SSC CPO — Set 9

Correct Answer: A. Haryanka Dynasty

Bimbisara was the founder of the Haryanka dynasty and a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. He expanded his kingdom through matrimonial alliances and conquests, making Magadha a powerful state. His son Ajatashatru succeeded him after reportedly imprisoning him.

Correct Answer: B. Part III

Part III contains the Fundamental Rights which are essential for the overall development of individuals. It is called the Magna Carta because it provides comprehensive and justiciable civil liberties. These rights are protected and guaranteed by the Supreme Court of India.

Correct Answer: A. Light year

A light year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year. It is approximately equal to 9.46 trillion kilometers. Despite having 'year' in its name, it measures distance rather than time.

Correct Answer: C. Uttarakhand

Nanda Devi is the second-highest mountain in India and the highest located entirely within the country. It is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The surrounding Nanda Devi National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Correct Answer: C. Grasshopper

Primary consumers are herbivores that feed directly on producers like plants. Grasshoppers eat grass and leaves, placing them in the second trophic level of a food chain. Animals that eat primary consumers are called secondary consumers.

Correct Answer: B. Assam

Sattriya is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, originating in the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam. It was introduced by the great saint Srimanta Sankardev in the 15th century. The dance was originally performed by male monks as part of daily rituals.

Correct Answer: B. Lord Chelmsford

Lord Chelmsford served as the Viceroy during the tragic event on April 13, 1919. This period also saw the implementation of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. The massacre led to the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Mahatma Gandhi.

Correct Answer: C. Sublimation

Sublimation is a phase transition where a substance changes from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid. Common examples include dry ice (solid CO2) and naphthalene balls. This occurs at specific temperatures and pressures unique to each substance.

Correct Answer: A. Article 352

Article 352 allows for a National Emergency on grounds of war, external aggression, or armed rebellion. During such an emergency, the federal structure of the country turns into a unitary one. It must be approved by both houses of Parliament within one month.

Correct Answer: C. Pituitary Gland

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

Correct Answer: B. Journalism

The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer. It is administered by Columbia University in New York City.

Correct Answer: B. Reserve Bank of India

The RBI acts as the lender of last resort by providing liquidity to commercial banks facing financial stress. This function ensures the stability of the entire banking and financial system. It prevents the sudden failure of banks due to temporary cash shortages.

Correct Answer: C. Akbar

The Battle of Haldighati was fought on June 18, 1576, between the forces of Maharana Pratap and Akbar. Akbar's army was led by Raja Man Singh I of Amber. Despite the fierce struggle, Maharana Pratap managed to escape to continue his resistance.

Correct Answer: D. Mass

A scalar quantity is defined as a physical quantity that has only magnitude and no direction. Mass remains constant regardless of the object's position or direction. In contrast, vector quantities like velocity require both magnitude and direction.

Correct Answer: C. Equator

An equinox happens twice a year when the Sun shines directly over the Earth's equator. On these days, the length of day and night is nearly equal everywhere on Earth. These typically occur around March 21st and September 23rd.

Correct Answer: C. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee on August 29, 1947. He is widely regarded as the 'Father of the Indian Constitution'. The committee was responsible for preparing the final draft of the supreme law of India.

Correct Answer: C. 7

Pure water has a pH value of 7, which makes it chemically neutral. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with values below 7 indicating acidity and above 7 indicating alkalinity. A pH of 7 means equal concentrations of hydrogen (H⁺) and hydroxide (OH⁻) ions. Pure water's neutral pH of 7 makes it an important reference point on the pH scale.

Correct Answer: A. Zoji La Pass

Zoji La is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas that serves as a vital link between Kashmir and Ladakh. It is located on National Highway 1 and remains closed during peak winter due to heavy snow. The Border Roads Organization is responsible for its maintenance.

Correct Answer: B. Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Swami Dayanand Saraswati established the Arya Samaj to promote Vedic values and social reform. He gave the famous slogan 'Go back to the Vedas'. He also wrote the book 'Satyarth Prakash' to explain his philosophy.

Correct Answer: B. Bromine

Bromine is the only non-metallic element that is liquid under standard conditions. It is a deep-red, oily, and foul-smelling liquid. Mercury is also liquid at room temperature, but it is classified as a metal.

Correct Answer: B. Sri Lanka

The Palk Strait is a water body between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay in the southwest. It is named after Robert Palk, a governor of Madras Presidency.

Correct Answer: C. Mitochondria

Mitochondria are responsible for generating most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is used as a source of chemical energy for cellular processes. They have their own DNA and a double-membrane structure.

