SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Article 66 of the Indian Constitution provides the method and manner for the election of the Vice-President of India. It states that the Vice-President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament. This election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and the voting at such election is by secret ballot. The article also lays down the eligibility criteria for a person to be elected as the Vice-President, such as being a citizen of India, having completed thirty-five years of age, and being qualified for election as a member of the Council of States.

Explanation

Organisms belonging to the phylum Protozoa, such as Amoeba, Paramecium, and Euglena, are unicellular. In these single-celled organisms, all vital biological activities like digestion, respiration, excretion, and reproduction are performed within the limits of a single cell. The entire body is composed of protoplasm, and the division of labor occurs only at the subcellular level among different organelles. This level of structural setup is known as the protoplasmic grade of organization.

Explanation

Dmitri Mendeleev left gaps in his periodic table for elements that were yet to be discovered. One of these predicted elements was named Eka-aluminium, as it was placed below aluminium in Group III. Mendeleev predicted its atomic mass to be approximately 68. In 1875, the French chemist Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran discovered this element and named it gallium. The experimental properties of gallium, including its atomic mass of 69.7 and its position in Group III, matched Mendeleev's predictions for Eka-aluminium with remarkable accuracy.

Explanation

In track and field athletics, throwing events include the discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw, and shot put. The shot is a heavy, spherical metal ball that athletes throw or put in the shot put event, aiming to achieve the maximum possible distance from within a designated circle.

Explanation

The government budget is a key fiscal instrument used to achieve several socio-economic objectives.

GDP growth is targeted by promoting savings and investment through tax concessions, subsidies, and direct public spending on infrastructure and developmental projects.

Reallocation of resources is managed by using taxation and subsidies to direct resources toward socially useful sectors while discouraging the production of harmful goods, ensuring that private profit motives align with public welfare.

Balanced regional growth is promoted by offering tax holidays, investment allowances, and financial assistance to encourage industries to set up operations in backward or rural areas, thereby reducing regional disparities.

Explanation

Gauhar Jaan was an acclaimed singer and dancer from Calcutta who became the first artist in the Indian subcontinent to commercially record on the gramophone. On November 2, 1902, Fred Gaisberg, the recording engineer for the Gramophone Company, recorded her performing a khayal in Raag Jogiya in a makeshift studio in Calcutta. This marked the beginning of India’s commercial recording era. Known widely as the "Gramophone Girl", she recorded over 600 songs in more than ten languages, mastering the art of condensing elaborate Hindustani classical compositions into three-minute recordings, which always ended with her signature announcement, "My name is Gauhar Jaan."

Explanation

Lata Mangeshkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest playback singers of India, was honored with the nation's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, along with the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Despite her massive global influence and legendary musical legacy spanning several decades, she was never nominated for a Grammy Award during her lifetime.

Explanation

Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a pioneering Dutch microscopist often regarded as the father of microbiology, designed and constructed highly powerful single-lens microscopes capable of achieving remarkable magnifications. In 1674, he utilized one of his specialized lenses to analyze pond water, leading to the groundbreaking discovery of microscopic life. He documented and described various microorganisms, including green algae like Spirogyra and diverse single-celled organisms which he collectively termed animalcules. This discovery provided the earliest visual evidence of bacteria and protozoa, fundamentally shifting scientific understanding of living systems.

Explanation

Datuk Ramli Bin Ibrahim, a legendary Malaysian choreographer and classical dancer, was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in the year 2018. He received this prestigious civilian honor from President Ram Nath Kovind in recognition of his immense contributions to the promotion and development of the Indian classical dance form Odissi. Through the establishment of the Sutra Dance Theatre and the Sutra Foundation in Malaysia, he has played a pioneering role in popularizing both Odissi and Bharatanatyam internationally, training generations of dancers and bridging cultural ties between India and Malaysia.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP): Insurance Scheme for Health Care Workers Fighting COVID-19 was launched in March 2020 to provide a safety net for frontline healthcare providers. The central government extended this insurance scheme in June 2021 to ensure continued support for the dependents of healthcare workers. Under this scheme, families of eligible health workers, including community health workers and private health workers drafted for COVID-19 duties, receive a comprehensive personal accident cover of ₹50 lakh in the event of death or accidental loss of life while on COVID-19 related duty.

