SSC CGL Tier 1 2023 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The Chithirai festival, also known as Chithirai Thiruvizha, is one of the most prominent annual celebrations in Tamil Nadu, particularly centered in the city of Madurai. It is observed during the Tamil month of Chithirai, which typically corresponds to April and May in the Gregorian calendar. The festival primarily commemorates the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar at the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Another significant aspect of the festivities involves Lord Kallazhagar, an incarnation of Vishnu, traveling from the Alagar Hills to the Vaigai River to attend the wedding of his sister, Meenakshi. This month-long celebration is a major cultural and religious event that showcases the traditional music, dance, and deep-rooted spiritual heritage of the region.

Explanation

Kalbelia is a traditional folk dance from the state of Rajasthan, primarily performed by the Kalbelia tribe. Historically known as snake charmers, the tribe developed this dance form as an integral part of their culture, with movements and costumes that mimic the fluid motions of a serpent. The dancers typically wear flowing black skirts embellished with silver embroidery and perform to the rhythmic music of instruments like the pungi and daf. Due to its cultural significance and unique artistic expression, UNESCO included the Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

Explanation

The Government of India Act 1858 was enacted by the British Parliament in the wake of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. This legislation formally terminated the rule of the English East India Company and transferred the governance, territories, and revenues of India directly to the British Crown. The Act abolished the dual system of government by removing the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, replacing them with a Secretary of State for India assisted by a 15-member Council of India. This shift established the British Raj, with the Governor-General receiving the title of Viceroy to serve as the direct representative of the monarch in India.

Explanation

Sodium (Na) is an alkali metal with an atomic number of 11 and an electronic configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹. It has only one electron in its outermost valence shell. Because the effective nuclear charge acting on this single valence electron is relatively weak and its ionization energy is low, sodium is highly electropositive. It readily loses this electron to form a stable sodium cation (Na^+). This process allows the atom to achieve the stable electronic configuration of the noble gas neon (1s² 2s² 2p⁶), which possesses a complete octet in its outermost shell. This tendency to donate electrons and achieve a stable octet is a characteristic property of reactive metals in Group 1 of the periodic table.

Explanation

Albert Einstein held a profound admiration for Mahatma Gandhi and was deeply inspired by his principles of non-violence and Satyagraha. Einstein regarded Gandhi as a moral giant and the most enlightened statesman of the modern age. He believed that Gandhi's approach to political struggle proved that the human spirit could overcome physical force without resorting to violence. Although the two never met in person, they maintained a correspondence through letters, and Einstein frequently advocated for the adoption of Gandhian methods to solve international conflicts and ensure world peace, particularly in the context of the nuclear age.

Explanation

Montane climate is characterized by a significant decrease in temperature with increasing altitude and is specifically found in high-mountainous regions. In India, this climate type is associated with the Himalayan range, covering areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand are situated in the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Chota Nagpur plateau. These regions experience a Humid Subtropical climate (Cwg) or Tropical Savanna climate (Aw), which features high temperatures and seasonal rainfall, rather than the cold, altitudinal variations typical of a montane environment.

Explanation

The Diwan-i-Arz was the central military department of the Delhi Sultanate, responsible for the recruitment, administration, and maintenance of the armed forces. Ghiyasuddin Balban is credited with establishing this department as a separate and powerful entity to enhance the efficiency of the army and protect the sultanate from internal rebellions and Mongol threats. The department was headed by the Ariz-i-Mumalik, whose duties included the inspection of troops, the branding of horses (dagh), maintaining descriptive rolls of soldiers (chehra), and managing the logistics of the military. Although the Ariz-i-Mumalik administered the army, the Sultan remained the commander-in-chief of all forces.

Explanation

The Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP) was launched in 1960-61 as the first major experiment in India to increase agricultural production through a concentrated effort. Popularly known as the Package Programme, it focused on providing a comprehensive set of technical and financial assistance to farmers in selected districts. This package included high-yielding variety seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, credit facilities, and improved agricultural implements. The programme was initiated with support from the Ford Foundation and targeted districts with assured irrigation and minimal natural hazards to demonstrate the potential of intensive farming. By concentrating resources in high-potential areas, IADP served as a precursor to the Green Revolution in India.

