SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Telangana achieved the distinction of becoming the second state in India, after Goa, to provide 100% functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to all its rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission. This milestone was reached through the effective implementation of the state's flagship Mission Bhagiratha scheme, which aimed to provide safe drinking water to every village and city household in the state. By integrating state-level infrastructure with the central government's Har Ghar Jal initiative, Telangana ensured that over 54 lakh rural households gained access to potable water through taps, significantly improving public health and ease of living in rural areas. At the time of this achievement, Telangana joined Goa and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in reaching the total coverage mark.

Explanation

Chris Gayle became the first cricketer to hit 350 sixes in the Indian Premier League during the 2021 season. He reached this landmark while playing for Punjab Kings in a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 12, 2021. Known as the Universe Boss, Gayle entered the match with 349 sixes and surpassed the 350 mark by hitting a six off the bowling of Ben Stokes. By the time of this achievement, he was significantly ahead of all other players in the all-time list of six-hitters in the tournament, further cementing his legacy as one of the most prolific power-hitters in T20 cricket history.

Explanation

The Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress was held in March 1931 under the presidency of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. During this session, the Congress adopted a significant resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Program, which outlined the vision for independent India's Constitution.

Explanation

Dew point temperature is the specific temperature to which a parcel of air must be cooled, while keeping pressure and water vapor content constant, for it to become saturated with water vapor. At this point, the air can no longer hold all its water vapor in gaseous form, and the relative humidity reaches 100 percent. Further cooling beyond this temperature triggers the process of condensation, where excess water vapor transforms into liquid water, forming dew, fog, or clouds. The dew point serves as a direct measure of the actual amount of moisture present in the atmosphere.

Explanation

Fibres are a specialized type of sclerenchyma tissue characterized by elongated, narrow cells with thick, lignified secondary walls. A defining anatomical feature of these cells is the presence of pits within their heavily thickened walls. These pits are small regions where the secondary wall material is not deposited, allowing for communication between cells during their living stage. In mature plant anatomy, these pitted thickenings provide the necessary rigidity and mechanical strength to the plant body while the cells themselves typically become dead and lose their protoplast at maturity. Unlike tracheary elements which may exhibit spiral, annular, or scalariform thickenings, fibres are predominantly characterized by these uniform lignified walls containing simple or bordered pits.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill was introduced in 1883 by Sir Courtenay Ilbert, the legal member of the Council of the Governor-General, during the viceroyalty of Lord Ripon. The primary objective of the legislation was to remove the racial disqualification within the Indian judiciary and establish equality between Indian and European magistrates. Before this bill, Indian judges in the mofussil (countryside) were prohibited from trying European British subjects, even if they held the necessary seniority. The bill proposed to grant senior Indian district magistrates and sessions judges the authority to preside over such cases, bringing their powers in line with those of their counterparts in the Presidency towns. Although it faced fierce opposition from the British community in India and was eventually passed in 1884 with a compromise clause allowing Europeans to request a jury trial, it remains the landmark legislation intended to grant Indian magistrates jurisdiction over British subjects.

Explanation

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named Virat Kohli as the ODI Cricketer of the Decade for the 2010s in its April 2021 edition. This recognition was part of a special set of awards to mark the 50th anniversary of the first One Day International. During the qualifying period between 2010 and 2019, Kohli demonstrated extraordinary consistency, scoring 11,125 runs at an average of 60.79. His performance included 42 centuries and 52 half-centuries. Additionally, he was a key member of the Indian squad that secured the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, cementing his legacy as the most dominant batsman in the format throughout that decade.

Explanation

The Census of India is a decennial process, meaning it occurs once every 10 years. While the first systematic census was attempted in 1872 under Lord Mayo, the first synchronous census that established the regular ten-year interval began in 1881 under Lord Ripon. This exercise is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, which falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It serves as the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the country, providing comprehensive data on population, demographics, and socio-economic characteristics which are vital for government planning and policy formulation.

