SSC CGL Tier 1 2024 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Navratri is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated over nine nights and ten days, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. The festival honors the divine feminine power and commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, representing the triumph of good over evil. During these nine nights, nine different forms of the Goddess, collectively known as Navadurga, are worshipped. These forms include Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidhatri, each representing a specific aspect of the Goddess's energy and power.

Explanation

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as the Frontier Gandhi, established the Khudai Khidmatgar in 1929 in the North-West Frontier Province. This voluntary organization, whose name means Servants of God, was a non-violent movement dedicated to social reform and the struggle for independence against British colonial rule. Members of the group were famously known as the Red Shirts due to the color of their uniforms. Under the leadership of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the movement mobilized the Pashtun people using the principles of non-violence and Satyagraha, maintaining a close political alliance with the Indian National Congress throughout the freedom struggle.

Explanation

Vijender Singh represented India in three consecutive Olympic Games. He made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the welterweight category. He then competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he scripted history by winning the bronze medal in the middleweight category, becoming the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. His third appearance was at the 2012 London Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals before turning to professional boxing in 2015.

Explanation

Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, commonly known as K.D. Jadhav, secured India's first individual Olympic medal at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games. He won the bronze medal in the bantamweight category of freestyle wrestling. Although India had established a dominant record in field hockey since 1928, Jadhav's victory marked a historic milestone as the first individual podium finish for the nation in the post-independence era. He competed through several grueling rounds to finish third, earning a place in Indian sporting history as the pioneer of individual Olympic success.

Explanation

The Indian Econometric Society (TIES) instituted the Prof. C.R. Rao Centenary Gold Medal to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the world-renowned statistician Professor Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao. In 2021, the inaugural awards were conferred upon two distinguished Indian scholars for their lifetime contributions to the fields of quantitative economics and official statistics. Jagdish Bhagwati, a professor at Columbia University and a prominent figure in international trade theory, was selected as one of the recipients alongside Dr. C. Rangarajan, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The award serves to recognize excellence in economic research and the application of statistical methods to Indian economic issues.

Explanation

Geetanjali Lal is a distinguished exponent of Kathak dance, primarily associated with the Jaipur Gharana. A disciple of Guru Roshan Kumari, she has gained international acclaim as a performer, choreographer, and teacher. She served as the Director of Kathak Kendra in New Delhi and received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contributions to the field of Kathak. Her work focuses on the technical intricacies and rhythmic patterns characteristic of the Jaipur style of this North Indian classical dance form.

Explanation

Article 75(1) of the Indian Constitution specifies that the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President of India. In the parliamentary system of government, the President appoints the leader of the majority party or the leader of a coalition that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister. This Article also clarifies that other Ministers in the Council of Ministers are appointed by the President based on the specific advice and recommendations of the Prime Minister. This constitutional provision establishes the Prime Minister as the head of the Union Council of Ministers and ensures the executive's accountability to the legislature.

Explanation

According to Article 69 of the Constitution of India, every Vice-President shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation. The Vice-President swears to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and to faithfully discharge the duty upon which he is about to enter. This constitutional provision ensures that the second-highest constitutional authority in the country is formally sworn in by the head of state.

Explanation

The anemometer, an instrument designed to measure wind speed and pressure, was first invented in 1450 by the Italian Renaissance architect and polymath Leon Battista Alberti. His original design was a mechanical pressure plate anemometer, which consisted of a disc placed perpendicular to the wind. The force of the wind would cause the disc to swing, and the angle of its inclination provided a quantitative measure of the wind's strength. This invention was a landmark in the history of meteorology, as it provided the first scientific method for measuring wind velocity beyond simple observation. While later versions like the cup anemometer were developed in the 19th century, the fundamental concept of an instrument dedicated to wind measurement dates back to Alberti's 15th-century device.

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore renounced his Knighthood in May 1919 as a direct protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar. In a powerful letter addressed to the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, Tagore expressed his deep anguish and stated that the scale of the brutality and the humiliating treatment of Indians by the British administration made such badges of honour a source of shame. Tagore was the first prominent Indian to return a British honour in protest against the colonial government's repressive policies, marking a significant moment of moral resistance in the Indian nationalist movement.

