SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The WEST initiative, which stands for Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology, was launched by the Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) on September 5, 2022. This program is specifically designed to cater to women with a background in STEM, providing them with a dedicated platform to engage with the research and development ecosystem. Through WEST, I-STEM offers women researchers, scientists, and innovators access to advanced scientific equipment and facilities available across various Indian institutions. The initiative also focuses on skill development, supporting women-led startups, and facilitating the return of women to the scientific workforce after career breaks, thereby strengthening the participation of women in the national science and technology landscape.

Explanation

Asha Bhosle was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most recorded artist in music history in October 2011. The certificate was awarded to her for recording up to 11,000 solo, duet, and chorus-backed songs in over 20 Indian languages since 1947. This milestone was celebrated at a special ceremony held in London. Her inclusion in the records highlighted her extensive contribution to Indian playback singing and her prolific career spanning several decades. Prior to this, her sister Lata Mangeshkar had been credited with the record, but updated research and documentation led the organization to formally acknowledge Asha Bhosle as the record holder in 2011.

Explanation

The term Sangam refers to an assembly or academy of Tamil poets held under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings. These texts were composed by various poets and subsequently compiled during these scholarly gatherings. Traditional Tamil accounts describe three distinct Sangams that took place over several centuries. The first and third of these legendary assemblies are specifically recorded as having been held in the city of Madurai, which served as the capital of the Pandya kingdom. The surviving corpus of Sangam literature, such as the Ettutogai and Pattuppattu, represents the poetic works that were presented and organized during these organized literary meets.

Explanation

The fifth edition of the International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2019, with the main national event held at the Prabhat Tara Ground in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations and performed various asanas alongside approximately 30,000 yoga enthusiasts. The theme for the 2019 celebrations was Yoga for Heart, highlighting the importance of yoga in maintaining cardiovascular health and overall well-being. This event followed the Prime Minister's tradition of leading mass yoga demonstrations at a different major city each year since the inception of the International Day of Yoga in 2015.

Explanation

The English East India Company established its first factory in Bengal at Hugli in 1651. This strategic move was made possible after Sultan Shuja, the Subahdar of Bengal and son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, granted the English a nishān or permit. This permit allowed the company to carry out trade in Bengal in exchange for a fixed annual payment of 3,000 rupees, exempting them from various internal customs duties. The Hugli factory served as a primary base for the English to procure and export valuable goods such as silk, muslin, and saltpetre, marking the beginning of their significant commercial presence in the Bengal region.

Explanation

Peat is the first stage of the coalification process, formed by the accumulation of partially decayed organic matter in wetlands and bogs. Due to its primitive state of transformation, it has not yet been subjected to the intense heat and pressure required to concentrate carbon or expel water. Consequently, peat is characterized by a low carbon content, typically below 50 percent, and a very high moisture content, which can often exceed 75 percent in its natural state. This makes it the lowest grade of coal with a relatively low heating value.

Explanation

The SI unit of speed is derived from the fundamental units of distance and time defined by the International System of Units. Speed is defined as the rate of change of position of an object, calculated using the formula v = ᵈ⁄ₜ, where d represents distance and t represents time. In the SI system, the base unit for distance is the meter (m) and the base unit for time is the second (s). Consequently, the standard unit for speed is meters per second, expressed as m/s or m · s⁻¹.

Explanation

Sujoy Lal Thaosen, a 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the 37th Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in October 2022. Before taking over this role, he was serving as the Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and also held the additional charge of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). His appointment to lead the country's largest paramilitary force followed the superannuation of the previous Director General, Kuldiep Singh, on September 30, 2022.

Explanation

Tamil Nadu receives a significant portion of its annual rainfall during October and November from the North-East monsoon, also known as the retreating monsoon. During this period, the high-pressure system develops over North-Western India while a low-pressure area shifts towards the Bay of Bengal. As the winds blow from the land toward the sea in a North-East to South-West direction, they pick up moisture while crossing the Bay of Bengal. The Coromandel Coast is oriented in a way that it intercepts these moisture-laden winds, resulting in heavy precipitation across the state. This season is the primary source of water for the region, often providing more than half of its total annual rainfall.

