SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan was a legendary Indian classical musician and virtuoso who played the sarod. He belonged to the illustrious Senia-Bangash gharana (also known as the Gwalior-Bangash gharana). He was a fifth-generation descendant of this family of musicians, which is credited with modifying the Afghan rabab into the modern Indian sarod. He was renowned for the lyrical beauty of his music and the precise, clear tone of his strokes. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1960 for his immense contribution to Indian classical music, and his legacy is carried on by his son, the celebrated sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Explanation

Unbreakable: An Autobiography is the autobiography of the legendary Indian boxer and Olympic bronze medalist, Mangte Changneijang Mary Kom. Published in 2013, the book chronicles her inspiring journey from a humble, rural upbringing in Manipur to becoming a multi-time world boxing champion, detailing her relentless struggles, triumphs, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding athletic career.

Explanation

In ecological studies, measuring absolute population density can sometimes be extremely difficult or practically impossible. In such scenarios, relative population density serves as an efficient and reliable substitute. For fish populations in a water body like a lake, the number of fish caught per trap is widely used as a measure of relative density. This method relies on the concept of catch per unit effort, where the quantity of fish trapped directly reflects the overall abundance and density of the fish population in that habitat.

Explanation

Manjamma Jogathi was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for her exemplary contributions to folk art, specifically folk dance. Born in the Bellary district of Karnataka, she is a renowned Kannada theatre actress, singer, and dancer of Jogathi Nritya, a ritual folk dance form of North Karnataka. Having overcome severe societal and personal challenges as a transwoman, she dedicated her life to preserving and popularizing folk performing arts. In 2019, she also became the first transgender woman to head the Karnataka Janapada Academy, a premier state institution dedicated to folk arts. Her work has been instrumental in promoting folk traditions across Karnataka and neighboring states.

Explanation

In the Köppen climate classification system, dry climates are designated by the capital letter B, representing areas where annual precipitation is less than the potential evapotranspiration. These dry climates are further subdivided into two main types based on the degree of aridity using a second capital letter: S for semi-arid or steppe regions, and W for arid or desert regions, which is derived from the German word Wüste meaning desert.

Explanation

In March 2021, the Telangana government announced a new scheme in its state budget with an outlay of 4,000 crore rupees to comprehensively modernize and upgrade the infrastructure of government schools over the next two years. This scheme focused on improving facilities like toilets, electricity, drinking water, and digital classrooms across the state.

Explanation

The Narmada River flows westward through a prominent rift valley, or graben, which is a structural depression formed by the downward displacement of a block of the Earth's crust between parallel fault lines. This rift valley is bounded by the Vindhya mountain range to the north and the Satpura mountain range to the south. The presence of this tectonic trough guides the path of the river, causing it to flow in a westerly direction and empty into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.

Explanation

Charles Elton, an English zoologist and animal ecologist, introduced the concept of ecological pyramids, including the pyramid of numbers, in 1927. The pyramid of numbers is a graphical representation that shows the total number of individual organisms at each trophic level in a given ecosystem. It depicts the numerical relationship between producers, herbivores, and carnivores, usually showing a progressive decrease in the population size from the lowest trophic level at the base to the highest trophic level at the apex. Due to his foundational work on this concept, ecological pyramids are also commonly known as Eltonian pyramids.

Explanation

The northern plains of India are divided into four major physiographic regions from north to south: Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, and Khadar.

Bhabar is a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in width running parallel to the Shiwalik foothills from the Indus River to the Teesta River. Rivers descending from the Himalayas deposit pebbles and gravels in this region, creating a highly porous tract where smaller streams and rivers disappear underground.

Explanation

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the People's Plan Campaign 2021- Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas on September 30, 2021. The initiative was launched by the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj to facilitate the preparation of inclusive and holistic Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) for the financial year 2022-23. It focuses on participatory planning at the grassroots level through active Gram Sabha meetings and the convergence of schemes across various central ministries and state departments to strengthen local self-governance.

Explanation

Pandit Gopal Mishra is recognized as the founder of the Banaras Gharana of the khayal style of singing. The Banaras Gharana, based in Varanasi, is a major lineage of Hindustani classical music renowned for its unique blend of the structured khayal vocal technique with the highly expressive and lyrical semi-classical styles like thumri, dadra, and tappa. Pandit Gopal Mishra established the foundation of this singing style, which emphasizes emotional depth, beautiful melodic elaboration, and versatile vocal rendering.

Explanation

According to the spatial distribution of rainfall in India, regions receiving moderate rainfall between 100 cm and 200 cm per annum include the southern part of Gujarat, eastern Tamil Nadu, and the northeastern peninsula covering Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and eastern Madhya Pradesh. These regions are characterized by medium monsoon precipitation, lying between the heavy rainfall zones of the Western Ghats and northeastern India, and the low rainfall zones of the western and interior parts of the country.

