SSC CHSL Tier 1 2023 General Awareness Questions with Solutions

Explanation

Ramnad V Raghavan was a renowned master of the mridangam, which is the primary percussion instrument used in Carnatic classical music. He was an influential performer and educator who played a significant role in promoting Indian classical music globally, particularly through his long tenure teaching the mridangam at Wesleyan University in the United States.

Explanation

Manika Batra became the first Indian female table tennis player to win a medal at the ITTF-ATTU Asia Cup. She achieved this feat by winning the bronze medal at the 2022 tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand, after defeating world number six Hina Hayata of Japan in the play-off match.

Explanation

Dr. Padmaja Reddy is a renowned Kuchipudi exponent who was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2022 in the field of Art. Hailing from Telangana, she has made significant contributions to propagating the Kuchipudi dance form globally. She is particularly celebrated for her extensive research and choreographic work on Kakatiyam, a dance form inspired by the sculptures and history of the Kakatiya dynasty. Prior to the Padma Shri, she was also honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015.

Explanation

The electron affinity of halogens generally decreases down the group as the atomic size increases, making it harder for the nucleus to attract an incoming electron. However, fluorine has an exceptionally small atomic size, which results in high inter-electronic repulsion within its compact 2p subshell when an extra electron is added. Because of this strong repulsion, the addition of an electron to fluorine releases less energy than it does for chlorine. Therefore, chlorine has the highest electron affinity among all halogens, and the correct increasing order of electron affinity is I < Br < F < Cl.

Explanation

Under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty, the Supreme Court of India has progressively expanded the scope of the right to life to include the right to live with human dignity, free from exploitation. In the landmark case of People's Union for Democratic Rights versus Union of India (1982), the Supreme Court held that the non-implementation of social welfare and labour laws, such as the Minimum Wages Act, directly violates the fundamental right of workers to live with basic human dignity under Article 21. Consequently, the government is constitutionally bound to secure the effective observance of these laws to ensure that workmen are not deprived of their right to a dignified existence.

Explanation

Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, led a peaceful demonstration against the all-British Simon Commission when it arrived in Lahore on 30 October 1928. During this protest, the local police superintendent ordered a brutal lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Lala Lajpat Rai was severely beaten and sustained major chest injuries during the assault. He never fully recovered from these injuries and died of a heart attack on 17 November 1928.

Explanation

The estimation of the poverty line in India is based on large-scale sample surveys of household consumer expenditure. These periodic surveys are conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which was formed by the merger of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The consumer expenditure data collected during these rounds is the primary statistical basis used to calculate the poverty line and estimate the poverty ratio in the country.

Explanation

Bihar is culturally synonymous with Chhath Puja, a major ancient Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God and his consort Usha, celebrated with rigorous rituals.

Arunachal Pradesh celebrates Tam Ladu, which is a vital socio-religious festival of the Mishmi tribe where prayers are offered to nature and the Earth for the well-being of humanity, livestock, and crops.

Assam is world-renowned for Bihu, its premier harvest festival celebrated across three different periods of the year to mark different agricultural stages.

Goa hosts the Fatorpa Zatra, a grand annual temple festival dedicated to Goddess Shantadurga Fatorpakarim, drawing thousands of devotees to the village of Fatorpa.

Explanation

According to the Indian Minerals Yearbook 2020, Rajasthan is the leading producer of limestone in India. During the fiscal year 2019-20, Rajasthan accounted for the highest share of limestone production in the country, contributing approximately 21% of the total national output.

Explanation

Sunil Chhetri is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of international men's football. He secured this position on the all-time list by surpassing the goal tally of Malaysian legend Mokhtar Dahari, who scored 89 international goals.

On the all-time global leaderboard, Chhetri ranks fourth behind Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Ali Daei of Iran, and Lionel Messi of Argentina. Among active international players, he ranks as the third-highest goalscorer, trailing only Ronaldo and Messi.

Explanation

The Planning Commission of India was established on March 15, 1950, by a Resolution of the Government of India. The creation of this advisory body formally initiated the era of Five-Year Plans in the country. Under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, the Planning Commission was mandated to assess the nation's human, material, and capital resources, and to formulate coordinated plans for their most effective and balanced utilization. This led directly to the launch of the First Five-Year Plan in 1951, which laid the foundation for systematic economic planning and development in independent India.

Explanation

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 added Article 48A to the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV of the Indian Constitution. This article directs the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.

Explanation

Rabi crops, also known as winter crops, are sown in India during the winter season from October to December. These crops require a cool climate during their growing period and a warm climate during germination and harvesting. Major Rabi crops include wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard, which are typically harvested in the spring months from March to May.