Explanation

The Karnataka government launched the Kashi Yatra scheme in June 2022 to provide financial assistance to pilgrims from the state visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Under this initiative, the state government offers a one-time cash incentive of 5,000 rupees to approximately 30,000 pilgrims annually. To avail of the benefit, applicants must be permanent residents of Karnataka and provide proof of their visit to the temple. The scheme was officially sanctioned with a dedicated budget to support residents in fulfilling their religious pilgrimage to the historic site in Uttar Pradesh.

Explanation

The Golden Quadrilateral is a national highway network connecting India's four largest metropolitan cities: Delhi in the north, Kolkata in the east, Chennai in the south, and Mumbai in the west. Initiated in 1999 as part of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, this project sought to improve connectivity and facilitate faster movement of goods and people across the country. Spanning approximately 5,846 kilometers, it remains one of the most significant infrastructure projects in India, managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). By linking these major economic hubs with high-quality four-to-six-lane highways, the network plays a crucial role in the country's industrial and agricultural development.

Explanation

The NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), which was established by a Union Cabinet resolution on January 1, 2015, to replace the Planning Commission, is headed by the Prime Minister of India. As the ex-officio Chairman, the Prime Minister provides strategic direction and leadership to the institution, ensuring that policy formulation aligns with national development goals. This arrangement facilitates the spirit of cooperative federalism by allowing the head of the government to interact directly with the Governing Council, which comprises Chief Ministers of all States and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories. The Prime Minister's role as Chairperson ensures that the NITI Aayog functions as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India.

Explanation

Thaipoosam is a major Hindu festival celebrated primarily by the Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. It occurs during the Tamil month of Thai, typically falling in January or February, on the day when the Pushya star (known as Poosam in Tamil) coincides with the full moon. The festival is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It commemorates the mythological event where the goddess Parvati gave Lord Murugan a divine spear, known as the Vel, to vanquish the demon Soorapadman and his brothers. Devotees observe the day with great fervor, often performing acts of penance such as carrying a Kavadi, which is a decorated physical burden, or participating in ritual body piercing to demonstrate their devotion and seek blessings for the overcoming of obstacles.

Explanation

Kadamba Mayurasahman was the founder of the Kadamba dynasty in the region of Banavasi, located in modern-day Karnataka. He was a Brahmin scholar who traveled to Kanchi to pursue higher Vedic studies. After being humiliated by Pallava officials or horsemen, he decided to abandon his traditional priestly profession and took up arms to seek vengeance. He successfully organized a military force, defeated the Pallava frontier guards, and established an independent kingdom. This historical transition from a Brahmin to a warrior-king is documented in the Talagunda pillar inscription, which marks the rise of one of the earliest indigenous empires to rule over the Karnataka region during the 4th century CE.

Explanation

Article 371F was inserted into the Indian Constitution by the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act in 1975, the same year Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union. This article provides special provisions to protect the rights and interests of the various sections of the population of Sikkim. It stipulates that the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim shall consist of not less than thirty members and empowers the Parliament to provide for the reservation of seats for different ethnic groups to protect their interests. It also grants the Governor of Sikkim special responsibility for peace and for an equitable arrangement for ensuring the social and economic advancement of different sections of the population. All laws in force in Sikkim prior to its association with India continue to be in effect until amended or repealed by a competent legislature or authority.

Explanation

Kuchipudi is a premier Indian classical dance form that originated in the village of Kuchelapuram, now known as Kuchipudi, in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. It traces its historical roots to the ancient Natya Shastra and was traditionally performed as a dance-drama by male Brahmins known as Bhagavatulu. The modern format of the dance was significantly shaped and refined in the 17th century by the ascetic Siddhendra Yogi. The performance is distinct for its combination of speech, mime, and pure dance, often involving complex footwork and expressive gestures that narrate stories from Hindu scriptures and mythology.

