SSC CHSL Tier 1 2022 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Girija Devi was an eminent Indian classical singer of the Banaras gharana who made immense contributions to the promotion and preservation of semi-classical Indian music. Renowned for her mastery over diverse classical genres, she was widely revered and affectionately called the Queen of Thumri for her soulful renditions and role in elevating the status of the Thumri genre globally. She was honored with several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.

Explanation

Asha Bhosle received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2000, which is India's highest award in cinema presented annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. She is one of the most celebrated and versatile playback singers in India, recognized for her immense contributions to the music and film industry spanning over six decades.

Explanation

First-generation computers, which emerged in the 1940s and lasted until the mid-1950s, relied on vacuum tubes as the primary electronic components for circuitry and CPU functions. Vacuum tubes controlled the flow of electric current in these early machines, allowing them to perform digital computations. Due to the large size and high heat emission of vacuum tubes, these computers were massive, consumed immense amounts of electricity, and required specialized cooling systems. Notable examples of computers from this generation include the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) and the UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer).

Explanation

Under Article 66 of the Constitution of India, a candidate must have completed the age of 35 years to be eligible for election as the Vice-President of India. There is no constitutional requirement for a candidate to have completed 40 years of age.

Explanation

Vitamin B3 is an essential water-soluble vitamin chemically known as niacin or nicotinic acid. It plays a crucial role in human metabolism as a precursor to the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), which are vital for cellular energy transfer, metabolic reactions, and DNA repair.

Explanation

Its a Wonderful Life is written by the celebrated Indian author Ruskin Bond. Published in 2021, the book is an uplifting collection of essays and reflections where the author shares his thoughts on finding joy, hope, and peace in the simple, everyday aspects of life, drawing from his own lived experiences in the hills of Mussoorie.

Explanation

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, hosted the first meeting of the India-Central Asia Summit on January 27, 2022, in a virtual format. This historic summit coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Central Asian nations. The leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting, which focused on institutionalizing cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, security, and cultural relations.

Explanation

A fielder pulling his hands gradually backward while catching a moving ball is an application of Newton's second law of motion. According to this law, the force experienced is proportional to the rate of change of momentum, represented by the relation:

F = Δp / Δt

By pulling the hands back, the fielder increases the time interval Δt taken to reduce the momentum of the ball to zero. Increasing this duration decreases the rate of change of momentum, which significantly reduces the impact force F exerted by the ball on the fielder's hands, thereby preventing injury.

Explanation

The book 'Your Best Day is Today!' is written by the veteran Indian actor Anupam Kher. Released in 2020, the book compiles his personal experiences, reflections, and life lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. It focuses on maintaining a positive outlook, overcoming hardships, and discovering the strength within oneself during challenging times.

Explanation

In basketball, each team has exactly five players on the court during play, making the first pair correct. In team handball, each team has seven players on the court, which consists of six outfield players and one goalkeeper, making the second pair incorrect. Therefore, only the first pair is correctly matched.

Explanation

Article 343(1) of the Constitution of India explicitly prescribes that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. It also specifies that the international form of Indian numerals shall be used for the official purposes of the Union.

Explanation

Saina Nehwal won the bronze medal in the women's singles badminton event at the 2012 London Olympics. She became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal after her opponent, Wang Xin of China, retired from the match due to an injury, securing the historic podium finish for India.

Explanation

First generation computers, which existed from approximately 1940 to 1956, relied entirely on machine language as their programming language. Machine language is the lowest-level programming language, consisting of binary code (0s and 1s) that the computer's central processing unit understands directly without any translation. Because early computer systems lacked compilers or assemblers, programmers had to write instructions manually in binary, with each code directly controlling the physical circuitry and vacuum tubes of the machine.

