General Awareness PYQs

The correct answer is Jhootha Sach – Yashpal

Key Points

• Jhootha Sach – Yashpal
• ​This pair is Correct.
• Jhootha Sach (translated as False Truth) is indeed written by Yashpal.
• This novel is one of the important works in Hindi literature,
• It reflects the struggle of people during the Indian independence movement and the post-independence period.
• The novel explores the disillusionment that people faced in the post-independence period in India.

Additional Information

• Tamas – Shrilal Shukla
• This is incorrect.
• The novel Tamas was written by Bhisham Sahani, not Shrilal Shukla.
• Tamas is a powerful novel that portrays the violence and chaos during the partition of India in 1947.
• The novel's focus is on how religious and social divisions led to brutal conflicts during the partition period.
• Maila Anchal – Bhisham Sahani
• This is incorrect.
• Maila Anchal (translated as The Soiled Breeze) was written by Phanishwar Nath Renu, not Bhisham Sahani.
• Renu is well-known for his depiction of rural India in his writing.
• Maila Anchal deals with the lives of rural communities in Bihar, capturing the simplicity, struggles, and joys of their existence.
• It is a significant work in Hindi literature that reflects the socio-political issues of the time.
• Chitralekha – Phanishwar Nath Renu
• This is incorrect.
• Chitralekha was actually written by Ravindra Kiran (also known as R.K. Laxman) and is not a work of Phanishwar Nath Renu.
• The novel deals with themes of love, spirituality, and the complexities of human desires.
• It is set against the backdrop of ancient Indian culture and is a philosophical exploration of human life.

The correct answer is 1975.

Key Points

• India won the first World Cup title in Hockey in 1975, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• In the final match, India defeated Pakistan by 2-1 to lift the trophy.
• This was a historic moment for Indian hockey as it marked the first time that India had won a major international tournament in 15 years.
• The captain of the Indian team at that time was Ajit Pal Singh, who led the team to victory and was also awarded the Player of the Tournament title.

Additional Information

• In 1971, India won the the bronze medal, Lost to West Germany in the semi-finals, but defeated France in the bronze medal match.
• India did not win the World Cup title in 1982.
• In fact, India did not even qualify for the 1982 World Cup, which was held in Mumbai, India.

Achievements:

• World Cup: Won their only title in 1975.
• Olympics: Hold a record eight gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980).
• Asian Games: Won 4 gold medals, 9 Silver medals, 3 Bronze medals
• Commonwealth Games: Won 3 Silver medals (2010*, 2014, 2022) and 2 times fourth place (1998, 2018)

Current Status:

• Ranked 5^th in the world by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
• Facing challenges like lack of infrastructure and funding, but also has a strong youth development program.

The correct answer is Kochi.

Key Points The  ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’:

• Kochi port is known as the 'Queen of Arabian Sea' as it was an important trade center for species on the western coast of India from the 14^th century.
• Occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503, Kochi was the first of the European colonies in colonial India.
• Kochi:
• It is a part of the Ernakulam district.
• Kochi was the first of the European colonies in Colonial India.
• It remained the main seat of Portuguese until 1530.
• It is called the Judicial Capital of Kerala as the High Court of Kerala is situated here.

Additional Information​

The correct answer is the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare 

Key Points

• The Sahakar Pragya Initiative is an important program introduced by India's Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
• It aims to promote and strengthen the cooperative movement in the country.
• The initiative focuses on creating awareness about the cooperative sector and its potential for socio-economic development.
• It includes training programs, workshops, seminars, and capacity-building initiatives to empower cooperative societies and their members.

Additional Information

• Sahakar Pragya Initiative: Objectives
• To train the cooperative societies in rural areas with 45 new training modules with the support of
• NCDC Schemes
• 1000 Farmers Producer Organizations
• Dairy Infrastructure Development Scheme
• Fisheries Infrastructure Development Scheme
• Agriculture Infrastructure Funding Scheme
• Pradhan Mantri Matasya Sampada Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro food Processing Enterprise (PMFME) Program
• To educate the farmers about agricultural management using Primary Cooperatives.
• To strengthen the cooperative sector and make it capable of shielding the farmers from unfair trade practices and unscrupulous traders.
• To enhance the training capacity of NCDC by establishing 18 Regional Training Centers.
• To educate and make the farmer community self-aware and self-sufficient to make the rural economy sustainable and aatmanirbhar.

