SSC CGL Tier 1 2020 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

In December 2019, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) constituted the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES) to improve the quality of data related to the economy, such as the Index of Industrial Production, the Annual Survey of Industries, and the Periodic Labour Force Survey. Pronab Sen, who served as India's first Chief Statistician and the former Chairman of the National Statistical Commission, was appointed as the head of this 28-member panel. The committee was tasked with reviewing the methodology for economic datasets and subsuming various existing sector-specific committees to ensure a more integrated and accurate statistical framework for the country.

Explanation

The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) was established in September 1928 during a meeting of revolutionaries at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi. This organization was a reorganization of the earlier Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), which had been founded in 1924. Led by figures such as Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Bhagwati Charan Vohra, the group added the word Socialist to its name to reflect a shift in ideology toward Marxist principles and the goal of establishing a socialistic republic in India. This transition marked a move from purely nationalist activities toward a broader revolutionary struggle aimed at ending both foreign rule and internal exploitation.

Explanation

Wings India 2020 was a biennial flagship event on Civil Aviation (Commercial, General, and Business Aviation) organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). It took place from March 12 to 15, 2020, at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, Telangana. The event was centered around the theme Flying for All and served as a global platform for the aviation industry to showcase new aircraft, facilitate business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, and discuss the future of the aviation sector in India.

Explanation

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) is widely known in the glass industry as glassmaker soap because of its ability to neutralize the green tint caused by iron impurities. Most sand used in glass manufacturing contains small amounts of iron, which typically gives the glass a greenish-yellow hue due to the presence of ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Manganese dioxide acts as a powerful oxidizing agent that converts these ferrous ions into ferric ions (Fe³⁺), which have a much weaker yellow tint. Beyond this chemical oxidation, manganese dioxide also introduces a complementary purple or violet tint to the glass. According to the principles of subtractive color mixing, the purple tint of the manganese cancels out the remaining yellow-green tint of the iron, resulting in a clear, colorless appearance.

Explanation

The Election Commission of India functioned as a single-member body from its inception in 1950 until October 1989. On October 16, 1989, the President of India appointed two additional Election Commissioners to assist the Chief Election Commissioner for the first time. This expansion was necessitated by the increased workload brought about by the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988, which reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the President has the authority to fix the number of Election Commissioners, and this 1989 appointment marked the transition of the commission into a multi-member body.

Explanation

Lord Wavell was the Viceroy and Governor-General of India from 1943 to 1947. While he played a significant role in facilitating the negotiations between the British government and Indian political leaders, he was not a formal member of the Cabinet Mission itself. The mission was composed specifically of three ministers of the British Cabinet sent from London by Prime Minister Clement Attlee to discuss the constitutional future of India. Lord Wavell functioned as the head of the British administration in India and worked alongside the mission, but he did not hold a seat as one of its ministerial members.

Explanation

Rani Rampal, the captain of the Indian Women's Hockey team, was nominated by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the World Games Athlete of the Year 2019 award. This nomination followed her instrumental role in leading the Indian team to victory in the FIH Series Finals and securing a berth for the Tokyo Olympics. In January 2020, she made history by winning the award through a global public vote, becoming the first-ever hockey player to be named the World Games Athlete of the Year. The accolade recognizes athletes who have demonstrated outstanding performance and a strong commitment to their sport and social responsibility.

Explanation

Lord Cornwallis served as the Governor-General of Bengal from 1786 to 1793, a tenure that completely covered the duration of the Third Anglo-Mysore War fought between 1790 and 1792. During this conflict, he took the unusual step of personally leading the British troops in the field against Tipu Sultan. Under his command, the British forces and their allies, the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, marched toward Seringapatam, the capital of Mysore. The military pressure exerted by Cornwallis eventually forced Tipu Sultan to negotiate for peace, resulting in the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792. This victory significantly enhanced the prestige and territorial holdings of the East India Company in southern India.

