General Awareness PYQs

The correct answer is Flute.

Key Points

• Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia:-
• He is an Indian flautist and a prominent figure in the Hindustani classical music tradition.
• Renowned as the "Wizard of the Flute," Chaurasia has captivated audiences worldwide with his mastery of the bansuri, a simple bamboo flute.
• Under the tutelage of renowned flautist Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi, Chaurasia honed his skills for eight years, developing a unique style that blended traditional techniques with his own innovative flair.
• Acknowledged for his exceptional contributions to Hindustani classical music, Chaurasia has received numerous accolades from the Government of India.
• He was bestowed the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2000.
• His achievements have also earned him prestigious awards such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Dada Saheb Phalke Award, and Padma Shri.

Additional Information

• Veena:-
• The veena is the oldest of the three instruments, and it is thought to have been invented over 5,000 years ago.
• It is a versatile instrument that can be used to play a wide variety of music, from devotional hymns to folk songs to complex ragas.
• The veena has a large, hollow body that is made of wood or gourd, and it has four main strings that are played with a metal plectrum.
• Sitar:-
• The sitar is a more recent invention, dating back to the 16^th century.
• It is a popular instrument in Hindustani classical music, and it is known for its distinctive sound, which is characterized by its use of sympathetic strings.
• The sitar has a long, narrow neck with a gourd resonator at the top, and it has four main strings and up to 20 sympathetic strings.
• Sarod:-
• The sarod is another popular instrument in Hindustani classical music, and it is known for its rich, deep sound.
• The sarod is similar to the sitar in many ways, but it has a shorter neck and a different tuning.
• The sarod has four main strings and up to 15 sympathetic strings.

The correct answer is Kathak.

Key Points

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi recognizes eight classical dance in India.
• Kathak dance is originated from Uttar Pradesh.
• | Dances | Origin | Main Reviving Personals | Famous Proponents | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bharatnatyam | Tamil Nadu | E. Krishna Iyer, Rukmini devi Arundale | Yamini Krishnamurthy, Lakshmi Vishwanathan, Padma Subramaniam, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Mallika Sarabhai | | Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh | Balasaraswati, Ragini devi | Radha Reddy And Raja Reddy, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Indrani Rehman | | Kathakali | Kerala | V. N. Menon | Guru Kunchu Kurup, Gopinath, Kottakal Sivaraman, Rita Ganguly | | Odissi | Odisha | Indrani Rehman, Charles Fabri | Guru Pankaj Charan Das, Kelu Charan Mohapatra, Sonal Mansingh, Sharon Lowen, MYrla Barvie | | Manipuri | Manipur | Raja bhag Chandra, Rabindranath Tagore | Nayana, Suverna, Ranjana and Darshna, Guru Bipin Singha | | Kathak | Uttar Pradesh | Lady Leela Sokhey | Birju Maharaj, Lacchu Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Damyanti Joshi | | Sattriya | Assam | Shankaradeva | - | | Mohiniattam | Kerala | V. N. Menon, kalayani Amma | Sunanda Nair, Kalamandalam kshmavathy, Madhuri Amma, Jayaprabha Menon |

The correct answer is Bharatanatyam.

Key Points

• Rama Vaidyanathan:-
• She is an Akademi Award winner for Bharatanatyam.
• She is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and teacher from India.
• She has been recognized for her exceptional contributions to this classical dance form and has received numerous accolades, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2017, the Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2011, and the Kalashree from the Government of Kerala in 2013.

The correct answer is Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

Key Points

• The Great Bath:
• It was indeed found in Mohenjo-daro, one of the major cities of the Harappan civilization.
• Located in present-day Sindh, Pakistan, Mohenjo-daro was discovered in the 1920s and is considered one of the most significant archaeological sites of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• The Great Bath's construction reflects the advanced engineering skills of the Harappans.
• It was constructed using finely baked bricks, coated with a layer of plaster to prevent water seepage.
• To further ensure watertightness, a layer of natural tar, also known as bitumen, was applied.
• This meticulous construction technique ensured that the Great Bath could hold a substantial amount of water, making it a remarkable feat of engineering for its time.

The correct answer is 7.32m.

Key Points

• Football:-
• It is also known as association football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field.
• The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by kicking the ball into the other team's goal.
• Players can use any part of their body except their hands and arms to move the ball around the field.
• The only player who is allowed to use their hands is the goalkeeper, who can only do so within their penalty area.
• The distance between the goalposts is 7.32 meters (8 yards).
• The goalposts are upright and rectangular in shape, with a width and depth of 12 centimeters (5 inches).
• The lower edge of the crossbar is 2.44 meters (8 feet) above the ground.

