SSC CPO — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. Article 17

Article 17 explicitly forbids the practice of untouchability in any form. It is a fundamental right aimed at promoting social equality among citizens. The enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability is a punishable offense by law.

Correct Answer: B. 1757

The Battle of Plassey took place on 23 June 1757 between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal. Robert Clive led the British forces to a decisive victory during this conflict. This event laid the foundation of British rule in India.

Correct Answer: B. Venus

Venus is called Earth's twin because its size, mass, and density are very similar to Earth. It is the hottest planet in our solar system due to a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide. Venus also rotates on its axis from east to west unlike most other planets.

Correct Answer: A. Ampere

The Ampere is the base unit of electric current in the International System of Units. It is measured using a device called an ammeter in an electrical circuit. One ampere represents the flow of one coulomb of electrical charge per second.

Correct Answer: B. Coaches

The Dronacharya Award is presented to sports coaches for their outstanding and meritorious work. It was instituted by the Government of India in the year 1985. The award is named after Guru Dronacharya, a character from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.

Correct Answer: B. Pituitary Gland

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. This gland secretes hormones that regulate growth and reproduction.

Correct Answer: B. Assam

Kaziranga National Park is situated in the state of Assam in Northeast India. It is world-famous for being the natural habitat of the Great One-horned Rhinoceros. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Correct Answer: A. Annie Besant

Annie Besant presided over the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1917. She was a prominent British socialist and supporter of Indian self-rule. Sarojini Naidu later became the first Indian woman to hold this position in 1925.

Correct Answer: B. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision and a strong immune system. Its deficiency leads to a condition where it is difficult to see in relatively low light. Carrots and leafy green vegetables are rich sources of this vital nutrient.

Correct Answer: B. Godavari

The Godavari is the largest river system of Peninsular India and is often called Dakshin Ganga. it originates from Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. The river flows across central and southeastern India before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Correct Answer: B. The President

The President of India appoints the Chief Justice under Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution. Generally, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is recommended for this post. The Chief Justice administers the oath of office to the President of India.

Correct Answer: A. Sodium Chloride

Sodium Chloride is the chemical term for the common salt used in daily cooking. It is represented by the chemical formula NaCl. This compound is essential for maintaining the electrolyte balance in the human body.

Correct Answer: B. Akbar

Akbar built the Buland Darwaza to commemorate his victory over Gujarat in 1573. It serves as the main entrance to the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri. This massive gateway is considered one of the highest gateways in the world.

Correct Answer: B. Stock Market

A bull market refers to a period of rising prices, while a bear market indicates falling prices. These terms describe the general sentiment and price action in the stock exchange. Investors who expect prices to rise are commonly referred to as bulls.

Correct Answer: B. Part IV

Part IV of the Constitution contains the Directive Principles of State Policy from Articles 36 to 51. These principles are non-justiciable in nature, meaning they cannot be enforced by courts. They serve as guidelines for the government to ensure social and economic justice.

Correct Answer: A. Steel

Sound waves travel fastest through solids because particles are packed closely together. Steel is a solid medium that allows sound to propagate much quicker than in liquids or gases. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum at all because there is no medium.

Correct Answer: B. Rajasthan

The Panchayati Raj system was first introduced in Nagaur district of Rajasthan on 2 October 1959. It was based on the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee. This system aims to provide a three-tier structure for local self-government in rural areas.

Correct Answer: B. Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru wrote this book while he was imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort. It provides a comprehensive analysis of Indian history, culture, and philosophy. Nehru served as the first Prime Minister of independent India.

Correct Answer: B. Silver

Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals followed by copper. Although it is the best conductor, it is not commonly used in wires due to its high cost. Copper is the most frequently used material for electrical wiring in households.

Correct Answer: A. Aizawl

Aizawl is the capital city and the administrative center of the state of Mizoram. It is located in the northeastern part of India and is known for its scenic beauty. Mizoram became a full-fledged state of the Indian Union in 1987.