Explanation

Rohit Sharma laid the foundation stone for the cricket stadium and training centre at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the global headquarters of the Heartfulness Institute in Hyderabad, in February 2020. The facility was named the Rohit Sharma Cricket Stadium as a tribute to his contributions to the sport. During his visit, he inaugurated the cricket pitch and expressed the importance of combining physical training with mental wellness and meditation for athletes. This facility was designed to provide professional coaching and modern infrastructure to budding cricketers while promoting the Heartfulness meditation techniques to enhance their performance and focus.

Explanation

Article 140 of the Indian Constitution relates to the ancillary powers of the Supreme Court. It stipulates that Parliament may, by law, confer upon the Supreme Court such supplemental powers as may appear necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling the Court to more effectively exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by the Constitution. These ancillary powers must not be inconsistent with any of the existing provisions of the Constitution. This article ensures that the judiciary has the requisite legal authority to implement its decisions and manage its functions comprehensively, allowing for legislative support in enhancing the Court's operational effectiveness.

Explanation

National Highway 66 is a major north-south highway that runs along the western coast of India, parallel to the Western Ghats. It traverses through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, connecting Panvel to Kanyakumari. Before the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways implemented a systematic renumbering of all national highways in 2010 to make the network more intuitive, this coastal stretch was officially designated as National Highway 17.

Explanation

Charles Wilkins was a prominent Orientalist and a founding member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal who translated the Bhagavad Gita into English for the first time in 1785. Published under the title The Bhagvat-Geeta, or Dialogues of Kreeshna and Arjoon, this translation was supported by the Governor-General Warren Hastings, who wrote a significant introduction to the work. Wilkins is often referred to as the father of Sanskrit typography because he also designed and manufactured the first Devanagari typefaces used for printing in India. His translation played a crucial role in introducing Indian philosophical and religious thought to the Western world during the late eighteenth century.

Explanation

According to the data released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), India recorded the highest number of births globally on January 1, 2020. Out of an estimated 392,078 babies born worldwide on New Year's Day, India accounted for approximately 67,385 births, which was the largest contribution by any single country. This figure represented about 17 percent of the total global births on that day, reflecting India's significant demographic scale at the start of the decade.

Explanation

Lai Haraoba is a significant ritualistic festival celebrated by the Meitei community in the state of Manipur. The term translates to merry-making of the gods and is observed to honor the Umang Lai, who are the traditional deities associated with sacred groves. The festival is a complex blend of religious rites, oral literature, music, and dance that depicts the creation of the universe and the evolution of life. It serves as a precursor to the classical Manipuri dance forms and involves various traditional performances, including the Khamba-Thoibi dance. Typically held in the months of April or May, the festivities are led by priestesses known as Maibis and priests known as Maibas, ensuring the preservation of the ancient cultural and spiritual heritage of the Manipuri people.

Explanation

Mumbai Central Railway Station was designated as India's first Eat Right Station by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in December 2019. The station received a four-star rating following an extensive audit process that assessed food storage, hygiene, and distribution practices. This certification is a part of the Eat Right India movement, which focuses on providing safe and nutritious food to passengers. To qualify for this status, the station implemented strict food safety management systems, ensured regular training for food handlers, and maintained high standards for waste disposal and pest control. The rating is based on compliance with food safety regulations and the availability of healthy food options for commuters.

Explanation

Stephanie Louise Kwolek was an American chemist at DuPont who discovered the synthetic fiber poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, commercially known as Kevlar, in 1965. While looking for a lightweight yet strong fiber to be used in tires, she developed a unique liquid crystalline solution that could be cold-spun into exceptionally strong and stiff fibers. Kevlar is renowned for being five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis and is extensively used in the manufacturing of bulletproof vests, combat helmets, racing tires, and aerospace components.

Explanation

The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019, which is the 16th biennial assessment by the Forest Survey of India, recorded the total forest and tree cover of the country as 8,07,276 square kilometers. This amount represents 24.56 percent of the total geographical area of India. The total is comprised of a forest cover of 7,12,249 square kilometers, representing 21.67 percent, and a tree cover of 95,027 square kilometers, representing 2.89 percent. The 2019 report showed an increase in the total forest and tree cover compared to the previous 2017 assessment.