Explanation

Justice Ashok Bhushan, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in November 2021. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment for a period of four years or until he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. His induction filled the permanent vacancy that had existed since March 2020, during which time the tribunal was headed by various officiating chairpersons. Justice Bhushan had previously served as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court, from which he retired in July 2021.

Explanation

The SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) policy, introduced by the Ministry of Power, serves as a framework for coal allocation to thermal power plants. Under the provisions of Para B(v) of this policy, the Ministry launched a scheme for the procurement of 4500 MW of aggregate power for a duration of five years. This initiative is designed to help state utilities meet their power requirements while providing a market for power plants that have been allocated coal but lack long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). By facilitating these competitive bidding processes through nodal agencies like PFC Consulting Limited, the government ensures that stressed power assets can become operational and contribute to the national grid using domestic coal resources.

Explanation

Linus Pauling developed the electronegativity scale to quantify the relative ability of atoms to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. He based this scale on bond energy data, specifically the difference between the actual bond energy of a heteronuclear molecule and the geometric mean of the bond energies of the corresponding homonuclear molecules. Because Fluorine exhibits the strongest attraction for electrons among all elements due to its high effective nuclear charge and small atomic radius, Pauling assigned it an arbitrary value of 4.0. This fixed value serves as the primary reference point for the Pauling scale, allowing the electronegativity values of other elements to be derived using the relationship _A - _B = 0.102 √(Δ), where Δ represents the ionic resonance energy of the bond in kJ/mol.

Explanation

The Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (MITRA) scheme was introduced in the Union Budget 2021-22 to bolster the textile industry. The primary objective of this scheme is to enable the Indian textile sector to become globally competitive, attract massive investments, and boost employment generation by creating world-class infrastructure. Under this initiative, seven Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel parks are being established over a period of three years. These parks are designed to provide a plug-and-play facility for the entire textile value chain, ranging from spinning and weaving to processing and garmenting, all within a single location to reduce logistics costs and improve efficiency.

Explanation

Sundari trees, scientifically known as Heritiera fomes, are the most prominent species found in the mangrove forests of India, particularly in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. This region is named the Sundarbans after these trees. Mangrove forests are specialized ecosystems that thrive in coastal areas where fresh water from rivers meets saline water from the sea. The Sundari tree produces timber that is exceptionally hard, strong, and durable, which makes it highly suitable for boat building, bridge construction, and making various household articles. These trees have adapted to the saline and marshy environment by developing pneumatophores, or respiratory roots, which grow upward out of the mud to absorb oxygen.

Explanation

Domestic income is defined as the total factor income generated by all the production units located within the domestic territory of a country during an accounting year. The key criterion for domestic income is the geographical location of the economic activity rather than the citizenship or residential status of the earner. Income earned by non-residents outside the country's borders is excluded because it is generated outside the political and economic boundaries of the nation. In national income accounting, domestic income is denoted as NDP_FC (Net Domestic Product at Factor Cost), which captures only the value added within the country's own borders. Since the income in question is earned by non-residents in a foreign territory, it does not contribute to the domestic production or factor payments of the reference country.

Explanation

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, 78.6 percent of women in India have a bank or savings account that they themselves use. This indicator is a key measure of women's empowerment and financial inclusion. The data shows a significant increase from the NFHS-4 (2015-16) figure, which was 53.0 percent. This improvement is largely attributed to government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which aimed to provide universal access to banking facilities, and the increasing use of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for various social welfare schemes. The survey covers women in the age group of 15-49 years and highlights the growing autonomy of women in managing their own financial resources across both urban and rural areas.

Explanation

Tansen, the legendary musician and one of the nine jewels (Navaratnas) in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar, was a renowned master of the Rabab. He is credited with adapting this string instrument, which had Persian origins, to suit the requirements of Indian classical music. Tansen's mastery over the Rabab was so significant that his descendants and disciples, who formed the Senia Gharana, became known as Rababiyas. His innovations on the instrument laid the groundwork for the evolution of several modern Indian string instruments, particularly the Sarod. In addition to his vocal excellence in the Dhrupad style, Tansen’s technical proficiency with the Rabab remains a defining element of his musical legacy.

Explanation

India is matched with rank 107 because it received a score of 29.1 in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, which indicates a serious hunger level. Pakistan is matched with rank 99 as its score of 26.1 also falls within the serious category defined by the report. Nepal is matched with rank 81 because its score of 19.1 represents a moderate level of hunger, performing better than several other South Asian nations. These rankings were determined by analyzing four component indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality across 121 countries.

