SSC CGL — Set 28

Correct Answer: B. Ninth Schedule

The Ninth Schedule was introduced to protect land reform laws from judicial review on the ground of violating fundamental rights. It was the first ever addition to the original eight schedules of the Constitution. This amendment was brought under the prime ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Correct Answer: B. Maharana Pratap

Maharana Pratap of Mewar fought the Mughal forces led by Raja Man Singh of Amber at Haldighati. Although the Mughals won the battle, they failed to capture the Rana or consolidate Mewar. The battle is legendary for the bravery of Pratap and his loyal horse Chetak.

Correct Answer: C. Condensation

Condensation occurs when water vapor or any gas cools down and loses energy to become a liquid. This physical process is the reverse of vaporization and is responsible for cloud formation in nature. It involves the release of latent heat into the surrounding environment.

Correct Answer: A. Lipulekh Pass

Lipulekh Pass is a significant Himalayan pass used by pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. It is located in the Vyas Valley of Uttarakhand and serves as a vital trade link with Tibet. The pass has historical importance for regional connectivity between the three nations.

Correct Answer: C. Dayanand Saraswati

Swami Dayanand Saraswati established the Arya Samaj in Bombay to promote the authority of the Vedas. He gave the famous slogan 'Go back to the Vedas' and worked against idol worship and untouchability. His movement played a crucial role in social and educational reforms in North India.

Correct Answer: B. Siemens

Siemens is the unit used to measure how easily electricity flows through a conductor. It is the reciprocal of electrical resistance, which is measured in Ohms. Historically, this unit was also known as the 'mho' before the international adoption of Siemens.

Correct Answer: C. Rigveda

The Rigveda is the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text and consists of 1,028 hymns dedicated to various deities. It provides valuable insights into the social, religious, and political life of the early Aryans. Most of its hymns were composed in the region of Sapta-Sindhu.

Correct Answer: D. Cash, Gold, or Government securities

SLR is the minimum percentage of deposits that a bank must maintain in liquid assets before providing credit. Unlike the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), these assets are kept with the banks themselves, not the RBI. It is used by the central bank to control inflation and credit growth.

Correct Answer: C. Jupiter

Jupiter is a gas giant with a mass more than two and a half times that of all the other planets combined. It is famous for its Great Red Spot, which is a massive storm larger than Earth. Despite its huge size, it has the shortest day of all the planets.

Correct Answer: B. Adrenaline

Adrenaline is secreted by the adrenal glands during high-stress or fearful situations. It quickly increases blood sugar, heart rate, and blood flow to the muscles to prepare for action. This physiological response helps humans react rapidly to perceived threats in their environment.

Correct Answer: C. Pandit Ravi Shankar

Pandit Ravi Shankar won his first Grammy in 1968 for the album 'West Meets East'. He was a world-renowned Sitar maestro who introduced Indian classical music to the Western world. He won multiple Grammys over his career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Correct Answer: C. Article 17

Article 17 forbids the practice of untouchability in any form and makes it a punishable offense by law. It is a significant provision aimed at achieving social equality and dignity for all citizens. This article is absolute and cannot be suspended under any circumstances.

Correct Answer: B. Washing Soda

Washing soda is a white, odorless powder often used as a cleaning agent and for softening hard water. Its chemical formula is Na2CO3 and it is highly soluble in water. It is produced on a large scale using the Solvay process in chemical industries.

Correct Answer: B. Kolkata

Kolkata was named the City of Palaces during the British era due to its grand colonial buildings. Many of these structures, like the Victoria Memorial, reflect Gothic and Baroque architectural styles. While Jaipur is the 'Pink City', Kolkata retains this specific historical epithet.

Correct Answer: C. Greek

Gandhara art is a style of Buddhist visual art that developed in northwestern India with Greek stylistic elements. It is often referred to as Graeco-Buddhist art because it used Greek techniques to represent Indian themes. This fusion resulted in the first human-like statues of the Buddha.

Correct Answer: C. Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to a rise in the Earth's average temperature. It is primarily released through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation activities. This effect is known as the greenhouse effect and is a major environmental concern.

Correct Answer: B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy established the Brahmo Samaj to reform Hindu society and promote monotheism. He worked tirelessly to abolish the practice of Sati and supported women's education and inheritance rights. He is considered the pioneer of modern Indian social and religious movements.

Correct Answer: B. Article 21A

Article 21A makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children aged 6 to 14 years. It was inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002 to ensure universal literacy. The Right to Education (RTE) Act was later passed in 2009 to implement this.

Correct Answer: C. Troposphere

The troposphere is the densest layer and contains nearly all the Earth's weather phenomena like clouds and rain. It extends up to about 8 to 15 kilometers depending on the latitude and season. Temperature in this layer generally decreases as the altitude increases.