Explanation

Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, alongside the rotation of the Earth. This regular movement occurs at predictable intervals, typically twice a day, resulting in high tide when the water level reaches its maximum height and low tide when it recedes to its lowest point.

Explanation

The Dual System of Government, also known as dyarchy, in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive in 1765 and was abolished by Warren Hastings in 1772. Under this system, the administration was divided into Diwani (revenue collection) and Nizamat (civil administration). In 1772, Warren Hastings took over as the Governor of Bengal and brought the entire administration under the direct control of the East India Company, terminating the dual system of governance and establishing the Company's direct rule over Bengal.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

Under the Coinage Act, 2011, the Government of India holds the sole right to mint coins of all denominations. This responsibility is vested in the Ministry of Finance, which undertakes the design and minting of coins at the four government mints located in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Noida. While the Reserve Bank of India acts as the agent for distributing these coins into circulation, the actual issuance and supply of all coin denominations, as well as the one-rupee note, fall under the authority of the Ministry of Finance.

Explanation

Currency notes do not possess intrinsic value because, unlike commodity money such as gold or silver, the paper on which they are printed has no significant inherent worth. Their value is established by public confidence and the authority of the government.

Additionally, currency notes are considered fiat money. Fiat money is a type of currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, but rather by the government decree that declares it as a valid medium of exchange.

Explanation

Net Domestic Product (NDP) is calculated using the standard macroeconomic formula:

NDP = GDP - Depreciation

This relationship represents the net economic output of a country within its domestic territory after accounting for the capital consumed in the production process. Depreciation accounts for the wear and tear, obsolescence, and devaluation of physical capital assets such as machinery, buildings, and vehicles over time. Subtracting this consumption of fixed capital from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) provides the net value of goods and services produced domestically.

Explanation

Pandit Ramachandra Kamath Bijapure, widely known as R. K. Bijapure, was a legendary exponent of the harmonium in Hindustani classical music. Over a career spanning several decades, he gained immense reputation both as a solo performer and as an accompanist to some of the most celebrated vocalists of India, including Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal, and Pandit Kumar Gandharva. His unique playing style and mastery over the instrument significantly contributed to establishing the harmonium as a prominent solo instrument in classical concerts.

Explanation

Magnetic field lines form continuous closed loops that represent the direction of the magnetic field. While these lines travel from the north pole to the south pole outside the magnet, they complete the loop by flowing from the south pole to the north pole inside the magnet. This continuous loop structure is a fundamental property of magnetic fields, ensuring that magnetic poles always exist in pairs.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

The tertiary sector of the economy, commonly referred to as the service sector, comprises activities that involve providing services to consumers and businesses rather than producing physical goods. This sector is characterized by intangible outputs such as trade, transport, financial services, education, healthcare, and hospitality. Hotels and restaurants are part of the hospitality industry, which focuses on providing accommodation and food services, thereby falling directly under the category of the tertiary sector.

Explanation

The first Asian Games, officially known as the I Asiad, were hosted by India in New Delhi from March 4 to March 11, 1951. The multi-sport event was opened by India's first President, Rajendra Prasad, at the National Stadium, featuring athletes from eleven Asian nations competing across six different sports.

Explanation

Sleeping sickness, also known as Human African trypanosomiasis, is a tropical disease caused by microscopic protozoan parasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei. This parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected tsetse flies of the Glossina genus, which serve as the biological vector. The disease is endemic to rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa where tsetse flies are found. There are two subspecies of the parasite that cause the disease in humans: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which causes a chronic form of the disease prevalent in West and Central Africa, and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which causes an acute form in Eastern and Southern Africa. The parasite multiplies in the blood and lymphatic system of the host before eventually crossing the blood-brain barrier to infect the central nervous system, leading to neurological disruptions and the characteristic sleep cycle disturbances.

Explanation

The Chari dance is a popular folk dance of Rajasthan, especially prominent in the Kishangarh and Ajmer regions. It is primarily performed by women belonging to the Gujjar and Saini communities. The performance showcases the traditional daily chore of collecting water from long distances in the arid desert. Dancers balance brass pots (chari) on their heads, which are often topped with lit lamps or ignited cotton seeds, displaying exceptional balance and grace during festive occasions, weddings, and celebrations.

Explanation

In February 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, launched the nationwide Mass Drug Administration campaign, known as 'Sarva Dawa Sewan', aimed at eliminating lymphatic filariasis. This initiative focuses on administering preventive medicines to the eligible population in endemic districts to interrupt the transmission of the disease. India has established a national target to eliminate lymphatic filariasis by 2027, which is three years ahead of the global target of 2030.

