SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India, is composed of representatives chosen by direct election on the basis of adult suffrage. According to the Constitution of India, the maximum strength of the House is 552, consisting of 530 members to represent the States, 20 members to represent the Union Territories, and two members from the Anglo-Indian community to be nominated by the President. However, the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, abolished the provision for the nomination of two members from the Anglo-Indian community. As a result, the current total elective strength of the Lok Sabha is 543. These 543 constituencies are distributed across the States and Union Territories based on their population, with 524 members representing the States and 19 members representing the Union Territories.

Explanation

John Alexander Reina Newlands was an English chemist who proposed the Law of Octaves in 1865. He observed that when chemical elements were arranged according to their increasing atomic weights, those with similar physical and chemical properties occurred at intervals of seven, much like the octaves in music. Although his work was initially rejected by the Chemical Society, its importance as a precursor to the modern periodic law was later recognized. The Royal Society of London awarded him the Davy Medal in 1887 for his discovery of the periodic law of chemical elements, acknowledging his contribution to the systematic classification of elements.

Explanation

The Karve Committee, also known as the Village and Small-scale Industries Committee, was appointed by the Planning Commission in 1955. Chaired by Dattatraya Gopal Karve, the committee was established to examine the potential of small-scale industries in promoting rural development and providing employment. It emphasized the importance of using village and small industries as a means of achieving industrial diversification and economic decentralization. The committee recognized that these industries are more labor-intensive compared to large-scale industries, making them vital for absorbing the surplus labor force in the rural economy during the Second Five-Year Plan period.

Explanation

The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) implemented the Technology Transfer Scheme in November 2022 to support startups in the state. This initiative aims to reimburse the expenses incurred by startups when they procure technology or licenses from government research institutions and laboratories to develop and commercialize products. Under this scheme, the state government provides a financial grant of up to ₹10 lakh to eligible startups. By facilitating the transfer of research-based innovations into the commercial market, the scheme seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application while reducing the initial capital burden on new enterprises in the technology sector.

Explanation

Dantidurga, the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, performed the hiranya-garbha ritual in the mid-eighth century. The term hiranya-garbha literally translates to the golden womb. This religious sacrifice was conducted with the assistance of Brahmans to signify the rebirth of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya, even if he was not one by birth. Dantidurga performed this ritual after he overthrew his Chalukya overlord to establish his legitimacy and sovereign power as a king. This practice allowed individuals from non-warrior backgrounds to claim the status required for traditional kingship within the social hierarchy of the time.

Explanation

The Government of India Act of 1858 was passed in the aftermath of the Revolt of 1857 to transfer the powers of government, territories, and revenues from the East India Company to the British Crown. This Act abolished the dual government system of the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, replacing them with a new office called the Secretary of State for India. The Secretary of State was a member of the British Cabinet and was vested with complete authority and control over Indian administration, making him directly responsible to the British Parliament. To assist the Secretary of State in his duties, the Act also created a 15-member advisory body known as the Council of India.

Explanation

The Battle of Plassey was a decisive engagement fought on June 23, 1757, where the British East India Company forces, led by Robert Clive, defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah. The conflict was triggered by the Nawab's seizure of Calcutta and the British desire to install a compliant ruler who would grant them uncontested trade privileges. Clive achieved victory primarily through a secret alliance with Mir Jafar, the Nawab's disgruntled commander-in-chief, who defected during the battle. This success allowed the Company to seize the enormous wealth of the Bengal treasury and established the foundation for British colonial rule in India, transforming a trading entity into a significant political power.

Explanation

The Jayant Kumar Banthia Commission was a dedicated panel appointed by the Maharashtra government to collect and provide empirical data regarding the representation and backwardness of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the state local bodies. Following the Supreme Court mandate for a triple test to justify such quotas, the commission submitted its report recommending that OBCs should be granted up to 27 percent reservation in local self-government elections. The Supreme Court accepted this report in July 2022, allowing the resumption of OBC reservations in the state provided that the total reservation for SC, ST, and OBC candidates combined does not breach the 50 percent ceiling in any specific local body.

