SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Phylum Echinodermata consists of triploblastic, coelomate animals that possess a true body cavity. Regarding symmetry, they show a unique developmental characteristic where adult echinoderms exhibit radial symmetry, but their larval stages are bilaterally symmetrical. Thus, they are characterized by having a coelom and exhibiting bilateral symmetry during their life cycle.

Explanation

Proteins are composed of amino acids, which are the fundamental structural units essential for the growth, development, and maintenance of all body cells. They are commonly referred to as the building blocks of the body because they form the basis of muscles, bones, skin, and organs. During physical exercise, muscle tissues experience microscopic damage and tears. Proteins are crucial in the post-workout recovery phase, as they facilitate cellular repair, promote muscle protein synthesis, and help rebuild and strengthen the damaged muscle fibers.

Explanation

The second equation of motion is given by s = ut + ½at². In this equation, s denotes the displacement or change in position of an object, u represents the initial velocity, a represents the uniform acceleration, and t represents the time. Since this equation directly expresses the position of the moving object as a function of time, it describes the position-time relation.

Explanation

Rice is a major kharif crop in India that requires a hot and humid climate for optimal growth. It thrives in temperatures ranging from 21°C to 37°C. The cultivation of rice necessitates a high amount of water, requiring an annual rainfall of about 100 cm or well-distributed irrigation facilities to keep the fields flooded during the early stages of its growth.

Explanation

At high altitudes, low atmospheric pressure reduces the partial pressure of oxygen, making it difficult to obtain enough oxygen through normal breathing. To compensate for this hypoxia, the human body undergoes acclimatisation through key physiological changes. The kidneys release the hormone erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to increase red blood cell production, thereby raising the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Concurrently, the level of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate in red blood cells rises, which decreases the binding affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen to facilitate the easier release of oxygen to oxygen-deprived tissues. Additionally, the body increases the breathing rate to intake more oxygen and maintain cellular respiration.

Explanation

Raju Sundaram won the National Film Award for Best Choreography at the 67th National Film Awards for his choreography in the Telugu film Maharshi, specifically for the song Everest Anchuna. The awards, announced in March 2021, honored outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2019.

Explanation

Duns are longitudinal structural valleys that lie between the Lesser Himalayas (also known as the Himachal range) and the outermost range of the Himalayas, known as the Shiwaliks. They are formed by tectonic folding and are covered with thick gravel and alluvium deposited by the Himalayan rivers. Well-known examples of these longitudinal valleys in this region include Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun (referred to in the question as Patti Dun).

Explanation

Interpreter of Maladies is a celebrated collection of nine short stories written by Jhumpa Lahiri, first published in 1999. The stories address themes such as the immigrant experience, cultural alienation, and the complexities of human relationships, particularly among Indian-Americans. The book achieved immense literary success, winning the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000.

Explanation

The Gram Ujala Yojana was launched in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on March 24, 2021, by the Union Minister of Power, RK Singh. Under this scheme, high-quality, energy-efficient LED bulbs of 7 watts and 12 watts are distributed to rural households at an extremely affordable price of ₹10 per bulb in exchange for working incandescent bulbs. The program is implemented by Convergence Energy Services Limited, a subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited, and is entirely funded through carbon credits. The first phase of the scheme targeted rural areas in five districts, including Arrah in Bihar and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Explanation

Ustad Sabri Khan was an internationally acclaimed master of the sarangi, a traditional Indian bowed string instrument. Belonging to the Sainia Gharana, which traces its musical lineage back to the legendary Mian Tansen, he was widely renowned for his exceptional technique and classical purity in Hindustani classical music. In recognition of his vast contributions to Indian classical music, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Padma Bhushan in 2006.

Explanation

In February 2022, a division bench of the Karnataka High Court struck down key provisions of the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021, which prohibited and criminalized online gaming, including online games of skill played with stakes. The court held that the absolute ban on such online games, including fantasy sports, rummy, and poker, violated fundamental rights. This included the right to equality under Article 14, as the law failed to distinguish between games of chance and games of skill, and the freedom of trade and commerce under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.

Explanation

The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water in the world and its natural heritage is shared by five littoral states. These countries are Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. Together, they share the ecological resources, unique biodiversity, and conservation responsibilities of the Caspian Sea basin.

Explanation

K.C. Wheare, a prominent constitutional expert, described the Indian Constitution as quasi-federal. He observed that the Indian Union is a unitary state with subsidiary federal features rather than a federal state with subsidiary unitary features. This characterization stems from the presence of strong centralizing tendencies in the Indian political system, such as a single judiciary, emergency provisions, a single constitution, and the appointment of state governors by the President, which coexist alongside federal features like a dual polity and division of powers.