Explanation

Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms, which are defined by their lack of a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Mitochondria are complex, double-membrane organelles found only in eukaryotic cells, where they serve as the site for aerobic respiration and ATP production. In prokaryotes like bacteria, respiratory enzymes and the electron transport chain are instead located on the plasma membrane, and metabolic processes occur within the cytoplasm. Therefore, bacteria do not contain mitochondria.

Explanation

Under Article 114 of the Constitution of India, an Appropriation Bill is a Money Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha to provide for the withdrawal and appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India. It covers the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund as well as the grants made by the Lok Sabha after the voting on the Demands for Grants. This legislative instrument ensures that the government can only spend money from the public exchequer with the specific legal authorization of the Parliament. The bill must be passed by the Lok Sabha and then transmitted to the Rajya Sabha, following the same procedure as a Money Bill under Article 110 of the Constitution.

Explanation

Meenakshi Chitharanjan is a distinguished exponent and teacher of Bharatanatyam, renowned for her expertise in the Pandanallur style of this classical dance form. She was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2020 in recognition of her sustained contribution to the field. A disciple of the legendary Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai and his son Subbaraya Pillai, she has dedicated her career to preserving the traditional purity of the art form. Through her performances and her dance institution, Kaladiksha, she has played a significant role in the global propagation of Bharatanatyam.

Explanation

The exoskeleton of arthropods is primarily composed of chitin, a tough and flexible nitrogenous polysaccharide with the formula (C₈H₁₃O₅N)ₙ. Chitin provides the necessary structural support, protection, and resistance to desiccation required for their survival in diverse habitats. Lignin is a complex organic polymer that is a fundamental structural component of the cell walls of vascular plants and certain algae, particularly in wood and bark. It does not occur in the biological structures of animals or members of the Phylum Arthropoda.

Explanation

The Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games, held in 2021, featured a total of 162 delegations. This participation count consists of 161 National Paralympic Committees along with the Refugee Paralympic Team. A total of 4,403 athletes competed in the Games, participating in 539 medal events across 22 different sports. This level of involvement demonstrates the global scale of the Paralympic movement, as nations from across the world sent representatives to compete at the highest level of para-sports despite the logistical challenges and travel restrictions prevalent during the period.

Explanation

Seleucus Nicator, the founder of the Seleucid Empire and a former general of Alexander the Great, dispatched Megasthenes as an ambassador to the Mauryan capital of Pataliputra. This diplomatic mission followed a military conflict and subsequent peace treaty between Seleucus and Chandragupta Maurya around 305 BCE, which was cemented by a matrimonial alliance and the exchange of territories for war elephants. Megasthenes remained at the Mauryan court for a significant period and authored the work Indica, which serves as a primary Greek source providing detailed observations on the administrative system, social structure, and geography of India during the Maurya period.

Explanation

The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, inserted Part IV-A and Article 51A into the Constitution of India to enumerate the Fundamental Duties of citizens. These duties were included based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee, which emphasized that citizens should perform certain obligations while enjoying their fundamental rights. Originally, ten Fundamental Duties were added by this amendment, which covers aspects such as respecting the National Flag and the National Anthem, protecting the sovereignty of India, and safeguarding public property. An eleventh duty regarding education was later added by the 86th Amendment Act in 2002.

Explanation

The Maharashtra government officially recognized Dahi Handi as an adventurous sport in August 2022. This declaration allows participants, known as Govindas, to apply for government jobs under the state's 5 percent sports quota. The government also introduced a comprehensive insurance scheme to provide financial security to participants in the event of injuries or accidental death during the performance. By granting it the status of a sport, the state aimed to formalize the traditional activity associated with the Krishna Janmashtami festival and provide professional support to the athletes who perform these complex human pyramids.

Explanation

NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for the development and monitoring of India's National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The 2021 baseline report was the first of its kind in India, aimed at measuring poverty through non-monetary parameters to complement income-based poverty estimations. This index utilizes the globally recognized methodology developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It captures overlapping deprivations across three dimensions: Health, Education, and Standard of Living, which are further divided into 12 indicators such as nutrition, school attendance, drinking water, and bank accounts. By providing a granular analysis at the national, state, and district levels, the NITI Aayog report assists policymakers in identifying specific areas requiring targeted interventions to improve overall human development.

