A change in which one or more new substances are formed is called ________.
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Answer: (B) Chemical Change
Explanation
A chemical change is a process where the chemical composition of a substance is altered, leading to the formation of one or more entirely new substances. During this transformation, chemical bonds between atoms are broken or formed, resulting in products that possess different physical and chemical properties from the original reactants. These changes are usually irreversible and are often accompanied by observable indicators such as the evolution of gas, a change in temperature, the production of light, or a permanent color change. Common examples include the combustion of fuel, the neutralization of an acid with a base, and the ripening of fruit.
802General Awareness
The property of metals by which they can be beaten into thin sheets is called ________.
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Answer: (B) malleability
Explanation
Malleability is a physical property of metals that describes their ability to be deformed under compressive stress. When a metal is hammered, rolled, or pressed, this property allows it to transition into thin sheets without cracking or breaking. This occurs because the atoms in a metallic lattice are arranged in layers that can slide over each other into new positions when pressure is applied, while the delocalized sea of electrons continues to hold the structure together. Gold and silver are highly malleable metals, allowing them to be beaten into extremely thin foils.
803General Awareness
________ is the number of individuals of the same species that have come into the habitat from elsewhere during the time period under consideration.
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Answer: (C) Immigration
Explanation
Immigration refers to the process where individuals of the same species move into a specific habitat from a different geographic location during a particular time period. In population ecology, this movement is a key factor that increases the total population size and density of the receiving habitat. Along with natality, immigration contributes positively to the population growth equation, representing the influx of new members from external sources.
804General Awareness
_____________ scheme by the Central Government states that an insurance of 10 lakhs will cover each passenger traveling by Indian Rail while booking a ticket if an amount of 92paise is paid.
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Answer: (D) Railway Travel Insurance
Explanation
In September 2016, the Ministry of Railways, through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), launched an optional travel insurance scheme for passengers booking tickets online. Under this scheme, a passenger can opt for a comprehensive insurance cover of up to 10 lakh rupees by paying a nominal premium of 92 paise at the time of booking. The coverage includes 10 lakh rupees for death or permanent total disability, 7.5 lakh rupees for permanent partial disability, 2 lakh rupees for hospitalization expenses due to injury, and 10,000 rupees for the transportation of mortal remains following a train accident or untoward incident. The scheme is applicable to all passengers booking e-tickets via the IRCTC portal, excluding those traveling on suburban trains.
805General Awareness
Who discovered electricity and invented the lightning rod and bifocals?
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Answer: (B) Benjamin Franklin
Explanation
Benjamin Franklin was a polymath whose scientific experiments and practical inventions significantly advanced human knowledge and safety. In 1752, he conducted his famous kite experiment during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning is a form of electricity, which led to his invention of the lightning rod to protect buildings from strikes. Furthermore, around 1784, he invented bifocals by joining lenses of different focal lengths into a single frame to treat his own presbyopia, allowing for both distance and near vision without switching glasses.
806General Awareness
Which country will be hosting 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup?
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Answer: (D) India
Explanation
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced in November 2013 that India would host the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. This 14th edition of the premier international field hockey tournament was scheduled to be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from 28 November to 16 December 2018. By securing the hosting rights, India became the first country to host the Men's Hockey World Cup back-to-back in terms of being a primary Asian venue for major FIH events in that decade, following its hosting of the 2010 edition in New Delhi.
807General Awareness
Who was the architect of Humayun's Tomb?
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Answer: (C) Mirak Mirza Ghiyath
Explanation
Mirak Mirza Ghiyath was a Persian architect specifically chosen by Empress Bega Begum, the widow of Emperor Humayun, to design the tomb in Delhi. Construction began in 1565 and was completed in 1572. Ghiyath brought Timurid architectural traditions from Herat and Bukhara, introducing the concept of the charbagh garden and the double dome to the Indian subcontinent. His design integrated red sandstone with white marble inlay, creating a monumental structure that served as a precursor and inspiration for later Mughal masterpieces, most notably the Taj Mahal. Ghiyath passed away before the project was finished, and the construction was completed by his son, Sayyid Muhammad.
808General Awareness
Which of the following award is to recognize distinguished service of a high order to the nation?
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Answer: (A) Padma Bhushan
Explanation
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, this award is conferred by the President of India to recognize distinguished service of a high order to the nation in any field. The criteria for Padma awards are specifically tiered based on the nature of the service: the Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and the Padma Shri for distinguished service. It covers a wide range of categories including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.
