle. This parallel processing capability hides the latency associated with individual memory chips, resulting in a significantly higher data transfer rate and improved overall system performance.
532General Awareness
A motion that seeks to reduce the amount of demand presented by government to ₹ 1/- is known as
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Answer: (A) Disapproval of policy Cut
Explanation
A Disapproval of Policy Cut motion is used by members of the Parliament to express their complete disagreement with the policy underlying a specific demand for grant. When this motion is moved, it proposes that the amount of the demand be reduced to ₹ 1. This nominal figure symbolizes a total rejection of the government's proposed policy for that particular department or scheme, indicating that the member does not support the principles or the administrative framework upon which the expenditure is based. It serves as a tool for the opposition to debate and challenge the fundamental policy decisions of the executive during the budgetary process.
533General Awareness
The State which produces largest number of orchids in India is
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Answer: (D) Sikkim
Explanation
Sikkim is the leading producer of orchids in India, harboring more than 500 of the approximately 1,300 orchid species found in the country. The state's diverse geography, spanning from tropical to alpine climates, provides an ideal environment for a wide variety of orchids, most notably the Cymbidium variety which is grown extensively for commercial purposes. The significance of the state in this sector is underscored by the presence of the ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids located in Pakyong. Sikkim's emphasis on floriculture as a high-value economic activity has resulted in substantial production volumes and the development of specialized infrastructure for the cultivation and export of these flowers.
534General Awareness
Which one of the following bio reserves of India is not included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve?
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Answer: (D) Corbett
Explanation
Corbett is a National Park and a Tiger Reserve located in Uttarakhand, but it has not been designated as a Biosphere Reserve by the Government of India. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) is a UNESCO initiative under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme that recognizes areas representing major ecosystems and genetic resources. While India has 18 designated Biosphere Reserves, only a subset of these are included in the WNBR. As of late 2016, Corbett remains a National Park and does not hold the status of a Biosphere Reserve, whereas the other options were already recognized as part of the UNESCO global network for their unique ecological value and conservation efforts.
535General Awareness
What was 'Kamagata Maru'?
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Answer: (C) A ship
Explanation
The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship chartered by Gurdit Singh in 1914 to transport 376 passengers, mostly Punjabi Sikhs, from Hong Kong to Vancouver, British Columbia. The voyage was intended to challenge the discriminatory Canadian immigration laws of the time, specifically the Continuous Journey regulation which effectively barred Indian immigrants. Upon reaching Vancouver, the ship was denied permission to dock, and after a two-month standoff, it was forced to return to India. On its return to Budge Budge near Kolkata, the passengers were met with British police, leading to a riot and the death of many passengers, making it a landmark incident in the Indian nationalist struggle and the Ghadar Movement.
536General Awareness
Redistribution of income in a country can be brought about through
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Answer: (A) Progressive taxation combined with progressive expenditure
Explanation
Redistribution of income is a fiscal policy objective aimed at reducing economic inequality within a society. Progressive taxation facilitates this by ensuring that the tax rate increases as the taxpayer's income rises, thereby collecting a larger proportion of revenue from the wealthy who have a greater capacity to pay. When these tax revenues are utilized through progressive expenditure, the government directs spending toward social welfare programs, public health, education, and subsidies that disproportionately benefit lower-income groups. In this context, progressive expenditure refers to spending where the benefits, relative to income, are higher for the poor than for the rich. The combination of these two mechanisms effectively transfers economic resources from high-income individuals to the underprivileged, narrowing the income gap and promoting social equity.
537General Awareness
A motion moved by Member of Parliament when he feels a minister has committed a breach of privilege of the House by withholding facts of a case is called
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Answer: (C) Privilege motion
Explanation
A privilege motion is moved by a member of the House when they believe that a minister or any other member has committed a breach of privilege of the House or of one or more of its members. In the parliamentary context, this typically occurs when a minister is perceived to have withheld facts of a case or provided incorrect or distorted information, thereby misleading the House. The primary purpose of this motion is to express the House's disapproval and to censure the concerned individual for undermining the dignity or authority of the legislature. Once the Speaker or the Chairperson admits the motion, it can be referred to the Committee of Privileges for further investigation.