Explanation

In 1925, Evert Gorter and François Grendel conducted a landmark experiment using red blood cells from various mammals to determine the structure of the cell membrane. They extracted the lipids from a known number of erythrocytes and measured the surface area these lipids occupied when spread as a single molecular layer on a water surface. Upon comparing this monolayer area to the calculated total surface area of the intact red blood cells, they found a ratio of approximately 2:1. This led them to conclude that the cell membrane must consist of two layers of lipid molecules, with their hydrophobic tails pointing inward and hydrophilic heads pointing outward, providing the first experimental evidence for the lipid bilayer model.

Explanation

Sree Narayana Guru was a profound social reformer and spiritual leader from Kerala who advocated for the social and spiritual upliftment of the oppressed classes. He famously articulated the slogan "oru jati, oru matam, oru daivam manushyanu" to challenge the rigid caste hierarchies and communal divisions prevalent in society. This philosophy translates to "One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind" and forms the core of his non-dualistic approach to social reform. By teaching that the essence of all humans is the same, he sought to establish a society based on equality, fraternity, and universalism, significantly influencing the social fabric of modern India.

Explanation

In November 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially approved the naming of the newly constructed Greenfield Airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, as Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar. The name was chosen to honor the long-standing indigenous traditions and cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh, where Donyi represents the Sun and Polo represents the Moon. This nomenclature reflects the deep-rooted Donyi-Polo spiritual belief system prevalent among the local tribal communities. Developed by the Airports Authority of India with a focus on modern infrastructure and environmental sustainability, it serves as the first greenfield airport in the state, significantly improving air connectivity and boosting economic development in the Northeast region.

Explanation

According to the official data from the 2011 Census of India, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country. It recorded a total population of approximately 199,812,341 people, which accounted for nearly 16.5 percent of India's total population at the time. The census data indicates that the state maintained a decadal growth rate of 20.23 percent from the previous census in 2001, solidifying its position as the largest administrative unit by population size in India.

Explanation

The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the e-Shram portal on 26 August 2021 to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha regarding the progress of the portal, the government stated that as of 20 July 2022, the total number of unorganised sector workers registered on the e-Shram portal was approximately 27.99 crore. This database serves as a centralized platform to integrate various social security schemes and ensure the effective delivery of welfare benefits to workers in the unorganised sector using a unique Universal Account Number card. The registration process includes capturing the Aadhaar-seeded data of workers, including their occupation, address, and bank details, to streamline the distribution of benefits during future emergencies or through regular policy implementation.

Explanation

The Moplah Rebellion of 1921, also known as the Mappila Uprising, took place in the Malabar region of present-day Kerala. The Mappilas were Muslim peasants and tenants who rose against the oppressive agrarian system enforced by the Hindu landlords, known as Jenmis, and the British colonial administration. This movement was fueled by grievances over high land rents, lack of security of tenure, and the renewal fees charged by landlords. It gained momentum when it merged with the Khilafat Movement and the Non-Cooperation Movement, leading to a large-scale armed revolt against both the British authorities and the landed gentry in South Malabar.

Explanation

Jellyfish belong to the phylum Coelenterata, also known as Cnidaria, as they possess specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes and exhibit radial symmetry. Crayfish are crustaceans within the phylum Arthropoda, often categorized under the broader group of insects or arthropods in general biology classifications due to their jointed appendages and exoskeleton. Whales are aquatic Mammals because they are warm-blooded, breathe air through lungs, and nourish their young with milk produced by mammary glands. Devilfish is a common name for the Octopus, which is a member of the phylum Mollusca, specifically the class Cephalopoda, characterized by a soft body and highly developed nervous system.

Explanation

Part IV of the Constitution of India contains the Directive Principles of State Policy, spanning from Article 36 to Article 51. These principles are fundamental in the governance of the country and it is the duty of the State to apply them in making laws. Inspired by the Constitution of Ireland, the Directive Principles aim to establish a social and economic democracy by providing a framework for a welfare state. Unlike Fundamental Rights, these provisions are non-justiciable, meaning they are not enforceable by any court, yet they serve as guiding light for the legislature and the executive in formulating policies and administrative actions to ensure social justice and equitable distribution of resources.

