SSC CGL Tier 1 2023 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque is located within the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi. It was commissioned by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Slave Dynasty, following the Ghurid conquest of the city in the late 12th century. Construction began around 1192 CE, making it one of the earliest extant mosques built by the Delhi Sultans in India. The mosque was constructed on the site of a large temple complex using materials and architectural elements salvaged from twenty-seven demolished Hindu and Jain temples. Its name translates to Might of Islam, symbolizing the establishment of Muslim rule in North India. The structure was later significantly expanded by Sultans Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji to accommodate larger congregations as the city of Delhi grew.

Explanation

Mati-Akhora refers to the set of 64 foundational ground exercises and basic movements that form the pedagogical basis of the Sattriya classical dance of Assam. These exercises are traditionally practiced by monks (Bhokots) in the Sattras (monasteries) to develop the necessary physical flexibility, balance, and posture required for the dance. The term Mati-Akhora literally translates to ground (Mati) and exercise (Akhora). These movements are essential for mastering the specific stances and rhythmic patterns unique to the Sattriya tradition, which was introduced by the 15th-century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana is a one-year life insurance scheme, renewable from year to year, offering coverage for death due to any reason. It is available to individuals in the age group of 18 to 50 years who have a savings bank or a post office account and give their consent to join and enable auto-debit. The scheme provides a life cover of ₹2 lakh in case of the death of the insured member. Effective from June 1, 2022, the annual premium for the scheme was revised to ₹436 per annum, up from the earlier rate of ₹330. The insurance cover remains active until the age of 55, provided the annual premium is paid before the 31st of May each year.

Explanation

The Swaraj Party, or the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party, was formed in January 1923 by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru. Following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, a division emerged within the Indian National Congress. C.R. Das, who served as the president, and Motilal Nehru, who was the secretary, led the Pro-changers group. They advocated for entering the legislative councils established by the Government of India Act 1919 to wreck the reforms from within through a policy of uniform, continuous, and consistent obstruction. Their goal was to use the councils as a platform to highlight the flaws of the colonial administration and demand self-government, rather than boycotting the elections as the No-changers advised.

Explanation

Ustad Bismillah Khan, the legendary Shehnai maestro and Bharat Ratna awardee, was the first Indian musician to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Center Hall in the United States of America. His performance at this iconic venue played a significant role in bringing the Shehnai, which was traditionally used in weddings and temples, to the international concert stage. This historic event was part of his global tours during the 1960s, through which he introduced the nuances of Indian classical music to Western audiences and established himself as a cultural ambassador of India.

Explanation

The cathode ray tube is a specialized vacuum tube containing one or more electron guns that emit a stream of electrons. These electrons are accelerated and focused into a narrow beam, which is then directed toward a glass screen at the opposite end of the tube. The interior surface of this screen is coated with a phosphor material. When the high-speed electron beam strikes the phosphor-coated glass, the phosphor atoms are excited and release energy in the form of visible light. This process of electroluminescence allows the tube to display images by scanning the electron beam across the screen in a rapid, systematic pattern.

Explanation

The Muri Alumina Plant, located in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand, is the oldest aluminium refinery in India. It was commissioned in 1948 by the Indian Aluminium Company (INDAL). The plant was established to process bauxite into alumina, providing the essential raw material for aluminium smelting. Following the merger of INDAL with Hindalco Industries Limited, the refinery became part of the Aditya Birla Group. Its inception shortly after independence marked the beginning of India's self-reliance in the primary stage of the aluminium production cycle.

Explanation

The Rajgir Zoo Safari, also known as the Rajgir Wildlife Safari, is located in the Nalanda district of Bihar. Situated amidst the scenic foothills of the Jethian Hills, it covers an area of approximately 191 hectares. The facility was established by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Bihar government to promote wildlife tourism and conservation. It features five distinct enclosures for tiger, lion, leopard, bear, and herbivore safaris, allowing animals to live in a near-natural habitat while providing a secure viewing experience for visitors. Rajgir is a major historical and religious site in Bihar, and the zoo serves as a significant addition to the state's ecological and tourist attractions.