538General Awareness
Who propounded the "Doctrine of Passive Resistance"?
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Answer: (B) Aurobindo Ghosh
Explanation
Aurobindo Ghosh propounded the Doctrine of Passive Resistance in a series of articles published in the journal Bande Mataram in April 1907. He argued that British rule in India relied entirely on the cooperation and assistance of the Indian people, and therefore, organized non-cooperation would inevitably lead to its collapse. His doctrine outlined a comprehensive strategy of resistance including the boycott of British goods, government-controlled educational institutions, and legal courts, as well as the refusal to pay taxes. Ghosh viewed this method as a more potent and effective alternative to the constitutional agitation practiced by the Moderates, providing a systematic political framework for the Swadeshi Movement to achieve the goal of complete independence.
539General Awareness
At Rio Olympics, what was the final position of Dipa Karmakar in her category?
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Answer: (A) 4
Explanation
Dipa Karmakar finished in fourth place in the Women's Vault gymnastics event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Representing India, she became the first Indian female gymnast to ever qualify for the Olympic Games and reach a final. In the vault finals held on August 14, 2016, she performed the highly difficult Produnova vault and achieved an average score of 15.066 points. She narrowly missed the bronze medal by a margin of 0.150 points, finishing behind Simone Biles of the USA, Maria Paseka of Russia, and Giulia Steingruber of Switzerland.
540General Awareness
The 14th Finance Commission has recommended increase in States share in net proceeds from tax collection from 32% to
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Answer: (C) 42%
Explanation
The 14th Finance Commission, chaired by Dr. Y.V. Reddy, recommended a substantial increase in the vertical devolution of the divisible pool of central taxes to the states. Specifically, it proposed raising the states' share from the 32% established by the 13th Finance Commission to 42%. This recommendation aimed to provide states with greater fiscal autonomy and flexibility in designing and implementing their own development schemes by increasing the flow of unconditional transfers. The Union Government accepted this recommendation, making it effective for the five-year period from 2015-16 to 2019-20. This shift marked the largest single increase in the vertical share of tax devolution in India's history.
541General Awareness
Fiscal policy in India is formulated by
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Answer: (C) Finance Ministry
Explanation
Fiscal policy in India is formulated and implemented by the Ministry of Finance. It involves the use of government spending, taxation, and borrowing to influence the country's economic conditions. The Department of Economic Affairs within the Ministry is the nodal agency responsible for preparing the Union Budget, which serves as the primary vehicle for fiscal policy. By adjusting tax rates and allocating funds to various sectors, the Finance Ministry manages the fiscal deficit and aims to achieve macroeconomic objectives such as price stability, full employment, and sustainable economic growth.
542General Awareness
Which of the following has pH value ?7
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Answer: (A) Pure Water
Explanation
Pure water is considered a neutral substance because it contains an equal concentration of hydrogen ions (H^+) and hydroxide ions (OH^-). According to the self-ionization of water at 25°C, the product of the molar concentrations of these ions is K_w = [H^+][OH^-] = 1 × 10⁻¹⁴. In pure water, the concentration of hydrogen ions [H^+] is exactly 1 × 10⁻⁷ moles per liter. The pH value is calculated using the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration, pH = -log[H^+]. Substituting the value gives pH = -log(10⁻⁷) = 7. This value represents the neutral point of the pH scale, signifying that the substance is neither acidic nor basic under standard conditions.
543General Awareness
When ice cubes are made, the entropy of water
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Answer: (B) decreases
Explanation
Entropy is a thermodynamic measure of the molecular disorder or randomness within a system. When water transitions from a liquid state to a solid state to form ice cubes, its molecules lose kinetic energy and move from a relatively disordered arrangement to a highly ordered crystalline lattice structure. In this solid phase, the freedom of movement for the water molecules is significantly restricted compared to the liquid phase. Mathematically, the change in entropy is defined as dS = (dQ)/(T). During the freezing process, heat is extracted from the water to the surroundings, making dQ negative. Consequently, the entropy of the water system decreases as it becomes more ordered.
