First in India (Women) — Set 7

Correct Answer: A. Mother Teresa

• **Mother Teresa** = She was the first Indian woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. • **1979** — Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in this year for her work for humanity. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sarojini Naidu]: She was the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress; [Indira Gandhi]: She was the first female Prime Minister of India and a Bharat Ratna recipient; [Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit]: She was the first woman President of the UN General Assembly.

Correct Answer: B. Bachendri Pal

• **Bachendri Pal** = She was the first Indian woman to successfully climb Mount Everest. • **1984** — She achieved the historic feat of summiting Mount Everest in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Santosh Yadav]: She was the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice; [Arunima Sinha]: She was the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest; [Premlata Agrawal]: She was the oldest Indian woman to climb Mount Everest.

Correct Answer: C. Karnam Malleswari

• **Karnam Malleswari** = She was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. • **2000 Sydney Olympics** — She won a bronze medal in weightlifting at these Olympic Games. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Saina Nehwal]: She won an Olympic bronze medal in badminton in 2012; [Mary Kom]: She won an Olympic bronze medal in boxing in 2012; [Sakshi Malik]: She won an Olympic bronze medal in wrestling in 2016.

Correct Answer: B. Indira Gandhi

• **Indira Gandhi** = She was the first woman to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. • **1971** — She was conferred with the Bharat Ratna in this year for her exceptional leadership. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mother Teresa]: She received the Bharat Ratna in 1980, after Indira Gandhi; [M. S. Subbulakshmi]: She received the Bharat Ratna in 1998, the first musician to do so; [Lata Mangeshkar]: She received the Bharat Ratna in 2001, a celebrated playback singer.

Correct Answer: A. Ashapoorna Devi

• **Ashapoorna Devi** = She was the first woman to win the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honor. • **1976** — This Bengali writer received the Jnanpith Award in this year for her novel 'Pratham Pratishruti'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mahasweta Devi]: She won the Jnanpith Award in 1996; [Amrita Pritam]: She won the Jnanpith Award in 1981; [Krishna Sobti]: She won the Jnanpith Award in 2017.

Correct Answer: B. Meira Kumar

• **Meira Kumar** = She was the first woman to serve as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. • **2009** — She was elected as the Speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sumitra Mahajan]: She was the second woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha (2014-2019); [Najma Heptulla]: She served as Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha, not Lok Sabha Speaker; [Pratibha Patil]: She was the first woman President of India.

Correct Answer: A. Neerja Bhanot

• **Neerja Bhanot** = She was the first woman recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. • **1987** — She was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in this year for her bravery during a hijack. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kiran Bedi]: She was India's first woman IPS officer; [Shanti Tigga]: She was the first woman jawan in the Indian Army; [Bina Das]: She was an Indian revolutionary and nationalist from Bengal, not an Ashoka Chakra recipient.

Correct Answer: B. Mary Kom

• **Mary Kom** = She was the first Indian woman to win a medal in Boxing at the Olympics. • **2012 London Olympics** — She secured a bronze medal in the flyweight category at these Games. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Sarita Devi]: She is a prominent Indian boxer but did not win an Olympic medal; [Lovlina Borgohain]: She won an Olympic bronze medal in boxing in 2020 (held in 2021); [Nikhat Zareen]: She is a world champion boxer but has not yet won an Olympic medal.

Correct Answer: A. Leila Seth

• **Leila Seth** = She was the first woman to become the Chief Justice of a High Court in India. • **1991** — She was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Anna Chandy]: She was the first female judge in India and the first Indian woman High Court judge in 1959, but not Chief Justice; [M. Fathima Beevi]: She was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India; [Sujata Manohar]: She was a Supreme Court judge, but not the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court.

Correct Answer: A. Zeenat Aman

• **Zeenat Aman** = She was the first Indian woman to win the Miss Asia Pacific International title. • **1970** — She achieved this international beauty pageant title in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Aishwarya Rai]: She won the Miss World title in 1994; [Yukta Mookhey]: She won the Miss World title in 1999; [Diana Hayden]: She won the Miss World title in 1997.