The correct answer is Nagaland

Key Points

• According to the 2011 Census of India, Nagaland had no Scheduled Caste (SC) population.
• The 2011 Census of India recorded no SC population in Nagaland.
• Nagaland is the only state in India that recorded a negative population growth rate of -0.58%.
• The total population of Nagaland in 2011 was 1,980,602

Additional Information

The correct answer is 1850

Key Points

• The Lex Loci Act of 1850 was passed by the British government of India, allowing converts to Christianity to inherit their ancestral property.
• This law was passed to make it easier for Indians to convert to Christianity.
• The Lex Loci Act of 1850 allowed Hindus who converted to Christianity to inherit their ancestral property.
• Before this law was passed, it was not permitted for converts to inherit ancestral property.
• Some people felt that the law went against Hindu religious law of property.
• In 1830, Christian missionaries were allowed to own land and property, and to operate freely in the East India Company's territories.

Additional Information

• The new Act allowed Hindus who converted from the Hindu religion to another religion equal rights under the new law, especially in the case of inheritance.
• The Caste Disabilities Removal Act, of 1850 was passed to make the conversion to Christianity easier.
• This law allowed an Indian who had converted to Christianity to inherit the property of his ancestors.
• Many Indians began to feel that the British were destroying their religion, their social customs, and their traditional way of life.
• There were of course other Indians who wanted to change existing social practices.

The correct answer is Magadha

Key Points

• According to historical records, Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada after a prolonged conflict for supremacy among the various kingdoms
• For many years**, Pataliputra was the capital of** Magadha.
• The kingdom was bounded by the Ganges in the north, river Champa in the east, and river Son in the west.
• According to ancient texts, Brihadratha was the earliest known ruler of Magadha.
• The kingdom was also ruled by King Bimbisara, under whom Magadha flourished.
• Great Indian empires including the famous Maurya Dynasty originated in Magadha.
• Gautama Buddha spent much of his life in Magadha, hence the region is believed to hold great significance to Buddhists.

Additional Information

• Gandhara:-
• This great kingdom was served graciously by the river Indus and its capital Taksashila (Taxila) housed the renowned center of learning, the ‘Taksashila University.’
• Scholars came to the university from all over the world in order to seek greater knowledge and wisdom.
• Kosala:-
• The kingdom of Kosala was located close to the kingdom of Magadha.
• With Ayodhya as its capital, Kosala was bound by the river Ganges in the south, river Gandak in the east, and the Himalaya mountains in the north.
• Vamsa / Vatsa:-
• Considered to be an offshoot of the Kurus, the kingdom of Vatsa or Vamsa was roughly situated at the location of modern-day Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.
• The capital city was known as Kaushambi, which was a prosperous city.

The correct answer is Sunetra Gupta

Key Points

• Sunetra Gupta has written several other novels, including The Glassblower's Breath and A Sin of Colour.
• She has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Sahitya Akademi Award.
• In addition to her literary achievements, Gupta is also recognized for her contributions to science, particularly in the field of infectious disease research.
• Her writing is often praised for its rich, poetic language and deep psychological insight.

Additional Information

The correct answer is a paired barrel-shaped organelle located in the cytoplasm of animal cells near the nuclear envelope

Key Points

• A centriole is a barrel-shaped organelle found in animal cells,
• It primarily responsible for organizing microtubules and playing a crucial role in cell division by forming the poles of the mitotic spindle
• It is typically located near the nucleus within a structure called the centrosome.
• It is Composed of nine sets of microtubule triplets arranged in a cylindrical pattern.

Additional Information

• In the context of cell biology, an "organelle" refers to a specialized structure within a cell that performs a specific function, essentially acting like a tiny organ within the cell, with examples including the nucleus (which stores DNA), mitochondria (which produce energy), and the endoplasmic reticulum (involved in protein synthesis).
• Each organelle has a dedicated task to contribute to the overall function of the cell, similar to how organs in a body have specific roles.
• Examples of organelles:
• Nucleus: Stores genetic material (DNA) and controls cellular activities.
• **Mitochondria: "**Powerhouse of the cell," produces energy in the form of ATP.
• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): A network of membranes involved in protein synthesis and lipid production.
• Golgi apparatus: Modifies and packages proteins for transport within the cell.
• Lysosomes: Contain enzymes to break down waste materials.
• Ribosomes: Small structures responsible for protein synthesis.

The correct answer is TH Vinayakram.

Key Points

• T H Vinayakram (also known as Vikku Vinayakram) is a legendary ghatam player who use clay pot percussion instrument in the Indian classical music.
• He is known as the "God of Ghatam".
• His was honoured with prestigious awards like the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• Carnatic music originates in south India back over 2000 years.
• Some of the most revered composers in Carnatic music include: Tyagaraja (1767–1847), Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835), Syama Sastri (1762–1827), Papanasam Sivan (1890–1973), Swathi Thirunal (1813-1846).
• The primary elements of music are: Raga, Tala, Kriti.
• Carnatic music features several instruments.