544General Awareness
Two vectors are said to be equal if
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Answer: (C) both magnitude and direction are same
Explanation
A vector is a mathematical entity defined by two essential properties: magnitude, which represents its size or length, and direction, which represents its orientation in space. Two vectors A and B are defined as equal if they possess the same magnitude and point in the same direction. Mathematically, this condition ensures that |A| = |B| and that the unit vectors describing their directions are identical. In Cartesian coordinates, equality is established when the components of the vectors along each axis are equal, specifically Aₓ = Bₓ, A_y = B_y, and A_z = B_z. This definition allows for the principle of free translation of vectors in space, where a vector can be moved to any position as long as its length and orientation remain unchanged.
545General Awareness
The chemical component that is invariably found in all viruses is
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Answer: (A) proteins
Explanation
Viruses are acellular infectious agents that fundamentally consist of a nucleic acid genome packaged inside a protective protein shell known as a capsid. This capsid is composed of protein subunits called capsomeres and is a universal structural component required to protect the viral genome from environmental degradation and to facilitate attachment to host cells. While the genetic material within a virus can be either DNA or RNA, neither specific type of nucleic acid is common to all viruses. Similarly, lipid membranes or envelopes are only found in certain types of viruses. Therefore, proteins are the only chemical component invariably present in every virus.
546General Awareness
Which is used as an Air pollution indicator?
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Answer: (D) Lichens
Explanation
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. They serve as reliable bioindicators of air quality because they lack a protective outer cuticle and roots, meaning they must absorb water and nutrients directly from the atmosphere. This physiological trait makes them exceptionally sensitive to airborne pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO₂). When pollution levels rise, lichens accumulate toxic substances that disrupt their metabolic processes, leading to stunted growth or death. Consequently, the presence, abundance, and diversity of lichen species in a given environment are used to assess long-term air purity and detect the presence of industrial contaminants.
547General Awareness
The study of mountains is known as
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Answer: (C) Orology
Explanation
Orology is the branch of physical geography and geology that deals specifically with the scientific study of mountains. The term is derived from the Greek words oros, meaning mountain, and logos, meaning study or discourse. This field focuses on the formation, structure, and distribution of mountains, including the tectonic processes of mountain building known as orogeny. It examines how various geological forces, such as folding, faulting, and volcanic activity, contribute to the creation and evolution of mountain systems across the Earth's surface.
548General Awareness
Salination of soil is caused by
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Answer: (C) excess irrigation
Explanation
Salination occurs when excess irrigation water, particularly in regions with poor drainage, causes the water table to rise. As the water moves upward through the soil via capillary action, it carries dissolved salts from the deeper layers to the surface. When the water evaporates, these salts are left behind and accumulate in the topsoil. Over time, this process increases the concentration of salts like sodium chloride and calcium sulfate to levels that are toxic to most crops, significantly reducing soil fertility and productivity.
549General Awareness
ICC World T20 in 2016 was won by
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Answer: (D) West Indies
Explanation
West Indies won the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 by defeating England in the final match held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Chasing a target of 156 runs, West Indies achieved the victory in the final over when Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes. This win marked West Indies' second World T20 title, making them the first team to win the tournament twice after their initial success in 2012. The team was captained by Darren Sammy during the tournament.
550General Awareness
Which one of the following was established with a definite provision under an Article of the Constitution of India?
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Answer: (C) Election Commission
Explanation
Article 324 of the Constitution of India provides a definite provision for the establishment of the Election Commission. This article stipulates that the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State and of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President shall be vested in the Election Commission. It is a permanent and independent constitutional body designed to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections, which is fundamental to the democratic structure of India.