809General Awareness
Which of the statements given below are correct?
1. The author of the novel 'A Head Full of Ghosts' is M.R Carey.
2. The author of the novel 'The Cartel' is Don Winslow.
3. The author of the novel 'Dodgers' is Bill Beverly.
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Answer: (B) 2 and 3
Explanation
Don Winslow is the author of the crime novel The Cartel, published in 2015, which details the multi-decade conflict of the Mexican drug wars. Bill Beverly wrote the 2016 novel Dodgers, which won the CWA Gold Dagger and the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for its narrative about a young gang member traveling across the United States. The novel A Head Full of Ghosts was written by Paul G. Tremblay, not M.R. Carey, who is known for The Girl with All the Gifts.
810General Awareness
In April 2017, Emma Morano, the world’s oldest woman has passed away at the age of 117. Which country was she from?
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Answer: (A) Italy
Explanation
Emma Morano was an Italian supercentenarian who, at the time of her death on April 15, 2017, was the oldest living person in the world. Born on November 29, 1899, in the Piedmont region of Italy, she held the Guinness World Record as the last living person verified to have been born in the 1800s. She lived nearly her entire life in northern Italy, specifically in the town of Verbania, and her longevity was widely documented by international media and researchers studying the centenarian populations of the Italian peninsula.
811General Awareness
Bangladesh does not share its border with which Indian state?
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Answer: (C) Jharkhand
Explanation
Bangladesh shares its international land border with five Indian states: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Jharkhand is a landlocked state located in eastern India and does not touch the international boundary of Bangladesh. Geographically, Jharkhand is separated from Bangladesh by the state of West Bengal, which lies to its east. Jharkhand shares its borders with Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south, and West Bengal to the east. Since West Bengal acts as a buffer between Jharkhand and Bangladesh, Jharkhand has no direct territorial contact with the neighboring country.
812General Awareness
The ______ balance is equal to capital flows from the rest of the world, minus capital flows to the rest of the world.
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Answer: (C) Capital Account
Explanation
The capital account within the balance of payments framework records all international transactions that involve the acquisition or disposal of financial assets and liabilities. It tracks the movement of capital into and out of a country through components such as foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, and banking capital. The capital account balance is defined as the net result of capital inflows from the rest of the world, which represent an increase in domestic liabilities or a decrease in domestic assets held abroad, minus capital flows to the rest of the world, which represent an increase in foreign assets held by residents or a decrease in foreign liabilities. This balance reflects the net change in a country's stock of national assets and liabilities over a specific period.
813General Awareness
If a consumer's demand for a good moves in the same direction as the consumer's income, the consumer's demand for that good must be inversely related to the price of the good is called __________.
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Answer: (A) Law of demand
Explanation
The Law of Demand states that, ceteris paribus, there is an inverse relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded. When a consumer's demand for a good moves in the same direction as their income, the good is classified as a normal good. For normal goods, the income effect and the substitution effect both work in the same direction. When the price of a normal good decreases, the substitution effect makes the good relatively cheaper, and the increase in purchasing power (real income) further increases the quantity demanded. This reinforcement ensures that the demand curve is downward sloping, consistently following the Law of Demand where dQ/dP < 0.
814General Awareness
"Taxes on agricultural income" is listed in the __________ list given in the Seventh Schedule in the Constitution of India.
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Answer: (B) State
Explanation
The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, under Article 246, defines and specifies the allocation of powers and functions between the Union and the States. Entry 46 of List II, also known as the State List, explicitly grants the State Legislatures the power to levy taxes on agricultural income. While the Central Government has the authority to tax income through Entry 82 of the Union List (List I), that entry specifically excludes agricultural income from its purview, thereby reserving the taxation rights for agricultural activities exclusively to the individual state governments.
815General Awareness
__________ approves constitutional amendments.
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Answer: (A) Rajya Sabha
Explanation
Article 368 of the Indian Constitution stipulates that an amendment can be initiated only by the introduction of a Bill in either House of Parliament. As the Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of the Parliament, its approval is mandatory for any constitutional amendment to take effect. Such a Bill must be passed in the Rajya Sabha by a special majority, which is defined as a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the House present and voting. The Rajya Sabha possesses co-equal powers with the Lok Sabha in this regard, and both Houses must pass the Bill independently because there is no provision for a joint sitting to resolve a deadlock on a Constitutional Amendment Bill.