Explanation

A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in football, awarded by the referee when a player commits a specific foul against an opponent or a handball offense. Under the Laws of the Game, these fouls include actions such as tripping, kicking, pushing, or charging an opponent in a manner considered careless, reckless, or using excessive force. The primary characteristic of a direct free kick is that a goal can be scored directly by the kicker against the opposing team without the ball having to touch any other player. If the ball enters the kicker's own goal directly from a direct free kick, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. If such a foul is committed by a player within their own penalty area, it results in a penalty kick rather than a standard direct free kick.

Explanation

The Padhe Bharat campaign was a nationwide reading initiative launched by the Union Ministry of Education on January 1, 2022. It was designed as a 100-day program, spanning 14 weeks, specifically targeting children from Balvatika to Grade 8. The primary objective of the campaign was to promote a culture of reading among students, improve their vocabulary, and enhance their reading comprehension skills in alignment with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat mission. By providing a diverse range of age-appropriate reading materials in local, mother tongue, regional, and tribal languages, the initiative aimed to make learning a joyful and engaging experience for children during their foundational years. The campaign concluded on April 10, 2022, after completing its scheduled 100-day duration.

Explanation

The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, to coincide with the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The initiative aims to achieve universal sanitation coverage and focuses on cleanliness as a tribute to Gandhi, who famously emphasized that sanitation is more important than independence. The official logo of the mission prominently features the iconic round-rimmed spectacles of Mahatma Gandhi, symbolizing his vision for a clean and healthy India. The campaign was designed to fulfill his dream of a hygienic and waste-free nation through collective public participation and improvements in solid waste management.

Explanation

The Asian Development Bank approved a 500 million USD loan in December 2021 to support India's Integrated School Education Project. This initiative was designed to bolster the Samagra Shiksha program, focusing on enhancing the quality of primary and secondary education across multiple states. The funding specifically addressed learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by improving digital infrastructure, teacher training, and the overall learning environment in schools. This financial assistance helped ensure the continuity of education and the implementation of reforms aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.

Explanation

The High Court of Delhi exercised jurisdiction over Himachal Pradesh starting from May 1, 1967, under the provisions of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, which replaced the Court of the Judicial Commissioner. This jurisdiction remained in effect until the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970, was implemented. With the grant of full statehood to Himachal Pradesh on January 25, 1971, a separate High Court for the state was established with its headquarters at Shimla, thereby concluding the period during which the Delhi High Court held authority over the territory.

Explanation

Henry Chandler Cowles is widely recognized for his pioneering research on plant succession conducted at the Indiana Dunes beginning in 1896. As a graduate student at the University of Chicago, Cowles studied the shifting sand dunes along the southern shore of Lake Michigan to understand how plant communities change over time and space. His observations showed a clear transition from hardy pioneer species on active dunes to complex forest communities on older, stabilized dunes. This work, which culminated in his 1899 publication The Ecological Relations of the Vegetation on the Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan, established the concept of ecological succession and played a foundational role in the development of ecology as a formal scientific discipline in North America.

Explanation

The mantle is the intermediate layer of the Earth's internal structure, situated between the outermost crust and the innermost core. It extends from the Mohorovičić discontinuity, located at an average depth of 35 km, down to the Gutenberg discontinuity at a depth of approximately 2,900 km. Comprising nearly 84 percent of the Earth's total volume, this layer consists primarily of silicate rocks rich in magnesium and iron. It serves as the physical transition zone that separates the thin, solid lithospheric crust from the extremely dense, metallic core.

Explanation

The Iron Age represents the final stage of the three-age system, succeeding the Bronze Age. During this period, advancements in metallurgy allowed for the smelting of iron ore, which required significantly higher temperatures than copper or tin. Iron eventually supplanted bronze as the primary material for tools and weapons because iron ore was far more abundant and accessible than the copper and rare tin needed to create bronze. The shift began around 1200 BCE in the Near East and South-eastern Europe, as the superior strength and availability of iron led to its widespread adoption in agricultural implements and military equipment, fundamentally transforming the economic and social structures of these civilizations.

Explanation

Paro Tshechu is one of the most significant and popular religious festivals in Bhutan, held annually in the Paro district at the Rinpung Dzong. The festival occurs over five days during the second month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar and is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, who introduced Tantric Buddhism to the Himalayan region. It features elaborate masked dances, known as Cham, performed by monks and laymen in colorful costumes. These dances depict various moral and historical stories intended to bestow blessings on the onlookers. The festival reaches its climax on the final day with the pre-dawn unfurling of a massive silk embroidery known as a Thongdrol, which represents Guru Rinpoche and is believed to bring spiritual liberation to anyone who views it.

