GENERAL AWARENESS QUIZ - 1

GENERAL AWARENESS QUIZ

1. In which year was ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) established?
(a) 1980
(b) 1970
(c) 1975
(d) 1969
Ans : d

2. If the green house effect becomes real and melts Polar ice, which one of the following regions will first disappear under water.
(a) Islands of Kiribati
(b) Mauritius
(c) Maldives
(d) Hawaie Island
Ans : a

3. Which pollutant gas is released by cud chewing cattles.
(a) CO
(b) CH4
(c) NO2
(d) CO2
Ans : b

4. A type communication which is becoming very important in transmission of data between computer networks is known as
(a) Bank Networking
(b) Communication Network
(c) Satellite area networking
(d) Internal working
Ans : d

5. Social reform aims at
(a) Changing basic values of the society
(b) Changing the norms of the group
(c) Changing the religious practices
(d) Changing the habits of the individuals
Ans. (a)

6. The spread of Internet for highereducation is premised on
(a) Research and Development, is vital
(b) Browsing encourages critical thinking
(c) Easy management and dissemination of knowledge
(d) India should he second to none in the world
Ans. (c)

7. Which one of the following in notan input specification for a Batch System?
(a) Input Record Layout
(b) Prototype report
(c) Expanded Data Dictionary
(d) Source Document Layout
Ans : c

8. The World Trade Organisation believes in intellectual property and liberalized trade regime.Their belief is based on the assumption that
(a) Modern economy bestows equal benefits
(b) knowledge-based economy and globalization is reality
(c) All countries are well suited for modern trade
(d) Rich countries will always help the poor countries
Ans. (b)

9. A structured data type made up of finite collections of ordered elements all of which are of the same date types is a
(a) File
(b) array
(c) Record
(d) None of these
Ans : b

10. The essence and justification for beauty contests is that
(a) Women have standard features on which they can he rated
(b) Beautiful women have a vision and role to play in social upliftment
(c) They symbolize eternal freedomfor women
(d) They provide an opportunity forbeautiful women of the world to come on one platform
Ans. (c)

11. Which one of the following types of soil is predominant in Bundelkhand region?
(A) Black cotton soil
(B) Alluvial soil
(C) Karail soil
(D) Vindhyas soil
Ans:-A

12. Who among the following released ‘Citizen’s Guide’ for generating awareness among people against corruption?
(A) Department of Public grievances
(B) Central Vigilance Commission
(C) Consumer Co-operative Societies
(D) Transparency International
Ans:-B

13. Looking at a portrait, Sanjay said, ‘His mother is the wife of my father’s son. Brothers and sisters, I have none. At whose portrait is Sanjay looking?
(A) His son
(B) His Nephew
(C) His cousin
(D) His uncle
Ans:-A

14. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
(A) Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat have the same territorial area
(B) Gram Panchayat arid Nyaya Panchayat has the same territorial area
(C) Pradhan of a Gram Panchayat iselected by electors of the given area from amongst themselves
(D) The term of a Gram Panchayat is usually five years
Ans:-B

15. Who among the following is called the “Father of Modern Urdu Poetry”?
(A) Amir Khusrau
(B) Mirza Ghalib
(C) Mazhar Jaanjana
(D) Wali Deccani
Ans:-D

16. Who among the following lady revolutionaries fired at the Governor while receiving degree inthe convocation of 1932?
(A) Priti Lata Vadedar
(B) Kalpana Datta
(C) Shanti Ghosh
(D) Bina Das
Ans:-D

16. Two persons start from the same point and walk on a circular path at the same speed, but in opposite directions. They will be diametrically opposite each other when each has covered—
(A) 1/8 the distance
(B) 1/4 the distance
(C) 1/2 the distance
(D) 1/16 the distance
Ans:-B

17. Who said “Education is the best contraceptive for population stabilisation ?“
(A) Dr. Manmohan Singh
(B) Sam Pitroda
(C) Som Nath Chatterjee
(D) Pranab Mukherjee
Ans:-C

18. In one minute 3/7 of a bucket is filled. How much more time will be required to fill up the rest of the bucket?
(A) 7/3 minutes
(B) 4/3 minutes
(C) 21 minutes
(D) 2 minutes
Ans:-B

19. Find the missing link in the following series—
12, 21, 33, 13, 31, ..., 14, 41, 55
(A) 39
(B) 35
(C) 44
(D) 43
Ans:-C

20. If cost price is 96% of the selling price, the percentage of profit is—
(A) 4.17
(B) 4.00
(C) 4.01
(D) 4.25
Ans:-A

HINDUISM ( THE VEDAS FACTS)

IMPORTANT POINTS ON VEDAS

* There are four Vedas namely Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda.