Explanation

According to Keynesian economic theory, the speculative demand for money is inversely related to the rate of interest. At normal interest rates, speculative demand is relatively interest elastic because changes in the rate of interest significantly alter the opportunity cost of holding cash versus bonds, causing investors to adjust their portfolios. At extremely low interest rates, the speculative demand for money becomes perfectly interest elastic, a phenomenon known as the liquidity trap. In this state, the opportunity cost of holding cash is near zero, and investors believe interest rates cannot fall any further, preferring to hold all their wealth in cash rather than bonds.

Explanation

Fundamental Rights, enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India, are justiciable and legally enforceable by the courts of law. Under Article 32, an individual has the right to move the Supreme Court directly for the enforcement of their Fundamental Rights. This right itself is a fundamental right, known as the Right to Constitutional Remedies. Additionally, Article 226 empowers the High Courts to issue writs for the enforcement of these rights. The judiciary is constitutionally mandated to protect and defend these rights against any state action that violates them.

Explanation

The Chhota Nagpur plateau region has the maximum concentration of iron and steel industries in India because of its immense geopolitical and geological advantages. This region is exceptionally rich in key mineral resources required for iron and steel production, such as high-grade iron ore, coking coal, manganese, limestone, and dolomite. Major public and private sector steel plants, including those at Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Burnpur, Durgapur, and Rourkela, are located in and around this plateau. The proximity of these raw materials significantly reduces transportation costs. Additionally, the region benefits from a well-developed network of railways and roadways, access to water from rivers like the Damodar and Subarnarekha, and close proximity to Kolkata port for export opportunities.

Explanation

The Wild Ass Sanctuary, established in 1972, is located in the Little Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India, covering an area of approximately 4954 square kilometers. This sanctuary is the last refuge of the endangered Indian wild ass, a subspecies of the Asiatic wild ass scientifically known as Equus hemionus khur, which is locally referred to as the khur. The unique saline desert vegetation and mudflats of this region provide the ideal habitat for this species.

Explanation

The number of machines used in a factory is a stock variable because it represents a quantity measured at a specific point in time rather than over a period of time. In economic analysis, physical assets and capital equipment such as machinery represent an accumulated fund or inventory existing at a given moment, classifying them as stock concepts rather than flow concepts.

Explanation

Import substitution is an economic policy that replaces foreign imports with domestic production to reduce foreign dependency and promote self-reliance. This approach focuses on developing domestic industries by protecting them from foreign competition using trade barriers such as high tariffs, import quotas, and subsidies. Because this policy prioritizes domestic production and the domestic market over international trade and integration, it is commonly referred to as an inward-looking trade strategy.

Explanation

Tapu is a traditional war dance performed by the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. This dance is typically performed by male members of the tribe during the Aran festival to ward off evil spirits, protect the community from epidemics, and ensure the well-being of the village. The dancers wear traditional war attire, carry swords and shields, and perform rhythmic movements that mimic combat and warfare.

Explanation

Section 1(2) of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, explicitly states that the Act extends to the whole of India. This legislation was enacted to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts, thereby empowering authorities to attach and confiscate their properties and assets within and outside India.

Explanation

Hema Malini is an acclaimed Indian actress, director, producer, and politician who is also a highly accomplished and professionally trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She received her formal training in this classical dance form under the guidance of prominent gurus, including Guru Kitappa Pillai. Over several decades, she has performed extensively in India and internationally, often showcasing classical dance dramas. Her deep association with Bharatanatyam has also led her to establish a dance academy to promote classical Indian dance and culture.

Explanation

The Indian duo of Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni won the men's doubles title at the Bangkok Open Challenger (Nonthaburi Challenger I) in January 2023. In the final match, they defeated the Indonesian-Australian pairing of Christopher Rungkat and Akira Santillan in straight sets. This victory represented their sixth Association of Tennis Professionals Challenger Tour doubles title together as a pair.

Explanation

Rajaram Jat was a prominent leader of the Jat uprising against the Mughal Empire during the reign of Aurangzeb. Following the execution of the early rebel leader Gokula, Rajaram organized the Jats of Sinsini and the surrounding regions of Agra. He modernized their military tactics by adopting guerrilla warfare and trained them in firearms. Under his leadership, the Jats launched highly successful raids, culminating in the famous assault on Akbar's tomb at Sikandra in 1688, which significantly challenged Mughal imperial authority in the region.