Explanation

In February 2022, Indian chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa defeated the world number one and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in the eighth round of the Airthings Masters online rapid chess tournament. At 16 years of age, he became the youngest player to defeat Carlsen since Carlsen attained the world champion title in 2013.

Explanation

A hawkish monetary policy stance is adopted by central banks to combat rising inflation. Policymakers who hold a hawkish view prioritize price stability and seek to prevent the economy from overheating. To achieve this, they advocate for raising interest rates and tightening the money supply. Higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing for consumers and businesses, which dampens consumer spending and business investment. This reduction in aggregate demand slows down economic activity, thereby helping to cool the economy and curb inflationary pressures.

Explanation

Tamas is a landmark Hindi novel written by the renowned writer, playwright, and actor Bhisham Sahni, published in 1973. The novel portrays the gruesome communal riots and human tragedy during the partition of India in 1947, set in a small town in Punjab. Bhisham Sahni was awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for Hindi literature in 1975 for this powerful literary work, which was later adapted into an acclaimed television film by Govind Nihalani.

Explanation

A polysome, or polyribosome, is formed when multiple ribosomes attach to a single mRNA strand. The primary function of the ribosomes in a polysome is to translate the genetic code carried by the mRNA into functional proteins. As the ribosomes travel along the mRNA molecule, they read the genetic sequence and synthesize polypeptide chains, allowing the cell to rapidly produce multiple copies of the same protein from a single mRNA molecule.

Explanation

Train to Pakistan is a historical novel by Khushwant Singh, published in 1956. The book depicts the human tragedy of the Partition of India in 1947 through the lens of a fictional border village named Mano Majra. It explores how a peaceful, multi-religious community of Sikhs and Muslims is torn apart by the communal hatred and violence of Partition, symbolized by the arrival of trains carrying the corpses of refugees.

Explanation

The composition and type of marine organisms inhabiting a water body do not play any role in determining or altering the overall salinity of the ocean. While some organisms utilize specific dissolved ions like calcium or silica to construct their shells and skeletons, this localized biological activity does not influence the broad chemical concentration of dissolved salts, primarily sodium and chloride, that defines ocean salinity. Ocean salinity is instead determined by physical and meteorological processes that govern the balance of water and salt, making biological composition irrelevant to salinity levels.

Explanation

Pandit Kumar Gandharva was an eminent Hindustani classical singer renowned for his unique vocal style, refusal to be bound by any one gharana, and composition of new ragas. Although he was honored with India's prestigious civilian awards, receiving the Padma Bhushan in 1977 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990, he was never conferred with the Bharat Ratna.

Explanation

Ammonia (NH₃) is a compound made of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms, giving it the systematic IUPAC name nitrogen trihydride. It is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. Globally, the majority of industrial ammonia is utilized in the agricultural sector for manufacturing nitrogenous fertilizers. Additionally, its high latent heat of vaporization and thermodynamic efficiency make it a highly effective and widely used refrigerant in large-scale industrial cooling systems.

Explanation

Sattriya is a major Indian classical dance form that originated in the eastern state of Assam. It was introduced in the 15th century CE by the great Vaishnava saint and reformer, Srimanta Sankardev, as a powerful medium for propagating the Bhakti movement through mythological plays. The dance form is deeply rooted in the Sattras, which are the traditional Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam, and it was officially recognized as a classical dance of India by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in the year 2000.

Explanation

Allah Jilai Bai was a legendary folk singer from Bikaner, Rajasthan, celebrated for her mastery of Maand, the traditional folk music style of the region. Born into a family of musicians, she started performing at a young age in the court of Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner. She is best known for her soulful rendition of the iconic Rajasthani folk song Kesariya Balam, which has become synonymous with Rajasthani hospitality and culture. In recognition of her immense contribution to Rajasthani folk music, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 1982.

Explanation

Under the standard coding system established by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, a hierarchical location code directory is used to uniquely identify every administrative unit in the country. In this coding convention, the state code is represented by a 2-digit number. For example, in the 2011 Census, the codes range from 01 to 35, beginning with Jammu and Kashmir as 01 and following a serpentine geographical sequence across the nation.

Explanation

In Kabaddi, a Lona is awarded when a team successfully eliminates or puts out all the active players of the opposing team. This achievement grants the scoring team 2 bonus points in addition to the points earned for dismissing the individual players. Once a Lona is scored, all the eliminated players of the opposing team are revived and return to the court to resume the game.

Explanation

Guru Indira P. P. Bora is an acclaimed classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher from Assam who has dedicated her life to the promotion, preservation, and formalization of Sattriya, one of the eight principal Indian classical dance forms. She has also trained in other classical forms like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. In recognition of her exceptional contributions and lifelong commitment to Indian classical dance, she was honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in the field of Art in 2020.