Correct Answer: B. Barometer

The barometer was invented by Evangelista Torricelli to measure the pressure of the air. A sudden fall in barometric pressure usually indicates an approaching storm. Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 760 mm of mercury.

Correct Answer: B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to reform Hindu society. He is often called the 'Father of Indian Renaissance' for his social and educational reforms. He played a crucial role in the abolition of the Sati practice.

Correct Answer: B. Wheat and Rice

The Green Revolution led to a massive increase in the production of food grains, especially wheat. It was characterized by the use of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds and modern irrigation. M.S. Swaminathan is known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India.

Correct Answer: A. Nitrogen

Nitrogen makes up approximately 78% of the Earth's atmosphere by volume. It is an inert gas that is essential for all living organisms to build proteins. Oxygen is the second most abundant gas, accounting for about 21% of the atmosphere.

Correct Answer: B. Lord Mountbatten

Lord Mountbatten served as the last Viceroy of British India and the first Governor-General of independent India. He was succeeded by C. Rajagopalachari, who became the only Indian Governor-General. This office was later replaced by the President of India in 1950.

Correct Answer: B. Rice

Kharif crops are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season and harvested in autumn. Rice requires a lot of water and heat, making it a primary Kharif crop. In contrast, wheat and mustard are examples of Rabi crops sown in winter.

Correct Answer: B. 42nd Amendment

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 added Part IV-A and Article 51A to the Constitution. This was based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. Originally there were 10 duties, but an 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002.

Correct Answer: A. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet B rays from the sun. It is crucial for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus to maintain strong bones. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to rickets in children.

Correct Answer: B. The Hague

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It is situated at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It consists of 15 judges elected for a term of nine years.

Correct Answer: B. Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb was called Zinda Pir because of his simple lifestyle and religious devotion. He was the last of the 'Great Mughals' who ruled a vast portion of the Indian subcontinent. His reign saw the empire reach its maximum territorial extent.

Correct Answer: B. Distance

A scalar quantity has only magnitude and no specific direction in space. Distance is the total path length covered and does not depend on the direction of travel. Displacement and velocity are vector quantities because they include direction.

Correct Answer: A. Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his work 'Gitanjali'. He was the first non-European to receive this prestigious international honor. Tagore also composed the national anthems of both India and Bangladesh.

Correct Answer: B. Saltwater Crocodile

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha is home to the largest population of endangered Saltwater Crocodiles. It is a unique ecosystem of mangroves, rivers, and creeks. The park is also a significant nesting site for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.

Correct Answer: B. Formic Acid

Ants inject formic acid into the skin when they bite or sting, causing irritation and pain. Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid and is also known as methanoic acid. Neutralizing the sting with a mild base like baking soda can provide relief.

Correct Answer: B. 1942

The Quit India Movement was launched in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi at the All India Congress Committee session in Bombay on August 8, 1942. The movement demanded immediate end to British rule in India with the slogan 'Do or Die' (Karo ya Maro). The 1942 Quit India Movement led to the arrest of all major Congress leaders including Gandhi, Nehru, and Patel. Despite heavy repression, the 1942 movement shook British confidence in India.

Correct Answer: A. Election Commission

The Election Commission of India is a permanent constitutional body established under Article 324. It manages elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice President. It consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two other commissioners.

Correct Answer: B. Ashoka

Emperor Ashoka commissioned the construction of the Great Stupa at Sanchi in the 3rd century BCE. It is one of the oldest stone structures in India and a major Buddhist monument. Sanchi is located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.

Correct Answer: B. Sublimation

Sublimation is the phase transition where a substance changes from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid. Common examples include dry ice and naphthalene balls disappearing over time. This process occurs at specific temperatures and pressures unique to each substance.

Correct Answer: B. Stratosphere

The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere, which is the second layer of the atmosphere. It protects the Earth by absorbing most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Depletion of this layer can lead to increased rates of skin cancer and cataracts.

Correct Answer: A. Gujarat

Gujarat has the longest coastline among all Indian states, stretching over 1600 kilometers. The coastline is characterized by the presence of the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Khambhat. Andhra Pradesh has the second-longest coastline on the eastern coast.