SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Dr. N. Rajam, a pioneer of the Hindustani violin, was selected for the prestigious Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Lifetime Achievement Award for classical music by the Government of Maharashtra for the year 2021. She is globally acclaimed for introducing and perfecting the Gayaki Ang (vocal style) on the violin, which closely mimics the nuances and techniques of human vocal music. Her immense contributions to Indian classical music as a performer, academician, and teacher earned her this distinguished honor.

Explanation

The first playback song in Indian cinema was recorded for the film Dhoop Chhaon, which was released in 1935. Music directors Raichand Boral and Pankaj Mullick introduced this revolutionary technology of playback singing in Indian cinema with this film, which was produced by New Theatres. The song featured the voices of singers Suprova Sarkar, Harimati, and Uma Shashi, marking a milestone that changed the course of music production in Indian movies.

Explanation

The Dayanand Social Security Scheme is a welfare initiative launched by the Government of Goa. Administered by the state's Directorate of Social Welfare, this scheme provides monthly financial assistance to vulnerable categories of citizens, including senior citizens, single women, persons with disabilities, and HIV/AIDS patients, to support their livelihood and ensure social security.

Explanation

All India Services violate the federal principle because the officers of these services are recruited and trained by the Central Government but serve in the states. The ultimate control over these officers lies with the Centre, while the state governments exercise only immediate supervisory control. This administrative setup curtails the autonomy of the states, making it a prominent unitary or non-federal feature of the Indian Constitution.

Explanation

Ernst Haeckel, a German zoologist and evolutionist, coined the term Oecologie (which later became ecology) to describe the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment. He derived the term from the Greek words oikos, meaning house or dwelling place, and logos, meaning study. In 1869, Haeckel provided a comprehensive definition of the term, establishing it as a scientific discipline focused on analyzing the interactions of organisms with both their organic and inorganic environments.

Explanation

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was established in December 1928. It was formed as a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, following a decision made by representatives from various provincial cricket associations at a meeting in Delhi in late 1927. The establishment of the BCCI created a unified national governing body for cricket in India, with R. E. Grant Govan serving as its first president and Anthony de Mello as its first secretary.

Explanation

Shobana Chandrakumar, widely known as Shobana, is an acclaimed exponent of Bharatanatyam. She trained under the legendary dancer Chitra Visweswaran and later established her own dance school, Kalaranjini, in Chennai. For her exceptional contributions to the field of classical dance, she was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in the year 2006.

Explanation

Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that is fundamental to the production of nuclear energy. The isotope uranium-235 is highly fissile, meaning its nuclei can easily be split when struck by neutrons in a process called nuclear fission. This fission reaction releases a tremendous amount of heat energy and additional neutrons, which sustain a controlled chain reaction within a nuclear reactor. The generated heat is then utilized to produce steam, which drives turbines connected to generators to produce electricity.

Explanation

The northern central Himalayan range at altitudes of 1801 to 3001 meters and the high-altitude regions of the Nilgiri hills in southern India both support montane wet temperate forests. These ecological zones are characterized by cool temperatures and high rainfall, which favor the growth of temperate and sub-alpine species. Oak, junipers, and maple are characteristic species of these high-altitude montane ecosystems, adapted to survive in temperate climates with distinct seasonal variations.

Explanation

Members of the phylum Annelida possess a characteristic body wall that includes a thin, moist, protective cuticle secreted by the underlying single-layered epidermal epithelium. Beneath this epidermis lies a well-developed muscular layer consisting of an outer layer of circular muscle fibers and an inner layer of longitudinal muscle fibers. The coordinated contraction and relaxation of these antagonistic muscle groups, working against the hydrostatic pressure of the coelomic fluid, facilitate the peristaltic movement and locomotion typical of annelids.

Explanation

Sheikh Chinna Moula was a legendary South Indian classical instrumentalist who was an outstanding exponent of the nadaswaram, a traditional double-reed wind instrument. Born into a family of traditional musicians in Andhra Pradesh, he later relocated to Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, to refine his skills in the Tanjore style of playing. He played a pivotal role in bringing the nadaswaram to global prominence and was honored with the Padma Shri in 1977 and the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi title by the Music Academy, Madras, in 1998.

