Level 1
Who was the first Indian scientist to win the Nobel Prize?
a) C.V. Raman
b) Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
c) Hargobind Khorana
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Ans. C.V. Raman.
Which Indian state has the largest coastline?
a) Kerala
b) Maharashtra
c) Gujarat
d) Andhra Pradesh
Ans. Gujarat.
Gujarat has the longest coastline of any Indian state, with an estimated length of over 1,600 km, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Gujarat's extensive coastline runs along the Arabian Sea, featuring major ports like Kandla and Mundra.
Which is the national aquatic animal of India?
a) Crocodile
b) Dolphin
c) Tortoise
d) Whale
Ans. Dolphin.
The Ganges River Dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India, declared in 2010 to promote its conservation and protect it from extinction. Also known as the "Susu," this species is a unique freshwater dolphin found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems.
The Chipko movement is associated with—
a) Saving wildlife
b) Water conservation
c) Forest conservation
d) Soil conservation
Ans. Forest Conservation.
The Chipko Movement is associated with the conservation of forests, a non-violent environmental movement in India where villagers, particularly women, would physically embrace (chipko) trees to prevent them from being felled by commercial loggers
The ‘Silent Valley’ is located in—
a) Kerala
b) Assam
c) Uttarakhand
d) Arunachal Pradesh
Ans. Kerala
Silent Valley National Park is a national park in Kerala, India. It is located in the Nilgiri hills and has a core area of 89.52 km2 (34.56 sq mi). It is surrounded by a buffer zone of 148 km2 (57 sq mi). This national park has some rare species of flora and fauna. Silent Valley National Park was explored in 1847 by the botanist Robert Wight. It is located in the border of Mannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, and Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.
Which Indian festival is also known as the “Festival of Colours”?
a) Diwali
b) Holi
c) Baisakhi
d) Navratri
Ans. Holi.
The Indian festival also known as the “Festival of Colours” is Holi. Celebrated in March, it marks the arrival of spring, symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and is characterized by people throwing colored powders and water at each other in a vibrant display of joy and unity.
Who is regarded as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”?
a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Rajendra Prasad
Ans. B.R.Ambedkar.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is regarded as the "Father of the Indian Constitution" for his pivotal role as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly and his work in shaping the comprehensive framework of the Constitution. Popularly known as Babasaheb, he was a key figure in establishing the modern Indian republic and was also India's first Law Minister.
The Indian Constitution came into force on—
a) 15th August 1947
b) 26th January 1950
c) 26th November 1949
d) 2nd October 1950
Ans. 26 January 1950.
The Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950. This date is significant as it marks the commencement of the Indian Republic and is celebrated annually as Republic Day in India. While the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, the majority of its provisions became effective on January 26, 1950.
Who was the founder of the Slave dynasty in India?
a) Iltutmish
b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
c) Razia Sultan
d) Balban
Ans. Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
The founder of the Slave Dynasty in India was Qutb-ud-din Aibak. He was a former Turkish slave of the Ghurid dynasty who established the dynasty in 1206, after the death of his master, and is also known for initiating the construction of the Qutub Minar.
The first Indian to swim across the English Channel was—
a) Mihir Sen
b) Arati Saha
c) Virdhawal Khade
d) Bula Chowdhury
Ans. Mihir Sen.
The first Indian to swim across the English Channel was Mihir Sen in 1958. He achieved this feat on September 27, 1958, swimming from Dover to Calais in 14 hours and 45 minutes. Sen was not only the first Indian but also the first Asian to accomplish this challenging crossing.
The national sports of India is often said to be—
a) Kabaddi
b) Hockey
c) Cricket
d) Football
Ans. Hockey.
While hockey is widely considered the national sport of India due to its historical success and public perception, the Indian government has not officially declared any sport as its national game. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has clarified that the government promotes all sports and does not designate a single national sport.
Who was the first Indian woman IAS officer?
a) Kiran Bedi
b) Anna Malhotra
c) Isha Basant Joshi
d) Vijayalakshmi Pandit
Who completes the Qutub Minar?
a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
b) Iltutmish
c) Alauddin Khilji
d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Ans. Iltutmish.
Iltutmish completed the Qutub Minar, though its construction began with Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who only finished the first story. Iltutmish, his successor, added three more stories to the tower. The monument was later repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq and Sikandar Lodi, and still further restored in the 19th century by Major R. Smith.