Explanation

Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya is a globally acclaimed maestro of the Santoor, a hundred-stringed instrument traditional to the Kashmir valley. A prominent disciple of the legendary sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar, he represents the Maihar Gharana. He is credited with bringing technical innovations to the instrument, such as the introduction of the mankas or fine-tuners, which allow for more precise tuning and the ability to play meend (glissando) more effectively. In recognition of his enduring contributions to Hindustani instrumental music, he was conferred with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2018.

Explanation

Butterfly belongs to the Phylum Arthropoda, which is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. The name Arthropoda is derived from the Greek words arthros meaning jointed and podos meaning foot, referring to the characteristic jointed appendages found in all members of this group. Butterflies, as part of the class Insecta, exhibit the fundamental features of this phylum, including a segmented body divided into a head, thorax, and abdomen. They are encased in a tough exoskeleton made of chitin that provides protection and support. Additionally, they possess an open circulatory system where blood flows through the body cavity and bilateral symmetry, where the left and right halves of the body are mirror images of each other.

Explanation

Following the Timurid custom of dividing the empire among all sons, Humayun apportioned various provinces to his brothers after the death of Babur in 1530. Kamran Mirza was initially given the governorship of Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan. Soon after, Kamran moved eastward and occupied Lahore and the Punjab region. Humayun, prioritizing stability and facing external threats from the Afghans and the kingdom of Gujarat, formally ceded the control of Afghanistan and the Punjab to Kamran to avoid a fratricidal war. This arrangement left Kamran in command of the northwestern frontier of the Mughal Empire.

Explanation

The peroxide effect, also widely known as the Kharasch effect, was first described by Morris S. Kharasch and Frank R. Mayo in 1933. While working at the University of Chicago, they resolved long-standing inconsistencies in the addition of hydrogen bromide to unsymmetrical alkenes. They discovered that while the reaction typically follows Markovnikov's rule in the absence of impurities, the presence of even trace amounts of peroxides or dissolved oxygen shifts the orientation to anti-Markovnikov. This occurs because the peroxides act as initiators for a free-radical chain mechanism. In this pathway, a bromine radical is generated and adds to the alkene to form the more stable carbon radical, which subsequently abstracts a hydrogen atom from HBr to complete the addition. This discovery was fundamental in establishing the role of free radicals in organic reaction mechanisms.

Explanation

The prohibition of trade in rare and endangered species is not a Fundamental Duty under Article 51A of the Indian Constitution. While Article 51A(g) mandates citizens to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures, it does not explicitly include a duty to prohibit trade. Prohibiting trade in wildlife is a regulatory function handled through statutory legislation, such as the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Additionally, the protection and improvement of the environment and the safeguarding of forests and wildlife are identified as Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 48A, which are obligations for the State rather than specific constitutional duties for individual citizens.

Explanation

At the time of independence, the Indian economy suffered from a critical shortage of capital investment required for large-scale industrialization. The domestic savings rate was extremely low, typically estimated between 5 and 8 percent of the national income, which severely limited the funds available for investment in machinery, technology, and infrastructure. Most indigenous entrepreneurs lacked the financial resources to undertake projects in heavy and basic industries, which are characterized by high capital intensity and long gestation periods. This deficiency in domestic capital formation was a primary bottleneck that hindered industrial expansion and necessitated the state-led development model adopted in the early Five-Year Plans, where the government took the responsibility of mobilizing and directing investment into core sectors to build the nation's industrial foundation.

Explanation

The Newton is the SI unit of force, defined by the relationship F = ma according to Newton's Second Law of Motion. One Newton represents the amount of force required to provide a mass of one kilogram with an acceleration of one meter per second squared (1 N = 1 kg · m/s²). While units of energy quantify the capacity to do work or the amount of heat transferred, the Newton specifically measures the magnitude of a physical push or pull exerted on an object. Energy is mathematically related to force through the formula for work, W = F · d, where the resulting unit is the Newton-meter; however, the Newton itself is strictly a measure of force.