816General Awareness
After the defeat at Plassey, Sirajuddaullah was assassinated and __________ was made the nawab.
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Answer: (A) Mir Jafar
Explanation
Following the Battle of Plassey in June 1757, the British East India Company emerged victorious after the betrayal of Siraj-ud-Daulah by his commander-in-chief, Mir Jafar. As per the secret pre-battle agreement between Robert Clive and the conspirators, Mir Jafar was installed as the Nawab of Bengal after Siraj-ud-Daulah was captured and executed. This appointment marked the transition of the Company from a mere trading body to a significant political power in India, as the new Nawab granted the British immense monetary compensation and the zamindari rights of the 24 Parganas.
817General Awareness
Sher Shah Sur defeated which Mughal emperor?
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Answer: (A) Humayun
Explanation
Sher Shah Suri defeated the second Mughal emperor Humayun in two critical battles that led to the temporary eclipse of the Mughal Empire. The first major victory occurred at the Battle of Chausa in 1539, where Sher Shah tactical brilliance forced Humayun to flee for his life. This was followed by the Battle of Kannauj, also known as the Battle of Bilgram, in 1540, where Sher Shah decisively crushed the Mughal forces. These victories enabled Sher Shah to occupy Delhi and Agra, establishing the Suri Dynasty and forcing Humayun into a long period of exile in Persia.
818General Awareness
As the river approaches the sea, the speed of the flowing water decreases and the river begins to break up into a number of streams called
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Answer: (D) Distributaries
Explanation
Distributaries are the multiple branching channels that form when a main river reaches its lower course and approaches a large body of water like a sea or an ocean. As the terrain becomes nearly flat, the river's velocity decreases significantly, reducing its ability to transport sediment. Consequently, the river deposits its load of silt and sand, which creates obstacles in the main channel. To bypass these deposits, the water splits into several smaller streams that flow away from the main river and enter the sea independently. This process is the primary mechanism behind the formation of river deltas.
819General Awareness
The method of soil conservation in which rocks are piled up to slow down the flow of water which prevents gullies and further soil loss is called?
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Answer: (C) Rock dam
Explanation
Rock dams are a structural soil conservation measure where rocks and stones are piled up across a gully or a small stream. The primary function of this method is to create a barrier that reduces the velocity of flowing water. By slowing down the surface runoff, these dams prevent the water from gaining enough kinetic energy to erode the soil and deepen existing gullies. Furthermore, the reduction in water speed allows sediment and silt carried by the runoff to settle behind the rocks, which helps in filling up gullies over time and prevents the further loss of fertile topsoil.
820General Awareness
In females, the uterus is ________.
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Answer: (A) Single
Explanation
The uterus, also known as the womb, is a single, hollow, muscular organ located in the female pelvic cavity between the urinary bladder and the rectum. In humans, it is a pear-shaped structure that serves as the site for implantation of a fertilized ovum and the subsequent development of the fetus during pregnancy. Anatomically, the uterus is formed during embryonic development by the complete fusion of the two paramesonephric ducts, also known as Müllerian ducts. This fusion results in a single uterine body and a single uterine cavity, a condition referred to as a simplex uterus, which is characteristic of primates including humans.
821General Awareness
Which of the following is not correct?
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Answer: (B) Members of Phaeophyceae are commonly called red algae
Explanation
Members of the class Phaeophyceae are commonly known as brown algae, not red algae. The characteristic brown color of these organisms is due to the presence of the xanthophyll pigment fucoxanthin, along with chlorophyll a and c. In contrast, red algae belong to the class Rhodophyceae, which possess the red pigment r-phycoerythrin that masks their chlorophyll content. Therefore, identifying Phaeophyceae as red algae is taxonomically and biologically incorrect.
822General Awareness
Adamsia (Sea anemone), Pennatula (Sea-pen) are examples of which Phylum?
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Answer: (A) Coelenterata
Explanation
Adamsia and Pennatula are representative organisms of the Phylum Coelenterata, which is also known as Cnidaria. These aquatic, mostly marine animals are characterized by their radial symmetry and the presence of specialized stinging cells called cnidoblasts or cnidocytes located on their tentacles and body. Adamsia, commonly referred to as the sea anemone, typically exists in a polyp form and is well-known for its symbiotic relationships with hermit crabs. Pennatula is a colonial coelenterate known as the sea-pen because its structure resembles a quill pen. Both organisms share the fundamental coelenterate body plan, featuring a central gastrovascular cavity with a single opening that serves as both mouth and anus.