The correct answer is 1830s.

Key Points

• Robert Brown:-
• He published a paper highlighting the presence of a nucleus in plant cells in 1833.
• The paper, titled "Observations on the Organs and Mode of Fecundation in Orchideae and Asclepiadaceae", was presented to the Linnean Society of London in 1831 and published in the Transactions of the Linnean Society in 1833.
• In this paper, Brown described a small, dense structure that he observed in the cells of orchids and other plants.
• He named this structure the "nucleus", and his observations helped to lay the foundation for the cell theory.

The correct answer is 1 - c, 2 - b, 3 - a.

Key Points

• Gujarat:
• The percentage of the population below the poverty line in Gujarat is 16.63%.
• This relatively higher percentage indicates that despite being a developed state in many areas, Gujarat still had a significant portion of its population living below the poverty line during the period of 2011-12.
• Haryana:
• Haryana had 11.16% of its population below the poverty line.
• This percentage reflects Haryana's economic condition, where a moderate portion of the population was struggling with poverty during the given period.
• Himachal Pradesh:
• Himachal Pradesh had the lowest percentage among the three states, with 8.06% of its population below the poverty line.
• This indicates that Himachal Pradesh had a relatively smaller proportion of its population living in poverty compared to Gujarat and Haryana during 2011-12.

The correct answer is Hirapur. 

Key Points

• Indian Iron and Steel Company:- 
• The Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO) set up its first factory in Hirapur, West Bengal.
• The factory was established in 1918 and was later renamed Burnpur.
• It is now a subsidiary of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
• It has a crude steel production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year.
• It produces a wide range of steel products, including pig iron, billets, blooms, slabs, and rolled sections.

The correct answer is Lord Dalhousie.

Key Points

• Lord Dalhousie:-
• He became Governor-General of India in 1849, was the proponent of rapid railway construction.
• Dalhousie proposed a network of four main trunk lines that would link the interior of the country with the big ports and interconnect the different parts of erstwhile British India.
• He laid down the first railway line connecting Bombay and Thane in 1853.
• Important events when Dalhousie was Governor-General:
• Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49)
• The annexation of Lower Burma (1852)
• Introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse
• Wood’s Despatch 1854
• Establishment of PWD

Additional Information 

• The British also established a modern postal system and introduced the telegraph.
• The first telegraph line from Calcutta to Agra was opened in 1853.
• Lord Dalhousie introduced postage stamps.
• He also cut down postal rates and charged a uniform rate.

The correct answer is SiO2 and Al2O3.

Key Points

• Granite:-
• Granite is a type of intrusive igneous rock that is formed when magma cools and solidifies underground.
• It is one of the most common rocks in the Earth's crust, and it is found in all continents.
• Granite is a hard, durable, and strong rock that is often used as a building material.
• SiO₂ (silicon dioxide) and Al₂O₃ (alumina) are the major components of granite.
• SiO₂ makes up about 60-75% of granite, while Al₂O₃ makes up about 10-20%. The remaining 5-15% of granite is made up of other minerals, such as feldspar, quartz, and mica.

The correct answer is Rajiv Kumar.

Key Points

• Rajiv Kumar:-
• He is a distinguished Indian civil servant who currently serves as the 25^th Chief Election Commissioner of India.
• He is a highly experienced and respected public figure with a long and illustrious career spanning over four decades.
• Rajiv Kumar joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1984 and served in various capacities in the Bihar/Jharkhand cadre.
• He has held key positions in the state and central governments.

Additional Information

• Anup Chandra Pandey:-
• He is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1984 batch belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
• Pandey had also served as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, in addition to serving as the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh, before retiring on 31 August 2019.
• He was a Member, National Green Tribunal Oversight Committee, U.P before joining Election Commission.
• Sushil Chandra:-
• He is an esteemed Indian civil servant who served as the 24^th Chief Election Commissioner of India from April 2021 to May 2022.
• Prior to that, he held the position of Election Commissioner of India from February 2019 to April 2021.
• Throughout his illustrious career, he has made significant contributions to the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• Arun Goel:-
• He is an accomplished Indian civil servant who currently serves as the Election Commissioner of India.
• He is a highly respected and experienced administrator with a distinguished career spanning over three decades.
• Throughout his tenure, he has made significant contributions to various sectors, including urban development, culture, heavy industries, and election administration.

The correct answer is Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu.

