General Awareness PYQs

The correct answer is Joule, Calorie, Kilowatt hour

Key Points

• The option that represents only units of energy is Joule, Calorie, Kilowatt hour.
• Joule (J) is the standard unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI).
• Calorie (cal) is a unit of energy commonly used to measure heat energy.
• Kilowatt hour (kWh) is another common unit of energy used to measure electrical energy consumption.

Additional Information Other units

The correct answer is National Waterway No.6

Key Points

• National Waterway No. 6 is a national waterway in India.
• It is built on the Barak River.
• The National Waterways Act of 2016 declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the development and maintenance of these waterways.
• The National Waterways are an economical and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Additional Information

• National Waterway 1
• The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System, which runs from Prayagraj to Haldia.
• It is the longest National Waterway in India.
• National Waterway 2
• The Brahmaputra River, which runs from Sadiya to Dhubri in Assam.
• It is important for transporting goods and passengers in the North-Eastern region.
• National Waterway 3
• The West Coast Canal, which runs from Kottapuram to Kollam in Kerala.
• It includes the Champakara and Udyogmandal canals.
• National Waterway 4
• The river Krishna, which runs from Muktiyala to Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.
• It also runs along the Coromandal Coast and connects to the Godavari River.

The correct answer is PT Usha

Key Points

• India’s field star PT Usha was elected unopposed as the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) .
• The IOA executive committee elections, which had an electoral college of 77 members including PT Usha, were supervised by retired Supreme Court judge Justice L Nageswara Rao.
• Apart from being the first woman president of the IOA in its 95-year history,
• PT Usha is also the first Olympian to be appointed as IOA president.

Additional Information

• PT Usha 
• PT Usha is one of India’s most successful track and field athletes.
• She boasts four gold medals and seven silvers at the Asian Games.
• PT Usha missed out on an Olympic medal at the Los Angeles 1984 by a fraction of a second.
• Her timing of 55.42s in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles Olympics still stands as India’s national record.
• On the administrative front, PT Usha was serving as the chairperson of the junior selection committee in the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) before the IOA elections.

The correct answer is Joint Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice.

Key Points

• Ex-officio members of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession include the Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice.
• The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has been constituted under National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021.
• The  National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession Act regulates and maintains standards of education and services for allied and healthcare professionals.
• It oversees the assessment of institutions and maintains both a Central Register and State Registers for these professionals.
• The Act aims to improve access, promote research and development, and encourage the adoption of the latest scientific advancements.
• NCAHP Act covers 56 Allied and Healthcare Professions categorized under 10 broad recognized categories.

The correct answer is Amjad Ali Khan.

Key Points

• Ustad Amjad Ali Khan-
• A distinguished maestro in the field of playing the sarod, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is popularly known as the “Sarod Samrat“.
• He is the sixth generation sarod player in his family.
• He learned from his father Haafiz Ali Khan, who was a court musician in Gwalior up until Independence in 1947.
• He was awarded India's second-highest civilian honor Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
• The name sarod comes from the Persian ‘sarod’ meaning ‘melody’, alluding to its more melodic tone.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Declined significantly

Key Points

• In India, the share of agriculture in the country's GDP decreased dramatically between 1950 and 1990 (from 67.5% to 64.9%), but not the population that depended on it.
• ​A monetary indicator of the market worth of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a certain time period by nations is the gross domestic product (GDP).
• This measurement is frequently reviewed before being regarded as a valid indicator due to its subjective and complicated character. While nominal GDP is more useful for comparing national economies on the global market.
• GDP (nominal) per capita does not account for variations in the cost of living and inflation rates of the various nations.
• The contribution made by each industry or sector of the economy can also be calculated as a percentage of the total GDP.

Additional Information

• Many national and international economic groups keep track of GDP definitions.
• The GDP is defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as "an aggregate measure of production equal to the sum of the gross values added of all resident and institutional units engaged in production and services (plus any taxes, and minus any subsidies on products not included in the value of their outputs)".
• According to an IMF report, "GDP represents the monetary value of final goods and services that are purchased by the final user produced in a country in a certain period of time (say, a quarter or a year)."

The correct answer is mutualism

Key Points

• An interspecific interaction where both members benefit is called mutualism.
• Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species involved gain a positive advantage from their interaction with each other.
• Example:
• Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar - the bees get food and the flowers get pollinated.
• It can be considered obligate or facultative.
• It is also known as interspecific cooperation.