823General Awareness
If the force applied on the object is in the direction of its motion, the speed of the object ________.
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Answer: (A) increases
Explanation
According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, F = ma, the acceleration a produced in an object is in the same direction as the net force F applied to it. When a force is applied in the direction of an object's motion, the acceleration vector aligns with the velocity vector. Since acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity, (dv)/(dt), an acceleration in the direction of motion results in a positive increase in the magnitude of velocity. This increase in the magnitude of velocity over time means that the speed of the object increases.
824General Awareness
The shape of the outer part of the ear is like a ________.
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Answer: (A) funnel
Explanation
The outer part of the ear, specifically the pinna or auricle, is shaped like a funnel to efficiently collect and direct sound waves from the surrounding environment into the ear canal. This wide, curved structure captures acoustic energy over a larger area and channels it through the external auditory meatus toward the middle ear. The funnel-like design helps in localizing the source of sounds and slightly amplifying them before they reach the tympanic membrane.
825General Awareness
In Microsoft Excel, the ________() function is used to count the number of cells that contain numbers within the list of arguments.
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Answer: (B) COUNT
Explanation
The COUNT function is specifically designed to calculate the number of cells that contain numbers and also numbers within the list of arguments. It counts numeric data types including integers, decimals, dates, and times, but ignores empty cells, text, logical values, or error values within a range. This function is a fundamental tool in Excel for data analysis when the objective is to determine the quantity of numerical entries in a specific dataset or array without including non-numeric information.
826General Awareness
Fabric made from ________ does not get wrinkled easily.
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Answer: (D) Polyester
Explanation
Polyester is a synthetic polymer fiber composed of long-chain esters. It is widely recognized for its high resilience and elasticity, which allow the material to spring back to its original shape after being compressed or folded. The molecular structure of polyester is relatively rigid, preventing the internal chains from shifting permanently when the fabric is crushed. This structural stability ensures that the fabric maintains its smooth appearance and remains resistant to stretching, shrinking, and creasing. Furthermore, polyester is hydrophobic, meaning it absorbs very little moisture, which contributes to its ability to hold its shape and resist wrinkling even in humid conditions.
827General Awareness
What is formed when Carbon Dioxide is passed through Lime Water?
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Answer: (B) Calcium Carbonate
Explanation
Lime water is a dilute aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂. When carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas is passed through lime water, it reacts with the calcium hydroxide to produce calcium carbonate and water according to the following chemical equation:
Ca(OH)₂(aq) + CO₂(g) → CaCO₃(s) + H₂O(l)
The calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formed is an insoluble white precipitate. These solid particles remain suspended in the solution, which causes the lime water to turn milky or cloudy in appearance. This specific chemical change is the standard laboratory test used to identify the presence of carbon dioxide gas.
828General Awareness
The salt concentration (measured as salinity in parts per thousand), is greater than _______ % in hypersaline lagoons.
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Answer: (B) 100
Explanation
Salinity is defined as the total amount of dissolved salts in water, measured in parts per thousand (ppt), which represents the number of grams of salt present in 1,000 grams of water. In geographical and environmental classifications, water bodies are categorized based on their salt content to distinguish between different aquatic ecosystems. Hypersaline lagoons are specialized environments characterized by salt concentrations that are much higher than the average ocean salinity of 35 ppt. These lagoons are specifically defined as having a salinity level greater than 100 ppt. This high concentration occurs in coastal or inland basins where the rate of evaporation significantly exceeds the rate of freshwater inflow from precipitation or rivers, leading to the progressive accumulation of dissolved minerals over time.
829General Awareness
___________ scheme launched by the Central Government aims to cover all those children by 2020 who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases.
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Answer: (D) Indradanush Scheme
Explanation
Mission Indradanush was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in December 2014 to strengthen and re-energize the Universal Immunization Programme. The scheme targets children under two years of age and pregnant women who have been left out of the routine immunization schedule, focusing on those who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. The name Indradanush represents the seven colors of the rainbow, symbolizing the seven diseases the program initially aimed to prevent: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, and hepatitis B. The goal was to accelerate the pace of full immunization coverage in India to at least 90 percent by the year 2020, specifically concentrating on high-risk pockets and districts where the number of unvaccinated children was highest.