Explanation

Kullu Dussehra is a week-long international festival celebrated in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Unlike the rest of India where Dussehra concludes with the burning of effigies on the tenth day of the rising moon, the Kullu celebration begins on that day and continues for seven days in the Dhalpur Maidan. The festival dates back to the 17th century when Raja Jagat Singh installed an idol of Lord Raghunath on his throne as a gesture of penance. During the festivities, hundreds of local deities from various parts of the valley are brought in colorful palanquins to pay homage to Lord Raghunath. The event was accorded the status of an international festival in 2017 due to its large-scale participation and cultural significance.

Explanation

A fomite is defined as an inanimate substance or object that can be contaminated with infectious agents and serve as a mechanism for their transmission. Saliva functions as a fomite when it is expelled from the body and carries pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, onto external surfaces. In this capacity, it acts as the physical medium that allows microorganisms to survive outside a host and facilitates indirect contact transmission when another individual comes into contact with the contaminated material.

Explanation

The Alps mountain range is a classic example of young fold mountains, formed during the Alpine orogeny approximately 65 to 2.5 million years ago. These mountains were created by the tectonic collision between the African and Eurasian plates, which compressed and uplifted the sedimentary layers of the Tethys Sea. Because they are geologically recent, they possess high elevations, rugged topography, and sharp, jagged peaks that have not yet been significantly rounded by the long-term forces of erosion and weathering. This high-relief landscape and active tectonic history are the defining characteristics of young fold mountain systems across the globe.

Explanation

Synecology, also known as community ecology, is the branch of ecology that focuses on the study of groups of organisms belonging to different species that live together as a unit within a specific environment. It examines the organization, structure, composition, and development of these ecological communities. The primary focus of synecology is to understand how various populations interact with one another and with their physical surroundings, as well as the patterns of distribution and the processes of ecological succession that lead to the establishment of stable communities in different habitats.

Explanation

Capital receipts are government inflows that either create a financial liability or result in a reduction of government assets. Disinvestment involves the sale of government-held equity or shares in Public Sector Undertakings to private entities or the public. Since this process results in a decrease in the financial assets of the state, the proceeds are classified as capital receipts.

The wage bill consists of the total cost of salaries and wages paid to government employees for their services. These are recurring payments that do not result in the creation of physical or financial assets, nor do they lead to a reduction in government liabilities. Consequently, the wage bill is categorized as revenue expenditure, which covers the operational expenses of the government, rather than capital expenditure.

Explanation

Article 20 of the Constitution of India provides fundamental protections to individuals in respect of conviction for offences. It establishes three vital legal safeguards: protection against ex-post facto laws, which ensures no person is convicted for an act that was not an offence at the time of its commission; the principle of double jeopardy, which prevents a person from being prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once; and the prohibition of self-incrimination, which stipulates that no accused person can be compelled to be a witness against himself. These protections are available to citizens, foreigners, and legal entities alike, and are unique because they cannot be suspended even during a National Emergency under Article 359.

Explanation

According to the Rules of Tennis established by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), a standard tennis court must be a rectangle with a specific length of 78 feet. When converted to the metric system, this distance equals approximately 23.77 meters. This measurement represents the total distance between the outer edges of the two baselines and is the uniform standard used for all professional and sanctioned tournament play worldwide, regardless of whether the match is singles or doubles.

Explanation

Glenn T. Seaborg was a prominent American chemist who played a pivotal role in the discovery and investigation of several transuranium elements. In 1951, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Edwin McMillan for their groundbreaking work in this field. Seaborg and his team at the University of California, Berkeley, were instrumental in identifying and isolating elements beyond uranium in the periodic table, including plutonium, americium, curium, and berkelium. His research also led to the formulation of the actinide concept, which significantly reorganized the periodic table by placing the heavy elements in a specific series below the lanthanides. The Nobel Committee recognized their contributions specifically for the chemical identification and characterization of these newly synthesized elements.