Additional Information

• commensalism
• ​Commensalism is a long-term ecological relationship between two species where one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped.
• Examples of commensalism
• Remora and sharks: Remoras attach themselves to sharks and other fish, allowing them to travel without expending energy swimming. The shark is not affected by the remora.
• Great egrets and grazing mammals: Great egrets eat insects that grazing mammals stir up.
• ​neutralism​
• ​Neutralism is a term used to describe the relationship between two species that interact but do not affect each other.
• In other words, the fitness of one species does not affect the fitness of the othe

The correct answer is Saraswati Veena

Key Points

• Jayanthi Kumaresh is one of the foremost exponents of Saraswati Veena
• Veena is a stringed instrument that has been played in India for centuries.
• It is considered to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world.
• Jayanthi Kumaresh has been playing the Veena since the age of three and has established herself as one of the leading performers of the instrument.
• She has won numerous awards and accolades for her performances and has also collaborated with musicians from different parts of the world.
• Jayanthi Kumaresh has also been actively involved in promoting the Veena and has conducted workshops and masterclasses to teach the instrument to a wider audience.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Two Leaves and a Bud – Mulk Raj Anand

Key Points

• Two Leaves and a Bud – Mulk Raj Anand
• This pair is Correct
• Two Leaves and a Bud is a famous work by Mulk Raj Anand, an Indian writer known for addressing social issues like caste discrimination and exploitation.
• This novel portrays the exploitation of Indian workers in British tea plantations.
• It was Published in 1937
• The novel is set against the backdrop of British colonial rule in India, specifically focusing on the exploitative practices in British-owned tea plantations in Assam.

Additional Information

• The Cat and Shakespeare – Ravindranath Tagore
• This pair is Incorrect
• The Cat and Shakespeare is a philosophical novel written by Raja Rao, not Rabindranath Tagore.
• Raja Rao is one of India's prominent English-language novelists.
• Waiting for Mahatma – Raja Rao
• This pair is Incorrect
• Waiting for Mahatma is written by R. K. Narayan, one of India’s most beloved English-language authors.
• The novel humorously and poignantly explores the influence of Gandhi on an ordinary Indian youth's life.
• The Chess Master and His Moves – R. K. Narayan
• This pair is Incorrect
• The Chess Master and His Moves is written by Raja Rao, not R. K. Narayan.
• It is a complex philosophical novel exploring Indian spiritualism and European rationalism.

The correct answer is Heterotrophs' survival depends directly or indirectly on autotrophs.

Key Points

• The correct statement is Heterotrophs' survival depends directly or indirectly on autotrophs.
• Autotrophs:
• These are organisms (like plants, algae, and some bacteria) that can produce their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
• They are the primary producers in the ecosystem, forming the base of the food chain by converting sunlight or inorganic compounds into energy-rich organic compounds.
• Heterotrophs:
• These are organisms (like animals, fungi, and most bacteria) that cannot produce their own food. Instead, they rely on consuming other organisms—either autotrophs directly (herbivores) or other heterotrophs (carnivores, omnivores).
• Herbivores feed directly on autotrophs (e.g., cows eating grass, deer feeding on plants).
• Some organisms like fungi also decompose dead autotrophs to derive nutrients.

Additional Information

• Animals are autotrophs:
• This is false, animals are heterotrophs as they cannot produce their own food.
• Autotrophs' survival depends directly on heterotrophs:
• This is incorrect, autotrophs can survive independently as they can produce their own food.
• All bacteria are autotrophs:
• This is not true, while some bacteria are autotrophic, many are heterotrophic

The correct answer is Fatehpur Sikri

Key Points

• Temples in Vrindavan, near Mathura, were built in a style similar to the Mughal palaces in Fatehpur Sikri.
• The architecture of the temples in Vrindavan was influenced by the style of the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda.
• Many buildings in Fatehpur Sikri were influenced by the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.
• Mughal rulers were skilled at adapting regional architectural styles in their buildings.

Additional Information

• Akbar build Fatehpur Sikri in honour of Sheikh Salim Chisti.
• It enshrines the burial place of the Sufi saint, Salim Chisti (1478 – 1572), a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, and who lived in a cavern on the ridge at Sikri.
• The mausoleum was constructed by Akbar as a mark of his respect for the Sufi saint.
• Fatehpur Sikri is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India.
• The city itself was founded as the capital of the Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar, serving this role from 1571 to 1585, when Akbar abandoned it due to a campaign in Punjab and was later completely abandoned in 1610.