* The Rig Veda is the oldest of all the Vedas.

* Gayatri Mantra is contained in the Rig Veda. It is an invocation to the Sun God.

* Ayurveda has its origins in Atharva Veda.

* Sacrificial hymns are contained in Yajurveda.

* The chief God of the Rig Veda is Lord Indra.

* The Vedas are believed to have been complied by Krishna Dwipayana also known as Ved Vyasa.

* The Vedas are written in Vedic Sanskrit.

*There are four Upvedas namely Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda (music), and Shilpaveda (art and architecture).

SCHOOLS OF VEDIC PHILOSOPHY

NAME OF SCHOOL                                         -          FOUNDED BY

Sankhya or the Cosmic principle school                  -        Kapila

Yoga   School                                                          -         Patanjali

Nyaya or the Logical school                                  -         Gautama

Vaisheshak or the Atomic school                          -          Kanad

Purva Mimansa or the Ritualistic school                -          Jamini

Uttara Mimansa or the Theological school             -         Vyasa


NOTE:
Kanad who founded the Atomic School, is believed to have propounded the theory of matter being indestructible and consistingof tiny indivisible particles called parmanus. Each parmanu consists of many 'anus' (atoms) which are the smallest particles of a substance.

INDIAN CONSTITUTION

INDIAN CONSTITUTION -   FACTS TO REMEMBER

* The Constituent Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on 9 December, 1946 in the Constitution Hall which is now known as the Central Hall of Parliament House.

* Mr. Sachchidanand Sinha was elected provisional chairman of the assembly.

* Dr Rajendra Prasad later became the permanent chairman of the constituent assembly.

* On 13 December, 1946,Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution which resolved to proclaim India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and to draw up for her future governance a Constitution.

* The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and seventeen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India.

* The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days.

* India is governed in terms of the Constitution, which was adopted on26 November, 1949, which was the last day of the Eleventh sessionof the Constituent Assembly.

* The honourable members appended their signatures to the constitution on 24 January, 1950.

* The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January, 1950.

* On that day, the Constituent Assembly ceased to exist, transforming itself into the Provisional Parliament of India until a new Parliament was constituted in 1952.

IMPORTANT DATES

Constituent Assembly met for the first time        -     9 Dec 1946

Objectives Resolution moved         -   13 Dec 1946
    
Constitution adopted          -     26 Nov 1949

Signed by members      -     24 Jan 1950

Constitution came into force and Constituent Assembly ceased to exist        -      26 Jan 1950

JNANPITH AWARD 2012

JNANPITH AWARD 2012

Ravuri Bharadwaja, 86, the Telgu writer on 17 April 2013 was selected for the prestigious Jnanpith Award 2012.

He got the award for his contributions to Telgu Literature for over a period of six decades. Ravuri on his credit has written 37 Volumes of Short Stories and 17 Novels. He was selected for the award by the Jnanpith Award Committee chaired by the noted poet Sitakant Mahapatra.

Ravuri is the third recipient of the highest literary award from Andhra Pradesh. Before him Dr. Viswanatha Satyanarayana in 1970 for his Srimad Ramayana Kalpavriksham and Dr. C. Narayana Reddy in 1988 for his book Viswambhara received the award

ABOUT RAVURI BHARDWAJA

*.He is a poet, a playwright, a novelist of distinction and a popular science writer

*.He has written six short novels for children namely Kadambari, Pakudurallu, Jeevana Samaram, Inupu Tera Venuka and Koumudi – these novels have been translated into several Indian languages as well as English

*.Earlier he has been awarded with awards like Sahitya Akademi Award, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Balsahitya Parishad Award, Telugu Akademi Award,

*.He was also awarded with a honarary doctorate from Nagarjuna University

ABOUT JNANPITH AWARD

It is the highest literary award of India that was instituted to recognize the works of Indian Citizens in official Indian languages.It carries a cheque for 7 lakh, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Indian goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts.

DADA SAHAB PHALKE AWARD 2013

DADA SAHAB PHALKE AWARD 2013

Legendary actor, Pran Krishan Sikand, 93, on 12 April 2013 was awarded with Bollywood’s highest honour in Indian Cinema Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2012. The award is instituted on the name of the Dada Saheb Phalke, the man who made first feature film in India.He is the 44th Dada Saheb Phalke Award Winner.

He gave a different and unique frame to the negative and character roles of Indian Cinema with his impressive performances.