Some of the main ones include: Veena, Mridangam, Violin, Flute, Ghatam

Additional Information

The correct answer is Uttar Pradesh

Key Points

• According to the Census of India 2011, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of Hindu population among the options provided.
• On the basis of religion, the population in 2011 was Hindu 79.73 percent, Muslim 19.26 percent, Sikh 0.32 percent, Christian 0.18 percent, Jain 0.11 percent, Buddhist 0.10 percent and others 0.30 percent.
• The state's literacy rate was 67.7 percent, lower than the national average of 74 percent.
• The literacy rate for males is 79 percent and that of females is 59 percent.
• The sex ratio in 2011 was 908 females to 1000 males, which is lower than the national figure of 933.

Additional Information

Census 2011

• The Indian Census is the most credible source of information on Demography (Population characteristics), Economic Activity, Literacy and Education, Housing Household Amenities, Urbanisation, Fertility and Mortality, etc.
• Census 2011 was the 15^th National Census of the Country.
• Census was introduced in India during the era of Lord Mayo in the year 1872. It came into force in 1881.
• This census was conducted under the guidance of Mr. C. Chandramouli.
• The slogan of census 2011 was ‘Our Census, Our future’.
• The population of the nation as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 was 1210.19 million of which 623.7 million (51.54%) were males and 586.46 million (48.46%) were females. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India its population is more than the population of Brazil.

The correct answer is Sudhir Singh

Key Points

• In 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended several names for elevation to the Supreme Court, and the President cleared these appointments.
• However, Sudhir Singh was not one of the judges appointed to the Supreme Court from that list.
• Sudhir Singh is a respected advocate who has been part of several high-profile cases in Indian courts.
• He has been involved in shaping public law discourse and has represented clients in cases of national importance.

Additional Information

• The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 Judges.
• With both the Executive and Judiciary, in their own ways, highlighting the importance of filling the judicial vacancies, finally there is some good news in this regard. In exercise of the powers conferred under Art. 124 (2) of the Constitution, the President of India gave her seal of approval to the appointment of 5 Judges to the Supreme Court, thus paving way for elevation of 3 High Court Chief Justices and 2 High Court Judges.
• The Ministry of Law and Justice notified the appointment of the following Chief Justices and Judges who were recommended for elevation by the Supreme Court Collegium in December 2022
• Shri Justice Pankaj Mithal, - Chief Justice- Rajasthan High Court Shri
• Justice Sanjay Karol,- Chief Justice-Patna High Court
• Shri Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar- Chief Justice- -Manipur High Court
• Shri Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Judge, Patna High Court,
• Shri Justice Manoj Misra, Judge, Allahabad High Court

The correct answer is Linda Fruhvirtova

Key Points

• Linda Fruhvirtova won the 2022 Chennai Open WTA 250 tennis singles title.
• The 17-year-old Czech tennis player beat Magda Linette of Poland in the final.
• The 2022 Chennai Open was held at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam.
• Fruhvirtova came back from a set down to beat Linette 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
• Fruhvirtova was also down a break in the third set, but won the next four games.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Kamakhya temple

Key Points

• Ambubachi Mela (Fair):-
• It is held in Kamakhya temple, which is located in Guwahati, Assam.
• The fair is celebrated during the monsoon season, usually in the month of June or July, and marks the annual menstruation of the goddess Kamakhya.
• During the fair, the temple remains closed for three days, and devotees are not allowed to worship the deity.
• After three days, the temple is reopened, and devotees offer prayers and seek blessings.
• The fair attracts a large number of devotees from all over India and abroad, and is considered one of the most important festivals in North-East India.

Additional Information

The correct answer is 400 meters Race

Key Points

• Hurdles are used in the 110-meter and 400-meter races in the sport of athletics.
• Both races are Olympic events
• 400-meter hurdles
• This race is open to both men and women.
• The hurdles are 91.4 cm high for men and 76.2 cm high for women.

Additional Information

• 110-meter hurdles
• This race is open to both men and women.
• The hurdles are 107 cm high in this race.
• In both races, the hurdles are placed at intervals across the running lanes.
• The runners must jump over the hurdles before reaching the finish line.
• Another track and field event that involves hurdles is the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
• This race includes 28 hurdles and seven water jumps.

The correct answer is original inventor

Key Points

• The species that invade barren areas are called pioneer /original species.
• They are the first organisms to colonize a disturbed or newly created environment.
• Pioneer species are hardy and adaptable organisms that can tolerate harsh conditions.
• They are often plants, fungi, or lichens.
• They reproduce and grow quickly, allowing them to take advantage of resources before larger competitors arrive.
• They play a vital role in the ecosystem by improving soil quality and modifying the climate.
• They pave the way for other species to establish themselves.

