SSC CPO — Set 24

Correct Answer: A. Raja Man Singh

The Battle of Haldighati took place in 1576 between the Kingdom of Mewar and the Mughal Empire. Raja Man Singh of Amber led the Mughal forces on behalf of Emperor Akbar. Although the Mughals won the field, they failed to capture Maharana Pratap.

Correct Answer: C. Right to Constitutional Remedies

Article 32 provides the Right to Constitutional Remedies, allowing citizens to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of rights. Dr. Ambedkar considered it the most important article because it makes other rights meaningful. It empowers the courts to issue writs like Habeas Corpus and Mandamus.

Correct Answer: B. Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion occurs when hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium under extreme pressure and temperature. This process releases a massive amount of energy in the form of light and heat. It is the same principle used in the development of hydrogen bombs.

Correct Answer: C. Kerala

Silent Valley is situated in the Nilgiri Hills of the Palakkad district in Kerala. It is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats mountain rain forests in India. The park is famous for the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque.

Correct Answer: A. Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', was elected to the British Parliament in 1892. He presented the 'Drain of Wealth' theory to explain how Britain was depleting India's resources. He was also a founding member of the Indian National Congress.

Correct Answer: B. Methanoic Acid

Methanoic acid, also known as formic acid, is injected into the skin when an ant bites or stings. It causes a sharp pain and swelling at the site of the sting. Neutralizing the acid with a mild base like baking soda can provide relief.

Correct Answer: C. Gujarat

Lothal was one of the southernmost cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in modern-day Gujarat. It featured the world's earliest known dock, connecting the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River. The site provides evidence of thriving maritime trade with Mesopotamia.

Correct Answer: C. 550

Following the removal of the Anglo-Indian nominated seats, the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha is 550. Out of these, 530 members represent the States and 20 represent the Union Territories. The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament.

Correct Answer: B. Appendix

The vermiform appendix is considered a vestigial organ because it has lost its original function through evolution. In herbivorous ancestors, it helped in the digestion of cellulose. While it may harbor beneficial gut bacteria today, humans can live healthily without it.

Correct Answer: B. Southern Hemisphere

Roaring Forties are strong winds found between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees south. They are caused by the lack of large landmasses in the Southern Hemisphere to slow them down. These winds were historically significant for sailing ships traveling the Clipper Route.

Correct Answer: B. Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. India currently has several designated Ramsar sites, including Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park.

Correct Answer: C. Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Muhammad bin Tughlaq moved the capital in 1327 to centrally govern his expanding empire. The forced migration of the entire population of Delhi led to immense hardship and loss of life. He eventually abandoned the project and ordered everyone to move back to Delhi.

Correct Answer: C. Transporting Oxygen

Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein found in red blood cells that binds with oxygen in the lungs. It carries oxygen to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide to the lungs. Low levels of hemoglobin can lead to a condition called anemia.

Correct Answer: B. 1853

The first passenger train in India ran between Bori Bunder (Mumbai) and Thane on April 16, 1853. It covered a distance of 34 kilometers and was hauled by three steam locomotives. This event marked the beginning of the vast Indian Railways network.

Correct Answer: B. Article 280

The Finance Commission is a quasi-judicial body constituted by the President every five years. Its main role is to recommend the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States. Article 280 defines its composition and functions.

Correct Answer: A. West Bengal

Buxa Tiger Reserve is situated in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, bordering Bhutan. It serves as an international corridor for Asian elephants migrating between India and Bhutan. The reserve is rich in biodiversity and features the historic Buxa Fort.

Correct Answer: C. Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element and the most abundant substance in the universe. On Earth, it is usually found combined with other elements like oxygen in water. Because it is so light, most free hydrogen escapes into space from the atmosphere.

Correct Answer: B. Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu, known as the 'Nightingale of India', was appointed the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in 1947. She was a prominent leader in the freedom struggle and a celebrated poet. She was also the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress.

Correct Answer: C. Special

SEZ stands for Special Economic Zone, which is an area with different economic laws than the rest of the country. These zones are created to increase foreign investment, trade, and job creation. India passed the Special Economic Zones Act in 2005.

Correct Answer: B. Dynamo

A dynamo, or electric generator, uses electromagnetic induction to produce electrical current from motion. This is the opposite of an electric motor, which converts electricity into movement. Large-scale generators in power plants work on this fundamental principle.

