SSC CHSL Tier 1 2017 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

In the right-angled triangle ΔUVW with the right angle at V, the side opposite to angle U is VW, and the side adjacent to angle U is UV.

The tangent of angle U is defined as: tan U = VW / UV

Given that tan U = 12/5 and UV = 10 cm, we substitute these values into the equation: 12/5 = VW / 10

Solving for VW: VW = (12 / 5) × 10 VW = 12 × 2 VW = 24 cm

Explanation

A company's competitive position is fundamentally enhanced by adopting a customer-centric approach. By understanding and fulfilling customers' needs, a business can deliver superior value, build strong brand loyalty, and differentiate its offerings in the marketplace. Aligning products and services with customer expectations directly drives customer satisfaction, repeat business, and positive word-of-mouth, which collectively strengthen the market share and long-term sustainability of the organization.

Explanation

In India, deficit financing is defined as the borrowing undertaken by the government from the central bank, which is the Reserve Bank of India, to meet its budgetary deficit. When the government's expenditure exceeds its revenue receipts, it borrows from the Reserve Bank of India by issuing treasury bills and government securities. The Reserve Bank of India prints or creates new money to purchase these securities, thereby financing the government's deficit and increasing the overall money supply in the economy.

Explanation

Ashoka's inscriptions, carved on rocks and pillars throughout his empire, provide comprehensive details about his life, administration, and relations with other kingdoms. His life story, including his remorse over the Kalinga War and his conversion to Buddhism, is described in Major Rock Edict XIII. His internal policies are reflected in various edicts detailing the principles of Dhamma, administrative reforms, and welfare measures such as establishing hospitals and planting trees. His foreign policy is highlighted by mentions of his diplomatic missions sent to contemporary Hellenistic rulers like Antiochus II of Syria, Ptolemy II of Egypt, and southern kingdoms like the Cholas and Pandyas.

Explanation

Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, was killed in 1537 during a conflict with the Portuguese. After signing the Treaty of Bassein in 1534, relations between the Sultan and the Portuguese deteriorated as Bahadur Shah sought to regain control. Portuguese Governor Nuno da Cunha invited Bahadur Shah to a Portuguese ship anchored off the coast of Diu for negotiations. During the meeting, a violent confrontation ensued, and Bahadur Shah fell into the sea and drowned.

Explanation

The innermost layer of the Earth, which corresponds to the core, is highly abundant in nickel and iron. The term NIFE is a combination of the chemical symbols for nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe). Geologist Eduard Suess classified the Earth's layers based on their chemical composition, designating this dense metallic core as NIFE. These heavy metals accumulated at the center of the Earth during its early differentiation stage, and their high concentration in this layer plays a critical role in generating the Earth's magnetic field.

Explanation

The Konkan Coast represents the northern part of the western coastal plains of India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It covers a length of about 720 kilometers, stretching from Daman (at the mouth of the Daman Ganga River) in the north down to Goa (at the Terekhol River) in the south. This rugged, submerged coastline encompasses the entire coastal strip of Maharashtra and Goa, characterized by numerous cliffs, creeks, estuaries, and natural harbors.

Explanation

Kathakali is a classical Indian dance-drama that originated in the state of Kerala, not Karnataka. It is highly characterized by its elaborate and colorful makeup, costumes, and face masks, which traditional male actor-dancers wear to perform stories mostly based on Hindu epics.

Explanation

Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, signed between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank, the water of the Indus River system is shared between the two nations. The treaty grants India unrestricted control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej), while allocating the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) to Pakistan. India is permitted to use 20% of the total water carried by the Indus system for specific non-consumptive purposes, including run-of-the-river power generation, domestic use, navigation, and limited irrigation.

Explanation

Prashant Singh is an Indian basketball player who represented the national team at several international tournaments, including the Asian Games and the FIBA Asia Championship. In 2017, he was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award for his outstanding contribution to basketball. The Dronacharya Award is presented to sports coaches rather than active athletes, which makes him the odd one out in this context.

Explanation

China shares its longest land border with Mongolia. This international boundary stretches approximately 4,677 kilometers across the northern region of China and the southern region of Mongolia, traversing through the Gobi Desert and vast grassland steppes.

Explanation

Bakelite is a thermosetting plastic, meaning it cannot be softened by heating once it has been molded. It is a poor conductor of both heat and electricity, which makes only statement II correct.

Explanation

Ignition temperature is the lowest temperature at which a combustible substance catches fire. Highly volatile liquid fuels like petrol have very low ignition temperatures because they readily vaporize at ambient conditions. These vapors easily mix with atmospheric oxygen to form a highly flammable mixture, requiring very little heat to initiate combustion. Because petrol reaches its ignition point much more easily than solid materials, it has the minimum ignition temperature.