Explanation

As we move down a group in the periodic table, a new principal energy level or electron shell is added with each successive period. This addition of shells increases the atomic size, meaning the outermost valence electrons are situated farther away from the nucleus. Along with the increased distance, the number of core or inner-shell electrons also increases, which enhances the shielding effect. These inner electrons screen the valence electrons from the positive pull of the nucleus. Because the outermost electrons are farther away and heavily shielded, the effective nuclear charge they experience decreases down the group.

Explanation

Operation Sajag was launched on October 4, 2021, by the Northwest District of the Delhi Police. The primary objective of this initiative was to curb street crime, reduce criminal activities, and maintain public order in the region. The campaign involved intensive area domination exercises, specialized combing operations, increased motorcycle patrolling, and stringent picket-level checking. It targeted the identification and arrest of criminals, anti-social elements, and offenders involved in snatching, robbery, theft, and the illegal trade of weapons and drugs. The operation successfully led to a significant reduction in street crimes and police control room calls in the designated areas of Delhi.

Explanation

Ernest Hemingway wrote A Moveable Feast, a classic memoir published posthumously in 1964 that chronicles his years as a young, expatriate journalist and writer in Paris during the 1920s. The book provides a detailed and personal look at his early literary career, his first marriage to Hadley Richardson, and his associations with other prominent members of the Lost Generation in post-World War I France.

Explanation

In 1928, Sir C.V. Raman discovered the phenomenon of inelastic scattering of light, which became known as the Raman Effect. He observed that when a beam of monochromatic light travels through a transparent liquid, a small fraction of the scattered light emerges with a different frequency and wavelength, and thus a different colour, than the incident light. This discovery demonstrated that the energy of the photons changes upon interaction with the vibrational states of the molecules in the liquid, a breakthrough for which Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

Explanation

My Side is the autobiography of David Beckham, written in collaboration with Tom Watt and published in September 2003. The book chronicles Beckham's life from his childhood in East London to his rise as a global football icon, including his highly successful career with Manchester United, his role as the captain of the England national team, and his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2003.

Explanation

In March 2021, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports decided to extend the Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Ministry furnished an Expenditure Finance Committee memorandum to the Ministry of Finance for the continuation of this flagship programme, estimating a total financial implication of ₹8750 crore for the extended period. The Khelo India scheme was originally introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grassroots level and establish the country as a leading sporting nation.

Explanation

Rajasthan has a predominantly arid and semi-arid climate with an annual rainfall of less than 70 cm, which supports the growth of tropical thorn forests and scrub vegetation. In these dry regions, plants have evolved specific xerophytic adaptations to survive extreme heat and conserve water. Cactus and other thorny shrubs reduce their leaves to spines to minimize water loss through transpiration, while their fleshy, succulent stems store water and perform photosynthesis. These specialized adaptations are characteristic of the desert vegetation found extensively across the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan.

Explanation

Kalamandalam Rajan was a highly acclaimed Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2009 for his significant contributions and lifetime excellence in Kathakali. He trained extensively under renowned teachers at Kerala Kalamandalam, specializing in the Kalluvazhi sampradaya of the art form. Throughout his career, he excelled in classical Kathakali roles, particularly in the categories of pacha, kathi, and minukku characters. His notable portrayals of roles such as Bahuka, Nala, and Dharmaputra gained him critical acclaim across national and international stages.

Explanation

According to Law 7 of the Laws of the Game established by the International Football Association Board and recognized by FIFA, players are entitled to an interval at half-time between the two 45-minute halves of a standard football match. This official half-time interval is designated to not exceed 15 minutes.