Correct Answer: A. 1.5 to 3.5

Gastric juice is highly acidic because it contains Hydrochloric acid (HCl) needed for protein digestion. This low pH also helps in killing bacteria and pathogens that enter the body with food. The stomach lining is protected from this acidity by a thick layer of mucus.

Correct Answer: B. Jahangir

Sir Thomas Roe arrived in 1615 as an ambassador of King James I to the court of Jahangir. He stayed for three years and successfully secured trade concessions for the British East India Company. Jahangir was known for his interest in art and justice during his reign.

Correct Answer: C. Godavari

Godavari is the second longest river in India after the Ganga and is often called the 'Vridha Ganga'. It originates in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. It forms one of the largest river basins in the southern part of the country.

Correct Answer: B. Transport of water

Xylem is a specialized vascular tissue that transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves. It provides structural support to the plant and works through the process of transpiration pull. Unlike phloem, the flow in xylem is primarily unidirectional moving upwards.

Correct Answer: B. New Delhi

The Lalit Kala Akademi, also known as the National Academy of Art, was established in 1954 in New Delhi. It is an autonomous organization funded by the Ministry of Culture to promote visual arts. It provides scholarships and organizes national exhibitions to encourage Indian artists.

Correct Answer: B. Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie used the Doctrine of Lapse to annex several Indian states whose rulers died without a natural heir. Famous states annexed under this policy included Satara, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, and most notably, Jhansi. This policy was one of the major causes of the Indian Revolt of 1857.

Correct Answer: C. Karatmeter

A Karatmeter is an X-ray fluorescence-based device used to accurately measure the gold content in ornaments. It determines the purity without damaging the item by analyzing the reflected X-ray spectrum. This technology is widely used by jewelers to verify hallmarked gold.

Correct Answer: C. 65 years

According to the Indian Constitution, a Supreme Court judge holds office until they attain the age of 65. For High Court judges, the retirement age is slightly lower at 62 years. A judge can only be removed from office through the process of impeachment by the Parliament.

Correct Answer: D. Both Mercury and Bromine

Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at standard temperature, while Bromine is the only liquid non-metal. Gallium can melt in the hand but is solid at typical room temperatures of 25°C. These elements are unique due to their very low melting points compared to others.

Correct Answer: C. Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for 'Gitanjali', a collection of spiritual poems. He was the first non-European to win this award, bringing global recognition to Indian literature. He also composed the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.

Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has the largest total forest area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, if calculated by percentage of total geographical area, Mizoram ranks the highest. These forests are vital for preserving biodiversity and the ecological balance of the country.

Correct Answer: B. Bombay Stock Exchange

The Bombay Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in Asia, established in 1875. It is located on Dalal Street in Mumbai and its benchmark index is the SENSEX. It was the first Indian stock exchange to be granted permanent recognition by the government.

Correct Answer: B. Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu, known as the 'Nightingale of India', served as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh from 1947 to 1949. She was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and a celebrated poet. Sucheta Kripalani later became the first female Chief Minister of an Indian state.

Correct Answer: C. Lysosomes

Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that can break down cellular waste and foreign materials. If a cell is damaged or dies, the lysosome may burst and its enzymes will digest the entire cell. This process is a natural part of cell maintenance and programmed cell death.

Correct Answer: B. Dehradun

The Indian Military Academy was established in 1932 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to train officers for the Indian Army. It is famous for its 'Chetwode Hall' and its rigorous training programs for young cadets. The National Defence Academy (NDA), however, is located in Khadakwasla near Pune.

Correct Answer: C. Au

The symbol 'Au' is derived from the Latin word 'Aurum', which means shining dawn. Gold is a highly malleable and ductile metal that does not corrode in air or water. It has been valued since ancient times for its luster and scarcity across various civilizations.

Correct Answer: C. West Bengal

West Bengal shares a border of over 2,200 kilometers with Bangladesh, making it the longest international border for any Indian state. The entire India-Bangladesh border is the fifth-longest land border in the world. This boundary is characterized by complex riverine and land terrains.

Correct Answer: C. Lord Dufferin

Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy when Allan Octavian Hume helped organize the first session of the Congress in Bombay. Initially, the British government viewed the organization as a 'safety valve' for political discontent. It eventually grew into the primary party leading the struggle for Indian independence.

Correct Answer: B. Weight

The Newton (N) is the SI unit of force, and weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object. It is defined as the force required to accelerate one kilogram of mass at one meter per second squared. Mass is measured in kilograms, while pressure is measured in Pascals.

Correct Answer: A. 42nd Amendment

The 42nd Amendment Act, passed in 1976, brought about massive changes to various parts of the Indian Constitution. It added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble and introduced Fundamental Duties. It was enacted during the Internal Emergency under the Indira Gandhi government.

Correct Answer: B. The Sun

The Sun provides energy through nuclear fusion, which reaches the Earth in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This solar energy drives the climate, weather patterns, and the process of photosynthesis in plants. Life on Earth is almost entirely dependent on the light and heat from the Sun.