Explanation

The Shevaroy Hills are located in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu as part of the Eastern Ghats. They are known for the hill station Yercaud and are an important mountain range in southern India.

Explanation

Under Article 72 of the Constitution of India, the President has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit, or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offense. This power also extends to all cases involving a death sentence or sentences passed by a Court Martial.

Explanation

The Nalacharitam, written by Unnayi Variyar, is one of the most celebrated and frequently performed attakathas (scripts) in the Kathakali dance-drama tradition of Kerala. It tells the story of King Nala and Queen Damayanti from the Mahabharata.

Explanation

India celebrated its first Republic Day on January 26, 1950, marking the transition of the country into a sovereign democratic republic. For this inaugural ceremony held at the Irwin Stadium in New Delhi, President Sukarno of Indonesia was invited as the first chief guest. The invitation was a symbol of the deep-rooted cultural ties and the shared anti-colonial struggle between India and Indonesia. It also represented the burgeoning cooperation among Asian nations and the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement, reflecting the close personal and political relationship between Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Sukarno during the early post-independence period.

Explanation

The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from a solid to a liquid state. According to standard chemical data and school level science textbooks such as NCERT, acetic acid (CH₃COOH) has a melting point of 290 K, which is approximately 17°C. This relatively high melting point causes it to freeze in cold climates, which is why pure acetic acid is often called glacial acetic acid. Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) has a much lower melting point of 156 K, or approximately -117°C. These values reflect the specific intermolecular forces, such as hydrogen bonding, acting within each compound. Since both provided values match the established physical constants for these compounds, both statements I and II are correct.

Explanation

Educated unemployment refers to a situation where individuals with formal academic qualifications, such as matriculation, graduation, or post-graduation, are unable to find productive work. In India, this specific type of unemployment is driven by the gap between the theoretical knowledge provided by the formal education system and the practical, professional skills required by the modern job market. While the number of degree-holders has increased significantly, many students graduate without the specific technical or vocational competencies that employers demand. This mismatch between the output of the education system and the requirements of the industry leads to a scenario where educated youths remain unemployed due to a lack of employable skills.

Explanation

Nikhat Zareen and Nitu Ghanghas were the two Indian pugilists who secured gold medals at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, in February 2022. Nikhat Zareen emerged victorious in the 52 kg weight category by defeating Tetiana Kob of Ukraine in the final, marking her second gold at this prestigious event. Nitu Ghanghas clinched the gold in the 48 kg weight category after a 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Italy's Erika Prisciandaro. Their victories led the Indian contingent to a successful finish at the tournament, which also included a bronze medal in the +81 kg category.

Explanation

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a prominent life member of the Deccan Education Society, the body responsible for the establishment of Fergusson College in Pune in 1885. He joined the college as a professor of history and economics in 1886, shortly after its inception. As a life member, Gokhale committed himself to the society's mission of providing affordable and high-quality education as a means of national service. He served the institution for nearly twenty years, contributing significantly to its academic development and administrative stability during its crucial formative period. His association with the college was a defining phase of his early career before he dedicated himself fully to national politics and the Servants of India Society.

Explanation

Basavanna was a 12th-century philosopher and statesman who served as a minister in the court of King Bijjala I of the Kalachuri dynasty, which rose to power after the Western Chalukyas. He is renowned for leading the Virashaiva movement and is the only figure among the options who fits the specified time period and political role.

Explanation

The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978 removed the right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights and reclassified it as a legal right under Article 300A. Prior to this, it was a fundamental right under Articles 19(1)(f) and 31.

Explanation

Janaki Prasad, who originally belonged to Bikaner, is credited with founding the Benares Gharana of Kathak. This specific lineage is often referred to as the Janaki Prasad Gharana to distinguish its unique stylistic elements. Unlike other traditions that incorporated rhythmic sounds from the tabla and pakhawaj, the Benares Gharana focuses on natwari bols, which are the pure syllables used specifically in Kathak dance. The style is characterized by its emphasis on clarity, the precision of footwork known as Tatkar, and a strict adherence to the natural grace of the dance form without over-reliance on complex percussion accompaniment. Janaki Prasad established these pedagogical foundations in Varanasi, making it a major center for the classical dance form.