Explanation

Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana are an acclaimed sister duo from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, renowned for their performances and teaching of Kathak classical dance. They are specifically recognized for propagating and popularizing the Benaras Gharana style of Kathak both within India and internationally. For their dedicated service and significant contributions spanning over five decades to the preservation and teaching of Kathak, they were conferred with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in the field of Art in 2022.

Explanation

The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian is the landmark 1951 autobiography written by Nirad C. Chaudhuri. Written when he was in his early fifties, the book details his life from his birth in 1897 in Kishorganj, Bengal (now in Bangladesh), to his growing up years in Calcutta. It serves as a rich social, cultural, and political history of the sunset years of the British Raj and the Bengali elite class during the early twentieth century.

Explanation

Singer B Praak won the Best Male Playback Singer award at the 67th National Film Awards. He was honored for his soulful rendition of the patriotic song "Teri Mitti" from the Hindi historical war-drama film Kesari. For this outstanding vocal performance, he received the prestigious Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) trophy along with a cash prize of ₹50,000 from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Explanation

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was a legendary vocalist of the Patiala Gharana, a prominent school of Hindustani classical music. Hailed as the Tansen of the 20th century due to his extraordinary vocal range, technical mastery, and brilliant sense of melody, he played a pioneering role in popularizing Hindustani classical music. He is especially celebrated for his classical khayal singing as well as his expressive thumris, such as the famous composition Yaad Piya Ki Aaye. His contributions earned him prestigious honors including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan.

Explanation

India Wins Freedom is the autobiographical narrative of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement and the first Education Minister of independent India. The book offers his personal perspective on the political developments during the freedom struggle, the negotiations leading up to partition, and his views on the contemporary leaders of the time.

Explanation

Tanya Hemanth is an Indian badminton player who represents India in women's singles competitions. Trained at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy under chief coach U. Vimal Kumar, she won her first international title at the Dubai Junior International Series in 2018. She transitioned to senior levels successfully, reaching the final of the Polish Open in 2021 and winning multiple senior international titles including the India International in 2022, Iran Fajr International in 2023, and Saipan International in 2025.

Explanation

In October 2021, the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of Rajasthan issued an order amending the Social Security Special Persons Pension Rules, 2013. This amendment extended the pension benefits to specially-abled individuals across all 21 categories of disabilities specified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Prior to this policy change, pension benefits under this scheme were limited to only eight categories of disabled individuals in the state. By broadening the eligibility criteria to cover all 21 categories of disabilities—including locomotor disability, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder—Rajasthan became the first state in India to implement such comprehensive social security coverage for persons with disabilities.

Explanation

The salinity of ocean surface water is primarily determined by the balance between the processes that add freshwater and those that remove it. Evaporation removes pure water molecules into the atmosphere as vapor, leaving the dissolved salts behind in a highly concentrated state. Similarly, when seawater freezes to form sea ice, salt is excluded from the crystal structure of the ice through a process called brine rejection, which releases highly saline water into the surrounding ocean. Both evaporation and ice formation remove freshwater from the liquid ocean surface, thereby increasing the salinity of the remaining water.

Explanation

CHCl₃ is chemically known as trichloromethane, and its widely recognized common name is chloroform. It is a colorless, sweet-smelling, and highly volatile liquid organic compound. Historically, chloroform was extensively used as a general anesthetic during surgeries, and today it is primarily utilized as a precursor in the manufacture of Teflon and various refrigerants, as well as an industrial solvent.

Explanation

A Self Help Group is a financial intermediary committee usually composed of 10 to 20 local women or men who come together to address their common problems. In the context of micro-finance, these groups play a crucial role in mobilizing small savings from their members, which are then used to provide interest-bearing microloans to members in need. This mechanism promotes financial inclusion, encourages savings habits among economically weaker sections, and reduces dependency on informal moneylenders.

Explanation

The Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) is a mega-mission launched by the Assam state government with the primary objective of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, in alignment with the national vision set by the Central Government.

The Tractor Distribution Scheme is a key component under this umbrella initiative, designed to revive the agricultural sector and enhance farm mechanization. Under this scheme, the government distributes tractor units with necessary accessories to selected farmer groups in each revenue village at a subsidized rate of 70%, with a maximum subsidy of ₹5.5 lakh. This targeted intervention aims to facilitate double cropping, improve agricultural productivity, and successfully double the income of the state's farmers by the target year of 2022.

Explanation

Minati Mishra was an eminent Indian classical dancer and actress celebrated for her profound contribution to the revival and international propagation of the Odissi dance form. She received extensive training from legendary maestros including Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Guru Deba Prasad Das. Her exceptional artistry and dedication to preserving this classical tradition earned her the prestigious Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in 2012.