Explanation

Salinity is defined as the total content of dissolved salts in seawater, typically expressed in parts per thousand (ppt or ). This measurement represents the mass of salt in grams present in 1000 grams (one kilogram) of seawater. For instance, the average salinity of the world's oceans is approximately 35 parts per thousand, which translates to 35 grams of dissolved salts for every 1000 grams of water. This standard unit allows for the comparison of chemical concentrations across different water bodies globally by establishing a uniform ratio based on a specific mass of the solvent.

Explanation

The word manuscript is derived from the Latin phrase manuscriptum, which combines two distinct Latin roots. The first part, manu, is the ablative form of the Latin noun manus, meaning hand. The second part, scriptus, is the past participle of the Latin verb scribere, meaning to write. Literally translated, the term means written by hand. This designation was used to distinguish hand-written documents, books, or scrolls from those later produced by mechanical printing processes. In historical studies, manuscripts refer to ancient records often found on materials like palm leaves or birch bark, but the linguistic origin of the specific term used to describe them is rooted firmly in the Latin language.

Explanation

As a river leaves the mountains and enters the flat plains, its velocity decreases due to the reduced gradient of the land. In this stage, the river performs more lateral erosion than vertical erosion, leading to the formation of large, S-shaped curves or loops along its course. These winding bends are geographically known as meanders. In Indian geography and Hindi-medium terminology, these meander loops are specifically referred to as Visarp, a term that describes the snake-like path of the river as it flows across the floodplain.

Explanation

Samba district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir became the first district in India to achieve 100 percent household coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) SEHAT scheme in April 2022. This milestone was accomplished following an intensive registration drive organized by the State Health Agency to ensure all families were issued health golden cards. The SEHAT scheme is a unique health insurance initiative launched specifically for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, providing universal health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family on a floater basis. It extends the benefits of the national Ayushman Bharat program to all citizens of the Union Territory regardless of their socio-economic status, allowing for cashless treatment at all government and empanelled private hospitals across the country.

Explanation

Scorpions belong to the Phylum Arthropoda and the Class Arachnida. Organisms in this phylum are classified as eucoelomates, meaning they possess a true coelom that is fully lined by mesodermally derived epithelium. During their embryonic development, the coelom forms within the mesoderm. In adult scorpions, this true coelom is largely replaced by a haemocoel, which is a body cavity filled with blood-like fluid. Since pseudocoelomates are defined as having a body cavity that is not lined by mesoderm, with the mesoderm instead appearing as scattered pouches between the ectoderm and endoderm, the scorpion's anatomical and developmental structure excludes it from this category.

Explanation

Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the historic Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946. This resolution laid down the fundamental principles and the underlying philosophy of the constitutional structure, defining the aims of the Assembly to create an Independent Sovereign Republic. It emphasized ideals such as justice, equality, and freedom, while ensuring safeguards for minorities and backward classes. The Constituent Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on January 22, 1947. Its modified version eventually became the Preamble of the Constitution of India, serving as the guiding light for the framing of the entire document.

Explanation

The Hornbill Festival is an annual cultural extravaganza celebrated in the state of Nagaland, India. It is organized by the State Tourism and Art | Culture Departments to encourage inter-tribal interaction and preserve the heritage of the Naga people. The festival is traditionally held every year for 10 days, starting on December 1, which coincides with Nagaland Statehood Day, and concluding on December 10. Known as the Festival of Festivals, the event takes place at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, located near the state capital Kohima, and features traditional dances, indigenous games, folk songs, and local crafts representing all the tribes of Nagaland.

Explanation

Robert Clive was the commander who led the British East India Company to victory in the Battle of Plassey in June 1757. Facing the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, Clive employed strategic diplomacy by conspiring with Mir Jafar and other members of the Nawab's court to ensure their neutrality or defection during the conflict. This decisive victory enabled the British to gain effective control over the wealthy province of Bengal, providing them with the resources necessary for further territorial expansion. Robert Clive's leadership during this campaign is regarded as the foundation of British political and military dominance in the Indian subcontinent.

