SSC CHSL — Set 14

Correct Answer: A. Ambubachi Mela

Ambubachi Mela is celebrated at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. It is a major gathering that draws thousands of devotees from across India. The festival marks the annual menstruation of the presiding goddess.

Correct Answer: C. Hyder Ali

Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan used iron-cased rockets effectively against the British. These Mysorean rockets were far more advanced than anything used in Europe at the time. They significantly influenced the development of modern military rocketry.

Correct Answer: C. Madhya Pradesh

Kanha National Park is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. It is a world-renowned Tiger Reserve and home to a significant population of Royal Bengal Tigers. It is also famous for saving the Barasingha (swamp deer) from extinction.

Correct Answer: B. Article 356

Article 356 allows the President to take over state administration if the constitutional machinery fails. It is often referred to as 'State Emergency' or 'President's Rule'. This power is exercised on the recommendation of the Governor of that state.

Correct Answer: B. Bleaching Powder

Bleaching powder is chemically known as calcium hypochlorite and is used for water purification. It acts as a strong oxidizing agent and is used extensively in the textile industry. It is produced by the action of chlorine on dry slaked lime.

Correct Answer: C. Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was the first Indian to achieve this historic individual feat. His victory inspired a new generation of Indian athletes to pursue shooting sports.

Correct Answer: C. Corona

The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere and appears as a white halo during an eclipse. It is normally hidden by the bright light of the photosphere. The corona is actually much hotter than the visible surface of the Sun.

Correct Answer: B. Dehradun

The Indian Military Academy (IMA) was established in 1932 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It is a premier training institution for officers of the Indian Army. The academy is known for its rigorous training and glorious history.

Correct Answer: C. Satyagraha

Gandhiji organized a nationwide Satyagraha against the repressive Rowlatt Act in 1919. This act allowed the British to imprison people without trial for up to two years. The protests against this act eventually led to the tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Correct Answer: B. Weber

The Weber is the SI unit of magnetic flux, named after the German physicist Wilhelm Eduard Weber. It represents the total magnetic field passing through a given surface. One weber per square meter is equal to one tesla.

Correct Answer: B. Thomas Munro

Thomas Munro introduced the Ryotwari system in the Madras and Bombay presidencies. In this system, the revenue was collected directly from the individual cultivators (Ryots). It was intended to protect farmers from middle-men, though tax rates remained high.

Correct Answer: B. Odisha

Odisha is the leading producer of bauxite, accounting for more than half of India's total output. Bauxite is the primary ore used to produce aluminum. The Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are among the largest in the country.

Correct Answer: C. Pituitary

The pituitary gland is called the master gland because it controls the functions of many other endocrine glands. It is a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. It secretes hormones that regulate growth, blood pressure, and reproduction.

Correct Answer: B. Maharashtra

Wadas are traditional residential buildings found in Maharashtra, particularly from the Maratha era. They are characterized by a central courtyard and wooden carvings. Many historical wadas can still be seen in cities like Pune and Satara.

Correct Answer: C. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun. It is essential for bone health as it helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to rickets in children.

Correct Answer: B. Meira Kumar

Meira Kumar served as the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014. She is a former diplomat and was elected unopposed to the position. She is the daughter of the former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram.

Correct Answer: C. Pacific Ocean

The Mariana Trench is the deepest known part of the Earth's oceans, located in the western Pacific Ocean. Its deepest point, the Challenger Deep, is approximately 11,000 meters below sea level. It was formed by the subduction of oceanic tectonic plates.

Correct Answer: A. Uttarakhand

Chanchar is a traditional folk dance performed in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand. It is usually performed during fairs and festivals to celebrate nature and deity. The dance involves rhythmic movements to the beat of traditional drums.

Correct Answer: B. Thiamine

Thiamine is the chemical name for Vitamin B1, which helps convert nutrients into energy. It is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, muscles, and nervous system. Severe deficiency of thiamine causes a disease known as Beriberi.

Correct Answer: A. G. Sankara Kurup

G. Sankara Kurup, a Malayalam poet, received the first Jnanpith Award in 1965. The award is India's highest literary honor presented annually to an author for their contribution to literature. It is sponsored by the Bharatiya Jnanpith trust.

