First in India (Men) — Set 3

Correct Answer: D. Satyajit Ray

• **Satyajit Ray** = He was the first Indian to win an Oscar (Academy Award) for Life Time Achievement. • **1992** — He was awarded an Honorary Oscar for his legendary contribution to cinema in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: A.R. Rahman: He won two competitive Oscars in 2009 for 'Slumdog Millionaire'; Resul Pookutty: He won an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing for 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009; Gulzar: He won an Oscar for Best Original Song ('Jai Ho') for 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009.

Correct Answer: A. Col. J.K. Bajaj

• **Col. J.K. Bajaj** = He was the first Indian to reach the South Pole. • **1989** — He reached the South Pole as part of an international expedition in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: I.K. Gujral: He was a former Prime Minister of India; Ajit Bajaj: He is a noted adventurer but not the first to reach the South Pole; None of these: This option is incorrect as Col. J.K. Bajaj is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: D. S.H.F.J. Manekshaw

• **S.H.F.J. Manekshaw** = He was the first Field Marshal of India. • **January 1973** — He was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in this month and year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: K.M. Cariappa: He was the second Indian to be made Field Marshal, but the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army; Sam Manekshaw: This is the common name for S.H.F.J. Manekshaw, but the option listing full initials is the intended answer; Arjan Singh: He was the only Indian Air Force officer to be promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

Correct Answer: A. Major Somnath Sharma

• **Major Somnath Sharma** = He was the first Indian to receive the Param Vir Chakra. • **1947** — He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the Kashmir operations in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Jadu Nath Singh: He was a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his actions in the 1948 Indo-Pakistani War; Rama Raghoba Ane: This option refers to a different context or is not a known recipient of the Param Vir Chakra; Pirusingh Shekhawat: He was a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra for his actions in the 1948 Indo-Pakistani War.

Correct Answer: C. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

• **Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit** = She was the first Indian to be the President of the UN General Assembly. • **1953** — She was elected as the first woman and first Indian President of the UN General Assembly in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: V.K. Krishna Menon: He was a prominent Indian diplomat and politician who served as India's Defence Minister; S. Radhakrishnan: He was the second President of India and a renowned philosopher; M.C. Chagla: He was a distinguished Indian jurist, diplomat, and former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

Correct Answer: D. Gautam Kazi

• **Gautam Kazi** = He was the first Indian to become the Managing Director of the World Bank. • **1990s** — He served as the Managing Director of the World Bank during this decade. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Raghuram Rajan: He is an Indian economist and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India; Montek Singh Ahluwalia: He is an Indian economist and former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India; Urjit Patel: He is an Indian economist who served as the 24th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Correct Answer: C. Wilson Jones

• **Wilson Jones** = He was the first Indian to win the World Billiards Trophy. • **1958** — He won the amateur World Billiards Championship in this year, marking India's first world title in any sport after independence. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Geet Sethi: He is a multiple world champion in English billiards, but after Jones; Pankaj Advani: He is a multiple world champion in both billiards and snooker, but much later than Jones; Michael Ferreira: He is also a multiple world champion in English billiards, but after Jones.

Correct Answer: D. Dr. Nagendra Singh

• **Dr. Nagendra Singh** = He was the first Indian to become the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). • **1985** — He served as the President of the ICJ from this year until 1988. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: B.N. Rau: He was an Indian civil servant, jurist, and diplomat who served as a judge of the ICJ, but not as president; Dalveer Bhandari: He is a current judge at the ICJ, but not the first Indian president; R.S. Pathak: He was a former Chief Justice of India and also served as a judge at the ICJ, but not as president.

Correct Answer: C. Jagannathan Srinivasaraghavan

• **Jagannathan Srinivasaraghavan** = He was the first Indian to reach the North Pole. • **1971** — Sqn. Ldr. Sanjay Thapar was the first Indian to parachute onto the North Pole in this year, a significant milestone. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ajit Bajaj: He later reached the North Pole via skiing; Sanjay Thapar: He was the first Indian to parachute onto the North Pole, but not the overall first to reach it by any means; None of these: This option is incorrect as Jagannathan Srinivasaraghavan is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: D. Morarji Desai

• **Morarji Desai** = He was the first Indian to receive the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan's highest civilian award. • **1990** — He received the Nishan-e-Pakistan in this year for his efforts in improving bilateral ties with Pakistan. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Dilip Kumar: He was a prominent Indian actor who also received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz from Pakistan, but not the Nishan-e-Pakistan; I.K. Gujral: He was a former Prime Minister of India, but did not receive this award; Atal Bihari Vajpayee: He was a former Prime Minister of India known for peace initiatives with Pakistan, but did not receive this award.