Explanation

The Imad Shahi dynasty was established in the state of Berar by Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk in 1490. Originally a high-ranking official and governor of Berar under the Bahmani Sultanate, he asserted his independence as the central authority of the Bahmanis collapsed. With its capital at Ellichpur and the strategic fort of Gawilgarh, the Imad Shahi rule lasted until 1574. This dynasty was the first of the five Deccan Sultanates to emerge from the fragmentation of the Bahmani Kingdom, ruling the northern Deccan region until it was eventually annexed by the neighboring Ahmadnagar Sultanate.

Explanation

The tradition of forming human pyramids to break an earthen pot filled with buttermilk, curd, or butter is known as Dahi Handi. This event is a central part of Krishna Janmashtami celebrations, which commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. The ritual reenacts the childhood stories of Krishna, who was famously known as Makhan Chor or the butter thief. According to legend, Krishna and his friends would form human chains and pyramids to reach pots of milk and butter hung high from the ceilings of houses in Vrindavan. In modern celebrations, participants called Govindas compete to build stable tiers and break the suspended pot, symbolizing teamwork, physical agility, and the playful spirit of the deity.

Explanation

Megasthenes was a Greek historian and diplomat who served as the ambassador of Seleucus I Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra. His work, Indica, is a primary source of information regarding the Mauryan Empire, detailing the socio-economic, administrative, and military structures of the time. In this text, he provided descriptions of the capital city Pataliputra, the royal court, and the division of Indian society into seven distinct classes. While the original manuscript of Indica has not survived, its contents were extensively quoted and preserved by later classical authors, making it an essential historical record for understanding the early Mauryan period in ancient India.

Explanation

Rourkela Steel Plant was established in 1955 in Odisha as the first integrated steel plant in the public sector of independent India. Built with technical assistance from West German collaborators, specifically the firms Krupp and Demag, it was a cornerstone of the Second Five-Year Plan's focus on heavy industrialization. The plant was pioneering in its adoption of the Linz-Donawitz (LD) process for steel making, making it the first facility in Asia to utilize this oxygen-blown technology. It was designed to produce high-quality flat steel products and is currently operated by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

Explanation

Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana are celebrated sisters from Agra who represent the Banaras Gharana of Kathak. They are particularly renowned for their performances of the temple style of Kathak and have been instrumental in teaching and promoting this classical dance form across the globe for several decades. In recognition of their lifelong dedication to the preservation and international propagation of Kathak, the Government of India awarded them the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of Art. Their work has significantly enhanced the global footprint of Indian classical dance through numerous international tours and teaching assignments.

Explanation

Gross Investment represents the total expenditure on capital goods during a given period before accounting for the wear and tear of existing assets. In macroeconomics, the relationship between gross and net values is governed by the inclusion of depreciation, also known as the consumption of fixed capital. The relationship is expressed by the formula:

Gross Investment = Net Investment + Depreciation

Net Investment signifies the actual addition to the economy capital stock that increases productive capacity. Depreciation represents the portion of the capital stock that is used up, worn out, or becomes obsolete during the production process. When the value of depreciation is added back to the net addition of capital, the result is the total or Gross Investment made within the economy.

Explanation

Ustad Alla Rakha, affectionately known as Abbaji, was a legendary master of the Punjab gharana and is credited with elevating the status of the tabla as a solo instrument globally. He played a pivotal role in popularizing Indian classical music in the West through his extensive collaborations. In 1968, he teamed up with the renowned American jazz drummer Buddy Rich to record the landmark fusion album Rich a la Rakha. This collaboration was a significant milestone in world music, blending the complex rhythmic patterns of Indian classical music with Western jazz drumming techniques.

Explanation

On September 17, 2022, the first phase of the Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India was initiated with the release of eight cheetahs into the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This group of cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, was translocated from Namibia via a special cargo flight to Gwalior. The reintroduction project aimed to establish a viable cheetah population in India after the species was officially declared extinct in the country in 1952. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the animals into dedicated quarantine bomas, marking the beginning of the world's first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore.