Explanation

When water flows into the guard cells, they swell and become turgid, which causes the stomatal pore to open. Conversely, the pore closes when the guard cells lose water and shrink.

Explanation

During the colonial period, India did maintain a large export surplus, making the Assertion true. However, this surplus was not used for India's growth but was instead used to meet administrative expenses of the British government, war costs, and other payments known as the Drain of Wealth, making the Reason false.

Explanation

The Lion Capital was commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka around 250 BCE at Sarnath to commemorate the site where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. Carved from a single block of polished Chunar sandstone, the sculpture features four Asiatic lions standing back to back on a circular abacus. The abacus itself is decorated with high-relief sculptures of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion, each separated by a Dharma Chakra or Wheel of Law. This masterpiece of Mauryan art originally supported a larger stone wheel at the summit. Recognising its historical and spiritual importance, the Government of India adopted the Sarnath Lion Capital as the National Emblem of India in 1950.

Explanation

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is driven by seven engines: Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways, and Logistics Infrastructure. These engines are designed to pull the economy forward in unison through integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure projects.

Explanation

The National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and is located at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex in New Delhi. It is the only laboratory in India accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for testing prohibited substances in athletes.

Explanation

Pandit Ram Narayan was an internationally acclaimed musician who played a pivotal role in popularizing the sarangi as a solo concert instrument in Hindustani classical music. Before his efforts, the sarangi was traditionally used almost exclusively for providing melodic accompaniment to vocalists. Through his technical innovations and mastery, he demonstrated the instrument's capability for intricate solo performances. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the arts, he was honored with India's second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2005, along with the Padma Bhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Explanation

The Hindu Succession Act was enacted in 1956 to codify and amend the law relating to intestate succession among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. In January 2022, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment in the case of Arunachala Gounder v. Periathambi, ruling that the self-acquired property of a Hindu male dying intestate would devolve by inheritance and not by survivorship. The court clarified that a daughter is capable of inheriting such property even if the father had died prior to the enactment of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. This decision established that the right of a daughter to inherit her father's separate property was recognized under customary Hindu law and remains valid for distributions occurring before the formal codification of the law in 1956.

Explanation

Ralph H. Fowler coined the term zeroth law of thermodynamics in 1931 while reviewing a thermodynamics textbook by Meghnad Saha and B.N. Srivastava. Although the first and second laws of thermodynamics had been formally established much earlier, Fowler realized that the principle of thermal equilibrium was more fundamental and logically preceded the other laws. Rather than renumbering the existing laws, he designated this principle as the zeroth law. It asserts that if two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This law provides the logical foundation for the definition of temperature and the use of thermometers, as it ensures that systems at the same temperature do not exchange heat when brought into contact.

Explanation

Capital receipts are government inflows that either create a liability or reduce assets, such as borrowings and recovery of loans. Taxes are classified as revenue receipts because they do not create any liability for the government or reduce its assets.

Explanation

The Jan Samarth portal was launched by the Government of India in June 2022 as a one-stop digital platform for credit-linked government schemes. It serves as a single-window interface that connects various stakeholders including beneficiaries, financial institutions, and central or state government ministries. The portal simplifies the loan process by allowing applicants to check their eligibility for multiple schemes simultaneously, apply online, and receive digital approvals. By integrating thirteen government credit schemes under categories such as education, agriculture, and business activity, Jan Samarth ensures a faster, transparent, and paperless disbursement process for borrowers across the country.

Explanation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the International Day of Yoga during his address to the 69th session of the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. Following this proposal, the UNGA officially declared June 21 as International Yoga Day in December 2014.

Explanation

The difference in air pressure between Tahiti and Darwin is used to calculate the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). A negative pressure difference at Tahiti indicates an El Nino phase, which is typically associated with below-average rainfall and a late arrival of the monsoon in India.

Explanation

The Joint Forest Management (JFM) program was launched following the National Forest Policy of 1988, which emphasized the involvement of local communities in forest conservation. Odisha became the first state to pass a resolution for JFM in 1988, making it the recognized start year for the program.