Which Indian state is known as the “Sugar Bowl of India”?
a) Punjab
b) Haryana
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Maharashtra
Ans. Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh is known as the "Sugar Bowl of India" because it is the largest producer of sugar cane and sugar in the country, supported by its extensive sugarcane cultivation and numerous sugar mills in the fertile Ganga-Yamuna Doab region
The Indus Valley people worshipped—
a) Vishnu
b) Pashupati
c) Buddha
d) Surya
Ans. Pashupati.
Indus Valley Civilization people worshipped a combination of elements including a proto-Shiva deity known as Pashupati, a Mother Goddess, nature and animals like the pipal tree and the humped bull, and potentially practiced ritual bathing and believed in the afterlife. Evidence for these beliefs comes from seals, figurines, and structures found at archaeological Sites.
Which Indian city is called the “Pink City”?
a) Udaipur
b) Jaipur
c) Jodhpur
d) Bikaner
Ans. Jaipur.
The Indian city known as the Pink City is Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan. The nickname originates from 1876 when Maharaja Ram Singh painted the entire city pink to welcome the Prince of Wales, a color traditionally associated with hospitality.
The Gulf of Kutch is located in—
a) Rajasthan
b) Gujarat
c) Maharashtra
d) Punjab
Ans. Gujarat.
The Gulf of Kutch is located in Gujarat, India. It is a large salt marsh that forms part of the Thar Desert, with the majority of the area situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
The Indian state with the largest forest cover is—
a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Arunachal Pradesh
c) Chhattisgarh
d) Odisha
Ans. Madhya Pradesh.
The Indian state with the largest forest cover is Madhya Pradesh, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The state has the highest total area under forest and tree cover in the country
The largest dome in India is at—
a) Bijapur (Gol Gumbaz)
b) Delhi (Jama Masjid)
c) Fatehpur Sikri
d) Aurangabad
Ans.Bijapur (Gol Gumbaz)
Gol Gumbazin Bijapur (now Vijayapura), Karnataka, has one of the largest domes in the world and is the largest in India.
Architectural Marvel:The dome is renowned for its size and its lack of supporting pillars, which is a significant feat of engineering.
Historical Significance:It is the tomb of Sultan Mohammad Adil Shah and is a famous historical landmark and tourist attraction.
Who is known as the “Flying Sikh of India”?
a) P.T. Usha
b) Milkha Singh
c) Dhanraj Pillay
d) Kapil Dev
Ans. Milkha Singh.
Milkha Singh, the legendary Indian track and field sprinter, is known as the "Flying Sikh of India". He earned this nickname from Pakistani General Ayub Khan after his exceptional speed in a 1960 race in Pakistan, where Khan famously said, "You didn't run in Pakistan, you flew"
Who was the first Indians to receive the Bharat Ratna?
a) C. Rajagopalachari
b) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
c) C.V. Raman
d) All of These.
Ans. All of These.
Here are the three first awardees in 1954:
"Nalanda University" was popular and progressed during the time of which king?
a) Harshavardhana
b) Ashoka
c) Samudragupta
d) Babar
Ans. Harshavardhana.
Nalanda University progressed significantly under the Gupta Empire, particularly under Emperor Kumaragupta I who founded it in the 5th century CE, and later during the reign of Emperor Harshavardhana. Its patronage by the Guptas, who are known for their strong support of arts and science, established Nalanda as a leading center of learning and centuries.
Which river is called the “Sorrow of Bengal”?
a) Damodar
b) Hooghly
c) Teesta
d) Subarnarekha
Ans. Damodar.
The Damodar River is known for causing frequent and devastating floods in the Bengal region, leading to this nickname.
The Sanchi Stupa was built by—
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Harshavardhana
Ans. Ashoka.
The Sanchi Stupa was originally built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, commissioned to house Buddhist relics. The original structure was a simple brick dome, but it underwent further construction and expansion over centuries, including the addition of carved toranas (gateways)
The Indian state with the highest literacy rate is—
a) Kerala
b) Goa
c) Mizoram
d) Tamil Nadu
Ans. Kerala.
The Indian state with the highest literacy rate is Kerala, consistently holding the top position with a literacy rate of 96.2% according to a recent report. This is based on a 2011 census, and even more recently the National Statistical Office (NSO) has reported Kerala's literacy rate to be higher.