Pran got his first break in a Punjabi Film Yamla Jat in 1940 in undivided India. But his debut in Bollywood happened in the film Ziddi, in which he acted alongwith the evergreen hero of bollywood Dev Anand in 1948.

About Pran Krishan Sikand

* He was born in Old Delhi on 12 February 1920

*.In 2001 he was awarded with India’s third highest civilian awardPadma Bhushan

*.In his career span, he received four film fare awards

*.He was awarded the title of Villain of the millennium by Stardust in 2000

ABOUT THE AWARD

The award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl. The award is given on the basis of recommendations of a Committee of eminent persons.

NDTV BUSINESS AWARDS 2013

NDTV Business Leadership Awards 2013

The National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd was conferred with the Business Leader in the Power Sector at the NDTV Business Leadership Awards in New Delhi on 9 April 2013. The award was given by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

About National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC)*.

National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) is the largest power company of India. It was established in 1975 for accelerating the power development in India.

Maharatna in Manufacturing for the Year 2012 Award

The National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd, the largest power utility of India was awarded the most Efficient Maharatna-in Manufacturing for the year 2012 award by Stock Magazine at 4th DSIJ Award in the last week of March 2013 in New Delhi.

At present, there are seven Maharatna companies, after inclusion of BHEL and GAIL and these companies are - ONGC, Indian Oil, SAIL, NTPC and CIL.

NTPC was conferred with the Maharatna status in 2010.

BIOSPHERE RESERVES AND RIVERS IN INDIA

LIST OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN INDIA

1. Nilgiri        -     Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka

2. Nanda Devi      -     Uttar Pradesh (part of Chamoli, Pithorgarh and Almora districts and Meghalaya ( part of Garo hills)

3. Nokrek       -       Meghalaya

4. Manas      -        Assam

5. Sunderbans       -     West Bengal

6. Gulf of Mannar       -       Tamil Nadu

7. Great Nicobar       -       (A & N Islands)

8. Simlipal         -       Orissa

9. Dibru-Saikhowa       -       Assam

10. Dihang Dibang       -       Arunachal Pradesh

11. Kanchenchunga           -       Sikkim

12. Pachmarhi          -       Madhya Pradesh

13. Agasthyamalai        -         Kerala

14. Achanakamar    -      Amarkantak     -   Parts of MP and parts of Chattisgarh

LENGTH OF RIVERS ( in KM) :-

Indus - 2900

Brahmaputra - 2900

Ganga - 2510

Godavari - 1450

Narmada - 1290

Krishna - 1290

Mahanadi - 890

Kaveri - 760

IMPORTANT BATTLES OF INDIAN HISTORY

BATTLES WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION

1st battle of Tarain        -     1191        -     Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Mohammed Ghori

2nd battle of Tarain       -     1192       -     Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan

1st battle of Panipat       -     1526         -        Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodi

Battle of Khanwa        -      1527       -     Babur defeated Rana Sunga

Battle of Ghaghra     -   1529       -     Babur defeated Mahmud Lodi and Sultan Nusrat Shah

2nd battle of Panipat        -      1556       -     Akbar defeated Hemu

3rd battle of Panipat        -    1761     -    Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas

Battle of Talikota         -     1565      -    Deccan Sultanates defeated the glorious Vijayanagar empire

Battle of Haldighati      -     1576     -     Undecisive battle between Raja Man Singh of Mughal Army and Rana Pratap of Mewar.

Battle of Plassey    -    1757      -    British defeated Siraj-ud-duala with the help of Mir Zafar.
(This battle laid the foundation of British empire in India.)

Battle of Wandiwash       -     1760      -      British decisively defeated the French in India.
(The Seven years war (1756 - 1763) between the British and the French in Europe ran parallel to this war. 3 Carnatic wars were fought between the British and the French and this battle was a part of the 3rd Carnatic War.)

Battle of Buxar     -      1764    -     British defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-duala (Nawab of Oudh) and Shah Alam II(Mughal emperor).

Battle of Samugarh      -      1658      -     Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh.

Battle of Karnal    -     1739     -     Nadir Shah defeated Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah.

NINE GEMS (NAVRATNA) OF AKBAR'S COURT

NINE GEMS( NAVRATNA) OF AKBAR'S COURT

1.  Abul Fazl      -   He was the chronicler of Akbar's rule. He authored Akbar's biography - Akbarnama. Abul Fazl documented the history meticulously over a period of seven years.

2. Faizi       -      He translated the Panchatantra, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata into Persian.

