SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is a world-renowned maestro of the bansuri, an Indian bamboo flute. He is widely credited with bringing the bansuri into the mainstream of Hindustani classical music and establishing it as a major classical concert instrument. For his outstanding contributions to Indian classical music, he was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan.

Explanation

In the July 2021 cabinet reshuffle, Kiren Rijiju was moved from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and given charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice, replacing Ravi Shankar Prasad in that portfolio.

Explanation

Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily spreads through droplet infection, wherein an infected person releases bacteria-laden droplets into the air while coughing, sneezing, or talking, which are then inhaled by a healthy person, making airborne droplet transmission the principal mode of spread rather than skin contact or soil exposure.

Explanation

Moonwalk is the 1988 autobiography written by the American singer and entertainer Michael Jackson. The book was published by Doubleday and edited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It offers a personal chronicle of Jackson's life, detailing his strict upbringing, his early music career with his brothers in the Jackson 5, and his subsequent rise to solo global stardom. The title of the autobiography directly references his iconic signature dance move, the moonwalk, which he debuted nationally in 1983.

Explanation

Jayaprabha Menon is a highly acclaimed exponent of Mohiniyattam, one of the eight classical dance forms of India originating from Kerala. Trained under legendary gurus like Kalamandalam Saraswathy, C. V. Chandrasekhar, and Bharathy Shivaji, she has contributed significantly to the research, choreography, and presentation of this traditional dance. She is the founder-director of the International Academy of Mohiniyattam in New Delhi, where she actively trains disciples and promotes the art form. Her outstanding contributions to classical dance earned her the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2015.

Explanation

Guru Bipin Singh was a legendary director, choreographer, and teacher of Manipuri classical dance. Often regarded as the Father of Manipuri Dance, he played a crucial role in bringing the traditional dance form of Manipur to the mainstream stage by systematizing its pedagogical structure and choreography. In recognition of his immense contribution to Indian classical dance, he was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1966. He also established key training institutions, including the Manipuri Nartanalaya in Kolkata, which helped produce many notable exponents of this dance form.

Explanation

Abhinav Bindra, who won India's first individual Olympic gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, detailed his journey in his autobiography titled A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold. Co-authored with sportswriter Rohit Brijnath and published in 2011, the book chronicles his relentless pursuit of excellence, his rigorous training regimes, and the immense mental and physical struggles he overcame to achieve historic Olympic success.

Explanation

The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games, will be hosted by Italy. The multi-sport event is scheduled to be held in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Italy was selected as the host country at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2019. This event will mark the fourth time Italy has hosted the Olympic Games and the first time Milan will serve as an official host city.

Explanation

Ustad Rashid Khan, an eminent Indian classical vocalist of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2022. This award, which is India's third-highest civilian honor, was bestowed upon him by the Government of India in the field of Art for his immense contributions to classical music. He had also previously received the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.

Explanation

Srjan, also known as Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa, is a premier Odissi dance institution founded in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in 1993 by the legendary Odissi exponent and guru, Kelucharan Mohapatra. He established the school along with his wife Laxmipriya Mohapatra and son Ratikant Mohapatra to nurture talent, maintain high professional standards, and propagate his distinct style of Odissi dance. Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra is widely credited with the revival, research, and restructuring of the Odissi classical dance form in the twentieth century, and his legacy is carried forward through this premier training institution.

Explanation

The Ganga Plain extends between the Ghaggar River in the west and the Teesta River in the east. It is the largest division of the Great Northern Plains of India, spanning across northern states like Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal. Geographically, the Ghaggar River marks the western boundary of the Ganga Plain, separating it from the Punjab Plains, while the Teesta River in the east marks the transition into the Brahmaputra Plain of Assam.

Explanation

Anita Desai wrote the novel 'Fasting, Feasting', which was published in 1999. The novel explores themes of gender roles, family expectations, and cultural differences through the contrasting lives of Uma, an unmarried daughter living with her parents in India, and her younger brother Arun, who goes to study in Massachusetts, USA. The book was highly acclaimed and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1999.

Explanation

The Matheran Hill Railway is a historic heritage mountain railway in Maharashtra that connects Neral to Matheran. It operates on a narrow-gauge track with a width of 2 feet (610 mm). Indian Railways classifies track widths of 2 feet 6 inches (762 mm) and 2 feet (610 mm) as narrow gauge, which are specifically utilized in hilly and mountainous terrains to navigate sharp curves and steep gradients.