Correct Answer: C. Rajgriha

Rajgriha (modern-day Rajgir) was the earliest capital of the Magadha Kingdom, surrounded by five hills. It was during the reign of Udayin that the capital was shifted to Patliputra. Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada in ancient India.

Correct Answer: B. Part II

Part II of the Indian Constitution contains Articles 5 to 11 relating to citizenship. These articles deal with who was a citizen at the commencement of the Constitution and the Parliament's power to regulate citizenship. The Citizenship Act of 1955 was later enacted to provide detailed laws.

Correct Answer: C. Iron

Iron is the central component of the heme group in hemoglobin, which allows it to bind to oxygen. A lack of dietary iron leads to iron-deficiency anemia, characterized by fatigue and weakness. Red meat, spinach, and legumes are good sources of iron.

Correct Answer: C. Odisha

The Tropic of Cancer passes through eight Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. Odisha lies to the south of this line. This imaginary line marks the northernmost point where the sun can be directly overhead.

Correct Answer: A. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the society to train Indians to devote their lives to the cause of the country in a selfless manner. It aimed to promote social and human development through education and healthcare. Gokhale was considered a political mentor to Mahatma Gandhi.

Correct Answer: C. Candela

The Candela is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI). It measures the power emitted by a light source in a particular direction. A common wax candle emits light with a luminous intensity of roughly one candela.

Correct Answer: B. Ambubachi Mela

The Ambubachi Mela is held annually at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. It celebrates the yearly menstruation course of the goddess Kamakhya. It is the most important festival of the temple and attracts thousands of devotees and tantrics.

Correct Answer: A. Crust

The crust is the outermost solid shell of the Earth and is very thin compared to the other layers. It varies in thickness from about 5 km under the oceans to 70 km under mountain ranges. Beneath the crust lies the mantle, which makes up most of the Earth's volume.

Correct Answer: C. Harshavardhana

King Harshavardhana of the Vardhana dynasty was a great patron of learning and an accomplished author. Apart from Ratnavali, he also wrote the plays Nagananda and Priyadarshika. His reign in the 7th century is well-documented by the Chinese traveler Xuanzang.

Correct Answer: C. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is unique because the skin can produce it when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun. It is essential for bone health as it aids in the absorption of calcium. Modern indoor lifestyles often lead to widespread Vitamin D deficiency.

Correct Answer: C. Article 338

Article 338 provides for a National Commission for Scheduled Castes to safeguard their interests. Originally a single body, the 89th Amendment separated it into two commissions for SCs and STs. Article 338A specifically covers the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Correct Answer: B. Ganymede

Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter and is even larger than the planet Mercury. it is the only moon known to have its own magnetic field. It was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 along with three other Galilean moons.

Correct Answer: C. Gopala

Gopala was elected as the king by the people to end a period of anarchy (Matsyanyaya) in Bengal in the 8th century. He was a Buddhist and laid the foundation for a dynasty that would rule for centuries. His successor, Dharmapala, founded the famous Vikramshila University.

Correct Answer: A. Demand falls as price falls

A Giffen good is a low-income, non-luxury product for which demand increases as the price increases, defying standard laws. This happens because the price increase is so significant it forces consumers to give up better products. Examples often include basic staples like bread or rice during famines.

Correct Answer: B. Plaster of Paris

Plaster of Paris is produced by heating gypsum to a high temperature, causing it to lose most of its water. When mixed with water, it hardens back into gypsum, making it useful for casts and sculptures. Its name comes from the large deposits of gypsum found in Paris.

Correct Answer: B. ₹100

Rani-ki-Vav is an intricately constructed stepwell in Patan, Gujarat, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built by Queen Udayamati in memory of her husband Bhimdev I. The new lavender-colored ₹100 note features this monument on its reverse side.

Correct Answer: B. Ammeter

An ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the current in a circuit. It is always connected in series with the circuit so that the entire current flows through it. Modern digital multimeters can also function as ammeters for various current ranges.

Correct Answer: B. Mir Qasim

Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, formed an alliance with Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. They fought the British East India Company forces led by Hector Munro. The British victory established them as the dominant political power in North India.

Correct Answer: C. Pineal

The pineal gland is a small, pine-cone shaped gland in the brain that secretes the hormone melatonin. Melatonin regulates sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythms) in response to light and darkness. It is often referred to as the 'third eye' because of its light-sensing functions.

Correct Answer: C. 7th

India is the 7th largest country by area, following Russia, Canada, China, USA, Brazil, and Australia. It accounts for about 2.4% of the world's total land surface area. However, it supports more than 17% of the world's human population.