3.  Todar Mal       -     He was the revenue minister of Sher Shah Suri who continued in the position in the court of Akbar. He introduced standard weights and measurements, revenue districts and officers.

4  Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan      -      was the son of Akbar’s general Bairam Khan, the person who looked after him after the death of Humayun. Rahim is known for his couplets or Dohe.

5. Tansen        -     Tansen (original name Ramtanu Pandey) was a great musician who is credited with innovation of Raagas such as Mian ki Malhar,Mian ki Todi and Darbari Kanada.

6. Raja Man Singh       -    Raja Man Singh, a trusted lieutenant of Akbar was the grandson of Akbar’s father-in-law. Raja Man Singh assisted Akbar in many fronts including holding off advancing Hakim (Akbar’s half-brother) in Lahore.

7.   Faqir Aziao Din     -   He was mystic and advisor whose advice Akbar regarded respectfully.

8. Mullah Do Piaza     -     He was also an advisor in the court of Akbar known for his intelligence.

9. Birbal        -       His original name was Maheshdas. He was a well known court jester.

NOTE :- 

The nine gems in the court of Vikramaditya were -

Dhanvantari,Kshapanka, Amarasimha, Sanku, Vetalabhatta, Ghatakharpara, Varahamihira, Vararuchi and Kalidasa

BANKING IN INDIA - 1

IMPORTANT BANK RELATED INFORMATION

* The oldest Joint Stock Bank of India       -     Allahabad Bank

* The bank founded by Freedom Fighter Dr. Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya       -      Andhra Bank

* First bank to open a branch outside India      -    Bank of India, London, 1946

*  The first bank to be given an ISO 9002 certificate for one of its branches       -     Canara Bank

*  The Postal Dept has issued a commemorative stamp in the name of this bank celebrating 100 years in 2011       -    Central Bank of India

* First Indian Bank to be wholly owned by Indians      -   Central Bank of India

*  The bank formed on the efforts of Lala Lajpat Rai     -    Punjab National Bank

* The only merger of nationalised banks took place between     -     Punjab National Bank and New Bank of India in 1993

*  The bank whose brand equity is"Pygmy Deposit Scheme"        -   Syndicate Bank

*  The bank which was conceived by Shri GD Birla     -    UCO Bank

*  The bank which was inaugrated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1919       -     Union Bank of India

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

RBI and Currency related information

* Reserve Bank of India started its operations on 01 Apr 1935.

* Reserve was nationalised in1949.

* The maximum number of Deputy Governors RBI can have  is   4.

* Number of regional offices of RBI is   28.

* RBI can issue notes upto the value of  Rs. 10,000/-

* As per Indian Coinage Act 1 Re coins can be used to pay/settleAny amount.

* As per Indian Coinage Act 0.50 pscoins can be used to pay/settleAmount not exceeding Rs. 10.

* The logo of RBI has   A palm tree and a tiger.

* The Head Office of the RBI is in   Mumbai.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF RBI

1. Monetary Authority of India
2. Issuer of Currency
3. Banker and Debt Manager to the Government
4. Banker to the banks
5. Regulator of the Banking System
6. Manager of Foreign Exchange
7. Regulator and Supervisor of the payment and settlement system
8. Developmental role

CURRENCY PRINTING PRESS IN INDIA

Place                         State

Dewas                  Madhya Pradesh
Nasik                    Maharashtra
Mysore                 Karnataka
Salboni                 West Bengal

GK BYTES

1. 1st Indian to receive the Booker prize -- ARUNDHATI ROY for “GOD OF THE SMALL THINGS” in 1997.

2. BHASWATI BHATTACHARYA was the first Indian to speak as Orator at the Harvard University.

3. VIJAY KUMAR and YOGESHWAR DUTT won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel ratna Award for 2012.

4. GOA will host 36th National Games.

5. MICHAEL CLARKE, the Australian captain won the fourth Allan Border Medal in Melbourne.

6. The source of Kaveri river lies in BRAHAMGIRI HILLS.

7. PUNJAB has the minimum percentage of population below poverty line.

8. CHANDARSEKHAR,former Prime Minister of India, was also called ‘Yuva Turk’ .

9. The biggest Hindu temple ANGKOR VAT(now changed to AKSHARDHAM,DELHI) is situated in COMBODIA.

10. Indian Navy Day is celebrated on 4TH DECEMBER.

>The National Emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.

>The four smaller animals at the bottom of national emblem are horse and bull (visible) and lion and elephant (not visible).

>The National Emblem was adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950.
'
>Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below has been taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.