Explanation

Fouaad Mirza is a professional athlete who represents India in equestrianism, specifically specializing in the eventing discipline. He rose to prominence by winning two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, becoming the first Indian to win an individual medal in equestrianism at the Asian Games since 1982. He further distinguished himself by qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, making him the first Indian equestrian to compete at the Olympic Games in over two decades. Mirza has been recognized for his contributions to the sport with the Arjuna Award, India's second-highest sporting honor.

Explanation

Nanda Devi is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and is part of the Garhwal Himalayas. The Dhauliganga River, a major tributary of the Alaknanda, flows through this region. Specifically, the Rishi Ganga River, which originates from the glaciers of the Nanda Devi massif and flows out of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, joins the Dhauliganga at the village of Raini. The proximity of the mountain to the river is significant as the Dhauliganga valley serves as a primary drainage route for the meltwater and runoff from the Nanda Devi mountain range. This geographical relationship was widely noted during the 2021 glacial burst incident in the region.

Explanation

The Swajal scheme was launched by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2018 as a pilot project aimed specifically at the 115 Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog. It is a community-led, decentralized single-village water supply program designed to provide sustainable access to piped drinking water. Under this initiative, local communities are empowered to plan, implement, and maintain their own water supply systems to meet basic domestic needs such as drinking and cooking. By focusing on these specific districts, the scheme seeks to improve the quality of life and health standards in areas that have historically lagged behind in basic infrastructure and sanitation facilities.

Explanation

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the marketing season 2021-22 to ensure remunerative prices to the growers. For this specific season, lentil (Masur) saw the highest absolute increase in MSP among all the Rabi crops, with a hike of ₹300 per quintal. This adjustment raised the MSP for lentil from ₹4,800 per quintal in the previous year to ₹5,100 per quintal. The increase was designed to encourage farmers to diversify their crop patterns and boost the production of pulses to reduce import dependency.

Explanation

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is a single-member body established under Article 148 of the Constitution of India. The office consists of a single individual who is appointed by the President of India by warrant under his hand and seal. As the guardian of the public purse and the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the CAG functions as an independent constitutional authority. Although the CAG is supported by a large department of officers and staff, the legal and constitutional responsibility for auditing the accounts of the Union and the States rests solely with the individual holding the office.

Explanation

Devdutt Pattanaik is a renowned Indian mythologist, speaker, and author who has written extensively on the relevance of mythology in modern times. His book 'Myth = Mithya: Decoding Hindu Mythology', published in 2006, serves as an introductory guide to the complex world of Hindu symbols, stories, and rituals. In the book, Pattanaik explores the concept of Mithya, which he defines as a subjective truth that shapes a person's world view, as opposed to Satya or objective truth. The work is noted for using simple language and illustrations to explain the deep-seated meanings behind various Hindu deities and philosophical concepts.

Explanation

The first match of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) took place on April 9, 2021. Following the tournament convention where the defending champions feature in the opening fixture, Mumbai Indians, who were the 2020 champions, played against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The game was held at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the match by 2 wickets, successfully chasing down a target of 160 runs on the final delivery of the innings.

Explanation

The ozone layer is a region of the atmosphere characterized by high concentrations of ozone (O₃) gas, situated primarily within the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 15 to 35 kilometers. The ozone hole refers to the localized thinning or depletion of this layer, most notably occurring over Antarctica during the spring. This phenomenon occurs in the stratosphere because the chemical reactions involving ozone-depleting substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), take place under the specific temperature and pressure conditions found in this atmospheric layer. Consequently, the term ozone hole is fundamentally linked to the stratospheric environment where the protective ozone shield resides.

Explanation

The Output Method, or Value Added Method, measures the contribution of each producing unit to the economy by calculating the Gross Value Added. To determine the value of production at Factor Cost from the Market Price valuation, adjustments for government intervention are required. Indirect Taxes are subtracted because they are added to the price of goods but do not represent income to factors of production. Conversely, Subsidies are added because they represent payments to producers that allow them to sell goods at a price lower than the actual cost of production. The relationship is expressed as GDP_Fₐ_cₜₒᵣ__Cₒₛₜ = GDP_Mₐᵣₖₑₜ__Pᵣᵢ_cₑ - Taxes + Subsidies. In national accounting, when GDP is measured at constant prices to account for inflation, this same adjustment is applied to convert market price valuations into their factor cost equivalents.