Explanation

Airways represent the fastest and most efficient mode of transport for reaching remote and distant areas that are otherwise inaccessible by land or water. This mode is uniquely capable of overcoming formidable geographical barriers such as high mountain ranges, vast deserts, and dense forests without the need for continuous physical infrastructure like tracks or roads. Helicopters, in particular, play a vital role in providing point-to-point connectivity to the most rugged terrains and are indispensable during natural disasters for search, rescue, and the distribution of essential supplies in regions where surface transport networks have been severed or never existed.

Explanation

The Right to Equality is a fundamental right enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India, spanning Articles 14 to 18. It consists of five specific rights designed to ensure social and legal parity among citizens. Article 14 provides for equality before the law and equal protection of the laws. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. Article 17 mandates the abolition of untouchability and prohibits its practice in any form. Article 18 provides for the abolition of titles, except for military and academic distinctions. These five provisions collectively establish the legal framework for equality in the Indian democratic system.

Explanation

Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener chemically defined as the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. Its molecular formula is C₁₄H₁₈N₂O₅. Aspartame is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar) and is widely used as a sugar substitute in low-calorie snacks and diet beverages. Although it contains approximately 4 kilocalories per gram, the quantity needed to produce a sweet taste is so minute that its caloric contribution is negligible. It is stable under dry conditions but undergoes hydrolysis when heated or stored in high-pH environments, which is why it is primarily used in products that do not require high-temperature baking.

Explanation

The techniques of making silk were first invented in China approximately 7000 years ago. Archaeological evidence, including the discovery of silk proteins in soil samples from Neolithic sites like Jiahu in the Henan province, confirms that sericulture and the processing of silkworm cocoons began during this period. For several millennia, the Chinese maintained a strict monopoly on silk production, keeping the methods of rearing silkworms and weaving the fabric a closely guarded secret. Knowledge of silk eventually spread to other parts of the world much later through trade networks that became known as the Silk Route.

Explanation

The first edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in the year 2000. This inaugural event took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 10 and 14 August. The games were established by the Commonwealth Games Federation to provide a high-level competition for young athletes, typically between the ages of 14 and 18, representing various nations and territories within the Commonwealth. The Edinburgh games saw participation from over 700 athletes across eight sports, including athletics, swimming, and tennis, establishing a quadrennial tradition aimed at fostering international sporting relations and preparing young talent for the senior Commonwealth Games.

Explanation

The Beating Retreat ceremony marks the formal conclusion of the Republic Day celebrations in India. It is held every year on the evening of January 29th, the third day after Republic Day, at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. The ceremony features synchronized performances and soulful tunes by the massed bands of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, as well as the Central Armed Police Forces. This tradition originates from a centuries-old military custom where troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, and withdrew from the battlefield at sunset. The event culminates with the lowering of the national flag at dusk and the illumination of the Raisina Hill complex, including the Rashtrapati Bhawan and North and South Blocks.

Explanation

The 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship was co-hosted by Poland and Slovenia from August 26 to September 11, 2022. Originally, the tournament was scheduled to be held in Russia, but the FIVB stripped Russia of the hosting rights in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. Poland and Slovenia were subsequently selected to host the event, with matches taking place in Katowice and Gliwice in Poland, and Ljubljana in Slovenia. The tournament concluded with Italy winning the gold medal after defeating Poland in the final match held at the Spodek arena in Katowice.

Explanation

Polar easterlies are classified as permanent winds, also known as planetary or prevailing winds, because they blow consistently throughout the year in a specific direction. These winds originate from the polar high-pressure cells located near the North and South Poles and flow toward the sub-polar low-pressure belts at approximately 60 degrees latitude. Their movement is a result of the pressure gradient between the cold, dense air at the poles and the relatively warmer air of the sub-polar regions. Due to the Coriolis effect caused by the Earth's rotation, these winds are deflected to the west, blowing from the east toward the west in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. As part of the global atmospheric circulation, they represent one of the three major wind belts that maintain the Earth's heat balance.