Correct Answer: B. Saturn

As of current astronomical records, Saturn has surpassed Jupiter as the planet with the most moons. It has over 140 confirmed natural satellites in its orbit. Many of these moons are small and part of Saturn's complex ring system.

Correct Answer: A. San Francisco

The Ghadar Party was an international political movement founded by expatriate Indians in San Francisco in 1913. Its primary goal was to overthrow British rule in India through an armed revolution. Lala Hardayal was one of the key founding members.

Correct Answer: A. NH 44

National Highway 44 (NH 44) is the longest running highway in India, connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari. It passes through several states including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu. It covers a total distance of approximately 3,745 kilometers.

Correct Answer: C. President

The President of India appoints the Chief Justice of India under Article 124 of the Constitution. The appointment is usually based on the seniority of the judges of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice serves until the age of 65 years.

Correct Answer: C. Concave Mirror

Concave mirrors are used in solar cookers because they can converge parallel rays of sunlight to a single focal point. This concentration of light generates the heat required for cooking food. They are also used in searchlights and shaving mirrors.

Correct Answer: B. Temple Entry

The Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) was a non-violent protest against untouchability and for temple entry in Kerala. It aimed to allow marginalized sections of society to use the roads around the Vaikom Temple. Mahatma Gandhi played a vital role in supporting this movement.

Correct Answer: C. Sn

The chemical symbol for Tin is Sn, derived from its Latin name 'Stannum'. Sn (Tin) has atomic number 50 and is a post-transition metal. The symbol Sn comes from the Latin word Stannum, which was the name for tin in ancient Rome. Tin (Sn) is used to coat steel to prevent corrosion (tin cans) and in solder alloys.

Correct Answer: B. Odisha

The Lingaraja Temple is a magnificent Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is one of the oldest and largest temples in the temple city, built in the Kalinga architectural style. The temple is famous for its massive central tower (Vimana).

Correct Answer: C. Methane

Methane is the primary component of biogas, typically making up 50% to 75% of its volume. It is produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter like cow dung and agricultural waste. Biogas is a clean and renewable source of energy for rural areas.

Correct Answer: C. Ravi Shankar

Pandit Ravi Shankar was the first Indian to win a Grammy Award in 1968 for his album 'West Meets East'. He was a legendary sitar player who helped popularize Indian classical music globally. He won a total of five Grammy Awards during his career.

Correct Answer: B. Seismograph

A seismograph is the scientific instrument used to detect and record the waves produced by an earthquake. The intensity of these vibrations is often measured on the Richter scale. This data helps scientists locate the epicenter and depth of the earthquake.

Correct Answer: C. Gujarat

Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in modern-day Gujarat. It is famous for having the world's earliest known dockyard, connecting the city to the Arabian Sea. It was a major center for trade and bead making.

Correct Answer: B. Eighth Schedule

The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains a list of 22 recognized official languages. Initially, there were only 14 languages, but others were added through subsequent amendments. This schedule provides constitutional recognition to regional languages.

Correct Answer: C. USA

The Grand Canyon is a massive gorge carved by the Colorado River in the state of Arizona, USA. It is world-famous for its visually stunning size and its intricate and colorful landscape. It is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Correct Answer: C. James Chadwick

James Chadwick discovered the neutron in 1932, a subatomic particle with no electrical charge. This discovery was crucial for the model of the atomic nucleus containing both protons and neutrons. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work in 1935.

Correct Answer: B. Andhra Pradesh

Kuchipudi is a classical dance-drama performance that originated in the Kuchipudi village of Andhra Pradesh. It is known for its fast footwork and dramatic characterizations. Traditionally, it was performed only by men, but now women also perform it.

Correct Answer: A. Lord Canning

Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India after the Government of India Act 1858. He also served as the last Governor-General of India under the East India Company. During his tenure, the universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras were established.

Correct Answer: C. Canberra

Canberra is the capital city of Australia, located between the larger cities of Sydney and Melbourne. It was chosen as a compromise location for the capital in 1908. It is a planned city, housing many important government institutions.

Correct Answer: C. Stigma

Saffron is a spice derived from the dried stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. It is the most expensive spice in the world by weight due to the labor-intensive harvesting process. In India, it is primarily grown in the Kashmir valley.

Correct Answer: B. Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore wrote 'Gitanjali', a collection of poems that was originally published in Bengali. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 largely due to this work. The book is known for its deep spiritual and philosophical themes.