Explanation

Graham's Law of diffusion states that the rate of diffusion or effusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its density or molar mass under constant temperature and pressure. Mathematically, this is expressed as:

r₁/r₂ = √(d₂/d₁)

Here, r₁ and r₂ represent the rates of diffusion of two gases, while d₁ and d₂ represent their respective densities. This physical law was formulated by the Scottish chemist Thomas Graham in 1848, and it is derived from the kinetic theory of gases, which shows that at a given temperature, lighter gas molecules move with a higher average velocity than heavier ones.

Explanation

A demand function mathematically models the relationship between the quantity demanded of a product and its various determinants, primarily its price. The demand curve is the graphical representation of this demand function, typically plotted with price on the vertical axis and quantity demanded on the horizontal axis, which validates Statement I.

Furthermore, by plotting this relationship, the demand curve visually represents the specific quantity of a good or service that a consumer is willing and able to purchase at every given price level, keeping other factors constant. This directly validates Statement II. Since both statements accurately describe the properties and definition of a demand curve, both I and II are correct.

Explanation

Mars rotates on its axis once every 24 hours, 37 minutes, and 22 seconds. This period of rotation is known as a solar day or sol on Mars, which is extremely close to the 24-hour length of an Earth day. Therefore, Mars takes approximately 1 day to complete one spin on its axis.

Explanation

Carlos Alcaraz won the men's singles title at the 2022 US Open by defeating Casper Ruud in the final. This victory marked his first Grand Slam title and made him the youngest player to reach the world number one ranking in the history of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) at the age of 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days.

Explanation

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was established in 1875 under the name "The Native Share | Stock Brokers' Association". It is the oldest stock exchange in India and also the oldest in Asia. Located on Dalal Street in Mumbai, it played a pioneering role in the development of India's financial markets and became the first stock exchange in the country to be recognized by the Government of India under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act in 1956.

Explanation

Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface tactical short-range ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. It has a strike range of approximately 350 km and is capable of carrying payloads ranging from 500 kg to 1000 kg. India regularly conducts training launches of this nuclear-capable missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha to validate its operational readiness and technical parameters.

Explanation

Meghaduta, translating to The Cloud Messenger, is a renowned lyric poem written in Sanskrit by the classical poet Kalidasa. The poem consists of 111 stanzas and tells the story of a Yaksha, a celestial spirit, who has been exiled to central India for neglecting his duties. Filled with grief and longing, he convinces a passing cloud to carry a message of love and reassurance to his wife waiting in the mythical city of Alaka in the Himalayas. Written in the Mandakranta meter, the work is highly celebrated for its vivid description of Indian landscapes, intense emotional depth, and lyrical beauty.

Explanation

Gopika Varma is a highly acclaimed exponent and guru of Mohiniattam, a classical dance form that originated in Kerala. For her outstanding contributions to the art form, she was honored with prestigious awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalaimamani. She is also the founder of the Dasyam School of Mohiniattam, which is dedicated to training young dancers and preserving the rich heritage and graceful, fluid movements traditional to Mohiniattam.

Explanation

India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh, which stretches over a distance of 4,096.7 kilometers. This extensive boundary runs along five Indian states, namely West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, and is based on the Radcliffe Line demarcation established during the partition of 1947.

Explanation

Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut and aerospace engineer who became the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. Born in Karnal, Haryana, India, she moved to the United States for her higher education and was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1994. She made her historic first flight into space in November 1997 on board the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-87, serving as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Article 74(1) of the Constitution of India explicitly provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President, who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice. This constitutional provision establishes the Prime Minister as the leader and head of the Council of Ministers, cementing the parliamentary system of governance in India.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Article 302 of the Constitution of India empowers Parliament to impose reasonable restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce, or intercourse between one State and another, or within any part of the territory of India, as may be required in the public interest. This provision serves as a limitation on the general freedom of trade guaranteed under Article 301, allowing the legislative body to regulate commerce to address public needs and national interest.

Explanation

Earthworms belong to the phylum Annelida, which is characterized by organisms with metamerically segmented bodies. This means their body is divided into multiple distinct, repeating segments both internally and externally. Earthworms possess a true coelom, a closed circulatory system, and specialized excretory organs called nephridia. They also utilize tiny bristle-like structures called setae along with longitudinal and circular muscles for locomotion, all of which are defining physiological and anatomical features of annelids.