Key Points

• Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu:-
• He was a renowned social reformer and writer, played a pivotal role in pioneering the movement for widow remarriage and girls' education in the Andhra region of India.
• He is widely regarded as the "Father of the Telugu Renaissance Movement" for his transformative efforts to uplift society.
• In 1881, Veeresalingam boldly organized and performed the first widow remarriage in Andhra Pradesh, defying the staunch opposition of conservative elements.
• This groundbreaking event marked a turning point in the movement for social reform.
• Veeresalingam established schools for girls, advocating for their education and emphasizing the importance of literacy for women's empowerment. He also founded the "Hithakarini School" in 1908, a residential school specifically for girls.

Additional Information

• Chembeti Sridharalu Naidu:-
• He was a prominent social reformer and writer in the Telugu-speaking region of India. He was born in 1826 in the village of Chembeti, near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh.
• He was educated at a local school and then went on to study law in Madras.
• Sree Narayana Guru:-
• He was a renowned philosopher, social reformer, and spiritual leader in India.
• He played a pivotal role in advocating for social justice, equality, and spiritual enlightenment, particularly in the caste-ridden society of Kerala.
• His life and teachings continue to inspire and guide people worldwide.
• Chakravarti Rajagopalachari:-
• He was popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., was a prominent Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activist.
• He held various positions of power, including Governor-General of India, Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, Governor of West Bengal, and Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union.

The correct answer is Real Flow is more than money flow.

Key Points

• In a two-sector economy:-
• Real flow refers to the physical movement of goods and services between households and firms, while money flow refers to the monetary payments made for these goods and services.
• In a closed economy without savings or investment, real flow and money flow are always equal.
• This is because the total value of goods and services produced (real flow) must be equal to the total amount of money spent on those goods and services (money flow).

Additional Information

• Total production is equal to total consumption:-
• This is because, in a closed economy without savings or investment, all goods and services produced are eventually consumed.
• Factor payment is equal to factor income:-
• This is because factor payments are the payments made to households for their factors of production (land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship), and factor income is the income that households receive from these factors.
• Consumption expenditure is equal to factor income:- This is because in a closed economy without savings or investment, all income is eventually spent on consumption.

Key Points

• Viruses:-
• These are incredibly tiny, infectious particles that can only reproduce inside living cells.
• They are much smaller than bacteria and can only be seen with an electron microscope.
• Viruses are made up of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid.
• Some viruses also have an envelope, which is a layer of fat and protein that surrounds the capsid. The genetic material inside the virus contains the instructions for making new viruses.
• The diameter size range of viruses varies greatly, from about 20 nanometers (nm) to 500 nm.
• For comparison, a human hair is about 100,000 nm wide.
• Some common viruses and their sizes:-
• | Virus | Size (nm) | | --- | --- | | Hepatitis C virus | 30-50 | | Influenza virus | 80-120 | | HIV | 100-120 | | Ebola virus | 80-100 | | SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) | 60-140 |

The correct answer is Indra.

Key Points

• Indra:-
• The god Indra acquires the epithet "Lord of the Plough" in the later Vedic period.
• This epithet reflects the increasing importance of agriculture in Vedic society during this time.
• Indra was already associated with rain and fertility, so it was natural for him to also become associated with the tools of agriculture.

Additional Information

• Varuna:-
• It is the god of the sky, waters, and the cosmic order. He is the upholder of morality and justice.
• He is often depicted as a man with four arms, riding a white elephant.
• Brahma:-
• It is the god of creation. He is the one who brought the universe into existence.
• He is often depicted as a four-faced man with a white beard.
• Vishnu:-
• It is the god of preservation. He is the one who maintains the balance of the universe.
• He is often depicted as a man with four arms, holding a conch shell, a chakra, a mace, and a lotus flower.

The correct answer is Allen's Rule.

Key Points

• Allen's rule:-
• It is an ecogeographical rule that states that endothermic animals living in colder climates tend to have shorter appendages (limbs, tails, ears, etc.) and a more compact body shape than those living in warmer climates.
• This is because a smaller surface area to volume ratio minimizes heat loss in cold environments.
• For example, polar bears have shorter ears and legs than brown bears, which live in warmer climates. This allows them to conserve body heat more effectively in the Arctic.
• Allen's rule is one of several adaptations that help animals survive in cold climates. Other adaptations include thicker fur, a higher metabolic rate, and the ability to store fat.