Explanation

A. R. Rahman won two Grammy Awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards held in 2010 for his work in the film Slumdog Millionaire. He received the award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for the song Jai Ho, sharing the award with lyricists Gulzar and Tanvi Shah. He also won the award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for the same movie.

Explanation

The Deccan Plateau is a large triangular plateau that rises to an average elevation of about 600 meters (2000 feet) and covers most of the southern part of India. It is geographically bounded by the Satpura and Vindhya ranges in the north, which separate it from the Indo-Gangetic plain, and is flanked by the Western Ghats to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the east. The plateau tilts gently from west to east, which is reflected in the eastward flow of its major rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri towards the Bay of Bengal.

Explanation

Lack of financial discipline by the government occurs when there is a failure to manage public finances responsibly. This directly leads to excess expenditure, where the government spends beyond its budgeted means and revenues. To fund this excess expenditure, governments often resort to deficit financing, such as borrowing from the central bank or printing more currency. This expansion in the money supply and increase in public spending drives up aggregate demand in the economy. When aggregate demand outpaces aggregate supply, it creates upward pressure on prices, resulting in inflation. Thus, both excess expenditure and inflation are direct outcomes of a lack of financial discipline.

Explanation

Caramelisation is the non-enzymatic browning reaction that occurs when carbohydrates like sucrose are heated to temperatures around 320°F (160°C). During this thermal degradation process, water is removed from the sugar molecules through dehydration, and the sugars break down to form complex polymers. This chemical transformation produces characteristic flavor compounds with sweet, nutty, or bitter profiles, alongside the distinct golden-brown to dark-brown color.

Explanation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the National Hydrogen Mission on India's 75th Independence Day, 15 August 2021. The mission aims to assist the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, thereby cutting down carbon emissions and reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuel imports.

Explanation

Pandit Bhawani Shankar was a renowned exponent of the pakhawaj, a traditional double-headed barrel drum used in Hindustani classical music. Born into a musical family, he received extensive training in both Kathak dance and percussion, eventually carving out a niche as one of the most celebrated pakhawaj players of his generation. He collaborated with many legendary classical musicians and brought global recognition to the instrument.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

VVS Laxman's autobiography is titled '281 and Beyond', co-authored with sports journalist R. Kaushik and published in 2018. The title refers to his historic innings of 281 runs against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001, which helped India win the match after following on and is widely regarded as one of the greatest test innings of all time.

Explanation

The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established on July 1, 1862, under the High Courts Act, 1861, as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Explanation

Johann Dobereiner proposed the Law of Triads in 1817, where he grouped elements with similar chemical properties into groups of three, known as triads. He demonstrated that when these elements are arranged in increasing order of their atomic masses, the atomic mass and properties of the middle element are approximately the arithmetic mean of the other two elements. For the triad of lithium, sodium, and potassium, the atomic mass of sodium (23) is the exact average of the atomic masses of lithium (7) and potassium (39), calculated as (7 + 39) / 2 = 23.

Explanation

Satyaram Reang is an eminent folk artist and exponent of the Hojagiri dance from Tripura. He has dedicated his life to preserving, promoting, and propagating this traditional dance of the Reang community. The dance is performed by women who balance pots, bottles, and lamps on their heads and hands while maintaining rhythmic movements. In recognition of his decades-long dedication to preserving this tribal art form, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri award upon him in 2021.

Explanation

Bharatanatyam, historically known as Sadir Attam and performed by Devadasis in the temples of Tamil Nadu, was the first traditional dance of India to be refashioned as a modern theater art. During the early twentieth century, pioneers like E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale led a major revival movement to strip the dance of its social stigma and transition it from temple courtyards to the proscenium stage. Rukmini Devi Arundale established the Kalakshetra academy in 1936, introducing standardized training, elegant costumes, and theatrical presentation. This institutionalization allowed Bharatanatyam to be widely choreographed, performed, and celebrated both across India and on international platforms, establishing it as the pioneer of India's classical dance renaissance.

Explanation

The standard rain gauge is a meteorological instrument designed to measure the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period. It consists of a circular funnel-shaped collector of a standardized diameter that funnels collected rainwater into a narrow graduated measuring tube. This design amplifies the depth of the water in the tube relative to the actual rainfall depth, allowing for highly precise measurements of precipitation per unit area.