Explanation

Victor Franz Hess was an Austrian-American physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1936 for his discovery of cosmic radiation. In 1912, Hess conducted a series of high-altitude balloon flights to investigate the source of ionizing radiation in the atmosphere. By carrying electroscopes to altitudes of over 5,300 meters, he observed that the rate of ionization initially decreased with height but then increased significantly as the balloon rose further. This led him to conclude that a radiation of very high penetrating power enters the atmosphere from above, originating from outer space rather than from radioactive minerals in the Earth's crust. This discovery fundamentally changed the understanding of the universe and paved the way for modern particle physics and astrophysics.

Explanation

Guls, often referred to alongside Kuls, are traditional mountain water diversion channels used for irrigation and water harvesting in the Western Himalayas, especially in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. In these rugged terrains, local communities divert water from glacial streams or natural springs into man-made channels that follow the contours of the hills. This gravity-based system allows water to be transported over long distances to reach terraced agricultural fields. This indigenous method is vital for mountain farming because it provides a reliable water supply in areas where the steep topography makes conventional canal systems or groundwater extraction impractical.

Explanation

Kerala won the 2021-22 Santosh Trophy, which was the 75th edition of the premier national football championship in India. The final match was held at the Manjeri Stadium in Malappuram, Kerala, where the host team defeated West Bengal in a penalty shootout. After the match ended in a 1-1 draw following extra time, Kerala emerged victorious by winning the shootout 5-4. This triumph marked Kerala's seventh Santosh Trophy title, won in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in May 2022.

Explanation

According to Article 171 of the Constitution of India, the maximum strength of the Legislative Council in a state is restricted to one-third of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly of that state. Simultaneously, the Constitution provides a floor for the composition by fixing the minimum strength of the Council at 40 members. The membership of the Council is drawn from diverse sources through a specific mathematical distribution. A total of ⅓ members are elected by members of local bodies, ⅓ are elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly, ¹⁄₁₂ are elected by graduates of three years standing residing in the state, and ¹⁄₁₂ are elected by teachers of three years standing in educational institutions not lower than secondary schools. Summing these proportions, ⅓ + ⅓ + ¹⁄₁₂ + ¹⁄₁₂ = ⁴⁺⁴⁺¹⁺¹⁄₁₂ = ¹⁰⁄₁₂ , which equals ⅚ . Therefore, ⅚ of the total number of members are indirectly elected. The remaining ⅙ members are nominated by the Governor from individuals possessing special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.

Explanation

The 138ᵗʰ IOC Session was held in Tokyo, Japan, on July 21, 2021, just prior to the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. During this session, Brisbane was officially elected as the host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This selection marked the first time an Olympic host was chosen under the International Olympic Committee's new bidding process, which utilizes a targeted dialogue approach with preferred candidates identified by the Future Host Commission. Brisbane was confirmed as the host after receiving 72 of the 77 valid votes from the IOC members present at the session.

Explanation

Henry Cavendish reported his findings in a landmark paper titled Experiments to determine the Density of the Earth, which was published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. The results were formally presented and published in June 1798. His experiment used a torsion balance apparatus, originally devised by John Michell, to measure the extremely weak gravitational attraction between lead spheres. By measuring this force, Cavendish was able to calculate the Earths density to be approximately 5.48 times that of water. While the experiment was conducted over the course of 1797 and 1798, the official reporting and publication of the data that allowed for the calculation of the gravitational constant G and the mass of the Earth occurred in June 1798.

Explanation

The Green Revolution was marked by a significant spurt in crop productivity, primarily driven by the introduction of High Yielding Variety seeds for staples like wheat and rice. These seeds, combined with the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, allowed for a much higher output per hectare compared to traditional varieties. Additionally, the movement saw a substantial rise in acreage. This was achieved through the expansion of irrigation infrastructure and the adoption of short-duration crop cycles, which facilitated double or multiple cropping on the same piece of land. By reducing the time crops spent in the field and ensuring a steady water supply, farmers were able to increase the gross cropped area, leading to a massive increase in total national food production.

Explanation

Pandit Birju Maharaj, the legendary exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak, was honored with the Padma Vibhushan in 1986. As one of the most celebrated classical dancers in India, he received this second-highest civilian award for his exceptional contributions to the performing arts. His work was instrumental in refining the technical aspects of Kathak while elevating its global recognition through his mastery of rhythm and storytelling. He was notably one of the youngest recipients of this prestigious honor at the time.