830General Awareness
Who discovered Penicillin?
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Answer: (C) Sir Alexander Fleming
Explanation
Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the first true antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928 at St. Mary's Hospital in London. The discovery occurred by chance when he returned from a vacation to find that a green mold, Penicillium notatum, had contaminated one of his culture plates of Staphylococcus bacteria. He observed that the bacteria were unable to grow in the area immediately surrounding the mold. Fleming identified that the mold was secreting a substance that killed the bacteria, which he named penicillin. This discovery revolutionized medicine by providing a powerful tool to treat bacterial infections and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945.
831General Awareness
Who has won the most number of Gold Medals in Olympics?
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Answer: (C) Michael Phelps
Explanation
Michael Phelps is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time. By the conclusion of the 2016 Rio Olympics, the American swimmer had won a total of 23 gold medals, a record that far exceeds any other athlete in the history of the modern Olympic Games. His gold medal tally began at the 2004 Athens Games and continued through Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. In addition to his 23 golds, he won 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, bringing his total career count to 28 Olympic medals. His performance at the 2008 Beijing Games was particularly notable, where he won 8 gold medals in a single Olympiad, breaking the previous record of 7 held by Mark Spitz.
832General Awareness
Gol Gumbaz was built in which century?
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Answer: (C) 17th
Explanation
Gol Gumbaz, located in Vijayapura (formerly Bijapur), Karnataka, is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, the seventh Sultan of the Adil Shahi dynasty. The construction of this massive structure began in 1626 and was completed in 1656. Since these dates fall within the period from 1601 to 1700, the monument belongs to the 17th century. It is a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture, specifically the Deccan style, and is famous for its massive circular dome and the whispering gallery where sound echoes multiple times.
833General Awareness
Which of the following was the winner of the Grammy Awards 2016 "Album of the Year"?
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Answer: (C) 1989
Explanation
The 58th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, held in February 2016, honored the best musical achievements released between late 2014 and 2015. Taylor Swift won the Album of the Year award for her fifth studio album, 1989. This victory was historically significant as it made Swift the first female solo artist to win the Album of the Year category twice, following her previous win for Fearless in 2010. The album 1989 represented a major shift in her career, moving from her country roots into the pop genre, and it achieved widespread critical acclaim and massive commercial success worldwide.
834General Awareness
Which of the statements given below are correct?
1. The author of the novel 'Atonement' is Ian McEwan.
2. The author of the novel 'The Sound and the Fury' is L. Ron Hubbard.
3. The author of the novel 'White Teeth' is Zadie Smith.
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Answer: (C) 1 and 3
Explanation
Ian McEwan is the author of the 2001 novel Atonement, which is a critically acclaimed work examining themes of guilt, innocence, and the nature of storytelling. Zadie Smith wrote the novel White Teeth, published in 2000, which focuses on the lives of two families in North London and won numerous awards, including the Guardian First Book Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
835General Awareness
Sodimejo, the world's 'oldest man' died at the age of 146. Which country was he from?
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Answer: (C) Indonesia
Explanation
Sodimejo, popularly known as Mbah Gotho, was a resident of the Sragen regency in Central Java, Indonesia. According to his residency card issued by the Indonesian government, his birth date was recorded as December 31, 1870. He gained global recognition as the world's oldest man before passing away in April 2017 at the age of 146. While Indonesian authorities verified his documentation, his age remained unverified by international record-keeping organizations because independent records from that era in the region were not available.
836General Awareness
Who is the present Secretary General of SAARC?
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Answer: (D) Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial
Explanation
Amjad Hussain B. Sial, a seasoned career diplomat from Pakistan, assumed the office of the Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on March 1, 2017. He succeeded Arjun Bahadur Thapa of Nepal to become the 13th Secretary General of the organization. His appointment was made by the SAARC Council of Ministers in accordance with the principle of alphabetical rotation among the member states. Prior to this role, he served as the Special Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad and had extensive experience with the regional body, having previously served as a Director at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu from 2003 to 2006.
837General Awareness
India's first official census operation was undertaken in which year?