Explanation

Rajendra Kumar is a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre who was appointed as the Director General of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation. His appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in late 2022 to head the statutory social security body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Before taking over this role, he served as an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Explanation

The bacterial flagellum is a specialized motor organelle composed of three distinct segments: the basal body, the hook, and the filament. The filament constitutes the most substantial portion of the flagellum, extending from the hook into the external environment. It is a long, hollow, rigid cylinder made of polymerized subunits of the protein flagellin. In most motile bacteria, the filament typically measures between 10 and 20 micrometers in length, which is many times the diameter of the bacterial cell itself. Its significant length and helical shape allow it to act as a propeller, generating the necessary thrust for locomotion as it is rotated by the basal motor.

Explanation

Borgeets are a collection of lyrical devotional songs composed by the 15th-16th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev and his disciple Madhavdev. These compositions are integral to the Sattriya classical dance of Assam, providing the musical and thematic foundation for the performances. Written primarily in the Brajavali language, Borgeets are set to specific traditional ragas and talas. In Sattriya dance, these songs are used to narrate stories and religious philosophies related to Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu, serving as the primary soundtrack for the dance dramas known as Ankiya Nat. The rhythmic and melodic structure of Borgeet dictates the pace and emotional expression of the dancer's movements within the Sattriya tradition.

Explanation

Collar cells, also known as choanocytes, are specialized flagellated cells that line the spongocoel and the various canals within the body of sponges belonging to the phylum Porifera. Each choanocyte possesses a central flagellum surrounded by a collar of microvilli. The coordinated beating of these flagella creates a water current that drives the movement of water through the ostia into the sponge's canal system, facilitating the processes of nutrition, respiration, and excretion by filtering out food particles and oxygen from the water.

Explanation

Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and the second-largest coastal lagoon in the world. It is situated on the east coast of India in the state of Odisha, where it spreads across the districts of Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam at the mouth of the Daya River. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated as the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The ecosystem is a vital wintering ground for migratory birds traveling from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, and other remote parts of Central and Southeast Asia, and it also serves as a major habitat for the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.

Explanation

Sonipat is a city and district located in the state of Haryana, which is part of the fertile Indo-Gangetic plain. Geologically, this region consists of deep alluvial deposits and lacks the Gondwana or Tertiary rock systems that contain coal seams in India. Because the state does not possess the necessary sedimentary basin structures for coal formation, there are no coal mines or significant mineral extraction activities in Sonipat. The area is instead characterized by its prominence in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

Explanation

Hema Malini is a distinguished Indian actress, director, and producer who is also an accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer. In the year 2000, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri upon her in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Indian cinema and the arts. This honour, which is the fourth-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, acknowledged her prolific career in the film industry where she appeared in over 150 movies, as well as her dedication to classical dance forms.

Explanation

The government expenditure multiplier measures the change in equilibrium income resulting from a unit change in government spending. In a simple Keynesian model, the equilibrium condition is defined as Y = C + I + G. Given the consumption function C = C + cY, where c represents the marginal propensity to consume, the equation becomes Y = C + cY + I + G.

To find the equilibrium level of income, we rearrange the terms to isolate Y: Y - cY = C + I + G, which leads to Y(1 - c) = C + I + G. Solving for Y gives Y = (1)/(1 - c) (C + I + G). The government expenditure multiplier is the derivative of Y with respect to G, which is (dY)/(dG) = (1)/(1 - c). This indicates that any initial injection of government spending leads to a multiple increase in national income, as the spending becomes income for others, who then spend a portion c of that income, creating successive rounds of economic activity.

Explanation

Prithviraja III, popularly known as Prithviraj Chauhan, defeated the Ghurid ruler Sultan Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191. The conflict was triggered by the expansionist moves of the Ghurid Empire into the Indian subcontinent, specifically after Ghori captured the fortress of Tabarhindah (modern-day Bhatinda). In the ensuing battle at Tarain near Karnal, the Rajput forces led by Prithviraj successfully repelled the Afghan army. Muhammad Ghori was severely injured during the engagement and was forced to retreat, marking a major military victory for the Chahamana dynasty.