Explanation

The Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple, officially known as the Namdroling Monastery, is located in Bylakuppe, which is situated in the Mysuru district of Karnataka. Established in 1963 by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche, it is the largest teaching center of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The monastery is renowned for its spectacular architecture and the three massive gold-plated statues of Buddha Shakyamuni, Guru Padmasambhava, and Buddha Amitayus, with the central Buddha statue standing approximately 60 feet tall. Bylakuppe itself is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in India, having been established on land provided by the Karnataka state government to accommodate Tibetan refugees.

Explanation

Madhuri Vijay won the 17th Crossword Book Award 2020 in the Fiction (Jury) category for her debut novel, The Far Field. The novel, which explores a young woman's journey from Bangalore to Kashmir in search of a lost figure from her past, received widespread critical acclaim and also secured the prestigious JCB Prize for Literature. The Crossword Book Awards celebrate Indian writing and recognize excellence across various literary categories including fiction, non-fiction, and children's writing.

Explanation

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 that provides a framework for the conservation and sustainable management of wetland habitats. India officially acceded to the convention and it came into force for the country on February 1, 1982. By becoming a contracting party in this year, India committed to the wise use of its wetland ecosystems and the designation of sites for the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. This accession enabled India to integrate international standards into its domestic environmental policies, starting with the recognition of Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park as its inaugural Ramsar sites.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census data, Mizoram recorded a literacy rate of 91.33 percent, making it one of the top-performing states in India regarding education. It is one of only three administrative units in the country to cross the 90 percent literacy threshold, alongside Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The high literacy rate in Mizoram is a result of consistent educational reforms, high community involvement, and the historical influence of various educational missions in the region. In the decade between 2001 and 2011, the state maintained its high ranking by focusing on inclusive primary and secondary education.

Explanation

The cyanide ion is a polyatomic anion consisting of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom linked together by a triple bond. In chemical notation, it is represented by the formula CN⁻. It is a highly reactive species that acts as a strong ligand in coordination chemistry and a nucleophile in organic synthesis. The pairing of the name cyanide ion with the symbol CN accurately represents the molecular identity and elemental composition of this specific chemical entity.

Explanation

The Pala dynasty of eastern India was the foremost patron of Buddhist learning and established several major monastic universities known as Mahaviharas. Vikramashila University was founded by King Dharmapala in the late 8th century CE to serve as a leading center for Buddhist philosophy and logic. While the origins of Nalanda University trace back to the Gupta period, the Pala rulers provided the institution with significant royal patronage, including land grants and the revenue of over a hundred villages, ensuring its expansion and continued status as a global intellectual hub. Under the Palas, these institutions became the most prestigious centers of higher learning in Asia, attracting scholars and students from across the continent.

Explanation

Buyia is a prominent folk dance of the Digaru Mishmi tribe, an ethnic group native to the Lohit and Anjaw districts of Arunachal Pradesh. This dance is performed on various social occasions and during festivals to express joy and community spirit. It is characterized by rhythmic movements and is typically accompanied by the sounding of traditional gongs and drums. The dance reflects the cultural identity and ancestral traditions of the Mishmi people, making it a significant part of the state's diverse performing arts heritage.

Explanation

Magnesium is an essential mineral and the fourth most abundant cation in the human body. A typical adult weighing approximately 70 kg contains about 20 to 28 grams of magnesium, with 25 grams being the standard average value cited in physiological and nutritional contexts. Approximately 50 to 60 percent of this total magnesium is sequestered in the bones in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals, where it contributes to structural integrity and acts as a reservoir. The remainder is located in soft tissues and muscles, while less than 1 percent is present in the blood serum. It serves as a vital cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in ATP metabolism, protein synthesis, and neuromuscular coordination.

Explanation

The merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank into Bank of Baroda became effective on April 1, 2019. This was the first-ever three-way merger of banks in India, aimed at creating a stronger, globally competitive banking entity with a larger capital base and improved operational efficiency. Following this consolidation, Bank of Baroda became the third-largest lender in the country at that time, and all customers and branches of the two merging banks were successfully transitioned into the Bank of Baroda fold.