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Answer: (B) 1881
Explanation
The first synchronous and official census in India was conducted in 1881 under the administration of Lord Ripon, the then Viceroy of India. Although a non-synchronous census had been attempted earlier in 1872, the 1881 census was the first to be held simultaneously across the country, covering the entire British Indian territory. This operation established the foundation for the decennial census system, ensuring a uniform and comprehensive collection of demographic, social, and economic data every ten years. W.W. Hunter was appointed as the Census Commissioner for this landmark statistical exercise.
838General Awareness
The change in the optimal quantity of a good when its price changes and the consumer's income is adjusted so that she can just buy the bundle that she was buying before the price change is called?
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Answer: (B) Substitution effect
Explanation
The substitution effect, specifically according to the Slutsky approach, measures the change in the optimal quantity of a good when its relative price changes while maintaining the consumer's original purchasing power. This is achieved by adjusting the consumer's money income so that they can exactly afford the original bundle of goods at the new prices. By neutralizing the income effect in this manner, any observed change in demand is purely due to the consumer substituting the relatively cheaper good for the relatively more expensive one. This distinguishes it from the Hicksian substitution effect, which keeps utility constant rather than the specific bundle's affordability. In the Slutsky equation Δxᵢ = Δxᵢˢ + Δxᵢⁿ, the term Δxᵢˢ represents this substitution effect.
839General Awareness
"Relief of the disabled and unemployable" is listed in the ________ list given in the Seventh Schedule in the Constitution of India.
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Answer: (B) State
Explanation
The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India defines and specifies the allocation of powers and functions between the Union and the States. It contains three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. Relief of the disabled and unemployable is specifically mentioned under Entry 9 of the State List (List II). This placement means that the State governments have the primary legislative jurisdiction to create policies, schemes, and welfare measures aimed at assisting individuals who are physically or mentally challenged or are unable to find employment due to various incapacities. While the Concurrent List handles broader aspects of social security and labor welfare, the direct relief for these specific vulnerable groups is a state responsibility.
840General Awareness
________ amends the Constitution.
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Answer: (C) Parliament
Explanation
Article 368 in Part XX of the Constitution of India grants the Parliament the power to amend the Constitution and its procedures. This constituent power allows the Parliament to add, vary, or repeal any provision of the Constitution. An amendment can only be initiated by the introduction of a Bill for the purpose in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. The Bill must be passed in each House by a special majority, which is a majority of the total membership of that House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting. Certain amendments that affect the federal structure also require ratification by the legislatures of at least half of the states before the Bill is presented to the President for assent.
841General Awareness
According to the categories of land mentioned in the Chola inscriptions ________ was known as the land gifted to temples?
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Answer: (D) Devadana
Explanation
Devadana, also known as Tirunamattukkani, refers to the land gifted to temples in the Chola administrative system. These land grants were often tax-exempt and intended to provide a steady source of income for the maintenance of the temple, the performance of daily rituals, and the conduct of festivals. Chola inscriptions provide detailed records of such endowments, which played a crucial role in the socio-economic and religious life of the kingdom by establishing the temple as a central institution for local administration and wealth redistribution.
842General Awareness
Rajendra I was the son of?
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Answer: (D) Rajaraja I
Explanation
Rajendra I, also known as Rajendra Chola I, was the son of the great Chola king Rajaraja I. He served as a co-regent alongside his father starting from 1012 CE and formally ascended the throne in 1014 CE after his father's death. Rajendra I is renowned for significantly expanding the Chola Empire's influence by leading military expeditions to Northern India and launching naval campaigns across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia. His reign marked the peak of Chola power and cultural influence in the region.
843General Awareness
___________ is a cold desert lying in the Great Himalayas.
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Answer: (A) Ladakh
Explanation
Ladakh is a high-altitude cold desert located in the northernmost part of India, situated primarily within the Great Himalayas. It lies at an elevation ranging from approximately 3,000 meters in Kargil to more than 8,000 meters in the Karakoram range. Because it is positioned in the rain-shadow zone of the Himalayas, the region receives very little rainfall, often as low as 10 cm annually. The air is extremely thin and dry, causing temperatures to vary from 0°C in summer to below -40°C during the harsh winter months. These climatic conditions, combined with the rugged mountainous terrain and sparse vegetation, characterize Ladakh as a classic cold desert environment.
844General Awareness
The method of soil conservation in which different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash is called?