Explanation

The SHG-Bank Linkage Program, launched by NABARD in 1992, is built on a partnership between Self-Help Groups, formal banking institutions, and facilitating agencies. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) function as Self Help Promoting Institutions (SHPIs) within this framework. Their primary role involves organizing the rural poor into groups, nurturing their growth, and providing intensive capacity building training. This training covers essential aspects such as leadership, group dynamics, bookkeeping, and financial management. By equipping SHGs with these skills, NGOs ensure that the groups become bankable and sustainable, serving as a critical bridge that enables formal financial institutions to extend credit to previously unbanked segments of society.

Explanation

The Right of Persons with Disabilities Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2016 to fulfill India's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which the country ratified in 2007. This legislation replaced the earlier Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The 2016 Act significantly broadened the definition of disability by increasing the number of recognized conditions from 7 to 21, including blood disorders, acid attack victims, and chronic neurological conditions. It mandated a reservation of at least 4 percent in government jobs and 5 percent in higher education institutions for persons with benchmark disabilities, while also establishing specialized funds and commissions at both central and state levels to protect the rights of the disabled.

Explanation

The Wardha River is a major component of the Godavari river basin. It originates in the Satpura Range near Multai in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh and flows south through the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The Wardha eventually meets the Wainganga River to form the Pranhita River. This combined stream, which also carries the waters of the Penganga, serves as a primary tributary of the Godavari, joining it on its left bank near Kaleshwaram. Consequently, the entire Wardha drainage system is categorized as a sub-basin of the Godavari River.

Explanation

The Fourth Buddhist Council was held during the 1st century AD at Kundalvana in Kashmir under the patronage of the Kushana emperor Kanishka. Presided over by the scholar Vasumitra, with Ashvaghosa serving as the vice-president, this council aimed to settle disputes regarding Buddhist doctrines. It was during this council that Buddhism officially split into two major branches: Hinayana and Mahayana. The Mahayana school, which gained significant royal support during the Kushana rule, introduced the practice of idol worship of the Buddha and the concept of Bodhisattvas, while the Hinayana school continued to adhere to the orthodox and original teachings of the Buddha. This event solidified the Kushana era as a turning point in the evolution and geographical spread of Buddhist philosophy across Asia.

Explanation

Kerala has historically maintained the highest road density among Indian states due to its unique geographical settlement pattern and extensive rural road network. According to the Basic Road Statistics in India 2018-19 report published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Kerala recorded a road density of approximately 6,617.06 kilometers per 1,000 square kilometers of area. This high density is primarily driven by the state's high population density and the widespread distribution of habitations, which necessitates a dense network of panchayat and village roads connecting almost every household. While the national average road density was significantly lower during this period, Kerala's infrastructure ensured robust connectivity across its diverse terrains.

Explanation

Tetanus is commonly referred to as lockjaw because the condition frequently causes severe spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles, making it difficult or impossible for the affected person to open their mouth or swallow. This clinical manifestation is caused by the neurotoxin tetanospasmin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The toxin prevents the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the neuromuscular junction. Without these inhibitory signals, the motor neurons remain in a state of constant excitation, leading to the characteristic sustained and painful muscle contractions and rigidity associated with the disease.

Explanation

Microfinance is a category of financial services targeted at low-income individuals and small business owners who do not have access to traditional banking and related services. It encompasses the provision of small-scale credit, savings, insurance, and money transfer services to the unbanked population. The primary objective of microfinance is to promote financial inclusion by empowering marginalized groups, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, to engage in productive economic activities, manage their finances, and improve their standards of living without the requirement of traditional collateral. By bridging the gap between formal financial institutions and the poor, microfinance serves as a vital instrument for poverty alleviation and socio-economic development.

Explanation

The term diurnal temperature range refers to the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded within a single twenty-four-hour period. This variation is a fundamental meteorological concept that tracks the heating of the Earth surface and atmosphere by solar radiation during daylight hours and the subsequent cooling via terrestrial radiation after sunset. Factors such as cloud cover, humidity, and proximity to large bodies of water influence the magnitude of this daily change, which is often most pronounced in arid or high-altitude environments where the atmosphere is thin or dry.

Explanation

An agricultural shot is a colloquial term in cricket used to describe a crude, unsophisticated stroke played with a cross bat. The term is derived from the physical resemblance of the swinging motion to a farmer using a scythe or a hoe to till the land. It typically involves a wild swing across the line of a straight delivery, often resulting in the ball being hit toward the leg side or cow corner. Such shots are characterized by a lack of formal technique and are often played as a desperate attempt to score quick runs.

