Famous Personalities — Set 1
Haryana GK · प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व · Questions 1–10 of 100
Neeraj Chopra, who won India's first Olympic athletics gold medal, is from which district of Haryana?
Correct Answer: B. Panipat
Neeraj Chopra was born in Khandra village, Panipat district, Haryana. He won the gold medal in javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 (held in 2021), becoming India's first-ever Olympic athletics gold medalist. He also won silver at the Paris Olympics 2024. He is a Subedar in the Indian Army and has won multiple World Athletics Championship medals.
Sushil Kumar, a two-time Olympic wrestling medalist, represents which district of Haryana?
Correct Answer: C. Sonipat (Baprola/Najafgarh area)
Sushil Kumar is from Baprola village, which falls in the Najafgarh area (now Delhi but his training base was Chhatrasal Stadium and Sonipat SAI). He won bronze at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012 in freestyle wrestling (66 kg). He was the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals. He was arrested in 2021 in connection with a murder case at Chhatrasal Stadium, Delhi.
Kapil Dev, India's 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning captain, was born in which city?
Correct Answer: C. Chandigarh
Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj was born on January 6, 1959, in Chandigarh (then part of Punjab). He was raised in Chandigarh and went to DAV College there. As captain of the Indian cricket team, he led India to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. He was the first player to take 400 Test wickets and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Century. He is considered one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history.
Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-origin woman astronaut in space, was born in which Haryana city?
Correct Answer: B. Karnal
Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962, in Karnal, Haryana. She completed her early education at Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School, Karnal. She became the first woman of Indian origin to go to space in 1997 (STS-87 mission). She died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003. Haryana honors her memory through the Kalpana Chawla Memorial Planetarium in Kurukshetra and the Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College in Karnal.
Rao Tula Ram, the 1857 freedom fighter from Haryana, was the ruler of which princely state?
Correct Answer: B. Rewari
Rao Tula Ram (1825–1863) was the ruler of Rewari and a prominent freedom fighter in the 1857 revolt against British rule. He led the sepoy mutiny in southern Haryana and organized resistance. After defeat, he fled to Afghanistan seeking military support. He died in Kabul in 1863 without returning to India. He is celebrated as a hero of the 1857 uprising in Haryana and a statue of him stands at New Delhi's Parliament Street.
Devi Lal, nicknamed 'Tau', was the ______ Deputy Prime Minister of India.
Correct Answer: C. 5th
Devi Lal served as the 5th Deputy Prime Minister of India (1989–1991) under Prime Minister V.P. Singh's Janata Dal government. He was a powerful farmer leader from Haryana who championed agricultural causes. His popular title 'Tau' means paternal uncle in Haryanvi, reflecting his affectionate rapport with people. He founded the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and organized massive farmer rallies at Delhi's Boat Club.
Phogat sisters — Geeta and Babita — who became world-famous wrestlers, are from which district?
Correct Answer: D. Charkhi Dadri (Balali village)
Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat are from Balali village in Charkhi Dadri (earlier part of Bhiwani) district, Haryana. Their father Mahavir Singh Phogat trained them in wrestling. Geeta became India's first woman to qualify for the Olympics (London 2012) in wrestling. Their story inspired the Bollywood film 'Dangal' (2016). Vinesh Phogat, their cousin, won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics in women's freestyle wrestling.
Vinesh Phogat, who won the Olympic silver medal at Paris 2024, was disqualified from which weight category final?
Correct Answer: B. 50 kg
Vinesh Phogat reached the final of the women's freestyle wrestling 50 kg category at Paris Olympics 2024 but was disqualified on the day of the final for being 100g overweight. She was awarded silver medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld her appeal. Born in Balali village, Haryana, she is the daughter-in-law of Mahavir Phogat. She later retired from wrestling and joined the Congress party.
Bajrang Punia, the Olympic medalist in wrestling, is from which Haryana district?
Correct Answer: B. Jhajjar
Bajrang Punia is from Khudan village, Jhajjar district, Haryana. He won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in men's freestyle wrestling (65 kg). He has won multiple World Wrestling Championship medals, including a gold at 2018 Asian Games and 2021 World Wrestling Championship bronze. He has been vocal about the farmers' protest and wrestlers' protest against WFI (Wrestling Federation of India).
Ravi Dahiya, who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, is from which village in Sonipat district?
Correct Answer: A. Nahri
Ravi Dahiya is from Nahri village, Sonipat district, Haryana. He won silver in men's freestyle wrestling (57 kg) at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. He trains at the Chhatrasal Stadium, Delhi, under legendary coach Satpal Singh. Ravi Dahiya is part of the golden generation of Haryana wrestlers along with Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and others. He has also won medals at Asian and Commonwealth Games.