The correct answer is Sattriya 

Key Points

• Jatin Goswami
• A well-known veteran classical dancer from Assam is Jatin Goswami.
• In 1933, Jatin Goswami was born in Dergaon, Upper Assam.
• Jatin Goswami began his first lesson of Satriya dance at home with the help of his father.
• Later, he received expert gurus' instruction in dance and music on the Vaishnava Satras.
• In order to advance and expand the Satriya dancing style, he also founded a dance group.
• In 1962, the Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Roseswar Saikia Borbayan collaborated to form the dancing group known as Pragati Kala Parishad.
• Jatin Goswami has received numerous recommendations and titles.
• During the Khajuraho Dance Festival, Jatin Goswami was given the National Kalidas Samman, Madhya Pradesh's most prestigious cultural award, for 2017.

Additional Information

• Sangeet Natak Akademi
• Sangeet Natak Akademi, the apex body in the field of performing arts in the country, was formed in 1953.
• It was set up for the preservation and promotion of the vast intangible heritage of India's diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance, and drama.
• The management of the Akademi vests in its General Council.
• Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar Karaikudi was the first to receive the Sahitya Natak Akademi award.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.
• The Sangeet Natak Academy was established on 31 May 1952 by a resolution of the Ministry of Human Resource development.
• The Akademi was officially inaugurated on 28 January 1953 by the first President of India Rajendra Prasad and PV Rajmannar was appointed as its first Chairman.

The correct answer is Thar

Key Points

• The Thar Desert is located in India (Rajasthan) and is also known as the Great Indian Desert.
• The Thar Desert extends between the Aravalli Hills in the northeast and the Rann of Kutch in the west and the alluvial plains of the Indus River in the northwest.
• It is located partly in the Rajasthan state of India and partly in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan.
• The Aravalli Range is the oldest range of fold mountains in India.
• The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat.
• It is one of the largest salt deserts in the world.
• The Black Buck is a species of antelope found mainly in the Thar region.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Pataliputra.

Key Points 

• Mauryan empire lasted from about 321 to 185 BCE.
• Pataliputra was the capital of the Mauryan empire.
• The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor.
• There were five major political centres in the Mauryan empire including the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centres of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali, and Suvarnagiri.

Additional Information

• The third Buddist council was held at Pataliputra.
• Kautilya's Artha-shastra was the most important literary source for the Maurya's.
• Chandragupta Maurya is the founder of the Mauryan dynasty.
• Ashoka was the most famous Mauryan ruler and he was the first ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions.
• Mauryan empire started declining due to the invasions, defections by southern princes after the death of Ashoka.

The correct answer is 2022

Key Points

• The Energy Conservation Amendment Bill, which mandates non-fossil sources of energy and establishes a domestic carbon market in India, was passed in 2022.
• The "Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022" was passed to enable the government to set up a carbon trading system within the country.
• The bill aims to promote the use of renewable energy sources like green hydrogen, biomass, and ethanol.
• It empowers the government to set up a domestic carbon market where companies can trade carbon credits.
• The Act came into force on January 1, 2023

Additional Information

• The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 was the original act aimed at promoting energy efficiency and conservation in India.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was established under this act to implement various policies and programs.
• Energy conservation is crucial for reducing the carbon footprint and combating climate change.
• India has committed to reducing its carbon emissions intensity as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
• The amendment bill is part of India's efforts to meet its climate goals and promote sustainable development.

The correct answer is Velodrome

Key Points

• Velodrome:
• A velodrome is an arena for track cycling.
• Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights.
• The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate easement curve.
• The first velodromes were constructed during the late 1870s, the oldest of which is Preston Park Velodrome, Brighton, United Kingdom, built-in 1877 by the British Army.
• Indoor velodromes were also common, particularly in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

Additional Information

• The important terms used in sports and games

The correct answer is 1966-19969.