Additional Information

• Yoda's rule:-
• It (also known as the self-thinning rule or the 3/2 power law) states that in a population of sessile organisms (organisms that cannot move), the relationship between the average individual size and the population density is a negative power law with a slope of -3/2.
• Jordan's rule:-
• It states that the number of vertebrae in fishes increases with latitude. This means that fish found in colder waters tend to have more vertebrae than fish found in warmer waters. This is thought to be an adaptation to help fish conserve body heat in colder temperatures.
• Gloger's rule:-
• It states that in ectotherms (cold-blooded animals), the amount of melanin in the skin is inversely proportional to the temperature of the environment.
• This means that animals that live in colder environments tend to have darker skin than animals that live in warmer environments. This is thought to be an adaptation to help animals absorb more heat from the sun in colder temperatures.

The correct answer is Odissi.

Key Points

• Kelucharan Mohapatra:-
• He was an Indian classical dancer, guru, and exponent of Odissi dance, who is credited with the revival and popularizing of this classical dance form in the 20^th century.
• Mohapatra was immersed in the arts from an early age. He began his dance training under Guru Pankaj Charan Das at the age of seven and later studied with other renowned Odissi masters.
• Mohapatra's contributions to Odissi dance were significant. He expanded the dance's repertoire by incorporating elements from ancient texts and sculptures, and he refined its technique and expression.
• He also played a key role in bringing Odissi to a wider audience, both domestically and internationally. His performances were praised for their grace, energy, and spirituality.

Additional Information 8 classical dance forms of India:

The correct answer is Acharya Devvrat.

Key Points

• Acharya Devvrat:-
• He is an Indian politician and former educationalist who is serving as the 20^th Governor of Gujarat since July 21, 2019.
• He previously served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh from August 2015 to July 2019.
• Devvrat is a graduate of Panjab University and holds a diploma in naturopathy from the All India Council for Naturopathy. He is married to Darsana Devi.

Additional Information

• Bhupendra Patel:-
• Bhupendra Patel is the 17^th and current Chief Minister of Gujarat. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was sworn in on September 13, 2022.
• Patel was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, in 1962. He is a businessman and has served as a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly (MLA) since 2012.
• Anandiben Patel:-
• Anandiben Patel was the 16^th and first female Chief Minister of Gujarat. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and served from May 26, 2014, to August 23, 2016.
• Patel was born in Mehsana, Gujarat, India, in 1947. She is a lawyer and has served as a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly (MLA) since 1998.
• Banwarilal Purohit:-
• Banwarilal Purohit is the 15^th Finance Commission of India. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was appointed to the commission on January 1, 2022.
• Purohit was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, in 1950. He is a chartered accountant and has served in various government positions, including as Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs.

The correct answer is Sanskritised Malayalam.

Key Points

• Kathakali:-
• Kathakali is a form of classical Indian dance-drama which originated in the present-day state of Kerala during the 17^th century and has developed over the years.
• It is performed by elaborately costumed male artists who tell stories through their facial expressions, hand gestures, and stylized body movements.
• The art form is traditionally performed in Sanskrit-based Malayalam, although modern performances may include other languages.
• The vocal performance of Kathakali is known as geet or sopanam. It is performed by a group of trained singers who are positioned off-stage and accompany the dancers with their singing.
• The singers sing the lyrics of the play, which are in the form of verses that are metered and lyrical.
• The singing is synchronized with the dance-acting on the stage, and the vocalists help to set the context and express the inner state of the character by modulating their voice.
• For example, anger is expressed by the use of a sharp high voice and pleading is expressed by the use of a sad tone. Music is also central to a Kathakali performance. It sets the mood and triggers emotions resonant with the nature of the scene.

The correct answer is 1 - b, 2 - a, 3 - c, 4 - d.

Key Points

• Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary:-
• It is located in the state of Maharashtra. It is home to a variety of animals, including the Indian tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and sambar.
• The sanctuary is also home to a number of birds, including the Indian grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, and Indian roller.
• Guindy National Park:-
• It is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is home to a variety of animals, including the spotted deer, blackbuck, Indian muntjac, and wild boar.
• The park is also home to a number of birds, including the Indian roller, common myna, and Indian grey hornbill.
• Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary:-
• It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is home to a variety of animals, including the tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and chital.
• The sanctuary is also home to a number of birds, including the Indian grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, and Indian roller.
• Kaziranga National Park:-
• It is located in the state of Assam. It is home to the Indian rhinoceros, as well as a variety of other animals, including the tiger, elephant, and wild boar.
• The park is also home to a number of birds, including the greater adjutant stork, oriental darter, and Pallas's fish eagle.