Explanation

Meghalaya has a 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes, known as the bamboo drip irrigation system. This traditional method is highly prevalent in the hilly areas of the state, particularly in the Jaintia and Khasi hills. The system is designed to transport water from perennial springs on hilltop sources to the lower slopes using gravity, distributing about 18 to 20 liters of water per minute through a network of bamboo pipes. Ultimately, the water is reduced to a trickle of 20 to 80 drops per minute at the site of the plant, making it highly efficient for cultivating betel leaf, black pepper, and areca nut crops.

Explanation

Section 3 of the Family Courts Act, 1984 empowers the State Governments, in consultation with their respective High Courts, to establish Family Courts for areas with a population exceeding one million, as well as in any other areas as they deem necessary. The Family Courts (Amendment) Act, 2022 was enacted specifically to insert provisions that retrospectively validated the establishment of Family Courts by the State Governments of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland, along with all actions taken under the Act in those states.

Explanation

Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875. He strongly advocated for the authority of the Vedas, calling for a return to Vedic purity with his famous slogan "Go back to the Vedas." He rejected the monopoly of the priestly class over religious scriptures, asserting that every individual, regardless of caste or gender, has the inherent right to read, interpret, and understand the Vedas directly. This reform movement aimed to eliminate elaborate rituals, idolatry, and priestly domination from Hindu society, promoting monotheism and social equality based on Vedic teachings.

Explanation

Calomel is the popular name for mercury(I) chloride, represented by the chemical formula Hg₂Cl₂. This mineral compound is widely used in electrochemistry as a component of the standard calomel reference electrode, and it serves as an effective depolarizer in dry cell batteries to maintain electrical current by preventing the accumulation of hydrogen gas.

Explanation

The parallel economy, also referred to as the shadow or black economy, comprises economic activities and transactions that go unreported to tax and regulatory authorities to evade taxes or bypass legal frameworks. Under-declared income refers to the practice of reporting lower earnings than what was actually earned. Because this undeclared portion of income is kept hidden from official national accounts and tax administrators, it functions outside the formal banking and regulatory systems, directly constituting a core component of the parallel economy.

Explanation

In ecology, the species-area relationship established by Alexander von Humboldt is represented by the equation log S = log C + Z log A. In this logarithmic equation, S represents species richness, A represents area, C represents the Y-intercept, and Z represents the slope of the line, which is the regression coefficient. The value of Z generally lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 regardless of the taxonomic group or the region, though it is much steeper for very large areas like entire continents.

Explanation

Article 42 of the Constitution of India, contained within the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV, directs the State to make provisions for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. This directive serves as the foundational basis for welfare legislation, such as the Maternity Benefit Act, ensuring that working women are provided with paid maternity leave and other essential health and employment benefits by their employers.

Explanation

Harry Hammond Hess proposed the sea floor spreading hypothesis in 1962 in a landmark paper titled History of Ocean Basins. He suggested that the oceanic crust is continuously created at mid-ocean ridges through the upwelling of magma from the Earth's mantle. As this magma cools, it forms new ocean floor which then spreads laterally away from the ridge crests, eventually sinking back into the mantle at deep ocean trenches. This concept provided the crucial mechanism that supported the theory of continental drift and led directly to the development of the modern theory of plate tectonics.

Explanation

Article 43B of the Indian Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, explicitly directs the State to promote the voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control, and professional management of cooperative societies. This article was inserted into the Constitution by the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 to give a constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies in India.

Explanation

The decathlon is a combined athletics contest consisting of ten track and field events held over two consecutive days. The first day of competition features the 100 metre dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 metre dash. The discus throw is held on the second day of the competition, serving as the second event of Day 2 and the seventh event overall, following the 110 metre hurdles.

Explanation

Indian race walker Manju Rani won the bronze medal in the women's category at the 2023 Asian 20 km Race Walking Championships held in Nomi, Japan.

Explanation

Kanuma is a highly significant and widely celebrated festival in Andhra Pradesh, occurring on the third day of the four-day Makar Sankranti harvest festival. On this day, farmers and families express their gratitude to cattle and agricultural animals for their essential role in farming. The cattle are beautifully decorated, worshipped, and fed special food, reflecting the deep connection between agriculture and rural culture in the state.

Explanation

The second annual session of the Indian National Congress was held in Calcutta in December 1886. The session was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji and marked a significant growth in the nationalist movement, with the participation of 436 delegates from different parts of India. During this session, the Indian Association, led by Surendranath Banerjee, merged with the Indian National Congress, consolidating the national political platform.

Explanation

Yamini Krishnamurthy is an eminent exponent of the Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi classical dance forms. In recognition of her exceptionally distinguished service and lifelong contribution to the field of performing arts, she was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in the year 2016. She had also previously been honoured with the Padma Shri in 1968 and the Padma Bhushan in 2001.