Explanation

In the periodic table of elements, the horizontal rows are defined as periods. There are seven periods in the modern periodic table, where each period corresponds to the sequential filling of a principal electron shell, represented by the principal quantum number n, ranging from n = 1 to n = 7. Elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells.

Explanation

PV Sindhu won the bronze medal in the badminton women's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by defeating China's He Bingjiao in straight games with a score of 21-13, 21-15. With this win, she became the first Indian woman and only the second Indian athlete overall to win two individual Olympic medals, following her silver medal achievement at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Explanation

Slowly healing wounds is a classic symptom of Vitamin C deficiency rather than Vitamin B1 deficiency. Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a structural protein vital for skin integrity, blood vessel strength, and tissue repair. A deficiency in Vitamin C impairs collagen production, leading to delayed wound healing, easy bruising, and bleeding gums.

Explanation

Straight from the Heart: An Autobiography is the autobiography of Kapil Dev, the legendary Indian cricketer and former captain who led the national team to its historic first Cricket World Cup victory in 1983. Published in 2004, the book provides an intimate account of his cricketing journey, his childhood, his rise from Chandigarh to international fame, and his experiences during his illustrious career.

Explanation

Lata Mangeshkar was conferred with the Officer of the Legion of Honour (Officier de la Légion d'Honneur), France's highest civilian award, in 2007. The prestigious honor was officially presented to her in Mumbai in 2009 by the French government in recognition of her unparalleled contribution to the field of music and her role in popularizing Indian culture globally.

Explanation

According to the Crime in India 2020 report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Madhya Pradesh registered the highest number of crimes against children in the country, with a total of 17,008 cases recorded under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL). This volume constituted approximately 13.2% of the total cases of crimes against children reported across India during that year.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Uma Sharma is a renowned classical dancer who is widely recognized for her mastery and revolutionary contributions to the traditional dance form of Kathak. She is credited with reviving the old classical presentation of "Kavitt Toras" in Kathak style and popularizing the dance form globally. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of classical dance, the Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri in 1973 and the Padma Bhushan in 2001.

Explanation

Pandavani is a traditional folk singing style and performing art from Chhattisgarh that narrates tales from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Teejan Bai, Jhaduram Devangan, Ritu Verma, Usha Barle, and Shantibai Chelak are prominent and celebrated exponents of this musical tradition. The art form is performed in two main styles: the Vedamati style, of which Jhaduram Devangan is considered the father, and the Kapalik style, which has been popularized globally by Teejan Bai.

Explanation

Paragliding is a recreational and competitive aerial sport where a pilot flies a lightweight, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. It is classified as an adventure sport because it involves navigating wind currents at high altitudes, which carries an inherent element of risk, physical exertion, and thrill, requiring specialized skills and safety gear.

Explanation

Jatin Goswami is a legendary Indian dancer and choreographer who is widely recognized as a leading exponent of Sattriya, the traditional classical dance form of Assam. His lifelong dedication and contribution to the promotion, development, and systematization of Sattriya dance earned him the prestigious National Kalidas Samman for the year 2017, awarded by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Explanation

Guru Padmaja Reddy is a renowned exponent of the classical Indian dance form Kuchipudi. She has dedicated her career to the promotion, preservation, and propagation of Kuchipudi, including researching and reviving historical dance forms of the Kakatiya dynasty like Perini Sivatandavam. In recognition of her immense contributions to the field of art, she was conferred with India's fourth-highest civilian honor, the Padma Shri, in 2022. She was also previously honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015 for her contributions to Kuchipudi.

Explanation

The novel 'The Year of the Runaways' is written by British author Sunjeev Sahota. Published in 2015, the book chronicles the lives of three illegal young Indian immigrants—Tochi, Avtar, and Randeep—who travel from India to Sheffield, England, in search of work and a better life, alongside Narinder, a British-born Sikh woman. This critically acclaimed work explores the harsh realities, struggles, and vulnerabilities of migrant workers, and it was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize.

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore was widely known by the honorific title Gurudev, which was bestowed upon him by Mahatma Gandhi. As a pioneering polymath, Tagore revolutionized Bengali literature, art, and music. He created a unique genre of music known as Rabindra Sangeet, in which he masterfully integrated the ragas of Indian classical music and the rustic melodies of traditional Bengali folk music, such as Baul and Bhatiyali, with Western tunes and rhythms. His compositions demonstrated an extraordinary ability to bind these diverse musical elements together with precision, matching them seamlessly to the emotional depth of his lyrics.