Explanation

Scandium (Sc), with atomic number 21, has 13 recognized isotopes spanning the mass number range from 40 to 52. It is classified as a monoisotopic element because only one of these isotopes, ⁴⁵Sc, is stable and occurs naturally with 100 percent abundance. The other 12 isotopes are radioactive and have been characterized through nuclear synthesis. These radioisotopes include ⁴⁰Sc, ⁴¹Sc, ⁴²Sc, ⁴³Sc, ⁴⁴Sc, ⁴⁶Sc, ⁴⁷Sc, ⁴⁸Sc, ⁴⁹Sc, ⁵⁰Sc, ⁵¹Sc, and ⁵²Sc. Among the radioactive isotopes, ⁴⁶Sc is the most stable with a half-life of approximately 83.8 days, while ⁴⁷Sc and ⁴⁸Sc have half-lives of 3.35 days and 43.7 hours respectively. All other radioactive isotopes have half-lives of less than 4 hours, and most are shorter than two minutes.

Explanation

The Ambubasi Fair, commonly known as the Ambubachi Mela, is a prominent Hindu festival held annually at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. It is celebrated during the Assamese month of Ahaar, which typically falls in mid-June. The festival observes the annual menstruation cycle of the Goddess Kamakhya, who resides in the temple as the presiding deity representing the creative power of nature and Mother Earth. For three days during the fair, the temple remains closed to the public as it is believed the Goddess is undergoing her period of rest. On the fourth day, the temple is reopened with great ceremony, and thousands of devotees and tantric practitioners gather to seek blessings and receive the sacred red cloth known as Rakta Bastra.

Explanation

Gully Boy, directed by Zoya Akhtar and starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, was selected as India's official entry for the 92nd Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film was chosen by a 28-member jury appointed by the Film Federation of India from a pool of 27 entries. Inspired by the lives of Mumbai street rappers Divine and Naezy, the movie premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival before its domestic release. Although it did not make it to the final shortlist of the Academy, it represented India at the 2020 Oscars.

Explanation

According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019, published by the Forest Survey of India, Mizoram recorded the highest number of forest fire alerts in the country. The monitoring of forest fires was conducted using the SNPP-VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor, which detected 27,347 fire alerts in Mizoram during the period from November 2018 to June 2019. This figure placed Mizoram at the top of the list nationally, largely due to the widespread practice of shifting cultivation, also known as jhum, where forest patches are cleared and burned for agricultural purposes.

Explanation

Zirconium is a transition metal located in Group 4 and Period 5 of the periodic table, denoted by the symbol Zr and atomic number 40. The atomic mass of an element is determined by the weighted average of the masses of its naturally occurring isotopes based on their abundance. Zirconium possesses five naturally occurring isotopes: ⁹⁰Zr, ⁹¹Zr, ⁹²Zr, ⁹⁴Zr, and ⁹⁶Zr. The integration of these isotopic masses results in a standard atomic mass of approximately 91.224 atomic mass units (u). This value is commonly rounded to 91.22 u in scientific literature and periodic tables for general chemical calculations.

Explanation

Vece Paes, the father of Indian tennis player Leander Paes, was a member of the Indian national field hockey team. He played as a midfielder and represented the country at several international tournaments, most notably during the 1972 Munich Olympics. As a part of that squad, he won an Olympic bronze medal, contributing to India's historic legacy in the sport. He also served as a sports medicine physician for the Indian team in later years, maintaining a long-standing association with national athletics.

Explanation

ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine. In the banking industry, a teller is a bank employee who deals directly with customers to handle routine transactions like cash withdrawals, deposits, and account inquiries. An Automated Teller Machine is an electronic telecommunications device designed to perform these same functions automatically, allowing customers to access their bank accounts and complete financial transactions without the need for a human clerk or cashier.