Explanation

Hojagiri is a traditional folk dance performed in the state of Tripura, which is located in the North-East region of India. It is specifically associated with the Reang (Bru) community, the second-largest tribal group in the state. The dance is traditionally performed by women and young girls during the Hojagiri festival, which usually falls on the full moon night of Laxmi Puja. The performance is characterized by extraordinary balancing acts, where dancers balance objects like pitchers or bottles on their heads and lighted lamps on their hands while moving their lower bodies to the rhythm of traditional musical instruments like the kham and sumui.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census of India, Mizoram recorded a literacy rate of 91.33 percent, which is the highest among the states provided in the options. Nationally, it ranks as the state with the second-highest literacy rate, trailing only Kerala. The data shows that Mizoram maintains high educational standards across genders, with a male literacy rate of approximately 93.35 percent and a female literacy rate of about 89.27 percent. This high level of literacy is attributed to successful community-based educational initiatives and the state's historical emphasis on social development and primary education.

Explanation

In field hockey, official umpire signals are standardized by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to ensure clear communication on the pitch. When a goal is legally scored, the umpire signals the decision by pointing both arms horizontally towards the centre of the field. This gesture confirms that the ball has completely crossed the goal line within the goalposts and under the crossbar, having been touched by an attacker's stick inside the shooting circle. The signal also indicates that the game will restart with a centre pass from the middle of the pitch.

Explanation

Ashwini Kumar Dutta founded the Swadesh Bandhav Samiti in August 1905 in Barisal to mobilize public support for the Swadeshi Movement and protest the Partition of Bengal. The organization was one of the most effective volunteer groups of the period, establishing 159 branches across the district to spread nationalist consciousness. It focused on the boycott of foreign goods, the promotion of indigenous products, and the establishment of arbitration committees to settle local disputes outside of British courts. Under Dutta's leadership, the samiti also engaged in significant social welfare activities, such as famine relief and medical assistance during epidemics, which helped build a strong grassroots base for the nationalist cause in East Bengal.

Explanation

The English Education Act of 1835 was a legislative act of the Council of India that gave effect to the proposals made by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay in his famous Minute on Indian Education. Lord Macaulay, serving as the President of the General Committee of Public Instruction, argued that the British government should promote European literature and science among the people of India through the medium of the English language. Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India at the time, officially approved these recommendations on March 7, 1835. This act formally established English as the medium of instruction for higher education in India and redirected government funds toward Western-style education rather than traditional Oriental learning.

Explanation

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) organized the Nari Shakti of North East campaign in March 2022 to coincide with International Women's Day. This initiative was designed to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women from the eight states of the North East and to recognize their leadership roles in various sectors such as entrepreneurship, sports, social work, and culture. As part of the wider Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the ministry used its digital platforms and various events to highlight the inspiring stories of these women, emphasizing their critical contribution to the socio-economic development of the region. By focusing on Nari Shakti, the ministry aimed to empower and inspire the next generation of female leaders across the North Eastern Region.

Explanation

Mrinalini Sarabhai was a celebrated Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and instructor who played a pivotal role in the global recognition of Bharatnatyam and Kathakali. In recognition of her distinguished service of a high order in the field of art, the Government of India honored her with the Padma Bhushan in 1992. This award followed her earlier recognition with the Padma Shri in 1965, marking her continued excellence and leadership in the Indian performing arts landscape through her institution, the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts.

Explanation

The corridor in the monetary policy framework refers to the interest rate range within which the operating target, the Weighted Average Call Rate (WACR), is expected to fluctuate. This corridor is defined by the standing facilities of the Reserve Bank of India. The Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate serves as the upper bound or ceiling, representing the rate at which banks can borrow emergency overnight liquidity. The Reverse Repo Rate (or the Standing Deposit Facility rate in the updated framework) serves as the lower bound or floor, representing the rate at which banks can park their excess funds. The RBI manages liquidity to ensure the WACR stays within this corridor and remains closely aligned with the policy Repo Rate to maintain stability in the short-term money market.