Explanation

India has hosted the Asian Games twice in its history, with both editions held in the capital city of New Delhi. The inaugural Asian Games were hosted by India in 1951, marking the beginning of the multi-sport event. India hosted the games for the second time in 1982, which was the ninth edition of the Asian Games and featured the debut of the mascot Appu, an Asian elephant.

Explanation

Lata Mangeshkar, the legendary Indian playback singer widely referred to as the Swar Kokila, was honored with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. The Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, presented for exceptional and distinguished service. This prestigious recognition was conferred upon her by the President of India, K. R. Narayanan, in appreciation of her monumental contributions to Indian music.

Explanation

Ankita Raina achieved a historic milestone in February 2021 by breaking into the top-100 of the WTA doubles rankings, reaching world number 94. She attained this feat after winning her maiden WTA tour title at the Phillip Island Trophy in Melbourne, Australia, alongside her partner Kamilla Rakhimova. This achievement made her only the second Indian woman, after Sania Mirza, to secure a place in the top-100 of the WTA doubles rankings.

Explanation

Aparna Satheesan, a highly accomplished Indian classical dancer based in the United States, is an expert exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She was conferred with the prestigious Abhinandan Saroja National Award 2021 by the National Institute of Indian Classical Dance on November 15, 2021. This recognition was awarded in appreciation of her exceptional choreographic skills, artistic performance excellence, and philanthropic initiatives in the realm of classical dance. The award ceremony was organized during the Samarpan festival, which commemorates the legacy of the legendary Bharatanatyam exponent Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan.

Explanation

Blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood or blood components lost due to severe injury, surgery, or medical conditions such as severe anemia. It is a therapeutic treatment rather than a preventive health practice. It does not prevent the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases, which are primarily associated with genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Explanation

Iron, with the chemical symbol Fe and atomic number 26, is a transition metal located in the d-block of the modern periodic table. The electronic configuration of iron is [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s². The group number for a d-block element is determined by adding the number of electrons in its outermost s subshell and the preceding d subshell. For iron, this is 6 + 2 = 8. This places iron in group 8 and period 4 of the periodic table.

Explanation

Five Point Someone is the debut novel written by Chetan Bhagat, published in 2004. The story is set in the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and follows the lives of three friends who struggle with the competitive academic pressure and the grading system. The book gained massive popularity in India and served as the basis for the highly successful Bollywood film 3 Idiots.

Explanation

In 1839, the Czech physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkinje coined the term protoplasm to describe the fluid-like substance found inside living cells. He used this term to refer to the living substance of the cell, which is responsible for carrying out vital life processes. His work laid important groundwork in cell biology, emphasizing the significance of this semi-fluid material in cellular function and structure.

Explanation

The Indian Football Association was established in Kolkata in 1893. It is the oldest football association in India and was originally founded to administer and run football tournaments in the Bengal region. Before the creation of the All India Football Federation in 1937, the association functioned as the de facto governing authority of the sport across the country, managing international relations and organizing national competitions. In the year of its founding, the association also introduced the historic IFA Shield tournament.

Explanation

The Konark Dance Festival is organized annually in December against the backdrop of the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha. Built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty, this monument is widely referred to as the Black Pagoda. European sailors historically gave it this name because its massive dark structure served as an important navigational landmark along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, in contrast to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which was known as the White Pagoda.

Explanation

My Confession, originally published in Russian as Ispoved and also translated as A Confession, is an autobiographical work written by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy between 1879 and 1880. First published in 1882, the book chronicles his severe mid-life existential crisis, his struggle with depression, and his search for the ultimate purpose of life. Through this deeply introspective text, Tolstoy details his transition from youthful skepticism and subsequent worldly success to a profound spiritual and moral awakening based on the simple faith of the common people.

Explanation

Drawing From the City is a visual autobiography by the self-taught Indian folk artist Teju Behun (also known as Tejubehan). Published by Tara Books in 2012, this narrative tells her story of transitioning from an impoverished childhood in rural Rajasthan to moving to a tent city in Mumbai, and eventually discovering her artistic path with the encouragement of her husband, Ganesh Jogi. The book is illustrated with her signature style of intricate hand-drawn pen-and-ink illustrations comprised of dense patterns of lines and dots, depicting her real-world experiences alongside her vivid imagination.

Explanation

Article 30 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Under Article 30(1), all minorities, whether based on religion or language, have the fundamental right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. This constitutional provision is aimed at protecting and preserving the distinct culture, script, and language of minority groups, ensuring they can provide education to their children in an environment of their choosing.

Explanation

Benzene is a cyclic hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C₆H₆. It is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a hexagonal ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom. This arrangement forms a planar, ring-shaped molecule with delocalized pi electrons, making benzene the parent and simplest member of the class of aromatic hydrocarbons.