Explanation

Diving is classified as an aquatic sport because it is practiced in, on, or around water, specifically involving jumping or falling into a pool from a platform or springboard while performing various acrobatic maneuvers. It is governed globally by World Aquatics and is a core discipline of the Olympic Games, alongside other water-based sports like swimming, water polo, and artistic swimming.

Explanation

In October 2019, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised the guidelines for microfinance lending to improve credit availability in rural and semi-urban areas. Under these updated regulations, the RBI raised the annual household income limit for microfinance borrowers in rural areas from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.25 lakh. This allows families within this income threshold to qualify for collateral-free microfinance loans.

Explanation

Remo D'Souza was honored with the National Film Award for Best Choreography at the 63rd National Film Awards for the song Deewani Mastani from the historical drama film Bajirao Mastani. His work on this grand musical sequence was highly praised for seamlessly blending classical Kathak dance movements with contemporary grace, perfectly complementing the opulent set and Deepika Padukone's captivating performance.

Explanation

Article 226 of the Indian Constitution vests power in the High Courts to issue directions, orders, or writs for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights of the citizens and for any other purpose. These writs include Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Quo Warranto, and Certiorari. The writ jurisdiction of a High Court under Article 226 is discretionary and broader than that of the Supreme Court, as it can be invoked not only for the protection of fundamental rights but also for any other legal right.

Explanation

Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma is widely regarded as the mother of Mohiniyattam. She played a monumental role in resurrecting, reshaping, and popularizing Mohiniyattam, a classical dance form from Kerala, from a state of near-extinction in the early 20th century. Through her extensive research, teaching, and choreography, she institutionalized and structured the dance form, establishing its formal training system, standard mudras, and performance repertoire at Kerala Kalamandalam.

Explanation

Faster than Lightning: My Autobiography is the autobiography of Usain Bolt, the legendary Jamaican sprinter widely regarded as the fastest runner in history. Published in 2013, the book chronicles his life journey from growing up in Trelawny, Jamaica, to achieving unprecedented global stardom by winning multiple Olympic gold medals and setting world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprint events.

Explanation

Vitamin E is a major fat-soluble (lipophilic) antioxidant that plays a crucial role in protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. The lipid bilayer of cell membranes contains polyunsaturated fatty acids which are highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation; Vitamin E intercepts these free radicals, thereby maintaining membrane integrity. Furthermore, Vitamin E is essential for the structure and function of red blood cells, as it prevents oxidative hemolysis (the rupture of red blood cells), making it vital for their formation and longevity.

Explanation

Gangubai Hangal was a highly acclaimed vocalist of the Kirana Gharana, one of the most prominent lineages in Hindustani classical music. She trained intensively under Sawai Gandharva, who was a leading disciple of the Kirana Gharana's co-founder, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Renowned for her deep, powerful voice and mastery over the khayal genre, she was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1973 for her immense contribution to classical music.

Explanation

In August 2021, Indian athlete Shaili Singh won the silver medal in the women's long jump event at the World Athletics U-20 Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya. The 17-year-old athlete, who trains under the guidance of legendary Indian long jumper Anju Bobby George and her husband Robert Bobby George, achieved a jump of 6.59 meters. She missed the gold medal by a narrow margin of 1 centimeter to Sweden's Maja Askag, who recorded a jump of 6.60 meters. This achievement marked India's first-ever long jump medal at the World Athletics U-20 Championships.

Explanation

In 1855, German physician and pathologist Rudolf Virchow published an influential editorial essay titled Cellular Pathology in the journal Archiv fur pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und fur klinische Medizin. In this publication, he famously declared the Latin aphorism omnis cellula e cellula, which translates to every cell arises from another cell. This contribution effectively expanded the cell theory originally proposed by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, establishing that all living cells arise only from pre-existing cells through division, rather than by spontaneous generation.