Explanation

India hosted the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi from October 3 to October 14, 2010. This was the first time India hosted the Commonwealth Games and the second time the event was held in Asia, after Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998.

Explanation

Milk is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex (especially B12 and riboflavin), and Vitamin D. It contains negligible to no Vitamin C, which rules out all other options.

Explanation

The Ministry of Culture launched the Vande Bharatam Nritya Utsav, an All-India dance competition, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The primary objective of this initiative was to select talented dancers and groups from across India to perform during the grand cultural program at the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi. The competition was structured across multiple levels, including district, state, zonal, and national levels, showcasing India's rich cultural heritage through classical, folk, tribal, and contemporary fusion dance forms.

Explanation

SLR stands for Statutory Liquidity Ratio. It is a monetary policy instrument used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that mandates commercial banks to maintain a specific proportion of their Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) in the form of liquid assets, such as cash, gold, or approved government securities, before offering credit to customers. This requirement is enforced under Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, to ensure the solvency and stability of the banking system while regulating the flow of credit and liquidity in the economy.

Explanation

In November 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle to privatise the electricity distribution business in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. This decision was part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan initiative to reform power distribution in Union Territories.

Explanation

According to the National Crime Records Bureau's Crime in India 2020 report, Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of cases of crimes against women with 49,385 cases, followed by West Bengal in second place with 36,439 cases.

Explanation

Dr. Verghese Kurien, widely known as the Father of the White Revolution in India, is the author of the audio autobiography titled The Man Who Made the Elephant Dance. He was the architect of Operation Flood, which transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world's largest milk producer. The audio book captures his life journey, his struggles, and his monumental success in establishing the dairy cooperative model, famously known as Amul.

Explanation

Pandit Birju Maharaj, born Brijmohan Mishra, was a legendary Kathak exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana. He was a direct descendant of Ishwari Prasad, who is widely regarded as the first Kathak teacher and the founder of the Lucknow gharana. Birju Maharaj carried forward this illustrious family lineage as the son of Achchan Maharaj and grandson of Kalka Prasad, both of whom were direct descendants of Ishwari Prasad, thereby preserving and popularizing the traditional Kathak style.

Explanation

Golf is a precision club-and-ball sport in which competing players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. The final score is determined by the total number of strokes taken to successfully put the ball into each of the designated holes on the golf course, with the lowest score winning the game.

Explanation

Nirmala Mehta is a highly distinguished exponent and guru of Manipuri classical dance. She has dedicated her career to the practice, preservation, and propagation of this traditional dance form from Northeast India, which is characterized by its lyrical grace, gentle movements, and rich devotional themes centered around Vaishnavism. Her contributions to training disciples and performing globally have significantly helped in popularizing Manipuri dance.

Explanation

The Himachal range is also known as the Lesser Himalayas or Middle Himalayas. This mountain range lies to the south of the Great Himalayas and is characterized by rugged terrain with altitudes varying between 3,700 and 4,500 meters. It consists of famous sub-ranges such as the Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, and Mahabharat ranges, and is home to well-known hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Nainital.

Explanation

Annu Rani hails from the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. Representing Uttar Pradesh at the 24th Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championships in Patiala in March 2021, she improved her own national record with a throw of 63.24 m, which also helped her secure her qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.

Explanation

Unfinished is the memoir of Indian actress and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, published in February 2021. The book chronicles her multi-faceted life and career, spanning her childhood in India, her teenage years in the United States, her crowning as Miss World in 2000, and her transition from a successful Bollywood actor to a prominent global artist in Hollywood.

Explanation

Part XIV of the Indian Constitution, specifically Articles 315 to 323, contains provisions for the Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States. Article 315 explicitly mandates the establishment of a Public Service Commission for the Union, known as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), to conduct examinations for appointments to the services of the Union. This part governs the constitution, appointment, term of office, removal, and powers of the members of the commission.

Explanation

According to Lindeman's 10% law of energy transfer in an ecosystem, only about 10% of the energy available at a particular trophic level is transferred to the next higher trophic level. The remaining 90% of the energy is lost to the environment as heat during respiration and other metabolic activities. Consequently, the available energy level decreases progressively from lower trophic levels to higher trophic levels, making the statement that energy increases from lower to higher trophic levels incorrect.