Explanation

Bangladesh is located to the east of the Indian mainland, sharing a extensive land border of approximately 4,096.7 km. This border is shared with five Indian states: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Geographically, Bangladesh occupies the deltaic region of the Padma (Ganges) and Jamuna (Brahmaputra) rivers in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, situated between the Indian states to its north, west, and east, and the Bay of Bengal to its south.

Explanation

Freedom of speech and expression is widely recognized as the hallmark of democracy because it is essential for the exchange of ideas, public discourse, and holding the government accountable. In the context of the Indian Constitution and political theory, this right is considered fundamental to the functioning of a democratic society.

Explanation

The Chhattisgarh government launched the Kaushalya Matritva Yojana to provide financial assistance to women upon the birth of their second daughter. Under this social welfare scheme, a one-time payment of ₹5,000 is provided to eligible beneficiaries to support the nutritional needs of both the mother and the newborn girl child. The initiative is designed to improve maternal and child health outcomes while promoting a positive social attitude towards the birth of female children. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel introduced this scheme as part of the state's broader efforts to empower women and ensure better healthcare for infants in rural and urban areas.

Explanation

Louise Lightfoot was an Australian dancer and architect who played a pivotal role in popularizing Indian classical dance forms, particularly Kathakali, on the international stage. After traveling to India in the late 1930s, she studied Kathakali at the Kerala Kalamandalam under the guidance of Vallathol Narayana Menon. She became a dedicated promoter and patron of the art, organizing extensive tours in Australia and globally for Kathakali performers such as Ananda Shivaram. Her lifelong commitment to the training, preservation, and global dissemination of this traditional dance form earned her the nickname Australian Mother of Kathakali.

Explanation

Nalanda was a world-renowned ancient center of higher learning and a Buddhist monastery located in the kingdom of Magadha, which corresponds to the modern-day state of Bihar. During the 7th century CE, the Chinese traveler Xuan Zang spent several years studying and teaching at Nalanda, describing it as a vibrant academic hub with thousands of monks and a vast collection of manuscripts. It flourished under the patronage of the Gupta Empire and later rulers like Harshavardhana and the Pala kings. The archaeological site of Nalanda remains a significant historical landmark in Bihar, reflecting the rich educational and spiritual heritage of ancient India.

Explanation

Article 66(3)(c) of the Constitution of India stipulates that a person shall not be eligible for election as Vice President unless he or she is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States, also known as the Rajya Sabha. The requirement of being qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha is specific to the eligibility criteria for the President of India as laid down in Article 58(1)(c). This distinction ensures that the Vice President, who serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, meets the legislative eligibility standards associated with that specific house.

Explanation

Baking soda is the common name for the chemical compound sodium hydrogencarbonate, represented by the chemical formula NaHCO₃. It is also widely known as sodium bicarbonate. This salt consists of a sodium cation (Na⁺) and a bicarbonate anion (HCO₃⁻). It is primarily produced using the Solvay process, where carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water react with a concentrated solution of sodium chloride. When sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated or mixed with an acidic medium, it undergoes a chemical reaction that releases carbon dioxide gas (CO₂), which acts as a leavening agent to make dough rise in culinary applications.

Explanation

Lake Victoria is located in East Africa, situated across the borders of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. It is the largest lake on the African continent and the world's largest tropical lake, serving as the primary reservoir for the Nile River. Because of its geographic location in the African Great Lakes region, it is not part of the North American Great Lakes system, which consists of five interconnected freshwater lakes on the border of the United States and Canada.

Explanation

Plant tissues are broadly categorized into two main types based on their stage of development and capacity for cell division. Meristematic tissues consist of undifferentiated cells that are actively dividing, which allows the plant to grow in length and girth. These are found in specialized regions such as the shoot and root tips. Permanent tissues originate from meristematic tissues once the cells have matured, differentiated, and lost their ability to divide. These tissues take on specific structural and functional roles, such as providing mechanical support or transporting water and nutrients through xylem and phloem. Because both classifications represent the primary organizational levels of cells within plants, both meristematic and permanent tissues are recognized as plant tissues.