Explanation

Article 368 of the Constitution of India, contained in Part XX, grants the Parliament the power to amend the Constitution and lays down the procedure for such amendments. It specifies that Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation, or repeal any provision of the Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article. This amendment power is a constituent power, which is distinct from the ordinary legislative power of the Parliament, although it is subject to the limitation that it cannot alter or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution.

Explanation

Part VIII of the Constitution of India, comprising Articles 239 to 242, contains the provisions relating to the administration of Union Territories. According to Article 239, every Union Territory is administered by the President of India through an administrator appointed by him with such designation as he may specify. This part also contains special provisions with respect to Delhi under Article 239AA and provisions for the creation of local legislatures or council of ministers in certain Union Territories.

Explanation

Peristalsis is the automatic, wave-like movement of smooth muscles that occurs in the digestive tract. It involves the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the circular and longitudinal muscles in the lining of the alimentary canal. This coordinated muscular activity creates a wave that propels food, liquids, and digested materials forward through the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, facilitating the entire process of digestion and excretion.

Explanation

In humans, sex is determined by a specific pair of chromosomes called sex chromosomes. Men possess one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, which is represented as the XY pair. The Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which is responsible for triggering male embryonic development.

Explanation

The National Biopharma Mission, formally named Innovate in India (i3), was approved by the Union Cabinet with a total outlay of USD 250 million (approximately ₹1,500 crore). This industry-academia collaborative program of the Department of Biotechnology is 50% co-funded by the World Bank. Under this funding arrangement, the World Bank provides a loan of USD 125 million, while the remaining USD 125 million is contributed by the Government of India. The mission is implemented by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to accelerate the early development and indigenous manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices in India.

Explanation

Researchers at Duke University in North Carolina, United States, successfully developed working human skeletal muscle from induced pluripotent stem cells in a laboratory setting for the first time. Led by biomedical engineering professor Nenad Bursac, the scientific team reprogrammed adult non-muscle cells, such as skin or blood cells, into a pluripotent state before directing them to differentiate into functional muscle tissue. The resulting muscle fibers demonstrated the ability to contract in response to external chemical and electrical stimuli, mirroring the behavior of native human muscle. This tissue engineering breakthrough provides a critical platform for studying degenerative muscular disorders and conducting drug toxicity screening.

Explanation

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development in July 2017 for the revision of the cost of the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011). The decision revised the estimated cost of the SECC 2011 to ₹4893.60 crore (approximately ₹4893 crore) from the previously approved estimated expenditure of ₹3543.29 crore. This revision was approved to account for the time and cost overruns of the census project, which had officially concluded on March 31, 2016.

Explanation

Under Section 29 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), which came into full effect on May 1, 2017, the Regulatory Authorities are required to make an endeavour to dispose of complaints filed before them within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of the complaint. If a complaint cannot be disposed of within this specified period of 60 days, the Regulatory Authority is required to record the reasons in writing for not resolving the complaint within that timeframe. This provision was enacted to ensure the speedy and efficient redressal of grievances for homebuyers, promoters, and real estate agents.

Explanation

By Newton's second law of motion, force is equal to the product of mass and acceleration:

F = m × a

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, which is calculated as:

a = (v - u) / t

Using the given values: Initial velocity, u = 15 m/s Final velocity, v = 25 m/s Time, t = 5 s Mass, m = 4 kg

a = (25 - 15) / 5 = 10 / 5 = 2 m/s²

Substituting the acceleration back into the force equation:

F = 4 × 2 = 8 N

Explanation

During uniform motion of an object along a straight line, the velocity of the object remains constant throughout its journey. Because the velocity does not change with respect to time, both its magnitude and direction are constant. Consequently, the final velocity equals the initial velocity for any given time interval. Therefore, the change in velocity, which is the difference between the final and initial velocity, is always zero. This also implies that the acceleration of the object is zero, as acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity.

Explanation

Tropical rainforests are located near the equator, where they experience high temperatures and consistent climatic conditions year-round. A defining feature of these forests is their exceptionally high level of precipitation, typically receiving between 2000 mm and 10000 mm of rainfall annually. This abundant and frequent rainfall, combined with warm temperatures, creates a highly humid environment that supports an extraordinarily diverse and dense array of plant and animal life.

Explanation

Valentino Rossi won the 2017 Dutch TT MotoGP, also known as the Motul TT Assen, on June 25, 2017, riding for Yamaha. This iconic victory marked the 115th Grand Prix win of his career and his final victory in MotoGP.