Explanation

The Lucknow Session of 1916 is famous for the Lucknow Pact, where the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League reached a formal agreement to present joint constitutional demands to the British government. This session marked a period of significant cooperation between the two organizations and also saw the reunion of the Moderate and Extremist factions of the Congress.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) was officially launched on October 2, 1993, which falls within the timeline of the Eighth Five Year Plan (1992–1997). This initiative was designed to address the issue of unemployment among educated youth in India by providing them with financial assistance and training to start their own micro-enterprises. The scheme targeted individuals in both urban and rural areas, offering credit-linked subsidies through banks to encourage self-employment in the industrial, service, and business sectors. By focusing on human resource development and employment generation, the PMRY aligned with the core objectives of the Eighth Five Year Plan, which prioritized the modernization of the economy and the reduction of poverty through job creation.

Explanation

The Banganga Festival is an annual two-day musical event organized by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in collaboration with the Indian Heritage Society. It is held at the historic Banganga Tank, which is part of the Walkeshwar Temple Complex on Malabar Hill in Mumbai. The festival is dedicated to Indian classical music and features performances by renowned artists to promote the city's rich cultural heritage. The site itself dates back to the 12th century and holds significant mythological importance, as legend states the tank was created when Lord Rama shot an arrow into the ground to bring forth a spring of the holy Ganges river. The festival traditionally takes place in January and serves to highlight the preservation of Mumbai's ancient architectural landmarks.

Explanation

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, often hailed as the Father of Modern India, was the pioneer in recognizing that Western education and the English language were essential for disseminating modern, rational, and scientific ideas in India. He believed that the traditional education system was insufficient for the progress of the nation and sought to integrate Indian learning with Western social and physical sciences. In 1817, he played a crucial role in establishing the Hindu College in Calcutta to provide modern education to the youth. Furthermore, his famous 1823 letter to Lord Amherst criticized the government's plan for a Sanskrit College, arguing instead for the promotion of a more liberal and enlightened system of instruction that embraced the advancements made in mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry, and anatomy.

Explanation

The Telangana government launched the Mana Ooru - Mana Badi (Our Village - Our School) programme on March 8, 2022, starting from a high school in Wanaparthy district. This flagship initiative is designed to strengthen the infrastructure and quality of education in over 26,000 government and local body schools across the state. Under the programme, the state government mandated the introduction of English medium instruction for students from classes 1 to 8 beginning in the 2022-23 academic year. The scheme focuses on twelve key components, including digital classrooms, electrification, drinking water supply, and sanitation, to ensure government schools provide facilities comparable to private educational institutions.

Explanation

Starch is a complex carbohydrate consisting of two components: amylose and amylopectin. The standard chemical test for the presence of starch involves using an iodine solution, which is typically a mixture of iodine and potassium iodide in water. When this solution is added to a sample containing starch, the triiodide ions (I₃⁻) produced by the reagent fit into the interior of the helical structure of the amylose molecules. This interaction forms a starch-polyiodide complex that displays a characteristic deep blue-black or dark purple color. This distinct color change serves as a definitive qualitative indicator for starch in various substances.

Explanation

The matching is based on the primary nutrient density of specific food sources. Egg white is an excellent source of high-quality protein, consisting mostly of water and albumin. Butter and cheese are dairy products that are highly concentrated in animal fats, providing significant caloric energy. Wheat is a staple cereal grain whose seeds are primarily composed of starch, which is a complex carbohydrate. Lemon is a citrus fruit well known for its high concentration of ascorbic acid, which is Vitamin C.

Explanation

Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was a legendary Indian classical dancer and choreographer who played a pivotal role in the revival of Odissi in the 20th century. He was the first person from the state of Odisha to receive the Padma Vibhushan, which was conferred upon him by the Government of India in the year 2000. Before this highest honor, he had also been recognized with the Padma Shri in 1974 and the Padma Bhushan in 1988 for his immense contribution to the field of performing arts. His work through the research and teaching center Srjan helped institutionalize Odissi and brought it to the global stage.

Explanation

The Maski inscription is located in the Maski village of the Raichur district in the state of Karnataka. This archaeological site is situated on the banks of the Maski River, which is a tributary of the Tungabhadra. It is a minor rock edict of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and holds immense historical significance because it was the first inscription discovered that explicitly mentioned the name Ashoka, rather than just using titles like Devanampiya or Piyadasi. This discovery, made by C. Beadon in 1915, was instrumental in confirming the identity of the ruler mentioned in numerous other edicts found across the Indian subcontinent.