Additional Information

• Pioneer species are involved in primary and secondary succession.
• Primary succession occurs when no plant life is present, such as after a glacial retreat or lava flow.
• Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance like a flood, fire, or human activities.

The correct answer is Industrial and commercial buildings

Key Points

• Fortified citadels were not a common feature of Harappan cities.
• Harappan cities, also known as Indus Valley cities, were well-planned and featured a grid pattern, streets, drainage systems, and brick houses.
• The Indus Valley Civilization was spread from present-day North-East Afghanistan to Pakistan and North-West India.
• The civilization flourished in the river basins of the Ghaggar-Hakra river and the Indus.
• Indus valley civilization is one of the four oldest civilizations in the world.

Additional Information

• Name of the major cities are given below:
• Mohenjodaro (Sind)-It is located on the right bank of the Indus.
• Kalibangan (Rajasthan)-It was on the banks of the river Ghaggar river.
• Chanhudaro - It lies on the left bank of the Indus in the south of Mohenjodaro.
• Lothal(Gujarat) - It is located at the head of the Gulf of Cambay.
• Surkotada (Gujarat) - It is at the head of the Rann of Kutch.
• Banawali (Haryana) - It was situated on the banks of the now-extinct Sarasvati.
• Dholavira (Gujarat) - It excavated is in the Kutch district.
• Social features-
• Indus valley civilization is the first urbanization in India.
• It has a well-planned drainage system, grid pattern, and town planning.
• They have possessed equality in society.
• Religious Facts-
• Matridevi or Shakti is the Mother goddess.
• Yoni worship and Nature worship existed.
• They worshipped trees like Peepal.
• People also worshipped Fire worship called Havan Kund.
• Pashupati Mahadeva is known as the lord of Animals.
• The people of Indus Valley Civilization worshipped Animal worship like Unicorn and ox.

The correct answer is National Highways

Key Points

• In India, National Highways generally carry the highest road traffic among the options listed.
• National Highways connect major cities across the country and are designed to handle large volumes of traffic, making them the busiest road type compared to District Roads, Border Roads, or State Highways.
• The letter NH is used to identify national highways, followed by the highway number.
• The width of the carriageway determines the further classification of Indian national highways.
• India has the following kinds of national highways:
• Single-lane highway
• Double-lane highway
• Four-lane highway
• Six-lane highway
• Eight-lane highway
• The organizations in charge of building, maintaining, and overseeing India’s national highway system are the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Additional Information

• Types of Roads in India
• With India’s continuous push for infrastructure development, road connectivity and surface transport in India are at their highest levels.
• A road network of over 63.73 lakh kilometres has already made India 2^nd in the world, narrowly behind the US.
• Roads are necessary for the movement of commodities and for transportation.
• The much-needed connectivity between states, cities, towns, and villages is provided by various types of highways.
• It has been essential to the social, cultural, and economic advancement of our country.
• The location, utility, and availability of materials determine the kind of road that can be found in an area.
• There are seven different types of roads in India, as listed below, each with a specific function.
• Expressways
• State Highways
• District Roads
• Village Roads
• Border Roads
• International Highways

The correct answer is sp

Key Points

• In acetylene (C2H2), the hybridization of carbon atoms is sp.
• In acetylene, the carbon atoms are connected by a triple bond, consisting of one sigma bond and two pi bonds.
• To form the linear structure of acetylene and accommodate the triple bond, each carbon atom undergoes sp hybridization.
• The sp hybridization involves mixing one s orbital and one p orbital, leaving two unhybridized p orbitals that form the two pi bonds.
• The bond angle in sp hybridization is 180°, giving acetylene its linear shape.

Additional Information

• Hybridization is the process of combining carbon atom's atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals.
• These hybrid orbitals have different shapes and energies than the original orbitals.
• Benefits of hybridization
• Hybridization allows carbon to form strong sigma bonds, which contributes to the structural integrity of organic compounds.
• Hybridization gives carbon the flexibility to form a variety of geometries and chemical and physical properties.

The correct answer is The Year of the Runaways

Key Points

• The Year of the Runaways
• 'The Year of the Runaways is Sunjeev Sahota's second book, and he is a British novelist.
• After being released in June 2015, it was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize and received the 2017 European Union Prize for Literature (for the UK).
• The book follows the lives of three migrant workers who flee India to look for work in England.
• The plot of the book centres on the interactions between three young men and one woman over the period of four seasons, during which their aspirations, physical capabilities, and religious beliefs are tested.
• The Year of the Runaways was ranked among the top 12 Indian novels by Emma Lee-Potter of The Independent in 2020.

Additional Information