Explanation

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (1902–1968) was one of the most legendary Hindustani classical vocalists of the Patiala Gharana. He possessed an exceptionally rich voice with an extraordinary range and flexibility, which enabled him to blend the best elements of diverse musical traditions, including the Patiala-Kasur style, the Behram Khani elements of Dhrupad, and the light classical nuances of thumri and tappa. Because of his unparalleled mastery over both complex classical ragas and expressive semi-classical genres, along with his capability to captivate the masses, musicologists and admirers widely hailed him as the Tansen of the 20th century.

Explanation

Fermentation is an anaerobic metabolic process where microorganisms like bacteria and yeast convert organic substrates, such as sugars and carbohydrates, into simpler compounds like organic acids, alcohols, or gases.

In culinary processes, lactic acid fermentation is the primary method used to make foods like curd and sauerkraut. During curd preparation, lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacillus ferment the lactose sugar in milk into lactic acid, which increases acidity and coagulates milk proteins. In sauerkraut production, wild lactic acid bacteria naturally present on cabbage ferment its sugars into lactic acid, preserving the vegetable and giving it a distinct sour flavor. While paneer is traditionally made by direct acid coagulation using lemon juice or vinegar rather than active bacterial culture, the underlying chemical curdling and separation of whey from milk solids is fundamentally associated with acid-driven protein precipitation similar to the fermentation process.

Explanation

Paradichlorobenzene, also known as 1,4-dichlorobenzene, is a chlorinated organic compound with the chemical formula C₆H₄Cl₂. It exists as a white crystalline solid at room temperature and undergoes sublimation, transitioning directly from a solid into a vapor that is highly toxic to clothes moths, their larvae, and their eggs. This property makes it highly effective for use as a fumigant insecticide in mothballs, moth crystals, and closet protectants to prevent damage to clothing and other textiles.

Explanation

Kumar Gandharva was a highly acclaimed Indian classical singer who was renowned for his unique vocal style and significant contributions to Hindustani classical music, rather than being a guitar player. He was particularly famous for his innovative renditions of Kabir bhajans and his refusal to be bound by the traditional constraints of any specific gharana.

Explanation

Shri T. P. Ouseph is a distinguished Indian coach who was honored with the Dronacharya Award in the Lifetime Achievement category in 2021 for his outstanding contribution to athletics. Over a coaching career spanning more than four decades, he has trained and mentored several top-tier national and international athletes, particularly specializing in jump events. His trainees include highly decorated track and field athletes such as Bobby Aloysius, Lekha Thomas, and Anju Bobby George, making him one of the most prominent figures in Indian athletic coaching.

Explanation

The International Booker Prize was established in 2005 to complement the existing Booker Prize. Initially known as the Man Booker International Prize, it was awarded every two years until 2015 to a living author of any nationality for their overall contribution to fiction in English or translated into English.

Explanation

In IUPAC nomenclature, the word root represents the total number of carbon atoms present in the longest continuous carbon chain, which is designated as the parent chain. This root serves as the core of the name to which prefixes and suffixes are appended. For example, word roots such as meth-, eth-, prop-, but-, and pent- represent parent chains containing one, two, three, four, and five carbon atoms, respectively.

Explanation

Ms. Kamalini Asthana and Ms. Nalini Asthana are acclaimed Kathak dancers who represent the Benaras (Varanasi) Gharana of this Indian classical dance form. They are disciples of the renowned Kathak maestro Guru Jitendra Maharaj. For their immense contribution to the preservation, research, and popularization of the temple-style Kathak globally, they were honored with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Explanation

The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest and most influential khyal gharanas of Hindustani classical music. Ustad Hassu Khan, Ustad Haddu Khan, and Ustad Nathu Khan were brothers and legendary court musicians of Gwalior who lived during the nineteenth century. They are widely credited as the principal architects who structured and popularized the distinctive vocal style of this gharana, which emphasizes robust voice production, systematic presentation of the khyal, and a rich repertoire of compositions.

Explanation

Bharatanatyam originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu and was traditionally performed by Devadasis as a form of sacred worship. Historically, this classical dance form was known by various names, including Sadir, Sadir Attam, and Dasi Attam. It was deeply associated with temple rituals and courtly patronage before undergoing a major revival in the 20th century, which helped transition it from sacred temples to modern proscenium stages and led to its contemporary name of Bharatanatyam.