Glenn Maxwell was appointed as the captain of the Kings XI Punjab franchise for the 2017 season of the Indian Premier League. Under his captaincy, the team played 14 matches, winning seven and losing seven during the tournament.

Explanation

In Microsoft Word, character formatting allows users to customize the visual appearance of individual text characters. The Underline feature is specifically used to place a horizontal line directly beneath the selected text. This formatting option can be applied using the Underline button in the Font group on the Home tab, through the Font dialog box, or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + U. Word also allows users to customize this option by choosing different underline styles, such as double, dashed, or wavy lines, as well as different colors for the underline.

Explanation

The Global Competitiveness Report is a flagship annual publication of the World Economic Forum (WEF). First published in 1979, the report assesses the competitiveness landscape of dozens of countries around the world, measuring their productivity and potential for long-term economic growth. It utilizes the Global Competitiveness Index, which evaluates countries across twelve pillars of competitiveness, including institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, and technological readiness.

Explanation

Entry 20 of the Concurrent List (List III) in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India specifies Economic and social planning. Placing economic planning in the Concurrent List enables both the central government and the state governments to formulate and execute policies and legislation related to economic development, ensuring a balanced and cooperative federal approach to planning in the country.

Explanation

The circle depicted on the Sarnath Pillar is the Ashoka Chakra, also known as the Dharmachakra or the Wheel of the Law. The wheel symbolizes continuous movement, dynamism, and forward motion. In Indian philosophy and national symbolism, this constant rotation of the wheel signifies that there is life in movement and stagnation brings death. It represents continuous development, advancement, and progress. This symbolism of dynamic movement and progress is the reason this circular emblem is also featured at the center of the National Flag of India.

Explanation

The Tinkathiya system was an exploitative practice prevalent in the Champaran district of Bihar. Under this system, European planters forced the local peasant farmers to cultivate indigo on 3/20th of their land, which corresponds to three katas out of twenty katas that make up one bigha. In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi was invited to Champaran by Raj Kumar Shukla to investigate the grievances of these indigo cultivators. This led to the launch of the Champaran Satyagraha, Mahatma Gandhi's first satyagraha movement in India, which successfully forced the colonial administration to abolish the oppressive Tinkathiya system.

Explanation

The distance between two consecutive degrees of latitude is calculated by dividing the Earth's meridional circumference by 360 degrees. Using the Earth's meridional circumference of approximately 40,008 km:

Distance = 40,008 km / 360 ≈ 111.13 km

This yields an approximate distance of 111 km between each degree of latitude. Although this distance varies slightly from 110.6 km at the equator to 111.7 km at the poles due to the Earth's oblate spheroidal shape, it is generally simplified to 111 km.

Explanation

The Siachen Glacier, situated in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas, is famously referred to as 'White Water' in India. This descriptive name is derived from the massive, permanent, and vast expanse of snow and ice that covers the entire glaciated valley. Spanning a length of approximately 76 kilometers, the glacier represents a continuous, pristine white landscape of frozen water at extremely high altitudes, making it the largest source of fresh water in the region outside the polar caps.

Explanation

Leela Samson is a prominent Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and writer recognized for her expertise in Bharatanatyam. She received her training at the prestigious Kalakshetra cultural academy in Chennai under the guidance of Rukmini Devi Arundale. Over her illustrious career, Samson has worked extensively to popularize and innovate within the traditional vocabulary of Bharatanatyam, which includes founding the Spanda dance group. She has also served as the director of Kalakshetra and the chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Her contributions to the art form have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1999.

Explanation

The 13th edition of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas between the Indian and United States armies was held from September 14 to 27, 2017, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, USA. This bilateral exercise is conducted alternately between the two nations to enhance interoperability, tactical skills, and joint planning in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under a United Nations mandate.

Explanation

Shahrukh Khan was honoured with the 24th Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum annual meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2018. He received this recognition for his leadership in championing children's and women's rights in India. Through his non-profit organization, the Meer Foundation, he has been actively involved in providing medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training, rehabilitation, and livelihood support to female victims of acid attacks and major burn injuries. He has also supported the creation of specialized children's hospital wards and childcare centers.

Explanation

The national flag of Bhutan is divided diagonally into two halves. The lower half is saffron-orange, which symbolizes the spiritual tradition and the practice of Buddhism (specifically the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma schools) in the country. This color reflects the spiritual heritage, monastic community, and religious practices of Bhutan.

Explanation

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is considered a cleaner fuel because its combustion releases significantly lower levels of sulfur and nitrogen oxides compared to conventional fuels, which reduces overall environmental pollution. Additionally, it emits fewer greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, making all three statements correct.