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Answer: (B) Intercropping
Explanation
Intercropping is a soil conservation practice where different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times. This method ensures that the soil is not left bare at any point during the growing season. By maintaining a continuous vegetative cover, the impact of raindrops is broken, preventing the soil from being loosened and carried away by rain wash. The varying root systems and canopy structures of the different crops further stabilize the soil and improve its water infiltration capacity, significantly reducing erosion.
845General Awareness
In each testes in a male reproductive system, there are ________ compartments called testicular lobules.
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Answer: (C) 250
Explanation
The human male reproductive system includes a pair of testes located within the scrotum. Each testis is covered by a dense fibrous connective tissue capsule known as the tunica albuginea. Fibrous septa extend from this capsule into the interior of the testis, dividing the glandular tissue into approximately 250 pyramidal compartments termed testicular lobules. Each of these lobules contains one to three highly coiled seminiferous tubules, which serve as the primary site for spermatogenesis.
846General Awareness
The predominant stage of the life cycle of a moss is the gametophyte which consists of two stages. The second stage is the ________ stage.
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Answer: (B) Leafy
Explanation
In the life cycle of a moss, the gametophyte is the dominant, independent, and photosynthetic phase. This gametophytic phase develops in two successive stages. The first stage is the protonema stage, which originates directly from the germination of spores and appears as a creeping, green, branched, and filamentous structure. The second stage is the leafy stage, which develops from the secondary protonema as a lateral bud. This stage is characterized by upright, slender axes that bear spirally arranged leaves and is attached to the substratum by multicellular, branched rhizoids. The leafy stage is significant because it is the phase that bears the sex organs for reproduction.
847General Awareness
In Animal Kingdom classification, which of the following is not a Phylum?
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Answer: (C) Coelomates
Explanation
Coelomates is a term used to describe a group of animals that possess a true coelom, which is a fluid-filled body cavity completely lined by mesoderm. Rather than being a specific taxonomic Phylum, it represents a category based on a particular type of body plan or structural organization. In the systematic classification of the Animal Kingdom, various distinct phyla are grouped together as coelomates if they exhibit this anatomical feature. This morphological classification helps distinguish complex animals from acoelomates, which lack a body cavity, and pseudocoelomates, which have a cavity not fully lined by mesoderm. Therefore, the term identifies a biological characteristic shared across multiple different phyla rather than identifying a single Phylum itself.
848General Awareness
Friction is caused by the ________ on the two surfaces in contact.
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Answer: (A) irregularities
Explanation
Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion between two surfaces in contact. On a microscopic level, no surface is perfectly flat; every surface contains numerous tiny peaks and valleys known as irregularities. When two surfaces are pressed together, these microscopic irregularities interlock with each other, creating a resistance to movement. The degree of friction depends significantly on the nature of these irregularities and how strongly the surfaces are pressed together. To initiate or maintain motion, an external force must be applied to overcome this interlocking mechanism, which is why rougher surfaces with more pronounced irregularities generally exhibit higher frictional force than smoother ones.
849General Awareness
The motion of a freely falling body is an example of ________ motion.
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Answer: (A) uniformly accelerated
Explanation
A freely falling body is an object that moves under the sole influence of gravity. Near the surface of the Earth, gravity exerts a constant downward force on the object, resulting in a constant acceleration known as the acceleration due to gravity, denoted by g. The value of g is approximately 9.8 m/s². Since the magnitude and direction of this acceleration remain constant throughout the motion (neglecting air resistance), the velocity of the object increases at a steady and equal rate over equal intervals of time. This specific type of motion, characterized by a constant rate of change of velocity, is defined as uniformly accelerated motion.
850General Awareness
________ (HHDD) is a technology where the conventional disk drive is combined with non-volatile flash memory, of typically 128 MB or more to cache data during normal use.
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Answer: (B) Hybrid Hard Disk Drive
Explanation
A Hybrid Hard Disk Drive (HHDD) is a storage device that integrates the large storage capacity of a traditional hard disk with the high speed of non-volatile flash memory. In this configuration, the flash memory acts as a buffer or cache for data that is frequently accessed by the user or required for system startup processes. By storing this critical data in the solid-state portion of the drive, the system can achieve significantly faster boot times and improved application performance compared to a standard mechanical drive. This technology effectively bridges the gap between the cost-efficiency of magnetic platters and the performance benefits of solid-state storage.