Explanation

Sharmila Biswas is a distinguished practitioner and choreographer of Odissi, a classical dance form from eastern India. She was a prominent disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, from whom she mastered the intricate footwork and expressive mudras of the tradition. In 1998, she was recognized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the National Film Award for Best Choreography for her artistic contribution to the film Shanti. Beyond her performance career, she established the Odissi Vision and Movement Centre to foster the development and research of the dance form. Her work often involves re-interpreting ancient temple traditions and bringing them to the modern stage while maintaining the authentic essence of the Odissi style.

Explanation

The Chakri dance is a traditional folk dance primarily performed by the women of the Kanjar tribe, who reside mainly in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan, covering districts like Bundi, Kota, and Baran. The term Chakri is derived from the word chakra, meaning wheel, which reflects the central characteristic of the dance involving rapid circular spins and fast-paced rotations. This energetic dance is a prominent feature of the tribe's cultural celebrations and is traditionally performed during festivals such as Teej, as well as at weddings and other auspicious social gatherings. The performance is characterized by the dancers wearing vibrant, multi-colored ghaghras that flare out as they spin to the rhythmic beats of instruments like the dholak, manjira, and nagada.

Explanation

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India to be a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and aims to secure Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity for its citizens. While the Indian Constitution establishes a federal structure with a division of powers between the Union and the States, the term Federalism is not explicitly mentioned in the Preamble or any other part of the constitutional text. Instead, Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as a Union of States, a phrase preferred by the Drafting Committee to signify that the Indian federation was not the result of an agreement among states and that no state has the right to secede from the Union.

Explanation

Article 243-I of the Constitution of India mandates the Governor of a State to constitute a Finance Commission at the expiration of every fifth year to review the financial position of the Panchayats. A similar provision exists under Article 243-Y for Municipalities. The Commission makes recommendations to the Governor regarding the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls, and fees leviable by the State between the State and the local bodies. Since the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the State Council of Ministers, the State Finance Commission is effectively appointed by the state government every five years to ensure fiscal decentralization and the financial health of local self-governing institutions.

Explanation

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, introduced a key provision that empowers the Central Government to specify a carbon credit trading scheme. Under this scheme, the government or any authorized agency issues carbon credit certificates to entities that meet specific requirements related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These certificates can be traded in a market, allowing entities to buy or sell credits to meet their emission targets. This amendment aims to establish a domestic carbon market in India to incentivize the adoption of clean energy technologies and help the country achieve its climate goals and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Explanation

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which received the President's assent in April 2022, provided for the unification of the three existing municipal corporations in Delhi into a single entity. The three corporations integrated by this legislation were the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation. These entities were originally created in 2011 following the trifurcation of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The reunification aims to create a more efficient and financially stable administrative structure for the national capital by centralizing planning, resource management, and governance under one integrated Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Explanation

A polysome, also known as a polyribosome, consists of a cluster of several ribosomes attached to a single strand of messenger RNA (mRNA). This arrangement occurs during the process of translation, where the genetic information encoded in the mRNA is used to synthesize proteins. Each ribosome within the polysome complex independently moves along the mRNA molecule, reading the codons and assembling the corresponding amino acids into a polypeptide chain. This configuration allows a cell to produce multiple copies of the same protein simultaneously from a single mRNA template, thereby increasing the efficiency and rate of protein synthesis.

Explanation

Proportional income tax acts as an automatic stabilizer because it reduces the volatility of the business cycle by automatically adjusting the amount of tax collected in response to changes in national income. In a macroeconomic model, the presence of an income tax rate t reduces the size of the spending multiplier. The multiplier is expressed as k = (1)/(1 - c(1 - t)), where c is the marginal propensity to consume. Because the tax revenue T = tY is a function of the level of output Y, it fluctuates alongside the economy. During an economic expansion, as national income rises, tax receipts increase proportionally, which acts as a leakage from the circular flow of income and prevents the economy from overheating. Conversely, during a recession, tax liabilities fall automatically as incomes decline, which helps sustain disposable income and aggregate demand. This self-adjusting mechanism provides a cushion against economic shocks without the need for deliberate government intervention or new legislation.