Explanation

The Vakataka dynasty emerged as the preeminent local power in the Deccan and central India following the decline of the Satavahanas in the mid-3rd century CE. Their primary seat of power was centered in the regions of Vidarbha and northern Maharashtra. The dynasty consisted of two major branches: the senior branch, which ruled from Nandivardhana (near modern Nagpur) and Pravarapura, and the Vatsagulma branch, which ruled from Vatsagulma (modern-day Washim). The Vakatakas were contemporaries of the Gupta Empire and maintained close diplomatic ties with them through matrimonial alliances. They played a crucial role in the development of Indian art and architecture, most notably through their extensive patronage of the rock-cut Buddhist monuments at the Ajanta Caves, particularly during the reign of Harishena of the Vatsagulma branch in the 5th century CE.

Explanation

Ecological efficiency, also known as trophic efficiency, is defined as the efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next within an ecosystem. It is expressed as the ratio between the energy flow or net productivity at a specific trophic level and the energy flow or net productivity at the preceding lower trophic level. This ratio is typically calculated using the formula:

Ecological Efficiency = (Energy at trophic level n)/(Energy at trophic level n-1) × 100

This measurement quantifies the proportion of energy that is converted into biomass at a higher level after accounting for energy lost through respiration, heat, and waste. It illustrates the fundamental energy dynamics of a food chain, showing how energy flows and diminishes as it moves through different points of the biotic community.

Explanation

Articles 245 to 255 are contained in Chapter I of Part XI of the Indian Constitution, which specifically outlines the legislative relations between the Union and the States. These provisions define the territorial limits of the legislative powers vested in Parliament and the State Legislatures, as well as the distribution of legislative subjects between them. Article 245 establishes the extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States, while Article 246 distributes the legislative subjects into the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List as detailed in the Seventh Schedule. This framework ensures a clear division of authority, allowing the Union to legislate on matters of national importance and the States to legislate on matters of local significance, while also providing mechanisms like Article 254 to resolve inconsistencies between central and state laws on concurrent subjects.

Explanation

The Luni River is the largest river in the Thar Desert region of northwest India. It originates in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range near Ajmer, Rajasthan, at an elevation of about 550 meters. The river flows in a southwesterly direction through the districts of Rajasthan, covering a distance of approximately 495 kilometers. It eventually enters the state of Gujarat, where it terminates in the marshy grounds of the Rann of Kutch. Because it drains into an inland basin rather than reaching the sea, the Luni is characterized as an endorheic and ephemeral river.

Explanation

The Kaushalya Matritva Yojana was launched by the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, in March 2022. This social welfare scheme is designed to provide financial assistance of 5,000 rupees to women upon the birth of their second girl child. The primary objectives of the initiative are to promote safe motherhood, ensure proper nutrition for both the mother and the newborn, and address gender discrimination by incentivizing the birth of girl children. The financial aid is disbursed through a one-time payment directly into the beneficiary's bank account, supporting the health and well-being of women in the state during the postnatal period.

Explanation

The temperature dependence of a reaction rate is quantified by the temperature coefficient, which is defined as the ratio of the rate constants at two temperatures differing by 10°C or 10 K. For the majority of chemical reactions, the value of this coefficient is approximately 2. According to the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of molecular speeds, an increase in temperature by 10°C significantly increases the fraction of molecules that possess energy equal to or greater than the activation energy Eₐ. Specifically, the area under the curve representing these high-energy molecules nearly doubles for a 10-degree rise, leading to a corresponding doubling of effective collisions and the rate constant k. This relationship is also described by the Arrhenius equation k = Ae^(-Eₐ/RT), where the exponential term increases sharply with a small increase in temperature T.

Explanation

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms of imprisonment, totaling fifty years of transportation, following his conviction in the Nasik Conspiracy Case. After the conclusion of his trials in early 1911, he was transported to the Andaman Islands. He arrived at the Cellular Jail in Port Blair on July 4, 1911, where he was designated as prisoner number 32778. He remained in the Andaman Jail under rigorous conditions and solitary confinement until 1921, when he was moved back to jails in mainland India.