Explanation

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, enacted during the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi, introduced the most comprehensive changes to the Indian Constitution. It modified the Preamble to include three new words: socialist, secular, and integrity. This amendment updated the description of India from a sovereign democratic republic to a sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic. Furthermore, it expanded the phrase unity of the nation to unity and integrity of the nation. These changes were intended to provide a more explicit definition of the Indian state's commitment to social and economic equality, religious neutrality, and the preservation of national territorial unity.

Explanation

The Citizenship Act was enacted by the Indian Parliament in 1955. While the Constitution of India, under Articles 5 to 10, dealt with the citizenship of persons at the time of its commencement on January 26, 1950, Article 11 specifically empowered the Parliament to make provisions with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to citizenship. Exercising this power, the Parliament passed the Citizenship Act, 1955, which provides the legal framework for the acquisition of citizenship by birth, descent, registration, naturalization, and incorporation of territory, as well as rules for the loss of citizenship. This was the first comprehensive legislation passed regarding Indian citizenship after the adoption of the Constitution.

Explanation

The Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) was introduced in India in 1978 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This initiative was launched following the global lead of the World Health Organization, which had recommended the establishment of such programmes in 1974 to reduce infant and child mortality. In India, the EPI initially aimed to provide protection against several vaccine-preventable diseases, including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and typhoid. The primary objective was to improve immunization coverage among the pediatric population through a structured delivery system. This programme served as the foundation for the more comprehensive Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which was later launched in 1985 to further expand the reach and quality of immunization services across all districts of the country.

Explanation

Subhash Chandra Bose proclaimed the formation of the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, or the Provisional Government of Free India, on 21 October 1943, at the Cathay Cinema Hall in Singapore. This government-in-exile was established during World War II with the support of the Axis powers to lead the armed struggle for India's independence from British rule. Bose assumed the roles of Head of State, Prime Minister, and Minister for War and Foreign Affairs. The declaration was a pivotal moment for the Indian National Army (INA), as it gave the force a sovereign political identity and the legal authority to declare war on Britain and the United States. Following its establishment in Singapore, the government issued its own currency, stamps, and legal codes, and eventually moved its headquarters to Rangoon as the INA moved towards the Indian frontier.

Explanation

The Sarod is a stringed instrument belonging to the Tata Vadya category of Indian classical instruments. It produces sound through the vibration of plucked strings rather than through the striking of a membrane or a solid surface. Constructed with a wooden body, a skin-covered resonator, and a fretless steel fingerboard, the Sarod is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum made of coconut shell, known as a jawa. Its design allows for the characteristic sliding sounds and continuous ornaments essential to Hindustani classical music.

Explanation

Gorichen peak is located in the Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalayas. Reaching an elevation of approximately 6,488 meters, it is recognized as one of the highest peaks in the state. The mountain is locally known as Sa-Nga Phu, which translates to the Kingdom of Deity, and is considered sacred by the Monpa people who believe it provides spiritual protection to the region. Its location between Tawang and Bomdila makes it a major attraction for high-altitude trekking and professional mountaineering in the northeastern part of India.

Explanation

The Mesopotamians developed one of the earliest writing systems in the world, known as cuneiform, which utilized tablets made of moist clay. This material was abundantly available in the alluvial plains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Scribes would mold the damp clay into various sizes, typically small enough to be held in one hand, and use a sharpened reed stylus to press wedge-shaped marks into the surface while it was still soft. Once the recording of administrative accounts, laws, or literary texts was finished, the tablets were dried in the sun or fired in a kiln. This process hardened the clay, making the inscriptions permanent and allowing thousands of these records to survive for millennia in the archaeological record.

Explanation

BALCO (Bharat Aluminium Company Limited) operates its primary aluminium smelting complex and captive power plants in Korba, Chhattisgarh.

IISCO (Indian Iron and Steel Company), now a subsidiary of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has its historic integrated steel plant located at Burnpur in West Bengal.