Correct Answer: A. Banking Reforms

Banking Reforms is the correct answer to this question. This is an important fact from the General Knowledge and Current Affairs syllabus frequently tested in Indian competitive examinations such as SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, and state-level PSC exams. A thorough understanding of Banking Reforms and related topics will help candidates score well in the GK section. Regular revision of such key facts is highly recommended for exam preparation.

Correct Answer: B. Bachendri Pal

Bachendri Pal achieved this historic feat on May 23, 1984. She was part of an expedition organized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. Santosh Yadav later became the first woman to climb Everest twice.

Correct Answer: B. Article 32

Article 32 provides the right to Constitutional Remedies, which Dr. Ambedkar called the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution. It allows citizens to move the Supreme Court directly if their fundamental rights are violated. High Courts can also issue writs under Article 226.

Correct Answer: B. Bleaching Powder

Bleaching powder is widely used for water treatment and as a disinfecting agent. It is produced by the action of chlorine gas on dry slaked lime. Its chemical formula is represented as CaOCl2.

Correct Answer: D. Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is the correct answer to this question. This is an important fact from the General Knowledge and Current Affairs syllabus frequently tested in Indian competitive examinations such as SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, and state-level PSC exams. A thorough understanding of Jammu and Kashmir and related topics will help candidates score well in the GK section. Regular revision of such key facts is highly recommended for exam preparation.

Correct Answer: A. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru

The Swaraj Party was formed after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Its leaders wanted to enter the legislative councils to wreck the British government from within. Chittaranjan Das served as the president and Motilal Nehru as the secretary.

Correct Answer: C. Graphite

Graphite is a form of carbon that is soft and leaves a gray mark on paper. It is mixed with clay to create various grades of pencil leads. It is also a good conductor of electricity unlike most other non-metals.

Correct Answer: B. USA

The concept of 'Fundamental Rights' in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from the USA, specifically from the Bill of Rights. The American Constitution's Bill of Rights (1791) provided the model for including enforceable rights in India's Constitution. India's Fundamental Rights in Part III were influenced by the USA's approach of making rights judicially enforceable. Like the USA, India also made these rights justiciable, meaning courts can enforce them.

Correct Answer: B. Assam

Majuli is the world's largest river island, formed by the Brahmaputra River system. It is the cultural capital of Assam and a center for neo-Vaishnavite tradition. It was the first island to be made a district in India.

Correct Answer: B. 24 hours

The correct answer is '24 hours', indicating that the specific statements or options mentioned are true. This type of question requires careful analysis of each statement. Regular practice of such multiple-correct-statement questions improves accuracy in competitive exams.

Correct Answer: A. Abul Fazl

Abul Fazl was one of the Navaratnas (nine jewels) in the court of Emperor Akbar. Akbarnama is the official chronicle of Akbar's reign, written in Persian. The third volume of this work is known as the Ain-i-Akbari.

Correct Answer: C. Formic acid

Formic acid, also known as methanoic acid, is injected into the skin when an ant bites. It causes a sharp stinging pain and swelling at the site. Neutralizing it with a mild base like baking soda can provide relief.

Correct Answer: C. Paris

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its headquarters in Paris, France, was inaugurated in 1958. Its primary goal is to promote international collaboration through education and culture.

Correct Answer: A. 42nd Amendment

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 made large-scale changes to the Constitution during the Emergency. It added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble. It also introduced the Fundamental Duties for the first time.

Correct Answer: C. Godavari

Godavari is the largest river in South India and the second-longest river in the country after the Ganga. Due to its large size and spiritual significance, it is called Dakshina Ganga. It originates from the Trimbakeshwar hills in Maharashtra.

Correct Answer: A. April 7

April 7 marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. Each year, a theme is selected to highlight a priority area of public health. It aims to raise awareness about global health issues and access to care.

Correct Answer: B. D2O

The chemical formula of Heavy Water is D2O (deuterium oxide), where D represents deuterium atoms instead of regular hydrogen. D2O is formed when both hydrogen atoms in a water molecule are replaced by deuterium (D), an isotope with one proton and one neutron. Heavy water D2O is used as a moderator in CANDU nuclear reactors because it slows neutrons. D2O is about 10.6% denser than ordinary H2O water.

Correct Answer: A. Satyendranath Tagore

Satyendranath Tagore, the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore, cleared the ICS exam in 1863. He was the first Indian to break the barrier in a service dominated by the British. He served in the Bombay Presidency throughout his career.