Explanation

According to the Law of Definite Proportions, formulated by Joseph Proust, a given chemical compound always contains its component elements in a fixed and constant ratio by mass. This chemical law established that regardless of how a compound is prepared or where it is sourced, the constituent elements are always combined in the exact same proportion by mass. For instance, in a pure sample of water (H₂O), the ratio of the mass of hydrogen to the mass of oxygen is always 1:8, which remains constant whether the water is obtained from a river, rain, or synthesized in a laboratory.

Explanation

The Chief Election Commissioner of India holds office for a term of six years or until attaining the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. This tenure is specified under the provisions governing the Election Commission of India to ensure the independence and stability of the constitutional body. If the commissioner reaches the age of 65 before completing the six-year period, they retire on their 65th birthday.

Explanation

Under Article 76 of the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India is appointed by the President and functions as the Chief Law Officer of the Government of India. As the highest legal authority in the country, the Attorney General is responsible for giving advice to the Union Government upon legal matters and performing other duties of a legal character assigned by the President. The Attorney General also represents the Government of India in various legal proceedings, including cases in the Supreme Court and high courts, and has the right of audience in all courts within the territory of India.

Explanation

Herbivores eat plant-based materials containing cellulose, which is highly complex and difficult to digest. A longer small intestine provides the necessary time and surface area for the breakdown of cellulose by specialized enzymes and symbiotic microorganisms, ensuring complete digestion and absorption of nutrients. On the other hand, carnivores feed on meat, which is much easier to digest and lacks cellulose, requiring a shorter small intestine to process and absorb their food efficiently.

Explanation

Homologous organs are organs in different species that share a similar basic structural design and developmental origin, even though they may perform entirely different functions. The limbs of vertebrates like frogs, lizards, birds, and humans have a common skeletal blueprint comprising the humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. This fundamental structural and anatomical similarity is a result of shared ancestry, demonstrating that these diverse organisms evolved from a common evolutionary progenitor and their limbs adapted over time to serve different purposes such as jumping, walking, flying, or grasping.

Explanation

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) launched the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme in the state of Melaka, Malaysia, in September 2017. This initiative aimed to promote efficient use of energy by distributing affordable LED bulbs to consumers in Malaysia.

Explanation

Pratyush, India's first multi-petaflops supercomputer, was unveiled at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune in January 2018. It is used for weather forecasting and climate research in India.

Explanation

In December 2017, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced a revision in the investment limits for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in government securities for the January to March 2018 quarter. Following the revised guidelines, the investment limit for FPIs in Central Government securities was increased to ₹1,91,300 crore (over ₹1.91 lakh crore) from the previous limit of ₹1,89,700 crore. This measure was implemented to encourage a greater inflow of foreign capital into India's debt and capital markets.

Explanation

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed to legalise Kambala, a traditional annual buffalo race held in the muddy, water-filled paddy fields of coastal Karnataka. The sport had faced a ban by the Karnataka High Court in November 2016 following a petition filed by animal rights activists citing animal cruelty. To protect this local cultural tradition, the state government proposed the amendment bill to exempt Kambala from the provisions of the central Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice cleared this bill on June 8, 2017, facilitating its progression toward obtaining presidential assent.

Explanation

According to Ohm's law, the relationship between the potential difference (V) across a conductor, the current (I) flowing through it, and its resistance (R) is given by the formula:

V = I × R

Rearranging this formula to solve for resistance:

R = V / I

Given that the potential difference (V) is 5 V and the current (I) is 0.1 A, we substitute these values into the equation:

R = 5 / 0.1 = 50 Ω

Explanation

A body falling freely under the influence of gravity alone experiences a constant acceleration directed towards the center of the Earth, known as acceleration due to gravity (g ≈ 9.8 m/s² near the Earth's surface). Because the magnitude and direction of this acceleration remain constant over time in the absence of air resistance, the rate of change of velocity is constant, making it a classic example of uniformly accelerated motion.

Explanation

According to Bernoulli's principle in fluid dynamics, an increase in the speed of a fluid, such as air, occurs simultaneously with a decrease in its static pressure. When wind speed increases, the air molecules move faster in a specific direction, which reduces the rate of collisions perpendicular to the flow, thereby lowering the local air pressure in that region.

Explanation

Sebastian Vettel raced for Ferrari in the 2017 Formula One season, and Grigor Dimitrov won the 2017 Cincinnati Masters Men's Singles title by defeating Nick Kyrgios. In the 2017 Pro Kabaddi League, Nitin Tomar played for UP Yoddha, not the Jaipur Pink Panthers, making statements A and B the only correct ones.