NFL (National Fertilizers Limited) is a major public sector producer of chemical fertilizers that operates one of its large-scale gas-based urea plants in Bhatinda, Punjab.

ICF (Integral Coach Factory) is a premier rail coach manufacturing unit of the Indian Railways situated in Perambur, Chennai, known for producing a wide variety of passenger coaches including the Vande Bharat Express.

Explanation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formally established on December 8, 1985, when the SAARC Charter was signed during the first summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This inaugural meeting brought together the heads of state or government from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The adoption of the Charter in Dhaka marked the official beginning of regional cooperation in South Asia, aiming to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development among member nations through collective self-reliance.

Explanation

The Earth's atmosphere consists of a mixture of various gases where oxygen is the second most abundant component. By volume, oxygen accounts for approximately 20.95% of dry air, which is standardly rounded to 21% in most scientific and educational contexts. This specific concentration is maintained globally through the biological process of photosynthesis, where plants and other organisms convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy, releasing oxygen as a byproduct to support aerobic life on the planet.

Explanation

Sarhul is the most popular tribal festival in Jharkhand, marking the beginning of the New Year for tribes such as the Oraon, Munda, and Ho. It is celebrated during the month of Chaitra, typically in March or April, which falls in the Spring season. The festival centers on the worship of nature, particularly the Sal tree, as it is the time when new leaves and flowers appear. It symbolizes the rejuvenation of the Earth and the start of the agricultural season, with rituals performed at the Sarna (sacred grove) to ensure the prosperity and fertility of the land.

Explanation

Plan revenue expenditure was a specific budgetary classification in India used to denote the revenue spending associated with programs and schemes formulated under the Five Year Plans. This expenditure was directed toward the implementation of developmental objectives established by the Planning Commission for a designated five-year period. It included the maintenance of assets created in previous plans and the operational costs of new social and economic services introduced during the current plan cycle. In contrast, routine and obligatory administrative expenses such as salaries, pensions, and interest payments were traditionally classified as non-plan revenue expenditure because they represented the permanent, ongoing costs of the government's machinery rather than specific developmental initiatives tied to the national planning framework.

Explanation

The Vijayanagar Empire was founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty. They established their capital city, Vijayanagar (now known as Hampi), on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River. This location was strategically significant due to its natural defenses, as the river provided a perennial water source and acted as a northern barrier, while the surrounding rugged granite hills offered protection from invaders. The Tungabhadra, a major tributary of the Krishna River, played a central role in the agricultural and economic prosperity of the empire through the development of extensive irrigation networks and stone-built aqueducts.

Explanation

Alauddin Khalji ascended the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in 1296 after assassinating his uncle and father-in-law, Jalaluddin Khalji. Jalaluddin Khalji was the founder of the Khalji dynasty and ruled from 1290 to 1296. Upon Jalaluddin's death at Kara, Alauddin Khalji succeeded him as the second ruler of the dynasty, making Jalaluddin his direct predecessor in the line of succession.

Explanation

Eugene Pleasants Odum is widely recognized as the father of modern ecology for his role in establishing the ecosystem as the fundamental unit of study in the field. His landmark 1953 textbook, Fundamentals of Ecology, revolutionized the discipline by moving away from a purely descriptive study of individual species and toward a holistic, systems-based approach. Odum pioneered the study of energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems, providing a scientific framework to understand how biological communities interact with their physical environments. His work was instrumental in making ecology a rigorous, quantitative science and in popularizing the concept of the ecosystem in both academic and public spheres.

Explanation

The Chauri Chaura incident occurred on February 4, 1922, in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces. During a protest march associated with the Non-Cooperation Movement, a clash broke out between the police and the volunteers, leading the police to open fire on the crowd. In retaliation, an angry mob set fire to the local police station, which resulted in the deaths of 22 policemen. Mahatma Gandhi, a staunch advocate of Ahimsa or non-violence, was deeply shocked by this outbreak of violence. He believed that the movement was deviating from its peaceful path and that the masses were not yet sufficiently trained for a non-violent struggle. Consequently, he decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement immediately, and the decision was formalized through the Bardoli resolution on February 12, 1922.