Explanation

The Ashta Pradhan was a council of eight ministers established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674 to provide a formal structure to the administration of the Maratha Empire. Each member of this council was responsible for a specific department of the state, ensuring specialized oversight of various administrative functions. The council included high-ranking officials such as the Peshwa, who oversaw general administration, the Amatya, who managed state finances, and the Senapati, who acted as the commander-in-chief of the military. Other roles included the Sumant for foreign affairs, the Sachiv for royal correspondence, the Mantri for intelligence and domestic affairs, the Nyayadhish for justice, and the Panditrao for religious matters. This system was instrumental in decentralizing executive duties while maintaining the central authority of the king, to whom all ministers were directly accountable.

Explanation

The power of a lens measures its ability to converge or diverge light rays and is defined as the reciprocal of its focal length (f) measured in meters. The formula is expressed as P = (1)/(f). The SI unit for measuring the optical power of a lens or curved mirror is the dioptre, represented by the symbol D. One dioptre is equal to the reciprocal of one meter (1 D = 1 m⁻¹). In the given value of -2.0 D, the negative sign indicates a concave or diverging lens, while D denotes the unit dioptre used to quantify its refractive strength.

Explanation

Lipulekh Pass is a significant mountain pass located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, within the Kumaon region of the Himalayas. Situated at an altitude of approximately 5,200 meters, it connects the Vyas Valley of India with the Tibet region of China. Historically and culturally important, the pass is a major route for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and serves as one of the officially designated border trade points between India and China. In early 2020, the strategic importance of this pass was further highlighted with the inauguration of a new link road connecting Dharchula to Lipulekh, which was constructed to facilitate smoother travel for pilgrims and improve connectivity in the high-altitude border region.

Explanation

The Indian National Congress held a special session in Calcutta in September 1920, which was presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai. This session was specifically convened to consider the proposal of starting the Non-Cooperation Movement as a response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Khilafat issue. Mahatma Gandhi moved the resolution for non-cooperation, which was adopted by the party, marking a significant shift toward mass mobilization and peaceful resistance against British rule. The decisions taken during this special session were later ratified and formalized at the regular annual session held in Nagpur in December 1920.

Explanation

Padayani is a traditional ritualistic folk dance and art form indigenous to the state of Kerala, specifically associated with the Bhadrakali temples in the central regions of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. The performance is a blend of music, dance, theatre, and satire, where performers wear massive, elaborate masks called kolams. These masks are intricately crafted using the fronds of areca nut palms and painted with natural colors. The ritual is traditionally performed to appease the goddess Kali following her victory over the demon Darika, and it serves as a symbolic purification of the village.

Explanation

The Narmada River forms the Dhuandhar waterfall at Bhedaghat, located approximately 25 kilometers from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. The name Dhuandhar is derived from the Hindi words dhuan, meaning smoke, and dhar, meaning flow, describing the mist created as the river plunges about 30 meters over a vertical drop. This spectacular waterfall is world-famous for its path through the Marble Rocks, where the river narrows significantly and cuts through deep gorges of white magnesium limestone. As a major west-flowing river in India, the Narmada creates this feature while flowing through the rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges.

Explanation

A cation is an ion or group of atoms that possesses a positive electric charge, which occurs when there are fewer electrons than protons. The ammonium ion is a polyatomic cation with the chemical formula NH₄⁺. It is formed when a molecule of ammonia (NH₃) accepts a hydrogen ion (H⁺), also known as a proton. This addition of a proton gives the resulting molecular structure a net positive charge of +1. In chemical bonding and ionic compounds, ammonium acts as a single positively charged unit that can form salts by bonding with various anions.

Explanation

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officially renamed the strategic Rohtang Tunnel as the Atal Tunnel on December 25, 2019. This decision was taken to honor the memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 95th birth anniversary, as he had originally conceived the idea for the project in 2000. Located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, the tunnel provides all-weather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. Spanning approximately 9.02 kilometers, it is recognized as the longest highway tunnel in the world at such an elevation, significantly reducing the travel distance and time between Manali and Leh.