Explanation

In the Union Budget 2023-24, the Government of India set the disinvestment target at ₹51,000 crore. This target represented a downward revision compared to the previous fiscal year, reflecting a more cautious approach by the Finance Ministry towards the strategic sale of stakes in Public Sector Undertakings. The government aimed to achieve this through the privatization of specific entities and the sale of minority stakes in various state-run firms.

Explanation

Usha Barle is a renowned folk singer from Chhattisgarh who specializes in the Kapalik style of Pandwani, a traditional performing art involving the narration of tales from the Mahabharata. In 2023, she was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in recognition of her distinguished service and lifelong contribution to the field of art. Having trained under the legendary Teejan Bai, she has played a pivotal role in popularizing Chhattisgarhi folk music and culture on both national and international platforms.

Explanation

Bacteria are the primary group of organisms classified as prokaryotes. Their cellular structure is characterized by the absence of a membrane-bound nucleus; instead, their genetic material resides in an irregularly shaped region called the nucleoid. Prokaryotic cells like bacteria do not possess membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or Golgi apparatus. Their ribosomes are smaller (70S) compared to those in eukaryotic cells, and their cell walls are typically composed of a unique polymer called peptidoglycan. This lack of internal compartmentalization means that metabolic processes occur directly within the cytoplasm or across the cell membrane, reflecting the fundamental simplicity of prokaryotic life.

Explanation

Mendeleev left gaps in his periodic table for elements that were yet to be discovered and predicted their properties based on their positions in the groups. He named the element situated below aluminium as eka-aluminium and predicted its atomic mass to be approximately 68. When Gallium was discovered in 1875, its actual atomic mass was determined to be 69.72, which closely matched Mendeleev's prediction and provided strong evidence for the validity of his periodic law.

Explanation

Pandit Ravi Shankar, a world-renowned sitar maestro, founded the National Orchestra of India, officially known as the Vadya Vrinda, at All India Radio in 1952. Serving as the music director for the Delhi station from 1949 to 1956, he pioneered the concept of Indian orchestral music by integrating traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar, sarod, and flute with elements of Western harmony and orchestration. His compositions for the ensemble successfully adapted classical Indian ragas and talas into a symphonic framework, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of contemporary Indian classical music and instrumental ensembles.

Explanation

The Justice Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of Citizens (1999) was established to identify and implement a strategy for operationalizing the Fundamental Duties listed under Article 51A of the Indian Constitution. The committee highlighted that although Fundamental Duties are not directly enforceable by courts, there are already several legal provisions and statutes in force that provide for their implementation and penalize non-compliance. These include the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act (1971), which protects the National Flag and Constitution, various sections of the Indian Penal Code that criminalize acts prejudicial to national integration, and environmental protection laws like the Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972) and the Forest (Conservation) Act (1980) which align with the duty to protect the natural environment.

Explanation

The first official summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, from September 1 to 6, 1961. This landmark conference was organized by the founding leaders of the movement, including Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, and Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt. The summit brought together twenty-five countries that sought to maintain a neutral stance and avoid formal alignment with either the Western or Eastern power blocs during the height of the Cold War. It built upon the principles of sovereignty and non-interference established during the 1955 Bandung Conference to create a formal platform for the interests of developing nations.

Explanation

Pandit Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya established the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi in 1939. This premier institution was founded to promote, preserve, and provide formal training in Indian classical music and dance. While the original Gandharva Mahavidyalaya was founded by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in Lahore in 1901, the New Delhi branch became a significant cultural landmark under Maudgalya's leadership. The institution is renowned for its academic rigor in Hindustani classical music and for the Gandharva Choir, which Maudgalya created to adapt traditional ragas into a choral format.

Explanation

Industrial policy in India serves as the primary governing document that outlines the vision and regulatory framework for the country industrial sector. It defines the specific roles of the public and private sectors, provides the rules for industrial licensing, and establishes the procedures for setting up and operating enterprises. By articulating the government stance on foreign direct investment, technological advancement, and regional development, these policies, such as the landmark Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 and the New Industrial Policy of 1991, ensure that industrial growth is systematically organized and aligned with national economic goals.