Explanation

The Government of India decided to continue the flagship Central Sector Scheme, Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports, over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total financial outlay of ₹3,165.50 crores.

Implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, this scheme aims to promote mass participation and achieve sporting excellence across the nation. The allocated funds support key components such as the creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure, talent identification and development under the Long-term Athlete Development programme, support to sports academies, and the promotion of inclusiveness and women in sports.

Explanation

Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta was a highly distinguished Indian classical musician who played the sarod. Born in 1933, he was a prominent maestro of the Senia Shahjahanpur gharana and trained under the legendary Ustad Radhika Mohan Maitra. Renowned for his lyrical expression, scholarly precision, and revolutionary techniques on this fretless stringed instrument, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1993 and was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2012 by the Government of India for his vast contributions to Hindustani classical music.

Explanation

Tanjore Balasaraswati, popularly known as T. Balasaraswati, was an iconic exponent of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form that originated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Born into a traditional lineage of temple musicians and dancers, she played a revolutionary role in preserving the traditional form of the dance and showcasing it on both national and international stages. For her extraordinary contributions to Indian classical dance and culture, she was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1957 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1977.

Explanation

Pandit Jasraj was a legendary Indian classical vocalist who belonged to the Mewati gharana of Hindustani classical music. He was renowned worldwide for his soulful rendition of khayal and devotional bhajans, rather than being an instrumentalist or playing the Veena.

Explanation

Specular reflection occurs when light rays strike a smooth, polished, or flat surface and reflect off it at a single, consistent angle. Under the law of reflection, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Surfaces such as a flat bathroom mirror, the calm water of a lake, and the polished surface of eyeglass lenses are highly uniform and smooth, allowing light to reflect in this orderly, parallel manner to produce a clear, distinct image or a sharp glare.

Explanation

Kelucharan Mahapatra, Sonal Mansingh, and Geeta Mahalik are highly celebrated exponents of Odissi, an ancient Indian classical dance form that originated in the temples of Odisha. Kelucharan Mahapatra is widely revered as a legendary guru who played a pivotal role in the revival and codification of Odissi in the 20th century. Sonal Mansingh is an acclaimed master of this dance form, recognized globally for her expressive performance and contributions to Indian classical arts. Geeta Mahalik is another distinguished practitioner known for her grace, technical precision, and dedication to propagating Odissi.

Explanation

Gaddam Padmaja Reddy is an eminent Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer who was conferred with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in the field of Art for the year 2022. She is widely credited with reviving the ancient Kakatiyam temple dance form, bringing the rich history and heritage of the Kakatiya dynasty alive on stage. Her dedication to the classical dance form of Kuchipudi has also been recognized with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015.

Explanation

The sodium and potassium pump, also known as the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, is a classic example of primary active transport in biological systems. This membrane-bound protein moves three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions into the cell against their respective concentration gradients. Because these ions are transported from areas of lower concentration to areas of higher concentration, the process cannot occur spontaneously and requires the direct consumption of chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. This active mechanism is essential for maintaining the electrochemical gradient and resting membrane potential in animal cells.

Explanation

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced and secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It plays a crucial role in regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism by facilitating the uptake of glucose from the blood into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, and by promoting glycogenesis in the liver. When the pancreas secretes inadequate amounts of insulin, the body cells cannot absorb glucose efficiently, leading to chronic elevation of glucose levels in the bloodstream, a state known as hyperglycemia. This underlying physiological deficiency is the primary cause of the chronic metabolic disorder known as diabetes mellitus.

Explanation

Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta is a mythological fiction novel written by Amish Tripathi. Released in July 2019, it is the third installment in his popular Ram Chandra Series, following Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku and Sita: Warrior of Mithila. The book provides a detailed narrative of the life of Raavan from his childhood to the abduction of Sita, chronicling his rise as the powerful and complex king of Lanka.

Explanation

In 1828, German chemist Friedrich Wöhler successfully synthesized urea, an organic compound, from the reaction of inorganic compounds. In his experiment, he reacted silver cyanate (historically referred to as silver cyanide in some contexts) with ammonium chloride to form ammonium cyanate. Upon heating, this compound underwent a structural rearrangement to form urea:

AgNCO + NH₄Cl → NH₄NCO + AgCl NH₄NCO → (NH₂)₂CO

This discovery fundamentally challenged and disproved the widely accepted vital force theory (vitalism) of the time, which asserted that organic compounds could only be created by living organisms. Wöhler's synthesis demonstrated that organic substances could be artificially created in a laboratory from purely inorganic starting materials.

Explanation

According to the Census of India, Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest population density among all states in India, with a density of 17 persons per km². This extremely sparse population density is due to the state's rugged mountainous terrain, dense forest cover, and challenging geographic conditions, which limit habitable areas and infrastructure development across its vast territory.