Explanation

Sudha Murthy, a renowned Indian author and social worker, wrote Wise and Otherwise: A Salute to Life. First published in 2002, the book is a non-fiction collection of fifty vignettes based on her real-life encounters and experiences while traveling across India and working with the Infosys Foundation. Through these short stories, she explores various facets of human nature, detailing both the selfless and the selfish acts of the people she met. The narratives serve as reflections on values, ethics, and the diverse social landscape of the country, highlighting the complexity of the human spirit in a simple and poignant manner.

Explanation

The Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2019 was conferred upon Krishnamachari Srikkanth by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The honor was presented during the BCCI Annual Awards ceremony held in January 2020, recognizing his significant contributions to Indian cricket. Srikkanth was a key member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad and later served as the captain of the Indian team. Following his playing career, he also served as the Chairman of the Senior Selection Committee. The award, named after India's first Test captain, is the highest honor bestowed by the BCCI on former players for their lifelong service to the sport.

Explanation

Crown glass is a type of optical glass used in lenses and other optical components, typically possessing a refractive index of approximately 1.52. Canada balsam, a resin obtained from the balsam fir tree, has a refractive index of about 1.52 to 1.53. Due to this near-perfect match in refractive indices, Canada balsam has been traditionally used in the field of optics as an invisible adhesive for cementing glass lens elements together and for preparing permanent microscope slides, as it allows light to pass through the glass-resin interface with minimal reflection or refraction.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a government-backed life insurance scheme in India designed to provide financial security to the family of the insured. It offers a one-year term life insurance cover of ₹2 Lakh, which is payable to the nominee in the event of the death of the insured member due to any reason. The scheme is available to individuals in the age group of 18 to 50 years who possess a savings bank account and provide consent for the annual auto-debit of the premium. While the enrollment age is capped at 50, the life cover continues up to the age of 55 years, provided the annual premium is paid regularly to keep the policy in force.

Explanation

Kalpa is the specific Vedanga that deals with the systematization and practice of Vedic rituals and ceremonies. It serves as a manual for the application of Vedic knowledge, providing detailed instructions on the performance of sacrifices and the conduct of domestic life according to Vedic traditions. The Kalpa literature is primarily composed in the form of Sutras, which include the Shrauta Sutras for public religious ceremonies, the Grihya Sutras for household rituals and life-cycle events, and the Dharma Sutras which outline social and legal duties. This discipline ensures that the procedural aspects of the Vedas are preserved and executed with precision.

Explanation

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on 9th January to recognize the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. This date was chosen to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9th January 1915. Since his return marked the beginning of a new era in India's freedom struggle, he is considered the greatest Pravasi. The event was established in 2003 and is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs. While it was initially an annual event, the format was revised in 2015 to celebrate the convention once every two years to strengthen the engagement of the Indian diaspora with the government.

Explanation

The Right to Freedom of Religion is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of India under Articles 25 to 28 of Part III. These provisions ensure the secular character of the Indian state. Article 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion to all individuals. Article 26 provides religious denominations the right to manage their own religious affairs, including the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes. Article 27 ensures that no person shall be compelled to pay any taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion or religious denomination. Article 28 prohibits religious instruction in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds and protects individuals from being compelled to take part in religious instruction or worship in state-aided or recognized institutions.

Explanation

Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is a transition metal that remains in a liquid state at standard temperature and pressure. Like other metals, mercury possesses a sea of delocalized valence electrons that are free to move through the material when an electric potential is applied. This characteristic makes it a good conductor of electricity. Because insulators are defined as materials that strongly resist the flow of electric current, mercury, being a metallic conductor, does not belong to that category.

Explanation

The Dharmraja Ratha is the largest and most structurally complex of the Five Rathas (Pancha Rathas) located in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. These monolithic monuments were carved out of a single outcropping of pink granite during the 7th-century reign of the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I. The Dharmraja Ratha is particularly significant for its three-storeyed pyramidal tower, known as a vimana, which served as a prototype for later Dravidian temple architecture. It features high-quality bas-relief carvings of Hindu deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, and contains inscriptions in the Pallava Grantha script that mention the titles of the king. The entire site is recognized as part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Explanation

Cytology is the branch of biology specifically dedicated to the scientific study of cells, which are the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms. The term is derived from the Greek words kytos, meaning vessel or container, and logia, meaning study. This field of science focuses on the examination of cell structure, composition, and various cellular processes such as metabolism, reproduction, and signaling. It encompasses the analysis of individual cell components, including organelles like the nucleus and mitochondria, to understand how they contribute to the life and function of the cell.