Explanation

Phytoplankton are microscopic, single-celled photosynthetic organisms that live in aquatic environments. Like terrestrial plants, they contain chlorophyll which allows them to capture sunlight and convert carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich organic compounds through photosynthesis. Because they synthesize their own food and generate the fundamental biomass that supports marine ecosystems, they serve as the foundation of the aquatic food web and occupy the first trophic level as primary producers.

Explanation

Lysosomes function as the digestive system of the cell. They are membrane-bound organelles containing a wide array of hydrolytic enzymes that operate optimally at an acidic pH. These enzymes are capable of breaking down proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Lysosomes degrade materials taken up from outside the cell via endocytosis and phagocytosis, such as nutrients, foreign debris, and pathogens. Additionally, they process intracellular materials, degrading worn-out organelles and damaged cellular structures in a process known as autophagy. This dual capability allows them to recycle essential molecular building blocks and maintain cellular homeostasis.

Explanation

In the 2021 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, India ranked 101st out of 116 countries. India received a GHI score of 27.5, indicating a serious level of hunger. The GHI score is calculated using four key indicators: undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality.

Explanation

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri is a highly acclaimed Indian classical percussionist who is a legendary master of the tabla. Born in Kolkata in 1945, he began learning the tabla at a very young age under the guidance of Pandit Santosh Krishna Biswas, a prominent exponent of the Lucknow gharana.

Over a career spanning several decades, he has established himself as one of the premier tabla players in the world, revered for both his brilliant solo performances and his accompaniment of major stalwarts of Hindustani classical music like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. In recognition of his immense contributions to Indian classical music, the Government of India honored him with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 and the prestigious civilian honor, the Padma Shri, in 2019.

Explanation

Kidambi Srikanth became the first Indian male shuttler to win a silver medal at the BWF World Championships on December 19, 2021, in Huelva, Spain. He achieved this historic feat by reaching the men's singles final, where he finished as the runner-up after a hard-fought match against Singapore's Loh Kean Yew. His silver medal surpassed the previous best performances by Indian male singles players, who had only won bronze medals at the tournament prior to this achievement.

Explanation

Rukmini Devi Arundale founded Kalakshetra in January 1936 at Adyar, Chennai. She was a visionary dancer and cultural revivalist who played a crucial role in rescuing the traditional dance form of Bharatanatyam from social stigma and transforming it into a widely respected classical art. Kalakshetra was established as an academy to preserve and propagate Indian art, music, and dance, focusing heavily on imparting structured, high-quality training in the Bharatanatyam tradition under the ancient gurukul system. In recognition of her immense contribution and the institution's impact, Kalakshetra was declared an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament in 1993.

Explanation

Pankaj Advani is a highly distinguished Indian professional player of billiards and snooker. He has achieved global prominence by winning multiple IBSF World Billiards Championships and World Snooker Championships. Advani is widely recognized for his extraordinary contributions to cue sports, having won numerous gold medals at the Asian Games, Asian Championships, and World Championships, making him one of India's most decorated sports personalities in these disciplines.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Net Domestic Product (NDP) represents the net book value of all economic goods and services produced within the domestic territory of a nation during a given period. It is calculated by subtracting depreciation, which is the wear and tear or consumption of fixed capital over time, from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

NDP = GDP - Depreciation

This adjustment accounts for the capital consumed in the production process, providing a more accurate measure of the sustainable level of economic output.

Explanation

Ustad Amir Khan is the founder of the Indore Gharana of Hindustani classical music. Born in Indore, he was a highly influential vocalist who developed a distinct and contemplative style of singing. His unique approach synthesized elements from various traditional schools to focus on slow-tempo (ati-vilambit) khayal presentation, intellectual depth, and the systematic development of ragas using the merukhand method.

Explanation

Anup Jalota is a renowned Indian singer and musician who is widely celebrated for his contributions to Hindu devotional music. He is popularly known as the Bhajan Samrat, which translates to the Emperor of Bhajans. His soulful renditions of devotional songs, such as Aisi Lagi Lagan and Rang De Chunariya, have made him a household name in the genre of bhajan singing. For his outstanding contributions to Indian music, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri award in 2012.

Explanation

Mallika Sarabhai is a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer and activist who has achieved global recognition for her mastery of both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. As the daughter of the legendary dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, she trained extensively in these two distinct classical dance forms, using them to address social issues, promote human rights, and advocate for women's empowerment through her performances worldwide.

Explanation

According to the Census of India 2011, the total Scheduled Tribe population of the country is approximately 10.45 crore. Madhya Pradesh has the largest Scheduled Tribe population in India, with 1,53,16,784 individuals. This constitutes 14.7% of the total Scheduled Tribe population of the country, making it the state with the highest percentage share of the total Scheduled Tribe population in India.