Key Points

• The Plan Holidays were decided in the Third Year Five Year Plan. The time period for the third year five year plan was 1961-1966.
• Aim and Objective of the Third Year Five Year Plan: 
• The focus was on agriculture and improvement in the production of wheat.
• States were entrusted with additional development responsibilities. Ex- States were made responsible for secondary and higher education.
• Panchayat elections were introduced to bring democracy to the grassroots level.
• The target growth rate was 5.6% and the actual growth rate only achieved 2.4%.
• This indicated a miserable failure of the Third Plan, and the government had to declare "Plan Holidays" (1966-67, 1967-68, and 1968-69). The Sino-Indian War and the Indo-Pak War, which caused the Third Five Year Plan to fail, were the **primary causes of the plan holidays.**​

Additional Information

• State electricity boards and state secondary education boards were formed. | ‘establishment of a self-reliant and self-generating economy | | Plan Holidays – Annual Plans | 1966-1969 | A new agricultural strategy was implemented. It involved the distribution of high-yielding varieties of seeds, extensive use of fertilizers, exploitation of irrigation potential, and soil conservation measures. | crisis in agriculture and serious food shortage required attention | | Fourth Five year Plan | 1969-1974 | Was ambitious. Failure. Achieved growth of 3.5 percent but was marred by Inflation. The Indira Gandhi government nationalized 14 major Indian banks and the Green Revolution in India advanced agriculture. | ‘growth with stability and progressive achievement of self-reliance Garibi HataoTarget: 5.5 pc | | Fifth Five year Plan | 1974-1979 | High inflation. Was terminated by the Janta govt. Yet, the Indian national highway system was introduced for the first time. | ‘removal of poverty and attainment of self-reliance’ | | Sixth Five year Plan | 1980-1985 | Most targets achieved. Growth: 5.5 pc.Family planning was also expanded in order to prevent overpopulation. | ‘direct attack on the problem of poverty by creating conditions of an expanding economy | | Seventh Five year Plan | 1985-1990 | With a growth rate of 6 pc, this plan was proved successful in spite of severe drought conditions for the first three years consecutively. This plan introduced programs like Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. | Emphasis on policies and programs that would accelerate the growth in foodgrains production, increase employment opportunities and raise productivity | | Annual Plans | 1989-1991 | It was the beginning of privatization and liberalization in India. | No plan due to political uncertainties | | Eighth Five year Plan | 1992-1997 | Partly success. An average annual growth rate of 6.78% against the target of 5.6% was achieved. | Rapid economic growth, high growth of agriculture and allied sector, and the manufacturing sector, growth in exports and imports, improvement in trade, and current account deficit. to undertake an annual average growth of 5.6% | | Ninth Five year Plan | 1997-2002 | It achieved a GDP growth rate of 5.4%, lower than the target. Yet, industrial growth was 4.5% which was higher than the targeted 3%.  The service industry had a growth rate of 7.8%. An average annual growth rate of 6.7% was reached. | Quality of life, generation of productive employment, regional balance, and self-reliance.Growth with social justice and equality. growth target 6.5% |

The correct answer is Canada, USA and Mexico

Key Points

• The 23^rd FIFA World Cup (2026) will be jointly organized by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
• This will be the first time the tournament is hosted by three countries
• It also marks the first time since 1994 that the event is returning to North America.
• The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams, an increase from the 32 teams that have participated in previous tournaments.
• The decision to expand the tournament was made to allow more countries to compete and make the event even more inclusive.

Additional Information

• The FIFA World Cup, often called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body.
• The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War.
• The reigning champions are Argentina, who won their third title at the 2022 tournament by defeating France.
• After FIFA was founded in 1904, it tried to arrange an international football tournament between nations outside the Olympic framework in Switzerland in 1906

The correct answer is Sodium

Key Points

• The element primarily responsible for high blood pressure is sodium.
• Eating too much sodium, which is found in table salt, can directly contribute to increased blood pressure.
• When sodium levels in the blood rise, it can lead to increased water retention
• The atomic number of sodium is 11.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Bhupen Hazarika.

Key Points

• Bhupen Hazarika 
• Bhupen Hazarika, better known by his stage name Xudha kontho, was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, and filmmaker who was born in Assam on September 8, 1926.
• His songs, which he wrote and sang mainly in Assamese, are characterised by humanism and a sense of universal brotherhood.
• They have been translated into various languages and performed, most notably in Bengali and Hindi.
• He is also credited for introducing Assamese and Northeast Indian folk music and culture to Hindi movies on a national scale.
• From December 1998 to December 2003, Hazarika served as the Sangeet Natak Akademi's chairman.
• Awards and Honour
• Padma Shri in 1977
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987
• Bharat Ratna in 2019
• Padma Bhushan in 2001
• Padma Vibhushan in 2012

Additional Information