Explanation

In the Bohr-Bury scheme of electronic configuration, the maximum capacity of any shell or energy level to accommodate electrons is determined by the formula 2n². In this formula, n represents the principal quantum number, which designates the sequence number of the specific shell or energy level as measured outward from the nucleus. For the first shell (K-shell) closest to the nucleus, n = 1, allowing a maximum of 2(1)² = 2 electrons. For the second shell (L-shell), n = 2, allowing a maximum of 2(2)² = 8 electrons, and this progression continues sequentially for subsequent shells.

Explanation

Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, a legendary guru of the Kuchipudi classical dance form, founded the Kuchipudi Art Academy in Madras in 1963. He played a pivotal role in refining, systematizing, and popularizing Kuchipudi both nationally and internationally. Through this academy, he choreographed numerous dance dramas and trained several generations of outstanding dancers, helping Kuchipudi gain global recognition as a premier Indian classical dance form.

Explanation

Ace against Odds is the autobiography of the professional Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, published in 2016. The book chronicles her journey from her childhood in Hyderabad to becoming one of India's most successful athletes. It details her historic achievements in Grand Slam tournaments, her rise to the world number one ranking in women's doubles, and the numerous physical, mental, and personal challenges she overcame throughout her career.

Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Standard AA batteries, including alkaline and zinc-carbon types, are engineered to deliver a nominal starting voltage of 1.5 V. This specific voltage is determined by the chemical potential difference between the zinc anode and the manganese dioxide cathode inside the battery cell. This 1.5 V standard provides the necessary electrical potential required to power common household devices such as remote controls, wall clocks, and small toys.

Explanation

World Health Day is celebrated annually on 7th April to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7th April 1948. In 1948, the First World Health Assembly decided to establish World Health Day, and the celebration was first observed in 1950. The day is dedicated to raising global awareness of specific and critical public health issues, with a different theme chosen each year by the WHO to highlight a priority area of concern.

Explanation

Iodine is an essential micronutrient required by the thyroid gland to synthesize thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, and development. When there is a severe deficiency of iodine in the diet, the thyroid gland enlarges in an attempt to capture more iodine from the bloodstream. This enlargement, medically known as a goiter, manifests as a highly visible swelling in the neck.

Explanation

K. V. Mahadevan made history as the first recipient of the National Film Award for Best Music Direction when the category was introduced at the 15th National Film Awards in 1967. He was recognized for his classical and devotional compositions in the Tamil film Kandan Karunai, which was directed by A. P. Nagarajan.

Explanation

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi, the legendary Hindustani classical vocalist and Bharat Ratna awardee, gave his first public live performance in the year 1941 at Pune. At the age of 19, he performed at a concert organized to celebrate the 60th birthday of his guru, Sawai Gandharva. This performance marked the beginning of his professional singing career, which was followed by his first commercial recording with HMV in 1942.

Explanation

Chittani Ramachandra Hegde was a legendary exponent of Yakshagana, a traditional theatre art form native to Karnataka. He spent over seven decades performing in the Badaguthittu style of Yakshagana, earning widespread acclaim for his intense portrayal of complex mythological characters. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to this traditional art, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012, making him the very first Yakshagana artist to receive this prestigious civilian honour.

Explanation

Deepika Reddy is an acclaimed Kuchipudi exponent, guru, and choreographer who has contributed extensively to the propagation and promotion of this classical dance form globally. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the performing arts, she was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2017 in the Kuchipudi dance category.

Explanation

Changing India is a five-volume compilation of writings and speeches by Dr. Manmohan Singh that chronicles his life, academic journey, and political career. Released in 2018, this work serves as an intellectual memoir, detailing his role in shaping India's economic policies, from his time as an advisor and RBI Governor to his tenure as the Finance Minister and eventually the Prime Minister of India.

Explanation

Justice Anna Chandy was the first female judge in India and the first female High Court judge in the Commonwealth. Her autobiography is titled Atmakatha, which was published in 1973. It was initially serialized in Sreemathi, a magazine she founded and edited to promote women's empowerment, social reform, and legal rights. The book provides a detailed account of her life, legal career, and her struggles and achievements as a pioneering woman in a male-dominated judiciary.