Explanation

Sundarbans National Park is located in the state of West Bengal, not in Odisha. It is situated in the Ganges Delta region and is widely recognized for hosting the world's largest mangrove forest, which serves as a major biosphere reserve and tiger reserve.

Explanation

Yamini Krishnamurthy, an eminent exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi classical dance forms, was conferred the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977. This national award, presented by India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, was bestowed upon her in recognition of her outstanding contribution and eminence in the field of Bharatanatyam.

Explanation

South Africa has never hosted the Olympic Games. In fact, no country on the entire African continent has ever organized either the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Although South African cities like Cape Town have bid to host the event in the past, the country has not yet been selected as a host.

Explanation

Ustad Fateh Ali Khan was a highly acclaimed Hindustani classical vocalist who belonged to the Patiala Gharana. Along with his brother Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, he formed a celebrated singing duo that became the patriarchs and chief representatives of the Patiala lineage, which is distinctively known for its intricate khayal gayaki, fast-paced taans, and unique stylistic features.

Explanation

Bauxite is a residual weathering product formed through the intense chemical weathering (lateritization) of silica-poor rocks under hot and humid tropical conditions. During this weathering process, soluble minerals are leached away, leaving behind a concentrated, insoluble residue of hydrous aluminium oxides. Because bauxite is a lightweight, poorly cohesive residual soil and rock material rather than a dense, physically resistant, and chemically stable mineral, it does not undergo gravitational sorting by water. Consequently, it cannot be transported and accumulated by fluvial or marine wave actions to form river (alluvial) or beach placer deposits.

Explanation

Gangubai Hangal (1913 – 2009) was a renowned Indian vocalist of the Khayal genre of Hindustani classical music, belonging to the Kirana gharana. Born in Dharwad, Karnataka, she was celebrated for her deep, powerful, and majestic voice, performing for nearly seven decades. She received intensive training under the legendary maestro Sawai Gandharva. In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to classical music, she was honored with several of India's prestigious civilian awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2002, alongside the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.

Explanation

Laipubam Bino Devi is an eminent exponent and Sutradhari artist of Manipuri classical dance. Born in Imphal, Manipur, she received training in Manipuri dance under legendary gurus such as T. Amudon Sharma and M. Amubi Singh, and specialized in Ras at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy. For her lifelong dedication, performances in major national and international festivals, and significant contributions as a Sutradhari artist to the preservation and promotion of Manipuri dance, she was honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Explanation

General Vijay Kumar Singh, who served as the 24th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, authored his autobiography titled Courage and Conviction. Co-authored with Shiv Kunal Verma and published in 2013, the book chronicles his life journey, his experiences in the Indian military across four decades, and the key events during his leadership of the army.

Explanation

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MTA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft on May 17, 2021, to drive the digital transformation of tribal schools such as Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and Ashram Schools. Under this collaboration, Microsoft provides an Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum in English and Hindi to tribal students. The program focus is to skill educators and students in next-generation digital technologies, including AI, coding, and remote-learning platforms. In its first phase, Microsoft adopted 250 EMRS schools, with 50 schools slated for intensive training and 500 master trainers to be prepared to facilitate virtual learning and digital tools across classrooms.

Explanation

In 1879, the German biologist and founder of cytogenetics, Walther Flemming, observed and described the process of cell division in the epithelial cells of salamander embryos, where cells divide at fixed intervals.

Using synthetic aniline dyes to stain cell nuclei, Flemming was able to clearly visualize thread-like structures that strongly absorbed the dye. He observed the longitudinal splitting of these structures—which were later named chromosomes—and how they partitioned equally into two resulting daughter cells. This groundbreaking research laid the groundwork for the discovery of mitosis, a term he later coined in 1882 to describe the process of nuclear division.

Explanation

Vrindavan Lal Verma is the author of the celebrated Hindi historical novel Mrignayani, published in 1950. Set in late 15th-century Gwalior, the novel portrays the legendary love story of King Man Singh Tomar and his brave, doe-eyed queen Mrignayani. Known as the pioneer of the historical novel genre in Hindi literature, Vrindavan Lal Verma meticulously researched the historical background of Bundelkhand and Gwalior to write this masterpiece. He was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1969 for his monumental contributions to Indian literature.

Explanation

Radha and Raja Reddy are a legendary Indian Kuchipudi dancing couple, choreographers, and gurus who are widely credited with bringing the classical dance form of Kuchipudi to the global stage and popularizing it in Northern India. In 1976, they founded the Natya Tarangini Institute of Kuchipudi Dance in New Delhi to train disciples and preserve this rich tradition. For their outstanding contributions to classical dance, the duo has been conferred with prestigious Indian civilian honors, including both the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.