Explanation

In track and field officiating for horizontal jumps like the triple jump, the judge uses a white flag to signal that an athlete's attempt is fair and valid. This indicates that the jump was performed in accordance with the rules, such as the athlete not stepping beyond the take-off line or committing any technical foul during the phases of the jump. The raising of the white flag serves as the official confirmation for the measurement team to record the distance achieved during that specific trial.

Explanation

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base that dissociates completely in aqueous solution to release a high concentration of hydroxide ions (OH^-). For a standard 1 Molar (1 M) solution of sodium hydroxide, the concentration of hydroxide ions is 10⁰ M. Calculating the pOH using the formula pOH = -₁₀[OH^-] gives a value of 0. Since pH + pOH = 14 at 25 degrees Celsius, the pH value of this concentrated sodium hydroxide solution is approximately 14, placing it at the extreme basic end of the pH scale.

Explanation

Munari is a traditional folk dance performed by the Munda tribe in the state of Odisha. It is usually showcased during the harvest season as a form of celebration and communal bonding. The dancers move in synchronization to the beats of traditional instruments like the Madal and Nagara. As an integral part of the tribal heritage of Odisha, this dance form has no cultural association with the state of Mizoram.

Explanation

Black soil, also known as Regur soil, is highly suitable for the cultivation of cotton due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Derived from the weathering of basaltic rocks in the Deccan Trap region, this soil is characterized by its fine-textured clayey composition and high moisture-holding capacity. During the dry season, it develops deep cracks which help in self-aeration. The rich presence of calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime, combined with its ability to retain water for long periods, provides the ideal environment for the deep-rooted cotton plant to thrive. Consequently, the extensive black soil tracts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh serve as the primary cotton-producing belts in India.

Explanation

Rajesh Verma is a 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Odisha cadre who was appointed as the Secretary to President Droupadi Murmu by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in August 2022. Before taking up this role at Rashtrapati Bhavan, he served as the Union Corporate Affairs Secretary. His tenure began shortly after Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as the 15th President of India, where he took over the responsibilities from his predecessor Kapil Dev Tripathi.

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore had a deep-seated dislike for formal schooling from a very young age. He found the institutional environment of the schools he attended, such as the Normal School and St. Xavier’s, to be restrictive, mechanical, and devoid of creativity. Tagore often compared the classroom to a prison or a cage, describing the experience as suffocating and oppressive because it suppressed a child's natural curiosity and connection with the surroundings. His childhood struggle with the rigid education system of the time became the foundation for his own pedagogical philosophy. He believed that true education should be imparted in a natural environment where students enjoy freedom of thought and expression, which eventually led him to establish Shantiniketan.

Explanation

The Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–1978) was launched during the premiership of Indira Gandhi. The plan was designed with the dual objectives of poverty eradication, famously known as Garibi Hatao, and the achievement of self-reliance. Under Indira Gandhi's leadership, the plan emphasized increasing the level of employment and improving the standard of living for the weakest sections of society. It also introduced the Minimum Needs Programme to provide basic amenities like health, education, and drinking water. The historical association of this plan with the economic policies and political slogans of Indira Gandhi defines its implementation period.

Explanation

Africa is uniquely positioned globally such that it spans a vast latitudinal range across both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) passes through the northern part of the continent, crossing countries like Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Mali. The Equator (0°) bisects the continent through central nations such as Gabon, Congo, Uganda, and Kenya. The Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S) traverses the southern portion, passing through Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Mozambique. This geographical distribution makes Africa the only continent on Earth that is intersected by all three of these major imaginary lines of latitude.

Explanation

The power to provide an advisory opinion to the President of India is an exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution. This article stipulates that if the President deems that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration. High Courts do not have any constitutional provision that allows them to exercise advisory jurisdiction for the President; their roles are primarily focused on original, appellate, and supervisory functions within their territorial limits.