Explanation

Detritivores are heterotrophic organisms that feed on detritus, which consists of dead, decaying plant and animal matter, as well as organic waste. By consuming and breaking down this organic material, they play a critical role in nutrient cycling within ecosystems. Millipedes, springtails, woodlice, dung flies, and slugs are classic examples of detritivores, as they actively ingest and internally digest decomposing matter, facilitating its decomposition and recycling nutrients back into the soil.

Explanation

Lithium has the atomic number 3. It is the lightest solid element and the least dense of all metals. As a highly reactive alkali metal, it is soft and silvery in appearance but tarnishes rapidly in air due to oxidation. It reacts vigorously with water to produce lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Because of this high reactivity, it is typically stored in mineral oil.

Explanation

Article 154 of the Constitution of India vests the executive power of the State in the Governor. It specifies that this executive power is to be exercised by the Governor either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. This article establishes the Governor as the constitutional head of the state executive, defining the scope and manner of exercising state executive authority.

Explanation

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceans. It covers an area of approximately 15,558,000 km², which constitutes about 4.3% of the total global ocean surface area of roughly 361,900,000 km². Centered around the North Pole, it is bordered by North America and Eurasia.

Explanation

In the case of M.R. Vijayabhaskar v. Chief Election Commissioner of India (2021), the Supreme Court of India held that freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution encompasses the right of the media to report court proceedings, including oral remarks and observations made by judges during hearings. The Court emphasized that open court proceedings are vital for promoting public confidence in the administration of justice and ensuring judicial accountability, making real-time reporting of court discussions a fundamental aspect of freedom of speech.

Explanation

Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani was appointed as the director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in February 2022. He was appointed for a tenure of five years, or until he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Prior to his appointment as the head of NCERT, he served as a professor of history at HNB Garhwal University in Srinagar, Uttarakhand. He has been recognized for his extensive academic work in ancient history, culture, and historical geography.

Explanation

The Nooran Sisters, comprising Sultana Nooran and Jyoti Nooran, are an acclaimed Indian devotional singing duo renowned for their powerful performances of Sufi music. Hailing from Jalandhar, Punjab, they belong to a family with a rich lineage of Sufi musicians and were trained in the Sham Chaurasia gharana of classical music. They achieved widespread mainstream recognition with soulful Sufi-style tracks and traditional compositions, including their breakthrough Bollywood hit Patakha Guddi from the movie Highway and various notable performances on platforms like Coke Studio.

Explanation

Hydrochloric acid, with the chemical formula HCl, is historically and commercially known as muriatic acid, a name derived from the Latin word muria, meaning brine or salt. It is a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with major industrial applications. It is widely used in the production of inorganic and organic compounds like chlorides, fertilizers, and dyes. It also serves an essential role in electroplating, pickling of steel, and processing operations in the photographic, textile, leather, and rubber industries.

Explanation

Playing to Win: My Life On and Off Court is the autobiography of the celebrated Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal, published in 2012. In this memoir, she describes her journey, childhood, intensive training routines, and the personal sacrifices required to achieve international success, including winning India's first Olympic medal in badminton at the 2012 London Olympics.

Explanation

Yog Sunder Desai was born on July 16, 1921, in Limbdi, Gujarat, into a princely family. He was an influential dancer, choreographer, and researcher who pioneered the preservation, promotion, and revival of Indian folk and classical dance forms in the pre-independence era. He went on to establish the Indian Revival Group in 1948 and was later honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contributions to creative and experimental dance.

Explanation

Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, the legendary Odissi dancer and choreographer, established the premier Odissi dance institution Srjan (Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in 1993. He founded this training and performing commune along with his wife, Laxmipriya Mohapatra, who was herself a prominent dancer, and their son, Ratikant Mohapatra, to preserve, nurture, and propagate the classical traditions and his unique style of Odissi dance.