Explanation

The pawn is the only chess piece that is restricted to moving forward and cannot move backwards toward its own side of the board. Under standard movement rules, a pawn moves from its current square to the square directly in front of it, provided that the destination square is not occupied by any other piece. If a piece is situated on the square immediately in front of the pawn, the pawn is blocked and cannot move to that square. While pawns have specific rules for capturing diagonally and an optional two-square advance on their first move, their primary method of progression is this single-step forward movement into an empty space.

Explanation

Mulayam Singh Yadav was a veteran politician who served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for three non-consecutive terms between 1989 and 2007. He first held the office from 1989 to 1991, then from 1993 to 1995, and finally from 2003 to 2007. He was the founder of the Samajwadi Party, which he established in 1992, and remained a central figure in the state's political landscape for several decades. Beyond his role as Chief Minister, he also served as India's Minister of Defence from 1996 to 1998 in the United Front government and was elected to the Lok Sabha multiple times from various constituencies within the state.

Explanation

DigiSaksham is a joint digital skills initiative launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with Microsoft India to enhance the employability of youth. Integrated with the National Career Service (NCS) portal, the program provides free-of-cost training in digital skills, ranging from basic computing to advanced technologies like data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The initiative specifically targets job seekers registered on the NCS portal, with a focus on reaching youth from semi-urban and rural areas to bridge the digital divide and prepare them for the modern job market. Through this partnership, Microsoft provides the curriculum and training modules while the NCS platform facilitates the delivery and outreach to millions of active job seekers across the country.

Explanation

Me-dam-me-phi is a significant ancestor worship festival celebrated by the Ahom community in Assam every year on January 31st. The name of the festival is derived from the Tai-Ahom language, where Me means offerings, Dam refers to the ancestors, and Phi means gods. It is a communal ritual performed to show respect to the departed souls and to seek their blessings for the peace and prosperity of the society. The practice reflects the traditional religious beliefs of the Ahom people, who believe that their ancestors remain as protective spirits after death. During the ceremony, specific rituals and prayers are conducted by the community to honor their forefathers and the gods of the Ahom pantheon.

Explanation

Oil India Limited is a prominent example of a joint sector industry in India. Joint sector industries are those that are owned and managed jointly by the government and private individuals or companies. This organizational form combines the resources and technical expertise of the private sector with the social objectives and regulatory oversight of the government. Oil India Limited was originally established as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Burmah Oil Company, a private entity, to engage in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. In this model, both the public and private partners contribute to the equity and participate in the strategic decision-making processes of the enterprise.

Explanation

Queen Didda was a powerful and influential ruler of Kashmir who exercised authority for nearly five decades during the 10th and early 11th centuries. Initially the queen consort of King Kshemagupta, she served as regent for her son and grandsons following her husband's death in 958 CE. In 980 CE, she formally ascended the throne as the sovereign monarch, ruling in her own name until 1003 CE. Her reign was characterized by the consolidation of royal power and the effective suppression of rebellious local chieftains known as Damaras. As the daughter of the King of Lohara and granddaughter of the Hindu Shahi ruler Bhimadeva, her political maneuvers eventually led to the establishment of the Lohara dynasty in Kashmir through her nephew, Sangramaraja.

Explanation

The Government of Madhya Pradesh launched the Ankur scheme in May 2021 to encourage active citizen participation in increasing the state green cover. Under this initiative, citizens are incentivized to plant trees during the monsoon season and are honored with the Pranvayu Award for their contribution. To participate, individuals must register on the Vayudoot app and upload a photograph while planting a sapling, followed by another photograph taken after thirty days of nurturing the plant. Winners are selected through a verification process conducted at the district level to ensure the survival and care of the saplings. This community-driven approach aims to foster environmental responsibility and combat climate change through mass afforestation across the state.

Explanation

The Right-Hand Thumb Rule, also known as Maxwell's Corkscrew Rule, is a convention used to determine the direction of the magnetic field around a straight current-carrying conductor. According to this rule, if you imagine holding the conductor in your right hand such that your thumb points in the direction of the flow of electric current, then the direction in which your fingers curl around the conductor represents the direction of the magnetic field lines. This indicates that the magnetic field forms concentric circles centered on the wire in a plane perpendicular to the current flow.