Explanation

In September 2019, Visa, the global leader in payments technology, signed world champion badminton player P.V. Sindhu as its brand ambassador for the Indian market. She became the first Indian athlete to join Team Visa, a global athlete support program, as part of the company's marketing campaign leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The two-year agreement involved Sindhu promoting Visa’s digital payment products and brand values across various media platforms.

Explanation

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is a prestigious international award established in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy through the Hyatt Foundation. Often described as the Nobel Prize of architecture, it is awarded annually to honor a living architect whose work demonstrates talent, vision, and a deep commitment to the art of architecture. The prize recognizes individuals who have made significant and consistent contributions to humanity and the built environment through their professional practice. Recipients receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion, with the ceremony traditionally held at architecturally significant sites worldwide to celebrate the impact of their creative excellence on society.

Explanation

India shares a 4,096.7 km long international border with Bangladesh, which is the longest land border India shares with any of its neighbors. The states that share this boundary are West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Manipur is located in the easternmost part of Northeast India and shares its international border exclusively with Myanmar to the east and south. It is geographically separated from Bangladesh by the intervening territories of Assam and Mizoram.

Explanation

Rumtek Monastery, also known as the Dharma Chakra Centre, is situated near Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. It is the largest and one of the most significant monasteries in the state, serving as the main seat-in-exile of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery was established in its current location during the 1960s by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, following his departure from Tibet. The complex is a major center for Buddhist studies and houses a golden stupa containing the relics of the 16th Karmapa, along with numerous ancient manuscripts and religious icons.

Explanation

Celestial bodies, also referred to as heavenly bodies, are natural objects located outside the Earth's atmosphere that are visible in the sky. This general term encompasses a wide variety of entities including stars, planets, moons, and smaller objects. These bodies are observable during the night because they either emit their own light through internal processes, such as the nuclear fusion occurring in stars, or they reflect the light originating from other luminous sources like the Sun. The classification includes any distinct physical entity or association that exists in the observable universe.

Explanation

Dr. R. Nagaswamy, a renowned Indian archaeologist and epigraphist, was honored for his lifetime contribution to archaeology and art history during the Silver Jubilee International Conference of Art held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in December 2019. The event was organized by the International Centre for Study of Bengal Art (ICSBA) to commemorate its 25th anniversary. Nagaswamy was recognized for his extensive research and scholarly work that bridged cultural and artistic links between different regions of South Asia, particularly his studies on the influence of South Indian art and architecture. He previously served as the first Director of the Tamil Nadu Government Archaeology Department and was also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.

Explanation

In January 2020, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) inaugurated its first silk processing plant at Surendranagar in Gujarat. The primary objective of this facility is to reduce the production cost of the famous Patola sarees by ensuring the local availability of high-quality silk yarn. Prior to the establishment of this plant, silk yarn was sourced from other states, which added significant transportation and logistics costs to the final product. By processing silk locally from cocoons, the plant supports the traditional handicraft industry of the region and provides enhanced livelihood opportunities for local artisans and weavers.

Explanation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the book Karmayoddha Granth on January 7, 2020, in New Delhi. The book chronicles the life, political journey, and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It describes him as a Karmayoddha, meaning a person who performs their duties with complete dedication and selfless service to the nation. The text highlights his trajectory from a common man to the Prime Minister of India, focusing on his governance model, various public welfare schemes, and the transformative changes brought about during his tenure. Amit Shah emphasized during the launch that the book serves to inspire people by detailing how a leader can remain committed to the ideals of democracy and the upliftment of the poor through hard work and determination.