Explanation

The Amazon River, located in South America, is the world's largest river by the volume of water discharge. It accounts for approximately 20 percent of the total global riverine discharge into the oceans, carrying more water than the next seven largest rivers combined. The river originates in the Andes Mountains and flows across the continent through the vast Amazon Rainforest before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin is the most extensive in the world, covering nearly 7 million square kilometers and spanning several countries, primarily Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. While the Nile is often considered the longest, the Amazon is definitively the largest in terms of width, depth, and water volume.

Explanation

Gokulashtami, also known as Krishna Janmashtami, marks the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. According to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, the festival is observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Bhadrapada. This usually corresponds to the Gregorian months of August or September. The celebration is characterized by devotional singing, fasting, and the traditional Dahi Handi events, particularly in states like Maharashtra.

Explanation

The measurement of national income excludes intermediate goods to prevent the economic error of double counting. Intermediate goods are products used as inputs in the production of other goods and services within the same accounting year. If these were measured separately as a distinct method, the value of the raw materials would be counted once as an intermediate product and again as part of the value of the final product. National income is standardly calculated using three recognized approaches: the Product (Value Added) Method, the Income Method, and the Expenditure Method. In the Product Method, the value of intermediate consumption is specifically subtracted from the total value of output to arrive at the Gross Value Added, expressed as GVA = Value of Output - Intermediate Consumption. Because intermediate goods are subtracted rather than used as a standalone basis for measurement, an Intermediate goods method does not exist in macroeconomic accounting.

Explanation

Sambhar Salt Lake is India's largest inland salt lake and is located in the east-central part of Rajasthan, specifically spanning the Jaipur, Ajmer, and Nagaur districts. It is situated in a closed basin in the Aravalli Range and is fed by several seasonal rivers, including the Mendha, Rupangarh, Khari, and Khandela. The lake is a designated Ramsar site of international importance because it serves as a critical wintering area for thousands of migratory birds, most notably flamingos. Beyond its ecological significance, Sambhar Lake is a major center for salt production, contributing significantly to the national supply through evaporation processes managed by the state.

Explanation

The Palk Strait is a narrow stretch of water that separates the southeastern coast of India from the northern coast of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal to the northeast with Palk Bay to the southwest, which then opens into the Gulf of Mannar. This maritime boundary lies between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Jaffna District of Sri Lanka. The strait is relatively shallow and contains a chain of limestone shoals and coral reefs known as Adam Bridge or Rama Setu. It is named after Robert Palk, who served as the Governor of the Madras Presidency during the British colonial period in the mid-eighteenth century.

Explanation

Bhakra Dam is located on the Satluj River in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. Standing at a height of approximately 226 meters (741 feet), it is recognized as the highest straight gravity dam in India. Gravity dams are massive structures built from concrete or stone masonry designed to hold back water by using only their own weight to resist the horizontal pressure of the water. Completed in 1963 as part of the Bhakra-Nangal multi-purpose project, the dam creates the Gobind Sagar reservoir and plays a vital role in providing irrigation and hydroelectric power to the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Explanation

Ammonium hydroxide is an inorganic compound formed when ammonia dissolves in water. In this aqueous solution, ammonia gas (NH₃) reacts with water molecules (H₂O) to form the ammonium cation (NH₄^+) and the hydroxide anion (OH^-). The chemical formula NH₄OH represents the combination of these two ions in a 1:1 ratio, which maintains electrical neutrality. It is commonly used as a cleaning agent, a precursor to many nitrogen-containing chemicals, and in various laboratory applications as a weak base.

Explanation

Mehrgarh is situated on the Kachi Plain of Balochistan, Pakistan, positioned near the Bolan Pass. This site is significant as one of the earliest known locations in South Asia to show evidence of farming and pastoralism, dating back to approximately 7000 BCE. The Bolan Pass acted as a vital mountain corridor linking the Indus Valley to the Iranian Plateau, facilitating the movement of people and goods. The archaeological findings at Mehrgarh, including early evidence of wheat and barley cultivation as well as the domestication of cattle and sheep, represent the Neolithic precursor to the urbanized Harappan civilization.