Explanation

Lipase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of dietary fats (lipids) by hydrolyzing the ester bonds in triglycerides to produce free fatty acids and glycerol. This process is essential for the digestion, absorption, and transport of dietary lipids in the body. Lipases are primarily secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine, although smaller amounts are also produced in the mouth and stomach.

Explanation

Under Project Cheetah, which is India's ambitious translocation project, eight African cheetahs were brought from Namibia and released into Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022. Kuno National Park is located in the Sheopur and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh. The park was selected for the reintroduction of cheetahs due to its favorable grassland habitat, deciduous forests, and a sufficient prey base, making it highly suitable for the rehabilitation of the species.

Explanation

Thang-Ta, officially known as Huyel Langlon, is a traditional Indian martial art originating from the state of Manipur. The term Thang-Ta translates to sword (thang) and spear (ta), which are the primary weapons used in this combat system. Traditionally practiced by the Meitei ethnic group, it combines armed and unarmed combat techniques with external physical control, internal energetic alignment, and ritualistic movement.

Explanation

The Indian Olympic Association confirmed that Goa would host the 37th edition of the National Games in October 2023. This decision was finalized after Goa, which was originally scheduled to host the 36th edition, could not do so, leading to Gujarat hosting the 36th edition and Goa being officially designated as the host for the subsequent 37th edition.

Explanation

Shaktikanta Das is the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. A retired IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, he assumed office on December 12, 2018. In October 2021, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his reappointment to the post for an additional term of three years, ensuring his tenure extended through 2022 and up to December 2024.

Explanation

The Nechiphu Tunnel is a 500-meter long, D-shaped, double-lane tunnel located at an altitude of 5700 feet on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The excavation work of this strategically important tunnel was successfully completed in May 2022 by the Border Roads Organisation. This construction is undertaken under Project Vartak, a premier project of the Border Roads Organisation established in 1960 that is specifically tasked with developing and maintaining crucial road connectivity and infrastructure in western Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas of Assam.

Explanation

Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2001 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Hindustani classical music. He is globally renowned for popularizing the shehnai, transforming it from a traditional ceremonial instrument into a mainstream classical concert instrument.

Explanation

Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is the minimum percentage of deposits that a commercial bank has to maintain in the form of liquid assets like cash, gold, or government-approved securities before it can lend loans to its customers. The Reserve Bank of India mandates this requirement under Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, to control credit flow, regulate inflation, and ensure the solvency of commercial banks.

Explanation

The Ghatprabha River is a prominent right-bank tributary of the Krishna River, flowing through the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Manjra River is a major tributary of the Godavari River, originating in the Balaghat range, and is not associated with the Tapi River.

Explanation

Bromination is not a standard or approved technique for treating water to make it potable for human consumption. While bromine is an effective disinfectant for localized applications like swimming pools and hot tubs, it is not utilized for purifying municipal drinking water because it is less stable, leaves an unpleasant taste and odor, and reacts with organic matter to form toxic and potentially carcinogenic disinfection byproducts such as bromate.

Explanation

Correct Answer: B

The number of lines required to connect n nodes in a completely connected network, also known as a fully connected mesh topology, is given by the combination formula ⁿC₂:

Number of lines = n(n - 1) / 2

Substituting the number of nodes, n = 6, into this formula:

Number of lines = 6 × (6 - 1) / 2 = 6 × 5 / 2 = 15

This formula represents the unique connection between every pair of nodes in the network, ensuring each node has a direct, dedicated link to every other node.

Explanation

Dehra Dun is the largest among all the longitudinal valleys, known as duns, located between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwalik range. It has an approximate length of 35 to 45 km and a width of 22 to 25 km, making it the most prominent and extensive dun in the outer Himalayan region.