Explanation

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, under the Khelo India Scheme, sanctioned 62 sports infrastructure projects of various categories in the North Eastern Region as of December 2021. These projects, spread across the eight northeastern states, were approved under the "Creation and Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure" component of the scheme to promote sports culture, identify talent, and provide modern training facilities to athletes in the region.

Explanation

As per the data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in 2017, Maharashtra had the highest length of national highways in India, spanning over 15,000 km. The state's extensive road network is a result of strategic connectivity initiatives, major industrial corridors, and rapid infrastructure development linking major ports, industrial hubs, and urban centers.

Explanation

Water has a specific heat capacity of approximately 4184 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹ (or about 4186 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, which is significantly higher than the value of 1200 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹ given in the pair. This exceptionally high specific heat capacity of water is due to the extensive hydrogen bonding between its molecules, which requires a large amount of heat energy to disrupt before the temperature of the water can rise.

Explanation

The precautionary demand for money arises because individuals and businesses need to hold cash to protect themselves against unexpected emergencies, unforeseen contingencies, and the inherent uncertainty of future receipts and expenditures. Since future cash inflows and outflows cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, maintaining a liquid cash buffer ensures that sudden financial obligations or sudden drops in income can be managed without facing financial distress or insolvency. This motive essentially acts as a financial safety net to handle unpredictable fluctuations in everyday life and business operations.

Explanation

In the Afternoon of Time is the English translation and abridged version of the celebrated four-volume autobiography of the eminent Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Originally written in Hindi, the autobiography consists of four parts: Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere Se Door, and Dashdwaar Se Sopan Tak. Translated into English by Rupert Snell, the book offers deep insights into the life, literary career, and personal experiences of the poet, who is also widely renowned for his landmark poetry collection Madhushala.

Explanation

The 19th edition of the Asian Games, scheduled for 2022, was awarded to Hangzhou, China. Hangzhou became the third Chinese city to host the prestigious multi-sport event, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010. The Olympic Council of Asia officially selected Hangzhou as the host city during its General Assembly in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in September 2015.

Explanation

The International Day of Older Persons is observed globally on October 1 every year to raise awareness about the opportunities and challenges of an aging population. For the year 2021, the United Nations selected the theme Digital Equity for all Ages. This theme highlighted the crucial need for digital inclusion, connectivity, and literacy among older individuals, emphasizing that access to and safe participation in the digital world is essential for their overall well-being and active involvement in society.

Explanation

The Eld's deer, specifically the subspecies known as the Sangai or brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldii eldii), is endemic to Manipur and is found exclusively in Keibul Lamjao National Park. This national park is situated on Loktak Lake and is characterized by its unique floating biomass called phumdis, which serves as the natural habitat for this endangered deer.

Explanation

Cyclostomata is a group of primitive, jawless vertebrates characterized by a circular, sucking mouth without jaws. Members of this class, such as lampreys and hagfish, have an elongated eel-like body that lacks paired fins and limbs. Their endoskeleton is entirely cartilaginous, and they retain a prominent, persistent notochord throughout their adult lives.

Explanation

K. Shivashankar won the National Film Award for Best Choreography at the 57th National Film Awards, held in 2010. He received this honor for choreographing the song Dheera Dheera Dheera from the blockbuster Telugu fantasy-action film Magadheera, which was directed by S. S. Rajamouli.

Explanation

M. Chandrasekaran is an eminent violinist in the field of Carnatic classical music. Known for his exceptional bowing technique and mastery over the instrument, he began performing at the age of eleven and has accompanied multiple generations of legendary Carnatic vocalists. His profound contributions to the art form earned him the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi title from the Madras Music Academy in 2005.

Explanation

Narthaki Nataraj is an eminent Bharatanatyam dancer who created history in 2019 by becoming the first transwoman to receive the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, for her contribution to art. Trained under the legendary guru Tanjore Kittappa Pillai, she is a leading exponent of the traditional Tanjore Nayaki Bhava style of Bharatanatyam and has performed extensively in India and abroad, establishing herself as a pioneering figure in both the classical dance community and the LGBTQ+ movement.