Explanation

The Earth's atmosphere is composed of a mixture of several gases, with nitrogen being the most abundant component. By volume, dry air consists of approximately 78.08% nitrogen (N₂). This gas is relatively inert in its molecular form and plays a crucial role in diluting oxygen to prevent rapid combustion while also being vital for the nitrogen cycle, which supports life by providing a necessary building block for proteins and nucleic acids.

Explanation

The Partition of Bengal was formally announced on July 19, 1905, by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, and was implemented on October 16, 1905. The British authorities justified the decision by claiming that the Bengal Presidency, which then included Bihar and parts of Odisha, was too large and populous to be administered efficiently by a single provincial government. However, the move was widely recognized as a political strategy to weaken the Indian National Movement by creating a communal rift between the Muslim-majority eastern region and the Hindu-majority western region. The implementation of the partition sparked intense nationalist resistance and led to the launch of the Swadeshi Movement, which advocated for the boycott of British goods and the promotion of Indian-made products.

Explanation

Shyamji Krishna Varma established India House in London in 1905. It was inaugurated on July 1, 1905, as a student residence and a center for nationalist activities among Indian students in the United Kingdom. The institution served as a headquarters for several major Indian revolutionaries and played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement abroad. Varma also founded the Indian Home Rule Society and the journal The Indian Sociologist in the same year to advocate for India's self-rule. India House became a prominent hub for political activism, hosting influential figures such as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Madam Bhikaiji Cama, and Lala Hardayal.

Explanation

The Calcutta High Court ruled in September 2022 that the West Bengal government's Duare Ration scheme was illegal and ultra vires the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. A division bench comprising Justice Chittaranjan Dash and Justice Aniruddha Rajput held that the state government lacked the authority to implement a scheme that contradicted or bypassed the framework established by central legislation. The court observed that the NFSA mandates the delivery of foodgrains specifically to the doorsteps of Fair Price Shops, rather than to individual beneficiaries. By mandating dealers to deliver rations directly to households, the state government overstepped its jurisdiction and violated the statutory distribution process defined under the 2013 Act.

Explanation

Belgium defeated the Indian men's hockey team in the semi-final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a score of 5-2. The match, held at the Oi Hockey Stadium, was closely contested in the first half with the score tied at 2-2. However, Belgium dominated the final quarter, led by a hat-trick from Alexander Hendrickx. This victory allowed Belgium to progress to the gold medal match, which they eventually won. Following this semi-final loss, the Indian team competed in and won the bronze medal match.

Explanation

According to the official Census 2011 data, the overall literacy rate in India was recorded as 74.04 percent. This consists of a male literacy rate of 82.14 percent and a female literacy rate of 65.46 percent.

Explanation

Ustad Sultan Khan was a world-renowned master of the Sarangi, a traditional bowed string instrument used in Hindustani classical music. A representative of the Indore Gharana, he is widely credited with elevating the Sarangi's status from a mere accompanying instrument to a prominent solo concert instrument. Over his illustrious career, he received numerous accolades for his technical virtuosity and soulful playing, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor, in 2010. He also gained international recognition through his cross-genre collaborations in fusion music and his contributions to various Indian film soundtracks.

Explanation

World Wetlands Day is observed annually on 2nd February to commemorate the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, providing a framework for national action and international cooperation. The observance of this day began in 1997 to raise public awareness about the value of wetlands, which are essential ecosystems for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and fresh water supply. In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized February 2nd as World Wetlands Day to emphasize the urgency of protecting these rapidly disappearing habitats.

Explanation

Pneumatophores are specialized respiratory roots found in plants that grow in oxygen-deficient habitats like marshes, swamps, and saline water-logged soils. Since the submerged soil lacks sufficient air for normal root respiration, these plants develop roots that grow vertically upwards, breaking the surface of the water or mud. This growth pattern is known as negative geotropism. The surface of pneumatophores is covered with small pores called lenticels or pneumathodes, which allow for the direct exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the submerged root system, providing the necessary oxygen for cellular respiration in an anaerobic environment.