Explanation

VP Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan, popularly known as the Dhananjayans, are one of India's most celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer couples. They were conferred with the 21st Sri Shanmukhananda National Eminence Award in 2020 for their exemplary contribution and lifetime dedication to the field of classical dance. As alumni of the prestigious Kalakshetra academy founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale, they have spent decades performing, choreographing, and teaching Bharatanatyam globally through their own institution, Bharata Kalanjali.

Explanation

China dominated the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which were held in 2021, by securing the top position in the final medal tally. The Chinese contingent won a total of 207 medals, consisting of 96 gold, 60 silver, and 51 bronze medals. This achievement marked the fifth consecutive Paralympic Games where China finished at the top of the medal table, a streak starting from the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

Explanation

Jean Baptiste Perrin was awarded the 1926 Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking studies on the discontinuous structure of matter. His experimental work on Brownian motion and sedimentation equilibrium verified Albert Einstein's theoretical predictions and provided the definitive physical proof for the existence of atoms and molecules.

Explanation

The SI base unit of electric current is the ampere (symbol: A). By definition, electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge. This relationship is given by the formula:

I = Q / t

where I is the current in amperes, Q is the charge in coulombs, and t is the time in seconds. Therefore, one ampere represents a flow of one coulomb of charge per second (1 A = 1 C/s). The unit was named in honor of the French physicist André-Marie Ampère, who made fundamental discoveries in the field of electromagnetism in 1820.

Explanation

Wings of Fire is the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. Co-authored with Arun Tiwari, the book was published in 1999 and chronicles his early life, struggles, and his pivotal role in India's space research and missile development programs, which earned him the title of the Missile Man of India.

Explanation

Meer Qutub Baksh was an outstanding Khayal singer and the court musician of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Recognizing his extraordinary mastery and virtuosity in singing swift melodic patterns known as tans, the Emperor bestowed upon him the title Tanras, which translates to one who has a passion for or mastery over tans. He subsequently came to be known as Ustad Tanras Khan and went on to found the Delhi gharana of Hindustani classical music.

Explanation

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and then-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was appointed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Cricket Committee in November 2021. This decision was taken during the ICC Board meeting, where he was chosen to lead the committee that takes key decisions regarding playing conditions and rules of the game.

Explanation

The cell wall is a rigid structural layer that surrounds the cells of plants, algae, and fungi, located just outside the cell membrane. It provides essential structural support, shape, and tensile strength to the cells. This strength is crucial for maintaining cell integrity and preventing lysis when the cells experience internal turgor pressure or external osmotic and mechanical stress. The composition of the cell wall varies by organism, consisting of cellulose in plants and algae, and chitin in fungi.

Explanation

Subramanian Raman, a former national table tennis champion and Olympian, was conferred with the Dronacharya Award in the Regular Category for his outstanding coaching achievements in Table Tennis for the year 2021. He has been instrumental in coaching several top-tier Indian table tennis players, including Olympian Sathiyan Gnanasekaran.

Explanation

In the gaseous state of matter, the thermal kinetic energy of the molecules is significantly greater than the intermolecular forces of attraction holding them together. This high kinetic energy allows the molecules to overcome cohesive forces, causing them to be separated by large distances and to move rapidly and independently in random directions, completely filling any container they occupy.

Explanation

In the case of Devi Lal v. State of Madhya Pradesh (February 2021), the Supreme Court of India dealt with the issue of juvenility of an accused who was between 16 and 18 years of age at the time of the offense. The Court held that since the appellant was a juvenile on the date of the occurrence, the conviction of the appellant could not be sustained in a regular criminal court, and the matter must be remitted to the jurisdictional Juvenile Justice Board for passing appropriate orders under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

Explanation

The Union Executive of India is dealt with under Part V, Chapter I of the Constitution of India, which spans Articles 52 to 78. The Union Executive consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the Attorney General for India. These articles lay down the provisions regarding the election, qualifications, powers, impeachment, and terms of office of the President and Vice-President, the appointment and role of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and the duties of the Attorney General, alongside the conduct of government business.