Explanation

Rajaraja I, born Arulmozhi Varman, ascended the Chola throne in 985 CE. He is celebrated as one of the most powerful and influential rulers of the Chola dynasty, initiating a period of massive military expansion, administrative reforms, and magnificent architectural achievements, including the construction of the famous Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur. His reign marked the beginning of the golden age of the Imperial Cholas, extending their influence across South India and the Indian Ocean.

Explanation

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire in 322 BCE. With the strategic guidance of his advisor Chanakya, he defeated Dhana Nanda, the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty of Magadha, and established the Mauryan dynasty. Under his leadership, the empire expanded across most of the Indian subcontinent, marking the first time in Indian history that such a vast territory was unified under a single centralized administration.

Explanation

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, both Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik won gold medals for India in wrestling. Bajrang Punia clinched the gold medal in the men's freestyle 65 kg category by defeating Lachlan McNeil of Canada. Sakshi Malik secured the gold medal in the women's freestyle 62 kg category by defeating Ana Godinez Gonzalez of Canada in the final.

Explanation

The second generation of computers, which spanned roughly from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, is defined by the use of transistors instead of vacuum tubes. Transistors were highly advantageous as they were much smaller, faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient than vacuum tubes, which allowed second-generation computers to be more compact, reliable, and powerful.

Explanation

Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, is a traditional folk art form that originated in the Mithila region of Bihar, particularly in and around the Madhubani district. Traditionally created by the women of the region, this art form was historically done on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts during festivals, marriages, and other auspicious occasions. The paintings are characterized by their eye-catching geometrical patterns and representation of nature, wildlife, and Hindu deities using natural dyes and pigments.

Explanation

Tansen, born Ramtanu Pandey, was a legendary Hindustani classical musician, vocalist, and composer who served in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Recognized for his extraordinary musical genius, Akbar bestowed upon him the title Mian and included him as one of the Navaratnas (Nine Jewels) of his royal court. Tansen is widely celebrated for creating and perfecting several landmark ragas, such as Mian ki Todi and Darbari Kanada, which significantly shaped the course of North Indian classical music.

Explanation

The Swachh Toycathon competition was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on September 26, 2022, under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. This national competition was designed to promote innovation in toy manufacturing by using dry waste and recycled materials, aligning with the principles of circular economy and waste-to-wealth.

Explanation

The summer solstice occurs when the Earth's geographical pole in the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most directly toward the Sun. This astronomical event marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and results in the longest day and the shortest night of the year. It occurs when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5° North latitude, which happens annually on 21 June.

Explanation

The Alaknanda River merges with the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag, a sacred town located in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. This confluence is of immense geographic and religious significance, as it marks the official beginning of the Ganga River, where the two distinct streams unite and flow onward under a single name. Devprayag is recognized as one of the Panch Prayags, which are the five holy confluences along the Alaknanda River in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, which means 15° of longitude corresponds to 1 hour, or 1° of longitude corresponds to 4 minutes.

Indian Standard Time (IST) is calculated based on the Standard Meridian of India, which is 82.5° E longitude passing through Mirzapur.

Time difference = 82.5 × 4 minutes = 330 minutes

Converting 330 minutes into hours: 330 minutes ÷ 60 = 5.5 hours, which is 5 hours 30 minutes.

Since India lies to the east of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich (0° longitude), its time is ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) by 5 hours 30 minutes.

Explanation

Salman Rushdie is the author of the book Languages of Truth: Essays 2003-2020, which was published in May 2021. The book is a compilation of non-fiction essays, cultural criticism, and speeches written by the Booker Prize-winning novelist between 2003 and 2020, focusing on the defense of free speech, the power of storytelling, and the evolution of language in a changing global landscape.

Explanation

Cotton is a tropical and subtropical crop that requires high temperatures ranging between 21°C and 30°C during its growing period. A minimum of 210 frost-free days along with bright, clear sunshine is essential for the crop to grow, mature, and for the cotton bolls to open successfully. It also requires light rainfall or timely irrigation to support its development.